All That I Can Fix

by Crystal Chan

In Makersville, Indiana, people know all about Ronney—he’s from that mixed-race family with the dad who tried to kill himself, the pill-popping mom, and the genius kid sister. If having a family like that wasn’t bad enough, the local eccentric at the edge of town decided one night to open up all the cages of his exotic zoo—lions, cheetahs, tigers—and then shoot himself dead. Go figure. Even more proof that you can't trust adults to do the right thing.

Overnight, news crews, gun control supporters, and gun rights advocates descend on Makersville, bringing around-the-clock news coverage, rallies, and anti-rallies with them. With his parents checked out, Ronney is left tending to his sister’s mounting fears of roaming lions, stopping his best friend from going on a suburban safari, and shaking loose a lonely boy who follows Ronney wherever he goes. Can Ronney figure out a way to hold it together as all his worlds fall apart?

Genres: Young Adult, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Family, Fiction, Teen

320 pages, ebook

First published June 12, 2018

About the author

Crystal Chan watched with amazement at the exotic zoo outbreak in Zanesville, Ohio in 2011, where scores of animals—hungry lions, panthers, and tigers—ran loose around the county. That incident helped inspire her most recent novel, All That I Can Fix. When Crystal isn’t writing, her passion is giving diversity talks to adults and kids alike, telling stories on Wisconsin Public Radio, and hosting conversations on social media. Her debut novel, Bird, was published in nine countries and is available on audiobook in the US. She is the parent of a teenage turtle (not a ninja).

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one of those books you are either going to love or hate. All That I Can Fix is filled with an unlikable protagonist, trigger warnings* galore, & just a general weird vibe. Many will be turned off by the unflinching, harsh tone that the novel is dripping in- there is no sugarcoating here- & that's fine, but for those who are willing to venture out into an uncomfortable zone, this is a highly rewarding read.


Ronney has a lot on his plate. Living in a family with parents who have mentally checked out (a clinically depressed father, pill-addicted mother), he feels like an adult living in a boy's body. He takes care of his little sister Mina (who admittedly acts more like a 6-7 year old than her 10 years of age; trauma can stunt your emotional growth, so props to the author writing her character like that, whether intentional or not) & repairs things around the house. But there are things that Ronney cannot fix & he worries about them constantly. He also does not know how to let anyone in or try to help nor accept help. Add onto this that he finds out his best friend has been going behind his back & dating the girl he loves. Additionally, one of Mina's classmates, Michael, begins to follow Ronney, demanding a pair of jeans back leading to Ronney promising to bring Michael's older brother back home. He is helping everyone but himself & the weight of that is beginning to add up.

Ronney feels isolated from other teens & that he can't have the same childhood as they do. He gets the consequences of his parent's choices & builds up anger towards them, especially his father. He is very internally focused on what has been taken away from him & his sister & does not consider what has been taken from his parents or the mentality of why his father is "not the same as before." In that regard, Ronney's thinking is selfish & I can understand why many will not be able to sympathize with his character even if perhaps his anger is justified in some situations.

While I enjoyed most of this book, I was let down by the author's decision to fixate so much on Ronney rather than also explaining a bit on what was going on with his father. When asked why he attempted suicide, he responds with that "his life is so heavy & he just wanted it to stop" which is an accurate statement but nothing further is discussed. I was hoping for a book that didn't shy away from other topics would spend more time on this since it's a large part of the story, but was let down. It was also disappointing that his father suddenly decides to begin taking his medication (after refusing to do so for over 75% of the book), & starts to "come out of the fog." It felt like a slap in the face honestly. What about the families who struggle with this every single day? Yes, depression has its ups & downs, but it doesn't just take a turn for the better like that. Perhaps Chan felt pressure to mix in a more positive tone after so many negative things? The last few chapters were just such a downward spiral, which is why this isn't getting a higher rating. Other than that I felt the characters were fleshed out enough & especially loved Mina & Michael. The pacing is steady for the first 80%, & I could see much of myself reflected within the majority of these characters. A read that I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Highly recommend for those who want something a little different.

*Includes: racism, animal cruelty, depression/mental health stigma, gun control, runaways

[Jack Reynolds · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Warning, there will be spoilers*

When I was a kid, I always liked watching the news. In the mornings, I would turn on the TV, flip to ABC, and see what was going on in the world as I got ready for school or settled before having breakfast. In October 2011, I remembered hearing about the zoo outbreak that inspired All That I Can Fix on my local news. I just wasn’t able to place it until I read Chan’s author bio on one of the book’s flaps.

In Zanesville, Ohio, Terry Thompson, the owner of the Muskingum County Animal Farm, let fifty-five animals loose before allegedly killing himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Among these creatures were lions, tigers, and bears (oh, my), and other predators, which led local law enforcement to track down these animals in fear of public safety. Forty-nine of the animals were killed, while the rest were tranquilized and taken to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. This story broke worldwide not only due to the act of the owner letting his animals loose, but also because of the police response. Why were most of the animals killed? Was it because they were uncooperative? Were the police worried about the safety of themselves and others if they just simply tranquilized them? Or was it the only thing they could do?

These questions were most likely in Crystal Chan’s mind as she wrote this novel. I found All That I Can Fix at Barnes & Noble a week after release and could not stop thinking about it once I had read the blurb. The zoo outbreak in a small town plot wasn’t something I had seen in YA, and it had also been a while since I read a book featuring a younger protagonist than what I normally read (Ronney is fifteen). I was also interested in how Ronney could pick up the pieces of his own life as he got further involved with a kid who wants Ronney’s work jeans back, his friend, Jello, who wants to go on a safari and get pictures of the released animals, and his sister, Mina, who is starting to become more and more concerned with how Makersville, Indiana is changing.

Well, you can tell by the star rating that All That I Can Fix didn’t work for me. At all. It’s a shame, too, because I bought this with a gift card I received at my high school grad party. I wanted to like this novel more than I did. It started off fine but eventually grew into something I had to force myself to keep reading. With an unlikeable lead, a wandering plot, stiff writing, barely any character development, and a lack of subtlety, Chan’s YA debut fell flat in so many ways.

