Hite, Sid. The King of Slippery Falls. New York: Scholastic Press, 2004  217 pages 

Level/ Category: 6-9/ Coming of Age

Characters

Lewis Hinton:  the main character and the only important one in the book.  A young man from a small town who is about to turn 16 and recently learned that he is adopted.  Searching for his place in the world.  Lewis has a few selected friends but spends the majority of his free time fishing for the “big one.”

Mrs. Baderhoovenlisterah:  an older woman of about 80 who serves as a mentor/ friend for Lewis.  Her wisdom and kindheartedness gives Lewis a sense of belonging.

Amanda:  Lewis’ best friend who develops into his love interest.  She is quick-witted and does not let Lewis get away with his sometimes self-pitying behavior.

Gaston:  a friend of both Amanda’s and Lewis’ who Lewis suspects Amanda is attracted to but in the end turns out to be homosexual.

Martha and Avery Hinton:  Lewis’ adopted parents who support Lewis in all of his decisions.

Plot

The story takes place in a small town in Idaho where everyone knows each other.  Living in this town is a young man named Lewis who is very confused about his identity ever since learning that he is adopt a few years previous.    In this small town is a water fall and local fishing hole where Lewis spends all of his free time seeking to catch that one big legendary fish almost ever small town has.  On Lewis’ 16^th birthday his mother gives him a letter that was left in the basket Lewis was found in as a baby, which was written by his birth mother.  Certain clues from the letter lead Lewis to the belief, with the input of his best friend Amanda, (who he also has a crush on), that he may very well be related to a long line of French royalty.  Putting fishing aside, Lewis seeks the advice of an elderly woman known for her wisdom, Mrs. Baderhoovenlisterah.  While Lewis’ attention becomes focused on his lineage, Amanda and another mutual friend Gaston, form a closer relationship.  Lewis assumes that Amanda and Gaston begin dating and begins to seek relationships with other girls.  In the end Lewis learns nothing of his heritage and decides to visit France with the support of his parents.  But just before he is ready to leave he slips on the waterfall while fishing and nearly dies.  Other fishermen tell the story of his rescue that Lewis was transport by a large fish, (the one Lewis had been pursuing) to shore and was then rushed to the hospital.  Lewis had lost a lot of blood and with a very rare blood type and a small town his chances of finding a donor were slim.  Mrs. Baderhoovenlisterah comes to the rescue giving her blood to save Lewis.  Lewis then recovers, confesses his feelings to Amanda, learning that Gaston is gay, and gets to travel to France.

Touchy Areas
Homosexuality and adoption

Related Titles

Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway

Young Man and the Sea Rodman Philbrick

Film: Big Fish Tim Burton, 2003

Evaluation
This book was an enjoyable read that depicts the largest struggle for most teenagers: self-identity.  Although the story was a little far fetched and should have been expanded upon, the characters were likable enough to keep me turning the page.  The story does not have a definite resolution making the moral of the story shine through.  The message being that we will all figure out who we are in due time, especially teenagers.  I would recommend this book for a student who is adopted, who loves fishing, or is struggling with identity.

Overall Rating:  7 out of 10

Reviewed by Mary Michalski.