Review of Billy Jones's Father

[Laura Helsel Goggin]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Billy Jones's Father" by Fred Engh.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Billy Jones's Father And the Apple Tree by Fred Engh is a fictional story about children and sports. The story also includes narratives from real youth sporting events. Billy Jones's father, Arnold, grew up in an abusive home. His father was a local sports legend, and he expected Arnold to be like him. Arnold was not born with his father's natural athletic ability, and because of this, Arnold's father, Scotty Jones, emotionally, verbally, and physically abused him as a child. In the story, the reader follows Arnold Jones as an adult. Arnold is dealing with the effects of childhood abuse and realizes that he could be an abusive parent like his father. This book also highlights the youth sporting world and the pressure put on children by parents and coaches to be successful in sports.

This book was an enjoyable and easy book to read. The book has a grave theme of abuse but some fun and playful characters. One of the main characters, Sara, who is married to Arnold, is a person who is loving, understanding, and full of wisdom. She helps Arnold deal with his past and takes on the town of Torrid Hills and the sports program. As Recreation Director, she implements an orientation and training program for parents and coaches. Sara also takes on Scotty Jones with bravado and wisdom. Sara is a character that I admire because she deals with life's difficulties with strength and determination.

Billy Jones's Father And the Apple Tree is a captivating story with solid characters. I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about strong characters that overcome life's challenges. It is also an excellent book to remind parents and coaches to let children enjoy and have fun with sports. Not all children have the athletic ability to become sports stars, but they do want to join a sports team for enjoyment and friendships.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and there was nothing that I disliked about this book. It is a quality book with professional editing. I have no qualms about rating this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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Billy Jones's Father
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