Overview

""A realistic, visceral portrayal of a boy's coming-of-age."" -Kirkus Reviews ​Imagine, if you will, an eleven-year-old boy with an imagination so powerful that he uses it like others would use a compass. Our hero, Jimmy Hamilton, loses his fort on three separate occasions all in the span of one summer. He must battle both his wits and unwanted squatters. He comes to discover each new unwanted tenant proves more difficult to evict than the last. His plans have a modicum of success but each come with unintended consequences. ​Adding to the mix of that imagination and his antics to win back his fort, the prettiest girl his age, a baseball diamond, a groundhog, a snapping turtle, and the town vagrant and Jimmy soon finds his summer adventure is more than he bargained for. Sour Apples is a humorous young adult adventure of a very clever young boy who thinks he can outwit the best of them. His antics are riveting and could one day make Jimmy a legend. Paul Jantzen has masterfully written his debut novel, a tale of mischief and antics that will grab the reader from the very first page. ​Continue what you just started, and join Jimmy Hamilton in navigating his summer of adventure.

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9781685134815

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Reviews

Literary Titan Gold Book Award ""Sour Apples is a charming and nostalgic tale that immerses readers in the adventurous and often precarious life of young Jimmy Hamilton."" -Literary Titan ""Sour Apples by Paul Jantzen transports us to 1975 Walnut Creek. Here we meet 11-year-old Jimmy Hamilton. Jimmy has fought many battles-both real and imaginary. But nothing compares to when he battled to protect his tree fort. It is over fifteen feet up an old tree, and to reach the door, one has to dangle 12 feet in the air. It makes Jimmy feel important-in fact, he just might be a king. Through his wild imagination and weaponry (plastic swords and stick guns), Jimmy has fought and subdued all the monsters who tried to take his tree fort. Let's take on bigger, more urgent problems. Baseball season will be here soon enough, and he needs to be a great pitcher-he needs to be a champion. Then there's that girl, Cindy, from school. Why does life seem very much like biting into a sour apple? Whether you're 12 or 70, nothing stops you from enjoying Sour Apples. It's captivating and nostalgic. Thrilling escapades kick off within the first few minutes and grip your attention with exciting characters and immediate action. Paul Jantzen's descriptions are so vivid that you can almost see the boys sprint across the forest floor against a foggy background and smell Mom's pancakes wafting across the dining room. Jantzen's brilliant storytelling, combined with rich and detailed depictions of scenes, takes your mind to the suspense and adventures that very often lead to hilarious situations. Enchanting lighthearted moments carry you through this vibrant world of young characters and action until everything comes to a bittersweet knot that promises us more of Jimmy. The message in the narrative is sure to inspire young minds to soar with imagination and creativity. Most importantly, the themes encourage resilience, hope, and determination. Dive right in!"" -Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite

Author Information

Paul Jantzen grew up in what would be described as typical Americana, and from an early age, he was fascinated with the art of storytelling. He loves captivating his audiences with his imagination and sense of humor. He took up filmmaking in college and his first short film, The Leopard Frog, debuted on the USA network in 1991. Though he does enjoy a good novel here and there, he was never big on reading, so he decided to write a book instead. Sour Apples is his debut novel. He currently resides in Frederick, MD and enjoys the outdoors.

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