Review of Ace on the Hill
Posted: 25 Sep 2023, 12:45
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ace on the Hill" by J.C. Wesslen.]
Ace on the Hill is a coming-of-age novel crafted by J.C. Wesslen. It tells the story of Jayson Zimmerman, fondly nicknamed Jay by his close friends. Jay's family was constantly moving from town to town for as long as he could remember. This made Jayson throw tantrums anytime news about moving was broken by his parents. In an interesting foreboding, Jayson would throw anything within his reach as an act of rebellion. Unknowingly, his throw would come in handy in his later days. When they moved to Massachusetts, he finally had a stable long-stay where he made long-term friends with whom he shared the perks of growing up as a teenager in the 70s.
In Massachusetts, Jayson and his family experienced life at its best and worst servings. Jayson navigated through friendships with several guys, including Paul, Kenny, and Matt, among others. Together, they went through normal boy stuff, such as crushes and puberty. They also survived bullies and made tough life choices. Their love of baseball was a base for the whole story. In a rather interesting twist of love and hate, Jayson had to take a stand on his position and decide the trajectory of his life. He had to choose between following his father's advice on his future or pursuing his passion against all odds.
What I loved most about the book is the author's wit and humor in his writing style. The book's masculine energy is not too much but just enough. Many young men would find this book relatable, just as I did. Most of the things Jayson and his friends went through reminded me of my childhood, which was a pretty good feeling. This is a real page-turner that kept me glued.
The only minor thing that I did not like was the vulgar language. I understand that it's boys being boys, but it felt unnecessary. For such a great book that can inspire young boys, it loses points since it cannot be read by them directly due to the sensitive language. I felt the boys could have been a bit cordial.
Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I believe it has earned full points due to the author's crafty writing style. He delivered nuggets just at the right time. His timing was perfect, and the plot was not as predictable. The suspense was perfect, and the closing scene was exhilarating. The dislike mentioned earlier is a personal opinion and does not warrant a point deduction from this book.
I recommend this book to young adults, especially those who love baseball. There are a lot of references about the game, and I believe they will enjoy it. I believe adults who remember the 70s will love the trip down memory lane and may identify with the characters.
******
Ace on the Hill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Ace on the Hill is a coming-of-age novel crafted by J.C. Wesslen. It tells the story of Jayson Zimmerman, fondly nicknamed Jay by his close friends. Jay's family was constantly moving from town to town for as long as he could remember. This made Jayson throw tantrums anytime news about moving was broken by his parents. In an interesting foreboding, Jayson would throw anything within his reach as an act of rebellion. Unknowingly, his throw would come in handy in his later days. When they moved to Massachusetts, he finally had a stable long-stay where he made long-term friends with whom he shared the perks of growing up as a teenager in the 70s.
In Massachusetts, Jayson and his family experienced life at its best and worst servings. Jayson navigated through friendships with several guys, including Paul, Kenny, and Matt, among others. Together, they went through normal boy stuff, such as crushes and puberty. They also survived bullies and made tough life choices. Their love of baseball was a base for the whole story. In a rather interesting twist of love and hate, Jayson had to take a stand on his position and decide the trajectory of his life. He had to choose between following his father's advice on his future or pursuing his passion against all odds.
What I loved most about the book is the author's wit and humor in his writing style. The book's masculine energy is not too much but just enough. Many young men would find this book relatable, just as I did. Most of the things Jayson and his friends went through reminded me of my childhood, which was a pretty good feeling. This is a real page-turner that kept me glued.
The only minor thing that I did not like was the vulgar language. I understand that it's boys being boys, but it felt unnecessary. For such a great book that can inspire young boys, it loses points since it cannot be read by them directly due to the sensitive language. I felt the boys could have been a bit cordial.
Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I believe it has earned full points due to the author's crafty writing style. He delivered nuggets just at the right time. His timing was perfect, and the plot was not as predictable. The suspense was perfect, and the closing scene was exhilarating. The dislike mentioned earlier is a personal opinion and does not warrant a point deduction from this book.
I recommend this book to young adults, especially those who love baseball. There are a lot of references about the game, and I believe they will enjoy it. I believe adults who remember the 70s will love the trip down memory lane and may identify with the characters.
******
Ace on the Hill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon