"Strong character study"

Following a nasty divorce from her Air Force pilot husband, Lenna Swanson accompanied by her fourteen year old son Kenny moves to Idaho. Kenny's only interest lies in the rodeo. However, he acquiesces to his mom's plea to not participate until she completes her probation period at her new job so they can have health insurance to cover any injuries. Kenny's loneliness intensifies when his father dies in a plane crash.

Lenna begins seeing rodeo star Roddy Moyers. Because he reveres Roddy, Kenny is all for his mother dating his idol. Roddy also spends time with musically talented high school senior Cynthia Dustin, over a decade younger than him. Kenny becomes agitated when he finds a treasure trove of his deceased father's stuff, but Cynthia's friendship helps him cope. Roddy leaves town for the rodeo circuit while Kenny and Cynthia innocently fall asleep together only to have her abusive father discover them lying down together. Now the troubles begin.

This low key small town tale is a deep look at individuals struggling with loneliness and a disbelief in love, but finds some solace with one another. Roddy finds love in fan adulation. Cynthia doubts it exists. Lenna believes that only her son truly cares for her. Finally, though he accepts his mom's love for him, even the adolescent Kenny ponders whether his father loved him and if so why did he remarry? Though the action is minor, fans of modern day contemporary tales will enjoy LOVE AND COUNTRY as Christina Adam provides a strong character study.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 21, 2003

Summary

Fourteen-year-old Kenny Swanson and his mother, Lenna, have just moved to a small ranching town in Idaho. When Kenny learns that he isn't yet allowed to ride broncos in his new community, he is hugely disappointed--but here begins a complex and poignant year of growth for him and others in LOVE AND COUNTRY. Kenny's first love, Cynthia, is a singular girl with a common longing for escape; Roddy, the boy's hero, is a small-time rodeo star whose genuine charisma attracts too many. As Lenna struggles to find a place for herself--alone with her son, surrounded by vast and sometimes frightening open spaces--Kenny faces death on a hunting trip, risks the consequences of breaking colts, helps a mare to foal, and learns the meaning of forgiveness. Lives intersect in a medley of grief, longing, and love, as Adam's characters find challenges in being outsiders and strength in making connections at the most important moments. Like the migrating geese that catch Kenny's attention, they fly first in different directions, eventually gathering together in formation.