Boys Will Be Boys

by James Patterson

A train ride home from a school field trip turns sinister when two kids spot a body on the tracks. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller

40 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2011

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

a short book about two kids on a train ride from a school trip. while on the way home. the two kids found a body on the tracks. while they were talking to the driver of the train. they spotted what appears to be a paralyzed person on the tracks. the train was not able to stop in time. and the ran over the person. the train conductor went out to investigate the damage when he realized it was only a mannequin.

[Laur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, but kind of pointless in this 19 minute audiobook. It didn’t feel finished.

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a very fast read, but I did not enjoy it.

[Jordan Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was kinda pointless

[Genevieve Fair · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so lame lol

[Pink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just seemed too short to make the point it was really trying to make.

[Connor Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boys Will Be Boys by James Patterson is about two friends named Fred and Will who get on a train to head to a school field trip. They notice to older kids get on that look sketchy and Fred overhears them talking about a prank they are about to pull off. They say it's going to be a big one and one kid keeps giving Fred a Death Stare. They then went to the driver section to ask the driver a question when they noticed a body on the tracks that looked like it was paralyzed. He told the driver and he stopped, but not in time. The train crushed it and they called 911 immediately the driver checked it out and it turned out to be a mannequin. Fred and Will saw two older kids at the back of the train leave over a ditch. The police asked them for information and Fred and Will told them everything. Soon after they got right back to the Field trip.

[Detta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t all that bad of a story. Not what I was expecting though. It read as if it were a scholastic book for older children )teens would be bored by it). This is actually a Segway to a website called guysread.com. The website invites readers to go to the website give suggestions on things they would like to read about. It’s a great way to learn of authors (from other stories written) as well as read some pretty interesting stuff.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story about boys "acting like boys" in the way that buddies see something and have to decide if they want to say something about it or act like they don't know anything.In a way this could've been a "girls will be girls" story too.Aren't short stories great? They get right to the point but still give us a lot of things to think about.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this thinking it would be a good short audio book while I waited for one of the other books I wanted to listen to, to become available. I totally misread the total time of the book. Now that I have read the description and notes on it I see it is more for kids or young adults. It was just too short for me. Oh well.

[Cleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a Mom, but...

I am a fan of James Patterson's and as a Mom and IEP Para Professional I like to encourage all of my "children" to read. For those who like a thrill that also provides a life lesson, this one is real good!

[Dajuroka Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm...not sure. Very short extract of larger work I gather. Teaching boys about bullying and being honest, at least I think that was the message. Not recommended really except for young preadolescent male.

[Crissy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ran across the audio version while looking for something to read. I am not sure it even qualifies as a short story when it was under 30 minutes, the book shots at least give me 3 hours.
It seemed just as it was getting started it was over.

[Monica L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t horrible but it wasn’t the best of his books but nevertheless it wasn’t that bad at all. I’m glad this was the last book of the day. I wouldn’t read this again but it was interesting enough to read once.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is not book. It only about 5 pages long

[Shannon Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read for Tweens

[Tomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very uninspiring short story. Boring. A disappointment from this author

[Elin Reigstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was far too short to be able to convey the message that it is trying to show

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible!

[Maggie Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book, this is a short story and a fairly average one at that.

[Anna Nolley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story.

[Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very, very, very short story.

[Mary LeMay · Rating 1 out of 5]

What?

What the hell did I just read? Feel like a lot was missing. Don't understand. Is there something else going on?

[Don Barger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too short.

[Ellen Wolintz-Fields · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad I was not listening while on my usual train ride commute to work. I listened because it was by James Patterson - is it the same James Patterson ?

[Linda]

This is NOT THE James Patterson.
Very odd opinions…didn’t enjoy at all.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not care for this story - it's a short story that does nothing for me...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

[Kevin Alexander · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a pretty big fan of James Patterson I have set out to read his entire bibliography. Thus I read this story. However, it was pointless and not worth the time or effort