Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
Mike Muñoz likes to mow lawns. So do I, and for the same reasons. Clear progress and the sensual aroma of new mown grass. When his lawn mower and tools are stolen, his livelihood disappears. In Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, we accompany Mike in his quest to achieve goals he barely acknowledges.
Like the author, Mike lives in the Seattle area – with his mother who works several jobs, his older brother, Nate, who is developmentally disabled, and a succession of quasi-dad figures. He has a close childhood friend, Nick, who is foul-mouthed and racist (which Mike doesn’t like). The library is his place of calm. He often takes his brother there because Nate’s helpless aggression recedes in the library. They spend hours in this space where their acceptance is never questioned. Thus, Mike has read a lot of books, both from the new books displays and from the open shelves of classics. Of particular interest are the books recommended by librarian Andrew, who actually listens to the undertext of Mike’s woes.
Mike can’t get a break. Even when it seems he has, it falls apart, partly because he has a deep sense of loyalty and integrity. His most lucrative opportunities exploit his naivety; they are scams that use him to further his “employers’” goals. Every time he loses out, since his income is crucial to the family’s precarious well-being, his mother suffers. Nevertheless, his mother remains calm and gently supportive, assuring him she can impossibly take on more shifts in her multiple jobs.
Overriding his important yet minor accomplishments is Mike’s lack of self-confidence. He knows the world is wider than his circumstances, and he continues to try new ways of escaping the grey life of his family and community. As he inconspicuously develops from a teen to a young man, his growing maturity and life’s tough lessons lead him to his greatest treasure – self-respect. As he gradually recognizes his own self-worth, he gradually sees how to accomplish the goals that belong to him.
Jonathan Evison tells Mike’s story with generosity and humour. Honesty about the struggles of the “working poor” comes from the author’s own experiences. Not everything is bad. Moments of joy enrapture his characters.
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