You Keep Thinking It: Jake, Donny and Dibs

by Michael Dymond

You Keep Thinking It, by Michael W Dymond, is a charming coming of age story set in a small Canadian City, Chatham in 1963.



It follows the day-to-day experiences of our protagonist, fourteen-year-old, Jake Barnes during a summer of personal growth and changes related to friendship, family, girls, and school. If you grew up in a small town, you will enjoy being transported to the not-so-distant past where young adolescents found ways to entertain themselves including trips to the local parks, playing catch, and enjoying the odd game of Monopoly! It definitely makes one wistful for those carefree, technology-free days where young people found their own ways to while away summer hours.



Part of the charm of You Keeps Thinking It involves Jake's attempts to deal with issues including a growing attraction to the opposite sex, his evolving relationship with his sister, his friendships, and his desire to become more independent. We follow Jake as he searches for what everyone else is searching for...the universal desire for acceptance.



There are a couple of very memorable scenes in the book related to Jake's interactions with members of the opposite sex.



If you are looking for a delightful nostalgic read, that will transport you back to a simpler time where young people struggle with age-old adolescent issues without the assistance of a Google search or kids Help Line, this may be a book for you.

646 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2022

Reviews

[Anthony Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Keep Thinking It is so much fun to read and full of excitement. Definitely a masterpiece on its own. The book’s plot line is simple yet filled with exciting events that would have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. This one alone could surely create an interest in its readers. It’s one that is hard to put down. Life-changing lessons await packed with a great story.

Jake, Dibs, and Donny are young boys who grew up in a small Canadian City. They encounter different challenges in their lives, and in their friendship. But these do not stop them from achieving their goals.

Too many teens encounter challenges, become easily devastated and eventually give up. They’re raised to believe that hardships in life make them weak, and that life is a series of compromises and tradeoffs – but that cycle can end with you. Empowered youth, empower youth. The story of Jake is an example of how to grow up to become the best version of ourselves we can be – mentally and emotionally strong youth.

[Ronald Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Keep Thinking It is a captivating and heartwarming book that explores the power of friendship and good parenting. The story of young boys who make their town an exciting place to live in is a unique and refreshing perspective that is sure to entertain and engage readers.

The character development of Jake, Donny, and Dibs seems to be a highlight of the book, as readers witness their growth and the evolution of their relationships with one another. Despite the occasional disagreements and misunderstandings, their bond remains strong, reminding readers of the importance of loyalty and forgiveness in friendships.

The book's ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia is also a testament to its effectiveness in storytelling. The book has left me with a lasting impression.


Overall, it seems that You Keep Thinking It is a book that is well worth reading for its memorable characters, compelling story, and timeless values.

[Aaron Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best true-to-life story books I’ve read so far. I never expected the amazing narration through a 1st-person POV as Jake, the main character, tells his childhood memories and his struggle to become an adult.
Michael surely knows how to be a teen. His plotline is rich with a 1960s vibe that makes one wistful of tech-free days. Good parenting was also fostered in this book and how their parents address the issue of sibling rivalry.

In totality, you don’t have to be a Consciousness Revolution generation person in order to appreciate this book. If you love a story that is peppered with just an ounce of trigger warning such as little swearing, this book is for you. As teens, I believe, it is suitable for them to learn the arrogance of profanity to give them lessons in life and not fall on the same mistake as Jake and his friends did. Aside from Jake, Dibs was an interesting character with a lot of words of wisdom to share. This book brings nostalgic memories of the 1960s.

[Steven Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Keep Thinking It is a fantastic read. Even if there were parts that didn’t have me as engrossed as others, that point stands.

The tidy ending makes the 500-plus-page book worthwhile to read. Despite its length, I never intended to skip through the pages. I read this work like someone thirsting for water after days in the desert sun—voraciously ingesting the pages as quickly as I could to reach the stunning climaxes and resolution. I cannot recommend Michael’s expertly publication highly enough to all fans of lighthearted books designed for young adults. It’s a lot of fun, page-turning, an exceptional book that will leave you breathless - both in the written word and emotionally.

