The Trouble With Spitt

By Vicki Blum

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 The Trouble with Spitt

"'There's a ghost in the house next door,' said Spitt."

So begins Vicki Blum's story about two small-town Mormon boys in Alberta, Canada -- Kevin Thompson and Spitt Wilburson. Kevin is the calm one, thoughtful, well-behaved, and cautious. Spitt is everything Kevin isn't. Everyone knows a Spitt. He's that hyperactive, pre-adolescent boy that doesn't settle down for anyone and is always mentally working on his next project while he half-finishes his present project.

The Trouble With Spitt is Kevin's narrative of their discovery of a cantankerous old man living in a large house in the neighborhood. Mr. Horvath is an escapee from Russian-occupied Hungary. Spitt and Kevin become friends with this colorful senior citizen, and they spent lots of time together. Through Kevin's efforts, Mr. Horvath becomes interested in Mormonism.

Other notable characters are Kevin's typical Mormon mother and his pesky little sister, Cindy. Kevin's father is an engineer in the oil fields and is frequently absent from the home for long periods of time. Not much is revealed about Spitt's family except that they are less active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the objects of Kevin's mother's fellowshipping zeal. Spitt, whose real name is Montgomery, attends church meetings with the Thompsons. There is also the town bully, Marvin Ritchie, who plays a small but significant part in the story.

From the moment I sat down with The Trouble With Spitt I had to keep reminding myself that I was supposed to be reading it to review it. I couldn't keep my mind on my task, but rather kept drifting into just plain enjoying the story. Blum's narration on Kevin's behalf was engaging and entertaining. I had the sensation that I was a neighbor of the Thompsons, enoying watching as these two fun-loving young men gave life to the phrase, "boys will be boys."

The story is full of good moral lessons, though none are presented overtly. Within this brief juvenile novel we learn about forgiveness, overcoming adversity, confession, restitution, integrity, helpfulness, and charity. I expected there to be some ethics taught, but was pleased that the teaching was neither trite nor obvious.

I sat and listened for a while as my older daughter, Melissa, read the book to her younger brothers. It sounds as good as it reads and held their attention. They tend to be rather Spitt-like themselves, and it takes a story about one of their own to keep them attuned.

Blum left lots of room for making a sequel or even a series. Oh, please, let it be a series! I don't know if I can bear to not hear all about the teen years of Spitt and Kevin or even their missions.