Let’s talk about Ronney first. It’s been a long time since I have disliked a main character in YA this much. At first, I understood why he’s bitingly sarcastic. His sadness over his father’s deteriorating mental state turned into anger because he felt his father wasn’t doing anything to get out of it (even though I am pretty sure that’s not how clinical depression works). Over time, however, Ronney proved to be an asshole. Aside from his relationship with his younger sister, Mina (which I did not adore but was fine enough) and his eventual friendship with Sam (whose redemption was nice but came a bit too soon), he wasn’t nice to anyone else. His sarcastic comments stopped being kind of funny around the one hundred page mark and eventually turned vile. Not only that, but he was incredibly selfish. This trait came most into play when Ronney finds out Jello and his female best friend, George, are starting to date and he flips out. Ronney, believing he and George would be a great couple due to their long friendship and because “it makes sense,” doesn’t understand what the two see in each other. Heaven forbid they’ve done anything resembling stuff he wanted to do with George if they’ve dated, especially since she has expressed time and time again she’s only interested in being friends. He then straight up ignores them for a good chunk of the novel following that and their latter inclusion didn’t feel natural.

Look, this hasn’t happened to me, but I can tell you this is not the way to go about it. The ignoring gets so bad to the point where Jello comes to Ronney’s house after a month and tells the latter to PUNCH him so that his anger can be let out. It eventually leads to forgiveness, but if that has to be decided by Ronney fighting Jello so he feels better about himself, that’s not friendship to me. Which is why it’s even more awkward when All That I Can Fix ends with Ronney kissing George EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS AND ACCEPTS THAT SHE AND JELLO ARE DATING!

There also isn’t a concrete plot in this book. At points, this felt like a soap opera. The novel starts off simple enough, with Ronney trying to get Sam off his back while the zoo outbreak begins to affect their town, but gets more complicated as the dating stuff comes out, Sam reveals he has a missing brother, and gun control/rights activists come to town and protest what’s going on from both angles. This could have been interesting, but Chan doesn’t devote equal page time to these subplots. Eventually, the story becomes one big mess.

The animal storyline, one I thought was going to be the main highlight, is shoved so far to the background I forgot it was there on occasion. Not only that, but I felt the police force behaved so unrealistically. I understand this is a small town and so the force is going to reflect that, but some of these animals were rummaging around town mauling innocent civilians. What about the safety of your people?

I also thought the missing brother storyline was unneeded, especially because the resolution once Ronney decides to help Sam felt anticlimactic and forced. We never find out where Nick (the older brother) was during all this time, how he got Ronney’s landline number, and if he is taking steps to recover from alcohol abuse (which he acknowledges). Also, when Sam later decides to run away for no real definitive reason (aside from his crappy home life), he is found in the most convenient way possible and it just felt lazy.

The ending is incredibly rushed and nothing gets a proper resolution. The gun rights activists (I believe) who shot at each other in an elementary schoolyard, a bar, and accidentally shot a little girl in a car while trying to get a cougar? They leave town once the action is over. Sam’s mother, who isn’t explored in detail aside from having an apparent abusive husband (which also isn’t explored in detail)? She is convinced by her eldest son to move to another town because this marriage isn’t doing her any favors. Ronney’s dad, who is still recovering from a suicide attempt and whose clinical depression is still present? He does show signs of improvement throughout the book’s latter half, but after an event that puts him in the hospital again, it seems his depression is magically cured. There’s no payoff to anything. The readers are just expected to move along, which doesn’t work if you’ve spent an entire book building momentum on several storylines that don’t end realistically.

Moving on to the writing, which was quite honestly, really bad. Aside from working on a few manga adaptations for books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Jane Eyre, Chan has also written one middle grade novel. This comes through in the style of how this book is written, which isn’t a bad thing, but it is weird when I take into consideration this may only be YA due to the language and occasional violence (which felt excessive). The dialogue is wooden, “said” and “asked” are used far too frequently, and descriptions ring hollow. All That I Can Fix tried to make me feel things I couldn’t because there was nothing in the writing that made me stop and think.

Outside of Ronney, whose development was poor, the other characters weren’t much better. While Chan did try to develop some, I couldn’t really care. Part of it was because I was losing interest in this book as I went on, but another part was that it just wasn’t done well. Mina’s, especially, was pretty interesting as her fear becomes heightened and she stops wearing orange clothes, but by then, I was confused as to why it made an impact further in the book than it needed to. Most of these characters felt like archetypes and not fully fleshed-out people, and there are a lucky few who don’t get any semblance of closure with their “importance” to the story.

Last but not least, this book is as subtle as a brick to the face when it comes to a few subplots. The prime example I noticed was of Ronney’s family background. Ronney’s genetic makeup is comprised of many different races, and he has occasionally gotten questions from strangers about if he was born here and what his ethnicity is. Naturally, these are very ignorant questions, but how Ronney deals with them, not to mention if someone looks at him funny, is to immediately brand them as “jackwads.” This happens twice in this novel (once with Sam’s dad, and once with a police officer), and it feels like two times too many. I get ignorance towards other cultures in a problem, but other YA books deal with this differently rather than having a character in question immediately go on the offensive and think, “Oh my gosh, that person is DEFINITELY racist.” It’s not productive and could have been handled, and written, in a better way.

All in all, All That I Can Fix didn’t work for me whatsoever. Ronney was unbearable, the plot was a mess, the writing was as pleasing as watching paint dry, the character development was weak, and messages weren’t subtle. It is easily the worst book I’ve read this year, and I don’t think anything else will match up. This is a novel that had potential, but just failed to execute it.

[Kelly]

One of my favorite YA reads in a while and one worth keeping an eye on because it should be talked about during "best of" season.

Ronney is 15, and he's got a lot of baggage to carry around. While he loves his family -- his little sister in particular -- he's utterly frustrated and angry with his father. His father attempted suicide two years ago, and since, everyone in the family has carried the weight of what they saw in the aftermath. Father doesn't work and rarely leaves home. It looks like he's not moving forward at all.

