On Tuesday I finished a book called YOU by Charles Benoit. I was reading it aloud to my classes. It was a great book, but there were things that were not wrapped up nicely at the end. SO, my seniors encouraged me to send the author a message. Here is what I wrote:
I just finished reading YOU as a read aloud to my 4 classes. My seniors especially are beside themselves with how the book ended. They are especially concerned with what happened to Zach. They want to know if you are going to write a second book...which I told them probably not.
Can you offer them anything further about the end of the book?
Thank you in advance!
P.S.
We LOVED this book. SO well written...and it so captured the mind of a high school student.
ALSO...the point of view....fascinating!!!
Well, imagine my surprise when I received an email from the author that same day. Here is what he wrote:
Thanks so much for the note - it really made my day. This is the first time that I've heard from a teacher/class that did the book as a read aloud. How'd that go? What was the tone you took with the voice? I always saw it as a sort of matter-of-fact narration, like a voice-over in a documentary, rather cool and detached. But that's just me. The folks that did the audio version took a different approach...can't say I'm a big fan but that was their decision.
Ah, the ending! When I started out writing the book, I knew I wanted a WTF ending (wild, thrilling finish...obviously) and I like to hear when it worked. And what I think happens to Zack is unimportant - it's what you think happens that really matters. But since you've all probably discussed what you think happens (without me there to hear, by the way), here's what I think happens to Zack:
Nothing.
Sure, he's got some explaining to do, but he's so smooth it'll all roll off him. As he predicted earlier, he'll get bored at Midlands or, even better for his reputation and ego, he'll be asked to leave. He'll start off at yet another school, doing what he's always done, using people for his own enjoyment. There is no redemption, no guilt, no justice.
One of the first schools I spoke at when the book came out was in Austin, Texas. It was a public school with a Middle School Honors program and the teacher told me that the students had some tough questions about the book. I remember thinking, 'Middle School Honors? Right. How hard is this going to be?' Then I got the first question from a student. "Given his unusually suave demeanor, his vast reading background and his innate ability to manipulate the actions of others, is it fair to say that Zack is the devil incarnate?" I mumbled something about metaphors and similes ( which I got confused and had to be corrected by another student), but the truth is I had never thought of anything like that. However, I like that idea so much that I'm now telling folks that yes, yes indeed, that was my intention all along. (Unless you've got something better.) So if Zack is Satan--and I know a Middle School Honors student who says he is--I guess that he keeps going on, collecting souls and keeping the Buffalo Bills from having a winning season again in my lifetime.
As for another book, yup, it's in the works. It's not in second person and it's not quite as dark. It's a YA romantic comedy caper novel meaning the book is about our protagonists planning and committing a big crime, in this case it's stealing a painting from an art gallery. And even though it's a ro-co, let's just say I plan on a dark, noir-ish ending. I've got three chapters left to go and should be working on it right now, so thanks for the chance to procrastinate! I've attached the first chapter for your reading pleasure. The working title is Fall From Grace. [Kari - Please simply read it to the class - my editor would freak if she knew you printed copies and passed them out]
So thanks again for the note and keep reading.
Cheers,
Charles
My students were so excited by this!! This was our little brush with fame!
