The Things a Brother Knows (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Things a Brother Knows Deborah Stevenson Reinhardt, Dana . The Things a Brother Knows. Lamb, 2010. [256p]. Library ed. ISBN 978-0-375-94455-0 $19.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-375-84455-3 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-375-89762-7 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 8-12. Brotherhood has always been a simple matter for Levi—he trailed after his heroic older brother, Boaz, who largely ignored him—and then Boaz joined the Marines and went to war in the Middle East, leaving Levi behind. Now Boaz is back and everything's changed; he camps out in his bedroom, spending hours on the computer and refusing to come out. A concerned Levi, now nearly eighteen, seeks to [End Page 90] understand his brother's trauma, so when Boaz sets out on foot for a long-distance trip (to where, Levi's not sure), Levi tags along until his brother finally accepts his company and he begins to get a glimpse of the turmoil behind Boaz's impassivity. Reinhardt is a smooth and talented stylist, and she brings some interesting notes into this examination of the legacy of war, such as the Israeli-American family's history of military service; the exploration of the brothers' relationship, as it wavers back and forth between old patterns and new realization, rings with authenticity. What's less successful is the treatment of Boaz's war experiences, which seem broadly representative rather than meaningfully individual, and the conclusion of the walking mission that forms the main plot fails to bring that trajectory to a satisfying end. Williams' Bull Rider (BCCB 1/09) is therefore a more effective treatment of vets and literal brotherhood, but interested readers may wish to follow Levi and Boaz on their literal and figurative journeys. Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois