Asking the River

In a series of episodic chapters linked more by a common theme than by a central plot, Step, age 13, explores his ambivalent and sometimes angry feelings about balancing his Armenian roots with his family's life in America. Step observes that he and many of his Armenian peers ``would have liked to be Americans ourselves, but not if it meant giving up whatever else we were.'' In the course of this novel, Step struggles through a second stint in fifth grade, watches his father sacrifice his dream of being a chef for a factory job, and spends his free time in the company of Armenian friends whose more sophisticated life inspires a greater sense of ambition in him. Though Kherdian's writing is skillful, Step's voice and the complex issues of cultural identity that are the focus of his struggle are at odds with his age and supposed difficulties in school. Readers are not shown the instances of racism Step feels are targeted at the Armenians in school, and the boy's inner turmoil may prove difficult for readers to relate to. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)