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The Last Martin
There’s always a Martin. One Martin. Martin Boyle already has plenty to worry about. His germaphobic mother keeps him home from school if she hears so much as a sneeze, and his father is always off somewhere reenacting old war battles. Julia, the most beautiful girl in school, won’t even speak to Martin, and the gym teacher is officially out to get him. Which is why Martin really doesn’t need this curse hanging over his head. On a trip to the family cemetery, Martin wanders among the tombstones of his ancestors and discovers a disturbing pattern: when one Martin is born, the previous Martin dies. And—just his luck—Martin’s aunt is about to give birth to a baby boy, who will, according to tradition, be named Martin. Martin must find a way to break the curse, but every clue seems to lead to a dead end. And time is running out.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 22, 2011
8 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Friesen
10 books174 followersI had the perfect life.
I was the grade-school star and the teacher’s pet. The world revolved around me and I suspected it always would. If you ask most people about their life, they don’t begin with fifth grade. But that was a good year.
Illness changed that. I retreated into a shell and escaped into words. Writing a story sucked the pain out of me, at least for a while. That’s when I learned to “feel” on paper. I didn’t think I’d be an author, I didn’t think I’d be much of anything, I was simply writing to survive.
Life changed in college. Health returned, the cloud lifted, and I got my teaching license.
Being a teacher, and being with those kids healed me. Surrounded by them, I relived periods of time stolen by childhood sickness. I was in my glory. But I couldn’t escape storytelling. All those years expressing myself on paper left their mark.
While my students worked, I wrote at my desk. Jerk California, my first book, flowed out of my own “lost years,” but hope fills the pages. Writing it was a beautiful thing to experience.
I now live on a horse farm with my wife, three children, and a growing number of animals.
Our home is on a hill that overlooks a river that snakes through a beautiful valley. We tear along the stream on the 4-wheeler. My three kids race through the pasture and scale the sides of the sand pit; they search for agates and chase wild turkeys that trespass on the gravel road that connects our hill to the rest of the world. I have promised them chickens and horses, but for now they settle for bald eagle and bear. It’s a good place to play and write.
At night, I walk out and listen to the wind rattle paper-thin bark on our birch trees. I stare at stars nobody else has seen and start a bonfire so bright it chases all the stars away. Then, my clothes full of smoke and my mind filled with ideas, I come inside and write until my fingers get heavy on the keyboard.
I love it here.
I was the grade-school star and the teacher’s pet. The world revolved around me and I suspected it always would. If you ask most people about their life, they don’t begin with fifth grade. But that was a good year.
Illness changed that. I retreated into a shell and escaped into words. Writing a story sucked the pain out of me, at least for a while. That’s when I learned to “feel” on paper. I didn’t think I’d be an author, I didn’t think I’d be much of anything, I was simply writing to survive.
Life changed in college. Health returned, the cloud lifted, and I got my teaching license.
Being a teacher, and being with those kids healed me. Surrounded by them, I relived periods of time stolen by childhood sickness. I was in my glory. But I couldn’t escape storytelling. All those years expressing myself on paper left their mark.
While my students worked, I wrote at my desk. Jerk California, my first book, flowed out of my own “lost years,” but hope fills the pages. Writing it was a beautiful thing to experience.
I now live on a horse farm with my wife, three children, and a growing number of animals.
Our home is on a hill that overlooks a river that snakes through a beautiful valley. We tear along the stream on the 4-wheeler. My three kids race through the pasture and scale the sides of the sand pit; they search for agates and chase wild turkeys that trespass on the gravel road that connects our hill to the rest of the world. I have promised them chickens and horses, but for now they settle for bald eagle and bear. It’s a good place to play and write.
At night, I walk out and listen to the wind rattle paper-thin bark on our birch trees. I stare at stars nobody else has seen and start a bonfire so bright it chases all the stars away. Then, my clothes full of smoke and my mind filled with ideas, I come inside and write until my fingers get heavy on the keyboard.
I love it here.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 25, 2011
With the charm and humour of a cartoon, The Last Martin made me laugh, worry, paranoid and scared. Martin Boyle, a young teenager, was cursed. The countdown to his cousin’s birth was the countdown to his death. He has succumbed to the germ-free ways of his mom, hiding in his shell and keeping himself safe. To his school mates, he was the weird kid who never speaks, never gets in trouble – plain, ordinary and forgettable. Because he only had a few months left, he strived to enjoy life.
The characters were very fun and entertaining. Poole, a vagrant living in the boxcar in Martin's yard, taught him to be thankful. Poole was an orphan. He was interesting, funny, a little sarcastic, mischievous and grateful. He was a friend in hard times. Julia was the pretty girl who broke all the rules and spent most of her afternoons in detention. Charley, Martin’s best friend, used Martin’s story to impress Julia. He was what I would call dull and dumb. They all worked on OSM – Operation Save Martin. On the day of his cousin’s birth, Martin started getting weak. With the help of his friends, his prose and his hope, could he really undo the curse before it’s too late?
Martin’s parents, despite their imperfections were good and loving. His paranoid mom wanted him safe from all kinds of harm including harm that can be given by germs. His dad wanted him to be a man, to have a backbone, be strong and to face the consequences of his actions. I did not like how the adults in this novel refused to believe Martin. I know that sometimes it does happen in real life – adults ignoring the truth from their children’s mouths. It was unrealistic that they could not see the pattern of deaths when kids could see it. If I were to experience that, it would have been the most terrifying thing ever because your parents would be the first to understand and believe you.
The Last Martin was not just about Martin’s upcoming death and fate but it was also about Martin growing up and learning to live life to the fullest. Funny, entertaining and engrossing, this kept me up at night with its suspenseful race against time and death. A wonderful MG read about friendship, family, life and consequences.
The characters were very fun and entertaining. Poole, a vagrant living in the boxcar in Martin's yard, taught him to be thankful. Poole was an orphan. He was interesting, funny, a little sarcastic, mischievous and grateful. He was a friend in hard times. Julia was the pretty girl who broke all the rules and spent most of her afternoons in detention. Charley, Martin’s best friend, used Martin’s story to impress Julia. He was what I would call dull and dumb. They all worked on OSM – Operation Save Martin. On the day of his cousin’s birth, Martin started getting weak. With the help of his friends, his prose and his hope, could he really undo the curse before it’s too late?
Martin’s parents, despite their imperfections were good and loving. His paranoid mom wanted him safe from all kinds of harm including harm that can be given by germs. His dad wanted him to be a man, to have a backbone, be strong and to face the consequences of his actions. I did not like how the adults in this novel refused to believe Martin. I know that sometimes it does happen in real life – adults ignoring the truth from their children’s mouths. It was unrealistic that they could not see the pattern of deaths when kids could see it. If I were to experience that, it would have been the most terrifying thing ever because your parents would be the first to understand and believe you.
The Last Martin was not just about Martin’s upcoming death and fate but it was also about Martin growing up and learning to live life to the fullest. Funny, entertaining and engrossing, this kept me up at night with its suspenseful race against time and death. A wonderful MG read about friendship, family, life and consequences.
September 9, 2011
First I (Jill) must say, that I bought this book strictly because of the book trailer. I thought it was awesome. And I showed it to my son, Luke. After he watched it, he nodded at me, and I ordered the book. So, here is the trailer, for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5qQ5W...
Martin Boyle lives a crazy life. His mother is a germaphobe and his father is never home—always off reenacting Civil War battles, his best friend is trying to steal the girl he likes, and on top of all that… Martin is cursed. In a graveyard of his ancestors, he discovers this horrible truth. When one Martin is born, the previous Martin dies. And Martin’s aunt is about to give birth to a boy, who, according to family tradition, will be named Martin.
I read this book aloud to my son, and we had a really hard time understanding what was going on at first. There were several places where Luke stopped my reading to asked a question. He was confused as to what had happened. So I read back to see what we had misunderstood. It was mostly the mom’s character that had us puzzled. Once we realized that she was a germaphobe—and a beyond crazy one—things made a lot more sense. It would have been wise to have Martin think about her crazy, germaphobic tendencies in the first few pages, but maybe it was just us.
About halfway through the book, it took off and we were hooked. We loved Poole. Once that guy came into the story, it was hysterical. Lani was also a fun character. And the idea of living each day as if it were the last, being yourself, and looking for joy in every moment made this a really powerful story. It turned out to be a lot of laugh-out-loud fun for both of us.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5qQ5W...
Martin Boyle lives a crazy life. His mother is a germaphobe and his father is never home—always off reenacting Civil War battles, his best friend is trying to steal the girl he likes, and on top of all that… Martin is cursed. In a graveyard of his ancestors, he discovers this horrible truth. When one Martin is born, the previous Martin dies. And Martin’s aunt is about to give birth to a boy, who, according to family tradition, will be named Martin.
I read this book aloud to my son, and we had a really hard time understanding what was going on at first. There were several places where Luke stopped my reading to asked a question. He was confused as to what had happened. So I read back to see what we had misunderstood. It was mostly the mom’s character that had us puzzled. Once we realized that she was a germaphobe—and a beyond crazy one—things made a lot more sense. It would have been wise to have Martin think about her crazy, germaphobic tendencies in the first few pages, but maybe it was just us.
About halfway through the book, it took off and we were hooked. We loved Poole. Once that guy came into the story, it was hysterical. Lani was also a fun character. And the idea of living each day as if it were the last, being yourself, and looking for joy in every moment made this a really powerful story. It turned out to be a lot of laugh-out-loud fun for both of us.
April 21, 2011
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads first-reads program. The Last Martin is a rather odd story of a very odd boy named Martin Boyle. Martin is certainly no ordinary boy and neither is his family. You see when Martin was born, he was born dead and it was his mothers tears that brought him back. Then his father did what all Boyle's do and raised his son and proclaimed “I name you Martin.” Martin's mother is not your typical mother, she has a paranoia of germs and instills some of these same fears in her children. Martin has never had a sleepover, doesn't play baseball or shake hands because that could lead to germs. Martin's father works at a Living History Museum and spends his days re-enacting battles wearing war uniforms.
Each year the Boyle family packs up the car and go to his Aunt and Uncles house in order to attend a ceremony to pay tribute to the many Martin Boyle's who have passed before. Martin's Aunt and Uncle are rather unusual as well. They kill and clean all of their own food, have a mink and a loaded gun in the outhouse and are not hesitant to tell stories of their kills. It is on this trip that Martin's discovers two important things. All of the gravestones are for Martin Boyle's and that as one Martin died the next Martin was born. Martin also determines that his Aunt is about to have a son and there can only be one Martin. Martin quickly determines that his family is cursed and he will need to enlist the help of his friend Charlie, Julia and a vagrant boy named Poole who lives in the boxcar near his home in order to get out of this mess and save himself from death.
I found myself a little unnerved by the plot of the story and the characters were not very endearing. I did however, like the more subtler messages taught through the other characters. Poole teaches Martin to be thankful and it is through this quest that Martin begins to overcome the paranoia's that his mother has instilled on him. He invites Poole to spend the night, he joins the track team and even goes on a hot-air balloon ride. I believe the overall message is to live life to the fullest. I also enjoyed that Martin liked to write Fantasy stories and throughout the book there are excerpts from his stories. In The Last Martin you get two stories to follow with both coming to a dramatic conclusion.
