This is a good novel about life in the 1950's. Lots of things are starting to change in the US, and views on segregation is no exception. The main character had to grow up during a difficult time in America. This book would probably be a good read for younger males rather than my girlfriends.

Thanks to net galley for a copy of this book to read for a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for this copy of The Boys Who Woke Up Early by A.D. Hopkins. The following review is no way influenced by this, and is entirely my own.

The Boys Who Woke Up Early is a story about boys experiences as teens, but not a coming-of-age story, nor a historical tale other than being true to the times that it’s written about. It’s relaxed pace ambles on the way real life ambles on. The situations the boys get into are believable and entertaining, and the narrative voice ring true.

I love how the escapades work in with the title of the book, and how the destinies of the boys are formed by them. Complete with humor and sobering themes like racial prejudice and segregation, The Boys Who Woke Up Early delivers a satisfying read by showing both good and bad exist simultaneously, and not always where it should.

What you read in the description is what you get.
The book is well written and researched; the brutality and violence, the class divide and racism, all of these were things you lived with every day during that time period. If you're well acquainted with these topics, the book will offer little more than that; however, as an introduction for teens who are just learning about these topics, it's an interesting read. Very well written.

Engaging, enthralling, and cant wait to get a spotlight up on my blog. Great writing on a heavy topic.

This story truly amazed me. The cover and title drew me in, the blurb sounded good BUT it was so far away from my normal read. It was so real. I was transported back to the 50s and all the madness that went with it. Politics, racism, KKK. Just wow.

This book did not hold my attention. I was almost 30% in when I decided to abandon it. I couldn't keep up with the plot, it didn't make an impression. It read like a collection of stories connected with one another, but at some point there were too many characters I couldn't remember who they were. It was at that point I gave up. I am aware that this was the point where things started to pick up plot-wise, but since I couldn't tell you exactly who is who it would have been a strain to continue reading it.
I am sorry this had to happen as this part of the US history is one I enjoy reading about. However, this novel is not for me.

The title refers to Jubal Early High School, where in 1959, 16-yr old narrator Thomas Jackson "Stony" Shelor befriends new kid and fellow outsider Jack Newcomb and together they help the local police department solve mysteries while simultaneously breaking several laws. The point of the book seems to be friendship transcending and ultimately overcoming racism, but I couldn't see it past all the gun porn NRA propaganda.

This story follows two high school boys as they learn police procedure. Initially following officers around and cleaning guns, they work their way up to dispatching when the department is short of officers. The story examines the way small town police departments operated during desegregation.

The backhanded politics including corruption, bullying, and abuse are themes woven throughout. Though a fictional story, the details are clear and a bit of truth shines brightly. Stony Shelor and Jack Newcome go from innocent boys to brave soon-to-be private detectives.
Written in the style of The Catcher in the Rye, this coming of age story is one not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and the author, A.D Hopkins, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of The Boys Who Woke Up Early in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought the book was a good read. It was well written and thought provoking.
Worth a read.

4 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Published March 3, 2019.

I found this to be a fun book. There were a number of places that I laughed out loud. Places that reminded me of similar things that I had experienced.

The author has written non fiction and edited a number of books, but this is the debut novel of A. D. Hopkins.

Basically about a group of teen boys, both friends and adversaries, in rural Virginia, in the late 50's and early 60's. Back when segregation was still alive and the KKK was active. Corrupt small town police departments and long living family feuds all bound together to make formidable story.

Stony grew up in what a typical southern town would look like in the 1950's, The history incorporated into the story made this even more interesting. The Boys Who Woke up Early was an interesting read and it was not easy for me to put down.

This one was definitely a coming-of-age story! Told from the perspective of a troubled Virginia boy in Eisenhower-era as he embarks his final two years of high school. Trying to find his place in the world, hoping to be a man but ultimately learning that he’s still a boy. It gives you great insight to the law enforcement, corruption, racism of the time from the perspective of a boy who is trying to figure out who he is & the man he wants to be in the small town that isn’t quite ready to evolve with the changing times. I thought it was a quick read. What you read in the synopsis is what you get in the book. And while there is nothing wrong with that, it seemed a little disappointing that was all I got as a reader. If you’re looking for a coming-of-age story during a time of historical evolution and racial tension, then this is the book for you!

Oh yes I definitely recommend this book!!
Very captivating. Hard to put down.
There is a lot to think about long after you finish this book. Really gives you an insight on how things were long ago in the Deep South.
Throughly enjoyed!!!

Title: The Boys Who Woke Up Early
Author: A.D. Hopkins
Genre: Fiction, historical
Rating: 4 out of 5

Western Virginia in the days of the Ku Klux Klan is where Stony starts his junior year of high school. The town is poor, and those who live in town don’t associate with the hillbillies in the woods and hollers. But Stony has a crush on Mary Lou Martin, one of the country girls, and he can’t figure out how to cross the divide.

