The Landing

The Landing. By John Ibbitson. Kids Can Press, 2008. 160 pages. Tr. $17.95 ISBN 978-1554532346

Summary: “He had heard music before, of course. Hymns in church, and tunes his father whistled and his mother hummed. But the music washed over him, surrounded him, swirled past him, his pulse racing to catch up. . . . He had no idea what the music was called. . . . But while the rest of them cocked their heads and listened. . .  this boy was drowning, coming up for air, diving back in, wanting to drown (p. 10).”

As a boy, Ben Mercer experienced the joy of classical music, learning to play from a fiddler in Muskoka. Several years have passed and much has changed. Depression-era strife, coupled with his father’s death, has financially strapped his family, requiring fifteen-year old Ben to do whatever he can to contribute to his family’s continual support. Ben works alongside his uncle, repairing houses and hotels, and providing boat tours for affluent summer tourists. Yet he continually dreams of escaping his poverty-filled life and becoming a violinist. Will his dream become a reality?

Critical Review: Ibbitson’s prose evocatively depicts the Depression years, especially the wide expanse between classes. Through his employer, Ruth Chapman, Ben builds upon his knowledge of classical music, and observes how those in the upper classes live. As the story progresses, he learns how much of our life rests on chance, and of how every encounter should be treated as a potential door opener.  The close of the novel is bittersweet: Ben and his mother move to Toronto, so that Ben can pursue his music education, but he continues to be wreaked by guilt. He feels responsible for his uncle’s death, though there was nothing he could do to avert the capsizing boat. In the end, he develops a strong-bond with his uncle, appreciating Uncle Henry’s struggles to eke a living out of a treacherous landscape and his unhappiness.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading/Interest Level: 10-14 years

Awards: 2009 Outstanding International Book, USBBY winner; 2008 Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature

Reviews: Voice of Youth Advocates (February 1, 2010)

Subject/Themes: Classical Music; Fiddling; Maturation; Boys; Uncles; Violinists; Muskoka, Ontario; Canada; the Great Depression

Character Names: Ben Mercer, Uncle Henry, Mary Mercer, Jake Mercer, Cal Moore, Ernie Franks, Captain Corbett, Ambrose Heidman, Jed, Claude, Ruth Chapman, John Hotchkiss, Alvin Saulter

Brief Annotation: Fifteen-year-old Ben Mercer dreams of escaping his Depression-Era Muskoka life and becoming a violinist.