City News

The novel Don’t Fail Me Now written by Una LaMarche is about when 17 year old Michelle Deveraux who is in charge of her 13 year old sister Cass and 6 year brother Denny are called to action when they hear from their half siblings that her dumpy father; Buck who left her mother when she was little is dying and wishes to see her. Michelle, whose life has been torn down by her fathers departure reluctantly decides to come along. Alongside Michelle, Cass and Denny are their two white half siblings Tim and Leah. The two families have a hard time adjusting to each other and their crowded conditions. With barely any money to get them around and Leah and Tim’s parents on their tails, the two half families grow closer from their experiences. Michelle is shown to be continuously jealous of Tim and Leah cushy privileged lives as she, Michelle and Denny are pushed from home to home with barely any money.

Michelle is usually uneasy and cautious when it comes to other people and tries her best to raise her siblings. Cass is revealed to be struggling more than Michelle or readers thought she was. Cass is bisexual, but when coming out with her feelings towards her friend who rejects her sends Cass on a downward spiral. Cass attempts suicide by getting rid of her medication for her diabetes. This opens Michelle’s eyes as she realizes that even she was not really that close to her siblings. Denny their younger, half brother who they count as a brother is the comic relief throughout the book and the car ride. He is like every other 6 year old; whiny, annoying and loud. When he is in a good mood however he is a fun addition to their motley crew. Leah is their real half sibling who annoys all of them with her snarky comments and prissy attitude. Later in the book, once she opens up to her other half siblings she is very helpful and keeps Denny at bay. Leah’s brother Tim from the start to the end of the book never changed his attitude. Tim is always polite and smart about the groups decisions. He and Michelle both are the unofficial leaders of the group, later in the novel they both realize they have feelings for each other and share a kiss.

By the end of the book many shocking events take place. After leaving the hospital, the group continues on. Michelle’s car finally breaks down in the middle of the night and the family now has to spend all their money to take a bus to reach Buck. When they arrive they are greeted with the news of Buck’s death. They wait hopefully to see if he had left them anything in his will. They are shocked to find nothing. This is a big shock to the reader and in mourning the characters fly home via Tim and Leah’s parents. The reader is left hoping for the joined families future.

I read this book over the summer and wrote dialectical journals about it for Lit & Comp. I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the realism and shock the readers had at the very end of the novel because life is not always fair to people and I enjoyed that the book handled social issues of today nicely, such as drug abuse/ addiction, sexuality, suicide and racism. What I was not a big fan of was the love plot between Tim and Michelle. It felt like she just used him to help her cope with her stress. I feel like they would have made a nicer pairing as friends, but it is up to the reader to form their opinions on this novel once they read it.

Check out Don't Fail Me Now at the Newport Beach Public Library.