Mark Sills, 16, found the car on Craigslist --the ad read RUNS GOOD -NO REVERSE. He buys the car and, along with his pal Fred, decides to fix it up, but he doesn't have much experience. Oh, Mark once oiled the chain on his bike and Fred added a quart of oil to his Dad's car, but that was about it. A car with no reverse soon finds Mark in trouble with his girlfriend, her mom and his school's Vice Principal. He finds some new friends too -- an ex-Marine junkyard owner and an old lady named Agnes. The title describes the car, and also the boys --and a girl named Karen.
'Runs Good -- No Reverse' by Mike Hershman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Finished on August 20, 2017 GIVEN FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR HONEST REVIEW FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle
BOOK DESCRIPTION: Pressured by his girlfriend into buying his first car, sixteen-year-old Mike Sills purchases a beat-up Nissan that has no reverse. Together with his two friends, Fred and Karen, Mike is determined to replace the transmission and get his car in tip-top shape. The title describes the car, and also the boys --and a girl named Karen.
MY REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I was first asked to review this, I thought it might not be up my alley because it was about cars, and I am not a car person (I am 32 years old and have never had a driver's license), but it is so much more than a book about cars. This is a sweet, simple, story about life, and those are often my most favorite kinds of stories.
As Mark works on his Nissan, we watch him grow. We see his friendships evolve. We see him mature in his relationships with girls. We see the sort of man he's going to become. The Nissan is only a backdrop for those things -- a catalyst sometimes, but mostly it's a backdrop.
Hershman writes about being a teenager well. Even Stacy, the not-so-nice girlfriend, whom he could have written in a much snottier light, he handles in a true to life way but with tenderness and truth. Being a teen is bewildering and difficult, but somehow most of us get through it okay.
This is charming, easy to read story. Pick it up and give it a read, even if you don't drive!
Every high school student who takes Drivers Ed should read this book. We need more Marks, Freds, and Karens and this might inspire some people to swell the ranks. A truly wonderful book full of hard work, realistic goals, and friendships in unexpected places. Oh it wasn't all serious, plenty of fun and enjoyment for the characters as well as the reader. Mr Hershman did a great job of creating characters that are unforgettable, and made the reader want them to succeed. Thoroughly enjoyable story. I just wish it wasn't over so quickly!
Reminds me of my time growing up.We had a crew of three unfortunately no girls to talk about..The book is very easy reading entertainingly funny.Ended too quick.Will read some more of Mr. Hershman writing
Mark is a sweet if sometimes clueless young man. “Runs Good No Reverse” is the story of a boy, his friends and a car but also contains some great life lessons. I loved the simple way Hershman writes and his down home characters. These are regular kids with regular problems and what a breath of fresh air they are.
Navigating the world of teen trends and materialistic snooty kids without outright denigrating anyone is something I have never seen in a story. I’m not saying these kids didn’t deserve the insult but Hershmans accepting tone makes for an interesting read. Yeah, Stacy isn’t the most genuine of people but she is genuinely being herself. Even if herself is a crap person.
Mark is a great kid and I love how kind and thoughtful he is to others without having an ulterior motive for it. He simply sees something that needs done and does it. I like him immensely.
Fred and Karen’s patience with Marks bumbling is a good lesson to all of us. Our friends are going to mess up. That’s life. It’s important that we remember that people are not perfect and we have to love them…mistakes and all.
I loved this story. I love the way everything evolved and all the new connections and friendships that came from just being kind. I love the world that Mark and his friends live in. I wish it was the same as I do.