BREAKFAST WITH MY FATHER

by Ron Roy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1980

Once, stories about parents separating were wont to end ""happily,"" with mommy and daddy reconciled--whereas today's children's hooks, however heavy-handed, attempt to reconcile children to the parting. But here we have David, after his dad has moved out, having breakfast with him every Saturday morning (man-to-man, at the local diner), then distraught one Saturday when his dad doesn't show up to wake him; but his mother's promise of sausages, and the smell of sausages, lures him down to the kitchen--and there his dad is sitting, ""having breakfast with my family."" How long is he staying? ""Today and tomorrow. Then we'll see."" That, of course, would only be to prolong the anxiety; but insofar as no one attempted to allay David's anxiety when his father left (""David thought he would never see him again"") or to forestall his anxiety when his father was downstairs instead of up, the book is only being true to form. Manipulative and unthinking--a miss all the way.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1980

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Clarion/Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1980

Categories: CHILDREN'S