Jimmy, by Robert Whitlow

After five legal thrillers, Robert Whitlow shifted gears a bit with Jimmy.  Jimmy, a teenager with intellectual disabilities, has a strong sense of right and wrong, deep faith in God, and a team of "watchers" who are his occasional companions.  Jimmy follows Jimmy as he experiences life and growing up.  He testifies in a trial about what he heard on a police radio while he was washing police cars.  His grandfather teaches him how to climb a power pole.  His birth mother, whom he hasn't seen in years, comes around wanting to establish a relationship with him.  He gets lost in the woods.  He and his grandfather compete in a fishing tournament.  He becomes the football team's manager and thwarts a point shaving scheme by some of the players.

Unlike most of Whitlow's books, there is not much of a plot in Jimmy.  Some of the events and experiences string together, but it's more of character sketch of Jimmy during a crucial period of his life.  I enjoyed Whitlow's descriptions of Jimmy and his relationships with his family and community.  He is very committed to church and to his faith, and talks to and about his watchers (angels).  He also wants those around him to experience salvation.

Jimmy is an adorable character with a pure heart.  His ups and downs are pretty melodramatic; it's like Whitlow tried to cram in a few too many major events in a short amount of time.  But it's still a fun, emotional, enjoyable read.