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BOOK REVIEW: Welcome To Fred
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Click cover to purchase book
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by Ethan C. McDonald Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Welcome To Fred Author: Brad Whittington Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishers ISBN: 0-805-42555-1 Genre: Inspirational/Fiction
Mark Cloud is in for the ride of his youth during the hippy revolution of the 1960's. His journey of self-discovery takes him through humorous and hair-raising adventures. But, just as he begins to discover the thrills of the hippy culture his family moves to the square, redneck town of Fred, Texas. Suddenly, he's the odd man out, and being the pastor's son just adds to his feelings of alienation.
Within time, Mark develops tentative friendships with classmates Darnell Ray (local speed-demon), twins Jolene and Bubba Culpepper and Ralph "Turtlehead" Mull. Darnell and Mark challenge the laws of physics on dirt back roads in Darnell's pick-up truck. While Mark stalls out on the romantic front, he finds solace by teaming with Jolene to pull off the ultimate practical joke against one of her suitors.
Despite his lifetime involvement in the Baptist church, Mark privately struggles with the existence of God and why He would allow so much insanity. Afraid to confront his father with his questions, Mark searches for his own answers and makes a surprising discovery.
Brad Whittington is an artist with the pen. His character and scene descriptions are sharp, accurate and intriguing-drawing the reader into the turbulent sea of a teenage boy's thoughts, feelings, adventures, and dreams. The realistic lives of Whittington's sometimes endearing, sometimes heart-wrenching characters along with his witty mixed metaphors launch the reader on a roller coaster ride during a thunderstorm. Welcome To Fred is a definite "must" for the adventurous guy's gift list.
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