Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

 

Black Swan Green is a small town in Worcestershire.  In 1982, thirteen year old Jason Taylor spends a year there which is momentous in his family life.  Jason lives there with his parents and older sister Julia.  He has the typical concerns of a teenage boy.  Will he be popular or at least have a group of guys to hang around with?  Will he ever find a girl to kiss?  Will the elusive and tantalizing Dawn ever look his way?  

Jason has a speech impediment; he is a stammerer.  That lets him in for teasing at school but he is going to therapy and working on it.  He is a poet although he doesn't tell people since writing poetry is for sissies in the opinion of the guys he lives among.  At home, his sister is about to head off to university and Jason wonders what the house will be like when he is there just with his parents.  They seem to be having issues as well and there are frequent silences.  His mother goes back to work although his father is opposed.  She seems to love her job so that is a plus.

Then there are other events going on in the world.  The biggest is the war in the Falklands.  Of course at first everyone thinks it will be a cakewalk and some of the local guys who are older are involved.  That optimistic viewpoint changes as English casualties start to mount and the truth of war is brought home to those left behind.  

David Mitchell is a frequent author on the Booker Prize lists.  His previous novels include Cloud Atlas, Number9 Dream, Slade House, The Thousand Autumns Of Jacob De Zoet, The Bone Clocks and Utopia Avenue.  In this novel, he captures perfectly the angst and joys of being a teenager finding their place in the world and readers will find Jason endearing.  I would highly recommend it.  This novel is recommended for readers of literary fiction.