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Four Miles to Pinecone
He was an eyewitness to a crime that his best friend committed. . . .
“It all started the day school ended”
That was when my English teacher decided not to flunk me—if I wrote a long story during my summer vacation. My name’s Tom Barry. I’m sixteen, and I really do want to be a junior next year at the high school in St. Paul where I live. But with my full-time job at Mr. Kerr’s grocery store, I didn’t think I’d have enough time to do it.
But by the end of the week, the paper seemed small potatoes. You see, Mr. Kerr’s store was broken into—and my best friend Mouse was involved. I saw him, but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be a fink.
I kept mum because it was right about then that I was invited to stay at my uncle’s resort near Pinecone. It’s a real neat place in the Minnesota woods, and I figured I would cool out there. And then I found that they have crime just like in St. Paul—but this time the stakes were much higher. Suddenly, my life was on the line. . . .
“It all started the day school ended”
That was when my English teacher decided not to flunk me—if I wrote a long story during my summer vacation. My name’s Tom Barry. I’m sixteen, and I really do want to be a junior next year at the high school in St. Paul where I live. But with my full-time job at Mr. Kerr’s grocery store, I didn’t think I’d have enough time to do it.
But by the end of the week, the paper seemed small potatoes. You see, Mr. Kerr’s store was broken into—and my best friend Mouse was involved. I saw him, but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to be a fink.
I kept mum because it was right about then that I was invited to stay at my uncle’s resort near Pinecone. It’s a real neat place in the Minnesota woods, and I figured I would cool out there. And then I found that they have crime just like in St. Paul—but this time the stakes were much higher. Suddenly, my life was on the line. . . .
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
23 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Jon Hassler
33 books115 followersJon Hassler was born in Minneapolis, but spent his formative years in the small Minnesota towns of Staples and Plainview, where he graduated from high school. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. John's University in 1955. While teaching English at three different Minnesota high schools, he received his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota in 1960. He continued to teach at the high school level until 1965, when he began his collegiate teaching career: first at Bemidji State University, then Brainerd Community College (now called Central Lakes College), and finally at Saint John's, where he became the Writer-in-Residence in 1980.
During his high-school teaching years, Hassler married and fathered three children. His first marriage lasted 25 years. He had two more marriages; the last was to Gretchen Kresl Hassler.
In 1994, Hassler was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a disease similar to Parkinson's. It caused vision and speech problems, as well as difficulty walking, but he was able to continue writing. He was reported to have finished a novel just days before his death. Hassler died in 2008, at the age of 74, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.[1]
The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, Minnesota, is named for him.
During his high-school teaching years, Hassler married and fathered three children. His first marriage lasted 25 years. He had two more marriages; the last was to Gretchen Kresl Hassler.
In 1994, Hassler was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a disease similar to Parkinson's. It caused vision and speech problems, as well as difficulty walking, but he was able to continue writing. He was reported to have finished a novel just days before his death. Hassler died in 2008, at the age of 74, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.[1]
The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, Minnesota, is named for him.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 21, 2019
Sort of an after-school special in book form, it's definitely a story with a moral about peer pressure. I don't remember much about it but know I read it in 1985 because I mentioned it in my journal.
June 6, 2022
I've read all of Jon Hassler's adult novels and enjoyed them, so I thought I would take a chance on one of his YA books. This one, Four Miles to Pinecone, was written at about the same time as his novel Staggerford, making it one of his earliest published works.
Unlike most of his novels, this one does not begin in a small town. High school student Tom Barry lives in the Twin Cities, working part-time at Mr. Kerr's small neighborhood grocery/convenience store. After failing an English class, Tom's teacher offers him the opportunity to make up the grade by writing a lengthy paper over the summer months. The first-person narrative in this novel is presented as the result of his labors.