Then there's Ronney's best friends George and Jello. Turns out, even though Ronney has a little bit of a crush on George, she's been secretly dating Jello. Both have been lying to Ronney about this.

And then there's the kid who is stalking him. Begging for his jeans. What young kid follows you and begs for your jeans? It's one of Mina's friends, whose older brother went missing. Those jeans? They're the product of his family sending everything of his brother's to the resale shop. Ronney and the boy develop a bond, despite Ronney's best efforts not to. The goal? Find Nick, the older brother, who had an alcohol problem and ran away from home to avoid an abusive father.

That's not everything though.

A backyard zoo full of animals escaped during a major storm, and cheetahs, camels, pythons, and more are on the loose. Oh, and then the gun control advocates and gun rights advocates are in town, too. Each jockeying for stage during this animal outbreak.

In many ways, this book reminded me of John Corey Whaley's Where Things Come Back. But the voice in this book is really what stands out. Ronney is full of love and compassion, but he's also very angry and very hurt by those he cares most about. He's young and carrying so much pain inside him that it's impossible not to understand where his attitude and behaviors come from. But at the same time, it's impossible not to want to shake him and tell him let go and move on.

What resonated most for me was the way this book looks at depression from the point of view of an outsiders. Ronney is angry with his dad and doesn't understand why he doesn't "do" anything. Why he tried to hurt his family. Meanwhile, in the moments when we see dad, we're given insight into how hard he really is trying to be better. Even when he can't be because his illness is in charge.

There is a lot of smart and at times snarky commentary about race, about small town life, and about the current political climate throughout the book, but it's all written in a way a 15-year-old boy would look at those things. More, Ronney's feelings about relationships and romance are all spot on, and they serve as a nice contrast to those big-picture challenges.

[Noah Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended from our school librarian as she said it was a good read. I thought that too as a teen boy Ronney lives in a mixed race family. His dad tried to shoot himself. One day the zoo opened up all cages and the exotic animals fleed. How is Ronney gonna save the day read the book to find more.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 // Super bummed. I thought I’d love this but I found myself repeatedly dozing off and getting distracted the entire time. I loved Mina—she’s the little queen of my heart, but that’s pretty much all that I liked about this book 😞

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book for review.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say about a book that is one part humorous, two parts ridiculous, and the rest a bundle of important messages, from mental health, stigma, and racism, to gun control and animal cruelty? All That I Can Fix is a novel that faces difficult topics straight on, with an abruptness that is both disconcerting and refreshing.

When the local exotic zoo owner shoots himself and lets loose his animals, Ronney isn’t fazed. What’s a camel on the loose compared to a father who might be continually physically present but never mentally, a mother who doesn’t know how to cope anymore, a sister on the verge of a meltdown, and a list of things he must do to keep the whole family from falling apart?

All That I Can Fix is written in first-person, with Ronney as the narrator. The style is very conversational, as if Ronney is speaking directly to the reader, sharing his story, his view on things and letting the reader inside his world for a short while. It gives the writing style a tell rather than show feel, as if the reader is removed from the action, viewing everything from Ronney’s lens. This is Ronney’s story after all, and he will tell it as he wants to, interpreting it in his own way.

Ronney feels like he is an adult in a boy’s body. He feels isolated from his peers, as they have a ‘normal’ childhood while he must take on more responsibilities. From cleaning up after his father’s attempted suicide to caring for his little sister, Ronney is faced with hard challenges and the consequences of the decisions of the adults around him. However, Ronney’s voice is juvenile. He is internally focused and that comes through very clearly in the story as he struggles with his thoughts, feelings, and what to do with them. He talks about his responsibilities, he compares himself to other teens, he bemoans his parents and their apparent disregard for his needs, and he fees increasingly angry towards them for their choices.

In the chaos that has become his life, Ronney fixates on the things he can fix - the leaking roof, a paint-peeling wall. It is the things that he cannot fix, though, that cause him the most worry. When presented with a young boy who shares his story with Ronney, Ronney is driven to help him. Ronney is the comforter for his friends and sister, yet Ronney isn’t sure how to ask for or accept help in return.

All That I Can Fix touches on many important and timely themes, from gun control to mental health. Yet with so many themes, they are all lightly touched upon rather than deeply investigated. There are no answers presented, just the continuation of Ronney’s story. There is also a detached sense as Ronney retells the events surrounding the escape of the animals, and the ensuring fight surround gun control, animal cruelty. Deaths of both animals and humans are covered with emotionless description, and school lockdowns, police shootings, suicide, and physical abuse are all briefly mentioned with a ‘this is life, it’s just how it is’ acceptance that was at odds with Ronney’s constant turmoil.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library

[Dove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful and moving read. You got the dad who tried to commit suicide, so the family is super broken up because of that. The mom who pops pills like it's nothing. The younger sister whose a genius. And the main character, whose trying to keep the family together- he has to play multiple roles and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. He's cracking underneath all that pressure, and he's slipping up- he says mean things, does impulsive things, and it's ruining his relationships. He's in love with his girl best friend, whose in love with his guy best friend. On top of all that, the local psycho in the community shot himself and let all the animals loose in his zoo. So there's animals running around his neighbourhood. Little kids get bitten by pythons, there's a scene where the family encounters a tiger, people getting hurt. The dad gets a gun to be safe, but that backfires when it lands in the hands of a little kid. It brings up the ethical issues of owning guns, and whether or not gun laws should be in place. There's a local boy who ran away, and the main boy has to find this kid to help out his little brother. There's so many complications to this story, it keeps you hooked. And it's super unique with the wild animals addition, so the makes it more interesting. It covers a lot of deep topics, and brings up thought provoking things. I enjoyed every page, and I read it all in one day (during a 5 hour hair appointment LOL). Could not put it down, definitely recommend it! :)

[Marji Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is rated 12+. I'm guessing that's due to the language as well as the nuances of mental illness than a younger person might not understand. Be prepared for the f-bomb--often.
In any case, it is an excellent book. It's very well-written, thoughtful. and pertinent. The main character is a 15 year old named Ronney, who becomes the adult in his family after his father's failed suicide attempt and prolonged depression. He can't fix his father, but he is determined to fix all he can fix in his deteriorating home. Throw in a horde of zoo animals unloosed on the small community, a noisy animal rights group, the gun control lobby, the guns rights citizens, and a young boy, Sam, whose brother ran away and who stalks Ronney, eventually worming his way into Ronney's conscience.
In many ways this is a coming of age novel, but not in the usual sense. Ronney is, in many ways, already grown up. Despite a look into two very dysfunctional families (Ronney's and Sam's), the book is still funny in many parts. I really enjoyed this books, even the uncomfortable parts, and I'll be looking for more of Chan's books.

