Type of bind: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Philomel
Manufacturer: Philomel
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 224
Printing Date: April 24, 2007
Publishing house: Philomel
Age index: Young Adult
Release Date: April 24, 2007
Sale Popularity Level: 384131
Studio: Philomel
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
New York Times bestselling author Robert B. Parker’s very first novel for young readers
There is something evil in the air ; Bobby senses it. Who is that man he saw arguing with his pretty new English teacher? Bobby knows he should mind his own business, but times are confusing. World War II just ended, and the world is changing— Bobby’s world, especially. There’s Joanie, for one—why does being her friend feel awkward? And then there are his buddies, the junior varsity Edenville Owls—basketball players in need of a leader. Can they help each other off the court as well as they can on it? They will need to.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
"Edenville Owls" is a book for young people written by Robert B. Parker who is best known as the author of the Spenser novels as well as the Jesse Stone novels. The book is set in 1946. Fourteen year old Bobby Murphy and four of his friends form a basketball team, the Owls, who play against JV teams from schools in their state. Bobby's best friend is a girl named Joanie Gibson. There is a mystery element too that revolves around Bobby's teacher, Miss Delaney, and a suspicious man. The Owls win at basketball and solve a mystery. I wonder if this book is somewhat autobiographical. The boy (Bobby/Robert), the girl (Joanie/Parker's wife is Joan), and the time frame (Parker would have been 14 in 1946) all lead me to wonder about this. "Edenville Owls" is an enjoyable book for the young and the young at heart.
Rated by buyers -
Because Robert Parker is one of the most "thinking" authors I am aware of, I was thrilled to see that he has specifically addressed a book to younger readers.
Part of my daily work responsibilities is to match books to teens, not always easy - especially for the huge % that are not Potter Enthusiasts. Edenville Owls further has the twist of exposing young readers to a time period that is probably not familiar to them - or even their parents!
Quick, absorbing read.
Rated by buyers 
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I started to read this book not realizing it was suggested for young readers. I am in my 80's.
Since I remember well the 1940's, and was just a year or two older than the main characters, I was fascinated to read about the familiar old radio shows, music, and entertainers of that time.
We also had a different sense of morality and integrity then, at least in our crowd. We were so much like these kids.
I think it was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time.
Thank you Mr. Parker for writing this book.
Rated by buyers -
If you are an avid Robert B. Parker fan you'll be pleased to know that this one is basically a Junior Spenser novel - It is toned-down but includes all of the trademark characteristics of a Parker novel: smart comments, a girl, thoughts on what it takes to be a man, have honor and be brave, a bad guy and a good guy that solves the problem with a little help from his friends. It is not a bad read for fans of Parker's more adult-oriented series.
Parker includes a lot of biographical elements in his books. It is interesting that the lead boy is named Bobbie and his girlfriend is named Joanie, especially considering Robert B. Parker is married to a woman named Joan.
Rated by buyers -
Over the past two months my 13 year old son has been on a reading streak. He finished Carl Hiassen's, Hoot and Flush. For some reason he is not a big Harry Potter fan. Anyway, again, with an outstretched hand he asked me to read Mr. Parker's novel and according to my son he did enjoyed the book.
His overall disappointment was that in the novel "Edenville Owls", he didn't feel the characters were realistic and the author should have spent more time developing the main character, Bobby Murphy, to act like a 14 year old instead of a twenty year old. (Struck me as a valid point.) I smiled and then read the book over the subsequent 3 days.
I've read several of Mr. Parker's novels. I have always enjoyed his earlier novels but I have been disappointed in several of his novels that he has released over the past year. So, I'm hoping that I won't be disappointed in this read, although I'm excited that Mr. Parker is forging his writing skills into the young adult book arena.
First, the title relates to the main character, 14-year-old, Bobby Murphy JV basketball team the Edenville Owls during the mid 1940's. Murphy is a self-confident young man and ends up the leader of the basketball team. But Bobby is also trying to understand the changes in his personality and desires. He feels like he is going down a twisted path of constant changes. Once, he gave no thought to the appearance of Joanie's body and her pretty face. Once, he gave no thought to whether she paid any attention to him. Now he felt he wanted her acceptance. If she rejected him it would drive him crazy. The story moves Bobby into his friendship with Joanie, unfortunately for Bobby that friendship drives a wedge between himself and his best friend, Nick. UMMM. Reminds me of a familiar situation.
The story moves into another theme that involves Miss Delaney, a young teacher with hidden secrets. At school Bobby stumbles on a man in a heated argument with Miss Delaney. Also, in that moment the man is slapped by Miss Delaney. He searches for answers from Miss Delaney, but she rejects his pleas. His curiosity is not satisfied and he decides to unravel this mystery of the man and the motivation and connection between the man and Miss Delaney.
In summary, the author proved that his writing skills are fertile enough to create an impressive novel, and certainly a novel worthy of the attention of young adults. The one fault I had was the telling of three separate stories; none of them seemed to get the attention they deserve in a novel that is otherwise a decent read.
I am certainly excited that known authors are getting involved in the young adult book market. Mother's like me can only benefit from their exceptional writing, and storytelling experience.
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