A SMALL WHITE SCAR

Fifteen-year-old Will believes his abilities are wasted on his father’s Colorado ranch, because his main responsibility is caring for his twin brother Denny, who is a source of grief, heartache and anger. In dreams, Will sees Denny as he could have been and himself as the imperfect one. Will believes his cowboy skills are his way out and plans to join the rodeo circuit and work on ranches between competitions. But when he leaves, Denny follows him. As they meet with adventure and danger, Will is torn between his love for Denny and his need to carve out his own future. A confrontation with his father finally leads to some real communication and some solutions. Place and time are important here, and Nuzum uses them wisely, as she weaves the atmosphere of cowboy life in 1940 with Will’s coming of age. In Will she has created a multilayered character who searches for truth and right, and is not afraid to admit his flaws. (Fiction. 10-16)