To Become a Brother Garners a Strong Review!

To Become a Brother is a novel that follows young Lucas, whose father was killed in a training accident at an Army base, devastating his mother and changing their family’s happiness and trajectory. Lucas’ former association with Mr. Andy, a firefighter, introduces him to the rigors and experiences of being a firefighter, leading him to formulate this goal for his own future.

Life changes yet again when Lucas is forced to leave his firefighter friend and home in Abernathy to enter a series of foster homes after his mother’s death, where violence and confrontation rule his days.

As he struggles with bullying, instability, distancing himself from drugs, and constant moves between foster homes, Lucas finds himself ever further from the comfort of family and the promise of the career which can change his life.

Still, life has a way of coming full circle—and so it does when Lucas encounters and embraces relationships from earlier in his life, albeit he is much-changed from the boy he used to be.

Lindy Bell does a great job of describing the forces that buffet young Lucas and change the direction of not only his life and loves, but his psyche. These are convincingly portrayed in a tale that embraces coming-of-age themes, yet quickly moves beyond them to follow adult concerns and issues which blossom around Lucas and affect his perceptions and ambitions.

Bell is masterful at crafting a story which works on many different levels as it charts personal growth, interpersonal relationships, the rising drug situation in schools, and how Lucas becomes a key force in saving others (albeit not in the way he’d initially envisioned).

By building contemporary issues and scenarios into her story, Bell crafts a thoroughly involving, realistic tale that incorporates a key character from Brotherhood by Fire, the first book in her Beyond the Badge series, but allows To Become a Brother to stand nicely alone for newcomers.

Libraries seeking young adult novels steeped in contemporary issues, insights on firefighting camaraderie and experiences, and adult themes of drug dealing and murder will find To Become a Brother filled with exciting twists and insights that are especially highly recommended for Bell’s prior readers.

This audience will find Lucas’s continued growth and evolution to be powerful supporters of his introductory role in Brotherhood by Fire, adding history and events that cover how he enters into adulthood with purpose and passion.

Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review/Diane Donovan, Editor, Donovan’s Literary Services

Purchase your copy of To Become A Brother here: https://www.amazon.com/Become-Brother-Beyond-Badge/dp/1736560468

Happy Reading!