Two Yellow Cabooses: Sometimes Home in Alabama is Not so Sweet

by Levi Bronze

Sometimes home in Alabama is not so sweet... A passing train pulling two yellow cabooses guarantees a promising future. So says the local legend. Though Mickey’s mom witnessed the rare occurrence when she was a senior in high school, life for the two of them is anything BUT. No man in the home. Welfare. No car. Clothes from the local Methodist mission. A dumpy trailer in a trailer park. And all the labels and stereotypes that come with life at the poverty line for white folks. At school, twelve-year-old Mickey is nameless, powerless, and invisible. Things take a turn for the better when Mickey meets Abe, a resourceful black man and former Navy SEAL. A fast friendship develops, and Abe begins filling the fatherless void in Mickey’s life. In his determination to help Mickey rise above his disadvantages, Abe not only disrupts the small Alabama town’s social structure, but also incites its wealthiest and most malevolent citizen. Now forced to run the gauntlet, it will take all of Abe’s skills and then some if he and Mickey are to survive.

Genres: Adult, Fiction

259 pages, Paperback

Published April 12, 2023

Reviews

[Nicki Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Huck Finn meets Where the Crawdads Sing!
This was definitely not my normal kind of read since it’s not a romance or thriller BUT it was a highly descriptive, well written, heartwarming story. This one will pull at your heartstrings. I cried several times. It touches on racism, bullying, less fortunate versus very fortunate, small town polictics (my small town to be exact).
Abe Loomis was the real MVP and he made the story. Really wish there were more people like him in this big ole world.
Levi Bronze, the author of Two Yellow Cabooses is from my little home town in Alabama and I hope you’ll give this book a chance.

If you would like to preorder the book, I have a 15% discount for preorders purchased directly from the publisher. Here’s the link blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/twoyel... and enter code PREORDER2023.

[SUE BRENTS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow! Easy, quick read but so compelling! What a great movie this would make!

[Emily Burkhalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I easily fell in love with each character. I feel like I know each one like a friend. This is a book that will give you those small town feels and leave you wanting more. I finished the last chapter and really wished there was already a second book to read. A MUST read!!

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gripping story robbed me of a nights sleep. I could not put it down and go to bed.

Here we have the story of passing train pulling two yellow cabooses which seems to symbolize a promising future, or so says the local legend. Main charter Mickey is a middle school kid living with an invalid mom. Their funds are severely limited and they live in a rundown trailer in a low rent trailer park. They have no car and clothing is from the local Methodist mission. A dumpy trailer in a trailer park. Yet there is love in this home.
Not so much at school from students, his teachers nor the administrators who look down on these kids who they describe as having no future. At school, twelve-year-old Mickey is struggling and powerless.
Things take a turn for the better when Mickey meets Abe, a smart, resourceful and most of all caring black man and former Navy SEAL. A deep friendship develops, and Abe begins filling the fatherless void in Mickey’s life. Abe is determines to help Mickey rise above his disadvantages. This is tough in small town Alabama where the social structure is set and those of meager means mean nothing in this society. Abe in his determination to help a good boy succeed disrupts the town’s social structure, and in doing so, incites its wealthiest and most malevolent citizen.


The interactions between Abe and Mickey, were so endearing as Abe sought to fill Micky’s needs. Even though it took a long time to come, I liked the portrayal of good versus evil, and how good wins in the end.

Downside… There was a lot of fighting, and violence. Even though the bad guys started the fights, to this reader the scenes were unnecessarily violent. I think the point could have been made without the fights causing intense physical harm

[Phillip Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not always sure what to expect when I read a book by an author I am not familiar with, but I got a great story out of reading Two Yellow Cabooses. Mickey Tucker has it rough in life and school. However, he finds help, and a friend, in Abe Loomis. Through his guidance, Mickey is able to grow and mature.

After the two of them met, I didn't want to stop reading. I'd find time to squeeze another chapter, or two, whenever I could. This book is thought provoking and eye opening. Abe illustrates what adults should be willing to do; set aside what time and resources they can to help children. There are many kids that need extra help in life, but cannot always get it from family.

I look forward to reading more books by Levi Bronze.

I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I would have given it the full 4 stars as I really liked the story, but the narration was awful. I think it might have been AI. it was very stilted and some well known names were mispronounced.

[Mybookmemories · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was something very different from my normal reads but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was emotional and wholesome, and I found myself shedding a tear on more than one occasion. I became attached to all the characters and was sad when I finished the book. I definitely recommend this book for people!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hats off to Levi Bronze’s TWO YELLOW CABOOSES.
It’s refreshing to read a fictional book with characters like Abe Loomis, a retired Navy Seal who is full of grace and grit. Abe’s life changes when he meets Mickey Tucker, a poor and underprivileged young boy living on welfare in a trailer park with his dying mother. This is a wholesome tale of an unlikely friendship between Abe and Mickey and their journey of courage, mentorship and favor. Maybe you’ve heard the expression “every Moses needs an Aaron”. Well every Mickey needs an Abe !!! You don’t want to miss this unforgettable story of Abe’s timely rescue of Mickey and his mother in a place where small town politics ends in poetic justice. Where are all the Abe Loomises in this world? Please come forth!

[Jessica Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Yellow Cabooses is a well-written, suspenseful drama that tugs at your heartstrings from beginning to end. It was great! Highly recommend!

[Rikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very beautiful and exciting story. The only think I’ll say is this… we could all use an Abe and two yellow cabooses in our lives.

[Teresa Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and enjoyable read about a small town. Highly recommend.

