Downsiders
by Neal ShustermanReviews
Amazon.com
Meticulous 14-year-old Lindsay isn't exactly thrilled about moving to the chaos that she believes is New York City. Her flighty "career college student" mom, now divorced, has dumped her on her city engineer dad, "a man who lived his life twenty minutes behind schedule and in a perpetual state of apology." Lindsay is certain that nothing better awaits her than prep school boredom and constant battles with her evil stepbrother Todd. But she is wrong. Quite by accident, Lindsay discovers an unusual boy named Talon who resides in a secret city beneath New York--a kind of underground Oz called the Downside. Talon and Lindsey are fascinated by the differences in their dual worlds and soon grow equally fascinated with each other. But when Lindsay's dad's construction project hits a snag that reveals the Downside, it is not only the blooming relationship that hangs in the balance, but the entire future of the Downside as well.Downsiders is both funny and compelling. But while Lindsay and Talon's observations of their distinct environments is humorous (Talon compares Lindsay's French braid to a "gator's tail" and, despite Talon's explanation that "time is of low importance," Lindsay still thinks it's strange that Talon wears his watch around his ankle), Neal Shusterman also uses their relationship to illustrate how much a particular culture both shapes our identity and affects how we view people from backgrounds other than our own. This call to look beneath the surface is cleverly and subtly woven through an original story with broad appeal. -Jennifer Hubert
nancymatson.com
Talon Angler is a Downsider. He lives beneath the tunnels of New York City, subsisting off the castoffs of the Topsiders who live above ground. Like most other Topsiders, young Lindsay is unaware of Downsider society. One night, she's abruptly awakened to the existence of this other world when Talon crawls into her house through a hole in the ground to seek medicine for his sick sister.Despite warnings Talon's received from the Wise Advisors about how cruel Topsiders can be, he finds himself continually drawn to surface life, and to Lindsay. But something in him rebels. He even breaks the ultimate rule, and brings Lindsay to the Downside to show her the beauty of his world.
And she sees the beauty . The ceilings covered with old subway tokens and earrings that have been flushed down the toilet. The earthy smell. The clothing lovingly crafted out of lint, scraps of cloth, and bottle caps. But when her presence is discovered, Talon must pay dearly for his violation. And when a construction project threatens to unearth the secret world of the Downsiders, Talon and Lindsay must both decide how to proceed. Should they try to save the world? And if so, how? And which world is more important?
Downsiders is a good read for anyone drawn to this type of fantastic storyline. There are a few weak moments -- such as when the duo find themselves pursued by angry bovines, as if! -- but the premise is carried through pretty well to a satisfying conclusion.
Where to get the book
Amazon
Written by: Neal Shusterman
15 December 2005
