Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

Bibliographic Information:
Bradbury, J. (2008). Shift. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
ISBN# 9781416947325

Plot Summary:
Chris and Win have been friends since the third grade. Chris’s family, while middle class, is close and caring. Win’s family is quite wealthy, but distant. Win’s father is never satisfied with Win’s grades or actions. In his father’s eyes Win is never good enough. The boys plan a cross country bike trip from their home in West Virginia to Seattle starting just after their high school graduation. During the bike trip the boys mature while meeting people, including hot girls, changing lots of flat tires and seeing the beauty of their surroundings. Just before reaching their destination, Chris gets another flat and Win leaves him. Chris is fed up with Win. He has cut Win slack their whole lives. During their trip Chris paid for most things even though he accidently saw thousands of dollars stashed in Win’s bag. Win has always been somewhat selfish. Frustrated, Chris returns home and to college. Coming out of class one day he runs into an investigator, hired by Win’s father. The investigator asks questions about the bike trip and Win’s whereabouts. When Chris doesn’t give satisfactory answers, the investigator threatens him, telling him that Win’s father won’t give up and is a man of power. Chris starts receiving cryptic postcards that he figures are from Win. He sets out to find Win at the same time that he tries to dodge the investigator.

Critical Evaluation:
This is a fantastic novel; it’s hard to imagine that this is Bradbury’s first published book. It is a coming of age story as well as a suspense novel. Bradbury uses an interesting technique to tell her story. The story starts with Chris in college and meeting the investigator. Then each chapter alternates between the present, with Chris in college avoiding the investigator and trying to find Win, and the past, Chris and Win’s bike trip across the United States. By alternating between the present and the past, the suspense is heightened. The reader only learns something at the same moment that Chris learns it. Bradbury has some complex storylines. There is the relationship between Chris and Win with its ups and downs. Then there is the storyline of Chris trying to find out what happened to Win while avoiding the investigator. In addition to these are the minor storylines like Chris’s relationship with his parents versus Win’s relationship with his parents. And there is the added bonus of Chris’s love interest. Bradbury has a winner with this book.

Reader's Annotation:
When Win abandons Chris just before reaching the west coast on their cross country trip after high school graduation, a disgusted Chris heads back home to college and an investigator hired by Win’s overbearing father who thinks Chris may have hurt or murdered Win.

Information about the author:
Bradbury taught English in Washington State. She also did some teaching in India. While writing Shift, she had two groups of her ninth grade English classes do some group editing. Currently she lives with her husband and young daughter trying to be a stay-at-home mom who writes during naptime. She and her husband made a cross country bike ride for their honeymoon. It was her first trip and his second. He had previously biked cross country with his best friend right after high school graduation. Shift is her first published novel, though she had two previous novel beginnings before Shift.
http://www.jennifer-bradbury.com/bio.html

Genre: Realistic Fiction; mystery; suspense

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• What are your plans for after graduation?
• Have you ever gone on a bike ride? Did you experience anything similar to Chris and Win?
• How does Chris grow and change as the story progresses?
• Discuss the different relationships in the book. Do they change? If so, how? Why?
o Chris and Win
o Chris and his parents
o Win and his parents
o Chris and the investigator & Win’s father
o Chris and his girlfriend

Reading Level/Interest Level:
The widest age range, according to the reviews is 12 – 18.

Challenge Issues:
Stereotyped rich father; threats

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Seven positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on five Best Books Lists
• Appears on seven state/provincial reading lists
• Has received one award

Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~FiZ9sN:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.