Whatever

Young Adult Fiction. Sixteen-year-old Darrah is in trouble. She lost her temper and, as a result, Mrs. Johnson, was hurt. Now the RCMP is demanding Darrah participate in something called "Restorative Justice." Darrah has to face Mrs. Johnson, her parents, a policewoman, and a "facilitator" who all sit in a circle and decide on Darrah's "sanctions." Sanctions aren't punishments, the facilitator tells her. At first Darrah doesn't believe this—helping Mrs. Johnson two afternoons a week feels like punishment. But then Darrah realizes that she likes helping the older woman, especially when Mrs. Johnson teaches Darrah how to cook and bake (her recipes are included in the book). It turns out, however, that Mrs. Johnson is hiding a secret—she is going blind. Along with Robin, Mrs. Johnson's grandson, Darrah discovers this secret, and the two become co-conspirators, hiding the older woman's failing sight from her family. When Mrs. Johnson dies suddenly, it turns out that she was hiding two secrets: the second one an aggressive, painful, incurable cancer. Darrah discovers an empty bottle of Mrs. Johnson's pain medication. Did the old woman choose to take her own life to escape the pain and die with dignity? And if she did, what should Darrah do about what she has discovered?

Ann Walsh is the author of many books for younger readers, including Your Time, My Time; Shabash! and the Barkerville Mystery Series, set during British Columbia's gold rush. She also writes short stories, poetry and creative nonfiction pieces for adults, has compiled and edited three anthologies and is a facilitator with The Williams Lake Community Council for Restorative Justice. She lives in Williams Lake, BC, and spends part of the year in Victoria.