Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The blueprint for this gripping view of a displaced girl in the early 1970s hinges on secrets and lies, and deftly explores the implications of the Vietnam war on American families from all angles.
Prose: Wright brings readers straight into 13-year-old Evan’s head with clear, poignant language.
Originality: As the Vietnam war recedes in time, Eat and Get Gas reminds readers about the toxic ripples that emanated from the conflict and the mark it left on generations of Americans.
Character/Execution: Evan’s coming-of-age in the midst of political chaos and familial turmoil is palpable in this page-turner. The bonds of family come to life in Write’s characters.
Blurb: J.A. Wright explores an adolescent girl’s feelings of confusion, abandonment, and a rising desire to find her own place in life in this riveting tale.
Date Submitted: April 22, 2024
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The novel is a coming-of-age story tied to uncovering family secrets and accepting the flaws that often accompany love. Many of the plot points intersect with the Vietnam War, and much of the characters' personalities and decisions are deeply impacted by the trauma of their involvement in that war. The story is gradually revealed through Evan's point of view, and the book's events are both relatable and unexpected—from the mistreatment of Evan by her father, to the chaotic dynamics between Evan's parents and dysfunction of the family in its entirety
Prose: Evan's first-person perspective drives home the story's emotional impact, though it limits the interiority of other characters. As Evan discovers more about the world around her, readers will gain an intimate glimpse of her vulnerability and resolve, alongside the forces at work behind the scenes in her family. The short bursts of narration build suspense for later revelations, and the author's transitions are smooth and precise.
Originality: The story's conclusion wins it major originality points, as the author leaves it satisfyingly open-ended. Readers will be left pondering Evan's future against the backdrop of this powerful portrait of a troubled family.
Character/Execution: Characters take their time to develop, but through Evan's capable eyes they gradually come to life, replete with raw, palpable emotion and intense decisions. Evan remains the brightest throughout, and her empathy for those around her will draw readers in.
Date Submitted: June 18, 2023
Eat and Get Gas is Story Circle's 2023 Sarton Winner: Young Adult Fiction
I'm happy to report that producer Leanne Moore (Lincoln Lawyer, etc.) has optioned the TV and film rights.