Each year the Boyle family packs up the car and go to his Aunt and Uncles house in order to attend a ceremony to pay tribute to the many Martin Boyle's who have passed before. Martin's Aunt and Uncle are rather unusual as well. They kill and clean all of their own food, have a mink and a loaded gun in the outhouse and are not hesitant to tell stories of their kills. It is on this trip that Martin's discovers two important things. All of the gravestones are for Martin Boyle's and that as one Martin died the next Martin was born. Martin also determines that his Aunt is about to have a son and there can only be one Martin. Martin quickly determines that his family is cursed and he will need to enlist the help of his friend Charlie, Julia and a vagrant boy named Poole who lives in the boxcar near his home in order to get out of this mess and save himself from death.
I found myself a little unnerved by the plot of the story and the characters were not very endearing. I did however, like the more subtler messages taught through the other characters. Poole teaches Martin to be thankful and it is through this quest that Martin begins to overcome the paranoia's that his mother has instilled on him. He invites Poole to spend the night, he joins the track team and even goes on a hot-air balloon ride. I believe the overall message is to live life to the fullest. I also enjoyed that Martin liked to write Fantasy stories and throughout the book there are excerpts from his stories. In The Last Martin you get two stories to follow with both coming to a dramatic conclusion.
January 8, 2013
1/8/13
A long time ago I read a book called the last Martin by Jonathan Friesen. The book is about a boy named Martin Boyle and right now his life is terrible. His mother probably has Excessive Compulsive Disorder ( a fear of germs ) and keeps him home from school if she even hears him sneeze. His dad has a job reenacting old battles in history. Julia, the prettiest girl in school and his crush, won't even speak to him. To top it all off his scychotic gym teacher is now out to get him. How could could Martins life possibly get any worse. On a visit to the family cemetery Martin discovers a dark pattern as he walked along the rows of tombstones. Everytime a Martin in his family is born, the previous Martin dies. Just his luck. In three months his aunt is going to have a baby boy and just like all the first born boys in the whole entire Boyle family he will be named Martin. Life was bad enough for Martin without having to worry about a curse. In the book you have to make a lot of Inferences to figure out the kind guy Martin is. The author didn't explain if he got teased a lot at school or even the reason he liked Julia. That's one of the reasons I wouldn't give this a five star rating. I figured out that he wasn't very popular because nobody wanted to sit next to him on the bus but through out the story he never got teased by bullies. I also figured out that he reads a lot of fantasy books because before he went on the trip to the family cemetery his dad told him he couldn't bring any of his fantasy books. Another reason I did like this book Was that while he trying to find a way to break the curse he kept giving up and trying again over and over again. In story Martin feels
like he already has enough problems and then another comes up. I can relate to that. Once I had a ton of homework on the same day I had swimming. Practice ends pretty late so when I got back home I was tired and had to go to bed soon.
Just when I thought I was done I remembered I forgot to do my math homework. I really hate it when stuff like that happens. Overall I'd only give this book a 3 star rating
A long time ago I read a book called the last Martin by Jonathan Friesen. The book is about a boy named Martin Boyle and right now his life is terrible. His mother probably has Excessive Compulsive Disorder ( a fear of germs ) and keeps him home from school if she even hears him sneeze. His dad has a job reenacting old battles in history. Julia, the prettiest girl in school and his crush, won't even speak to him. To top it all off his scychotic gym teacher is now out to get him. How could could Martins life possibly get any worse. On a visit to the family cemetery Martin discovers a dark pattern as he walked along the rows of tombstones. Everytime a Martin in his family is born, the previous Martin dies. Just his luck. In three months his aunt is going to have a baby boy and just like all the first born boys in the whole entire Boyle family he will be named Martin. Life was bad enough for Martin without having to worry about a curse. In the book you have to make a lot of Inferences to figure out the kind guy Martin is. The author didn't explain if he got teased a lot at school or even the reason he liked Julia. That's one of the reasons I wouldn't give this a five star rating. I figured out that he wasn't very popular because nobody wanted to sit next to him on the bus but through out the story he never got teased by bullies. I also figured out that he reads a lot of fantasy books because before he went on the trip to the family cemetery his dad told him he couldn't bring any of his fantasy books. Another reason I did like this book Was that while he trying to find a way to break the curse he kept giving up and trying again over and over again. In story Martin feels
like he already has enough problems and then another comes up. I can relate to that. Once I had a ton of homework on the same day I had swimming. Practice ends pretty late so when I got back home I was tired and had to go to bed soon.
Just when I thought I was done I remembered I forgot to do my math homework. I really hate it when stuff like that happens. Overall I'd only give this book a 3 star rating
July 1, 2012
A cute story of a boy who learns how to live when he believes he is about to die. Martin Boyle has been raised by a germophobic, generally paranoid mom. His dad is frequently absent due to work and he has a sister. Each year they visit the family graves which are on the land owned by his survivalist uncle and aunt. During his visit when he is 13 years old, he realizes that each Martin Boyle dies the same time that the next Martin Boyle is born. His aunt is pregnant with a boy, who will be named Martin Boyle. Martin realizes that he has only months to live. With the help of a new friend, he comes to believe during this time, he can't die so he goes on to pursue his life's desires and try to break the family curse.
Things that may bother people: His uncle tells the tale of killing a deer. His aunt describes killing a chicken and is told to be skinning a rabbit at one point. So, if you have a little one with a pet bunny, this may be horrific. There is also a poop joke due to the eating of many prunes.
Things that may bother people: His uncle tells the tale of killing a deer. His aunt describes killing a chicken and is told to be skinning a rabbit at one point. So, if you have a little one with a pet bunny, this may be horrific. There is also a poop joke due to the eating of many prunes.
