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One Boy's Shadow
Fifteen-year-old Caleb Mackenzie doesnt put up a fight when his father announces the family is moving to Stapeton, Nova Scotia. In fact, Caleb looks forward to a fresh start in the scenic little area. Their new home, Wakefield House, sports large rooms, a big barn where Caleb can work on cars, and acres of forested land for privacy. But it also has a troubling past. In 1943, a boy who lived in the home vanished.
Caleb hears the stories about what may have occurred so many years ago, but he passes them off as folklore until one day hes alone in the woods and hears the faintest whisper. Did someone in the distance just call his name? And what about his discovery in the hayloft? Could there be something to those old stories after all?
The initial need to dismiss everything as coincidence becomes a soul-searching journey into the past where Caleb is determined to uncover the truth about what really happened to the missing boy. And in the process, he learns even more about himself and whats really important.
Caleb hears the stories about what may have occurred so many years ago, but he passes them off as folklore until one day hes alone in the woods and hears the faintest whisper. Did someone in the distance just call his name? And what about his discovery in the hayloft? Could there be something to those old stories after all?
The initial need to dismiss everything as coincidence becomes a soul-searching journey into the past where Caleb is determined to uncover the truth about what really happened to the missing boy. And in the process, he learns even more about himself and whats really important.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
About the author
Ross A. McCoubrey
3 books64 followersRoss A. McCoubrey was born and raised in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. After finishing college, and beginning his full time job, he bought a home on the Bay of Fundy shore where he continues to reside. When not working he enjoys writing, camping, hiking, target shooting, and working on his truck. One Boy’s Shadow is his first novel.
Ross is using the profits from sales of One Boy's Shadow to support LGBTQ youth organizations such as The Youth Project www.youthproject.ns.ca in his home province of Nova Scotia.
Please visit Ross' Facebook page for great links and information about his work. www.facebook.com/rossmccoubrey
Ross is using the profits from sales of One Boy's Shadow to support LGBTQ youth organizations such as The Youth Project www.youthproject.ns.ca in his home province of Nova Scotia.
Please visit Ross' Facebook page for great links and information about his work. www.facebook.com/rossmccoubrey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 10, 2017
Sweet twink Hardy boys anyone?
~~~~~~
So, I gave a teaser that I had found the Hardy Boys of M/M romance. Let’s see if my analogy holds water:
Young, adorable, sweet-natured, and well-mannered boys?
- Check
Involved in a mystery?
- Check
Budding romance and innocent, eh hm, exploration?
- Check
Okay, so maybe the original Hardy Boys weren’t big on romance but this is a new era and the timing is ripe. Caleb and Shane could definitely show Frank and Joe a thing or two.
Whoa, this is YA. Some may say this is a too good, too innocent, goodie two-shoes read. Maybe, but every now and then I need to climb out from under that dark, cynical shadow (that I enjoy so much) and take a fresh breath of air…….and shed a few tears.
**This may become my number one recommendation for entry-level M/M romance.
Hand this to your bigoted “friends”, share it with your curious kids and read it for yourself to restore something lost. A simple, warm-natured read of love, finding yourself and the strength that comes from both.
THE STORY
At 15, Caleb moves into a new home with a past, which soon becomes;
The connection he feels with his new home is tempered with the connection he finds with his new friend Shane. Together, with help from Caleb’s older brother Blake, they work to unravel the mysterious disappearance of another boy some sixty years ago.
THE CHARACTERS
Caleb Lincoln Mackenzie – Honest, but not exemplary. Curious but hesitant. Caleb is a normal, blushing, likeable boy who’s unshakeable values move the story forward.
Blake Mackenzie – Best big brother, period.
Shane – Serious, gentle and a survivor.
Toby – Beautiful and illusive. Toby needs to tell his story.
THE WRITING
You’ll find this an easy-going, relaxing read which has a steady forward pace. The mystery kept me intrigued and ultimately surprised me. I really thought I had it figured out, but I was so wrong. Well done.
The youthful, coming-of-age romance is handled very well. There’s a little steam which is very tastefully presented.
If I have any concerns, it’s with the ease of acceptance Caleb found. However, I think the author is sending the message, “It get’s better” and indeed society isn’t what it once was. Opinions are changing and it’s nice to see that represented once in a while. Caleb does have to overcome prejudice but it’s not the knock-out, drag-out typically found in this sort of story. Kind of refreshing really.
~~~
Admittedly, I am slightly swayed in this review by a new Twitter friendship with the delightful Ross McCoubrey. His lovely nature is well represented in his writing and may have helped to push this 4.8 star review to 5.0.
~~~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
~~~~~~
So, I gave a teaser that I had found the Hardy Boys of M/M romance. Let’s see if my analogy holds water:
Young, adorable, sweet-natured, and well-mannered boys?
- Check
Involved in a mystery?
- Check
Budding romance and innocent, eh hm, exploration?
- Check
Okay, so maybe the original Hardy Boys weren’t big on romance but this is a new era and the timing is ripe. Caleb and Shane could definitely show Frank and Joe a thing or two.
”I’ll cover your mouth with one hand to muffle any noise you make, I promise.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. Shane was giggling too as he said, “Guess that’s not very romantic, huh?”
Not really. It’s oddly kinda hot, but, no, not very romantic.”
“Fair enough.” Shane flopped over on his back, still snickering.
Whoa, this is YA. Some may say this is a too good, too innocent, goodie two-shoes read. Maybe, but every now and then I need to climb out from under that dark, cynical shadow (that I enjoy so much) and take a fresh breath of air…….and shed a few tears.
**This may become my number one recommendation for entry-level M/M romance.
Hand this to your bigoted “friends”, share it with your curious kids and read it for yourself to restore something lost. A simple, warm-natured read of love, finding yourself and the strength that comes from both.
THE STORY
At 15, Caleb moves into a new home with a past, which soon becomes;
…the life-changing event people talk about that helps define who you are.
The connection he feels with his new home is tempered with the connection he finds with his new friend Shane. Together, with help from Caleb’s older brother Blake, they work to unravel the mysterious disappearance of another boy some sixty years ago.
THE CHARACTERS
Caleb Lincoln Mackenzie – Honest, but not exemplary. Curious but hesitant. Caleb is a normal, blushing, likeable boy who’s unshakeable values move the story forward.
”I got my first kiss.”
Blake Mackenzie – Best big brother, period.
”Tolerant?” Blake repeated, confused. “I don’t tolerate my brother and my friends. I love and accept them for who they are.”
Shane – Serious, gentle and a survivor.
”I can’t forget it happened, Caleb.”
Toby – Beautiful and illusive. Toby needs to tell his story.
”You guys think maybe Toby didn’t get lost? I mean, maybe there was an accident. Why else would the gunshot be so important?”
THE WRITING
You’ll find this an easy-going, relaxing read which has a steady forward pace. The mystery kept me intrigued and ultimately surprised me. I really thought I had it figured out, but I was so wrong. Well done.
The youthful, coming-of-age romance is handled very well. There’s a little steam which is very tastefully presented.
If I have any concerns, it’s with the ease of acceptance Caleb found. However, I think the author is sending the message, “It get’s better” and indeed society isn’t what it once was. Opinions are changing and it’s nice to see that represented once in a while. Caleb does have to overcome prejudice but it’s not the knock-out, drag-out typically found in this sort of story. Kind of refreshing really.