[Sadie]

All That I can Fix, by Crystal Chan is a novel that is part humorous, part ridiculous, and the rest a bundle of important messages. All That I Can Fix, faces difficult topics straight on, with an abruptness that is refreshing. This novel is not uplifting and may not be for everyone. Ronney, the main character, is not your average teenager. He comes from a troubled family and has some relatable threads all teenagers suffer from. These issues run the emotional rainbow from going to school, keeping friends, household chores and navigating life in general with parents who are far from the norm. All That I Can Fix is written with a conversational style with Ronney as the narrator. You really get the sense Ronney is sharing his story directly with the reader.
In the novel, you feel the main character sorting through a jumble of thoughts and problems. He is always the "real adult" of the household. Ronney has to maintain his entire household from repairs, to even cleaning up the carpet after his father attempts suicide. This made me feel fortunate for the little things that so many of us take for granted as teenagers. As the reader, you feel like you are taking in the stress of Ronney's character. At times you are feeling sorry for him but then changing those feelings to animosity for the way he treats his own father. For instance, when Ronney states, "Alright, folks, suddenly having a father is harder to adjust to than one thinks. This might take a little more than a moment; I must say, I don't know that being a father suits you; Maybe you've outgrown it, Dad." Important themes such as "patience" run through the story line. For instance, throughout the book it took time for Ronney's father to improve his health and well being. It also took patience for Ronney to improve his close friendship with George, his crush. In addition, Chan's use of figurative language describes the chaotic atmosphere and adds detail to the story. For example, Chan dramatically describes the atmosphere during the thunderstorm by using simile. In the text Ronney states, "I braced myself against the wind as those squirrels fell, one after another, claws gripping at the sky, squirrels falling like acorns." By comparing the squirrels to falling acorns, Chan shows that the thunderstorm is very strong and powerful. She also uses simile to describe Ronney's daunting task of cleaning up his father's suicide mess, by stating "The smell of the blood still clung to walls like a ghost."
In conclusion, although All That I Can Fix runs the gambit of emotion and tough choices for someone who is still a teenager by sheer age. Life happens to Ronney. Ronney’s life is full of complications and he’s barely dealing with his emotions. He faces life with an expected negative attitude, giving you that Diary of a Wimpy Kid misery vibe. The novel is relatable, with some topics going over the top dramatically. Yet Ronney is somehow the "beaten down underdog" you root for in the end.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more than I thought it was going to be. I had originally picked it up because I ordered it for my middle school's collection and noticed that most of the reviews posted it as appropriate for grades 7-10. I liked this age range, and was expecting something sort of cutesy and fun. This is fun, but it is much more than that. My one small caution for those who order based on reviews: there is some language in this one. Lots of language, so proceed with caution based on your clientele.

Ronney isn't having the best luck. His dad attempted suicide 6 months ago, but failed and only injured his left shoulder. His mom is popping pills for anxiety, his little sister is struggling, and the local exotic zoo had an outbreak and all of the animals have escaped. Add to that the fact that his best friend (George, a girl) told him that they will only ever be friends (despite the fact that he loves her) and a local kid keeps following him home claiming his jeans are actually stolen, and you can start to see how things are going downhill. All of these various aspects and storylines come together in this funny, real, and sometimes emotional look at growing up and realizing that those who hold as heroes are actually fallen heroes sometimes.

This is a great read and one that I would recommend to fans of Jeff Zentner's books. Highly recommend. I'd go with grades 8 and up.

[Vicky Again]

Eh. I wasn't really feeling this but it's due from the library next Friday and I wanted to read it, but it ended up being not for me. There were too many random things going on with the zoo animals being on the loose, and I suppose it was intended to mimic Ronney's character development, but I feel like there just wasn't enough focus on his personal growth and too many "out-there" sort of things happening.

Also, Ronney is really rude and standoffish for a lot of the novel, especially towards his dad who has depression, that I couldn't really sympathize. This novel felt messy and I wish there was more structure and focus.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this one up after seeing it on a list for books that need more buzz. Unfortunately I'm not going to be singing it's praises to keep it there.

It's depressing as all heck and while I enjoyed the voice to start, Ronney's situation angered me and then things just got weird to get weird. There was a fabulous story there but then safari animals got loose in their town. How about the storyline where a kid really wants to be with his friend but she's actually already dating your other friend. Yes, that's worth reading about. How about a failed suicide attempt by your father and your parents general apathy? Yes. But then the voice derailed in a way that couldn't save the book. I wanted to see what others saw, but I couldn't.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate Ronney. He is a piece of shit to his depressed dad. I get that depression affects everyone, but it's always worse for the person dealing with depression. I don't think Ronney got it through his fucking head that depression is a legit illness and every time he said something rude to his dad I wanted him to drop dead. Anyway this book should be used as an example of what not to say to someone who is depressed.

[KL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing animals shot was very uncomfortable for me. Other than that, it's a great read. I hated all the characters in the beginning and it was suffocating to read. However as the story reveals more, everything falls into place and everyone starts to get their shits together. Gotta say I consider giving this book up during the 1st 50 pages, after that, it exchanges itself into something that's impossible to put down. I love how the author deals with mental illness and family problems. It's a relatable read all in all.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was so interesting but it didn't live up to my expectations. The main character was unlikable. The animals roaming free allowed to cause so much chaos was unbelievable. The town's lack of urgency in finding the animals and keeping the community safe was ridiculous.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC by the publisher, in exchange for a fair review.

