Labor Day (novel)

Henry Wheeler, a man in his early 30s, recounts his thirteenth year. As Labor Day weekend approaches, 13-year-old Henry sees no reason why this weekend should be any different. He expects it to be as lonely as the rest of the summer, only watching television, playing with his pet hamster and fantasizing about his female classmates.

Henry shares his life in New Hampshire with his depressed, and divorced mother, Adele. Adele's agoraphobia means that the family survives on unedifying tinned foods and frozen meals. On the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend, Henry persuades his mother to go on a shopping trip. There, they meet an unkempt man who is bleeding from his forehead and agree to his request for a ride in their car.

This mysterious man, Frank, admits that he is a convicted murderer who has escaped prison. Despite his past, Frank makes the claim that the mother and son have "never been in better hands". Indeed, Frank teaches Henry how to throw a baseball, change a flat tire and to bake. Meanwhile, Adele and Frank, long love-starved, become infatuated with each other, and Adele emerges from her depression.^[1]

The Washington Post noted that "It is a testament to Maynard's skill that she makes this ominous setup into a convincing and poignant coming-of-age tale."^[1] In The New York Times, author Jodi Picoult praised the work; "Joyce Maynard is in top-notch form with Labor Day. Simply a novel you cannot miss."^[2]