| Title | : | Nothing More Dangerous |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published November 12, 2019 |
After fifteen years of growing up in the Ozark hills with his widowed mother, high-school freshman Boady Sanden is beyond ready to move on. He dreams of glass towers and cityscapes, driven by his desire to be anywhere other than Jessup, Missouri. The new kid at St. Ignatius High School, if he isn’t being pushed around, he is being completely ignored. Even his beloved woods, his playground as a child and his sanctuary as he grew older, seem to be closing in on him, suffocating him.
Then Thomas Elgin moves in across the road, and Boady’s life begins to twist and turn. Coming to know the Elgins--a black family settling into a community where notions of “us” and “them” carry the weight of history--forces Boady to rethink his understanding of the world he’s taken for granted. Secrets hidden in plain sight begin to unfold: the mother who wraps herself in the loss of her husband, the neighbor who carries the wounds of a mysterious past that he holds close, the quiet boss who is fighting his own hidden battle.
But the biggest secret of all is the disappearance of Lida Poe, the African-American woman who keeps the books at the local plastics factory. Word has it that Ms. Poe left town, along with a hundred thousand dollars of company money. Although Boady has never met the missing woman, he discovers that the threads of her life are woven into the deepest fabric of his world.
As the mystery of her fate plays out, Boady begins to see the stark lines of race and class that both bind and divide this small town, and he is forced to choose sides.
Nothing More Dangerous Reviews
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I don’t often cry at movies or while reading books, but I did with this one!! Also stayed up until 2:00 a.m., I had to finish it!
This is the third book that I’ve read by Mr. Eskens and every one has been a 5*, I wish I could give it more. This book gets everything right, the plot, the mystery, the character development, the quick and smooth flow of the prose, just WOW !! I felt so many emotions while reading this book. At times I laughed, cried, felt afraid, felt ashamed at how evil and prejudiced some people can be, the pain that they can inflict on others, verbally and physically. Wonderfully, to balance the evil there was the incredible kindness and caring of people, young and older, who do everything to help others. I don’t want to let go of these characters, I feel like they have found a place in my heart.
15 year old Broady is a very inquisitive, kind and caring young teen but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t get himself in lots of dangerous, dubious adventures. He has just finished his freshman year at a Christian high school which he is definitely not happy about. His mother, widowed for about ten years, is quite strict with Broady and when he was caught stealing and smoking cigarettes in 8th grade she wanted him in a private school. Problem is, at this school he doesn’t fit in anywhere. He handles it pretty well and spends lots of time reading, exploring in the woods, fishing, swimming and talking with his next door neighbor, Hoke, a retired lawyer who spends long afternoons on his porch. These two have a great relationship and it eases Broady’s heart a little since his father died.
New neighbors on Broady’s small neighborhood street is big news. When it turns out that the dad is the next manager at the local company, Ryke Manufacturing, and an African American things start to happen, first slowly and then very quickly spiral out of control. The bright light in all of this is the wonderful friendship that blossoms between Broady and Thomas Elgin, the new neighbor boy, same age as Broady.
We begin to be introduced to an array of amazing characters. Broady’s mother who has been quiet and quite withdrawn seems to come out of her loneliness when Jenny Elgin engages her in talks and teas.
The sheriff, Vaughan, is a tough one to figure out, is he really a good guy? Bad guy? Somewhere in between?
There had been a big story in town a few months previously about a young black woman, Ms. Lida Poe, who supposedly embezzled money from the company and no one has seen her since. The general belief is that she has fled the country, has she?
The really frightening group of guys are a part of the CORPS, a secret white supremacist group, they include boys named Jarvis, Bob and Brad. There are not at all happy with the new African American manager of Ryke and the demotion of their father.
I don’t want to give away any more of the plot so I will stop with this quote from Hoke when trying to explain the racial prejudices in town “In a perfect world, ignorant notions should die a quick death. A thing like racism, if it can’t find a kindred spirit...it’s like a dog barking at a stone. But if you can find just one other person who thinks like you . ..well even the most irrational belief can grow roots. Small minded people feed off each other and before you know it, you have mobs, and you have burning crosses, and lynchings” .
If you haven’t read this author I highly recommend that you pick up this book. It has already published so it can also make a great holiday gift :) Obviously I loved this book!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher Mulholland Books, through NetGalley. -
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens (Author)
Kevin Stillwell (Narrator)
I really liked the character of fifteen year old Boady Sanden. He's a good, very intelligent, kid who is barely getting through school because he wants to get out of town as soon as he turns 16...he's not going to be here for graduation, he figures, since he is saving up all his part time job earnings, that he doesn't give to him mom for their bills, for the day he can leave. He knows his mom will miss him but is sure she'll get over it. Boady lives with his mom in their tiny house on a rural road that dead ends onto the property where both Boady and his mother work. Boady's dad died when he was five and his mother has never gotten over losing her husband but she loves Boady dearly and gives him the best life possible. Their next door neighbor is Hoke Garner, in his 60s, and a rock in Boady's life because he is just there, usually sitting on his porch, with a chair waiting for Boady or Boady's mom. Some of my favorite parts of the books are when Boady and Hoke are talking or just sitting together. And there are the Elgins, folks who move into the house across the street. Boady's lonely life gets more interesting because there is the potential for a friend in their son, Thomas.
Boady has a tough time at school. He's been invisible until he tripped up one of the hot shot seniors that was going to do something mean to the lone black girl in the school. Boady's new neighbors are black, too, and the mean trio of seniors has been trying to get Boady to deface their property but he refuses to do it. Now Boady is on the hit list of this mean trio and it's all he can do to get to the last day of school with his body intact.
Added to all of this is a missing black woman, Lida Poe, accused of stealing funds from her employers. There is also a secret group that is very much like the KKK. Of course, these people are after the Elgins because they are black and because Mr. Elgin has taken over the head job at the place that is missing money. He's there to find out what really happened to the money and if Lida Poe had help embezzling the money. It's a strange mix, Boady is getting his quiet summer days started, working, fishing, and a friend to spend time with, but the racial and other tensions ramp up and there is a feeling of unease at every turn.
By the end of the story, Boady has an entirely different outlook on life. He was a good kid at the beginning of the book and by the end, he's an even better kid, with a clearer picture of his mom, Hoke, and those around him. I'd been planning to read this book for the last year. Recently I listened to a book that was narrated by Kevin Stillwell and I liked his narration so much that I moved Nothing More Dangerous up my TBR list since he also narrates this book. I plan to listen to more books narrated by Stillwell and will be reading Eskens earlier books, based on how much I enjoyed this book and it's narration.
