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ReviewsPraise for The Side-Yard Superhero The Side-Yard Superhero received Honorable Mention at the New York Book Festival, following is a review by A.S.: "A tug-at-the-heartstrings, coming-of-age memoir that fondly recounts the author's small-town Ohio childhood and his boyhood friend Bernie Jones, who was afflicted with Cerebral Palsy and confined to a wheelchair. Writing with a self-effacing and playful wit, the author's tale details his unlikely friendship with a boy he could have just as easily ignored. That relationship became a defining chapter in his life. This is intended as a life-affirming, upbeat book. While it ventures into some unconventional territory (i.e. the author begins each chapter with a poem), it truly hits the mark. The Side-Yard Superhero takes its title from the small area adjacent to Bernie's house where he languished most days in his wheelchair. Just as significant as the boy in the wheelchair is the setting for the story: DeGraff, Ohio (Pop. 900). The narrator (known in his boyhood as "Rickie") was a long-time paperboy with an after-school route that enabled him to meet a hodgepodge of neighbors (including, ultimately, Bernie). Central to the story are many archetypes common to small-town America in the post WW II era. The author romanticizes much of his Norman Rockwell upbringing. Still, to his credit, he does so without sugarcoating the characters and personalities. Fern, for example, is an elderly woman who could often be seen roaming the neighborhood wearing just her brassiere and pants (we never fully understand why, but we are left with no doubt that it was true.) While the 'Superhero' designation is based on the disabled boy's decision to trick-or-treat as Superman, it obviously has broad connotations related to the child's perseverance and inner strength. Bernie, we come to realize, is a remarkable young man with unflappable optimism and an active imagination. The true strength of this book is a narrative that weaves the assorted characters and incidents with gentle uncomplicated prose. The book is a delight to read."
THE WRITING Those who take the plunge soon realize the description is really meant to acquaint readers with the author's slightly mischievous persona. This is an intelligent and thoughtful writer who also has the impish confidence to express himself exclusively on his own terms. This is his story; his life experience. If he found it interesting, it's in. To prove it, he even concocts a heretofore unknown area of literature. The book is peppered with little smile inducing asides that hint at the author's personality. He even makes light of being president of a small university: In his cover flap bio, he notes that he and his wife are 'the proud parents of 675 students.' The author also teases the reader by starting at the end. The story begins in present day with a late night call from the author's mother. She has, at long last, located her son's cherished boyhood friend, who he has not seen in some 40 years. Bernie, it turns out, is in a nursing home and in failing health. Suddenly, Dr. Niece, the distinguished educator, is transported back to Rickie the bike riding paperboy, and the tale begins. In the hands of another writer, this could have quickly become sappy and uninteresting. But there is an authentic, unforced tone here. Despite the casual approach, the narrative that unfolds is focused and engaging. Readers recognize this is a work driven by a deep passion and a childhood memory as fond as any. His relationship with Bernie had life-changing consequences that are best conveyed via anecdotes. This writer knows better than to overwhelm the reader. He prefers to simply tell the story with clarity and wit. There are occasions when the story seems to meander off the beaten path, but at a brisk 175 pages (divided into 23 chapters, a prologue and a postscript) those transgressions are rare and forgivable. Not overtly-discussed but obvious to the reader are the small town values that shaped the author's character and outlook. While he never pats himself on the back for it, as a young boy he somehow found the empathy and compassion to befriend a boy others had shunned. As an adult, the author expresses profound affection for his friend, yet concludes his memoir by wondering if 'Bernie learned anything from me.' It's a good bet Bernie Jones learned a great deal from the author, as will many readers."
"The Side-Yard Superhero illustrates how we unexpectedly discover heroic qualities
in our most ordinary daily acquaintances."
What Readers Are Saying
"I am going to take a couple of cold Dr. Peppers into the quiet woods with me, and then read The Side-Yard Superhero again and again. It perfectly captures the essence of small-town living."
"I finished reading The Side-Yard Superhero this afternoon. I've never enjoyed a book as much as this one, knowing so many people in the stories and exactly where you were when you were naming the streets you were traveling. The picture at the end of the book is when the tears started streaming. Thanks for your memories, Rick!"
"What a delightful book! I started reading it, and it was hard to put down. A nice trip down memory lane."
"If only you could have witnessed my reactions to the things I read, you would know that you had written 'a keeper.' I sat here at 10 o'clock at night laughing till I cried."
"The Side-Yard Superhero is FUNtastic. I just loved every page."
"Your book is so heartwarming and so eloquently and precisely written. After the first two chapters, I felt like I was a little shadow, with a tiny red cape, riding on the fender of your bike. I was experiencing every adventure you encountered." |
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