~~~
Admittedly, I am slightly swayed in this review by a new Twitter friendship with the delightful Ross McCoubrey. His lovely nature is well represented in his writing and may have helped to push this 4.8 star review to 5.0.
~~~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
July 16, 2021
Re-read July 2021
I'd read this book only once, 7 years ago, so I figured it was time for a re-read.
I still liked it, but my jaded self noticed different things this time. Like how it sometimes had too much mundane every day events on page. That made it feel a bit too long at times.
And I had a hard time believing that teenagers really talk to each other like that. I was a teenager once and my oldest son is 14 years old, but in this they were really open about sex stuff and about checking each other out. I don't remember being this confident at that age to just throw it all out in the open like that.
But despite these niggles, it was still a very nice book. Even though it felt a bit too long at times, I was also kind of happy to spend more time with these guys, unrealistic teenage conversations and all. ;)
-----------------------------------
This was such a sweet book. I loved it!
A nice mix of ghost story and sweet romance. Caleb and Shane were just too cute together. I loved their tentative exploration of each other.
This story starts when 15 year old Caleb moves with his parents and his brother to the small town Stapeton. They move in to an old house, which is supposedly haunted.
After their first few days there, Caleb meets Shane, a boy who lives nearby. They hit it off and become close friends.
After spending some weeks in their new house it is clear to Caleb that there is indeed some presence who is trying to contact Caleb. He and Shane find out that there was a boy, Toby, who went missing 70 years ago.
Caleb and Shane grow very close during their investigation and when Caleb kisses Shane, it is obvious they have become more than best friends and they no longer have to hide their feelings from each other. But there is still the issue of Toby and how they will be able to help him find some peace..
I really liked the ghost aspect of this. It was nice and a bit creepy at times. I also loved how the romance between Caleb and Shane developed. They had their sweet, tender moments, but I could also feel their friendship throughout this book. I was happy to see their sexuality wasn't completely ignored like in some YA books. Not that this had any steam, but at least they are aware of their developing (physical) feelings.
And together with Caleb’s brother and Ryley, another friend of theirs, they made a good ghost hunting team.
So if you are looking for a sweet M/M YA book with lots of tender moments and a ghost story that is not too creepy, try this book!
I'd read this book only once, 7 years ago, so I figured it was time for a re-read.
I still liked it, but my jaded self noticed different things this time. Like how it sometimes had too much mundane every day events on page. That made it feel a bit too long at times.
And I had a hard time believing that teenagers really talk to each other like that. I was a teenager once and my oldest son is 14 years old, but in this they were really open about sex stuff and about checking each other out. I don't remember being this confident at that age to just throw it all out in the open like that.
But despite these niggles, it was still a very nice book. Even though it felt a bit too long at times, I was also kind of happy to spend more time with these guys, unrealistic teenage conversations and all. ;)
-----------------------------------
This was such a sweet book. I loved it!
A nice mix of ghost story and sweet romance. Caleb and Shane were just too cute together. I loved their tentative exploration of each other.
This story starts when 15 year old Caleb moves with his parents and his brother to the small town Stapeton. They move in to an old house, which is supposedly haunted.
After their first few days there, Caleb meets Shane, a boy who lives nearby. They hit it off and become close friends.
After spending some weeks in their new house it is clear to Caleb that there is indeed some presence who is trying to contact Caleb. He and Shane find out that there was a boy, Toby, who went missing 70 years ago.
Caleb and Shane grow very close during their investigation and when Caleb kisses Shane, it is obvious they have become more than best friends and they no longer have to hide their feelings from each other. But there is still the issue of Toby and how they will be able to help him find some peace..
I really liked the ghost aspect of this. It was nice and a bit creepy at times. I also loved how the romance between Caleb and Shane developed. They had their sweet, tender moments, but I could also feel their friendship throughout this book. I was happy to see their sexuality wasn't completely ignored like in some YA books. Not that this had any steam, but at least they are aware of their developing (physical) feelings.
And together with Caleb’s brother and Ryley, another friend of theirs, they made a good ghost hunting team.
So if you are looking for a sweet M/M YA book with lots of tender moments and a ghost story that is not too creepy, try this book!
April 1, 2013
3.5 stars, rounded up because it slowly builds in interest. This was a book that got better, the further I read. The young gay first-love story within it is sweetly done, real and slow, with nice supporting characters. The paranormal/mystery is also fun, unfolding very slowly through the book.
The story is presented as the first-person narrative of a fifteen-year-old boy. Some of the narrative techniques were no doubt chosen to authenticate that voice, but especially at first, the longer passages of fairly flat description, with added bits of facts in parentheses like an awkward school book report, slowed the story down a lot. It did feel realistic, but sacrificed something of readability for that.
After the first third, the action picked up a lot and I became much more engaged in the story. Using Shane to tell the background tale of the mystery was a choice that had at first dropped me out of the story a bit. To get a lot of detail about the past/mystery out there, and give it a vivid feel, meant that Shane's language sometimes became unrealistically literary and in large blocks. (I doubt, even telling a story, that many fifteen-year-olds would say narrative like, "Others suggest that foul play may have befallen the boy" or "Toby was devastated, but being a farm boy, he was realistic about things.") But again, after the first third of the book, once that background exposition was done, that incongruous tone disappeared and I liked Shane a lot. All the characters were pretty sympathetic and engaging, even if in a couple of cases like Blake, a bit idealized.
This is a book that pays the reader for sticking around through the beginning with nicely entwined tales of young love and loss and paranormal mystery. The level of acceptance for Caleb and Shane was a sweet change from all the angst and bullying of many gay YA and yet didn't feel too unrealistic. This is what I hope we see the world becoming for young LGBTQ kids as they come out in the next decades.
The story is presented as the first-person narrative of a fifteen-year-old boy. Some of the narrative techniques were no doubt chosen to authenticate that voice, but especially at first, the longer passages of fairly flat description, with added bits of facts in parentheses like an awkward school book report, slowed the story down a lot. It did feel realistic, but sacrificed something of readability for that.
After the first third, the action picked up a lot and I became much more engaged in the story. Using Shane to tell the background tale of the mystery was a choice that had at first dropped me out of the story a bit. To get a lot of detail about the past/mystery out there, and give it a vivid feel, meant that Shane's language sometimes became unrealistically literary and in large blocks. (I doubt, even telling a story, that many fifteen-year-olds would say narrative like, "Others suggest that foul play may have befallen the boy" or "Toby was devastated, but being a farm boy, he was realistic about things.") But again, after the first third of the book, once that background exposition was done, that incongruous tone disappeared and I liked Shane a lot. All the characters were pretty sympathetic and engaging, even if in a couple of cases like Blake, a bit idealized.
This is a book that pays the reader for sticking around through the beginning with nicely entwined tales of young love and loss and paranormal mystery. The level of acceptance for Caleb and Shane was a sweet change from all the angst and bullying of many gay YA and yet didn't feel too unrealistic. This is what I hope we see the world becoming for young LGBTQ kids as they come out in the next decades.
March 21, 2013
Sales of One Boy's Shadow support an LGBT youth centre in the author's province. A cause worth supporting, and you get to read a well written, charming book.
