  | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2012 Smart, athletic, and well liked, Gil works hard to deserve his good reputation. After initial jealousy, he forms a deep friendship with an equally talented and good-natured newcomer, Enko. Soon Enko is diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia that takes his life; before he dies, he gives Gil a garnet ring, a family heirloom made by a supposedly immortal blacksmith in the countryside north of Quebec. A griefstricken Gil is wounded further by learning that Enko will be buried at home in Quebec and that Gil’s parents won’t be taking him to visit his friend’s grave for a final goodbye. Gil sets off alone for Quebec on his own on a quest to find the grave and the maker of the ring, hoping that perhaps the man’s immortality is real, and that he will have the secret to bringing Enko back. As a contemporary treatment of the Epic of Gilgamesh, this has the right bones, but as a piece of young adult literature, the bones are disappointingly bare. Gil and Enko’s fierce closeness develops rapidly and the book tells more than shows the relationship’s significance. Gil’s open talk of the deep love he bears his friend is couched in terms that more often signal a love affair in contemporary literature, so readers may misunderstand the boys’ relationship as one based on homosexual feelings rather than the deeply homosocial sensibilities of the original epic. There’s still reward in following his journey, however, even if it ends in closure rather than success. Aidan Chambers’ classic Dance on My Grave (BCCB 8/83) is a more nuanced exploration of the same topic, but reluctant readers will find the quick pacing and well-defined themes here accessible, and the book provides some clear curricular possibility. KC - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 02/01/2012 Gr 9 Up—Popular, athletic, and good looking, Gil Marsh is at the top of the pecking order at Uruk High until Enko Labette arrives from Quebec. At first, he threatens Gil's status, but after Gil gets over his jealousy, the two become best friends. After Enko is quickly lost to aggressive leukemia, his body is returned to Quebec before Gil has a chance to say a proper goodbye. The grieving teen is determined to go in search of his friend's grave, though what he really wants is to have Enko back. During his journey, he is beaten, robbed, and cheated, but he also experiences the compassionate side of humanity as he wrestles with thoughts of life and death. If the strange names, the story of male friendship, and mythological quest sound familiar, it's because Bauer is retelling the epic of Gilgamesh, supposedly the oldest story every written. This contemporary version is loosely based on the legend, with names, places, and elements throughout that echo the original. The novel is plot-driven and retains a mythlike quality. A worthy addition.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 02/15/2012 Some authors riff on Shakespeare, and others rewrite Jane Austen. Bauer though, reaches waaaaay back to the oldest written tale in all of history, the 5,000-year-old Epic of Gilgamesh. In place of the Sumerian king, we have 17-year-old track star Gil, who finds himself threatened by the arrival of an equally talented athlete, Enko. The two push past rivalry to become the closest of friends, but when Enko is taken by leukemia, Gil sets out on a dangerous journey into Enko’s Canadian homeland to find the grave of his fallen companion. For classes studying Gilgamesh, this is a godsend, recasting the challenging cuneiform verses into something teens can feel in their hearts and get behind. Bauer stocks her story with cunning updates of the ancient characters. The downside, as you might expect, is that the episodic, folk-tale rhythm often comes off as a series of random events rather than as a single, unified tale. Regardless, this is a unique effort that will find a place in the classroom. - Copyright 2012 Booklist. Loading...
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