It has a total of 49 chapters. Each chapter is beautifully crafted in a way that the narration provides just the right thrill and excitement to the readers. This book is one that I’m going to recommend to all fans of teen adventure.

[Mark Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Keep Thinking It is a delightful story of a group of boys, Jake, Donny, and Dibs, who lived in a small Canadian City, Chatham.

Back in the 1960s, technology was scarce and You Keep Thinking It provides a wonderful tale of how life was lived before. Seen from Jake's point of view, he introduced the interesting and fun activities that teens do. These include dealing with issues such as how they get attracted to the opposite sex, the rivalry between siblings, friendship, and the sense of belongingness.

A simple, nothing fancy book but with a lot of lessons to learn. Perhaps if you belong to the Consciousness Revolution generation, if you know what I’m saying, you’ll probably enjoy this book as much as I do. Albeit, this book is also great for Millennials and Generation Z. Highly recommended!

[Brian Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best thing about Michael Dymond’s You Keep Thinking It is it's magically creative words that are more than just words in black and white. He bares his heart and soul in crafting this wonderfully crafted book made for teens and young at heart. Reading this book is like watching a movie, he takes us there to that magical moment of place in time in every line and ending as he began. He is totally gifted with words and expressing his thoughts through a first-person point of view, You Keep Thinking It is definitely a must-have.

I had a lot of fun reading about Jake's struggle to feel accepted in society, and together with his two friends, they made a remarkable journey in their lives even at their young age. Charged with youthfulness and wholesomeness, this book is worth every moment of your time.

[Kevin Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always believed that a book is an outer manifestation of its writer’s innermost being, and You Keep Thinking It perfectly lives up to this saying. Michael, the author, pours out his whole heart into writing this masterpiece and it truly shows in the way his words and his protagonist’s journey held so much impact.

Jake’s life journey in an era of pre-cutting edge technologies, he must confront his fears, and the struggle to feel accepted at school are a few highlights of the book that’s a must-read. Luckily, Jake is surrounded by a wonderful group of people who made his life wonderful despite the odds. This book beautifully depicted the beauty of life in the 1960s just right after the World Wars when peace was trying to find its place in the world. Jake, Donny, and Dibs made the simple life of Chatham memorable.

[Kenneth Sandoval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised! Friendship is important in life. This book epitomized friendship where one learns to love someone other than family members. In addition, it also teaches how to be yourself in front of others. You Keep Thinking It is surely a book that gives enough lessons about friendship that even adults could learn. Teens will be able to learn how to balance school stuff and non-school stuff.

Although You Keep Thinking It is set in the 1960s, it portrays how the problems of teens before and today are not that different. Jake for one struggles to balance reading comics and studying. This depicts how their academic performance is also being affected by non-school stuff.

What compelled me to rate this 5-star is its delivery of the plot. It was delivered in the most lighthearted way. It makes teens and parents bond together and talk about life.

[Paul Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enthralling, captivating and engaging book to read. It’s a whole new experience to learn about a story of young boys who made their town an exciting one to live in.

One of the best values this book has tackled was the power of friendship and good parenting. Despite sibling rivalry, Jake becomes a beautifully crafted character. While Donny and Dibs are becoming more and more exciting to read as the story progresses. There were a few common misunderstandings and their fight was also becoming intense as they exchanged angry words and swearing. They fight and makeup, and just like that, never a day becomes uninteresting when the boys are together.

Overall, You Keep Thinking It is one that I would read again in a few months and still be continually enthralled. Kudos Michael for giving us a great nostalgic story.

[Barbara Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Keep Thinking It kept me stuck with the pages the whole time wanting to know what happened next. A profound and engaging book to learn about life without the stain of technology.

Three childhood friends are about to enter their early adult life. Their differences, and diversified personalities brought them closer together as they tried to face new challenges in their lives. They turned out to be each other’s strengths during bad times. At the end of the story, they all find each other to be living the best of their lives despite their arguments and misunderstandings.