A very sweet, charming, well written, contemporary coming-of-age story with a paranormal/mystery theme as well. Highly recommended for lovers of LGBTQ YA novels. Full review at Greedy Bug Book Reviews - http://greedybug.blogspot.com.au/2013...
A very sweet, charming, well written, contemporary coming-of-age story with a paranormal/mystery theme as well. Highly recommended for lovers of LGBTQ YA novels. Full review at Greedy Bug Book Reviews - http://greedybug.blogspot.com.au/2013...
February 9, 2017
Very few books in my lifetime have had me racing home from school, work or hurrying up with chores to return to the world the author created. SE Hinton's The Outsiders and Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat are two novels that immediately come to mind. Now I can add another novel to that list, Ross McCoubrey's One Boy's Shadow. The author has written what may be close to the perfect novel.
Whenever I had to put the novel aside because the real world got in the way I found myself thinking about the main character Caleb constantly and I was anxious to know what was going to happen to him. Ross weaves a compelling story of mystery, of the supernatural and of young love in such an engrossing way that I did not want the story to end. I feel like I know Caleb, his dreams, his anxieties, his desires. I guess you could say I fell in love with him as I expect every reader has.
The story kicks off with Caleb and his older brother Blake, both in their teens, dealing with the potential drama of moving from the city to the country because of their father's new job. Immediately we see that both brothers have a maturity beyond their years and support their parents' decision. Blake, the ever supportive older brother, senses something special, something different about his younger brother Caleb and encourages Caleb to be open about anything on his mind. In the first few chapters we see a strong family working together to build a better future for them all, and all are willing to sacrifice something for the greater good. It's this bond we see over and over again throughout the novel and only strengthens the personalities of the characters. The family finds a wonderful, too good to be true home in the small country town of Stapeton, and they begin to settle in to their new lives. The brothers prepare for the trauma of going to a new school and making friends and fitting in when almost out of the blue Caleb meets Shane…
Shane tells Caleb a story about their community and a missing boy from the 1940s. Caleb listens with great interest, more because of his attraction to Shane, but in the end it's just a myth, spooky stories to tell late at night... Or is it?
As the story unfolds I was on the edge of my seat anxious to find out what happened to the missing boy. It's the perfect novel to curl up with on cold, dark rainy nights but make no mistake, beyond the brilliant mystery and the vivid, strong characters this is a story about love and acceptance.
There are so many things I want to say about this novel, so many things that excited me but I don't want to give anything away. I want everyone to have the experience that I had. I don't think I can describe this book fairly. It is beautiful, it is scary, it is thrilling, it is mysterious, it is tragic, it is powerful. Scenes are written with such lush detail that you feel you are there among the characters. And when the truth is revealed I was both stunned and amazed.
From scary walks in the woods and whispered names drifting out of the wind to school dances and falling in love, it is a novel of literature that I will return to frequently for inspiration. One Boy's Shadow touched me in a way no other novel has and I will be forever grateful for the reward of reading this literary treasure.
Whenever I had to put the novel aside because the real world got in the way I found myself thinking about the main character Caleb constantly and I was anxious to know what was going to happen to him. Ross weaves a compelling story of mystery, of the supernatural and of young love in such an engrossing way that I did not want the story to end. I feel like I know Caleb, his dreams, his anxieties, his desires. I guess you could say I fell in love with him as I expect every reader has.
The story kicks off with Caleb and his older brother Blake, both in their teens, dealing with the potential drama of moving from the city to the country because of their father's new job. Immediately we see that both brothers have a maturity beyond their years and support their parents' decision. Blake, the ever supportive older brother, senses something special, something different about his younger brother Caleb and encourages Caleb to be open about anything on his mind. In the first few chapters we see a strong family working together to build a better future for them all, and all are willing to sacrifice something for the greater good. It's this bond we see over and over again throughout the novel and only strengthens the personalities of the characters. The family finds a wonderful, too good to be true home in the small country town of Stapeton, and they begin to settle in to their new lives. The brothers prepare for the trauma of going to a new school and making friends and fitting in when almost out of the blue Caleb meets Shane…
Shane tells Caleb a story about their community and a missing boy from the 1940s. Caleb listens with great interest, more because of his attraction to Shane, but in the end it's just a myth, spooky stories to tell late at night... Or is it?
As the story unfolds I was on the edge of my seat anxious to find out what happened to the missing boy. It's the perfect novel to curl up with on cold, dark rainy nights but make no mistake, beyond the brilliant mystery and the vivid, strong characters this is a story about love and acceptance.
There are so many things I want to say about this novel, so many things that excited me but I don't want to give anything away. I want everyone to have the experience that I had. I don't think I can describe this book fairly. It is beautiful, it is scary, it is thrilling, it is mysterious, it is tragic, it is powerful. Scenes are written with such lush detail that you feel you are there among the characters. And when the truth is revealed I was both stunned and amazed.
From scary walks in the woods and whispered names drifting out of the wind to school dances and falling in love, it is a novel of literature that I will return to frequently for inspiration. One Boy's Shadow touched me in a way no other novel has and I will be forever grateful for the reward of reading this literary treasure.
February 10, 2017
4.65 stars. I really liked this story. I decided to give this one a go because I was looking for something different to read. This story follows Caleb as he and his family moved to a new town because of a better work opportunity for his father. While staying at a hotel in town, he meets Shane who tells him about the haunted history of the house. He dismisses the stories initially until certain events started happening. Caleb, his brother Blake, Shane and their friend Ryley set out to solve the mystery of the house and found out what happened 60 years ago which is the key to helping Toby (the ghost) and themselves in the process.
There are many things I loved about this book. The first thing that struck me at the beginning is the family closeness. You could tell how loving and open the parents were. The father hard-working and silent type but you could see his love for his family in his actions and through the mom. Blake was awesome, he is the best older brother. I loved him. I wish kids could have an older sibling like that in their lives. Caleb's coming out to Blake brought tears to my eyes. His coming to his parents (separately) was very touching. The brothers sound a bit mature but it worked in this context and the family environment they grew up in. I love the relationship between Caleb and Shane. It was very sweet and appropriate for a YA book. I love Shane and I was happy he was no longer in a dark place. I really like the ghost mystery angle. It was intriguing a bit scary at the beginning because you don't know whether it's a good ghost or bad ghost. As each discovery is made about the past and Toby, we found out what really happened to him and what he wanted. Toby's story tied the book together. He touched each of the main characters and was crucial in helping them to find out who they are.
Overall, it's a really beautiful story with a hopeful message. I enjoyed it very much.
There are many things I loved about this book. The first thing that struck me at the beginning is the family closeness. You could tell how loving and open the parents were. The father hard-working and silent type but you could see his love for his family in his actions and through the mom. Blake was awesome, he is the best older brother. I loved him. I wish kids could have an older sibling like that in their lives. Caleb's coming out to Blake brought tears to my eyes. His coming to his parents (separately) was very touching. The brothers sound a bit mature but it worked in this context and the family environment they grew up in. I love the relationship between Caleb and Shane. It was very sweet and appropriate for a YA book. I love Shane and I was happy he was no longer in a dark place. I really like the ghost mystery angle. It was intriguing a bit scary at the beginning because you don't know whether it's a good ghost or bad ghost. As each discovery is made about the past and Toby, we found out what really happened to him and what he wanted. Toby's story tied the book together. He touched each of the main characters and was crucial in helping them to find out who they are.
