Replay worth the read.
I am not a 12 year old boy. But I kind of felt like it while reading Sharon Creech’s novel, Replay. From a 30 something year old mother of three, that’s a compliment.
Replay is a novel about a 12 year old boy, Leo, who nicknamed “Sardine” by his family. As you may surmise from his nickname, he often feels overshadowed by the more gregarious members of his Italian-American family. He writes about himself:
I was always in the middle or on the edge. Watching.
As a middle child, I get it. And the family dynamic is key to the story.
Despite feeling a little lost at home, Leo loves to be artistic, and has dreams of being a famous Broadway actor. He can’t imagine that anyone in his family understands how he feels - that is, of course, until he finds an journal belonging to his father. He also discovers that his father has a secret - a sister that he never talks about.
When the school holds auditions for its play, Leo is disappointed not to get the lead role, instead landing the role of the “old crone” who is… a woman! At first, he isn’t sure how he could possibly make the character his own. Through reading his father’s journal and delving further into his own family and his own life, he begins to breathe life into the character. Ultimately, he learns that sharing your story through writing, acting, performing or simply talking with your family is what brings us together. He also learns that being a standout doesn’t have to be about being the oldest, the loudest or the brightest star. Sometimes, just embracing who you are is really what sets you apart from the crowd.
Sharon Creech, Replay, adolescence
April 16th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
I love Sharon Creech but I read this just after reading Heartbeat which is exquisite and it didn’t quite compare. Love That Dog may be my favorite Creech novel.