June 6, 2011
Fun book, though I think it's a little dark for my 7 and 5 year-olds. Probably best suited for the 8-13 crowd.
The Last Martin is the story of a young boy who comes to the realization that his name is cursed. He enlists his best friend, a homeless boy who lives in his backyard and the most popular girl in school to help him break the pattern of death among those who have shared his name. I loved the characters, including Martin's overbearing mother and father whose primary interest is reenacting Civil War battles.
Overall, a good read and one that I will hand off to my boys when they get a little older.
The Last Martin is the story of a young boy who comes to the realization that his name is cursed. He enlists his best friend, a homeless boy who lives in his backyard and the most popular girl in school to help him break the pattern of death among those who have shared his name. I loved the characters, including Martin's overbearing mother and father whose primary interest is reenacting Civil War battles.
Overall, a good read and one that I will hand off to my boys when they get a little older.
October 19, 2025
Mostly cute!
Dislike:
He is MASSIVELY disrespectful to his mom, who (yes) is a worrier since he died as a baby and they resuscitated him.
He worships his dad who keeps abandoning them.
Page 14: His dad forces them to go to cemetery and touch his ancestor’s headstones every year.
The kids beg him not to make them go.
"Do you hear them, Gavin? The children are terrified and for good reason. They understand that cemeteries are breeding grounds for germs and -"
"No." Dad stands, and his eyes flash. "We will all go — Lani, without your attitude; Martin, without your fantasy books; and please, Elaina — without your paranoia."
That’s abusive. The dad is abusive.
Page 16: “Cripes. The barn owl. Maybe it wasn’t kind of Lani to nickname Mom after a carnivore who feeds on mice, but so be it.”
Page 23: He’s in a school bus blown tire and the personal safety vest his mom bought him at his request goes off.
“My son needs me!”
The firefighter says: “Your mom looks pretty upset.”
“Not really. She lives for disasters.”
“Stuck?” The barn owl screeches at a policeman. “My son is not stuck — I see him!”
Page 24: “She’s a piece of work,” the fireman says about the Mom to the Son.
Everyone constantly insults this poor woman who bends over backwards to keep everyone safe and to accommodate her son’s mental health problems.
Page 27: Teenage boy main character says: I'm not mad at him - don't know that I have it in me. My stomach turns because of Mom. She's the one who kept me home. She's the one who's lost it. Mom is the one with crazy juice that surges through her brain and yanks her into an alternate paranoid universe. And it's not enough for her to live there alone; now she's injected the poison into Lani and me.”
The mom does everything in her power to protect, comfort, and accommodate everyone — and her little daughter insults her, her son disrespects her, the fireman disrespects her, her useless husband who keeps disappearing (abandoning her alone with the kids for unspecified amounts of time) keeps popping back in to insult her, demand the kids do something they’re terrified of, and bully the entire household into submission.
I can’t handle the cruelty
Thankfully, this book was never checked out from our church library in the 14 years it was here. Cull
Dislike:
He is MASSIVELY disrespectful to his mom, who (yes) is a worrier since he died as a baby and they resuscitated him.
He worships his dad who keeps abandoning them.
Page 14: His dad forces them to go to cemetery and touch his ancestor’s headstones every year.
The kids beg him not to make them go.
"Do you hear them, Gavin? The children are terrified and for good reason. They understand that cemeteries are breeding grounds for germs and -"
"No." Dad stands, and his eyes flash. "We will all go — Lani, without your attitude; Martin, without your fantasy books; and please, Elaina — without your paranoia."
That’s abusive. The dad is abusive.
Page 16: “Cripes. The barn owl. Maybe it wasn’t kind of Lani to nickname Mom after a carnivore who feeds on mice, but so be it.”
Page 23: He’s in a school bus blown tire and the personal safety vest his mom bought him at his request goes off.
“My son needs me!”
The firefighter says: “Your mom looks pretty upset.”
“Not really. She lives for disasters.”
“Stuck?” The barn owl screeches at a policeman. “My son is not stuck — I see him!”
Page 24: “She’s a piece of work,” the fireman says about the Mom to the Son.
Everyone constantly insults this poor woman who bends over backwards to keep everyone safe and to accommodate her son’s mental health problems.
Page 27: Teenage boy main character says: I'm not mad at him - don't know that I have it in me. My stomach turns because of Mom. She's the one who kept me home. She's the one who's lost it. Mom is the one with crazy juice that surges through her brain and yanks her into an alternate paranoid universe. And it's not enough for her to live there alone; now she's injected the poison into Lani and me.”
The mom does everything in her power to protect, comfort, and accommodate everyone — and her little daughter insults her, her son disrespects her, the fireman disrespects her, her useless husband who keeps disappearing (abandoning her alone with the kids for unspecified amounts of time) keeps popping back in to insult her, demand the kids do something they’re terrified of, and bully the entire household into submission.
I can’t handle the cruelty
Thankfully, this book was never checked out from our church library in the 14 years it was here. Cull
Read
December 2, 2021One of my childhood favorites, but I'm so sad to report that it didn't age well. I love the premise/concept/story/characters, but the writing style is rough and definitely could stand a second edition with updated language and edits for clarity :/
August 20, 2019
Really loved this book. Great story and superb writing. As another reviewer said, characters are blown out of proportion in their weirdness but I actually thought that just made it better.
May 4, 2020
didn’t reach my expectations but that’s okay.
March 6, 2023
Not sure about the ending!
August 30, 2025
fun story. loved the fort snelling connection
September 22, 2016
I won a copy of The Last Martin in a Goodreads giveaway WAY back in November, and it's taken me this long to read the book and get around to writing a review. Hopefully, late is better than never in this case.
