When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton
Posted by: Cindy Dobrez and Lynn Rutan
Lynn: This quiet little masterpiece is one of my favorite books this year. When the Whistle Blows (Penguin/Philomel 2009) may be a debut novel but Slayton writes with a polished skill that many a veteran author would envy. The novel has an interesting construction – seven complete short stories that build upon each other, adding layer upon layer of understanding of the characters, the setting and the relationships that bind them all together. The last story completes the arc begun with the first; the emotional journey reflected perfectly. Each story is set on All Hallows Eve in the small town of Rowlesburg, West Virginia, beginning in 1943 and ending in 1949. The narrator, young Jimmy Cannon relates the tales of growing up in a small town; Halloween pranks, football games, spying on the men’s Society meetings. Rowlesburg is a railroad town and the Cannons are a railroad family. Jimmy wants nothing more than to follow his father and older brothers into working on the steam trains that are the life blood of the town. But diesel trains are replacing steam and Jimmy’s taciturn father foresees the job losses and changes ahead and urges Jimmy to see what’s surely coming down the track and go to college instead.
Slayton’s stories are nostalgic but it is a nostalgia bred of a clear-eyed vision of the entire scope of life in that place and in that time. There are common experiences we all recognize, tales that made me laugh out loud, stories of tragedy and most of all, woven throughout, is a picture of loyalty, love and quiet nobility. When the Whistle Blows is the story of a young man growing up and awakening to the world and of his unfolding understanding of his father and what it means to be a man.
Slayton writes with an understated economy that has immense and lasting power. Jimmy’s voice drove straight into my heart and I defy anyone to read the last two stories without tears!
The classroom possibilities are endless: terrific for English teachers teaching writing, wonderful for read-alouds and for historical fiction assignments accompanying twentieth-century studies and a fabulous “guy” book.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:22 am
I agree! I’m glad you highlighted this wonderful book.
January 7th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
[...] When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton. Penguin/Philomel, 2009. [...]
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:46 am
[...] I immediately listen to Lynn when she really begs me to read a book? She wrote a solo blog for When the Whistle Blows (Philomel, 2009) last October when I hadn’t gotten to it. Everything about the premise spoke [...]
July 14th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
I grew up during this era in Rowlesburg, WV and was a classmate of Jimmy Cannon. This story brings back many fond memories of my youth — there is some fiction, but mostly truth. I love this book and recommend it to anyone who loves a good read.