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Little Boy
New in new dust jacket. SIGNED by the author on the limitation page (signature only). 1st LIMITED SIGNED edition, #178/500. New, unread copy with dust jacket in protective mylar sleeve. “James Cooper's latest will be an enduring coming-of-age classic, reminiscent of McCammon's Boy's Life. Little Boy is a novel of marvels, perfectly capturing the uneasy balance of magic, disappointment, and sheer terror that shapes our childhood. So many unforgettable events occur, but the friendship at its heart is the book's most memorable feature.”-- Norman Prentiss. By the author of "Terra Damnata" and "Scar Tissue". Rare. Where possible, all books come with dust jacket in a clear protective plastic sleeve, sealed in a ziplock bag, wrapped in bubble wrap, shipped in a box
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
James Cooper
330 books20 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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May 5, 2026#LittleBoy – James Cooper
#CemeteryDancePublications
One summer can be condensed as a single event in memory; the last vestige of childhood metamorphosing into the dark hinterland of adulthood. For twelve-year-old Fergus the summer with Gregor the Giant shaped his childhood, destined to remain a nostalgic coming-of-age recollection.
He did not plan to be a hero, it simply felt wrong to leave the embarrassing posters featuring Ms Hichcliffe out. She has always been kind to him and his best friend, Ralph. This seemingly inconsequential act of youthful chivalry was their first step to adulthood, the trigger immortalizing that unforgettable summer.
The subsequent events appeared to be random but blended into a process of growth and awakening: a suspected corpse in Dog Lake, a disappearance, domestic violence, alcoholism, art, a deformed stranger, the cruelty of bullies, and a hot air balloon.
The history of Little Boy, the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945, initially manifests in the artwork of Fergus’s father, but then becomes symbolic of a personal tragedy, with retribution executed by a metaphorical Enola Gay. Prior to these events Fergus could not imagine making sense of the adult world, “He would never understand grown-ups, not for a second. Their world seemed so different to his, so random and imprecise.”
But this summer would teach him the power of friendship during the loss of innocence, the various manifestations of both good and evil, the comfort of a painted giant, and that the mind, knowing the secret language that can devour us from the inside out, is the real monster.
#Uitdieperdsebek
#CemeteryDancePublications
One summer can be condensed as a single event in memory; the last vestige of childhood metamorphosing into the dark hinterland of adulthood. For twelve-year-old Fergus the summer with Gregor the Giant shaped his childhood, destined to remain a nostalgic coming-of-age recollection.
He did not plan to be a hero, it simply felt wrong to leave the embarrassing posters featuring Ms Hichcliffe out. She has always been kind to him and his best friend, Ralph. This seemingly inconsequential act of youthful chivalry was their first step to adulthood, the trigger immortalizing that unforgettable summer.
The subsequent events appeared to be random but blended into a process of growth and awakening: a suspected corpse in Dog Lake, a disappearance, domestic violence, alcoholism, art, a deformed stranger, the cruelty of bullies, and a hot air balloon.
The history of Little Boy, the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945, initially manifests in the artwork of Fergus’s father, but then becomes symbolic of a personal tragedy, with retribution executed by a metaphorical Enola Gay. Prior to these events Fergus could not imagine making sense of the adult world, “He would never understand grown-ups, not for a second. Their world seemed so different to his, so random and imprecise.”
But this summer would teach him the power of friendship during the loss of innocence, the various manifestations of both good and evil, the comfort of a painted giant, and that the mind, knowing the secret language that can devour us from the inside out, is the real monster.
#Uitdieperdsebek
January 2, 2024
Filtered through the gauze of childhood during the coruscating gaze of a long hot summer, Cooper's coming of age story captures the timeless quality of youthful (mis)understanding in a gripping page turner of truth and consequence, mayhem and mystery. A heartening reminder of the powerful force that is friendship and belonging. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy
Little Boy by James Cooper is a slow burn in every sense of the word. It takes its time getting where it’s going, and for a good chunk of it I honestly wasn’t even sure I was fully on board. It drifts, it lingers, it builds atmosphere more than momentum, and I kept waiting for it to either click or lose me completely.
By the end though, it all tightens up in a way that actually works. It wraps itself up cleanly, almost too cleanly at times, like everything gets tied off with a bow whether you expected it to or not. That final shape gave the earlier pacing more meaning in hindsight, even if I didn’t always feel that in the moment while reading it.
What really carried it for me was the writing style. There’s a rhythm to it that feels deliberate and controlled, and even when the story was moving slowly, the prose kept me interested. I wouldn’t call it an easy read or something you fly through, but it leaves a solid impression once you’re done, especially if you’re patient enough to let it unfold on its own terms.
By the end though, it all tightens up in a way that actually works. It wraps itself up cleanly, almost too cleanly at times, like everything gets tied off with a bow whether you expected it to or not. That final shape gave the earlier pacing more meaning in hindsight, even if I didn’t always feel that in the moment while reading it.
What really carried it for me was the writing style. There’s a rhythm to it that feels deliberate and controlled, and even when the story was moving slowly, the prose kept me interested. I wouldn’t call it an easy read or something you fly through, but it leaves a solid impression once you’re done, especially if you’re patient enough to let it unfold on its own terms.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A beautifully done coming-of-age novel, in the tradition of Stephen King's "The Body" and Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life". Although the author often takes the longest way possible to reach his point, making too much of familiar family dramas and well-worn summer break situations, the book is written with such care, empathy and heart that it's easy to lose oneself in it and enjoy the mayhem, the misunderstandings, the banter and the early adolescent confusion. The portrayal of friendship between two boys discovering the dark side of their town, exploring the loss of childhood, and confronting the limits of parental authority, is simply brilliant! The thriller vibes and the unexpected twists (developing from the boys' witnessing a couple of suspicious incidents of potential murder and domestic abuse), are just a bonus! Recommend for fans of dark boyhood adventure and insightful depictions of the journey into early adulthood.
May 6, 2026
Night
Ralph and Fergus are out late one night for an adventure. What the witness changes everything. Coming of age spooky read.
Ralph and Fergus are out late one night for an adventure. What the witness changes everything. Coming of age spooky read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews