Walton, Will. I Felt a Funeral in My Brain. Push, 2018. 285. $17.99. ISBN 9780545709569. 14+. P7Q10
On the last day of his junior year, Avery’s teacher reads his extra credit response aloud and says, “‘I really did love the poem, Avery. You have a voice, you have talent.’” Summer lies ahead, and Avery is now looking at a stack of poetry books his teacher has given him. It holds the promise of him and Luca, his best friend-turned-love, consummating their relationship. It will also give him time to spend with his beloved grandfather Pal. He’s hoping his mother will remain sober and see her catering business succeed. He wants to take long runs and read and write a lot. Avery is no stranger to life’s twists and turns, but he has been able to count on Pal. That all changes when Pal takes a fall that causes his death. This loss rocks Avery’s world, and Avery’s story is the process of coming to terms with his new reality.
VERDICT: …Funeral… is deceptive and needs a patient and sensitive reader, one who is willing to put the pieces together. It is as much poetry as it is prose. Laden with references to other poets who add depth to this exploration of grief and coming-of-age, this text requires rereading. Avery is a gay teen whose desire for honest connection will resonate for teens. He also loves pop music, and Walton uses musical allusions to advance narrative and add emotional depth. He weaves future and past events together seamlessly, always with a grasp of his purpose. This novel is a challenging work of art.
November 2018 review by Patricia Emerson.
Oregon Coast Youth Book Preview Center 