Then Jack moves to town. Jack dresses like TV detective Peter Gunn and plays jazz clarinet, and soon he and Stony are good friends. Jack convinces Stony they’ll be detectives, and soon the boys are spending more time at the sheriff’s department than at home. If only Stony didn’t have a history as a juvenile delinquent.

Soon the boys run up against the district attorney and find themselves involved in a raid on an illegal speakeasy…just before they face off with the Klan in their attempts to keep their town safe.

I kept telling myself I’d put this book down because the writing wasn’t quite up to par, but I enjoyed the story so much that I finished reading it. This book is decidedly not in favor of the Klan. It’s set just when the fight for equal rights begins, when discrimination is the norm, and only a few people are waking up to the awareness that the way things have always been isn’t the way they should be. I enjoyed the story of Stony’s realization that his small mountain hometown needs to make some changes.

A.D. Hopkins is a former journalist. The Boys Who Woke Up Early is his new novel.

(Galley courtesy of Imbrifex Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

They always say write what you know, and that is exactly what A.D. Hopkins has done in this, his debut novel. Having been an investigative journalist and reporter for close to five decades he uses his insider knowledge to give the story an authentic feel to it, and although set in the past (early 1960s) it is still timely and relevant to the world we live in today. The main focus of the novel is on racial prejudice and segregation and the involvement of the white supremacist hate group the Ku Klux Klan in perpetuating the hatred towards the black community. The point is made that if you want change you need to push for it - a timeless reminder that we can make progress if we stand up and be counted.

The issue of the moral ambiguity of gun ownership in the US today is cleverly linked as so many of the characters talked about owning and shooting a gun themselves. The writing and plot are seamless and grip you from the very beginning, and the characters are beautifully rounded; I admired Mary Lou the most as she had vision and didn't unquestioningly accept the way things were as most people of the time did. It's a captivating thriller but so much more than that. It makes us question our lives today and how far we've come but also how much further we still have to go to gain equality. It's both a powerful, thought-provoking and highly entertaining hybrid coming-of-age novel/thriller, and the descriptions of small-town life make for engaging reading.

I appreciate the title of the book hinting at the societal awakening hidden amongst the pages and whoever wrote the synopsis did a fantastic job; that's certainly what attracted me initially.

Many thanks to Imbrifex Books for an ARC.

DNF- felt very uncomfortable reading as a caucasian female coming from a caucasian author. Might just be over sensitive but I can't help how I feel and I did not anticipate it. I will try to avoid this issue going forward although it is sometimes hard to tell. I will not lower the rating due to my personal preference nor post a public review.

Earlier in the book, I was reminded a little of To Kill a Mockingbird (though much less innocent) and perhaps Natalie Gordimer’s A World of Strangers. Hopkins perfectly captures Stony’s moments of enlightenment as he gradually starts to get past his ingrained prejudice against the black community in his own town and eventually to befriend one of them. Despite being set in the past (the 1950s-60s, I think), what I loved about this book is its relevance to the present day. While not everyone in Early is outright racist, there are so many who don’t challenge the Klan’s actions, don’t question the racial segregation, and are largely okay with perpetuating the racial divides. Mary Lou Martin, a schoolmate that Stony admires, is the first to challenge these givens, and in dating Roosevelt (a black boy), she becomes a target for the Klan’s wrath. Mary Lou makes a point to Stony that things in Early can’t change unless the progressives stay and try to make the changes they want to see, rather than running away to a place with more modern ideals. The writing is unembellished and flows smoothly, making the book an effortless and gripping read. This book is a reminder of generational differences and the role of the youth in shaping the present and future of the world around them, not by running away or unquestioningly accepting things the way they are, but by staying and gradually trying to change the way things work. Additionally, the fact that there are all these characters carrying guns, people being shot - fatally or otherwise - and even students talking so casually about their experiences holding and firing a gun brings to mind the ongoing debates about gun laws in the US.

September 1959 in the small town of Early, Virginia. "Stony" Shelor is almost seventeen and just starting his junior year of High School. Enter new kid Jack Newcomb who models himself after a beatnik character from the TV show Peter Gunn. The two boys, both a bit nonconformist, become fast friends.

Jack's decision that they should become private detectives leads to a lot of time spent around the local police station learning the trade. The cops couldn't be happier having two volunteers to do some of the nonessential duties (like cleaning & filing) and the two boys become sort of like mascots to them.

It's all kind of endearing in a way but Early, Virginia isn't Andy Griffith's Mayberry so when trouble comes... and it does... there's more to it than good ol' wholesome fun.

The Boys Who Woke Up Early is a coming of age story set in a time when the world (at least The United States) was having some "coming of age" issues of its own. While the first half of the book deals with the boys' Hardy Boy-esque adventures the second half gets deeper into the social changes affecting their world (mostly racism and associated issues).