Martin Boyle has issues. His mother puts the "OH" in OCD. His father is a little too wrapped up in military reenactments and family history. His little sister--well, she's a sister. He has a strange orphan boy living in a boxcar behind his house. The girl for whom he pines hardly notices him, and he's wanted by the gym teacher for immediate execution of sentence--"The Treatment." Then there is the curse. "There's only one Martin," so the saying goes in the Martin clan, and his soon-to-be-born cousin has already been guaranteed that appellation as well. Martin, it seems, only has eight weeks to live.
On a visit to his uncle's rain-soaked farm, Martin discovers in the family cemetery that the birth date of one Martin Boyle eerily coincides with the date of death of the previous Martin Boyle. The arrival of the next Martin Boyle is only weeks away as is, he concludes, his own untimely demise. The tale that proceeds from this conundrum of Martin's is quite a ride. Martin reaches out to his few friends to help him find a way out of this curse that he fears will end his short life upon the birth of his cousin. In the process, Martin learns the meaning of the adage that "there is none freer than he who has nothing to lose." While steeling himself for his death, Martin learns what it means to live.
The author has created a compelling and funny story filled with cleverly bizarre characters. There are no two-dimensional characters in this book. Even the few characters that appear only briefly have depth to them. They are all uniquely odd, and each has their own special effect on Martin and his predicament. Written for young readers, The Last Martin is perfect for kids around the early teen years, give or take a year or two. Younger children may find it a little too dark in places. It is a great story that carries the reader through Martin's moments of discovery--moments that many his age also face.
I received my advanced reading copy of The Last Martin from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway as an incentive for an honest review.
Martin Boyle has issues. His mother puts the "OH" in OCD. His father is a little too wrapped up in military reenactments and family history. His little sister--well, she's a sister. He has a strange orphan boy living in a boxcar behind his house. The girl for whom he pines hardly notices him, and he's wanted by the gym teacher for immediate execution of sentence--"The Treatment." Then there is the curse. "There's only one Martin," so the saying goes in the Martin clan, and his soon-to-be-born cousin has already been guaranteed that appellation as well. Martin, it seems, only has eight weeks to live.
On a visit to his uncle's rain-soaked farm, Martin discovers in the family cemetery that the birth date of one Martin Boyle eerily coincides with the date of death of the previous Martin Boyle. The arrival of the next Martin Boyle is only weeks away as is, he concludes, his own untimely demise. The tale that proceeds from this conundrum of Martin's is quite a ride. Martin reaches out to his few friends to help him find a way out of this curse that he fears will end his short life upon the birth of his cousin. In the process, Martin learns the meaning of the adage that "there is none freer than he who has nothing to lose." While steeling himself for his death, Martin learns what it means to live.
The author has created a compelling and funny story filled with cleverly bizarre characters. There are no two-dimensional characters in this book. Even the few characters that appear only briefly have depth to them. They are all uniquely odd, and each has their own special effect on Martin and his predicament. Written for young readers, The Last Martin is perfect for kids around the early teen years, give or take a year or two. Younger children may find it a little too dark in places. It is a great story that carries the reader through Martin's moments of discovery--moments that many his age also face.
I received my advanced reading copy of The Last Martin from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway as an incentive for an honest review.
December 15, 2011
What if you discovered you only had three months to live? And what if you were also guaranteed safe for the full three months, no matter how recklessly you lived? How would you spend your time?
That’s the scenario Martin faces. Martin Boyle, from a long line of Martin Boyles. He’s always been a timid germophobe, afraid to try anything daring or even slightly dangerous, protected by his even more crazily phobic mom. She sees danger in everything, but now Martin knows he’s safe from all danger for the next three months.
And then he'll die, when his nephew is born and becomes the next Martin Boyle. Because, thanks to his dad’s obsession with the past and spending all his time reenacting old wars, Martin has discovered his family is cursed: the tradition is to name all first-born male Boyles “Martin,” and there will always be one living Martin but there can only ever be one Martin alive at a time. The family cemetery proves it. When Martin’s aunt gives birth, his time is up.
So Martin has three months to live without fear, except he only has that long to solve the mystery of the family curse and figure out how to break it. And he has to do it while dealing with one of the oddest families ever.
I had a bit of trouble getting into this one because Martin’s family and their dynamics are so odd that it took me a little while to figure out just what was going on, but after that I was hooked and finished it in one sitting. It’s quickly paced with plenty of action and offers a lot of substance to ponder.
That’s the scenario Martin faces. Martin Boyle, from a long line of Martin Boyles. He’s always been a timid germophobe, afraid to try anything daring or even slightly dangerous, protected by his even more crazily phobic mom. She sees danger in everything, but now Martin knows he’s safe from all danger for the next three months.
And then he'll die, when his nephew is born and becomes the next Martin Boyle. Because, thanks to his dad’s obsession with the past and spending all his time reenacting old wars, Martin has discovered his family is cursed: the tradition is to name all first-born male Boyles “Martin,” and there will always be one living Martin but there can only ever be one Martin alive at a time. The family cemetery proves it. When Martin’s aunt gives birth, his time is up.
So Martin has three months to live without fear, except he only has that long to solve the mystery of the family curse and figure out how to break it. And he has to do it while dealing with one of the oddest families ever.
I had a bit of trouble getting into this one because Martin’s family and their dynamics are so odd that it took me a little while to figure out just what was going on, but after that I was hooked and finished it in one sitting. It’s quickly paced with plenty of action and offers a lot of substance to ponder.
August 17, 2015
I like mysterious type books. This one was about a boy named Martin that discovers at the age of 13 that when another Martin is born into the family, the other Martin dies and in a couple of months his aunt would be giving birth to a baby boy named Martin.
