Early Book Review: You Will Call Me Drog by Sue Cowing

You Will Call Me Drog by Sue Cowing is a children's book due to be released in September 2011. It is a quirky story for children between eight and thirteen. Parker is a normal sixth grader, at least as far is he is concerned. The only unusual things about him are that his parents are divorced and his best friend is a girl. Not all that unusual in the grand scheme of things. When he and his friend Wren find a green hand puppet while scouting for things to build with things start to get strange. Wren warns him that he should leave the puppet alone, but he brings it home anyway. When he tries, the ugly puppet on it immediately commands, "You will call me Drog!" From then on the two are inseparable, but not by choice. No matter what Parker does, he cannot get Drog off his hand. Drog's comments are rude, snide and sometimes downright mean. Nevertheless, sometimes it seems like Drog might just be saying what Parker is keeping bottled up inside himself. Parker has been trying so hard to keep everyone around him happy, that he often just follows the path of least resistance so that he will not upset or offend anyone else. Could the key to getting Drog off his hand be to really listen to what he is saying, and listen to his own heart as well?

You Will Call Me Drog is funny, and sometimes a little scary. The thought process and emotions Parker shares with readers, as well as his interactions with others, feel very real. His situation is very believable, aside from the snide puppet, and one than many children can relate to easily. The visits to the psychiatrist and soul searching by Parker might make it more acceptable to readers, who might not otherwise allow themselves the same freedom, to let go and do some soul searching about what they really want. The aikido and lessons about being strong enough to look weak are also something that everyone can stand to hear and remember. I really like how the truth of whether Drog really could take, or was part of Parker's way of dealing with his situation, is really left to the reader in the end. A little ambiguity here gives Parker, and readers, the trust and respect that they really want from the world around them. The belief that they are smart enough to understand and be honest with themselves and the people in their lives.

I think that You Will Call Me Drog would be a great book for children dealing with divorce or separation in their family. It can also be helpful for children that might find their own wants and needs lost because their main goals are to keep everyone they care about happy. Adults, like me, that do the same thing could also benefit from sharing this book with the children in their lives. Speaking up and being true to yourself even if it might make someone else momentarily uncomfortable is a lesson many of us need to be reminded of.