Pure Spring

Brian, D. (2007) Pure spring. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.

Author:
Brian Doyle

Summary:
15 year old Martin O’Boy has lied about his age to get his job at Pure Springs, an Ottowan soda company. But his partner Randy knows this and his now blackmailing him to help him steal from customers. Martin must come up with a plan to stop Randy’s thieving so that he can get the girl of his dreams, Gerty McDowell, the granddaughter of one of the customers Randy has ripped off.

Response and Reaction:
Martin is cost in the moral dilemma of protecting himself or protecting strangers and his own morality. He handles these situations in a way that teenagers can relate to and does not make the decision to do the right thing right away. It is interesting to see the setting of Korean War and Cold War Canada and see the reaction to the “Red Scare.”

Format:
Young Adult Novel

Age Range:
15-18 years old

Themes:
Age, working, young love, grandparent, family, stealing, morals, racism