Overall, it's a really beautiful story with a hopeful message. I enjoyed it very much.
February 9, 2017
This is a wonderful mystery/coming-of-age novel. I know many people (young and old, straight and gay) who have read One Boy's Shadow and have praised both the well-written story and its many positive messages. Some of these readers have declared that this book should be in every school and public library across the country.
Since I am a close relative of the author (his mother), my personal opinion may not count for much, but I am very proud of the courage of my son and his determination to help those who may not feel embraced and accepted for who they are.
December 17, 2012
5+ Stars Much more than coming of age. This was one of the most touching & beautiful love stories I've read in many years.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
February 9, 2017
What happens when we die? It's a question which has been asked since antiquity, but the answer still eludes us. It seems that everyone has a different idea of what awaits us on the other side of the veil. In 'One Boy's Shadow' by Ross McCoubrey, Caleb, his brother, boyfriend, and another good friend, are drawn into thinking about life after death. The spirit of Toby, a boy who died over 60 years ago in Caleb's house, begins to communicate with him, leaving clues which become clearer, more meaningful as he and Toby's energies become more attuned to each other. Compelled by the evidence Caleb receives, he and his friends set out on a mission to set things right for Toby so his spirit will have closure and move on from the nebulous space and time he's in at present.
Caleb is an amazing young man. He's extremely sensitive and compassionate. He's as confused as any fifteen-year-old and has many of the same doubts and insecurities, especially when it comes to discovering he's gay, but Caleb is incredibly wise at the same time. He goes out of his way to keep from hurting others, and measures his actions and decisions with intricate care, taking everyone's feelings into consideration. The biggest thing Caleb has going for him is his close family. More than most children, particularly if they are gay, he knows he's loved. Blake is the best big brother anyone could have, supporting him in every way, making time for him, and believing in him.
Shane, first Caleb's best friend, then boyfriend is also an amazing young man. He's had a lot to overcome in his young life, especially his father's death, but he has an unusual, loving mother who supports him completely when he comes out as gay. She already supported his art work and welcomes Caleb with open arms, delighted that they have each other to love. Shane and Caleb are an amazing match, so alike in spirit, so empathetic, and supportive of each other. For fear of sounding corny, they are absolutely perfect for each other—loving trusting, and supportive, good to each other and for each other to a fault. Their angsty, but loving relationship is such a great model for how things can be with the right circumstances and personalities involved. Their relationship made each of them a better, stronger person and had a similar effect on those around them, even the tough guy bully of the school.
It's a bit unusual to consider a spirit as such a strong character, but Toby definitely is a driving force in the story. Toby has been waiting for someone he could reach out to, someone he could trust to believe and want to help, and Caleb fit that role to a tee. In repayment for that trust and the assistance he needed, Toby gives back to each of the boys in ways only he is capable of doing because of his current state. Toby can go back and forth from past to present and present to past whenever he needs to leave impressions and physical evidence or clues to where the physical evidence was in the present time. It is his bond with Caleb which touched me the deepest, knowing the effect the boys have on each other, realizing that if they'd lived in the same time, they would have been great friends. Through Caleb and his relationship with his boyfriend Shane, he is able to show Toby how things are now for gay boys as compared to how they were in Toby's time which seems to lighten Toby's burden considerably.
For a first novel, Ross has created a marvelous story; embedded in his haunting mystery are important messages of coming out, compassion, generosity, and eternal love. They bleed through loud and clear along with the suspense, angst, and intrigue. It's actually difficult to put into words how impressive this story is. I guess the best thing I can do is recommend it for everyone to read it, especially if you like delightful, hauntingly beautiful love stories, with boldly realistic characters who will definitely pull on your heartstrings, win you over instantly, and will stay in your heart and mind for a long time. Thanks, Ross, for sharing your brilliant story with me. I look forward to reading more of your work.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Caleb is an amazing young man. He's extremely sensitive and compassionate. He's as confused as any fifteen-year-old and has many of the same doubts and insecurities, especially when it comes to discovering he's gay, but Caleb is incredibly wise at the same time. He goes out of his way to keep from hurting others, and measures his actions and decisions with intricate care, taking everyone's feelings into consideration. The biggest thing Caleb has going for him is his close family. More than most children, particularly if they are gay, he knows he's loved. Blake is the best big brother anyone could have, supporting him in every way, making time for him, and believing in him.
Shane, first Caleb's best friend, then boyfriend is also an amazing young man. He's had a lot to overcome in his young life, especially his father's death, but he has an unusual, loving mother who supports him completely when he comes out as gay. She already supported his art work and welcomes Caleb with open arms, delighted that they have each other to love. Shane and Caleb are an amazing match, so alike in spirit, so empathetic, and supportive of each other. For fear of sounding corny, they are absolutely perfect for each other—loving trusting, and supportive, good to each other and for each other to a fault. Their angsty, but loving relationship is such a great model for how things can be with the right circumstances and personalities involved. Their relationship made each of them a better, stronger person and had a similar effect on those around them, even the tough guy bully of the school.
It's a bit unusual to consider a spirit as such a strong character, but Toby definitely is a driving force in the story. Toby has been waiting for someone he could reach out to, someone he could trust to believe and want to help, and Caleb fit that role to a tee. In repayment for that trust and the assistance he needed, Toby gives back to each of the boys in ways only he is capable of doing because of his current state. Toby can go back and forth from past to present and present to past whenever he needs to leave impressions and physical evidence or clues to where the physical evidence was in the present time. It is his bond with Caleb which touched me the deepest, knowing the effect the boys have on each other, realizing that if they'd lived in the same time, they would have been great friends. Through Caleb and his relationship with his boyfriend Shane, he is able to show Toby how things are now for gay boys as compared to how they were in Toby's time which seems to lighten Toby's burden considerably.
For a first novel, Ross has created a marvelous story; embedded in his haunting mystery are important messages of coming out, compassion, generosity, and eternal love. They bleed through loud and clear along with the suspense, angst, and intrigue. It's actually difficult to put into words how impressive this story is. I guess the best thing I can do is recommend it for everyone to read it, especially if you like delightful, hauntingly beautiful love stories, with boldly realistic characters who will definitely pull on your heartstrings, win you over instantly, and will stay in your heart and mind for a long time. Thanks, Ross, for sharing your brilliant story with me. I look forward to reading more of your work.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 9, 2017
Awww such a sweet story. I just loved Caleb and Shane they were so cute together. Wow Blake was the best big brother ever. I loved all of their friends there's so much going on in the book that you just need to read it ;-) One thing that surprised me is how they loved American sports. It's always interesting to learn new things about other countries ;-) I really did enjoy this book ;-)
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November 26, 2018I liked the premise, but this writing style is not for me. Lots of flat description and exposition, everyone is nice and saintly. I'm bored. :( Out at 10%, no rating.
February 9, 2017
4.5 Stars
One Boy's Shadow is a terribly tragic love story with a happy ending. A mystery ghost story, the book also contains dual same-sex romances, one set in the 1940s and one in the present day. Fifteen year old Caleb and his family move to an old farm home in rural Canada and soon discover the home is rumored to be haunted. Intrigued, Caleb sets out to solve the mystery with the help of his older brother and two friends from the local community.
