The Naked Club is a young adult coming-of-age novel written by Russell James. When Drew was six, something momentous and strange happened. He was playing in a fountain in the park on a hot summer day, and he and Ryder, his 4-year-old cousin, were racing through the jets of water and relishing the cold water as it hit their naked bodies. Suddenly, there was another boy in the water with them. He was wearing a Bugs Bunny swimsuit and seemed older than Drew. They greeted each other, and Drew began to feel undressed, but the stranger pulled off his swimsuit instead. Their chasing, splashing and joyful play were short-lived, however, as the moment was abruptly shattered by the strained looks on the faces of Drew's mother and Aunt Dee, Ryder's mom. There was a policeman with them, who ordered the boys to get dressed. Aunt Dee protested that nudity was a natural state for such young children, but her defiance only resulted in a citation. The stranger seemed to be having his own problems with his parents who were reprimanding him and hastily redressing him in his bathing suit. The mood may have been broken, but the memory remained strong in both Drew's and the stranger's minds.
Russell James' young adult coming-of-age novel,
The Naked Club, is lyrical and compelling. While the bulk of the action takes place six years later, when Drew is 12 and Ryder is 10, the mood of this work is beautifully set by the momentary flash of freedom that they experienced in the fountain as small children. The reader instantly becomes aware of the closeness of the two boys which is mirrored by the amicable relationship of their moms. Aunt Dee and Ryder's presence in the house with Drew and his mother is harmonious and seems so beneficial for them all. I loved feeling privy to the discovery of the tree house along with Drew and Ryder, seeing as their imaginations take over and watching as the long-deserted structure gives them a sense of autonomy and identity.
The Naked Club is often moving and, at other times, hilariously funny, and it captures so well the turbulence and wonder of coming of age. It's most highly recommended.