Pub November 12, 2019 -
5 Gut-Wrenching, Profound, Impactful and Incredibly Moving Stars.
Some novels immediately grab your attention by their thought provoking storylines. Some have incredible character development. Some have impact. Some make you smile and some are so moving that they bring you to tears. Allen Eskens’ new novel “Nothing More Dangerous” does all of the above.
Over the years, Allen Eskens has become one of my favorite authors. I have read all of his books - I love his characters and the way he writes. With “Nothing More Dangerous” - Eskens takes us back in time, to when Boady Sanden (an Attorney and Law Professor in a few of his prior novels (“The Life We Bury” and “The Heavens May Fall”)) is a fifteen year old at St. Ignatius High School in Jessup, Missouri.
Boady has never had it easy. Losing his dad when he was young. Being raised by a single mother. Being bullied at his new school. Boady quickly learns to stand up for himself and when all else fails, to evade. He spends most of his days reading and fishing and hanging out with Hoke, the old man who lives next door, that is, until an African American family moves around the corner and Boady eventually becomes friends with their son Thomas.
Weaved into the storyline of family, friendship, bullying and racial discrimination, is the disappearance of a woman named Lidia Poe, who went missing with a lot of cash from the factory where she worked. Did Lidia take off with the cash or did something happen to her? Searching for answers can only lead to one thing: danger.
Allen Eskens intertwines these storylines together brilliantly and gives the readers oh so much more than we ever could have imagined.
The character development in this novel is stellar. The characters of Boady and Hoke are my absolute favorites. I love their friendship with each other and I adore their consideration for others. This is a novel that brought me to tears on more than one occasion - and I was wholly unprepared for it. When I started this, I was sure I knew what it was about and felt like I knew what would happen in the end and I was so very wrong - which is a fabulous thing. “Nothing More Dangerous” will be at the top of my favorites list for 2019. It is definitely one of my favorite novels by Allen Eskens (I love Max Rupert so I can’t say that it beats out “Deep Dark Descending” but it’s pretty close). For those of you who haven’t read a novel by Allen Eskens yet, what are you waiting for?!
This was an incredible buddy read with Kaceey (of course)! So glad I got to share this with you Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Allen Eskens for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 11.24.19.
Excerpt to be published on Instagram. -
5+ stars! 2019 Favourites List!
Boady (love that name!) is a fifteen-year-old boy who lives with his widowed mother on a remote dirt road in their small town. Hoke, an older man, lives next door and spends many hours with Boady having front porch chats and teaching life lessons. Boady finds himself caught up in a local missing woman’s case where he stumbles upon evidence that no child should be witness to.
Boady stole my heart! I loved everything about him and was fully invested in his journey from start to finish. I adored his relationship with Hoke - it was one of my favourite parts of this novel. I loved watching the dynamics of each of Boady’s relationships change and develop - with his mother, Hoke, his friends and himself.
I enjoyed everything about this book! The gritty, back-roads storyline. The enticing and endearing characters. The engrossing, suspenseful mystery. The writing that drew me in from the first word and didn’t let go of my mind until the very last. The way this had my emotions flying around - love, anger, hope, frustration, disgust, comfort - I felt it all.
This is my third Allen Eskens book. I continue to be amazed by his writing - the words seem to easily make their way off of the page and into my heart. I have a strong connection to his writing style and look forward to picking up his other novels.
Thank you to Hachette Book Group for sending me a physical copy to read and review with The Traveling Sisters. -
Traveling Friends December/January Pick!!
The title here draws from the quote, "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Allen Eskens draws on that ignorance and explores prejudice and racism as a way to explore his "own failing regarding notions of prejudice and racism" Taken from his author notes.
Nothing More Dangerous is a prequel to Allen Eskens other books. Boady Sanden is a law professor in The Life We Bury, and we see more of his character in The Heavens May Fall. In Nothing More Dangerous Boady is 15 years old and we follow his coming of age story.
Allen Eskens creates a thought-provoking part coming of age story here with interesting characters, each with a journey of their own. He weaves a mystery here in the story while layering racial thoughts and feelings along with the racial themes that had me thinking deep into the story. I loved the dynamics here between the characters and their relationships. A few different relationships are explored here so well and each had me feeling different emotions. Eskens has some moves here with those well-layered themes and character dynamics and like a DJ he rolls them right into the next one and we see how dangerous ignorance can be. Ok, I took that phrase with the DJ from Eskens here in this story. He weaves some cliches/phrases in the story that had me laughing and cringing at the same time. I love cliches/phrases and I have been known to use them myself. I sometimes spend hours looking them up and making notes on them.
Nothing More Dangerous would make for a fascinating book club chat. I read this one with Lindsay and we chatted about it and I will be making a suggestion for it in our Goodreads Traveling Friends Group. I do feel this one would make a better in-person discussion as there is a lot to talk about. I often, after reading a book, will hold my own discussion in my head and will search out the discussion questions and answer them on pen and paper. Is that odd or do other people do that? The discussion questions on Allen Eskens' website are excellent. I highly recommend.
I received a copy from the publisher. -
Beautifully written, this author has a true gift for crafting words. Like a literary painting. Allen Eskens has the ability of drawing in a reader so deeply you feel side-by-side with the characters, fully enmeshed in their every thought and movement.
Boady Sanden is somewhat of a loner in school. When he steps in to protect another student from bullies, he instantly puts a target on his back. That’s alright. In his heart he knows what he did was right and wouldn’t hesitate to repeat the action. Fully aware of the consequences.
Allen Eskens gives the reader a bit of everything in this novel and the end result is brilliant. The timeless struggle of a teenage boy finding himself, the mystery of an embezzlement, and the disappearance of a worker from the local factory. As well as the racial tension of small town Missouri in the mid 70's. Enough drama for you?! Well, it worked seamlessly! I loved every bit of it!!
This is a YA book which I didn’t realize when I first requested it. All I saw was a new release from one of my favorite authors...and that’s all I needed to know. And though YA is a genre that I have very little experience with, my enjoyment of this book couldn’t have been more rewarding.
I highly recommend!
This was a buddy read with Susanne that we both just loved and couldn’t get enough of! Allen Eskens is one of our favorite authors and we are already looking forward to his next release.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Allen Eskens for an ARC to read and review. -
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fifteen-year-old Broady Sanden is growing up in the Ozark hills with his widowed mother. He is also the new kid at St. Ignatius High School and the transition has not been an easy one. He has dreams of leaving one day and going out into the world, but for the time being, he is stuck going to school, working at his job, spending time with his neighbor, Hoke, who always seems to be on his front porch. Hoke is a mysterious man who doesn't like to talk about his past and yet is very engaged in Broady's life. Hoke has taught him to fish, change the oil on a car and even allowed him to adopt his dog.