In general, the author did a great job of narrating the story through the eyes of Jake. I believe the way the book is narrated in a first-person point of view is so suitable that it completely draws out a perspective that is inside of a teenager’s mind. I had so much fun reading this book.

[Julie Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undoubtedly a masterpiece. Thanks to the author’s ingenuity, he made the ordinary people in the story look interesting. Moreover, I was totally surprised at how he could also make an ordinary day special.

Together with this group of boys of a generation where social media are not yet a thing, you’ll be amazed at how they could do something silly and fun at the same time. One of the book’s highlights is coming of age, and how these young boys try to fit into early adulthood life. Growing an attraction to the opposite sex, the curiosity of the birds and the bees, trips to local parks, playing catch, reading comics, enjoying the odd game of Monopoly, and more, definitely makes one nostalgic for social media-free days.

I’m sure young people and once young people would enjoy this book.

[Jerry Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading You Keep Thinking It was an enriching experience following the life of Jake and his friends.

Playing Monopoly, taking trips to local parks, catching girls, and reading comics were just a few of the things to do during the 1960s. The humor and the gravity of peer pressure growing up as a teenager is really tangible in this one. You Keep Thinking It is a great book for Millennials and Generation Z for them to be taken back in time and learn wonderful things during the time of technology-free days. Meeting new faces, exploring friendships, and growing an attraction to the opposite sex make this book simple yet captivating.

I never get tired of reading about the simple and ordinary experiences they had back then. This book has taught me a lot of lessons and to be thankful to those people who helped us in our personal growth.

[Jack Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never expected that You Keep Thinking It could be so much fun and entertaining to read. For one, I’m not actually a fan of this kind of genre, but when I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. I wholly enjoyed Jake, Dibs, and Donny’s time together as they explore their early adulthood life. Their friendship and little arguments made this book so much more believable and relatable.

The 1960s is an era of fun and adventure. It’s the time of celebration for peace, and the time for economic growth. This is also the time when kids of those days enjoy the simple game of Monopoly. I totally enjoyed every page, and I was very happy to have read such a delightful, sweet, and heartwarming book. There’s a little bit of swearing but not so much that it takes away from the reading experience.

[Patrick Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly readable coming-of-age story set in an era of technology-free days.
It follows the daily life experiences of these 3 boys namely, Jake, Donny, and Dibs as they encounter different challenges in life as they grow into an adult. Monopoly, comic books, trips to local parts, getting to know their opposite sex, and friendship arguments makes the tale more believable and tangible.

Michael’s characters are plausible and dynamic which would have you rooting for them to succeed or fail. With the fresh cultural information in the 1960s which the novel is set, the book details a lot of things that would definitely leave you feeling satiated. This is without a doubt a must-read that will appeal to kids, teens, and parents. You’d really be taken to a place of new cultures with this read.

[Charles Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fascinating read for me. I just happened to pick this one up because it looked interesting, and I can’t tell you how happy I am that I decided to read it. The way the narrative began and finished, despite its length, was so suitable that I found myself staring at the wall, pondering what I had just read and the lessons it had taught me.

I didn’t feel like I was reading, I felt like I was there, at that right place and moment in time. Very well done.

Jake’s narration as a teen going into adulthood and the issues he needs to face such as growing attraction to the opposite sex, sibling rivalry, and his desire to become more independent and be accepted is both deep and long.

In every regard, this is a huge book. It’s fantastic to read something that is both deep and lonely, and I greatly recommend You Keep Thinking It for each of the five stars.

[Helen Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that would give you nostalgia for a pre-technology period, look no further.

I’m sure you’ll love how teens struggle to keep their studies because of comics, the challenge of how to be accepted at school, how to win an opposite girl’s heart through a demure conversation, and more. And just when you think you had everything, Michael throws in unexpected twists and turns that grab your attention back to his main character, Jake Barnes.

The tidy ending of the plot gives the denouement it deserves. And even after everything falls into place, the adventure continues. Michael is a fine author and he surely knows how to be a teen. I’m looking forward to more of his masterpieces.

