Patch Scratching

by Steven D. Powell

At the tender age of five, Jed is abandoned by his mother in his father’s hometown—a father he’s never met, and who no longer lives in the town. Jed is befriended by Deb, the last person who should have had to do so. But with the help of Jed’s grandfather, Deb raises the boy as best she can. Then, just as Jed is finding his way, his place in the world, life and the past come back to challenge him yet again.

291 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Thomas III · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s descriptive language instantly brings the reader to the coast of Maine where we can smell the salt water and the bakery. The story intertwines a coming-of-age reflection for the main character with a global audience that will be able to resonate with everyone getting to know what happens in a small town pushing for the underdog—where everyone knows your every move. This non-traditional family story has found ways to not just get by, but make it work. I was constantly rooting for them to succeed and grow. Reading “Patch Scratching” is outside of my normal genre reading, since I typically read business-related books. However, I found principles such as finding yourself outside of your comfort zone, building a support system, the importance of learning, and building trust that kept bringing me back to the book. I recommend this book to everyone. - Thomas B. Dowd III, author of "The Transformation of a Doubting Thomas: Growing from a Cynic to a Professional in the Corporate World" and "From Fear to Success: A Practical Public-speaking Guide"

[Judy Crudele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met the author in Lowes in Maine who told me he had written a book and I could download it for free. Since I love books written by Maine authors about Maine, I downloaded and read it. This coming of age book was fairly well written although I think the author did use "patch" and "scratch" a little too much. That being said, I would read another book by this author.