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The Summer Boy
The air was as still as it was hot-only the whir of a grasshopper's flight troubled the quiet. Jesse felt like an overcooked chicken, his meat darn near ready to fall off his bones. Mouth so dry he didn't have enough spit left to swallow, Jesse croaked, "That guy tryin' to kill us?" Turns out the answer is "not yet." A ranch hand is murdered and bad things start happening to Jesse, just an average kid working on a ranch the summer of 1958. And then there's Lola . . . the boss's daughter is a firecracker of a girl, and her bold ways send death their way. It will take all of their heart and courage to survive.
What readers say: "Jesse is the kind of character you hope young boys will turn into-considerate, quietly determined even if he lacks confidence because of his youth and limited life experience in the beginning of the novel, you have the sense he has the character to do the right thing.
"Lola is a striking character-so apparently self-assured yet so very troubled at the same time-perfect adolescent angst, and the quiet hints at the darkness that troubles her makes you empathize with her sass more."
"The Summer Boy brought back memories of first kisses and fogged car windows."
"The story is alive. I kept reading even when my eyes were closing at night."
"Wow . . . the tension never ended and it seemed to come from all directions. I spent the day reading as I couldn't stop."
What readers say: "Jesse is the kind of character you hope young boys will turn into-considerate, quietly determined even if he lacks confidence because of his youth and limited life experience in the beginning of the novel, you have the sense he has the character to do the right thing.
"Lola is a striking character-so apparently self-assured yet so very troubled at the same time-perfect adolescent angst, and the quiet hints at the darkness that troubles her makes you empathize with her sass more."
"The Summer Boy brought back memories of first kisses and fogged car windows."
"The story is alive. I kept reading even when my eyes were closing at night."
"Wow . . . the tension never ended and it seemed to come from all directions. I spent the day reading as I couldn't stop."
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 11, 2017
A darn good read. Didn't know what to expect, genre-wise, but was drawn into the story quickly. At first, I thought it was a middle-grade story, but then the language, violence, and sexual situations kicked it up to a young adult level, even though the main young characters were only 16 yrs old.
Nevertheless, a good story is a good story. Pacing was good, story questions abounded, tension was always present, ebbing and flowing and keeping the reader off guard. There were some nice plot twists, even though I suspected who the killer was at about the 75% mark.
Dialogue was realistic for a novel set in Texas in the 50s (? ... or 60s). The POV switching from Jesse to Lola showed me that Mr. Rhamey captured the confused and frustrating feelings of teenagers in love pretty well. I certainly empathized with Jesse.
This was a pleasant reading surprise and I recommend this book to anyone who likes a touching, intense story about teen romance and coming of age.
Nevertheless, a good story is a good story. Pacing was good, story questions abounded, tension was always present, ebbing and flowing and keeping the reader off guard. There were some nice plot twists, even though I suspected who the killer was at about the 75% mark.
Dialogue was realistic for a novel set in Texas in the 50s (? ... or 60s). The POV switching from Jesse to Lola showed me that Mr. Rhamey captured the confused and frustrating feelings of teenagers in love pretty well. I certainly empathized with Jesse.
This was a pleasant reading surprise and I recommend this book to anyone who likes a touching, intense story about teen romance and coming of age.
May 6, 2020
Engaging thriller set in an honest depiction of 1950s western America ranch life, in all its beauty and ugliness. Lots of action and plot twists that keep you guessing to the end. Climax is right out of a Hollywood action movie. Well worth the read.
August 15, 2012
An entertaining page-turner about teenagers coming of age in Texas. Two city boys hire on as summer help on a ranch near Kerrville in the hill country. As they learn the lifestyle and chores of the ranching trade, they also face the challenges of emerging manhood, young love, sexual discovery, a dysfunctional family, and, well, a murder or two. The author adroitly portrays the adolescent awkwardness and angst of his protagonist, Jesse, and also his grit and courage. Jesse begins the summer as a naive boy, but arcs into a young man by August. His love interest, Lola, compels as a sensual teenager challenged by her own emerging sexuality, her abusive mother, and her lecherous uncle. She also grows through the summer, as her competitive spirit spurs her to become an independent young adult in spite of her over-controlling mother.
I read this book because I enjoy Mr. Rhamey's writing blog, "Flogging the Quill," in which he advocates for high tension, precise writing, and compelling action to motivate the reader to turn the page. "The Summer Boy" does exactly that. I couldn't stop turning pages until the end.
I read this book because I enjoy Mr. Rhamey's writing blog, "Flogging the Quill," in which he advocates for high tension, precise writing, and compelling action to motivate the reader to turn the page. "The Summer Boy" does exactly that. I couldn't stop turning pages until the end.
October 14, 2012
A warm and engrossing tale of growing up--Texas style. You'll find yourself rifling through the pages, as you sweat through the oppressive Texas heat along with Jesse, a young man struggling to survive his summer job as a newly hired ranchhand in 1950's Texas.
Jesse's journey to discover who he is as a man, and find his place in the world, is complicated by his budding relationship with a young woman, Lola, who he can't keep his eyes off of, a dangerous loose cannon of a co-worker, Buddy, who is bent on forcing Jesse to leave the ranch by any means necessary, Lola's cruel, controlling mother, who disapproves of her daughter's relationship with Jesse and a murder that looms large over everything that happens that summer at the ranch.
This novel will tug on your heartstrings. Great fun and powerfully written. Don't miss out.
Jesse's journey to discover who he is as a man, and find his place in the world, is complicated by his budding relationship with a young woman, Lola, who he can't keep his eyes off of, a dangerous loose cannon of a co-worker, Buddy, who is bent on forcing Jesse to leave the ranch by any means necessary, Lola's cruel, controlling mother, who disapproves of her daughter's relationship with Jesse and a murder that looms large over everything that happens that summer at the ranch.
This novel will tug on your heartstrings. Great fun and powerfully written. Don't miss out.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews