FOLLOWING FAKE MAN

A humorous adventure with a mystery, infused with a bone-deep understanding of the artistic ego. Homer Winthrop has been raised by a withdrawn and rigid mother known as Doctor Winthrop along with the recent addition of Madeleine, a fuzzy-haired free-spirited housekeeper. Arriving at a summer cottage that Homer remembers in his heart but not his head, he meets talkative Roger Sweeney and finds himself pulled into friendship and the pursuit of the mystery of Fake Man. Roger’s home and style of approach to life contrast vividly with Homer’s restrictive upbringing. The mystery of Fake Man pulls the boys together and while taking turns being cowards, Homer finds an even more puzzling mystery to explore close to home. Gradually it becomes clear that Homer’s father is connected to this Maine resort and that Fake Man and his mother not only know each other, but are disturbed by each other’s presence. Homer has a simultaneous naïveté about the world and a sophisticated appreciation of it. His unique voice is interspersed with Roger’s coloring-book style commentary and, more sparsely, Doctor Winthrop and Madeleine’s reflections. His artistic drive and unique way of seeing is something Homer conveys to readers with a madcap originality and humor. A laugh and a sigh. (Fiction. 11-14)