Over and Under [Hardcover]

Todd Tucker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2008

In the summer of 1979, Andy and Tom are two fourteen-year-old boys---best friends, expert cave explorers, and crack shots with their Springfield M-6 Scout rifles. In rural southern Indiana they are blissfully unaware of the local labor strife surrounding the Borden Casket Company. The fact that Andy’s dad is a manager and Tom’s dad is a union laborer has no bearing on their fun and adventure.

But in the building summer heat, violence quickly erupts---including an explosion, a murder, and the escape of two fugitives---and the young boys can no longer ignore that the world around them has forever changed. Through their secret observations of labor meetings, both boys feel the effect of the dissolution, and it tests their loyalty and friendship, as well as the town's spirit.

What began as a season of independence becomes a summer of growth and change, of adventure and misbehavior. Reminiscent of Stand by Me and To Kill a Mockingbird, Over and Under is the quintessential story of ruddy-faced, scheming, precocious boys who must navigate that hazy boundary between growing up and making the most of their last summer of innocence and freedom as they explore the wilds of rural Indiana, see the most amazing gunshot of their lives, and discover what it means to be friends.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are best friends—no, not the dead presidents! This Tom and Andy are 14-year-old boys whose last names are Kruer and Gray, respectively. Living in the hills of Southern Indiana, these boys have been chums since infancy. Why, they’re tighter’n grandma’s girdle, but now, in the summer of 1979, their friendship is about to be tested. The Borden Casket Company, where their fathers both work, is going on strike, and Andy’s dad is management, while Tom’s is labor. Worse, Tom’s cousin gets involved in an act of vandalism that goes fatally wrong. And what’s the big secret that Andy’s Mom and the handsome local sheriff share? Tucker’s first novel is a classic coming-of-age story filled with the kind of nostalgic adolescent adventure that is the genre’s sometimes overly familiar hallmark. But the setting is gracefully realized, the real-world intrusions of the strike are nicely integrated into the plot, and both boys are as likable as Labrador pups. Who could ask for anything more? --Michael Cart

About the Author

Todd Tucker attended the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship, graduating with a degree in history in 1990. He then volunteered for the United States Navy’s demanding nuclear power program, eventually making six patrols on board a Trident submarine. In 1995 Tucker left the navy to return with his family to Indiana to pursue a career in writing. In addition to writing for such publications as The Rotarian, Inside Sports, and Historic Traveler, he has also published two books, Notre Dame Vs. the Klan and The Great Starvation Experiment. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, with his family.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (July 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312379900
• ISBN-13: 978-0312379902
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #820,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Todd Tucker attended the University of Notre Dame on a full scholarship, graduating with a degree in history in 1990. He then volunteered for the United States Navy's demanding nuclear power program, eventually making six patrols onboard a Trident submarine. In 1995 Tucker left the navy to return with his family to Indiana to pursue a career in writing. In addition to extensive writing for such publications as TWA Ambassador, The Rotarian, Inside Sports, and the Washington Post, he has also published five books: Notre Dame Game Day (Diamond Communications, 2000), Notre Dame vs. The Klan (Loyola Press, 2004), The Great Starvation Experiment (Free Press, 2006), Over and Under (Thomas Dunne, 2007), and Atomic America (Free Press, 2009).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for any library strong in coming of age novels, February 14, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Over and Under (Hardcover)

Coming of age stories for adults remain somewhat uncommon; especially if you throw in the factor of cultural influences and social change affecting this transition point. That's what made TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD such a hit - a growing-aware young adult's newfound cognizance of adult issues - and that's what makes Todd Tucker's OVER AN UNDER so memorable. In the summer of 1979 two pre-teen best friends and cave explorers face danger and change in rural Indiana just as a labor strike is changing the face of the town. Perfect for any library strong in coming of age novels.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story of boyhood friendship and bridging social divides, September 23, 2008

By 

Cinda (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Over and Under (Hardcover)

Set in the 70's, this is a great story that takes you back to an innocent time of childhood freedom. The main characters, 2 boys in their early teens, learn the history of their Southern Indiana town along the Ohio River through uninhibited exploration. Along the way they discover that they must understand and battle social influences and stereotypes that threaten their friendship as well as the lives of their families and neighbors.

I loved this book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paradise for Boys, October 18, 2009

By 

Gaby Chapman "Let Them Have Books" (Willits, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Over and Under (Hardcover)

Paradise is being a fourteen-year-old boy and having a true friend to share complete freedom with--the forest is unspoiled and filled with wildlife and unexlored caves; the town is small and suitable for unsupervised explorations, and the bedroom windows are easy to climb out of at night. Though the summer of 1979 has more fodder for adventure than usual--a divisive labor strike, a deadly bombing, and a murderous drunk--it all serves as backdrop for the real story: the value and the power of a solid childhood friendship.

This authentic-feeling story is not represented as young adult fiction though it is written entirely from the perspective of one of the fourteen-year-old boys, essentially because it is nostalgic--ah, the irretrievable days of youthful freedom! However, middle school boys and younger high school boys who like the outdoors and the freedom to roam and explore will enjoy this book. The adventure and excitement never ebb, and all the characters are richly drawn. The description of one of the boys in a drain pipe with a copper head snake by itself makes the book worth reading. It's a great book for parents who like to read and enjoy the books their kids also read.