Soon there is a change coming to the neighborhood. New neighbors will be moving in and there is also a woman missing from the town. Linda Poe, an African American Woman, who kept books for a local company has gone missing along with a hundred thousand dollars. The new neighbors are also of interest and some in the community are not happy with another African American family moving to town.
As we get to know the characters in this book, it is evident who most of the good and bad guys are. There is an underlying tension in the town. There is a group called the CORPS (white supremacists) who have a very us vs. them mentality. Danger lurks around every corner.
"Small-minded people feed off each other, and before you know it, you have mobs, and you have burning crosses, and lynching's."
As the book progresses, the relationships shined for me: the relationship between Broady and his new neighbor, Thomas; the relationship between Broady and Hoke; the relationship between Jenna and Broady's mom and the relationship between Broady and his Mother.
"It seemed like every time I turned around that summer, I learned something new about my mother."
Over the course of the summer, things would change drastically in this small southern town. Secrets would be known, mysteries would be solved, friendships would be made, the danger would lurk, the tension would rise, and Broady would learn that someone could be a member of your family without being related to you.
"Over the years, I would try to go back to the memory of that afternoon, pull it from the ruins and clean away the stains, but some things just can't be done."
Coming of age, coming to terms with the harsh realities of life, family, friendship, racism, loyalty, danger, ignorance, acceptance and letting go. This book was thought-provoking, tear-producing, heart wrenching and powerful. This is another exceptional, riveting, and emotionally moving read by Eskens. He waited a long time to finish this book but when he did, he left me speechless.
I highly recommend this book. It has everything I love - beautiful writing, a suspenseful mystery, character development, flawed individuals, emotional moving sections, impactful scenes, deep relationships and characters to root for. Plus, this book didn't shy away from showing cruelty, hatred and prejudice. This is a book that had me pausing to think and grab for the Kleenex.
Gut-wrenching, captivating, emotionally moving and thought-provoking. Another must-read by Eskens. -
Five stars, best of 2020
Allen Eskens knows how to do small town dramas. This book, started decades before and just finished in 2019, follows Boady Sanden, a fifteen year old whose only dream is to escape his hometown of Jessup, Missouri, when he turns 16. It’s 1976, and there are definite rules as to sticking with your own kind. But Boady ignores them when Thomas Elgin moves in across the street. His father is the new manager of the large plastic manufacturer in town. The family also happens to be black.
I recommend this for fans of William Kent Krueger. Like Krueger, Eskens has the ability to nail a young teen’s mindset. A loner, Boady can be alternately astute and obtuse. His meeting with Thomas is just pitch perfect.
The rest of the characters are equally well defined and fleshed out. Hoke, his neighbor, is a font of wisdom, only some of which Boady manages to absorb.
I loved that Esken draws his title from a quote by MLK, Jr., that nothing is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. Because Eskens consistently uses this story to show how the many prejudices we see here are all based on ignorance.
This is a sad story, but it’s also imbued with humor. It drew me in completely and gave me all the “feels”.
The book is beautifully written; descriptions that just hit the mark and have you nodding your head. I loved listening to this, but I also missed not being able to read this glorious writing.
Kevin Stillwell is the narrator and I really appreciated his nuances and cadence. He was perfect for this story. -
Prejudice and greed is very present in the 1970s, in this small Missouri town. The beginning opens with a missing black woman, who had worked is said to have made off with the money she stole, from the business where she worked. Her disappearance sparks and interest in a young teen, Broady. Before books end Broady, with the help of his black friend Thomas will uncover the truth. A truth more horrible than one can imagine. He will also learn a secret, that will change his young life.
Every author has a strength and Eskens is, in my opinion, his characters. There are some fantastic characters in this book, well rounded and authentic. This book covers manydifferent genres, historical, mystery and coming of age. The suspense and tension builds and builds from the beginning until the explosive finale. Not a big fan of violence, but one can see that something has to give, explode, so it wasn't unexpected. Another winner from this author.
ARC from Netgalley. -
I have to tell you a little secret...Allen Eskens is one of my favorite authors for mystery thrillers. He is top notch, friends. I read and then listened to The Life We Bury, and I have kept going from there.
Nothing More Dangerous is his most recent book, and it’s a standalone. It’s set in a small town in the Ozarks and has characters who completely draw you in to the story from the start. Boady, a high school freshman, gets new neighbors across the road, including Thomas, another teen.
And then a woman disappears, and somehow she is connected to Boady even though he’s never met her.
Nothing More Dangerous is so much more than your casual mystery with thrilling elements. It addresses race, privilege, and class. It has three-dimensional characters I cared for and great tension throughout. There’s also great atmosphere with the insular small town, and it made for the perfect fall read!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/tarheelreader -
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens is a 2019 Mulholland publication.
An impressive piece of literary crime fiction!
Set in the rural town of Jessup, Missouri during the 1970s, this novel is a compelling mystery, coupled with a poignant coming of age story, carrying a timely message.
Boady, a fifteen-year-old living with his widowed mother, experiences an awakening after a Black woman named Lida Poe, disappears after allegedly embezzling a tidy sum of money from the local manufacturing plant where she worked as a bookkeeper.
As a result of this development, The Elgins', an African American family, moves into the house across the road from Boady. Mr. Elgin will be the new manager at the plant, and is wife becomes a wonderful influence on Boady's reclusive mother. Although they get off to a bumpy start, he and Thomas Elgin, a boy close to his age, strike up a close friendship.
Meanwhile Boady is under pressure to stab his new friend in the back, forcing him to walk a dangerous tightrope, until a gruesome discovery puts him in a life or death situation that will not only reveal the racist underbelly of his community, it will shape Boady into the man he will eventually become.
While the story has its moments of intense suspense, it is Boady’s effectual journey that sets this book apart, making it far more than your average novel of mystery and suspense.
The book addresses the obvious incidents of hardcore, violent racism, but it also points a searing finger at the more subtle forms of racism and the tone -deaf damage and pain casually inflicted without a second thought.
I loved learning Boady’s backstory, watching how his friendship with Thomas develops, and the very clever plotting in this book. I have grown to really appreciate Eskens’ work and look forward to hearing more from him in the future.
4.5 stars -
Under normal circumstances this would probably be a 4-star book. The writing is good, the message is good, the characters are pretty good, etc, but it struggled to capture my attention amid the swirl of 2020 gloom. This phenomenon has plagued my reading all year, and Allen Eskens is just another victim. But at least I finished! My boneyard of discarded books is growing to skyscraper levels.
As for Nothing More Dangerous, its problems lie in that we're walking on well-trodden territory. A child learning about racism in Podunk Nowhere, Southern State, has been done many times over. These books automatically get lumped with To Kill a Mockingbird and always pale in comparison. Here we have an Atticus-like figure who is full of wise sayings and ability to put things in perspective so that children understand. We have classic school bullies, classic rural racists, and a classic Hollywood ending.
