Where The Whippoorwills Call


Young Adult - Action
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 09/10/2014
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Where The Whippoorwills Call is a marvelous young adult coming of age story written by Eddie Raven. It's 1972, Travis Abrell is 14 years old, and he's trespassing on old man Ira Yates' property, along with his best friend Cooter and an older guy, Jimmy. Their plan is to smash the old man's prize melons, but Yates is out there waiting for them. Jimmy and Cooter get away, while Travis is found sprawled on the ground after being pushed aside by Jimmy and tripping. Yates asks him for his name, which Travis gives, and then he asks for the names of his friends. At that, Travis stands up a little taller and refuses to answer, which seems to please the old man. He tells Travis that he's not going to call the sheriff. Instead, he's going to let Travis work off the damage to his crop. Travis is a bit confused and very relieved, and he agrees to start the next day.

Raven paints a nostalgic and glowing picture of country life, complete with characters who are both remarkable and memorable. Travis is haunted by his grandfather's death; he's certain that if he hadn't left his chores undone, his grandfather wouldn't have died while doing them for him. He's also lost his father, to all intents and purposes, as his dad left five years earlier. So, his family now is just his mom and Great-Aunt Betts. Ira Yates becomes his unofficial boss, mentor, father-figure and friend, and it's wonderful to watch the bonding that occurs. Travis' best friend Cooter has watched too much Gomer Pyle, and channels that character constantly which is very strange, but it's all part of making Cooter also larger-than-life in this inspirational and compelling story. I smiled as I read Where The Whippoorwills Call, and I'm still smiling as I write this review. Where The Whippoorwill Calls is grand literary fiction, and it's highly recommended.