The book had potential, but many of the characters were overblown in their strangeness. The mother who must cleanse everyone of germs and ring a bell when the trains pass. The father, a reenactor who disappears for days on end and lives in a different part of the house, the boy who lives in the boxcar that bisects the yard and in other places in the city, and last but not least the aunt and uncle that live 'rustically' and do all their own hunting and growing and clean animals for eating in the house. All are blown out of proportion in their characterization. Then there is Martin who knows he must die and cannot get anyone to believe him. The only good part of the story is that he changes into a normal 13 year old or as normal as he can become with his family. His friend in the boxcar, the girl he likes in school and his old friend, Charlie, who is very dense all work to find out why the Martins die.
The resolution was okay, but the fact that Martins had died for years since the 1820s on, when a new Martin is born and no one else in the family recognizes the pattern. For almost 200 years? Or why each Martin must die.
I understand why this was on a huge pile of the same book, on sale, at Goodwill.
The book had potential, but many of the characters were overblown in their strangeness. The mother who must cleanse everyone of germs and ring a bell when the trains pass. The father, a reenactor who disappears for days on end and lives in a different part of the house, the boy who lives in the boxcar that bisects the yard and in other places in the city, and last but not least the aunt and uncle that live 'rustically' and do all their own hunting and growing and clean animals for eating in the house. All are blown out of proportion in their characterization. Then there is Martin who knows he must die and cannot get anyone to believe him. The only good part of the story is that he changes into a normal 13 year old or as normal as he can become with his family. His friend in the boxcar, the girl he likes in school and his old friend, Charlie, who is very dense all work to find out why the Martins die.
The resolution was okay, but the fact that Martins had died for years since the 1820s on, when a new Martin is born and no one else in the family recognizes the pattern. For almost 200 years? Or why each Martin must die.
I understand why this was on a huge pile of the same book, on sale, at Goodwill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2011
With a deft turn of phrase, Jonathan Friesen begins the story of a 13 year old boy beginning a new phase in his life. As an exploration of a young man's maturation, and as a contemporary young adult fantasy, this book captivates and enlightens as it entertains. At the core of the book is Martin Boyle and his anxiety over not just school, girls, popularity, and gym class, but also breaking away from the overprotectiveness of his mother.
Friesen's direct writing style and imaginative story line deal with the difficult concept of death in a manner that is direct but manageable for those not inured to it. Death is often symbolic of rebirth. In this case, Martin's rebirth is in the form of taking control of his own life in order to overcome a curse on his name which will cause his death. Only by reversing the curse can he be reborn as a slightly risk taking teenager who can talk to girls and does not mind a bit of dirt.
At times, the reality seems slightly unreal; from Martin's uncle living a caricature of a back-country hillbilly lifestyle, to Martin being able to withdraw a large amount from a college fund surprisingly sizable considering his mother works at a library, and his father appears unemployed. However, these concerns need not necessarily be dealt with in a fantasy novel, and will likely be overlooked by a youngster entranced in Martin's plight.
Friesen's direct writing style and imaginative story line deal with the difficult concept of death in a manner that is direct but manageable for those not inured to it. Death is often symbolic of rebirth. In this case, Martin's rebirth is in the form of taking control of his own life in order to overcome a curse on his name which will cause his death. Only by reversing the curse can he be reborn as a slightly risk taking teenager who can talk to girls and does not mind a bit of dirt.
At times, the reality seems slightly unreal; from Martin's uncle living a caricature of a back-country hillbilly lifestyle, to Martin being able to withdraw a large amount from a college fund surprisingly sizable considering his mother works at a library, and his father appears unemployed. However, these concerns need not necessarily be dealt with in a fantasy novel, and will likely be overlooked by a youngster entranced in Martin's plight.
December 19, 2011
Martin Boyle. There is only one Martin Boyle and there always will be. Martin Boyle is 13 and has an overprotective mom that is also a germaphobic, an annoying sister, and a dad that is into civil war reanactments. Martin and his family went to a graveyard full of dead Martin Boyles. The years are close in death and next Martin's birth. Martin found out he is doomed he will die when his cousin is born. Then one day when Martin was painting the boxcar a stange kid came out and said he lived in the boxcar his name Poole. Poole was living in the boxcar. He was homeless. When Martin told Poole about the whole death thing, Poole made Martin play baseball but during the baseball thing he got bruises because he was hit to hard. when Martins mother found out she was screaming and taking pictures of his bruised body parts and hanging them around for when the cop came to see if it counted as an asult. Later when Martin told his friend about it his friend and Poole wondered if they could date Juila, a girl he had a crush on. When Martin had the guts he showed Juila a story and almost instantly fell in love with him. She drew pictures to go with his knight story. Later all the kids worked to help Martin solve the curse. Martin was saved! I think this is a awesome book. If you are into comidy/romance/action this is the perfect book for you.
January 15, 2014
The Last Martinis a very interesting book about a boy named martin. He finds out that there is a curse in his family that says there can only be one martin. His aunt is having a baby whose name is going to be martin. This means that as soon as the baby is born Martin (the live one) will die. He tries to break the curse but he can feel himself getting weaker as the baby gets closer and closer to birth. It is a great book about friendship and determination because his friends stick with him even though they don't believe him at first. I enjoyed reading it because there was some fantasy involved but other than that it sounded realistic. Some of the parts made me laugh because one of the people helping him was a poor guy who looked after the local baseball stadium and he helped martin finish some parts of his bucket list because he thought he was not going to be able to break the curse. I read this book before it was published but it stuck with me for a long time. It is a unique book and one that will stick you for a long time. I enjoyed reading it very much because it included some problems that kids my age are facing. I related to the book personally but you don't have to be a kid to read it.
