The Button Boy

by Barbara Peterson

Josiah Howard lost his parents to the Spanish flu and became an orphan at age five. After five turbulent years in foster care, the desperate ten-year-old Josiah ran away. During the Great Depression, he finds himself alone on the streets begging for food. So desperately hungry that first week, he takes off again, this time to the woods to survive on his own. He thinks that if Tarzan could survive in the forest, so can he. Using his wits and ingenuity, he’s able to survive in the woods for five weeks.

One night as Josiah is exploring by a creek looking for shelter, the old button maker living by the creek catches him on his property. This is the beginning of Josiah’s new life as we watch the boy, and the old German button maker come to depend on each other. As the boy learns a new trade, he meets a soup line volunteer named Elijah Meier who becomes his friend and business mentor.

The Button Boy is an endearing and at times a heartbreaking story of a boy finding a new home, learning a trade, and having big dreams for his future. It is the story of the button boy finding love with the cute apple stand girl, their life together, and how together they overcome challenges to find success in the world of buttons.

Genres: Historical Fiction

373 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2024

About the author

Barbara Peterson grew up by the Four Mile Creek and picked blackberries in the woods around her Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin childhood home. Many of my stories focus on memories of my family's early beginnings in the central Wisconsin area. The Button Boy is my debut novel. If you are from Wisconsin, you will notice many of the cities and place descriptions are real in my writing, but the characters are all fictional.

I moved from Wisconsin Rapids to Wausau, Wisconsin after high school and studied business at Wausau's technical college. I worked many years as an assistant administrator, worked in healthcare customer service and owned my own cross stitch design company for ten years called Something In Common Designs. My love for thrifting, antiques, and cross stitch thrust me into the world of online selling which is one of my favorite pastimes today. I have an ETSY store under Moosemom and sell on Ebay.

I also loves nature walks and gardening. I am now retired and spend my days daydreaming, reading, and writing. I am married, have two grown sons, and one grandson. A cat named Mosey is a thorn in my side, but still love her mischievous ways.

Reviews

[Vadonna L. Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpers

I learned a lot about how buttons are made. Sadness for the orphan boy that turns into joy. Some descriptions were too detailed for me. Maybe if I were an architect room dimensions might interest me more. I liked the relationship part better. Good read though.

[Katherine Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Button Boy is such a heartwarming and inspiring story full of resilience, hope, and the beauty of unexpected connections. It’s one of those books that makes you believe in second chances and the power of dreams.

[Barbara Peterson]

I'm the author, of course, I loved it.

[Merit Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Button Boy is a touching and inspiring story of resilience and hope. Josiah’s journey from orphaned runaway to skilled artisan is beautifully told, full of heart, friendship, and determination. A story that makes you believe in second chances and the power of dreams.

[Irene Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very uplifting and believable historical fiction - assuming it’s a fictional story. Interesting as far as how buttons were hand made by artisans, and how button making and the button making business evolved in the story. The imagery created by the writer is quite vivid.