Again, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't mind going on a ride I've ridden before. But this year it couldn't pierce through the distractions. I struggled--even dreaded--reading it because I didn't find it had anything to say I haven't heard before. Even the "mystery" element is never really a mystery, so there's no hook to find out what happens next.
An unclear vision didn't help. At any given time it reads like nostalgia for yesteryear, a murder mystery, commentary on racism, and/or kid adventure ala Tom & Huck. All great things, but without a consistent direction I failed to identify any distinct point.
Also: boring. It's hard to believe this is the same Allen Eskens who wrote
The Shadows We Hide, where the conflict was consistent and non-stop.
All in all, not recommended reading. At least not during a pandemic! -
3.5 Stars
A lovely coming of age story set in a small Southern town called Jessup, Missouri in the 1970s. It’s a thought provoking and emotional read and just an all round good entertaining story
This is my second novel by this author and to be honest I fell for the cover of this book hook, line and sinker and was so glad the novel lived up to that stunning cover too. I enjoy southern fiction and small town tales and the element of suspense and mystery made this one quite a page turner.
I listened to
Nothing More Dangerous on audio and the narrator Kevin Stilwell was excellent and brought his own charm to the story.
I Loved the character names in the story, Broady, Lida Poe, Hoke and Wally and their names rolled of the narrators tongue and I fell in love with the place and the characters and the accent.
The story lagged a little half ways through for me and there was a chapter at the dance where I felt dragged on and on but thankfully the book did pick up again and I enjoyed the ending even if it was a little to neat.
I think if you enjoy Southern Fiction with a little suspense and mystery then you may well enjoy this one too. -
“Boady, the men who beat and murdered those people for all those years, do you think they simply disappeared because someone passed a law?”
An African-American woman, Lida Poe, goes missing in the small town of Jessup, Missouri in the 70’s. The town is painted in racism and composed of prejudice beliefs. Growing up in Jessup, teenage Boady Sanden considers himself an average young man and doesn’t realize the segregation and discrimination until he befriends his new neighbors and sees the reaction from certain town members. Boady begins to recognize his own racial thoughts while he and his new friend, Thomas, get pulled into the middle of the Lida Poe murder case. Was there more to her murder case than what was being disclosed?
“You’ll never change what a person thinks in their head or what they feel in their heart by passing a law. If a man doesn’t want to look at who he is deep down, he’s not going to much care what the law says about it.”
I really loved the setting of the novel and watching Boady purge the racial stigmas that he had grown up hearing and believing. The friendship he creates with Thomas, his neighbor, was my favorite part of the novel. While the book obviously centers on overcoming prejudices in the 1970’s, the target for the reader is identifying and conquering our own prejudices, even including predispositions, whatever those might be.
The focus of the story isn’t the murder of Lida Poe, but her murder is used in the growth of the plot and character development. The story centers around Boady and his surroundings; like his peers in school who are blinded by racism and let those feelings drive their actions. The mystery of the murder is easy to figure out. But again, that is used as a backdrop to accelerate events.
**There is a lot of racial slander in this novel. Violence and hate crimes occur.**
I would rate this somewhere between 4-5 stars. It is not a solid 5 star book for me, but it is truly more than 4 stars.... I rounded up because of this. There are some great highlights along the way.
More:
Pictured below is the face of young Emmett Till who is mentioned in the book a few times during the dialogue. Beaten, drowned, and then burned alive,
read more about Emmett Till here.
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The Ozark woods and hills furnish the backdrop for this story set in the small town of Jessup, Missouri. Fifteen year old Boady is not having a good time. He does something that brings him into sharp focus for the mean stupid bullies at school, and all he wants to do is to get the hell out of Jessup. You'll shake your head at the toxic Halcomb clan, the proverbial big fish in a too small pond. They are biased, small-minded people. Many a lesson is to be learned here. Some words come at a price.
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Seriously.....
Allen Eskens leaves his thumbprint with all its grooves, with all its pressure, with all its impact on this thing we call humanity. He takes simple characters with giant shadows and weaves them into his fiction like no other. No stone is unturned until you breathe along with them in a certain cadence feeling the heroic and feeling the ones who live on the dark side of the moon. And he does it magically, once again, in Nothing More Dangerous.
Boady Sanden, a freshman in life as well as in high school, meets life always looking over his shoulder. His lay of the land in the Ozark Hills has been marked by the early death of his father. His mother seems to exist on the peripheral compounded by her grief and her now solo responsibility for her son. Boady takes to figuring out each day as it comes. He's now spending the summer months installing drywall with the company that his mother works for. Days in and days out.
During the past school year at St. Ignatious, Boady hasn't scored so well with the town's bullies. They wait for him and torment him to no end. But the tormenting takes on a whole new level when Boady and his mother make friends with the new African American family across the street. There are lines you just don't cross in this town. And if you do, they lean on you long and hard.
Eskens weaves multiple threads through this one including a missing young woman, Lida Pope, who was keeping the books for the local plastic company. It seems that she absconded with thousands of dollars that should never have ended up in her own pocketbook. But it did seem so out of character for ol' Lida. And we will come to find that Boady and his new friend Thomas may have come across some wayward clues as to what really happened to Lida at their own risk.
Nothing More Dangerous touches on the youthful pains and anguishes of "becoming" surrounded by the silent, backdoor rules and mores of the south during this time period. It emphasizes those who struggle to keep afloat while others tangle in the weeds of hate and bias. Allen Eskens creates characters in this one who must deal with the monsters from without and the monsters from within. Another stellar read from an author who has always had his finger on the pulse of the irregular beat of human nature. -
So very excited to have received a copy of this book by Allen Eskens! I so enjoyed two of his books. The Shadows We Hide and The Life We Bury made me an avid reader of this author's books. They are all filled with realism, with in depth characters, and with writing that was so relevant and important. Happy to say that Nothing More Dangerous also was a winner for me.
“But memories aren’t like photographs; they can’t halt the passing of time. Instead, they lay like footsteps along a path each determined by the step that came before and colored by the ones to follow.”
Boady Sanden, a fifteen year old boy is sick of living in his town. His life is lonely, his mother is distant, still suffering from the loss of her husband years ago, and he hates the culture of the South. He's ready to run away and be free of the grief and cruelty he himself experiences. He's a lonely boy, often bullied, never accepted.
A family moves into a big home across from the Sandens, and Boady's life is about to change. At the same time, the town is abuzz with thoughts about a young woman, Lida Poe, who is missing. It is believed that Lida, a worker in a plastics factory, had disappeared along with a hundred thousand dollars. A mystery indeed, but this story becomes so much more. It is a tale of friendship, prejudice, and crime.
However, as Boady and the new neighbor Tom grow into friendship, they find themselves caught up with a unscrupulous gang of men and boys reminiscent of the KKK. As the boys learn more, a body is found, and the people responsible for harrowing happenings become a life threatening presence for both Boady and Tom.
I love stories that are simply told. They are straight forward tales that don't need embellishments, ridiculous situations, or the need to suspend belief. Mr Eskens writes a poignant tale that relates so well what life in the South was like in the mid 1970's and the inborn nature many had, consumed by hate and a belief that one's race was subservient to another's. However, Broady learns the lesson that MLK was espousing, that of being judged by character not the color of one's skin.
This exciting tale is mystery writing at its best. It engaged me from the very beginning and as I delved further into the story, I fell in love with the characters of Boady, Tom, his family, and Boady's mother. It's a story of people who seemed vibrantly real, of ones you would want to count as your friends, and others that you would disdain. This tale is woven together seamlessly and the resulting story is one that possesses a poignant and moving telling. I recommend this book most highly for it's riveting and flawless.
Thank you to Allen Eskens, Mulholland Books and NetGalley for a copy of this story. It has recently been published. -
In Frog Hollow, a small Missouri town in the backwoods of the Ozark Hills, 15 year old Boady Sanden is ready to move on. His father died in an accident when Boady was very young and since then his mother has led a silent, reclusive life with all the joy sucked out of her. Their next door neighbour, Hoke Gardner has been a good friend to them both and always has time to chat with them on his porch or teach Boady some of the things his father would have shown him like fishing and mechanics. Nevertheless, Boady feels that he is done with school. Moved to a private school after getting in with the wrong crowd at the local high school, he has never fitted in and now he’s being bullied by older boys who are members of a white supremacist group. But that summer everything changes when the Elgins, an African American family moves into the house across the road and Boady becomes friends with their son, Thomas.
Set in the mid 1970s when change hasn’t quite got as far as Frog Hollow and racism is alive and well. The murder of an African American woman accused of embezzlement is the centre of this murder mystery, but there is so much more to this novel than that. As well as a coming of age story where a teenage boy learns how to stand up against injustice, it’s an exploration of racial prejudices and and the fear one group of violent, bigoted people can hold over a small town.
This is such a powerful read! The characters are just perfect. Boady is such a typical 15 year old boy growing up in a place where he’s free to roam the woods and fish all die or hike and camp out. He’s also brave and will fight for his friends and what he believes in and will have to do all that to survive the summer and become the man he is meant to be. Hoke is a wounded soul who is hiding away after a terrible event in his past. He has such a wonderful relationship with Boady, standing in as a father figure and confidante. What Boady doesn’t realise is that he is just as important to Hoke in giving him something of a family and a reason to go on living.
I highly recommend this very moving, literary novel. I know it’s a book I'll think about for a long time to come and it's sure to be in my top ten books of the year. -
3.5 stars: “Nothing More Dangerous” is billed as a coming-of-age story with a mystery element. It’s that, but with added blatant racial prejudice during the mid ‘70’s. It takes place in a small town in Missouri with the feel and freedoms of teens at the time. Yes, that time in our country’s history was idyllic in some ways, but in other ways, the horrendous racism, it was an appalling time. Author Allen Eskens combines those themes remarkably well.
Boady Sanden is a Freshman in a Catholic High School. His father died when he was five, and his mother works as a secretary. He’s a good kid, and his biggest wish is to get the heck out of his small stifling town. New neighbors move across the street from him and his mother, and they have a son the same age as Boady. The family is black, which doesn’t mean much to Boady, but it means a lot to some of the people of his small town. Boady and the neighbor Thomas pal around enjoying the freedoms of living in a rural area. The boys go on a hike and discover a body.
Boady works part time in the same place as his mother, and there are creepy racist men who work there. And they are not happy about the new black family, and especially the father who has come in to find missing money that was stolen from the business that Boady works. Plus the racist men have boys that go to the same school as Boady and they are bullies. There is a group in town that is similar to the KKK and these men are big participants,
Basically, Boady sleuths his way into solving the mystery regarding the missing money and the missing woman. That part of the novel was a bit too pat for me. What the novel did well is remind us about bigotry and racism at that time. This novel has been compared to “To Kill a Mockingbird” to which I do agree. Instead of an Atticus Finch we have an elderly retired lawyer who lives next door to Boady and helps Boady sort out his feelings and understandings of the world. And similar to Scout, Boady does enjoy sitting next to the lawyer and discussing current topics.
There are no court scenes. It’s mostly two boys enjoying a summer and finding trouble with the racist men. I wish that Eskens didn’t have Boady and Thomas out-slueth the police. It would have been a better read. Saying that, Eskens did write some incredibly eventful and nail-biting scenes. -
A haunting yet deeply moving coming-of-age story swirled in prejudice, guilt and grief.
SUMMARY
Boady Sanden is a freshman at St. Ignatius High School in Jessup, Missouri. For the most part Boady is invisible, that is until he became a target of bullies, because he stuck up for an African-American girl in his class. When he is not at school or at work Boady loves to escape in the woods near his home on Frog Hollow Road fishing and exploring. Boady has no real friends, until Thomas Elgin and his family move in across the road and his life is changed forever. Boady soon come to realize the stark lines of race and class that divide his community and he is force to choose sides.
REVIEW
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS is part murder mystery, part coming-of-age story swirled in prejudice, guilt, grief and self-discovery in the mid 1970’s. The story is haunting yet deeply moving. It’s a perfect blend of characters, setting and story.
The main characters were delightful and totally drive the narrative. You will fall in love with Boady and want to protect him, you will cheer when his friendship with Thomas develops, you will wonder about his elusive next door neighbor Hoke, and you will despise the bully’s that taunt him.
My favorite part was when Boady and Thomas dropped through a pine tree. Not exactly sure exactly how that worked but that exhilarating escapade should come with a warning—folks do not try this at home!
This is the third Allen Eskens book I have read and they have all been wonderfully descriptive and fabulously written. Eskens is the best-selling author of six novels including The Shadows We Hide (2018) and The Life We Bury, (2014) which is being developed into a feature film. Eskens lives in Joely, Minnesota where he has practiced criminal defense law for 25 years
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Mulholland Books
Published November 12, 2019
Review
www.bluestockingreviews.com -
5 spectacular stars
I’ve saved this review as I really don’t know how to do this book justice. I loved it, definitely in my top three reads of the year. I first read Alan Esken’s book “The Life We Bury” in December 2018 and I rated it “read this book now 5 stars” and then I read “The Shadows We Hide” later that month. Also gave that one a five-star review. I sense a trend here; this is a fabulous author and I will eagerly read everything he writes. I’m waiting on the Joe Talbert #3 book 😊 in the meantime, I have a new favorite character.
