The Last Martin

Gr 5—7—Martin Boyle was "born dead," his lifeless body placed on his mother. Suddenly the baby moves. From that moment on, his mother does everything in her power to protect him from anything that could possibly harm him. In fact, she crosses over into paranoia and obsessive behavior. Martin's friend Charley is used to him getting on the bus each day with his portable air bag strapped to his chest and his mother running to school to check on his safety. During an annual trip to visit the old family cemetery, the boy realizes a strange correlation among the Martins in the family. It is tradition that the first boy be named Martin, but each time a new Martin is born, the old one must die. His Aunt Jenny is pregnant with a boy, due shortly. Martin knows that his days are numbered so his actions become reckless, which lands him in detention and gives him a chance to get to know his crush, Julia. He has been writing a story about a white knight, a black knight, and a princess, which Julia loves. The story symbolizes an escape that both Julia, a foster child, and Martin crave. The crisis of Martin's impending death is the joining factor in this odd hodgepodge of characters, including Poole, a spirited but unkempt homeless boy. They form a bond in trying to keep Martin alive. This is a sobering read in many respects as many of the adults are directly responsible for the emotional baggage these children carry. Julia fights against it, Poole runs away, Martin's sister cowers, but Martin triumphs. Minor characters such as the physical education teacher who employs completely illegal means of punishment will further fuel readers' angst. This is a great choice for discussions.—Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC