jillcd's review
5.0
One of the best books I have read in a while! The pranks, humor, and adventures of Stanley aka Rye, kept me laughing to the very end. The style of writing reminds me of A Year Down Yonder. I love this book!!!
librarianna's review
3.0
3.5 stars. While the book had some great things (scrapbook images. Setting, historical time period) I really had issues with the pacing. The story reads like a mix of a scrapbook, a novel and a diary. Because there are no dates and most of the entries are random stories, it was hard for me to tell how much time had gone by and the overall arch of the story. The lack of this clarity made me feel disconnected from the characters and less inclined to laugh at a funny moment. Still. One to keep in the shelves for reluctant boy (and girl) readers and lovers of historical, fun fiction.
erine's review
4.0
High expectations made this a rougher read than I was hoping for. History, Michigan, ridiculous period advertisements all added up to something I REALLY wanted to read, but I didn't make it through on my first try. What made it hard that first time was Stanley's propensity to talk as well as think out loud, and just think, but there was little to distinguish between the different kinds of conversations. It was just a little uneven.
The second time around, the humor and the characters carried me far enough into the story that I didn't falter like the first time. The humor is a bit over the top, but might appeal to kids who like silly realistic fiction, so may be a good crossover for those kids who don't typically like historical fiction.
For me, the most redeeming element (and what bumped this from three to four stars) was the note in the back that described the framework for the novel: the author's own family tree. I'm a sucker for a good backstory.
The second time around, the humor and the characters carried me far enough into the story that I didn't falter like the first time. The humor is a bit over the top, but might appeal to kids who like silly realistic fiction, so may be a good crossover for those kids who don't typically like historical fiction.
For me, the most redeeming element (and what bumped this from three to four stars) was the note in the back that described the framework for the novel: the author's own family tree. I'm a sucker for a good backstory.
saragrochowski's review
5.0
History, adventure, and the laugh-out-loud funny – I mean, extremely manly! - Stanley Slater take center stage in this debut novel from Alison DeCamp. Stan is quite sure he’ll be able to track down his missing father if he can prove his manliness, dodge the bossy women in his life, and participate in the dangerous lumber camp River Drive. Readers will quickly fall for Stan’s antics and the artistic license he employs in both his storytelling and scrapbook, as well as the colorful and strong-willed women that tuck him in at night.
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