I'll say right off the back that normally, YA novels aren't really my favorite novels. They're page-turners, but not in the way that you would normally use that description. They're usually page-turners because they're too easy for me to read through. "All That I Can Fix" is not a page-turner, and in the best kind of way.

Crystal Chan's second novel is almost like a linear Haruki Murakami novel, minus all the magical realism. Strange or unusual happenings, habits, and even plot choices are prominent throughout the novel; some of which occasionally have answers to. A wild zoo chase is the backbone to this generally dark story. Mina, the younger sister of the protagonist Ronney, has a strong liking for the color orange for a time. It's made clear that Ronney and his family are a mixed race family, but the author doesn't stress the specifics of what their ethnicities and races are.

There is a lot of heavy subject matter addressed throughout the novel; from the aftermath of suicide attempts, to runaways siblings, to the uncannily prevalent topics of gun violence and gun control. All this plus the search for the missing zoo animals make for a novel that is engaging to the point where the reader will really want to take their time with reading this story.

That isn't to say that the novel isn't without its fair share of flaws. While one can feel sympathetic for what Ronney has had to deal with, there are also times where you just want to whack him in the head; particularly when it came to his anger towards his two friends. I also felt that the conflict between him and his dad dragged on longer than need be, for the turning point didn't really happen until during the final 20 pages of the novel. The character of Ronney's mom felt a little underdeveloped in my opinion, and I found it very hard to believe that Mina is a fourth grader, for she often acted a lot younger than that.

Otherwise, it made for an engaging novel and a wonderful new work from Chan. The story, while dark, contains messages of a wide variety to be learned, and incorporates quite a few themes that the socially and politically aware - and then some - can really benefit from reading about in such a story as "All That I Can Fix."

[Dylan Ton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was honestly phenomenal. This is the first book that I have finished, where I actually enjoyed and read the whole thing. The book is about a kid named Ronney who’s life is a mess. From a suicidal dad to vicious animals lurking the streets. He faces so many problems in his life but chooses to never give up. He always finds a way to get through his problems. Like when his best friend started dating his crush or when a tiger entered his house. He’s always helping other people like help find someone’s brother or renovating the house. I recommend this book a lot if you like change in events and action.

[Trisha Jong B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depth and Personality

I follow Crystal (the author) on social media and already have a fondness for her but I’ve never read one of her books and was blown away. I didn’t read the summary so I really had no idea what it would be about when I opened it up. There was surprisingly a lot that I could relate to in this book. Childhood trauma has a way of making us all feel similar things even if the experiences were different. Ronney, to me, is a relatable character. It was a story with the perfect combination of the teenage years mixed with the underlying current of trauma and difficulty navigating all of that together. I loved that there was nuance to the “gun debate” thrown in here when it comes to a bizarre instance of protection from wild animals. Really gave me a lot to think about. I highlighted a lot of sentences from here that I’ll revisit I’m sure.

[Mark Smiley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up from my local library. Why? I read the back cover which promised excitement with runaway animals and kids dealing with problems.
I stopped reading after 74 pages. Why? Full of foul-mouthed kids and just not what I wanted to bring into my life. I still believe you can control how you act and how you speak and having kids go around using filthy language is just not what I want for myself or my family. Especially in a YA book.
No matter how good the book is, if it is uplifting and has a great theme, the author really loses it for me. Showing the "true world" can be done without bad words.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

The mundane tragedies of life against a backdrop of the bizarre generally make for good stories. This one checks all of those boxes. The main character was well-developed and unique enough to be interesting while remaining realistic.

As is typical with YA fiction, the adults were incompetent fools blundering around in the background but I wasn't as irritated with that as I sometimes am. At least for the main character's family, there was a plausible reason for the apparent distance and disconnectedness.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't usually expect a book to teach a lesson and I know life experiences vary and telling truths can be hard and even the less pretty side of life needs a light shone upon it. BUT while the anger the main character had with his dad over his depression is a valid response there wasn't enough education on depression to know that that is also real life. Holding people accountable for something out of their control is harsh. Too harsh. I understood the anger but needed the author to do more to help depression understood.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description of this book was fantastic but the execution was a letdown. This gets two stars for Mina and Sam (the author did little siblings very well). The rest was pure teenage angst and cynicism without any sort of hope to help make you through it.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t express how terrible this book was. Don’t waste your time. The characters were cold uncaring and forever complaining about everything.

[Teenreadsdotcom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ronney's life is complicated. His father tried to die by suicide but failed, only shooting himself in the arm. Now, he stays in his room, wallowing in his depression. His mother has anxiety and works long hours to support the family financially. His sister is a genius who no one seems to understand. His best friend Jello has too many plans but never thinks them through. He has a crush on his other best friend George who has already shot down his feelings. And now there are animals on the loose around town. Can life get any worse?

I will admit it: I have mixed feelings about this book. I am mostly annoyed with the main character Ronney. Ronney is not a nice person. He makes terrible, offensive jokes. He stays mad at his father and mother way too long and constantly vilifies everyone in his life. His actions do have some reasoning behind them. It must be hard being the man of the house at 15. He has no one to rely on other than himself. His friends do not help. George has problems completely different than his own.

He does change in the end. He is still abrasive, but he is less abrasive. He begins to open up a bit more and is more willing to accept his parents, especially his dad. I am proud of his change and happy he is willing to be someone different.

The book had many plotlines. Namely, the finding Nick story with Sam and Ronney; the family story with Ronney, his two parents and his sister Mina; the romance story with Ronney, George and Jello; and the safari story with the escaped animals. While this is a lot, the author Crystal Chan weaves these wildly different plotlines together very well.

The finding Nick story is interesting. Nick is Sam's older brother who ran away after being condemned by his family because he has an alcohol problem. This is one of the storylines I disliked at first, but as Sam and Ronney's relationship developed, I slowly came around. For Sam, Ronney is the older brother he deserves. For Ronney, Sam is a little version of him (though I cannot say if that is a good or bad thing) he can talk to and live vicariously through. They have a true bond, which I adored. I cannot say that Ronney is a good influence on Sam's life, but he did affect the younger boy.

The family story is one I enjoyed wholeheartedly. Sure, Ronney was annoying most of the time, and I hated how he treated his father. He does love his sister Mina which was nice. Most of the time, he was slinging insults at his father who was too weak to fight back. Now, I hated that part, but Ronney slowly changed. His dysfunctional family obviously affected him, but he was staying strong by supporting them, even though he might not love them when looking from the outside. He came around in the end, though, and began to open up. I am very happy that his mother berated him, though. He deserved a good talking-to.

The romance story was not too bad. It was not amazing, but it was not too bad. I felt like George was great as a friend characters versus a love interest. Her life was so completely unlike Ronney's, so she was a great foil. She cared more about grades and GPA, just like my friends. I was interested to see Ronney's life as someone who skipped school but for good reason (fixing his family home). The two of them had a good, platonic relationship. I would not have asked George to be anything more than his best friend. Jello was a wrench in the plans, though. I did not particularly like him; he was too reckless, but he was a good friend. He tried to reconnect with Ronney after the romantic subplot began. He tried. I do think he deserves a better friend than Ronney, but I do not think he would trade for anyone else in the world. Jello did have interesting motives, but he just went about things all wrong; that is why he needed the rational, planning-type Ronney.

The animal story does not really come into play. I forgot about it sometimes. It mostly affects the Ronney-George-Jello relationship, as Ronney discovers something about his two best friends that shatters his relationship with them for a good 50 pages or so. It does come into play with the Sam-Ronney relationship as well. But it mostly stays in the background, as a warning to the children to be careful more than anything else. I would have preferred an exploration of gun rights vs control (since people were scared for their safety and were buying/carrying their guns to protect themselves), but this might have derailed part of the story.

This book is not easy. If you like nice, young protagonists, you will hate Ronney. But part of his charm is his rough personality. If you enjoy complex storylines and slow-burn relationships (mostly platonic), this book is for you.

Reviewed by Wren L., Teen Board Member

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate it when a book can make me cry. I kind of love it too. Truth be told, I don’t like crying that much - I will never be one of those people that wants to watch a tear-jerker movie simply to cry. Nope, not me.

But I do love it when a book can genuinely touch me enough that I have a cry. I still get mad because I’m crying, but oof, that’s a powerful book that can do that. (The only exception to this is ‘dead pet’ stories, because that seems like a cheap shot and it just pisses me off.)

All That I Can Fix is a book that made me cry. Which is very much not what I would have suspected when I picked it up, or even after I started reading - and was instantly hooked.

The story is narrated by 15 year old Ronnn, who in many ways is having his life fall apart around him. Prior to the start of the novel, his dad had attempted suicide - and failed - leaving him injured both physically and mentally. His mother, largely as a reaction, is potentially abusing anxiety medication. Meanwhile, there’s Ronny and his 10 year old sister, Mina - and he’s left feeling like the only “adult” in the household, despite the fact he definitely isn't an adult yet.

In the background of all of this, a local exotic-animal park owner died and released all his animals - leaving various dangerous wild animals roaming there otherwise small and unnoticed town. This brings out the media, and the gun nuts, and the gun control nuts. It’s a bit of a crazy situation, but all that just gets added to the mix and highlights how bizarre Ronny feels his life is becoming.

Ronny finds control by fixing up the house. In his view, his parents are no longer taking responsibility for repairing or replacing items that need fixing in the house - so he does, with some YouTube-taught DIY skills and his parents’ credit card - and their implied approval. Hence, where the title comes from - Ronny takes control of all that he can fix, and tries not to worry about what he can’t.

Meanwhile, a local boy named Sam finds Ronny. Sam is looking for his older brother Nick, who ran away six months ago - and he finds Ronny because Ronny has Nick’s pants, bought from the thrift store. Sam then manages to weasel his way into Ronny’s life and heart, and gives Ronny something - and someone - else to focus on. Not that Ronny wants any such thing.

This book is brilliant because it does everything. It starts out as a zany story about an unlikely yet entirely believable series of events, narrated by an entirely realistic and believable 15 year old kid. As a narrator, Ronny tells it like it is. Ronny is especially interesting because there’s plenty not to life about him; he’s frequently a bit of an ass. But we have such a direct view into Ronny’s thoughts that it makes what could be an unlikeable character actually fairly endearing. If you’re an adult reader and you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a teenager, this book will remind you. Yet, underneath it all, there are very real struggles going on. Mental health is a major theme in the book, but never does it feel like it’s trying to make a point about it specifically. Instead, we get a realistic look into a dysfunctional family, where each member is trying to cope with the hard realities of life in their own way, and meanwhile losing touch with each other.

As a teenager, my life was messed up in plenty of perfectly average ways - none of which are in this book. But I could still feel my inner teenager relating to this book - to the anger at having to grow up, and the anger and disillusionment that comes with realising your parents are only too human as well. As an adult, I relate to the parents - possibly more than I’d like to. I’ve had my own mental health battles, and many parts of the story presented as a “worst case” scenario for my own life. Yet one of the reasons the book is so powerful is that it really isn’t about whether you can relate with any of the exact struggles or not, but rather captures what the whole situation looks like. It shows the ripples mental health has on all of those nearby - family and outsiders alike. It shows that mental health isn’t just ‘one person’s’ problem, but actually becomes everyone’s problem - and similarly, we all have a part to play in helping those that are afflicted. Maybe it’s not all something we can fix as easily as we can repair a leaky roof. However, we all still have a part to play - we can be part of the solution, or part of the problem. In this story, we see the effects of both.

One of my tests of whether a book is truly excellent or not is whether it stays with me, becomes a part of me in a way. I only just finished it, but I'm already confident that this book will do just that.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

All That I Can Fix centers on Ronney, a mixed-race son of a worn-down mother and depressed father, whose optimistic, brilliant little sister wears orange so the color doesn’t feel unfavored. Ronney has been made to act as the man of the house, as no one else now acts upon a leaky sink, a cracked driveway, or the giant, pungent blood stain soaked into the living room floor from the father’s attempted suicide. Ronney certainly has enough burdens before the local zoo sets free all of its most exotic animals, and even more so when his best - and dare I say only- friend, Jello, ropes him into hunting down the animals for photography purposes.