One of Caleb's new friends is Shane, a boy Caleb's age. Shane and Caleb develop a very close friendship which eventually blossoms into something more when Caleb kisses Shane. The story becomes their love story, and as they grow closer to each other, they gradually uncover the truth about another young gay couple who had lived in the area many decades prior. When they at last realize that it is the ghost of one of these boys, Toby, that is repeatedly contacting them, they become determined to help the departed soul find peace in the afterlife.
The prose is beautifully written and well-edited, and the story itself was touching, even heartrending at certain points. I really fell in love with the main characters, especially the first person narrator, Caleb. He was conflicted about his sexual orientation, but overall a very optimistic character. His voice was kind, without a hint of snark or bitterness. That is unusual, unfortunately, with first person narratives but very refreshing.
The relationships Caleb had with his older brother and parents were a testament to what a sincerely beautiful person he was. He idolized his older Sibling, Blake, and they shared a relationship that was almost too perfect. The way the family related to each other seemed too good to be true, but this doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the depiction. Perhaps idealized, but so what.
The story began slower than I would have liked. I thought the 430 page novel could have been tightened, specifically by editing out some of the set-up and nonessential scenes. And I was aware that the setting was supposed to be 2010, though the technology did not seem current. For example, it was a story about teenagers, yet no one had a cell phone.
Overall, I loved the story and shed more than a few tears. It was most definitely a worthwhile read I'll quickly recommend.
One Boy's Shadow is a terribly tragic love story with a happy ending. A mystery ghost story, the book also contains dual same-sex romances, one set in the 1940s and one in the present day. Fifteen year old Caleb and his family move to an old farm home in rural Canada and soon discover the home is rumored to be haunted. Intrigued, Caleb sets out to solve the mystery with the help of his older brother and two friends from the local community.
One of Caleb's new friends is Shane, a boy Caleb's age. Shane and Caleb develop a very close friendship which eventually blossoms into something more when Caleb kisses Shane. The story becomes their love story, and as they grow closer to each other, they gradually uncover the truth about another young gay couple who had lived in the area many decades prior. When they at last realize that it is the ghost of one of these boys, Toby, that is repeatedly contacting them, they become determined to help the departed soul find peace in the afterlife.
The prose is beautifully written and well-edited, and the story itself was touching, even heartrending at certain points. I really fell in love with the main characters, especially the first person narrator, Caleb. He was conflicted about his sexual orientation, but overall a very optimistic character. His voice was kind, without a hint of snark or bitterness. That is unusual, unfortunately, with first person narratives but very refreshing.
The relationships Caleb had with his older brother and parents were a testament to what a sincerely beautiful person he was. He idolized his older Sibling, Blake, and they shared a relationship that was almost too perfect. The way the family related to each other seemed too good to be true, but this doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the depiction. Perhaps idealized, but so what.
The story began slower than I would have liked. I thought the 430 page novel could have been tightened, specifically by editing out some of the set-up and nonessential scenes. And I was aware that the setting was supposed to be 2010, though the technology did not seem current. For example, it was a story about teenagers, yet no one had a cell phone.
Overall, I loved the story and shed more than a few tears. It was most definitely a worthwhile read I'll quickly recommend.
December 28, 2013
This book. This book! Oh, this book.
How can I describe it? A paranormal, coming-of-age tale in the tradition of 'Stand by Me'? Something about it---the flavor, the youthfulness, the excitement and fun did very much remind me of the poignant film.
Yet, whereas the kids on the movie journey just find a dead body and therefore ends their adventure, the characters in "One Boy's Shadow" goes a step further to encounter the living, breathing, haunting yet beautiful spirit of the mysterious Toby who tragically disappeared sixty years ago, in 1943.
The main character, in whose POV the story is told, is Caleb. This tale is not only a heart-wrenching, lovely tale of Caleb's search to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the boy who---years ago---lived in the very house Caleb and his family have moved into; it is also the account of Caleb's right of passage...his coming out as a gay teen.
This was my first young adult work, so I'll be honest. I didn't know what to expect, and it took a moment to get into the youthful prose. Oh, no, no...I don't mean the writing was juvenile. I just mean the author beautifully projected the youthful tone, allowed the reader to BE a kid. And Mr. McCoubrey did so very well.
The heart of the book, for this reader, was Toby. Tragic, achingly beautiful, Toby. Once the story began to unfold and I got 'into' Toby, into his persona, his innocent relationship with his best friend and boyfriend---all told though very believable travel through dimensions, present to past and back again---I found the book emotionally gripping and tender and heart-hurting and I had trouble putting it down. And I'm not just saying that. I raced to the end. I wanted to know, just like Caleb and Shane and Rye and Blake wanted to know---what happened to the shy, handsome Toby sixty years ago?
A glorious tale. Sad. How could it not be? And yet, yes, glorious in its message of acceptance, unconditional love, innocence, youth.
A captivating work by an extremely gifted young author.
How can I describe it? A paranormal, coming-of-age tale in the tradition of 'Stand by Me'? Something about it---the flavor, the youthfulness, the excitement and fun did very much remind me of the poignant film.
Yet, whereas the kids on the movie journey just find a dead body and therefore ends their adventure, the characters in "One Boy's Shadow" goes a step further to encounter the living, breathing, haunting yet beautiful spirit of the mysterious Toby who tragically disappeared sixty years ago, in 1943.
The main character, in whose POV the story is told, is Caleb. This tale is not only a heart-wrenching, lovely tale of Caleb's search to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the boy who---years ago---lived in the very house Caleb and his family have moved into; it is also the account of Caleb's right of passage...his coming out as a gay teen.
This was my first young adult work, so I'll be honest. I didn't know what to expect, and it took a moment to get into the youthful prose. Oh, no, no...I don't mean the writing was juvenile. I just mean the author beautifully projected the youthful tone, allowed the reader to BE a kid. And Mr. McCoubrey did so very well.
The heart of the book, for this reader, was Toby. Tragic, achingly beautiful, Toby. Once the story began to unfold and I got 'into' Toby, into his persona, his innocent relationship with his best friend and boyfriend---all told though very believable travel through dimensions, present to past and back again---I found the book emotionally gripping and tender and heart-hurting and I had trouble putting it down. And I'm not just saying that. I raced to the end. I wanted to know, just like Caleb and Shane and Rye and Blake wanted to know---what happened to the shy, handsome Toby sixty years ago?
A glorious tale. Sad. How could it not be? And yet, yes, glorious in its message of acceptance, unconditional love, innocence, youth.
A captivating work by an extremely gifted young author.
January 4, 2013
Full review at www.madisonparklove.com.
After experiencing several inexplicably creepy events on his family's new homestead (complete with creepy barn and creepy woods), Caleb realizes there's something to the stories he's heard about the place being haunted. I was on the edge of my seat (and wrapped tightly under a blanket) throughout most of the book as I pieced together what happened to Toby all those years ago. It was a delicious mystery that turned out to be an achingly beautiful tale of love and loss.
As Caleb and his friends uncover more and more of the truth regarding the 60-year-old mystery, they are forced to face their present-day fears and open up to each other in a way that causes them to form closer bonds of friendship, family, and love.
Although what happened to Toby (the ghost) is tragic, he is able to touch each of these boys in a very special way, and in the end, find his own peace. This is a remarkable tale beautifully told.