[Christopher Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sibling rivalry is one of the things that I loved so much in this book. Jake and her sister’s rivalry and siblinghood are so much fun to read. I’m sure teens with siblings are going to enjoy this book. They also compete as to whose the focal point of conversation and concern in a family gathering. This also provides insights into how parents should treat their kids to show equal love, attention, and care. As we all know, kids can easily become emotional when left unnoticed even for a short time.

Overall, Michael was able to show his main character’s weaknesses, strengths, goals, and motivation. His characters are well-drawn and dynamic. Reading them gives a wonderful reading experience. This book comes highly recommended by me.

[Daniel Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful book that could transform lives by just reading it.

It brings back the wonderful tradition and good memories of the 1960s. Jake, Donny, and Dibs are a group of childhood friends who grew up in a small Canadian City. Each of their challenges in life growing up as a teen was beautifully drawn out. I had so much fun reading about their little struggles in life, especially the challenge to win a girl’s heart. Not only that, but it also shows how girls ask their opposite sex for dance and the boys' reaction. It gives me a vibe of nostalgia for an era when smartphones are not yet a thing. If you like heartwarming stories that are enough to brighten up your day, I highly suggest reading this one.

[John Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading this youthfully charged novel for kids and teens, I was blown away by the language and storytelling. I wanted to leap into the pages and help Jake fit into society. Through his friendships, and encounters with different people, especially his friends, and families, this is a book that portrays all aspects of being a teenager and coming of age. I had so much fun reading about Jake’s rivalry with his sister about who's going to be the focal point of the family’s attention.

The story’s main character was beautifully woven into the plot to continue a magnificent story that not only tells a story but also teaches readers important life lessons. A remarkable book and highly recommended by many reviewers.

[Jason Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a delightful book.

To anyone who enjoys reading a good youthful book, I challenge you to read the first chapters and not be absolutely enthralled by the writing. Isn’t it impossible not to be enthralled by it? We don’t frequently come across a book with a story that can both move you to your core and stun you with the amazing writing that it contains. A novel like You Keep Thinking It can’t be loved or hated because of its beautiful prose.

I’ll just say, Michael, you did a fantastic job. I learned a lot about the culture of the 1960s, and I thoroughly loved every moment of it. You did a fantastic job telling the narrative of Jake and his friends in the coming-of-age adventure.

[Sharon Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on culture, and it's exceptionally well-written. Don’t be put off by the length. As you progress through little and big challenges Jake as he slowly becomes an adult and the issues that he had to go through, the characters will keep you turning the pages with ease.

I devoured this book in two sittings, and if living hadn’t gotten in the way, I’m sure I'd have made it through in one. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so engrossed in a book like this. Reading Jake’s adventure in growing an attraction with the opposite sex, comics vs studying, friendship arguments, sibling rivalry, and more makes this book hard to put down.

You Keep Thinking It is a book that every teen should read and I highly recommend it.

[Deborah Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who am I not to recommend a book as good as this? You Keep Thinking It is an incredible book that has the capacity to move you to your core. Through Jake’s point of view, the author’s imaginative and brilliant mind is given a clear manifestation. There were a lot of times that I really felt for the character just because it was like the writing of the book makes the readers see the story in a perspective that magnifies the whole feeling behind every scene and every emotion in the characters in the story.

This book is definitely a keeper. A definite diamond in the rough that I have stumbled upon, fortunately. Kudos Mr. Michael Dymond for giving us this beautiful work of yours that provides lessons to teens and young adults.

[Angela Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that will take you on a great ride through a story proving one’s worth as a person, then You Keep Thinking It is your home run.

This book is themed coming-of-age through a group of wonderful boys and girls who had to face life issues as they grow into an adult. The friendship arguments, the rivalry between siblings, and the growing attraction to the opposite sex were beautifully portrayed here. Set in the 1960s, this book makes one nostalgic for free-tech days. Jake needs to confront his fears and blend in to prove to anyone that he belongs.

I’m sure teens, parents, young adults, and people who are young at heart will find this book enthralling. It has always something for everyone to savor.