BOOK REVIEW

Barry O’Connell launches Jesse, his first novel

Submitted by Marie White*

Within three months of starting to put his story to paper, Barry O’Connell had wrapped up his first novel. The idea, however, had been brewing for over 30 years. Then, this winter, he felt an undeniable urge, as well as the much-needed courage and determination, to begin writing the story, not as a play as originally planned, but rather as a novel. 

“Finally, it’s been done!” said the happy first-time author as he joked with the crowd at the May 25 book launch. “It’s about a young girl who goes to a new high school and makes friends with the good guys and faces the bad guys,” O’Connell summarized, then read an excerpt. Jesse’s journey leads her to confront bullying by the drug-affiliated El-Gang and the pains of peer pressure. Through it all, her compassion and resilience inspire the students around her. Jesse is a loving person who has a strong and close relationship with her dad, who guides and supports her through cell phone chats. On the journey, Jesse encounters 14 intriguing characters, such as Elsa, who struggles with epilepsy; Andre, who is effeminate; Dolly (is she pregnant?); and the bullies Stan, Cam and Matthew. 

Since the novel’s title reads Jesse, based on a true story, the challenge for readers is to discover whose true story Jesse is based on. Who is she exemplifying through her values and actions? What are the parallels that deepen the reader’s appreciation of this story? The good news is that the answers are revealed to the reader at the very end of this compact, clearly written and well-crafted book.

The powers of love, compassion and kindness lie at the heart of this work. Why write for a mainly teenage audience today about this? “I think they need to receive the message of love which Jesse portrays,” O’Connell replied. A graduate of McGill and Concordia University, the author spent his professional life with teenagers. He has written scripts for several plays as well as produced and directed eight plays presented to high school audiences. A high-school teacher for 37 years, he taught chemistry and physics for 22 years and then English for 15 at the now-closed Katimavik High School and St. Patrick’s High School. 

Though he has been retired from full-time high-school teaching for 18 years, he continues to enjoy teaching English conversation part-time. He is also a father and grandfather of two. Through this novel, O’Connell continues to reach out and inspire youth as they grapple with their current, yet truly timeless, challenges. These challenges, such as bullying, are not necessarily age-specific, which makes the novel well-suited also for adult readers or “anyone who went to high school,” the author said. 

O’Connell said he is grateful for the constant support he received for this project from his friends and family. “I would like to thank my wife, Bibiane [Lessard], for her encouragement and enthusiasm throughout the writing of this novel. Also, I would like to express my thanks to my proofreaders Colleen Bilodeau, Joan Millar, François Gagnon and David Rourke.” Lessard added with a smile that “Barry has finally realized a dream he had had for a long time and I am very, very proud of him for what he has achieved with his book.”

O’Connell, 78, said he enjoyed the experience of self-publishing. “Bibiane and I learned a whole lot about publishing and formatting,” recalled O’Connell, who hired professional help to design the cover page and establish the layout. So, does this new local author have advice for aspiring writers? He reflected for a second, then enthusiastically replied, “Yes, just dive in and get started!” 

Jesse can be purchased on Amazon in paperback for $14.07 or for $4.96 in a Kindle edition. All profits from the sale of this book will go to two youth shelters: La Maison Dauphine for homeless teens and young adults aged 12 to 35 in Quebec City and Covenant House in Toronto, the largest in Canada serving homeless, trafficked or at-risk youth.

*The writer is a retired teacher and former QCT journalist