Title: Lowering Sun on Lake Herrick
Author: Chanse Reddick
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 9781663217035
Pages: 78
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Aly Avina
Coming-of-age stories are, to me, imperative for young audiences to read as they themselves go through the trials and tribulations of growing up and into the person they are meant to be. These types of tales are so important to modern-day literature and the story unfolded in Lowering Sun on Lake Herrick by author Chanse Reddick is a prime example of that. In this book, we meet Adam Springsten and his best friend Kevin Johnson. The two are looking to have the best college experience possible and plan to do so side-by-side, as always. But even the best-laid plans can go awry which is exactly what we see happen in Reddick’s tale of both triumph and tragedy.
While Kevin is known around campus for being the life of the party and a charmer amongst the ladies, his best buddy Adam — our protagonist — is more on the quiet side and not always into the party scene. But one fateful night, at a sorority party, Adam meets a girl that sets off a series of events which will change all of their lives forever. Adam is also inexperienced with women and hopes to change that fact about himself sooner than later. As the story progresses, he is coming out of his shell more and more and is on the path to finding his first love. But much like anything in life, with the good also comes the bad, which Adam, unfortunately, is going to learn the hard way.
For anyone who has experienced the woes of growing up and entering young adulthood, still unsure of who you are and what you hope to be, this story will certainly resonate with you. While Reddick may be a new author, his attention to detail in his storytelling is truly remarkable. I also enjoyed how, by the time you reach the final page, you are emotionally invested in each of his characters. That is not always a simple task but this author does so seamlessly.
Lowering Sun on Lake Herrick by Chanse Reddick is an excellent tale of coming into your own as a young adult as well as what it’s like to deal with great tragedy early in life. It shows the importance of surrounding yourself with those who truly matter and appreciating them every single day. Reddick is surely an author to watch and I look forward to seeing what he does next.
