View from Valhalla

originally published May 14, 2012

Title: Boone Barnaby
Author: Joe Cottonwood
Genre: Young Adult non-spec ficc
Released: 12 January 2009
Located: iTunes, Podiobooks
Formats Available: podcast
Rating: PG – For mild language and violence

Currently I’m listening to a number of podcasts. A good number. Not a single one had the decency to finish this week. So, as my deadline quickly approached, I pulled up Podiobooks.com and looked at authors I’ve enjoyed. I then realized there was one story by Joe Cottonwood I hadn’t heard yet. That’s all it took.

So, on to the review.

Synopsis: If you liked Clear Heart, I think you’ll like this one too. It’s got great characters, it’s down-to-earth, it’s fun. And better yet, this one’s friendly to children. Boone Barnaby is about three boys testing the limits of life in their scrappy little town. It’s about collecting garbage, climbing trees, catching a criminal, and talking to dragonflies.

Boone Barnaby lives in a small town full of large characters: San Puerco, California. There’s Boone’s father, who loves Studebakers and doo-wop, and who has a habit of walking around the dark streets of town late at night carrying a can of gasoline. There’s Boone’s friend Danny, who has nothing—sometimes not even a home—but who wants everything, even if he has to steal for it. There’s Boone’s other friend Babcock, who finds trilobites and organizes a picket line and looks like a wet coconut. There’s Walt, the soccer coach, who drives a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. And there’s Boone himself, who has a few problems: His soccer team is thrown out of the league. The dogcatcher is after Boone’s dog. The town hoodlum is throwing rocks. Boone’s father is arrested for burning down houses. The adult world doesn’t seem fair, but with the help of his friends—Danny and Babcock—Boone tries to make things right and maybe learn just who he is and what he stands for.

Boone Barnaby is Part One of the San Puerco Trilogy, three award-winning novels that have been loved by adults and children alike, about the adventures of three boys in a town of cranks and dreamers—and adventurous children. “This warmly engaging story is resplendent with humor, irony, thoughtful introspection, and well-paced plotting.” —School Library Journal.

Joe Cottonwood lives in the scrappy little town of La Honda, California, which has its own share of cranks and dreamers—and adventurous children. He has written four award-winning novels for children including the best-selling Quake!, four novels for adults including Famous Potatoes and Clear Heart, a book of poetry, and numerous songs. He has worked as a plumber, electrician, and carpenter and currently makes his living as a building contractor. He recently discovered that he has been writing podcasts all his life, though he didn’t know it until podcasts were finally invented. (Stolen from Podiobooks.com)

Production: Once again, Mr. Cottonwood keeps the production pretty straight forward with the story being read by a handful of people. Each episode contains two chapters opened and closed by a piece of music and a musical interlude between chapters. Uncomplicated and straightforward. And done very well.

Grade: A-

Cast: As mentioned previously, this is a group read. I won’t call it a full cast podcast, but it is far from a self read. If you’ve listened to any of Mr. Cottonwood’s other podcasts, one or two of the other voices will quite probably be familiar. This cast does a nice job of telling the story. Not perfect, but good.

Grade: B

Story: When I listened to Babcock, I had several people mention Boone Barnaby to me. However, no one mentioned to me that Boone Barnaby was an earlier story with many of the same characters that takes place in the same small California town of San Puerco. I hesitate in calling it a prequel, because in reality the stories are unrelated, however, the many of the characters are in both stories, and they are younger in Boone Barnaby.

Grade: A

Verdict: While I definitely enjoyed Babcock more, I still definitely enjoyed Boone Barnaby and have no problem recommending it. This story is more formulaic in several aspects, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. This story is easily suited for children of 10 and above. I believe most would enjoy it.

Disclosure: Mr. Cottonwood did leave a comment on this blog when I reviewed Babcock, but that is the only communication I’ve ever had with him. I was offered nothing in return for this review.

~ by odin1eye on 22 January, 2020.

Posted in Podcast Reviews