"I didn't want to go hunting with Uncle Clay that morning. Now I have to live with what happened for the rest of my life. It was just an accident. ...
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reviews
Apr 10, 2010
Heather
rated it: 
Daniel Sartrain lives near the Sartrain Woods with his mother and alcoholic father. He has practically been raised by his father's brother, Clay, whom Daniel counts as one of his best friends and role models. One day Clay decides to take Daniel hunting, for Daniel's first kill. Daniel is not really interested in hunting, but he doesn't want to disappoint his uncle nor to squelch his uncle's enthusiasm. So they set out to hunt, and Daniel and Clay spot a rabbit. Daniel is close to shooting t
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Sep 27, 2009
Heather
rated it: 
Daniel doesn't want to learn to hunt, but when his beloved Uncle Clay gives him a gun and says he's taking Daniel rabbit hunting, Daniel feels he has to go. During their first hunt together, Daniel's gun goes off accidently and kills Clay. The rest of the book is about Daniel, his mom and his alcoholic father trying to come to terms with what happened in the woods that day.
While this book was very well written and covers a wide range of emotions, I'm not sure who'd I'd give it too More...
While this book was very well written and covers a wide range of emotions, I'm not sure who'd I'd give it too More...
Mar 28, 2010
Sandra
rated it: 
Eleven Year Old Daniel would do anything to please his favorite uncle, Clay. That is why he has agreed to go hunting with him. Clay is the man he has looked up to. His father has been a changed man ever since the accident that killed Daniel’s grandparents and left his father with permanent injuries. He has seen his father turn into a cigarette smoking, beer guzzling, mean man. He seems to be angry all of the time. Daniel tries his hardest to avoid him. He does this by spending time with hi More...
Sep 14, 2009
Martha
rated it:
I feel this is written very well, bringing me into his head... relevant to struggles people have today. But I would not give this book to just anyone. With the character 11 years of age, I expected it to be written for that age audience, or younger. Not so. The feelings covered here of grief, suicide, guilt, etc. need to be obvious in the review.
But I only have the Advanced Readers copy - so perhaps it will be better when the library copy gets labeled for the shelves.
But I only have the Advanced Readers copy - so perhaps it will be better when the library copy gets labeled for the shelves.
Sep 23, 2009
Adrienne
rated it:
Eleven-year-old Daniel reluctantly heads out to hunt with his uncle Clay, and with his first and only shot accidentally kills him. I liked the story okay but found parts unbelievable and I guess just wanted a bit more showing and less telling. I can see recommending it to select kids, though.
Dec 08, 2009
Lora
rated it: 
I wanted this to be so much better than it was. A short chapter book dealing with a difficult topic had the potential to be amazing and it just failed.
Daniel (11 years old) and his 22 year old uncle go hunting (Daniel's first time) and he accidentally shoots and kills his uncle. What proceeds is about 100 pages of the same things. Alcoholic father, caring teachers and mother, and little Daniel distancing himself in any way he can. Boring. Not emotional at all. I felt really dis More...
Daniel (11 years old) and his 22 year old uncle go hunting (Daniel's first time) and he accidentally shoots and kills his uncle. What proceeds is about 100 pages of the same things. Alcoholic father, caring teachers and mother, and little Daniel distancing himself in any way he can. Boring. Not emotional at all. I felt really dis More...
Oct 24, 2009
Ed
rated it:
A good boy story. Reminded me a bit of Marion Dane Bauer's On My Honor but quite as strong.
Dec 23, 2009
Well written, but mightily depressing. Couldn't take the depressing, so I abandoned it.
Jul 26, 2010
Chris
rated it:
Very good first novel set in days before the cell phone. Oklahoma kids could relate to the hunting theme and rural setting. I love how it took off from the first few pages. BAM! Uncle's dead.
Jul 16, 2011
Karen
rated it:
Wow. A very sad, moving, heartbreaking story. As if Daniel's hunting accident wasn't enough, he also has to deal with an alcoholic father. Daniel's character goes through the motions of life, struggles to go back to school, and contemplates suicide. Not a story for the weak, but with a hopeful ending.
Dec 19, 2010
Lois
rated it:
This one was a chilling read, powerful in every sense. It made me remember my childhood and thank God. Accident's are just that, but some change lives forever.
Dec 01, 2009
Christopher
rated it:
An interesting premise that fails slightly in its execution. Danny is a 12 year old boy who accidentally kills his favorite uncle (or pseudo father) in a horrific hunting accident. The book deals with Danny's grief and guilt over the accident, but the author, Donny Bailey Seagraves, does not let the reader forget it. In fact, the sentence, "I can't get over "the accident", must have been written at least two hundred times throughout a 150 page novel. A bit redundant if you ask
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