It’s the top of the sixth inning, and the Tonkaway All-Stars are trailing the Oglesby All-Stars by one point. Topper Parsley, also known as Top, Topknot (he doesn’t like that one much), and Thomas is up to bat with a full count. Does he hit or miss the next pitch? Uh-uh! No spoilers here!
With campouts, ghost stories, and Shaky Man, you’d think this book was primarily for boys. Okay, maybe a little because its main characters are Topper, Mickey, and Joe Ellis. Yes that’s right, all of them are boys—12 and 13 year-old boys. Yet, with characters like Jane Ellen Phillips, Sis, and Sammy, girls will also love this book. Being set in 1967 and 1968, it brought back some fond memories for me,especially, the ghost story campout. Not to mention its down home storytelling style, that will attract anyone who has enjoyed “To Kill a Mocking Bird”.
Shaky Man has been the most difficult review I have written to date. Yes, the story is good. It is so good, that I want to talk about every nuance and theme presented. It’s one of those books that’s going to have you reading it over and over again, as you talk to everyone and anyone who wants to listen to this story. Ahhhh! There is so much I want to tell you, but I’ve got to stop.
That little twist is Jane Ellen Phillips.