The Summer Boy

(Benjamin Drum Trilogy) Volume 1

By: Henry Mitchell

Narrated by: Wayne Paige

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Deposited by his dysfunctional city parents for the summer with his eccentric Aunt Mary in a remote Appalachian cove, Benjamin Drum runs away, farther than he ever intended, closer home than he ever imagined. Lost between the mountains, Ben wanders into a strange new world where he is befriended and pursued by beings human and non-human, malevolent and merciful. Before he finds his way back to Mary, he finds himself.

The Summer Boy is a genre-defying work, written in a style that falls somewhere between Ron Rash and Neil Gaiman, bright and shining as a summer day, dark and deep as a coal mine.

Author royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to Saluda Community Land Trust.

©2013 Henry Mitchell (P)2016 Henry Mitchell

Critic reviews

“…a gorgeous work of magical realism that flawlessly weaves myth and metaphor into a tale ringing with the sounds of authentic Appalachian speech and Celtic heritage… a haunting tale expertly told.” (Sharon Claybough)

Enjoyable Fairytale

Who was your favorite character and why?

Drum. He was the main character but also he was a kind person with a good heart

Which scene was your favorite?

Whole book was great

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher

Hard to get into

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I had such a hard time getting into it. I started it a couple times, listened to a couple hours of it, then gave up and listened to something else. I did eventually commit to finishing the book, restarting it again from the beginning. The author's writing style is "unique" and takes a minute to adjust to. I found that I really didn't care much for the narration, either. I found it too timid/soft. I like when narrators bring a lot of style and personality to the readings, but this was just very blase.

Beautifully written book about young boy's journey

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The Summer Boy is a classic coming-of-age folk story about Ben who is "sent" by his parents to live with a relative over the summer. Along the way he meets a mysterious woman, encounters many dangerous opportunities in the Appalachian Forest, and arises a wise, strong man. The story is filled with the beauty of Appalachia.

What other book might you compare The Summer Boy to and why?

There isn't any other book I can compare to!

What does Wayne Paige bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I loved the narrator. His voice was rich and accented well.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I finished this book with a warm feeling in my heart and a desire to see the appalachian mountains.

Any additional comments?

I received this book in exchange for a review.

The summer boy

Any additional comments?

kThis audiobook is about a young boy who doesn't fit into his suburban household. There is an element of fantasy here that leaves you constantly wondering if it is real or a dream. The characters are fairly complex and the story is a fresh take on this genre. I think that this would be a good book for teens or young adults.

Well crafted, but probably not for everyone

What did you like best about The Summer Boy? What did you like least?

The author makes characters and situations come alive. He seems to be a master painter with words as he creates this peaceful countryside escape. The story is full of symbolism and could probably be considered an allegory. Some of his associations I picked up on and enjoyed. Other times I didn't or couldn't stay focused enough to put all of the pieces together.

What does Wayne Paige bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought the narrator did a very good job. His relaxed and soft-spoken style seem a perfect fit for this particular story.

Was The Summer Boy worth the listening time?

This will be a wonderful story for some people. The word pictures are great. The symbolism will be great fun for some. Just now exactly my style.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom

The Summer Boy

This is a very well-written book about a young boy who is trying to find himself. The author and narrator do a great job of bringing the characters, situations, and story come to life.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Very Descriptive And Well Written Story...

What made the experience of listening to The Summer Boy the most enjoyable?

I Absolutely Loved The Narrators Voice...It Was So oo oo Soothing And Calm.. It Matched The Pace Of The Story Perfectly!!!

What about Wayne Paige’s performance did you like?

I Loved His Performance!! This Book Had Me In A Relaxed And Calm State The Entire Time...Between The Vivid Description Of The Mountains And The Voice Of The Narrator...It Was A Massage For The Mind..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely! At Some Points In The Book I Wanted To Leap Through The Pages To Join The Characters... Excellent Writing From The Author...

Any additional comments?

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

You have to stay with it.

I listened to the beginnings of this fantasy book and originally thought this is not for me. I kept listening and am glad I did. Yes, it's fantasy but I got sucked in to the Summer Boy and the adventure that would change his life forever. Growing up feeling like a disappointment, his life now allowed him to experience true kinship and feeling of worth. I am so glad I listened through. The narrator, Wayne Page, was great and led me down the trail! This book was provided free for my honest review.

Good read for a vacation

The Summer Boy is a book about the journey of a young man, through a mystical forest after he’s been dropped off for the summer by his daddy in the city. Benjamin Drum loves his eccentric aunt and her whole family, so he looks forward Yo spending his summers with them. Unbeknownst to Ben, he stumbles into a journey of self-finding, with beings, animals & spirits following and tracking him. He’s walking in 2 worlds and that could be bad for the natural power of things.

Ben doesn’t just take a walk on the woods. He speaks to bears and birds. He seems to walk through the woods in a fog, just letting it take him where it wills.

This books was sort of slow and took me awhile to get into it. Lots of neat parts but also lots on meandering. When I was done, I thought it was a decent book, knowing the finish.

The narration was pretty good. I couldn’t tell if it was a real accent or a catered one, so I guess that can be good or bad. I did have to listen at 1.5 speed to get it to my regular listening speed.

I was given a copy if this audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Enjoyable Fairytale

The Summer Boy captivated me. I fell in love with Ben, also known by other names throughout this story. When at home with his parents, he is basically invisible. Luckily his aunt understands what he needs. I enjoyed this story immensely. Every moment kept me thinking and daydreaming about what would happen next. This one will be a reread for me.
Wayne Paige has a beautiful, storytelling voice. His narration was superb.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.