Little Joe: A Novel (Round Rock, Book 1)
Michael E. Glasscock III
Language: English
Pages: 141
ISBN: 2:00285292
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
When Little Joe Stout survives the car accident that took his parents’ lives, he is sent to live with his maternal grandparents in the small town of Round Rock, Tennessee. Orphaned and missing his Texas home, Little Joe is reluctant to adapt. But his grandparents, especially his grandmother, are up to the challenge of raising him despite their own struggles. Soon, childhood friendships are forged in the oddball duo of Sugar and Bobby, and—with the help of a new canine companion—Little Joe begins to see that his new home offers the comfort and love he thought was lost forever.
Set against the drama of World War II and the first sparks of the civil rights movement, Little Joe’s new home is a microcosm of America in the 1940s. A frightening incident with a Chinese motorist traveling on the wrong side of town, the migration of troops across the countryside, and a frank discussion of Jim Crow laws are just a few of the local events mirroring the radio broadcasts that bring the news of the day into his grandmother’s kitchen.
Little Joe begins a four-part series from Michael E. Glasscock III that explores the intricate social cloth of Round Rock, Tennessee.
Ink and Bone (The Great Library, Book 1)
Vanishing Girl (Boy Sherlock Holmes, Book 3)
A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs (Felse, Book 4)
Fallen Into the Pit (Felse, Book 1)
The Sins of the Wolf (William Monk, Book 5)
eggs for us, and we have them for supper.” “But they’re my friends!” Little Joe protested. “I love these hens. I feed them every day. Can’t you go get another hen?” Persifor lifted his old gray fedora and scratched his scalp. “I don’t think your grandmother would want me to spend the money to buy another hen.” “I’ll ask her.” “Best you don’t name the chickens, get attached to them.” “But I love these chickens.” “I’m sorry, son. Don’t have a choice.” Persifor grabbed the hen by her neck and
of ways to save food. You should say something to Sugar and Bobby, Little Joe. Their parents may not be as observant as we are.” Little Joe felt Sugar and Bobby were the best friends anyone could possibly want. Starting from the first week in January, Saturday became the Three Musketeers’ day. They called themselves that because Frances had been reading the book to them each Saturday morning. Persifor made Sugar and Bobby wooden swords like the one he’d helped Little Joe make before the
long and had a hump on the bridge, and her face resembled a freshly plowed field. She definitely looked like a witch to Little Joe. Napoleon gave a low growl and started toward the porch, but Little Joe grabbed the dog’s collar and held him back. “Who’s there?” the woman asked. Little Joe didn’t say a word, but Napoleon kept growling. What will I do if she sees me? he wondered. Holding Napoleon against his chest, Little Joe put his hand over the dog’s muzzle, but the dog continued to growl.
An explosion rocked the hill. A plume of black smoke arose from the far side of the campsite, and a group of soldiers ran in that direction. Sugar uttered a shriek. Bobby slid off the roof, and Little Joe was right behind him. “What was that?” Sugar asked. “Don’t know. Something blew up for sure,” Persifor said. “Reckon anyone was hurt?” Bobby asked. “Don’t know. I suspect we ought to get home before everyone hits the road. Explosions scare folks. See, some of the sightseers are already
work and the need to eat animals, the strict rules of the house, etc. Which of the adjustments Little Joe has to make would you consider the most difficult to deal with, personally? What are some times in your own life that you’ve been forced by circumstances to make a major life adjustment? Do you think that Little Joe is being ungrateful by complaining to his grandparents about some of these changes? Although we only get brief glimpses of Little Joe’s parents within the novel, we get the