• Age: 16 to 18

Michael Grove was sixteen years old when he was convicted for the murder of Lisa Conroy, the girlfriend he loved very much. The circumstances surrounding her final hours attract considerable media attention, especially because Michael and Lisa had sex just prior to her death. A public outcry against light penalties for young offenders ensures Michael is tried as an adult; he receives a harsh and severe penalty. Six months into his imprisonment, the true murderer confesses. Michael is released but quickly finds that the stigma of imprisonment and the (wrongful) rap for murder is not an easy thing to escape out on the streets.

 

No one has a clearer view of Atlantic Canada's literary endeavours over the past twenty years than Lesley Choyce. He is the founder of the literary journal Pottersfield Portfolio, and the publisher of Pottersfield Press. He has edited several fiction anthologies and has been the in-house editor of many books from Pottersfield Press including Making Waves, a collection of stories by emerging authors from Atlantic Canada. He is the author of more than fifty books in genres ranging from poetry and essays to autobiography, history and fiction for adults, young adults, and children. Among his recent books are the novels The Republic of Nothing, World Enough, and Cold Clear Morning, and the story collection Dance the Rocks Ashore. Choyce is the writer, host, and co-producer of the popular literary show television program, Off the Page with Lesley Choyce, which is broadcast across the country on Vision TV. He also teaches in the English department of Dalhousie University in Halifax and is leader of the rock band The Surf Poets.

Lesley Choyce's profile page

"The Book of Michael will have great appeal for young adult readers, both male and female. Tension and emotion are the cornerstones of what is a gripping psychological story. The challenging topics woven within the book seem guaranteed to spark interest and discussion among readers.
Highly recommended."
— CM Magazine

"Examining redemption and re-assimilation, Choyce's sober style rewards readers."
— School Library Journal

"(Choyce's) prose is sparse, uncluttered, and thoughtful. Choyce could have taken an easy way out, but opts instead for an ending that challenges the reader."
— The Hamilton Spectator

"Thought-provoking. It paints a vivid portrait of the tempestuousness of the teen years. . . This is a powerful book with a conclusion that haunting, controversial, and unexpected... both to the characters and the readers. It will undoubtedly leave people thinking about it for a long time to come."
— Atlantic Books Today

"Without descending into stock problem-solving or rote moralizing, Michael's mentors provide commentary regarding acceptance and change."
— Kirkus

The Book of Michael

Michael Grove endured the unimaginable when he was sent to adult prison after being wrongly convicted of the murder of his girlfriend, Lisa. Deprived of the girl he loved, the respect of everyone in his town and his own freedom, Michael still found ways to survive in jail. When the novel begins, the real killer has confessed and Michael is free – but liberty is hard to enjoy when the reception at home is so chilly. Almost everyone acts as if he is guilty of something and it takes all of Michael’s courage to get on a bus, let alone return to school. Eventually he does settle into a new, guarded routine and finds a few people who can help him move forward with his life.

Michael has the benefit of a couple years of hindsight as he looks back on the period following his release, and his narration touches on many mature topics including sex, drugs, prejudice and violence. The story behind Michael’s rebellious youth and wrongful incarceration is compelling and unpredictable and it illustrates how often people judge others without understanding the reality of their lives. Michael’s psychology is explored in depth and while readers might disagree with Michael’s choices, Lesley Choyce certainly gives us the opportunity to understand them. Michael’s struggle to recover from a tragedy that was not his fault is a wrenching story but, more broadly, it also addresses the struggles of many children who deal with situations that they do not create or control.