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The Barefoot Bandit: The True Tale of Colton Harris-Moore, New American Outlaw
by
Bob Friel (Goodreads Author)
The Barefoot Bandit tells the riveting true story of Colton Harris-Moore, America’s twenty-first-century outlaw. Born into a poor family marred by alcohol abuse, Colt had the local sheriff after him before the age of ten. Colt survived by breaking into homes to forage for food, and learned to evade the police by melting into the Pacific Northwest wilds. As a teenager, he e...more
Hardcover, 432 pages
Published
March 20th 2012
by Hyperion
(first published January 1st 2012)
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On the good side, this book is a sympathetic portrait of a tragic, likable criminal. You feel like Colton had so much going against him (abusive mother, unstable home, unhelpful school & social services), and fell into more serious crimes step-by-step, yet avoided some of the worst criminalities (drug use, violence, etc.). He's obviously a smart kid and needed better opportunities and guidance. It seems that when he had to steal food to eat because his mother spent all their money on beer an...more
absolutely LOVED this book. First off I was totally obsessed with this story while it was going on and this book has so many great details and the writer kept me going to bed wanting to wake up to find out what the kid was up to. Also its a lesson in how bad parenting and broken homes can lead to alot of hidden depression and issues. This boy is a genius and with support and coaching as opposed to getting drunk and beating him up nightly he could have cured something or invented something, his s...more
I picked this up because I remembered hearing about this kid evading authorities on Orcas Island by hiding out in the woods back when I was living in Seattle. I slogged through the whole thing because I wanted to know what happened, but wished it were a quarter of the length. The author starts out jumping between 2 or 3 different timelines, and when he settles on a purely chronological one includes way too many background details (for example, about the childhoods of Colton's victims). I have to...more
Really enjoyed this page-turning story of the smart kid who sadly had so many strikes against him. Had he enjoyed a safe living place and the company of mentors and loving adults, his tale would have played out so differently. Sounds like the alcoholic mom was villainized, but I got most ticked at the bullying classmates--his mom had an addiction--what was your excuse?
I wish Colton Harris-Moore all the best when he gets out. May he be surrounded by support and use all those smarts and skills for...more
I wish Colton Harris-Moore all the best when he gets out. May he be surrounded by support and use all those smarts and skills for...more
The story of a teenager who went on a crime spree starting in the pacific northwest and conitnuing across the country. Doesn't sound like much but it's really an amazing tale, involving an uneducated but extremely bright boy who evaded bumbling law enforcement for years through his smarts and physicality. Not someone to be admired surely but the story sure is entertaining and does not involve any violence. the author does a good job of laying out the story. He gets a bit self-aggrandizing someti...more
I enjoyed this book a great deal. The author has a jokey, conversational style that kept me engaged. He managed to keep a balance between Colton, his family, and his neighbors without judging any of them. I was happy to find a biography that didn't tip over into an all-out puff piece. If you enjoy true crime and/or bios, this is the book for you.
Totally amazing. I knew about the story because this guy stole Nick's laptop in the summer of 2008, but I had no idea about the extent of the crimes and the backstory. A Black Hawk helicopter on Orcas! Really fun to read about Orcas but also a really fascinating story about a kid on a crime spree, and that kid's troubled life.
Mar 05, 2013
Andrea Gebler
added it
Didn't finish it. I wasn't intrigued by the story and it just seemed to go round and round. I understand that a description is important to set the scene but I feel the author went into a little too much detail. I may have finished it had the author been a little more to the point spending more time on the actual events and crimes rather than describe every nook and cranny about the terrain and way of life
Oct 18, 2012
Lisa Neuharth-kearney
added it
Great story about an amazing young man that tries to survive in the NW on his own and educated himself to fly planes so he can steal them and defy all authority. Sad upbringing but gives you a glimpse into the child raised by an alcoholic, they are survivors one way or another.
I read this because it was a local story. I love Orcas Island and was curious about the details the media left out. Can't believe this book is non-fiction. It was so interesting, riveting and exciting. Total page turner.
Sad but engaging story of Colt and his mother from hell. This is a fascinating case study of a bright boy's way out of a life with no boundaries, rules, or social skills. I could not put this book down.
I liked learning about Colton's life and I liked all the information about the San Juan Islands. That said, the book was TOO LONG. On and On. But, glad I read it.
I enjoyed this book but it seemed to just go on too long! Maybe if I was from the Pacific Northwest it would have been more intersting but still a decent read.
I just won this and I'm super excited to read it!
~Review to be revised when I receive/read the book~
~Review to be revised when I receive/read the book~
Cant wait for the movie! Hope its identical to the book. Fantastic read couldn't put down.
Overwritten and overlong, this is nonetheless an entertaining account of a pretty fascinating dude.
Could not believe how long he got away with his crimes! Rideculous!
This book was one that I couldn't put down. Great!
The back half (thankfully) was more exciting and in an order that made sense. Unfortunately the first half went on and on and was chronologically all over the place. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it could have been shorter, in my opinion.
Jul 17, 2012
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Eric Albrecht recommendation
A fascinating read.
Good read. Very entertaining and interesting. My only complaint is that Friel gives an in-depth background of almost everyone the Bandit encounters. This gets a little tedious. Otherwise I found the book an easy read and quite fascinating.
I really have not enjoyed this book. I was expecting to, but feel like every page just tells the same story over and over again. Maybe that's the point. He keeps committing the same crime and law enforcement keeps making the same misstakes. Dumb.
I also did not enjoy the writer's style. I often found it hard to follow because it was so conversational. I'm not sure how I missed it, but I'm not sure who is telling this story.
I also did not enjoy the writer's style. I often found it hard to follow because it was so conversational. I'm not sure how I missed it, but I'm not sure who is telling this story.
Shame on his mother, shame on department of children services, shame on the school system- this kid was crying out from a very young age.
I enjoyed this book, and found it quiet detailed. What made me appreciate the visuals even more was being from the Pacific Northwest as well (and having visited Seattle, Oregon, and Olympia all a couple of times in recent years when visiting the U.S.).
Amazing all the stuff this kid got away with. Liked the irreverent writing style.
Repetitive and actually too much detail, I thought the book was overlong and tedious. An over-analysis of a mildly interesting case.
Left hanging by the proof missing the last section but an interesting tale.
Excellent.
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