July 1, 2011
Martin Boyle has a problem. Actually, he has two. The first he can do something about: his overly protective mother, who insists he wear a portable airbag on the school bus, who sprays antibacterial lotion on everything, and who has the well-deserved nickname "The Barn Owl". His other problem is that there's a family tradition/curse, wherein there can only be one Martin Boyle - when a new one is born, the old one dies. His aunt is pregnant with yet another Martin Boyle, limiting the current Martin's lifespan.
Martin's father is a historical reenactor, living in the 1800s in a fort a few hours away from their home. The first Martin, the cursed one, helped save the fort when it was first built, and the current Martin is convinced that somehow he can, with his father's help. Along the way he makes friends with Julia and Poole, learns to fun hurdles, stops his overly protective mother from continuing to send him to Dr. Death, and becomes a normal teenage boy.
Middle grade boys will really enjoy this book, particularly as they move from being a boy to being a teen.
ARC provided by publisher.
Martin's father is a historical reenactor, living in the 1800s in a fort a few hours away from their home. The first Martin, the cursed one, helped save the fort when it was first built, and the current Martin is convinced that somehow he can, with his father's help. Along the way he makes friends with Julia and Poole, learns to fun hurdles, stops his overly protective mother from continuing to send him to Dr. Death, and becomes a normal teenage boy.
Middle grade boys will really enjoy this book, particularly as they move from being a boy to being a teen.
ARC provided by publisher.
June 3, 2011
I was lucky enough to win this book from goodreads. There's always a Martin. One Martin. Martin Boyle already has plenty to worry about. His germaphobic mother keeps him home from school if she hears so much as a sneeze, and his father is always off somewhere reenacting old war battles. Julia, the most beautiful girl in school, won't even speak to Martin, and the gym teacher is officially out to get him. Which is why Martin really doesn't need this curse hanging over his head. On a trip to the family cemetery, Martin wanders among the tombstones of his ancestors and discovers a disturbing pattern: when one Martin is born, the previous Martin dies. And---just his luck---Martin's aunt is about to give birth to a baby boy, who will, according to tradition, be named Martin. Martin must find a way to break the curse, but every clue seems to lead to a dead end. And time is running out.
A hard book to get into but by the time I got to the middle I started to enjoy the book. I hope to pass it on to my nephew and see what he thinks of the book.
A hard book to get into but by the time I got to the middle I started to enjoy the book. I hope to pass it on to my nephew and see what he thinks of the book.
May 10, 2011
I received this book from a good reads contest.
There is a tradition in Martin Boyle’s family that the first son born is named, Martin. Martin’s family
isn’t normal. His father reenacts war battles, his mother is obsessed with germs and makes sure the rest
of her family is sanitized, and his sister is a little bit like her mom but not at the same extent. When the
family visits some of relatives in the country, Martin realizes at the cemetery that when one Martin is
born the other one dies. Since his cousin is going to have a baby boy, Martin realizes that he will be the
next to die.
Martin’s mom provided a lot of comedy. Martin has spent his life trying to appease his mom’s
tendencies to fight germs and over protectiveness. There are several instances in the book that had me
laughing out loud.
With the help of Poole, Martin realizes he needs to do what he wants to do. Martin also writes his own
fantasy story that becomes beneficial to him in the book.
I gave this four stars.
There is a tradition in Martin Boyle’s family that the first son born is named, Martin. Martin’s family
isn’t normal. His father reenacts war battles, his mother is obsessed with germs and makes sure the rest
of her family is sanitized, and his sister is a little bit like her mom but not at the same extent. When the
family visits some of relatives in the country, Martin realizes at the cemetery that when one Martin is
born the other one dies. Since his cousin is going to have a baby boy, Martin realizes that he will be the
next to die.
Martin’s mom provided a lot of comedy. Martin has spent his life trying to appease his mom’s
tendencies to fight germs and over protectiveness. There are several instances in the book that had me
laughing out loud.
With the help of Poole, Martin realizes he needs to do what he wants to do. Martin also writes his own
fantasy story that becomes beneficial to him in the book.
I gave this four stars.
July 14, 2011
Martin has lived a very protected life. His mother is a germaphobe and thus makes sure that Martin isn't subjected to germs by touching anything without the hand sanitizer nearby. He isn't allowed to climb trees, build forts, or even ride a bike for fear that danger will befall him. But all that changes when Martin realizes that when his newest cousin is born, a little boy, that his life will come to a screeching halt because of a family curse. Only then does Martin really begin to live.
This is a book that lots of tweens will enjoy reading. Martin's friends are an unusual but also realistic cast of characters that join him in his quest to end the curse that plagues him. His mom is over the top but, that just makes the story funnier
Continue reading on Examiner.com Book review: 'The Last Martin' by Jonathan Friesen - San Francisco fiction | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fiction-in-sa...
February 14, 2012
I received this book as a free giveaway through Goodreads.
What if you found out that your name was cursed? That when someone with your exact name was born, you would die? What if every first born male child in your family had that exact name? Welcome to the cursed life of Martin Boyle.
Martin has a mom who is a germaphobe, a dad who is a revolutionary war re-enactor as a full-time job, and a little sister who is a smart aleck. His best friend is using him to get to know a girl that Martin has had a crush on forever, and she doesn't even know he exists. But all things considered, Martin is still attached to his life, so when he finds out about his curse and that in 3 months time his uncle will be having a son who he will name Martin, he jumps into action to save his own life!
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be checking out Friesen's other books!
What if you found out that your name was cursed? That when someone with your exact name was born, you would die? What if every first born male child in your family had that exact name? Welcome to the cursed life of Martin Boyle.
Martin has a mom who is a germaphobe, a dad who is a revolutionary war re-enactor as a full-time job, and a little sister who is a smart aleck. His best friend is using him to get to know a girl that Martin has had a crush on forever, and she doesn't even know he exists. But all things considered, Martin is still attached to his life, so when he finds out about his curse and that in 3 months time his uncle will be having a son who he will name Martin, he jumps into action to save his own life!