Boady Sanden is a teen just itching to get out of his small rural town in Missouri (I can relate somewhat growing up in a small town in Colorado) to see what else is out in the world. Boady is trying to survive the local Christian high school, but the local bullies have their eye on him, especially when he sticks up for another student. Things are about to heat up for him even more as a new black family moves to town just across the road from Boady and his mother. Mr. Elgin has come to town to clean up the mess at the plastics factory. Thomas Elgin is Boady’s age and they eventually develop a friendship.
Deep secrets in the town are swirling all around. Here family loyalty is strong and any outsider, especially African Americans, are treated with mistrust and even hate. The arrival of the Elgins creates racial tension and causes Boady to question his own feelings. There’s a mysterious disappearance and problems at the plastics factory and Boady and Thomas get drawn into the puzzle over the summer.
Since his father died when he was young, Boady has come to rely on the wisdom of his enigmatic neighbor Hoke, especially when it comes to trying to figure out the strange events that are happening. I really like the way he asks Boady questions rather than just “telling” him how he should think. They have a great relationship.
Esken’s writing is outstanding, the characters are memorable, the tension is bubbling under the surface. Some of the time I marveled at Boady’s sense of what was right and his actions, but I worried that he would pay a price for taking a stand. My emotions ran the gamut in this book, outrage at how people were treated, wonder at the amazing caring of others, and big tears at the end. I was completely invested in these characters and I didn’t want this book to end. If you couldn’t tell already, I highly recommend this book! -
Outstanding Job!
I enjoyed another great reading experience by Allen Eskens' story, "Nothing More Dangerous". I like to go in cold and think this book's summary is best left to the publisher's blurb to entice you. A coming of age story, set in bicentennial year of America, in a tiny town, somewhere in Missouri. Boady becomes an adult when faced with ghosts from his past and challenges in the present.
So, I will skip to what I like about the story's elements. Esken's stories are both very plot and character driven. The characters are relatable and their thoughts and feelings are often evident. They aren't perfect (even those who narrate), they are like you or I. They have both good and negative attributes. In this instance, Boady Sanden (a character, we have met before) enters a new high school and interacts with people that try to bend him to their way of thinking. Boady chooses what we would chose (or most of us) and he has unexpected consequences that develop into a more serious situation. This makes some compelling reading and some investigation to resolve just what and who has been behind a mystery impacting his town. In the meantime, he matures and becomes more defined as he makes some responsible actions that put him in danger.
Elkens excels at creating scenes and setting atmosphere. If it is cold and wet, you will need a sweater... I love his writing and ability to see the action as it unfolds.
Aside from Eskens not understanding the importance of leaving highly perishable foods at home when camping in the hot summer months (without a cooler) -salmonella poisoning anyone? And a bit strange (young teenage boys carrying around a raw chicken in a nap sack in the wood?). What does Eskens have against hot dogs, lol?
Eskens is thorough with details and pacing of the story itself. I recommend this as a worthwhile installment in his growing library of dramatic mystery. This has equal appeal for men and women. -
4.5 Stars
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Check out my fascinating
Q&A with Allen Eskens and get exclusive behind the scenes from NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, plus fun facts about the author.
Brilliantly told, a stunning literary, mystery, suspense, historical fiction, and coming-of-age combo that will blow you away. His best yet!
My Top Books of 2019. 📚🙌 If you read only one book this year, choose NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS!
I wish I could give this 10 STARS. 🌟 Movie-Worthy. 🎬 (or better a TV series). The author hits a home run and checks ALL the boxes. Eskens is at the TOP of his game 🎯! More, please! Did you know this book has been in the making for twenty-some years? Trust me; the timing is perfect and worth the wait! 😎
Character-driven! Lyrical, heartbreaking, and haunting, this eloquent novel will warm your heart and confirm Allen Eskens' place among our nation’s FINEST writers.
Evocative! A resonant coming-of-age tale of discrimination, guilt, grief, and redemption.
I have read all of Allen Esken's books (a master storyteller) and trust me; you will fall in love with these characters (the good ones). Good and evil. You will shed a tear or two. If you loved his debut, you are assured to devour this one. It can be read as a standalone; however if you have the time go back and start with #1. You will love Thomas and Boady and their friendship.
The setting and time for the novel: 1976—Jessup, Missouri, a small rural town on Frog Hollow Road. As most small towns go, most residents want to escape for better things or a more fulfilled life. The town holds dark secrets. People tend to know everyone’s business. They can be narrow-minded and either pull you down with them or provide you the strength to press onward to strive for something broader.
In NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS, the author tackles some highly charged tough and emotional subjects. From injustice, white supremacy, prejudice, racism, murder, class, privilege, police corruption, politics, bullying, discrimination, friendship, family redemption, guilt, grief, self-discovery, plus more. A timely and compelling coming-of age-tale that could be ripped from today's headlines.
From fear, grief, loss, and tragedy. To love, faith, resilience, and redemption. At the heart of the novel is family and the ties that bind. Unforgettable characters that jump off the page. You are drawn into every scene with vivid descriptions and lyrical prose. This is a classic. Every teen and adult should read this book.
Follow 15-year-old Boady (we met in book #1, an attorney) and his new neighbor (same age) Thomas (African American). Their entire street is targeted. They become best friends and come face to face with bullies and white supremacy groups. Not only the sons are part of the organization, but their father and uncle are the leaders. It is a matter of survival.
Boady is forced to go up against bullies: Jarvis and the Boob Brothers—both at school and away from school. They seem to follow him wherever he goes. It is tough being a freshman at the Catholic private school, and a teen trying to escape their wrath. Angus, the cousin, seemed to be ok. But still, Thomas and Boady must even contend with Jarvis' horrible father and uncle. He and Thomas are targeted as well as others on their street.
An African woman goes missing years earlier. Lida Poe kept the books at the local plastics factory. They say she left town and embezzled thousands of dollars. However, is there something bigger at play and did someone murder her to take the fall?
Thomas's family moves across the street from Boady's family. His dad is the new boss at the factory. However, the bad white men at the factory do not like him meddling in the affairs since he may overturn their misdeeds. They want him out. Plus they do not Boady befriending Thomas and the black girl at school.
Boady and Thomas do some sleuthing on their own and begin uncovering things, but when they report it to the local Sherriff he brushes them off and covers his tracks. How far does the corruption go and who can they trust?
Everywhere they go they are followed and tortured. However, will the strength of family and neighbors and friends win in the end?
