St. Michael's Scales

In Practical English I we have begun reading St. Michael's Scales. This story is about a young man named Keegan who has recently come to believe that his mother's hospitalization and his brother running away are all his fault. All the problems that his family has been faced with over the years are the result of his doings. Keegan was born with a twin brother, Michael, who did not survive the day after their birth. Keegan believes that it was Michael and not himself who should have lived. The pain that drives his mother into a psyche ward and pushes his entire family to the brink of complete destruction is met head on just fourteen days before his 16th birthday, the day he has decided to restore balance to the natural order of things and end his life.

Keegan's resolve to die is not enough. He believes that Michael calls to him from heaven and he must pay penance for the years he lived and Michael has not. In his remaining days on earth, Keegan has decided to pay this penance by standing in the light-weight spot on the high school wrestling team.

Keegan's struggle is one that brings new perspective on coping with loss, child parent relationships, and growing up. In our class, we will read this book, discuss some of the big issues involved with it, and hopefully learn a little about what it takes to make it through tuff times.