Overview

A character-driven novel about the unlikely friendship between a 10-year-old boy and an elderly woman. The old woman badgers the boy into taking her sailing, but when the weather turns bad, it becomes a wild sail. It becomes the last trip before she goes into the hospital where she dies: but not before the two of them share memories of their last sail together. Hazel helps build the boy's confidence during a tough time in his home life. Both moving and joyful, Into the Wind is a poignant story about loss and love in a boy's life, and the surprising and sustaining bonds that can grow between the old and young.

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9781947159426

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Reviews

A middle-grade boy finds comfort and emotional growth in his friendship with an older woman in this novel. Summer vacation isn't starting out well for Russell, called Rusty. He failed fifth grade math and now has to go to summer school. His closest pal, Walter, is at sleepaway camp for six weeks. But worst of all, his mother is temporarily gone, being treated for depression; it's unknown when she'll return. Rusty takes his mind off things by fixing up an old catboat. One day, Hazel Perkins, an older woman in a wheelchair, asks him to take her sailing. Rusty puts her off but later agrees to earn money by doing chores at her house. They settle into a comforting routine, starting with a snack and math homework, then chores. Besides the money, Rusty appreciates Hazel's agreeably cluttered house, her seaside paintings, and her friendly cat, Marigold. The day before his mother's return, Rusty finally takes Hazel for a joyous sail. Though sorrow follows, Rusty gains a firmer sense of what's important. In his third book for children, Loizeaux sensitively evokes his narrator's pain and confusion as well as his insights. Rusty realizes he can repair his boat, 'unlike some of the other things that I couldn't do anything about.' Poetically striking details make scenes come alive, as with Hazel's house, filled with 'books, shells, pottery, dried seaweed, lacy snake skins. . . and an entire standing skeleton of what might have been a fox.' That Rusty allows himself to be changed by Hazel's friendship and guidance speaks well of him in a subtle way, and it's touching to see their mutual caring and compassion. Throughout, the author effectively employs maritime metaphors to tie everything together. Jacobsen's lively, well-composed pencil illustrations nicely capture the book's emotions. A moving, well-written tale about an unusual friendship.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal

A middle-grade boy finds comfort and emotional growth in his friendship with an older woman in this novel. Summer vacation isn't starting out well for Russell, called Rusty. He failed fifth grade math and now has to go to summer school. His closest pal, Walter, is at sleepaway camp for six weeks. But worst of all, his mother is temporarily gone, being treated for depression; it's unknown when she'll return. Rusty takes his mind off things by fixing up an old catboat. One day, Hazel Perkins, an older woman in a wheelchair, asks him to take her sailing. Rusty puts her off but later agrees to earn money by doing chores at her house. They settle into a comforting routine, starting with a snack and math homework, then chores. Besides the money, Rusty appreciates Hazel's agreeably cluttered house, her seaside paintings, and her friendly cat, Marigold. The day before his mother's return, Rusty finally takes Hazel for a joyous sail. Though sorrow follows, Rusty gains a firmer sense of what's important. In his third book for children, Loizeaux sensitively evokes his narrator's pain and confusion as well as his insights. Rusty realizes he can repair his boat, 'unlike some of the other things that I couldn't do anything about.' Poetically striking details make scenes come alive, as with Hazel's house, filled with 'books, shells, pottery, dried seaweed, lacy snake skins. . . and an entire standing skeleton of what might have been a fox.' That Rusty allows himself to be changed by Hazel's friendship and guidance speaks well of him in a subtle way, and it's touching to see their mutual caring and compassion. Throughout, the author effectively employs maritime metaphors to tie everything together. Jacobsen's lively, well-composed pencil illustrations nicely capture the book's emotions. A moving, well-written tale about an unusual friendship.--Kirkus Reviews -- Website

A middle-grade boy finds comfort and emotional growth in his friendship with an older woman in this novel. Summer vacation isn't starting out well for Russell, called Rusty. He failed fifth grade math and now has to go to summer school. His closest pal, Walter, is at sleepaway camp for six weeks. But worst of all, his mother is temporarily gone, being treated for depression; it's unknown when she'll return. Rusty takes his mind off things by fixing up an old catboat. One day, Hazel Perkins, an older woman in a wheelchair, asks him to take her sailing. Rusty puts her off but later agrees to earn money by doing chores at her house. They settle into a comforting routine, starting with a snack and math homework, then chores. Besides the money, Rusty appreciates Hazel's agreeably cluttered house, her seaside paintings, and her friendly cat, Marigold. The day before his mother's return, Rusty finally takes Hazel for a joyous sail. Though sorrow follows, Rusty gains a firmer sense of what's important. In his third book for children, Loizeaux sensitively evokes his narrator's pain and confusion as well as his insights. Rusty realizes he can repair his boat, 'unlike some of the other things that I couldn't do anything about.' Poetically striking details make scenes come alive, as with Hazel's house, filled with 'books, shells, pottery, dried seaweed, lacy snake skins. . . and an entire standing skeleton of what might have been a fox.' That Rusty allows himself to be changed by Hazel's friendship and guidance speaks well of him in a subtle way, and it's touching to see their mutual caring and compassion. Throughout, the author effectively employs maritime metaphors to tie everything together. Jacobsen's lively, well-composed pencil illustrations nicely capture the book's emotions. A moving, well-written tale about an unusual friendship.--Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (5/27/2020 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

William Loizeaux is an award-winning author of books for young readers and adults and has been writer-in-residence at Johns Hopkins and Boston University. He lives with his wife in Massachusetts. Learn more about William at www.williamloizeaux.com. Laura Jacobsen has been drawing, painting, and doodling her whole life. Her work has appeared in many kids' magazines and books. Laura's two dogs, Hopper and Lucy, keep her company in her Gilbert, Arizona, studio.

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