The Greening Of Ben Brown

Michael Strelow weaves the story of a town and its mysteries in his debut novel, "The Greening of Ben Brown. Ben Brown moves to East Leven, Oregon, after recovering from an electrocution that has not left him dead but has turned him green. He befriends 18-year-old Andrew James, and together they unearth a chemical spill cover-up that forces the town to confront its demons, and its citizens to choose sides. Strelow's lyrical prose and talent for storytelling come together in this poetic and important first work that looks at how place and natural environment are inextricably linked. "The Greening of Ben Brown belongs on the shelves between "Winesburg, Ohio and "To Kill a Mockingbird, and readers of both will have a new story to cherish.