October 27, 2012
This is an astoundingly story, well written with a gentleness and understanding seldom offered by authors today. Descriptions are beautiful of the countryside; I could smell the woods and hear the crunch of leaves as I read about Caleb's and Shane's trips into the mysterious woods. Caleb, age 15, is a very fortunate boy who has trusting, loving parents, and a great older brother, Blake, who has always been his staunch supporter and wise adviser. Caleb is just discovering that he is gay, as well as his new best friend, Shane. The two boys bond and are very caring for each other as they slowly discuss this issue among family and friends. This is not the whole of the story -- it's the mysterious, dark woods and paranormal happenings which lead the three boys to discover that there is, in deed, the spirit of Toby clinging close to Caleb. Toby was a teen boy who ventured into the woods 60 years ago and never came out. The boys want to know more about the history of Toby and pursue searching library records and interviews. They find out that Toby was also gay, during a period of time when one had to keep one's life secret. Toby has assigned a mission for Caleb, which you will learn at the end whether he achieves it. The characters are well defined and are well liked as these are good teens on a dedicated mission. It's an easy, clean, read for open-minded young adults, and for adults as well. This author has contributed much to the support that LGBT teens need today. Not only from their peers, but especially from their families. This is the author's first novel, and if I were his mom, I'd be so very proud him and his accomplishment. His goodness shines in this novel.
December 29, 2012
There are so many good things to say about this book that I don't believe I have the right words for it!
Yes, it is a ghost story, but also a mystery, it's about friendship, love, standing up for what you believe, even if that means suspending what you previously believed to be true.
I love Caleb, and his bond with Toby, the boy who lived in his house 60 years before, is so well written that Toby seems like a flesh and blood character, not a spirit at all. Caleb and Shane, who start out as friends and become so much more, are amazing and adorable at the same time. And I wish I'd had an older brother like Blake!
Ross is a first time author and I certainly hope there will be more to come as this is easily one of my favorite books of 2012! I got wrapped up in it early and had a hard time putting it down!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you like young adult and mysteries, the characters are all very strong, even the supporting characters, the plot moves at a great pace and every piece of the puzzle revealed makes you feel like you are part of the story.
Yes, it is a ghost story, but also a mystery, it's about friendship, love, standing up for what you believe, even if that means suspending what you previously believed to be true.
I love Caleb, and his bond with Toby, the boy who lived in his house 60 years before, is so well written that Toby seems like a flesh and blood character, not a spirit at all. Caleb and Shane, who start out as friends and become so much more, are amazing and adorable at the same time. And I wish I'd had an older brother like Blake!
Ross is a first time author and I certainly hope there will be more to come as this is easily one of my favorite books of 2012! I got wrapped up in it early and had a hard time putting it down!
I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you like young adult and mysteries, the characters are all very strong, even the supporting characters, the plot moves at a great pace and every piece of the puzzle revealed makes you feel like you are part of the story.
March 14, 2013
I purchased his novel One Boy's Shadow and read it recently. This novel was the first LGBTQ genre novel I have read. I wondered if I would relate to a romance between two young men. I did, attraction is universal, those first feelings of nervous butterflies no matter the object spoke to me. I also, as I read the novel found myself mentally imagining myself as one of Caleb's parents. I have a son, how would I handle the conversations Caleb had with his parents if he was my son? The romance told in this novel has an added twist of a mystery as well. The home Caleb and his family move to is haunted. I'm personally a wuss and there were some scenes early on that made my heart rate jump a bit. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves young love, mysteries, and family dynamics.
February 19, 2013
I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars: why, you ask? So that people will stop and read the review and not pass over yet another 5 star review (which this book really is!) I loved reading Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a child. I loved the mystery of it all and how those books carried me away. I noticed as soon as the Mackenzie family moved to Stapeton, Nova Scotia in this book that I had those same feelings I had as a child. The writing pulls you in. The characters are all likable (so much so that it shows the difference of LGBT acceptance in 2013 to when I was a child). And the story is full of romance in this coming of age tale of our protagonist. My hat is off to Ross McCoubrey with this book! Huge kudos to you!
October 2, 2012
Find out why I rated this book 5/5 on my blog. http://www.smoochersvoice.blogspot.com
June 1, 2013
A very sweet coming of age story.
February 4, 2021
|4,5*|
This is a very nice Young Aldults novel that managed to pull me in without much in the way of plot or conflict.
This is a really nice display of healthy relationships, not only romantic ones, but friendships too as well as well functioning families. The characters are very nice and aware of each other to the point where it almost becomes unrealistic. It didn’t bother me much, even if it meant that there is very little conflict between the characters. It just is mostly a reassuring, feel good book.
Although the difficulties of being gay are really obvious and thoroughly discussed in the historic timeline, Caleb and Shawn in the main plot line have a very positive experience with both a nice and understanding family and friends.
The setting was very beautiful and reminded me much of my time in a Canadian Highschool. The mystery aspects were intriguing even though I always find the notion that there ‘must’ be something there after you die a little naive. The story had supernatural elements but the characters were pretty down to earth so that grounded the whole story and made it believable.
If you are looking for something nice and comforting to read (that is also pretty gay) this is just the book for you.
This is a very nice Young Aldults novel that managed to pull me in without much in the way of plot or conflict.
This is a really nice display of healthy relationships, not only romantic ones, but friendships too as well as well functioning families. The characters are very nice and aware of each other to the point where it almost becomes unrealistic. It didn’t bother me much, even if it meant that there is very little conflict between the characters. It just is mostly a reassuring, feel good book.
Although the difficulties of being gay are really obvious and thoroughly discussed in the historic timeline, Caleb and Shawn in the main plot line have a very positive experience with both a nice and understanding family and friends.
The setting was very beautiful and reminded me much of my time in a Canadian Highschool. The mystery aspects were intriguing even though I always find the notion that there ‘must’ be something there after you die a little naive. The story had supernatural elements but the characters were pretty down to earth so that grounded the whole story and made it believable.
If you are looking for something nice and comforting to read (that is also pretty gay) this is just the book for you.
April 18, 2016
A lonely house at the edge of a forest; local stories about a boy who vanished in 1943; a love story; a ghost story; a teen adventure.
This book, so far the author’s only novel, is a long, slow, gentle burn. Very much a YA/LGBT story, it is written with a laconic, sauntering pace that should have irritated me, yet did not. McCoubrey’s attention to mundane details might make some readers impatient, but there was something about the constant descriptions that gave me an intense sense of place: by the time I finished this book, I really felt I knew the setting as if I’d lived there. Written from Caleb Mackenzie’s fifteen-year-old perspective, McCoubrey’s novel has the same callow tone that seems to mark every YA book. It is not beautiful writing, but it feels like a teenager wrote it, and in a book like this, that’s not a bad thing.
After a charmingly coy build up, Caleb meets Shane. The awkward tenderness of first love is tempered with the gradual awareness of the presence of Toby’s ghost. As Caleb comes out to the people he cares about one-by-one, he brings them into his mysterious relationship with the shadowy boy. The coming out story goes hand in hand with the ghost story, and McCoubrey has carefully chosen to give Caleb a community of loving, supportive people, at the center of which are the boys who share his adventure. What struck me most about this best-case-scenario approach is that it underscores how terrifying coming out is even when everyone loves you. What struck me second is that Caleb and Shane become a tight-knit foursome with popular classmate Ryley and with Caleb’s handsome straight older brother Blake. Two gay boys and two straight boys, determined to unravel Toby Everett’s story together.
