Customer Reviews

Boomerang

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was given this book for Christmas from my granddaughters who bought the book from the author at the Oregon State Fair and it is an autographed copy to me. I had a hard time putting the book down and participating in other activities during 'Christmas. It is very well written and has plots coming from different directions that tie very well together. I have been interested in the history of the orphan trains so this added an interest for me and being a resident of Idaho I learned some other items concerning Idaho history.

I admit I had high expectations of this book after a teacher at the Oregon State Fair told me it was the best book she had ever read. Although this book did hold my interest when it came to the story of the orphan and his search for his family, I lost interest on the alternate chapters that dealt with the outlaws and their violence. BOOMERANG has more blood and fighting than my tastes enjoy.

I like the main character, Jacob Mead, who was put on an orphan train in 1890 and was separated from his siblings. The story follows Jacob's battle with the rough outlaws and his search for his siblings after 17 years of separation. But the connections the author tries to make between the outlaws and Jacob's family are a stretch and have little interest, while he neglected the potential of building character elsewhere.

This book is worth a read if you like the old west and fighting outlaws, but don't keep your expectations high if you're hoping to learn some history about orphan trains. The author told me he got the idea for the story from his wife's uncle, but there is no indication as to how much of the story is truth or fiction.

Adam,

My husband and I purchased the book at the Senior Center on Tuesday. I just finished reading it. What a great book!
I truly enjoyed it. I could hardly put it down. It's one of those books that you don't want to end. I got so attached to Jacob and his whole family. I felt like I wanted to know each of them better.

Thank you for the great entertainment! When I bought the book on Tuesday I thought that the price was kind of high, but it was worth it.

Gail (& John) Goble