The Other Side
By Heather Camlot
Reviewed by Rachel - Grade 8
Rating: 4/5
I picked this book up to read merely because it was one of the Red Maple Nominees for 2021. I challenged myself to read all ten of the nominees this year; so, without knowing anything about the book in advance, I picked it up from the library. And boy, was I surprised when I dove in. The story follows Liam Reimolds, a 12-year-old boy, who, after finding the body of a teenage girl on the shores by his grandfather’s cottage, battles his racing thoughts and warring emotions caused by the traumatic scene he endured. In addition, Liam's dying grandfather has decided to reveal the truth about his past to him, and the stories he tells about serving as a German soldier in World War 2 are unnerving. As the pages turn, Liam learns more about his grandfather's past and uses this knowledge to uncover the mystery of the dead girl on the beach.
Tying historical fiction, mystery and sports into the mix, author Heather Camlot created a wonderful storyline. I found that I could easily relate to Liam in his struggles; from his restless thoughts and unease about his recent experiences, right down to his annoyance at his younger sister, Elvy. I was, however, surprised that this book was targeted at readers in grades 6-8. It had some advanced topics in it, but the reading level was low, especially compared to some of the other Red Maple Nominees this year. I would recommend this book to kids in grades 4-6, particularly those who are interested in multiple genres of books. Overall, this was an exciting, unpredictable page-turner, and a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.