[Book] #12. Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt - To Find Out How to Live with Trouble

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I heard from somewhere that Trouble was a good book, so I picked it up without knowing anything about it. To be honest, it didn't look interesting, though. Its gloomy cover didn't help, either. (You can compare covers of Korean translated version and the original one down below. Which do you prefer? The bright one or the gloomy one?) I stopped myself several times before finally opened the book. I was very hesitant at first, but this book just snared me into its story. I couldn't put it down. I couldn't help it.

The main character of this book is a middle school student, Henry, living in a wealthy, happy family with a big brother and a big sister. Then one day Trouble came to visit. His big brother - famous and popular high school student and his hero - got into a car accident. He was hospitalized. He had no consciousness and his arm was amputated. Henry was agonized. Why did this terrible accident happen to them? How could they handle it? How could he handle it?

Korean translated Book Cover. Source: 교보문고

After his brother passed away, Henry decided to do something he'd planned to do with his brother: To climb Katahdin alone. (His best friend didn't let him climb Katahdin alone, so he ended up going there with his friend.) Climbing Katahdin couldn't possibly reduce the pain he was enduring, nor could it get rid of all the Troubles. But he felt like he should do something. And guess what he met on the way to Katahdin? None other than the person, Chay, who was responsible for his brother's car accident. Should he hate him? Curse him? Or, well, forgive him? His hate-filled heart has become whirlwind of emotions after he got to know about him. His brother's secret, and Chay's secret. Could Henry overcome this trouble that's thrown into his way?

It's very impressive to read how Henry got to grow after overcoming the shock of his brother's death. This book shows you can't get away from troubles nor would it be advisable. Because it's impossible to run away from trouble, no matter what. We only have to find out how to live with trouble.

You'd thinnk the title and the gloomy cover guarantee a gloomy story, but it's not that dark and sad. You'll get sad and shed some tears, all right, but sometimes it'll make you giggle like schoolgirls. If you haven't read this book, I'd like to recommend it.

Original Book Cover. Source: Goodreads

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A Few Good Lines from the Book

1))

Henry Smith’s father told him that if you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you. (p. 1)

If we try hard enough, Trouble would never find us?

2))

“No storm is forever,” Henry said to her. And he was right. No storm is forever.(p. 205)

3))

What happened was an accident. I know that. Maybe most trouble is an accident and it doesn’t help to blame anyone. When the blaming is all over, you have to start living again. (p. 216 )

4))

“That’s a fool reason to climb Katahdin.” Henry stared at him. “What?”
”You don’t climb the mountain for a eulogy. You don’t climb it to take photographs with fancy cameras. And you don’t – you >really don’t’ – climb it for someone else.” (p. 239)

5))

“Maybe I know why I’m going up,” he said.
Thaddeus Baxter spun the wheel again. “That so?”
“To find out how to live with trouble.” (p. 240 )

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Title: Trouble
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Note: Newbery Honor Book, Printz Honor Book.

Disclaimer) There's only first part of the storyline in this review to introduce the book. No major spoiler included.

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