Forced into Reality: On Sam Graham-Felsen’s ‘Green’
Book Review by Haley Searcy
Haley Searcy talks about race, religion, and friendship in Graham-Felsen’s novel.
Sam Graham-Felsen
Novel | 320 Pages | 5½” x 8¼”
9780399591143 | First Edition | $27.00
Random House | New York City | BUY HERE
“I wouldn’t mind being a whale — preying on nothing, letting the seaweed and plankton slip through my lips, a soft, untouchable king.”
Middle school is a tough transition period that everyone has to go through. You are no longer considered a child by society’s eyes, and you have to start being more serious with your studies and spend more time focusing on the future. However, you also do not have the freedom to make many of your own decisions. Sam Graham-Felsen’s debut novel is a coming-of-age story that focuses on dimensions of race and class through the eyes of a boy as he goes through sixth grade in Boston.
David Greenfield is one of the only white students in his new middle school. He already feels different from the other kids, but this physical difference exacerbates his loneliness. He often gets bullied and is ashamed of the social status of his family and the weird behaviors of his little brother. He tries to explain to his parents about his issues at the school. Instead of helping him, they tell him to focus on his studies. His only means of escape is to pass a test to get into the Latin, a feeder school for Harvard, or fail the test and continue attending the school he hates. All feels lost until he becomes friends with Marlon, his Black neighbor who has similar goals and interests. They bond over basketball and their studies, but at times struggle with the differences in their races and religions. Their relationship is portrayed in an authentic way that shows their learning and understanding of each other’s lives.
“Me and Mar are basically strangers again. … Whenever I try to apologize, to explain myself, to invite him over, he recoils. … The crack between us — it busted all the way through. There’s a gap now. We’re separate shards.”
The voice of David is comedic and relatable, which makes the book enjoyable to read. He is young and full of ideas about his future. He wants to go to Harvard, create a business, and make a lot of money as a CEO. He has a wonderful imagination and is so full of energy. Despite his ambition, he is often put down and stressed out by his family members. The adults in his life force him into reality, but he is still able to keep a lighthearted perspective on some situations:
“‘Where’s he getting this stuff?’ Pops says to Ma. Most dads would be happy to hear their son wants to go to Harvard and get rich. Most dads would say, Where’s he getting this stuff? about Benno, who brought a gray wad of clay to dinner.”
Greenfield’s debut novel is an honest story that depicts two friends as they learn about the privileges given and taken away because of race. It also shows how tough it can be to fit in when one lacks the confidence to be himself. The writing utilizes both comedy and drama to create a story that fills the heart with both joy and sadness.
