"A talent takes a long, long time to develop, but it will, once it is embraced."
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Wabash Boy by Edward Louis Baumgartner Trafford Publishing
book review by John E. Roper
Eleven-year-old Eddie Alberton is living a lie. The Key West life he shares with his widowed dad, Charles, and motherly housekeeper, Rosa, may appear to be normal on the surface, but a pushy mockingbird has managed to worm its way inside his brain to actually talk to him. Even more seriously, underneath his shirt he hides the bruises he receives from his abusive father. When Charles suddenly makes the decision to move the three of them from Key West back to the family home in Indiana for a season, Eddie knows some changes are in store for him. He doesn't realize, though, just how dramatic and life-altering those changes will be.
Baumgartner weaves a tale of mystery and mysticism that engages the reader from start to finish. Eddie's discovery of his extended family in the first half of the book is told in a relaxed pace that leaves plenty of time for good character development. In particular, Eddie's cousin, Elaine, stands out as a person worthy of having her own story someday. The exploration of Eddie's talent with animals that is tied to his Native American heritage is also intriguing, as are the fantasy elements that come into play when he crosses the Wabash River to embrace his calling.
What does not come across as fully convincing is Baumgartner's attempt to fuse Native American beliefs with those of traditional Christianity. Nor does the one-dimensionality of Charles' character fit with the believability Baumgartner has given the other personalities in his tale. Despite these flaws, the book remains a charming debut for a writer embracing his own emerging talents.