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be checking out Friesen's other books!
September 19, 2016
If your young person is tired of reading the same, ordinary kinds of literary material; if he is bored of being able to predict what will happen in stories he reads, then THIS book is the one for you, or him!!! With a glimpse of history, adventure, comedy, romance, and drama, this brilliant story-within-a-story will keep you on your toes.
I had no idea what was going to happen from one moment to the next, but I was not anxious to reach the end to find out. Every part was worth soaking up. I was left interested and curious all along the way.
The Last Martin is a quirky and eccentric work, with interesting word usage, and a surprisingly pleasing and different storyline.
A lesson on gratitude curved out of humor kept me rolling in giggles and guffaws in this book where reality and fantasy collide. Check it out; it is unique and quite enjoyable.
I had no idea what was going to happen from one moment to the next, but I was not anxious to reach the end to find out. Every part was worth soaking up. I was left interested and curious all along the way.
The Last Martin is a quirky and eccentric work, with interesting word usage, and a surprisingly pleasing and different storyline.
A lesson on gratitude curved out of humor kept me rolling in giggles and guffaws in this book where reality and fantasy collide. Check it out; it is unique and quite enjoyable.
July 13, 2011
His name is Martin Boyle. While his father spends all his time at war reenactments; his mother spends all her time making sure no germs enter the family life. After all, Martin was born dead - his life now a miracle. Each year his father insists on going to the family cemetery to honor the fallen members of the Boyle family. Repeatedly, Martin hears "There shall only be one Martin". But his Aunt Jenny is pregnant and they know it is a Boyle who will be named Martin. This Martin has to figure out what the phrase means, and also learns a little bit about living too.
This is a great Middle Grade book. The writing is well-done, the pacing is excellent. Friesen has created an enjoyable tale with interesting subplots and lively characters.
This is a great Middle Grade book. The writing is well-done, the pacing is excellent. Friesen has created an enjoyable tale with interesting subplots and lively characters.
July 17, 2013
We were lucky to receive this book due to the Goodreads giveaways.
This book has some good concepts. Overall it was a cute story but some of the animal scenes were just too brutal and I would think twice about letting my kids read this book.
I also was not crazy about the end where he destroys a historical landmark. I don't think that is something I would want my children to read by themselves. I think the ending could have been stronger and tied together the good lessons that the book offered at other points.
I think it is a great book to teach children they can break away from overprotective germ obsessed parents. I have seen some of those parents and the miserable children they produce.
This book has some good concepts. Overall it was a cute story but some of the animal scenes were just too brutal and I would think twice about letting my kids read this book.
I also was not crazy about the end where he destroys a historical landmark. I don't think that is something I would want my children to read by themselves. I think the ending could have been stronger and tied together the good lessons that the book offered at other points.
I think it is a great book to teach children they can break away from overprotective germ obsessed parents. I have seen some of those parents and the miserable children they produce.
July 29, 2012
I received this ARC as a part of the Goodreads giveaways promotion.
I had a bit of trouble with the beginning of this book, usually I don't mind just being thrown into the story, but in this case it kind of made me feel like I'd missed a chapter. A bit more character development in regards to the mother and Poole would've been been especially helpful. Also, I have to say that I did find the black knight story somewhat obtrusive. Not that I don't think it added to the storyline, but I just feel like the story within a story concept needed a touch more polish. All in all, I think it was a good book, with a very engaging story.
I had a bit of trouble with the beginning of this book, usually I don't mind just being thrown into the story, but in this case it kind of made me feel like I'd missed a chapter. A bit more character development in regards to the mother and Poole would've been been especially helpful. Also, I have to say that I did find the black knight story somewhat obtrusive. Not that I don't think it added to the storyline, but I just feel like the story within a story concept needed a touch more polish. All in all, I think it was a good book, with a very engaging story.
January 14, 2012
I received this book through good reads give aways- let me be the first to say... I know what ur thinking. I mean just look at the cover !!! NOW- just ignore the cover and read the first 5 pages. That's right- you weren't expecting to hear the inner thoughts of the most hilarious, witty young boy that in hearts, one way or another - somehow relate to. This book was an absolute gem. To the author Jonathan Friesen: Don't stop writing. do not give up hope. You are absolutely amazing. If your books end up at some store front I would in a heart beat wait in line to meet you, shake your hand and say "Thanks." Thanks for the amazing read, the amazing adventure, and the laughs in between.
December 31, 2013
What a fantastic book! I really enjoyed this adventure, the lesson weaved seamlessly throughout the plot, and the awesome characters. I will definitely be following this author and read other books he's written.
Basically, there is only one Martin...ever. When the only living Martin discovers his nephew will be born in a few months, and that his name is cursed, meaning he will die when the new Martin lives, he is on a quest to break the curse.
I won't give away any more info.
You just have to pick this one up for yourself.
A great read! I enjoyed it from page one and absolutely loved the end!
Basically, there is only one Martin...ever. When the only living Martin discovers his nephew will be born in a few months, and that his name is cursed, meaning he will die when the new Martin lives, he is on a quest to break the curse.
I won't give away any more info.
You just have to pick this one up for yourself.
A great read! I enjoyed it from page one and absolutely loved the end!
June 14, 2011
I'm really liking this book. It is charming and reminds me of Hoot in a way. There is an interesting and dynamic 'vagrant' character (Poole - Last Martin and Mullet Fingers in Hoot) which helps a lonely main character (Martin - Last Martin and Roy in Hoot) conect with more. The plots are not similar and the characters don't feel like copies or imitations, but the quality of the writing and the feel of the two books link them in my mind. The Last Martin should definitely be on your reading list this summer.
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