I thought this was a pretty good book. There's a certain suspension of disbelief required at times as it goes from silly to serious and makes you question how anyone could let these boys get into these kinds of situations but, then again, it was a different time.

While the story is about teenagers in 1959 and the early 1960s the author strives to present a sense of realism. Meaning there are racial slurs, some cursing, and one or two cringe worthy moments when seen from a modern perspective. I wouldn't call it salacious or gratuitous but it's there.

Bottom line: The Boys Who Woke Up Early is a good read. Lots of fun with a few thought provoking moments.

***Thanks to NetGalley, Imbrifex Books, and author A. D. Hopkins for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When I read books, sometimes I know exactly what I want to highlight in my review and other times, ideas and themes from the novel need time to grow and develop in my mind like an oyster and its pearl. The latter was very true for my reading of A.D. Hopkins The Boys Who Woke Up Early set in western Virginia (Early County) in the 1960s. It follows the cultural and social awakening of two teenage boys, Jack Newcomb and Thomas Jackson Shelor, who in turn help start an awakening that ends in cataclysmic proportions for the county itself.

Thomas, referred to throughout the novel as Stony (from Stonewall Jackson), is on juvenile probation. He gets into fights and manages to attract trouble even when he is trying to stay out of it. His somewhat unlikely friend Jack Newcomb has been the new kid a thousand times over with his parents moving from town to town for new development projects. The two of them decide to start a private detective agency after Rich Conway, the local prosecutor, has had a string of thefts.

The story of The Boys Who Woke Up Early is in many ways a timeless American narrative of small town life, mischief, and growing up. The universality does not just stop there. Early County has a strong Klu Klux Klan (KKK) membership. The segregated and rather large Black community of the county means that the KKK are always on edge and what I would describe as itching and willing for a confrontation.

This is written as historical fiction that looks back on the racially charged 1960s and addresses how people like Jack and Stony overcome some of their racial prejudices. Yet, it also reflects the unrest we see in the United States today. With recent events involving indigenous activists and young white men ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) hats taunting and yelling at the indigenous activists, I can say without a doubt that America needs a reawakening. Novels like Hopkins’ can give us the illusion that poor race relations, discrimination, and even the KKK and other hate groups are a thing of the past. However, this is a regular occurrence for non-whites in the U.S. and to assume that this stuff could only happen in the 1960s-1970s is a naive outlook.

Hopkins weaves a timeless narrative that should speak to contemporary America. The author was a journalist and reporter and his details of police, politics, and civilian relations is described well and with a touch of what I imagine is insider knowledge. What I appreciate most about the novel is the racial awareness and awakening that the Jack and Stony undertake throughout the novel. In the beginning they are passive bystanders to racial inequality. It is something they never questioned or even really thought about. This is true of most people even today. Unless we are directly affected by something it can be hard for us to see how it affects others. And this blindness goes beyond race relations. The boys learn through meeting African Americans, talking with white alleys, and learning inside details of the bigger race relations of the county that what they have assumed as ‘fact’ might actually be very false. Their evolution is not over night and they don’t wake up and suddenly become ‘woke’. The process is an accumulation of small realisations that result in a paradigm shift for the boys.

I hope if people read Hopkins novel they ask themselves how and if they question the current social, political, and cultural climate of their country. I hope that the characters Stony and Jack lead by example and maybe even change a few reader’s lives.

Do you enjoy contemporary historical fiction? Will you be picking up a copy of Hopkins’ novel? As always, share the reading love.

NOTE: This novel was was accessed through Netgalley and Imbrifex Books for review purposes.

For links to relevant news articles read on the original page:
https://bound2books.co/2019/01/30/the-boys-who-woke-up-early-a-reminder-of-americas-complicated-past-and-present/

In the little Virginia mountain town of Early in 1959, high school juniors Stony Shelor and Jack Newsome get involved in adventures sometimes humorous and some times very serious.

from description: Jack draws Stony into his fantasy of being a private detective, and the two boys start hanging around the county sheriff’s office. Accepted as sources of amusement and free labor, the aspiring gumshoes land their first case after the district attorney’s house is burglarized. Later, the boys hatch an ingenious scheme to help the deputies raid an illegal speakeasy and brothel. All the intrigue feels like fun and games to Jack and Stony until a gunfight with a hillbilly boy almost gets them killed. The stakes rise even higher when the boys find themselves facing off against the Ku Klux Klan.

I really liked this one: the writing, the characters, and the plot. Stony and Jack are friends with completely different personalities, but who complement each other in this story of growing up in the late 1950's in the small town of Early. There are many episodes that illustrate the different time frame yet evoke timeless situations and there is a current of suspense that works with the overall theme.

Reading like a memoir, The Boys Who Woke Up Early is an engaging novel that captivated my interest early and held it throughout.

Read in January; review scheduled for Feb. 19.

NetGalley/Imbriflex Books
Coming of Age. March 3, 2019. Print length: 256 pages.