In the novel, the author explores a group called CORPS—Crusaders of Racial Purity and Strength. White supremacism has been depicted in music videos, feature films, documentaries, journal entries, and social media. It is front and center every day in the news. We see the destruction it can cause and the damage to our youth when parents, leaders, and elders recruit their followers.
What an incredible and poignant story! I could not put this book down. I adored the relationship between the two moms and the friendship between Boady and Thomas.
The best surprise, the mysterious next-door neighbor older man Hoke Gardner (LOVE) is more than he appears. (think Clint Eastwood -Walt neighbor in
Gran Torino -2008 movie). A lot of parallels here.
NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS is rich in character and place. From the Dixon Pond, fishing, the old oak tree, the woods, and nature. They also provide metaphors and symbolism.
I can only hope we see a series (both book and TV series). NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS is a "This is US" TV series in the making. More Hoke letters and more Boady and Thomas, please!! ❤ A continuation from high school, college, their relationships, and beyond. I want to see where these families go. What a journey!
If you are a fan of William Kent Krueger's
Ordinary Grace or
This Tender Land; Tom Franklin's
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, John Grisham's
The Guardians, Delia Owens's
Where the Crawdads Sing, or Diane Chamberlain's
Necessary Lies and authors:
Dennis Lehane,
Randall Silvis,
Tim Johnston, and
Thomas Mullen —this book is for you!
Order it NOW and move to the top of your list!
My Reviews:
The Life We Bury (Joe Talbert, #1; Max Rupert, #1)
The Shadows We Hide (Joe Talbert, #2)
The Guise of Another (Detective Max Rupert, #2)
The Heavens May Fall (Detective Max Rupert #3)
The Deep Dark Descending (Detective Max Rupert, #4)
PS It appears we get more Lila next! "Likely" sounds good enough for me. She deserves a book of her own, right? From Allen's website: Lila Nash—a supporting character in novels 1, 3 and 5, will likely be the protagonist of novel number 7.
A special thank you to Little Brown & Co and Mulholland Books for a print ARC and Netgalley for digital.
#JDCMustReadBooks -
Fifteen-year-old Boady Sanden had his plans made. At sixteen years old he would leave Jessup, Missouri, never to return. His high-school freshman year at St. Ignatius High School did not go too well, being the new kid on the block. CORPS(Crusaders Of Racial Purity and Strength) had its tentacles everywhere, even in school, and he had to survive without telling his widowed-mom or his neighbor, Mr. Hoke Garner, what was really happening.
The town had its secrets, as well as enough people needed to guard those secrets, even if it took lies, violence and deceit to uphold them. It was an impenetrable wall. It did not help that the authorities could not be trusted to do the right thing.
In school one day, shortly before the summer break, Boady read in the newspaper about the disappearance of African-American Ms. Lida Poe. It never dawned on him how this event would change his world and make him change his mind about his future; his mother; and the new neighbors, the Elgins, who brought him his first friend in the new school. Together with Thomas Elgin, he will unravel a mystery, learn about the power of friendship, enjoy riding trees, catching fish and sleeping out in the wild but most importantly, how to save each other's lives. They would become the best sleuths in town.
The town preferred to rake over the prejudices of history and bury the unspeakable deep. But the two energetic boys would become the shovels who would turn the soil over deep enough to expose what should have been exposed years before. Boady Sanden would in the end discover how family did not need to be defined by blood.
The blueprint for a political message is present. Single mom; fatherless little boy, evil church(school), suspect religious morality, racism, homophobia, and bad(the villains) or disabled(the only acceptable ones) white men. All other good white men are dead. So in that sense, it was a predictable read. This hidden plot bored me. Except for the Afro-American Elgin family, everyone else was single, and no white girls featured anywhere in the story.
However, the novel was a relaxing, atmospheric, gripping read. A good experience with a strong message. The ambiance was just beautiful. I did not want to close it and say goodbye. It was worth it.
RECOMMENDED. -
A master storyteller, Allen Eskens ranks high with other crime and suspense authors. Rather than muck up a story with tons of irrelevant details, he paints a picture of racism in Missouri with a dash of coming of age and detective work by a the central character, Boady. As the tale unravels, momentum builds and with it illumination of details. Characters are well developed but not overdone, pacing is perfect and the climax fitting. I plan to read others by this author, rest assured!
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Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens was one of the best books that I have read in a while. I stayed up very late last night reading it because I literally could not put this book down. As one chapter ended I just had to see what was going to happen next. I ended up finishing it this morning and I was sad that the book had ended. The ending brought tears to my eyes. I literally cried real crocodile tears. This was the first book that I have read by Allen Eskens but I will look to read some of his others now. He had said that he had begun writing Nothing More Dangerous back in 1991 “ as a way to explore my own failing regarding notions of prejudice and racism.” Allen Eskens worked on this novel for 20 years but he ultimately abandoned it until recently. I am so glad he came back to it and completed it. It was such a powerful story.
Boady Sanden was fifteen years old and a freshman at St. Ignatius Catholic High School in Jessup, Missouri in the Ozark Hills the year his whole life changed. He lived with his widowed mother on Frog Hollow Road. There were only a few houses on the street. Hoke Gardner lived in the house right next to the one Boady and his mom shared. He had lived next door to Boady and his mom for as long as Boady could remember but Boady knew very little about Hoke. Wally Schenicker, his mom’s boss lived at the end of the road where his drywall company shared his property. The only other house on the street was the Dixon place. Tilley Dixon used to live there but she had died and the house now stood vacant. Boady had a dog named Grover who usually came to greet Boady as he got off the school bus and walked up Frog Hollow Road. Hoke was usually sitting on his porch either reading or writing in a black journal as Boady came up the hill and passed his house. Boady would stop to sit with Hoke most days and often sought his advice about things. Over the years, Hoke had taught Boady how to do lots of things His mom was never the same after his father died. She showed Boady little to no affection and she became a shy and quiet woman. Boady was only five when his dad died so he hardly remembered him.
Boady was eating lunch in the school cafeteria at a table by himself on that pivotal day. Jarvis Holcomb, Beef and Bob, Jarvis’s friends and seniors at St. Ignatius, sat at the table behind Boady. Earlier that morning, Boady had read an article about a woman named Lida Poe in his current events class. She had supposedly embezzled money from Ryke Plant and was now missing. Jarvis’s dad had run the plant for the past fifteen years until this scandal took place. He had been demoted by the people who owned the plant in Minneapolis. Boady overheard Jarvis and his friends talking about it so he started to pay attention to their conversation. He overheard them plotting to dump their chocolate pudding on the only black student that attended St. Ignatius. Her name was Diana and she happened to sit next to Boady in his history class. Her mother worked in the cafeteria which gave Diana free tuition. Boady was also attending St. Ignatius on a scholarship. He could not let them do that to Diana. As Bob started toward Diana Boady stuck his foot out and tripped him. This caused the pudding to go all over Bob’s shirt. What a nice but stupid thing to do. That act was the catalyst for everything that was to follow. Boady’s life would never quite be the same as it had been.
