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Review

Mel Bossa’s Split is a sweet coming-of-age, romance novel set in Montreal. The story alternates between entries from eleven year-old Derek’s journal and his current day emotional struggles with his fiancé, Nathan. The journal entries are a touching recount of a childhood challenged by emotionally distant parents and a growing understanding of his emerging sexuality.

Stylistically, emotionally and intellectually the childhood writings are beyond the maturity level of an eleven year-old. Although Derek’s childhood tale is both moving and engaging it may have been more believable had the character been just a few years older.

Bossa’s characters are not one-dimensional. Even Nate, the novel’s clear antagonist, is at times sympathetic when the target of Derek’s passive aggressive behavior. Derek himself is clearly damaged from his childhood, yet his refusal to respond to those who reach out to him and his inevitable emotional collapse make him seem real and not the flat, tragic character he might otherwise have been.

The most enjoyable character by far is Derek’s own Auntie Mame in the form of his Aunt Fran. She swoops in when he is abandoned by his parents and is the one constant, encouraging presence in his life. Aunt Fran is at the center of the book’s most light-hearted moments as well as its most touching. Bossa’s Split is a pleasant, quick read.

 -- Mike Nadeau