Blake and Caleb’s parents are central figures in the narrative, which is something I appreciate greatly in YA books, where so often parents are sidelined as stupid or irrelevant. Even more interestingly is the crucial roles that old people play in learning the Toby’s truth. McCoubrey has written a written a tale of then and now, of tragedy and triumph, of love and loss.
I don’t know if there are really teenagers in the world today who are as well-behaved and thoughtful as Caleb and his friends are. Maybe because these boys are all Canadian—the novel takes place in Nova Scotia—I can believe that they’re true. Regardless, I loved them all and was consistently moved as the story unfolded. This would make a beautiful lyrical film, if the world we live in was as loving as the world in McCoubrey’s novel.
This book, so far the author’s only novel, is a long, slow, gentle burn. Very much a YA/LGBT story, it is written with a laconic, sauntering pace that should have irritated me, yet did not. McCoubrey’s attention to mundane details might make some readers impatient, but there was something about the constant descriptions that gave me an intense sense of place: by the time I finished this book, I really felt I knew the setting as if I’d lived there. Written from Caleb Mackenzie’s fifteen-year-old perspective, McCoubrey’s novel has the same callow tone that seems to mark every YA book. It is not beautiful writing, but it feels like a teenager wrote it, and in a book like this, that’s not a bad thing.
After a charmingly coy build up, Caleb meets Shane. The awkward tenderness of first love is tempered with the gradual awareness of the presence of Toby’s ghost. As Caleb comes out to the people he cares about one-by-one, he brings them into his mysterious relationship with the shadowy boy. The coming out story goes hand in hand with the ghost story, and McCoubrey has carefully chosen to give Caleb a community of loving, supportive people, at the center of which are the boys who share his adventure. What struck me most about this best-case-scenario approach is that it underscores how terrifying coming out is even when everyone loves you. What struck me second is that Caleb and Shane become a tight-knit foursome with popular classmate Ryley and with Caleb’s handsome straight older brother Blake. Two gay boys and two straight boys, determined to unravel Toby Everett’s story together.
Blake and Caleb’s parents are central figures in the narrative, which is something I appreciate greatly in YA books, where so often parents are sidelined as stupid or irrelevant. Even more interestingly is the crucial roles that old people play in learning the Toby’s truth. McCoubrey has written a written a tale of then and now, of tragedy and triumph, of love and loss.
I don’t know if there are really teenagers in the world today who are as well-behaved and thoughtful as Caleb and his friends are. Maybe because these boys are all Canadian—the novel takes place in Nova Scotia—I can believe that they’re true. Regardless, I loved them all and was consistently moved as the story unfolded. This would make a beautiful lyrical film, if the world we live in was as loving as the world in McCoubrey’s novel.
March 12, 2014
I don't know where to start with this. This novel gave me something to really look forward to and be excited about when I got home, a feeling I haven't experienced for quite some time. I had to physically force myself not to read the whole thing in one go so as to have it last longer.
There's nothing I can write that will really say everything I want to say about One Boy's Shadow or even come close to describing its perfection. You'll just have to read it and see for yourself.
All I can say is that it is beautiful. Everything about this novel is perfect in my eyes: the story is both tender and majestic, the characters are young, caring and innocent, the narrative style puts the reader into Caleb's point of view with such fluency, and McCoubrey conveys a beautiful message. Whilst the contemporary setting brings the characters closer to us and gives us a sense of familiarity, the comments made throughout the novel are static with time and address many issues.
The story felt somehow familiar as I was reading it; it was as if the ideas were somehow locked away in the back of my mind and released only through McCoubrey's beautiful work. It felt like the story I'd been waiting to read my entire life, if that makes sense, and I'm so glad that it has been told in One Boy's Shadow; I wouldn't want it any other way. At first the mysteriousness of the whole plot was rather haunting, for lack of a better word, and I have to admit that I found my self quite tense and, to be honest, scared. However, the novel converts this fear into a heartwarming and touching story and suddenly we don't feel afraid. Towards the later parts of the novel, I actually found myself in tears on a few occasions, which doesn't often happen to me. I wanted to physically hug the characters, and I still wish I could...
To the author:
Mr McCoubrey, if you're reading this (I notice from your facebook page that you sometimes look at goodreads reviews), I just wanted to say Thank you. I'm 17 years old and your book has really helped me. It is the story I've always wanted, and it's just perfect. I would love to meet you someday and say thank you in person. Please keep writing; you have such a wonderful gift.
There's nothing I can write that will really say everything I want to say about One Boy's Shadow or even come close to describing its perfection. You'll just have to read it and see for yourself.
All I can say is that it is beautiful. Everything about this novel is perfect in my eyes: the story is both tender and majestic, the characters are young, caring and innocent, the narrative style puts the reader into Caleb's point of view with such fluency, and McCoubrey conveys a beautiful message. Whilst the contemporary setting brings the characters closer to us and gives us a sense of familiarity, the comments made throughout the novel are static with time and address many issues.
The story felt somehow familiar as I was reading it; it was as if the ideas were somehow locked away in the back of my mind and released only through McCoubrey's beautiful work. It felt like the story I'd been waiting to read my entire life, if that makes sense, and I'm so glad that it has been told in One Boy's Shadow; I wouldn't want it any other way. At first the mysteriousness of the whole plot was rather haunting, for lack of a better word, and I have to admit that I found my self quite tense and, to be honest, scared. However, the novel converts this fear into a heartwarming and touching story and suddenly we don't feel afraid. Towards the later parts of the novel, I actually found myself in tears on a few occasions, which doesn't often happen to me. I wanted to physically hug the characters, and I still wish I could...
To the author:
Mr McCoubrey, if you're reading this (I notice from your facebook page that you sometimes look at goodreads reviews), I just wanted to say Thank you. I'm 17 years old and your book has really helped me. It is the story I've always wanted, and it's just perfect. I would love to meet you someday and say thank you in person. Please keep writing; you have such a wonderful gift.
June 29, 2013
I loved this book. I started reading it while on vacation in Scotland and fund myself sneaking out my kindle to read another screen or two when I really probably should have been looking at the beautiful scenery. The story and the characters drew me in and would not let go. I was completely engrossed and I enjoyed taking the journey with Caleb and Shane and Caleb's totally awesome brother, Blake, and their friend, Ryley. The book totally worked for me as a contemporary coming of age story, as well as a supernatural mystery story. I think it's a credit to the author's skill that never once while reading the story did I question the plausibility of the supernatural aspect -it simply flowed naturally and beautifully in tandem with the contemporary story.
I liked the fact that in its contemporary aspect the book realistically addresses the fears of a young boys who are coming to term with their sexuality - both gay and straight. I also liked the fact that both gay and straight characters experienced angst and uncertainty. And while I thought some parts of the book were written rather idealistically, I like that too, because as much as I enjoy realism, I appreciate that sometimes a YA book needs to show the world as we wish it was. I was particularly impressed with the way the author wrote Caleb's parents. They may not be main characters, but they're far more than caricatures and their relationship with their kids is masterfully conveyed, especially that between Caleb and his father, who communicates primarily through actions rather than words.
I cannot say enough good things about this story and I look forward to reading more from the author!
