The Crazy Man

The Crazy Man

Author: Pamela Porter

Publisher: Groundwood Books (2005)

ISBN: 0888996942

4.5 (out of 5) STARS

Summary: Twelve year old Emaline lives in Saskatchewan with her family. After a farming accident she loses many important things to her, but gains a new friend in a local patient from the mental hospital.

Review: After Emaline’s tractor accident, she loses both her beloved pet dog, Prince and her father. Now Emaline and her mother are faced with the daunting task of running the farm. They cannot do it alone. Emaline’s mother approaches a neighbor for help, but he declines. So then Emaline’s mother employs someone from the nearby mental hospital. Unfortunately, the town’s people are not pleased with this decision at all.

Angus lives in the barn and tends the farm. He eats his meals on the porch of the farm house. He does not talk much. At first Emaline is scared of him also. But over time she realizes he really is just a gentle giant.

“After Angus got done seeding,
Mum thought there wasn’t much reason
for him to stay.

But I wanted him to,
so I’ve been trying to think
of things Angus could do
to be useful around here.
Like work on the garden, fix the gate.” (pg. 76)

The whole text of the book is written in this style of free form verse. It makes for a nice and pleasant read.