Losing Is Not an Option: Stories by Rich Wallace

"Like a photograph to keep in an album, or like something slippery that I'd try my best to hold on to."

Written in a very unique way, Losing is Not an Option tells nine stories from the perspective of Ron, an adolescent. Something really cool about this narrative is that it tracks Ron from junior high through his senior year of high school, which gives the reader a strong emotional attachment to him. Progressing through his adolescent years just as any of us would, Ron--a competitive runner--battles friend conflicts, family drama, his first crushes, love, and more, all the while being an athlete. 

This book portrays adolescent life very realistically and accurately, which is something many books targeted at junior high sometimes fail to do. The nine stories featured in this book are just life. There is no middle school fluff. The book demonstrates that Ron goes through hard times and great time, just as any of us do in life. When you're in high school, though, you think that something like losing a friend is the end of the world. And maybe in the moment it is, and that's why each major "event" has its own chapter in the book. After all, what's life if not a bunch of chapters?

One of the most poignant points of the book, for me, is the chapter dealing with the death of Ron's grandfather. Losing a grandparent is a devastating event for many adolescents, especially those who have close relationships with them. Not getting along with his father probably makes Ron even more nostalgic for the closeness he had with his grandfather, as it is a painful reminder of everything he lacks with his own father. Rummaging through his grandfather's old belongings at his house, Ron recognizes that we are shaped by the events that have strong emotional impacts on us. Posing a key question that encapsulates what the book aims to teach, Ron wonders, "How long can a place remain the same? Maybe forever, if you leave it alone. I'll keep the key, but I know I can't go back."

Each event/chapter in this novel affects Ron in one way or another. Ultimately, though, once portions of our lives pass, that chapter remains closed. I loved how the book mirrored that. Highly recommend.