Thieves come to Mr. Kerr's store, robbing the till, and putting Mr. Kerr in the hospital. Tom, a silent witness to much of the robbery, recognizes his friend Mouse's voice as one of the criminals, but does not turn him in. He is torn up by the tension between his loyalty to his friend and his concern for his boss. Later in the summer, Tom gets an opportunity to spend some time at a cabin owned by his Aunt and Uncle, near Pinecone, Minnesota. He finds himself in an even more difficult situation while staying in the lake country, and must face additional moral dilemmas.
I saw a couple of reviews that compared this to an after school special, and perhaps that's a fair analogy, although it seems to be a comment made to disparage. I suspect that people use that language only because this book involves one or more teenagers who have moral lessons to learn. Plenty of adult books have moral lessons in them, implied or explicit, and we don't talk about those novels as if they're second-rate literature.
Hassler's writing elevates this one above the usual pedantic fare that that "after school special" language implies. His characters seem more subtle and nuanced than those in a mere fable or parable, and there are clearly larger social concerns embedded in the text. Mouse comes from a low-income family where there are mental health issues. His choices in life feel very constrained. Tom (and Hassler) clearly have compassion for Mouse and, despite his bad choices, don't want to see his life wasted in prison. This makes Tom's dilemma even more difficult.
If the plot feels a little too straightforward and mechanical at times, Hassler's gift for deft, unflashy descriptions of everyday life, coupled with his gentle rendering of complicated people, redeem it. This is a quick, worthy read for those who like YA stories or who are fans of Hassler's adult storytelling and want to explore what else he produced.
Unlike most of his novels, this one does not begin in a small town. High school student Tom Barry lives in the Twin Cities, working part-time at Mr. Kerr's small neighborhood grocery/convenience store. After failing an English class, Tom's teacher offers him the opportunity to make up the grade by writing a lengthy paper over the summer months. The first-person narrative in this novel is presented as the result of his labors.
Thieves come to Mr. Kerr's store, robbing the till, and putting Mr. Kerr in the hospital. Tom, a silent witness to much of the robbery, recognizes his friend Mouse's voice as one of the criminals, but does not turn him in. He is torn up by the tension between his loyalty to his friend and his concern for his boss. Later in the summer, Tom gets an opportunity to spend some time at a cabin owned by his Aunt and Uncle, near Pinecone, Minnesota. He finds himself in an even more difficult situation while staying in the lake country, and must face additional moral dilemmas.
I saw a couple of reviews that compared this to an after school special, and perhaps that's a fair analogy, although it seems to be a comment made to disparage. I suspect that people use that language only because this book involves one or more teenagers who have moral lessons to learn. Plenty of adult books have moral lessons in them, implied or explicit, and we don't talk about those novels as if they're second-rate literature.
Hassler's writing elevates this one above the usual pedantic fare that that "after school special" language implies. His characters seem more subtle and nuanced than those in a mere fable or parable, and there are clearly larger social concerns embedded in the text. Mouse comes from a low-income family where there are mental health issues. His choices in life feel very constrained. Tom (and Hassler) clearly have compassion for Mouse and, despite his bad choices, don't want to see his life wasted in prison. This makes Tom's dilemma even more difficult.
If the plot feels a little too straightforward and mechanical at times, Hassler's gift for deft, unflashy descriptions of everyday life, coupled with his gentle rendering of complicated people, redeem it. This is a quick, worthy read for those who like YA stories or who are fans of Hassler's adult storytelling and want to explore what else he produced.
June 22, 2013
This quick retro-read reminded me of SE Hinton's books.
April 22, 2022
Yesterday I finished reading Four Miles to Pinecone, a YA novel by Minnesota native Jon Hassler, published in 1977.
This is the first Hassler book I've read and I really enjoyed it. Yes, it reads somewhat like an afterschool special, but it was the 70s and a lot of YA novels were just coming into prominence. The genre was still being discovered on what it could and couldn't do.
The story is simple. Teenager Tom has flunked English and will be held back (you know, back when there were consequences for failure/laziness and there were no such things as participation trophies, you know, the good old days). So he goes to his teacher and the teacher tells him that in order to pass, he must write a story that's as many pages as the assignments missing. 47! Tom's friend Mouse offers him a better job than the grocery story Tom works at, but Tom refuses.
