Bette A. Stevens

DOG BONE SOUP: A Boomer's Journey by Bette Stevens is about a dysfunctional family trying to survive in the 50's and 60's. The father, a self-appointed "King of the castle" is an abusive drunk, the mother tries her best to keep the family clothed and fed, Shawn and Willie are the oldest two boys who along with their two sisters do whatever it takes to etch out a living. They are also a proud bunch, refusing food donations from the Church or handouts.

The story is told from Shawn's POV, he is bullied and teased all through school because they are poor and their father is a known drunk. The ramshackle home they live in has no running water, cooking and heating the home also requires firewood. Shawn learned early in life how to fish, chop wood, and bring in water from the stream for washing and cooking. He also witnessed his father striking and beating their mother but was too afraid to get involved. To escape the wrath, the kids would run off and seek out new adventures to entertain themselves. Shawn is a hard worker who takes on odd jobs to help put food on the table. The title of this book is the name of a soup the family eats for days on end (boiled dog bones, onions, carrots and potatoes).

During his senior year in high school, Shawn finally stands up to his father and the school bullies for the first time. His mother gets a divorce and the family is finally free of the abusive father and husband who only sat around drank beer, and watched TV after work. That is, of course, if he wasn't in the local bar getting drunk.

Shawn wants to make a life for himself and pursues joining the military...this is just as the war in Vietnam is beginning. His uncle tries to talk him out of it because of the horrors he'll witness, confidentially sharing why his father drinks - to forget about the horrors of war that he fought in.

It's a tale of a mother's love & sacrifice and the coming of age story of a young boy in a small town. The story flowed well but I did encounter typos and missing words throughout the book. If you think you have it bad, you should read this story to see how those who do have it bad are able to cope, dream, and hope for a better life.… (mehr)

PURE TRASH (Ages 11-adult) In this short story adventure set in New England in the 1950s, two young boys set out on a Saturday adventure you won't want to miss! Experience the joy of a carefree Saturday and the blistering pain of feeling not quite good enough as you hop on a bike and ride into town with two delightful young boys who find adventure at every turn. Shawn and Willie Daniels live in the woods with no indoor water or plumbing. Dad spends most of his hard earned money on beer. Prejudice, class division, alcoholism, poverty, injustice, and bullying are cleverly woven into this 1950s adventure short. PURE TRASH is the short story prequel to DOG BONE SOUP, Stevens's debut novel DOG BONE SOUP.… (mehr)

TRASH- noun, something worthless, rubbish. Got that from my dictionary. Can a human being ever be considered trash? A question for the ages. A child however, is never trash....no way, no how and it doesn't matter what day and age it is. So ok, in Stevens book it is 1955 and yes, times were slower and simpler. And the same issues that we have now were present then.
How deeply lodged does name calling become? Is inbred insecurity a reason to bully, physically OR verbally? Nah....

Two young brothers with not much going on for them at home, yet in there eyes the whole world is their oyster. And their oyster is new england country.. rural..dirt roads. They have their bikes and 24cents each to spend. Saturday and they're going exploring and searching for treasure. A thrilling day for Shawn and Willie. It starts out that way anyway....

SO. Does money or the lack of money HAVE to relegate us to where we belong in the social stratus? I think this book should be a quickie must read, with a required essay to be written for every graduating senior. Eighth grader whatever. Required reading that leads to required thinking.… (mehr)