I liked the fact that in its contemporary aspect the book realistically addresses the fears of a young boys who are coming to term with their sexuality - both gay and straight. I also liked the fact that both gay and straight characters experienced angst and uncertainty. And while I thought some parts of the book were written rather idealistically, I like that too, because as much as I enjoy realism, I appreciate that sometimes a YA book needs to show the world as we wish it was. I was particularly impressed with the way the author wrote Caleb's parents. They may not be main characters, but they're far more than caricatures and their relationship with their kids is masterfully conveyed, especially that between Caleb and his father, who communicates primarily through actions rather than words.
I cannot say enough good things about this story and I look forward to reading more from the author!
July 14, 2013
A charming coming of age story that has love, friendship, mystery and ghosts! How cool is that? I really enjoyed reading this novel. The romance was really innocent and sweet. It was amazingly well-done without being overdone. If you get what I mean?
I also liked how most of the characters, even the supporting ones, had some semblance of life to them. They were nicely drawn; even if I do feel that all the characters were too perfect to be true. Maybe a little more flaws or shortcomings would have been better.
The book was very atmospheric and has some great imagery going on. I admit Caleb's first encounter with the apparition was kind of chilling and gripping as is Shane's storytelling. It was very evocative and suspenseful. As you can see I gave this book 4 stars, a definite reflection of how much I enjoyed reading about Caleb and friends' foray into the forest and search for what happened so many years ago.
I also liked how most of the characters, even the supporting ones, had some semblance of life to them. They were nicely drawn; even if I do feel that all the characters were too perfect to be true. Maybe a little more flaws or shortcomings would have been better.
The book was very atmospheric and has some great imagery going on. I admit Caleb's first encounter with the apparition was kind of chilling and gripping as is Shane's storytelling. It was very evocative and suspenseful. As you can see I gave this book 4 stars, a definite reflection of how much I enjoyed reading about Caleb and friends' foray into the forest and search for what happened so many years ago.
December 27, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up.
Well written story that slowly unfolds into a well rounded supernatural mystery, supported by all those themes close to a teenagers heart.
A key word here, would have to be "slowly". This is not a story to be rushed. In fact, while I appreciate this book as a mum with soon-to-be-teenagers of my own, I'm hard pressed to imagine how an actual teen would like it.
It's all angel powers, time-traveling secret agents, werewolves and vampires these days. The everyday life of a teenage boy, often in excruciating detail, haunted or not, just might not stack up.
Strangely enough, I think this story might actually make a good movie. So much of the narrative detail is visual, and certainly, no one can fault the character development going on.
Well written story that slowly unfolds into a well rounded supernatural mystery, supported by all those themes close to a teenagers heart.
A key word here, would have to be "slowly". This is not a story to be rushed. In fact, while I appreciate this book as a mum with soon-to-be-teenagers of my own, I'm hard pressed to imagine how an actual teen would like it.
It's all angel powers, time-traveling secret agents, werewolves and vampires these days. The everyday life of a teenage boy, often in excruciating detail, haunted or not, just might not stack up.
Strangely enough, I think this story might actually make a good movie. So much of the narrative detail is visual, and certainly, no one can fault the character development going on.
February 13, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect when reading McCoubrey's coming of age novel, but what a wonderful surprise it was for me! It took me back to my own youth as his style reminded me of the great books I read at that age. (Only the books I read didn't allow for same-sex relationships.) I very much enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough to those who love romance, mystery and if you are older like me...a little nostalgia as well.
February 4, 2020
Wow - what a fantastic gay YA coming of age tale with a ghost story setting (spooky and yet so emotionally moving). I sobbed in parts (yes even in the couple of passages that were slightly OTT or overblown in the telling). Loved this book - the ghost character stayed in my mind for days.
January 28, 2013
Wish I could give 100 + stars; I LOVED IT!!!' Cannot wait to read more of Mr. Mcoubry's books
April 20, 2014
While this is a young adult oriented novel, it also is one of those rare books that can find a much wider audience. One Boy's Story is a different kind of tale, with two stories of love separated by sixty odd years. It is written with real style and feeling, with a maturity this is rarely found in this genre. Lovingly and convincingly told, through the eyes of a fifteen year old boy living in a small town in Nova Scotia, it relates the two stories of four boys in love, two from the present and two who lost each other in another time.
Caleb and Shane find love in the present, while Toby and another Caleb found love and heartbreak in the past. Their stories become entwined when modern day Caleb and his family move to an old house in a small town and Caleb finds evidence of another presence in his new surroundings. Young Caleb tells the story with a wisdom and insight that seems beyond his young age. With his new found lover and their friends, they attempt to understand the meaning of clues that are given them by the spirit of the boy who inhabits his house and nearby forest.
Ross A. McCoubrey, in his debut novel, speaks directly to the reader in a way that finds its way into the reader's heart, locating that special place reserved for suspension of rigid rules of life and death, and manages to make an enchantingly beautiful and endearing experience come alive. This novel may be read by readers of all ages, for it speaks directly to your soul, making no pretense of anything other than a work of inspiration and love. It is leisurely paced, exquisitely written and edited, and a real joy.
Since the setting is in Canada, some of therms used will appear odd at times, distances in kilometers, names and places unfamiliar, foods with odd brands to our American ears, but put those aside. Read for the story and what it says to your heart. The differences in location will lose their unfamiliarity as you become a part of the lives of these people.
I have seen other reviewers compare it to the Hardy Boys. That is not true. It may fit the young adult description, and while that may be somewhat correct, it contains more insight into the human spirit than a almost any mainstream fiction novel directed at any age group. I found myself, on older man, getting goosebumps and crying, going through all kind of emotions while reading this very different and special book. The voice of Caleb speaks directly from his heart and makes him a most fascinating storyteller.
I implore you to at least give this gentle and kind book a try. You may find, as I did, that it is indeed quite compelling.
Caleb and Shane find love in the present, while Toby and another Caleb found love and heartbreak in the past. Their stories become entwined when modern day Caleb and his family move to an old house in a small town and Caleb finds evidence of another presence in his new surroundings. Young Caleb tells the story with a wisdom and insight that seems beyond his young age. With his new found lover and their friends, they attempt to understand the meaning of clues that are given them by the spirit of the boy who inhabits his house and nearby forest.
Ross A. McCoubrey, in his debut novel, speaks directly to the reader in a way that finds its way into the reader's heart, locating that special place reserved for suspension of rigid rules of life and death, and manages to make an enchantingly beautiful and endearing experience come alive. This novel may be read by readers of all ages, for it speaks directly to your soul, making no pretense of anything other than a work of inspiration and love. It is leisurely paced, exquisitely written and edited, and a real joy.
Since the setting is in Canada, some of therms used will appear odd at times, distances in kilometers, names and places unfamiliar, foods with odd brands to our American ears, but put those aside. Read for the story and what it says to your heart. The differences in location will lose their unfamiliarity as you become a part of the lives of these people.
I have seen other reviewers compare it to the Hardy Boys. That is not true. It may fit the young adult description, and while that may be somewhat correct, it contains more insight into the human spirit than a almost any mainstream fiction novel directed at any age group. I found myself, on older man, getting goosebumps and crying, going through all kind of emotions while reading this very different and special book. The voice of Caleb speaks directly from his heart and makes him a most fascinating storyteller.
I implore you to at least give this gentle and kind book a try. You may find, as I did, that it is indeed quite compelling.
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