What do you think?
Rate this book
Me & the '53
A made in Montana coming of age motorcycle story. During the summer of 1965 a new town boy has his life changed when a stranger rides into town on a chopped Harley Davidson Panhead motorcycle. Scorch Black has left his troubled past behind in Southern California. He arrives in a small Montana town with nothing but the stuff crammed in his saddlebags and a drive to succeed as the town's new blacksmith. The boy and the biker meet head on in the back lot of the shop and the summer's adventure takes off! The individual chapters of "Me & the '53" take you through perspective changes that develop characters in the present tense then flashbacks to the past to describe how fate intervened to bring Scorch to town. This take the Kid on the fast track to being the trusted student-recipient of Scorch's strong code of loyalty, morality and his wisdom gained from years of life experiences. The Kid gets an education he could not buy at any cost, anywhere...even in an Ivy League family 'pedigree' could not 'learn' the boy on life the way he learned fro a true old 'highway historian'!
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2013
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 21, 2014
Me & the ’53: A Coming of Age Motorcycle Story is a book by Montana author Cyrus Lee. This book talks about the change from being an older child to being a teenager in the summer of 1965. It talks about the great desire of young people to “fit in”. It talks about honor, loyalty, and sincerity. It shows how someone outside the family can have an impact on a young man’s growing up. It is based on Cyrus Lee’s life.
Cal Lee is just out of sixth grade in a small Montana town. He and his family had just moved to town to finally make this their home instead of following his Dad all around in the Navy. Dad had finally retired and he and Mom had come home. Cal hasn’t made any real friends yet but he had his mind set on mowing lawns all summer. He managed to get a few teachers through the connection with the principal of the school. His uncle was the principal. He is on his way to mow a lawn when he goes a little out of his way to see the new blacksmith. It was said he rode in on a motorcycle.
Scorch Black had indeed ridden to town on a motorcycle- a Harley Davidson! The first person he met was Sherriff Tom who was checking this stranger out and perhaps escorting him out of town. However, Scorch showed him Stubby’s will stating that Scorch was to inherit his business. So Scorch was here to stay and not cause problems. Instead of showing him the town limits, Tom was showing him where to get a meal and where to find the lawyer. Scorch has a background he doesn’t talk about. In fact, when talking with the townspeople, he keeps everything on a business level; but listens to them.
When Cal stopped by the blacksmith to get a peek, Scorch invites him in to sharpen the blades on his mover if he would mow the lot. All the metal and other objects have been picked up so it wasn’t much of a job. While he is learning to take the blades off, a strange friendship blossoms, two people on the outside gravitate together. Scorch offers some part time work for Cal. After gaining his parent’s permission, “Kid” (now Cal’s nickname) goes to work for Scorch and is known around town to work for Scorch. The excitement begins the first day Kid puts in an appearance in Scorch’s business. Scorch “shows” Kid how to do things and talks to him like the adult Kid wants to be. He imparts knowledge learned from his military life to Kid. However, Scorch is keeping a secret. Is it one that will cost him, the town, and Kid?
It is a great book, especially for boys who are the target Cal was looking at when he wrote this. There is a list of terms relating back to 1965 in the back to help kids understand.
Cal Lee is just out of sixth grade in a small Montana town. He and his family had just moved to town to finally make this their home instead of following his Dad all around in the Navy. Dad had finally retired and he and Mom had come home. Cal hasn’t made any real friends yet but he had his mind set on mowing lawns all summer. He managed to get a few teachers through the connection with the principal of the school. His uncle was the principal. He is on his way to mow a lawn when he goes a little out of his way to see the new blacksmith. It was said he rode in on a motorcycle.
Scorch Black had indeed ridden to town on a motorcycle- a Harley Davidson! The first person he met was Sherriff Tom who was checking this stranger out and perhaps escorting him out of town. However, Scorch showed him Stubby’s will stating that Scorch was to inherit his business. So Scorch was here to stay and not cause problems. Instead of showing him the town limits, Tom was showing him where to get a meal and where to find the lawyer. Scorch has a background he doesn’t talk about. In fact, when talking with the townspeople, he keeps everything on a business level; but listens to them.
When Cal stopped by the blacksmith to get a peek, Scorch invites him in to sharpen the blades on his mover if he would mow the lot. All the metal and other objects have been picked up so it wasn’t much of a job. While he is learning to take the blades off, a strange friendship blossoms, two people on the outside gravitate together. Scorch offers some part time work for Cal. After gaining his parent’s permission, “Kid” (now Cal’s nickname) goes to work for Scorch and is known around town to work for Scorch. The excitement begins the first day Kid puts in an appearance in Scorch’s business. Scorch “shows” Kid how to do things and talks to him like the adult Kid wants to be. He imparts knowledge learned from his military life to Kid. However, Scorch is keeping a secret. Is it one that will cost him, the town, and Kid?
It is a great book, especially for boys who are the target Cal was looking at when he wrote this. There is a list of terms relating back to 1965 in the back to help kids understand.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review