The grocery store is robbed, Tom knows who one of the robbers is, but doesn't turn them in. He then goes up to Pinecone, Minnesota, to his uncle's cabin near the Canadian border to spend a week there. While there, there's another series of robberies, this time with motors off boats, and when Tom sees the robbers this time, he steps up and tries to do something.
Like I said, very simple, but simple is somewhat fine from time to time. Hassler sets this novel in his native state, Minnesota, and it comes out in the writing. Made me want to go up north and just lie in a boat on a beautiful lake under the Minnesota skies all summer long.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who is from Minnesota or is looking for a quick YA novel to get through. Yes, I wish it had been a bit longer, coming in at only 116 pages, but oh, well. Quick and simple YA story from the 70s with a tight plot. Jon Hassler's Four Miles to Pinecone. My rating - 4/5.
This is the first Hassler book I've read and I really enjoyed it. Yes, it reads somewhat like an afterschool special, but it was the 70s and a lot of YA novels were just coming into prominence. The genre was still being discovered on what it could and couldn't do.
The story is simple. Teenager Tom has flunked English and will be held back (you know, back when there were consequences for failure/laziness and there were no such things as participation trophies, you know, the good old days). So he goes to his teacher and the teacher tells him that in order to pass, he must write a story that's as many pages as the assignments missing. 47! Tom's friend Mouse offers him a better job than the grocery story Tom works at, but Tom refuses.
The grocery store is robbed, Tom knows who one of the robbers is, but doesn't turn them in. He then goes up to Pinecone, Minnesota, to his uncle's cabin near the Canadian border to spend a week there. While there, there's another series of robberies, this time with motors off boats, and when Tom sees the robbers this time, he steps up and tries to do something.
Like I said, very simple, but simple is somewhat fine from time to time. Hassler sets this novel in his native state, Minnesota, and it comes out in the writing. Made me want to go up north and just lie in a boat on a beautiful lake under the Minnesota skies all summer long.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who is from Minnesota or is looking for a quick YA novel to get through. Yes, I wish it had been a bit longer, coming in at only 116 pages, but oh, well. Quick and simple YA story from the 70s with a tight plot. Jon Hassler's Four Miles to Pinecone. My rating - 4/5.
May 10, 2017
This book is not just a mystery or action book its has great feeling to it. The characters have life because this book has some truth behind it. The main character is a real person that person wrote this book and many more. He has a way to make the character have pop out of the book and stay with you.
My favorite part of the book is when Jon Hassler decided to turn in his best friend to the police because he cared so much him he did not want him to go down that path. He learned that you can break so laws very small laws like fish with out a license but big laws like stealing or hurting someone is not to be tolerated.
My favorite part of the book is when Jon Hassler decided to turn in his best friend to the police because he cared so much him he did not want him to go down that path. He learned that you can break so laws very small laws like fish with out a license but big laws like stealing or hurting someone is not to be tolerated.
April 22, 2023
An engaging story about life in St. Paul in the ‘70s. Tom flunked English class, so he had to write a story to change his grade. He ends up telling the story of his summer, and how he witnessed and helped turn in two different robbers. It was a fun read that took a little over an hour. “Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t always easy” is a great theme for a book. The seventh graders at Legacy read this, so I decided to try it. It also shows the benefits of “telling on” someone when they commit a crime and how you can help improve their lives by turning them in.
August 16, 2018
Very compelling and interesting read. I immediately gave it to my 13 year old son to read as well.
April 27, 2019
I read this while I subbed an afternoon in an ELA classroom. Quick, satisfying story. Loved it.
October 31, 2019
We read it as a class read and it was a easy story line to follow and was interesting.
October 22, 2020
Short novel by master novelist Jon Hassler. It's a short read, but the author did a masterful job of developing his characters. Good read for adults too!
May 27, 2021
Good story by a local author.
October 28, 2022
This is one of only two novels written by Jon Hassler specifically for a young (12+) audience. While Hassler is one of my favorite authors, I am surprised how much I love this book!
November 10, 2023
It was a good and it have a little bit of crime
April 29, 2024
Love Hassler's writing style. Fun read and great for teens.
September 22, 2024
3.75. This is very dated but I enjoyed the adventure. My mentor teacher recommended it for a special class, oh, like 19 years ago? Finally getting around to it.
May 27, 2025
Story is okay, but the enjoyment for me came from reading a book that was contemporary when written but now feels like historical fiction. Mom and Pop grocery stores, personal checks, MCM St. Paul.
September 7, 2024
Sixteen year old Tom was witness to a crime. Unfortunately, the robbery was committed by his best friend. Tom didn't want to rat on his friend, so he kept mum. During the robbery, Tom's boss, a shopkeeper, was badly injured, and thus Tom lost his job. He went to spend Labor Day weekend at his uncle's cabin by a lake. He discovered that crime also occurs out in the wilderness. Once again, he was witness to a robbery by someone he thought was his uncle's friend. This time, he is brave enough to report both crimes to the police, even if he loses his friend in the process.
December 21, 2010
This is a boy scout of a book. By that I mean its well intentioned and certainly an adequate read but not at all spectacular. The writer's conciet is that this story is being written by a high schooler who has failed English and is making up for it by writing a 48 page paper between his sophomore and junior years. Well, the book is sophomoric in spots. The story moves right along. The plot details are all there and it does give an interesting picture of what one young man may have felt about coming of age in Minnesotta in the 1970's. However the story feels more dated than that.
I read this book because I was looking to become more familiar with a juvenile voice, hopefully from the midwest and if that voice were unhappy and a bit morally challenged, even better. For those reasons, reading this was a sucess and it was well written enough to not be a hardship, but this is NOT a book that will encourage a reluctant teen reader to read more.
I read this book because I was looking to become more familiar with a juvenile voice, hopefully from the midwest and if that voice were unhappy and a bit morally challenged, even better. For those reasons, reading this was a sucess and it was well written enough to not be a hardship, but this is NOT a book that will encourage a reluctant teen reader to read more.
June 7, 2011
It’s a young adult novel written by one of my favorite authors, Jon Hassler! Published in 1977, FMTP is an innocent novel for young adults. Very innocent.
The action begins when school ends. Tom Barry is faced with a failing grade from his English teacher. He is offered a chance at redemption: he is assigned to write a story during summer vacation. Can he do it?
Well, the story he is assigned to write actually writes itself, as Tom witnesses two crimes and experiences betrayal from unexpected sources. Tom is a good young man from Saint Paul. Obviously, he will do the right thing, and all will end well.
Nice, quick, and very old-fashioned.
The action begins when school ends. Tom Barry is faced with a failing grade from his English teacher. He is offered a chance at redemption: he is assigned to write a story during summer vacation. Can he do it?
Well, the story he is assigned to write actually writes itself, as Tom witnesses two crimes and experiences betrayal from unexpected sources. Tom is a good young man from Saint Paul. Obviously, he will do the right thing, and all will end well.
Nice, quick, and very old-fashioned.
October 30, 2014
It's fun to read books that you had to read for school as a teenager to see what you think of them as an adult. I remember reading this for English and I thought the character of Tom seemed like such a stud. I think a little differently now but I can see why it was a book choice for teenagers. It had a good story to question what is morally a right thing to do in life, friends or not and it was by a Minnesota author too!
February 1, 2017
This book was better than I thought! The cool thing is, it takes place in Minnesota. It's about crime and the crazy life of Tom Barry. I chose this book because my mom read it. She liked it, so did I. My favorite part was when Tom finally got to the police station. I was really surprised when I found out Lester was the person who stole all of those motors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2007
a great thriller...especially for kids
October 14, 2008
boring.. but some interesting parts..
July 17, 2012
One of the BEST, if not THE best, read aloud I ever did.
August 20, 2013
Teen-age.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews