Northwest Wonderland

The Highest Tide and Border Songs, by Jim Lynch


I gave The Highest Tide to my son to read, since it is aimed at teens, and on his recommendation I decided to read it for myself. Thirteen-year-old Miles O’Malley is a pint-sized insomniac and budding naturalist who spends his time in the Puget Sound tidal flats collecting specimens and studying ocean life. Both a coming of age tale and a primer on marine biology, this novel details one summer in Miles’s life, when he finds a giant squid and is suddenly the focus of intense media attention. Meanwhile, his parents are discussing divorce, he has a crush on his self-destructive former babysitter, and his oldest friend, the local psychic, warns of a coming high tide. I really enjoyed this book - it is funny and sad with a great main character, and it should appeal to adults as well as young readers.

Having read that, I immediately sought out Jim Lynch’s second novel, Border Songs. While the first book was set near Olympia, WA, this one is set at the US Canadian Border in northwestern Washington State. And while the protagonist of the first book is really short, this time we have 6’8” (2.03m) Brandon Vanderkloot - rookie border patrol agent, severe dyslexic (and possibly autistic), and compulsive landscape artist. Instead of obsessing over marine life, like Miles, Brandon is fascinated by birds and nature. The eye for detail that makes him a good artist and birdwatcher also makes him freakishly adept at spotting illegal activity along the border. After a few high profile busts, he, like Miles, has to deal with unwanted media attention.

I liked this book even more than the first one. The cast of characters is richer - in particular Brandon’s father, a struggling dairy farmer, whose wife is suffering from dementia. Then there is the Vanderkloots’ Canadian neighbor, a retired college professor who likes to provoke his more conservative neighbors to the south, and his marijuana-smuggling daughter, the object of Brandon’s affections. There are some laugh-out-loud funny moments in this book, and also wry observations on the build up of security in the wake of 9/11 and US-Canadian relations. In addition, there’s a great sense of place and a clear appreciation of the natural beauty that surrounds us in this part of the world. I understand Jim Lynch has another book coming out soon, set in Seattle. Perhaps this one will feature a main character of average stature. I can’t wait to find out.