The Boy In The Field, Margaret Livesey, author; Imogen Church, narrator
This is a very tenderly told story that is narrated superbly by Imogen Church. Rather than get in the way of the narrative, as some do, she enhances it with a spot-on interpretation of each character’s personality and emotional response to events. Never heavy handed or overdone, she perfectly presents each moment each character experiences in tone and accent.
When their dad is late picking them up, three young siblings, Duncan, Zoe and Matthew, decide to begin walking home. They are confident that he will soon arrive. When Zoe thinks she sees something odd in a field, they run to investigate. They are shocked to discover a very bloody, injured young male. Their intervention saves the young boy’s life, but this act also alters theirs. The effect of this discovery on their lives is the focus of this novel.
This tale examines relationships, self-discovery, friendship and love, infidelity and loyalty, secrets and lies, confrontation and reconciliation. How do we deal with the mistakes that we make as we make our choices? How do we correct or erase flawed decisions? We all come of age in different ways and at different times. The author very deftly handles these issues so that the reader sees the moments that clarity comes to each of the characters and discovers with them, the confusion that life brings to them. The reader witnesses their emotions and their efforts to deal with and solve the problems they must face, some ordinary and mundane, some very unusual and traumatic. Do they overreact or calmly react? Is it a combination of both? Which actions and behaviors produce the most positive results? Is it always necessary to tell the truth, or are secrets sometimes beneficial?
The author even manages to breathe humanity into the dog, infusing her with anthropomorphic qualities, as Lily sometimes seems to sense, react and speak to the siblings as they seek comfort from her. Livesey gets right into the heads of each character, major and minor, using them to exhibit all of life’s little and large moments. The characters accept their frailties and deal with them in different ways. From the confusion of adoption to the betrayal of infidelity, she deftly handles each subject so that it is not fraught with anxiety and judgment, but rather it is filled with compassion and forgiveness.
Each of the children is developed as a unique individual. Zoe has gifts of insight along with growing pains, Matthew questions things he doesn’t understand and explores to find the answers he seeks, Duncan wonders why he doesn’t look like his siblings and wants to find his roots. Zoe writes poetry, Duncan paints pictures and Matthew investigates. All of them are willing to listen to each other and sibling rivalry seems to be at a minimum. The parents give the children the power to make their own decisions and are always there for them, always open to having discussions about anything that bothers them. Their family relationship seems open, honest and ideal. They, parents and children, relate to each other without tantrums. However, there are underlying secrets that could erupt and destroy their happy home. As they learn to navigate through love, friendship and loyalty in all its forms, they each grow in different ways. It is not a fairy tale, but a tale that is uplifting because of the character’s ultimate understanding and handling of situations, great and small through their interaction with each other. Most times, the higher road is taken.