[Gary Jarnigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book captured my imagination in the first paragraph and built up my attention after each chapter. The characters are down to earth good people.
His detailed descriptions of scenes are like that of seasoned writers like Wendall Berry and Ferrol Sams.
Looking for his other books!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! A beautiful challenge to us all - ordinary people can choose to mind their own business, or choose an act of kindness, with the potential of changing the trajectory of one child’s life. Kindness has no boundaries.

[Maggie Travers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this book starts so many years prior to the rest of the events in the story and leaves you wondering about it throughout. As the story progresses, the reader is held captive by the story line and the characters. They are believable, relatable, and genuine. It can be a quick read or one that’s easy to pick up again when life interferes with reading. Great read for preteens through adults!

It can be preordered and get a 15% discount at www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/tw.... Use code: PREORDER2023 to get the discount.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I began reading it and then could not put it down because it was so good. It would make a wonderful movie. And the ending was perfect. It would be nice to have a sequel of this book to continue the story and to continue with the lives of the characters.

[Marty Herron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading and being challenged to help others. A very needed book for our times. Highly recommend it to you.

[Christine A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. I loved it. As I read I could picture each character and scene in my mind. I could see this made into a movie on lifetime. Almost disappointed to have it end. I truly would be a great read for jr and sr high students v

[Kathaleen M. Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend it

A nice look at human kindness, despite the somewhat not so believable happenings. I definitely recommend this book and will look for others by this author

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started reading, I didn’t want to put this book down. The writing transports you to another world of bullies and heroes, a classic tale of right and wrong. Read this book and just maybe you will discover a little bit of the Abe Loomis inside yourself.

[Doreen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story brought me back to the small town I grew up in. Thanks for the visit and for the reminder there are still good people in the world to help others when they are in need. Two thumbs up 😁

[Bill Schweitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars to Levi Bronze’s Two Yellow Cabooses, a gripping, character-driven novel you won’t be able to put down. It’s the story of two unlikely friends, a young white boy, who everyone dismisses as just another trailer trash welfare brat, and a mysterious Black man. Mesmerizing from the first paragraph, this riveting, character-driven tale tugs at the heartstrings, as it tells the story of how two lost souls save one another and a small Alabama town in the process. Every engrossing word rings true; you’re sucked into their world and find yourself rooting for this duo as they confront the prejudices, and class discrimination of the rural South. Along the way, they untangle a web of privilege and criminality that has reigned unchallenged for decades. They become the targets of the dark forces that rule this forgotten town, but it only draws them closer together, and the reader deeper into the captivating saga. The suspense intensifies all the way to the heart-warming conclusion. If you’re a fan of John Grisham or John Irving, you will love this book, it belongs on the same shelf. The word brilliant is overused to describe new books, but my apologies, it applies in this case.
Bill Schweitzer, author of Doves in a Tempest – The Valley of Horror

[Vanessa Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Move over Huck Finn. “Two Yellow Cabooses” is the new southern classic. Levi Bronze masterfully weaves together the lives of two very different southerners, evoking emotions and suspense with every chapter. A young white boy from the trailer park and a black former Navy Seal become the best of friends who share both heartache and joy on the journey to become family. This story proves what a difference a little kindness and love can make in the world.

[Kylie Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Yellow Cabooses is a must read! The author makes you feel personally attached to the characters and their situations. This book made me cry and laugh and everything in between. Once you get started you better have some time on your hands because you will not be able to stop reading until you've read cover to cover!

[Tim-Erin Messer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun story that keeps interest throughout - a good blend of humor and serious. Levi does a fantastic job addressing many cultural issues. He keeps readers drawn into the story, imagining themselves wondering what they might do if they were in the character’s positions. Readers will finish having enjoyed a well told story, while also wrestling with some of the broader dynamics of different cultures. Two Yellow Cabooses is hard to put down once started.

[Michelle Wingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Highly Recommend
Great story of an unlikely relationship of love and compassion, and the importance of doing the right thing.

[Kerry]

Looking for something really good to read, especially if you’re reading to middle schoolers? Pick up Two Yellow Cabooses by Levi Bronze. You’ll be glad you did. This book has heart. It’ll make you angry and want to shake some of the adults who press their heels on the down-on-his luck protagonist. You’ll adore his “guardian angel,” a retired navy seal with a world of wisdom to share. With fanciful descriptions and loveable main characters, this adventure delivers. I had an Advanced Reader’s Copy (An ARC) of this fine work which is to be released on 13 April, 2023.

[Joey Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read. Humor, nostalgia, mystery, friendship, adversity, and redemption rolled into a great story. I was rooting for the protagonist throughout and hoped for a good resolution. All the secrets are not revealed until the very end. Enjoy the adventure of discovering the truth of the "Two Yellow Cabooses".

[Shelley Fogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it over a couple of days. I felt as though I could relate to the characters. I cried and laughed throughout the book. I loved to see how the relationship developed between the main characters. The journey that Mickey went through was heartfelt and the hurtles he over came was amazing. I would recommend this book for anyone who has children and encourages them to grow to be strong, loving individuals.

[Megan Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings hope and awareness that a little love and caring can change someone's life! What a wonderful book of love, loss, and never giving up when the odds are stacked against you! You will not be disappointed reading this book!

[Calley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put it down. I laughed and cried and adored these characters. The relationship between the MC’s is well written and I felt like a fly on the wall as I read their story. I wanted to go to that school and shake that principal x2! My heart broke over and over again for all the trials Mickey had to go through and yet in the end he was still a good hearted person and he gained a father, a career and a girl! Definitely going to recommend people read this book! It’s heartwarming and relevant and I can’t say enough good things about it.