The other thing that changed Boady’s life was when the Elgin’s moved into Tully Dixon’s old house. Mr. Charles Elgin had been sent from Minneapolis to take over the operations of Ryke Plant. The Elkin’s were a Black family. They had one son, Thomas, who was the same age as Boady. Boady never had many friends growing up and the thought of having a friend right on his street was pretty enticing. After a rocky start, Boady and Thomas became the best of friends. These two young boys should never have had to endure all the cruelty, prejudice and bullying that Boady and Thomas did. They were forced to see the ugly ways of some people and always had to look over their shoulders to avoid danger, getting hurt or worse. Boady saw prejudice, hate and racism up close. When Boady and Thomas went on a camping trip, they discovered something that would begin to reveal the details about the mysterious disappearance of Lida Poe and the missing money from Ryke Plant. Boady and Thomas started putting the pieces of the puzzle together but they were getting to close to the truth and therefore had to suffer and endure the consequences.
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens explored racism, prejudice, terror, cruelty, bullying, kinship, friendship, kindness, discovery, charity, and love. The character development was exceptional and the story will have you at the edge of your seat. Be prepared to smile, be angry and cry. All your emotions will be tested when reading this book. I highly recommend Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens. It was a wonderful book worthy of much discussion. -
There's nothing more dangerous than devouring a book and suddenly finding yourself begrudgingly glaring at the stack of "to-read" books because you know few of them will leave you wishing the story didn't have to end. I'm in that place where I know I will miss Boady narrating his life in the rural Ozark hills and I loathe the hole finishing Nothing More Dangerous has left behind.
Allen Eskens introduces readers to Boady Sanden recounting the life lessons he learned in Jessup, Missouri. Boady recaps on his freshman year when he meets Thomas Elgin and how it completely changed his life. His coming of age story begins with the disappearance of a black woman named Lida Poe whom the town believes embezzled a $100,000 from the local plastics factory that employs most of the town. The powers that be send Charles Elgin and his family to Jessup to investigate the theft. The only problem is Charles Elgin is an educated black man employed to manage a factory of non-educated racist white men.
The Elgin family moves in across the street from Boady and his mother. Finally Boady has someone he can befriend. Thomas and Boady eventually become great friends although their initial introduction was less than ideal. Before long, Boady finds himself embroiled in situations where he's forced to decide the type of man he wants to be.
Nothing More Dangerous is my first roll in hay with Allen Eskens. He makes it clear that this story took him years to write because he wanted to get it right. I think he got it right. Before we get into the themes, let me just say, I'm a huge fan of coming-of-age stories. At times young narrators can be unreliable, bratty, selfish, whiny, or downright stupid (in my opinion) which makes it hard for me to read YA. The stories I do enjoy reading in reference to the preteen or teen monster, are coming-of-age stories. Those novels provide me with a smidgen of hope for those between the ages 12-21 (yes, I include you early 20-year old brats). I can dream that for once the world is larger than them and they have the capacity for empathy.
We meet Boady when he's simply choosing to do the right thing for a fellow classmate. He has no idea the weight conviction carries. Boady slowly begins to uncover a world where the color of your skin determines how you will be treated. Although Boady has always known the racists actions of some in his town, he becomes hyper aware of how dangerous being black and an outsider can be.
The plot dealing heavily with race, class, and mystery only enhances Boady's story. It was a great choice to have him narrate because we only knows and we can see the world through his eyes as he finds his self. Seriously, I wanted to hang with Boady and Thomas as they help each other learn that life has its ups and downs, its evilness and virtuosity, its good and bad.
I know that my review may seem all over the place but it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what hooked me to Nothing More Dangerous. Honestly, if sleep wasn't necessary and passing finals I could have finished this book in a day or so. (Sorry peeps! I'm no speed reader.) Eskens drew me in almost immediately with a character I cared about. I even cared about the supporting cast based on Boady's thoughts. He's such a good, genuine kid that it's hard to walk away from his story.
Really, there isn't much more I need to say. I really enjoyed reading Nothing More Dangerous.
Copy provided by Mulholland Books via Netgalley -
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Nothing More Dangerous is the second Allen Eskens book I have read. The first was The Life We Bury in which Boady Sanden, a law professor, is a minor character. In Nothing More Dangerous, Boady is a 15-year-old boy who has no intention of going to college. His only goal is to save enough money from working at a local drywall business so that he can run away when he is 16 from the small town of Jessup, Missouri. The life-changing events that occur to Boady from the end of his Freshman year of high school and through that summer of 1976 help explain why he changed his trajectory and studied law.
Boady Sanden lives with his lonely, widowed mother in a small house on Frog Hollow Road, out in the country. His father died when Boady was only 5 years old. His mother also works for the drywall company, where the owner is hiding a secret of his own. After his father’s death, a man named Hoke Gardner, who has an injured arm and a scar on his face, moves in next door. Hoke is always kind to Boady, but his past life is a mystery.
Just before the end of the school year, Boady learns about the disappearance of a woman named Lida Poe, an African-American woman who worked at the local plastics factory, Ryke Manufacturing. After her disappearance, it was discovered that a good deal of money had been stolen from the factory. The mystery of Hoke Gardner becomes a much greater curiosity after Boady overhears the sheriff questioning Hoke about his past relationship with Lida Poe.
The corporate office of Ryke Manufacturing, located in Minneapolis, sends down Mr. Elgin, also an African-American, to take over the factory. Mr. Elgin, his wife, and his son Thomas move into the large vacant house across the street from Boady and his mother. Mr. Elgin suspects that a male employee to be involved, but Sheriff Vaughan happens to related to him, and the investigation into the embezzlement stalls. When Boady and Thomas stumble across evidence relating to Lida Poe, the Sheriff shows his ineptitude in preserving the crime scene.
In one of their many talks, Hoke explains to Boady, there are many people who have a “Us” against “Them” mentality. As Boady’s friendship grows with Thomas Elgin, he is also hounded by the members of a white supremacist group known The Corps to make amends for an incident that happened at school. Boady learns first-hand about discrimination and cronyism in this well-written coming of age story.
Rating and Book Club Recommendation:
I give this book 4-Stars. It was a little slow in some places. I listened to the Audible version and had to turn the speed up to 1.25% since the narrator spoke so slowly. This book is appropriate for Young Adults and would make a good book club discussion.
If you like recipes to go with your books, check out my Homestyle Beef Casserole at booksandrecipes.com -
Audio - 5 +++ Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
