Copyboy by Vince Vawter (review)

Six years have slid by since eleven-year-old Vic Vollmer (Paperboy, BCCB 3/13), sorely tried by family issues and stuttering, was befriended by Mr. Spiro, who taught him new ways to look at his life and listen to his own voice. Now Vic is on the verge of college, working part time for a Memphis newspaper, and mourning the loss of Mr. Spiro, whose final request was that Vic scatter his ashes at the "mouth of the Mississippi." Defying his parents, Vic takes off in his two-seater convertible, supplied with a little cash, a weekend's worth of clothes, and the name of a friend of a colleague who can direct him toward his quest. That difficulties will ensue and life lesson will be learned goes pretty much without saying, but the particulars here are riveting and moving as Vic meets supportive characters ("characters" in both senses of the word) along his journey, from the agemate gas-station attendant who envies his independence, to the New Orleans journalist who shepherds him south, to a charter fishing-boat captain in the bayous. Captain Moreau has the answers, but he also has a sassy, headstrong daughter, Philomene, who puts a couple of wrinkles in Vic's plans. There are also storms brewing: threats from a spurned, jealous young man who covets Phil, and threats from Betsy, the hurricane on course to devastate the 1965 Gulf region. Readers who met Vic when Vawter's previous title was released are now old enough to appreciate the growth and maturity evidenced by Vic's polished, humorous narration, and newcomers will easily glean enough backstory to ride shotgun on this coming of age adventure.