Review of Isosceles by Scott R. Caseley

This World of Ink Tour is dedicated to the young adult novel, ISOSCELES, by Scott R. Caseley, published by MuseItUp Publishing. Congratulations, Scott, for an interesting look into the problems and psychology of children and teens.

On the very first day of Sean McIntyre and Trey Goodsby’s acquaintance in first grade,  we see the warning signs that this relationship is bound for trouble. As Trey builds a structure of blocks, Sean (jealous of the attention directed at Trey) throws a triangular block at him, but the block hits another first-grader, Madeline Edwards. Soon the reader realizes charming Trey has a talent for mischief-making leadership. Sean remains the quiet follower, and Madeline becomes the third member of this unusual grouping.

Then it happens that Sean’s mother and Trey’s father knew each other years ago and now decided to finish what they had started. So the two families break up. The two boys are unhappy, and defiant Trey leads Sean into to stealing. Trey predicts Sean and Madeline will marry, but it seems unlikely since they are simply friends.

As the three friends progress through school, Madeline tries to smooth things over between the boys and  their truant parents, to no avail. Trey continues to steal things, but when Sean’s mother warns him about Trey, Sean is resentful. His father says:

“She worries, Sean. That’s all. She’s just doing her motherly duty letting you

know she cares how you choose to live your life,” he said with tenderness.

“Was it part of her ‘motherly duty’ to leave us?” As I asked the question, the

color left his face, his eyes lost all expression, and he walked out of the room

without saying another word. As I had when Trey rode off on stolen bicycle, I just

watched Pop leave while I remained motionless not knowing what to do or say. I

felt a surge of guilt in an instant. One day, I prayed I’d be able to say the right

things to help someone. Never again, I vowed would I make anyone feel pain by

my words or my silence.

The game of MASH predicts that Madeline will marry Sean, but she says she never thought of him in those terms; and this years after Trey had predicted the very same thing.

Sean’s mother dies of an aneurism and the reception following the funeral is at Sean’s home. Madeline’s mother had committed suicide when she was a little girl.

The triangle drifts apart through the high school years. Then after  years of separation, the three go to a dance together. The evening turns out to be a date for Trey and Madeline while Sean becomes a wall flower.

Over the course of the story, Madeline falls in love with Trey, Sean falls in love with Madeline, and Trey loves all the girls. A lop-sided threesome. Madeline tries unsuccessfully to improve Trey, but he continues to lie and even drops out of school. Trey makes love to Madeline, but feels so guilty he tries to kill himself. His self-loathing finally makes him succeed and Sean gives a touching eulogy at Trey’s funeral.

Though Trey dies, there is a somewhat happy ending with an enduring hopeful prospect.

The finer psychological points are revealed slowly throughout the story, so I’ll leave it to you, dear reader, to decide which leg of the isosceles triangle was the short one.

ISOSCELES is available at MuseItUp Publishing and other fine book stores: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=562&category_id=53&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

I enjoyed reading the review copy supplied by Virginia Grenier of World of Ink Tours.