Running head: BOOK REVIEW

ECUR 879 Book Review: The Crazy Man

Jillian E. Paulsen
University of Saskatchewan

The Crazy Man

BOOK REVIEW

Pamela Porter.
Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books, 2005.
214 pp, pbk. & cl., $9.95 (pbk.).
ISBN 0-88899-695-0 (pbk).
Grades 3-8 / Ages 8-13.
Reviewed by Jill Paulsen
* * * */4

excerpt:
Lately Ive thought of myself
as a girl with big pieces missing Dad, Prince,
part of a leg.
Pamela Porters The Crazy Man, is set in small-town Saskatchewan in
the 1960s. The novel begins when eleven-year-old Emaline is involved in a
farm accident that leaves her with a badly injured leg, a dog that needs to be
put down, and a father who decides to leave all of it behind. Emalines
mother needs help on the farm so she hires Angus, a patient from the local
mental hospital. Despite worries from neighbours and fellow townspeople
about Angus living on the farm, he greatly helps to make the farm a success
and helps Emaline heal and grow after the death of her dog, her accident,
and her father leaving.
Porters free verse writing strays from the typical linear text format of
many young adult novels. The free verse style is a form of poetry, but it does
not use rhyme or pattern. It is an open form of poetry that tends to follow the

BOOK REVIEW

natural rhythm of speech. Porters writing is realistic, fast-paced, and easy to

read, which makes it accessible for many different reading levels. As well,
her word choice provides meaningful and powerful visuals that allow readers
into Emalines world and into her heart. Besides the many themes and
learning opportunities Porter provides the reader, this book could also
provide younger readers with a good introduction to free verse.
The Crazy Man is written from the perspective of Emaline, an elevenyear-old girl who speaks in first-person. She speaks of hardships, loss, love,
growth and acceptance in a voice wise beyond her years, but still easy
enough to understand for younger readers. Through Emalines thoughts and
actions, we are exposed to other important perspectives, such as those of
Angus and Emalines mother. Angus, as a patient at the mental hospital, is a
perspective we are not often exposed to in young adult literature. We learn
through Emaline that Angus is a gentle giant, misunderstood in a world
where stigma and negative stereotypes follow his every step. We also learn
more about Emalines mother, especially her strength and courage as a
single parent, trying to run a farm and going against the status quo by hiring
Angus.
Porters book, although a quick read, contains many important themes
and ideas, some crossing the boundary of what is often found in young adult
literacy. Identity, family, acceptance, courage, and prejudice are complex
topics explored in the book. Mental health is a large component of this book.
Through this theme, readers learn more about a subject previously
forbidden. As well, readers learn more about the complexities of a

BOOK REVIEW

community in the 1960s based on a town with one of the only mental
hospitals in the province at the time. This book also contains an unresolved
ending, leaving it up to the reader to imagine or infer what happens to
Emaline and the other characters in the book.
Overall, The Crazy Man is an exceptionally well written book that has
strong character development and touches on powerful and important
themes. This book would be appropriate for grade three and up and could be
used as an interdisciplinary resource, focusing on subjects from health to
social studies.
Recommended.
Jill Paulsen is a graduate student in the Masters of Curriculum Studies
Program at the University of Saskatchewan. She resides in Saskatoon, SK.
[Editors note: The Crazy Man was the winner of the 2005 Governor Generals
Literacy Award in the category of childrens literature (English text).]

Book Review Self-Assessment

For the ECUR 879 Book Review, I would give myself a grade between 8089%. I used the CM Magazine format in completing this review. As well, I
used Radical Change to review this book (changing forms/formats, changing
perspectives, crossing boundaries) but still left the review easy to
understand for educators by not going into theoretical details.