Later, Gator by Laurence Yep

Later Gator is a fun tale of how a boy’s birthday prank on his younger brother becomes an adventure that brings about a closer bond between the prankster and his family. Teddy, the narrator of the story, is a young man who continually picks on his brother in order to “build character.” He is given the assignment of purchasing a turtle for his brother instead of the usual pair of stocks that he usually bestows upon the younger sibling. When Teddy gets to the pet shop, however, he does not purchase a turtle but instead buys a baby alligator. This purchase brings about changes in how Teddy views his family and his relationship with each member of the family.

Teddy’s relationship with this brother, who he regards as someone that everyone thinks can do no wrong, grows as a result of the presence of the alligator in the house. The boys grow closer as they have to collect leftover scraps for the alligator, and Teddy’s affection for his brother further develops as he sees how much the alligator means to him. Teddy also grows closer to his parents as a result of some of the mischief that is caused by the alligator. Their affection and praise for him are outwardly spoken as a result of the events that occur as a result of the alligator's presence. Teddy learns some very valuable life lessons and matures throughout the short span of time that is presented in the novel.

The story details some of the customs and principles that are a part of Chinese culture. The narrator allows the reader to get a better insight into the differences between children who are growing up in a Chinese-American family and children who are being raised by Caucasian parents. Teddy notes the differences in how white children are treated by their parents and how this varies from the treatment that he receives from his parents. Teddy also describes the life that he leads in Chinatown in San Francisco. The portrayal of Teddy’s culture and home life not only informs the reader of the lifestyle that is led as a result of some of his cultural behaviors but also allows the reader to see the commonality between the character’s culture and his/her own.

The book was a pleasure to read. The story was a fun tale that wonderfully personified the relationship between two brothers and the path that can be carved as a result of an innocent prank. I think that upper elementary children will really enjoy this book. The characters are very relatable and very likable. The characters are very well defined and the writing style is appropriate for its target audience. In addition, the book provides children with a glimpse into a culture that may differ from their own and provides them with the opportunity to explore differences in cultures. I highly recommend this book.

Yep, L. (1995). Later, gator. New York: Hyperion.

Additional information about Laurence Yep and his other works can be found at http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/y/laurence-yep/