The Impossible Fortress: A Novel
It’s May 1987. Fourteen-year-old Billy Marvin of Wetbridge, New Jersey, is a nerd, but a decidedly happy nerd. Afternoons are spent with his buddies, watching copious amounts of television, gorging on Pop-Tarts, debating who would win in a brawl (Rocky Balboa or Freddy Krueger? Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel? Magnum P.I. or T.J. Hooker?), and programming video games on his Commodore 64 late into the night. Then Playboy magazine publishes photos of their idol, Wheel of Fortune hostess Vanna White, Billy meets expert computer programmer Mary Zelinsky, and everything changes.
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The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
285 pages
What’s it about?
This coming of age story takes place in New Jersey in the 1980’s. Billy Marvin lives with his single mom and enjoys hanging out with his buddies, watching T.V., and programming the Commodore 64 computer he keeps in his room. When the new Playboy with Vanna White arrives on the shelves of the local store it causes a chain of events to occur that will change Billy forever.
What did it make me think about?
It made me think- “I am so glad I am not 14 anymore!”. It also brought back lots of memories of the 1980’s. The author really captures that time period.
Should I read it?
This is a good (not great- but good) story that will keep you entertained. It is especially appealing if you remember the 1980’s- think Dallas, Magnum P.I., Rocky, Saturday morning cartoons, Atari, Pac-Man etc.
Quote-
“There are plenty of things a teenage boy doesn’t tell his mother. As we get older, there are more and more things we hold back. Things too hard to say or too embarrassing to explain. We do this to protect our mothers as much as ourselves, because let’s face it- most of our thoughts are truly unthinkable.”
If you like this try-
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak
285 pages
What’s it about?
This coming of age story takes place in New Jersey in the 1980’s. Billy Marvin lives with his single mom and enjoys hanging out with his buddies, watching T.V., and programming the Commodore 64 computer he keeps in his room. When the new Playboy with Vanna White arrives on the shelves of the local store it causes a chain of events to occur that will change Billy forever.
What did it make me think about?
It made me think- “I am so glad I am not 14 anymore!”. It also brought back lots of memories of the 1980’s. The author really captures that time period.
Should I read it?
This is a good (not great- but good) story that will keep you entertained. It is especially appealing if you remember the 1980’s- think Dallas, Magnum P.I., Rocky, Saturday morning cartoons, Atari, Pac-Man etc.
Quote-
“There are plenty of things a teenage boy doesn’t tell his mother. As we get older, there are more and more things we hold back. Things too hard to say or too embarrassing to explain. We do this to protect our mothers as much as ourselves, because let’s face it- most of our thoughts are truly unthinkable.”
If you like this try-
Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
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