by Vince Vawter
Amazon Description:
An eleven-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest baseball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired merchant marine who seems to know just about everything.
The paper route poses challenges, but it's a run-in with the neighborhood junkman, a bully and a thief, that stirs up real trouble - and puts the boy's life, as well as that of his family's devoted housekeeper, in danger.
My Thoughts:
Vince Vawter's debut middle grade novel, Paperboy, is simply remarkable. The author was richly rewarded for this profound story by winning a Newbery Honor just two weeks ago. Although Paperboy is a novel, in some ways it is a memoir, since it is loosely based on Mr. Vawter's own childhood in the late fifties. I found this story, set in Memphis, to be a somewhat painful reminder of life in the South prior to the Civil Rights Movement. What makes this novel so special is the amazing voice of the stuttering protagonist. Not just his struggles with speech, but the wisdom he's gained - beyond his years - due to the challenges brought on by his speech impediment. This middle grade novel is one of those rare children's books that would truly resonate with readers of all ages. Congratulations to Mr. Vawter for this extraordinary piece of literature!
To learn more about the author, Vince Vawter, click here: http://www.vincevawter.com/about/