All of that is fine and dandy, and can be read in any synopsis online; it’s catchy, right? Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! But it’s not the main emphasis of the book, or even the most interesting. Ronney, who’s tough and handy and a full fifteen years old, has been dealt a shitty hand for quite a while now. Fifteen year olds aren’t supposed to act as adults while the real ones wander the hallways like ghosts. Ronney is a suit of armor made of paper. When a young boy, Sam, starts following Ronney and making strange demands, Ronney recognizes in him the same outsider lostness he knows shines in his own eyes. That was the story I was interested in. What does Sam want, and can Ronney help him?

I’m so conflicted over this novel. Some portions, like Ronney’s total blunt honesty and man’s man way of speaking was both hilarious and refreshing. His sensitivities were buried deep within, and I enjoyed watching them bloom. Likewise, reading of Ronney’s interactions with his friends and family felt personable. Sam, Lost Boy Sam, was like the real version of Ronney, locked within that hard-shell exterior. I won't say anything more about Sam, as he's the golden center of this novel and worth exploring for yourself.

I was not a fan of cacophony of plots. The animals, the “safari”, Sam, the love triangle (ew and weird and why), the drama with the father. Just pick two and stick with them. There was major overgrazing on hefty subjects; for example, Ronney’s father suffers from major depression and, by the end of the novel, is coming “out” of it. Ronney, while fifteen, is completely apathetic to his disease and only recognizes his father’s failures. While Ronney’s a kid, the author is not. There was a more tactful way to deal with this (or, at the very least, the end/resolution) Depression and suicide are not light subjects to be toyed with for side-plot purposes.

I also didn’t care about Ronney’s love life. The apple of his eye, the perfect femme fatale whose name I don’t even remember, is a cookie cutter perfectionist type, whose most interesting flare is her own desire for Ronney’s best friend rather than him (Moulin Rouge vibes, anyone?). The plain-tasting love aspect kind of brought the whole novel down for me, like mistaking tap water for sparkling. The ending was just gross and left a bad taste in my mouth.

The fact that the animals escaping is the “main plot” in most summaries- including the official book cover’s- is bananas to me. It’s such a side note to what this book is really about. Was this a test? Did I pass?

Most people probably either loved this or hated it; a few, like myself, fell in a safe middle boat. I loved Ronney and his no-bullshit mentality...Most of the time, anyway. All that I can Fix read easy as a mild breeze, and I enjoyed that. Is it worth a second read? Nah.

[Ellen Klock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Squirrels falling from the sky, a ten year old stalker, problems with parents, and a friendship torn apart over a girl - these are some of the elements of the YA novel All That I Can Fix by Chrystal Chan. Yes, the Chrystal Chan who has adapted many old time favorites for the Manga Classics series.

Chan tackles numerous social issues such as drug addiction, mental illness, alcoholism, child abuse, runaways, suicide, racism, gun control, all wrapped up with the normal teen angst thrown into the mix. To push things up a notch, there is a group of dangerous wild animals on the loose (ones you normally only get to see in the zoo or on a safari) who are actually attacking and killing the local citizens.

This is Ronny’s story, told from his point of view and it’s full of anger. Furious at his dad who is suffering from chronic depression and anxiety, Ronny yearns for the days when he had a real father who actually participated in the family. Suffering the results of a gun shot wound from a suicide gone bad, Ronny watches his pop, the one person he used to admire, shuffle around in his bathrobe doing nothing except sleep and watch TV. With a mom who has to work long hours to pay the bills coming home spent and using medication to erase the reality which is now her life, Ronny has to pick up the mantle of adulthood and taken on the responsibility of the household. A fifteen year old still in high school, he does the home repairs which they can’t afford, watches out for his younger sister Mina, and, in his limited spare time, hangs out with George, the girl he worships from afar, and his best friend Jello, a photography buff. On occasion he even attends school. Oh, let’s throw into the mix the factor that Ronny is mixed race and has to deal with those who object to the shade of his skin. This is one bitter boy.

I can see this book as one of those after school specials for kids. There’s a lot going on and the melodrama would lend itself to a visualized format. From the reader’s perspective, it was difficult to empathize with such a rude, nasty teen who has a bone to pick with the world and doesn’t pull back the punches (at times quite literally). Yes, he has it rough, and yes, he does show some redeeming characteristics when dealing with the troubles of his sister’s friend Sam, but overall he’s a jerk (I had another word in mind but I’ll keep it PG). Since Ronnie is the person telling the story, his attitude tempers the entire piece, forcing the reader to experience his cruel attitude towards life, ultimately directed at his father. Not my cup of tea. As a minor annoyance, the “little” sister Mina, supposedly a genius, is actually ten, but treated more like a six or seven year old. I was actually glad when she ditched the orange ensemble and started dressing more appropriately.

This one showed potential, but it definitely needed some pruning of the subplots, an upgrade to the attitude of the protagonist, and additional depth added to the characterizations.

2 1/2 stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read.

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[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot that I liked here - the writing felt fresh but not like it was trying too hard to be down with the teens, the characters were multifaceted, and there were several twists that made me comment aloud to myself.

But I had two major issues with the book. First was Ronney's treatment of his father. For the majority of the book, I really appreciated the portrayal of how difficult it is to have parents whose mental illness prevents or curtails your ability lead a normal teenage life. But as the book drew to a close, I found myself largely unsatisfied with the way the mental health plotlines had wrapped up. Ronney's father has his hero moment and suddenly seems to have something of a breakthrough. He becomes more affectionate and begins to more successfully treat his depression. His relationship with Ronney seems to be in an upswing. But there is no moment when Ronney's father gets to tell his side. He and Ronney's mother each yell at him, telling him that he's selfish. But the problem isn't selfishness. Ronney is in many ways a heroic character. But he - and the reader - need a more thorough explanation of the ways that depression can sap you entirely of your energy and make not only simple tasks, but the idea of following strategies to fix your mental illness, seem impossible. Ronney's anger and sadness and frustration might be emotionally cathartic for readers with mentally ill parents or family members, or young people with too many familial responsibilities, but the message it sends to those readers and especially to readers who themselves live with depression or other mental health issues is dangerous.

My other issue is Ronney feelings of entitlement toward George and her romantic affections. These are somewhat resolved as he seems to settle into some sort of acceptance of her relationship with Jello, but considering the final scene, it feels like the message didn't really sink in for him. He seems to remain convinced that George will eventually realize her feelings for him, that they are such good friends that a romantic attachment is inevitable. It shouldn't matter if Ronney is the most perfect person in the whole world and Jello is a horrible criminal (neither of which is true): George chooses Jello, and that should be the end of it. I was fine with the plot points of seeming betrayal and unrequited love, but the final message still seems to be that Ronney the Hero has some sort of automatic right to George and eventually she'll come to realize that.

I don't usually like to write critical reviews, but these two issues in particular stuck out to me because they would have been fairly easy to fix. Even just a conversation where Ronney's father apologizes for not being able to handle his parental responsibilities but explains how difficult his depression has made difficult things that to a mentally healthy person are simple, or a piece of narrative where Ronney realizes that as much as he admires George, he's erred by thinking of her only as a character in his own life rather than an independent person with her own feelings and choices...that would have wrapped the book up in a way that I really would have appreciated.

[Patricia Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronney, fifteen years old, takes care of his little sister Mina. He repairs the damaged wall, reseals the driveway, and has the carpet changed because it’s soaked in blood. Why? His depressed father rarely gets out of his bedroom or even his pajamas, since he lost his job, and attempted suicide. And Ronney’s mother is busy supporting the family and popping pills to calm herself in “All That I Can Fix” (Simon Pulse 2018) by Crystal Chan. “We’re the mixed-race family with two helpless parents, the genius kid sister, and the fix-it son.”
Ronney’s world is falling apart in Makersville, Indiana. What’s more, a keeper of exotic animals has released them all—lion, cheetah, tiger, python, wolf, and others—then shot himself. Not only are the animals loose in town, but so are gun rights activists who say they need guns to protect themselves and gun control activists who are horrified by the pro-gun people shooting the animals. Adults clearly cannot be trusted here.
Ronney’s best friend Jello suggests a suburban safari to make his name as a wildlife photographer. Ronney, thinking this is childish, muses, “Maybe having normal parents means you get the privilege of being a kid.” Ronney’s mother “deemed [Jello] ‘a good influence on me,’ which illustrates her total lack of judgment.”
Ronney yearns for George, a girl on the valedictorian track. Ronney notes her problems: “It has to be pretty precarious, to have only perfection or the abyss as your two real options in life.” George allows Ronney to comfort her, but he’s not her boyfriend. That’s painful.
Then a mysterious little kid Mina’s age—about nine—starts following Ronney. The annoying little kid, Sam, wants Ronney to “fix” his broken family. Sam’s big brother Nick disappeared months ago. Sam sobs, “Like . . . the end of the world is upon us sob. And what could I do?” Ronney sees that “the love that [Sam] had for Nick was big enough to hold up the sky.”
Ronney used to feel that way about his dad, but after a year of disappointment, that big love for his father seems to have snapped off. When his father says, “My life had gotten too heavy.” Ronny calls him pathetic, a hypocrite, and “you’ll like the new carpet I just installed. . . don’t mess it up again.” Ronney’s cruel and honest, after all he’s been through.
The animals have killed area livestock and family pets and now they’re going after people. Gun-toting residents are going after the animals. Everything is a mess and it’s pretty dark. Yes, that shooter might have saved a woman’s live, but “forty-four bullets for one cheetah was a bit much.”
The boy repartee of sarcastic profane Ronney with Jello is a riot. Take my word for it and read the book. It’s wickedly funny. But loyalty and love prevail. Complicated issues invite discussion. This is a winner.

Patricia Hruby Powell is author of Loving vs. Virginia; Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker and the forthcoming Struttin’ With Some Barbecue talesforallages.com

[Nannette Demmler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite opening line so far this year. I was instantly drawn in by it and had to find out was going on here. As I read the next few pages I was amazed at how quickly I got into Ronney’s head and completly understood him. Due to the circumstances in his life he had to grow up fast and basically become the responsible adult of his family, and he is only 15.

Ronny was an incredible character. He is smart, sarcastic, angry at life but he is always there for his little sister and his friends. He has had a rough few years, having to deal with his father’s depression and his mother’s anxiety. As the adult’s in his life simply struggle to make it through the day, Ronney is fixing the house and taking care of his sister. He carries a lot of responsibility and a lot of anger especially at his dad. Ronny has some quirks too, like Thursdays are always bad days, if someone asks him to do something they have to ask 3 times before he agrees to do it. School is not important to him right now, but he does try when he is able to get there. Being a kid of mixed race also comes up a few times in the book, especially when a friend of his sister’s disappears. But through it all Ronny manages to mostly keep it together.

Ronny’s relationship with his sister is so very wonderful. He helps her with her homework, he soothes her fears about the wild and dangerous animals roaming their town and tries to help her understand their parents health issues. His relationship with his father is strained, but through flashbacks we see that things were at one point good between them. Ronny often lashes out at his father and does not really help him, but I think some of his comments do get through to his father.

The plot and feel of the book is dark, but humorous. Some of Ronny’s comments made me smile, but his life is crap and and getting crappier as the loose animals start attacking and killing people, the gun rights and gun control people take over the town and then some animal rights people also join in the fight. All of this is going on in the background as Ronny deals with his sister’s anxiety around the animals, helps Sam find his missing brother, is betrayed by his two best friends and still has to deal with fixing the roof and the wall of his home. There is a lot of issues brought up in this book, and some are dealt with better than others, but overall there is a feeling of hopefulness and heart.

There is a lot going on in this book, maybe too much. Some issues were a little bit washed out because of this. The overall feel of the book was good though and Ronny’s voice felt honest and true for a kid in his situation. The ending was a little bit on the sunny side compared to the rest of the book, but I liked that because it gave you hope that maybe things would get better for Ronny and his family.
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