Tag: crux

Crux is a novel about two best friends coming of age with dreams of rock climbing, and real life getting in the way of their dreams. Tamma and Dan live in Calfornia near Joshua Tree National Park, where they’re in their senior year of high school. Previously their mothers were best friends, but now Dan’s parents see Tamma as a bad influence, an unpredictable queer girl without a future, and in the way of Dan going to college. Dan and Tamma have rock climbing plans, but without money, it’s more of a gamble than usual, and they have to rely on their belief in one another.

Having enjoyed Tallent’s previous novel, My Absolute Darling, I went for Crux even though it didn’t immediately jump out as the sort of book I’d read, and I’m really glad that I did. It is a vivid picture of growing up poor in California and trying to have dreams when the only person who believes in your dreams is your best friend, and it is packed full of emotion and dusty, dangerous climbing. Even without knowing a lot of the context (I’m not American, I’ve never done rock climbing like that), I felt like I immediately was immersed in the vibe of the book and connected to the characters, especially Tamma. She’s such a standout character—a queer, seemingly feral girl who has a lot more depth than anyone other than Dan gives her credit for, and who ends up not only facing the harsh realities of her rock climbing dreams, but also putting so much work into caring for her sister’s children.

Crux is about friendship and the reality of who gets what kinds of dreams, and it is a powerful book that is as tense in its interpersonal scenes as its rock climbing ones. It really surprised me, a slow burn that drew me into the world of the characters so I felt wrung out by the end.