Winter Town by Stephen Emond: A Review

Posted by Stephanie Dyson in English 1 - Dunn on

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​In our culture, we are surrounded with tales of love and happiness, encompassed by the idea that friendship works out for the best and that those six promising words, "and they lived happily ever after" are the only indication that you make now put the book down and have a final swoon.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond may seem completely different; it doesn't have a lovey dovey title, the cover only has one character portrayed, even the synopsis (which is pretty revealing so I couldn't put it in my review) doesn't outrightly suggest a young adult romance novel. Kirkus Reviews said, "Compelling, honest and true—this musing about art and self-discovery, replete with pitch-perfect dialogue, will have wide appeal.”

It might seem different from the rest because, in retrospect, it is. A finely cut, authentic, real gem amongst a sea of plastic rhinestones, Winter Town does not disappoint. 

In Stephen Emond's second novel, the relationship of two childhood peas-in-a-pod, Lucy and Evan, is written as well as the script for any indie-movie. As children, they were virtually inseparable; they went to the same school, lived within walking distance of each other, sat around and illustrated stories via comic strip, and created mythical worlds (Bridge to Terabithia-esque) in spare time that they always seemed to have while they were with each other. Lucy moves out of town as a result of her parents divorce and Evan anxiously awaits her arrival every winter; one year, however, he is met with a 'surprise'. The once clean-cut, semi-nerd, good-girl Lucy has transformed into an eyeliner-wearing, baggier, mysterious Lucy. What could it be that has changed her so drastically? The book follows the two as Evan tries to bring Old Lucy ™ back and as New Lucy ™ makes attempts at gaining Evan's acceptance, and finding herself. 


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​This novel is the perfect blend of romance, drama, and wit that many young adult novels lack. A majority of the books in that section of your local library seem fictional, even whimsical due to their 'too good to be true' nature. Winter Town does not fit this criteria for a few reasons. The first being that it is extremely realistic. Emond illustrates his characters so that they are relatable, one of his strong points with his writing. Evan and Lucy are not Extremes, meaning that Evan isn't overly popular or nerdy and Lucy isn't overly dramatic or depressed. At first it certainly seems this way, but it is not the case. They are both well-rounded individuals, and these are characters that young adult novels seem to lack. Another review I read prior to reading the book mentioned Lucy as being ‘wonderfully infuriating’. It’s a bit like having a crush on someone who makes you chase after them; she takes a little while to warm up to, but quickly becomes a favorite character throughout the book. The concept of opposites attracting wasn’t overdone in this book as Emond took two completely different characters and plotted the story in a way that they perfectly balance out each other.

An extremely strong point in the book is the dual character format in which Emond writes the book. He writes the first 'part' from Evan's perspective, there is a small interlude, and the second part is told from Lucy's perspective. Both sides of the same story are given; you get into both heads. It's perfect. As for Winter Town's weaknesses, I would like to mention that though the synopsis says it's funny, there were very few points in the book that I had a nice hearty laugh. Giggles were strewn throughout the book, certainly, but I wouldn't classify Winter Town as a comedy. The incredible art that Emond weaves throughout the story is also a strength of the novel.




    
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I’m sure not everyone will love Winter Town as I did, but, I suppose if you read my entire review, you can see that I would certainly recommend this book to anyone with a lazy day or two that needs a cute, clever, simple, and touching novel to pick up. Winter Town is certainly a piece that I'd pick up and read again; you should treat yourself and read it at least one time.

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