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Never Cry "Arp!" and Other Great Adventures
America's best-selling outdoor humorist for adults has a secret middle-grade and young-adult readers.
Never Cry "Arp!" is a lively collection of twelve stories about young Pat's misadventures in the Great American Wilderness.
All the McManus regulars are Crazy Eddie Muldoon, the best friend everybody wishes they had (and everybody's mother wishes they didn't); Rancid Crabtree, the good-hearted, if gamey, woodsman; Pat's skunk dog, Strange, who lives up to his name; and Pat's pal, Retch Sweeney, who does, too.
This is a book for kids who love to start fishing at 4am (at least they say they do) or for those who prefer to experience the mighty outdoors in the safety of their homes.
"Everybody should read Patrick McManus," said the New York Times . Now, everybody can.
Never Cry "Arp!" is a lively collection of twelve stories about young Pat's misadventures in the Great American Wilderness.
All the McManus regulars are Crazy Eddie Muldoon, the best friend everybody wishes they had (and everybody's mother wishes they didn't); Rancid Crabtree, the good-hearted, if gamey, woodsman; Pat's skunk dog, Strange, who lives up to his name; and Pat's pal, Retch Sweeney, who does, too.
This is a book for kids who love to start fishing at 4am (at least they say they do) or for those who prefer to experience the mighty outdoors in the safety of their homes.
"Everybody should read Patrick McManus," said the New York Times . Now, everybody can.
134 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Patrick F. McManus
56 books427 followersPatrick F. McManus is an American outdoor humor writer. A humor columnist for Outdoor Life and other magazines, his columns have been collected in several books.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 22, 2024
Humor for all ages!
Never Cry "Arp" and Other Adventures
By Patrick F. McManus
I have read most of his books over the years and loved every one. My dad had a subscription for a magazine that had a story by this author in the back of each monthly delivery . I would make sure I read those stories although I never read anything else in the magazines.
These stories in the book are witty, fun, unpredictable, and absolutely hilarious. The characters are unique. Although I haven't read one of his books recently, the characters are so memorable that they all come flooding back to me. They are crazy fun, feel good books, because the characters are so believable! Read them all!
Never Cry "Arp" and Other Adventures
By Patrick F. McManus
I have read most of his books over the years and loved every one. My dad had a subscription for a magazine that had a story by this author in the back of each monthly delivery . I would make sure I read those stories although I never read anything else in the magazines.
These stories in the book are witty, fun, unpredictable, and absolutely hilarious. The characters are unique. Although I haven't read one of his books recently, the characters are so memorable that they all come flooding back to me. They are crazy fun, feel good books, because the characters are so believable! Read them all!
August 21, 2025
Fun!
The stories are hilarious. I love Pat McManus' books and have read them several times over the years. I always get a good laugh. My wife won't let me read them in bed as I get laughing so hard I shake the bed and weaker her up.
The stories are hilarious. I love Pat McManus' books and have read them several times over the years. I always get a good laugh. My wife won't let me read them in bed as I get laughing so hard I shake the bed and weaker her up.
October 3, 2020
Even though I’ve read all of these in his other books ... this is the best collection of some of his younger-self stories.
September 22, 2024
Really fun short stories- would be great for young or reluctant readers
November 21, 2007
A sure bird-in-the-hand for teachers and subs of the middle grades, these short, funny essays are just the thing to fill five minutes of downtime with high adventure and a belly laugh. McManus' stories and mildly heartwarming and even somewhat moral, but they're also sarcastic and subversive enough to convince sixth graders that they're getting away with something just by listening to them. McManus' description of his childhood dog:
"In general appearance, Strange could easily have been mistaken for your average brown-and-white mongrel with floppy ears and a shaggy tail, except that depravity was written all over him. He looked as if he sold dirty postcards to support an opium habit. His eyes spoke of having known the depths of degeneracy, and approving of them."
"In general appearance, Strange could easily have been mistaken for your average brown-and-white mongrel with floppy ears and a shaggy tail, except that depravity was written all over him. He looked as if he sold dirty postcards to support an opium habit. His eyes spoke of having known the depths of degeneracy, and approving of them."
November 24, 2015
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
May 28, 2009
I used to read him monthly in Outdoor Life. Some of these stories i remember from the magazine. Altogether funny as hell! I laughed till i cried on some of them.
March 3, 2010
I actually cackled out loud like a crazy person while reading some of these stories. The first couple are just ok, and then there are a few that are just zany and brilliant.
August 24, 2009
We laughed and laughed until we were gasping for air!
Our favorite quickie line? "Don't rile me...don't rile me!"
Our favorite quickie line? "Don't rile me...don't rile me!"
March 15, 2012
I'd say McManus is a cross between Richard Peck and Jean Shepherd and, although I found his stories to be quite funny, I think young adult males would exalt him.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews