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The Boone Series #2
Matching Scars
"Matching Scars" - continuing Boone's story begun in "Pushing Back" On his own and struggling, Boone has a place to stay, but Gamaliel’s son-in-law Jerry wants him out, his daughter isn’t fighting for Boone as hard as she could, and his friends can’t do much to help. Gamaliel’s health worsens, and as Boone sees how far Jerry is willing to go to get rid of him, he realizes he’s not the only one with scars.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 8, 2018
1 person is currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Jim Hartsell
21 books20 followersLike most of us, there are many descriptors that apply to me: husband, father, grandfather, voracious reader, and average hammer dulcimer player are a few of them. I also write, concentrating on Southern fiction and children’s books.
During my seven decades I have lived in a total of three counties, all in East Tennessee, and all contiguous; in one of those counties is the farm that’s been in our family for five generations. I have deep roots in this area. My immediate family consists of my wife of 40+ years, my two children, their spouses, and, at the moment, a total of six grandchildren. I have been assured that six is it, but I remain skeptical. My wife and I share our home on House Mountain with a cat and two shelter dogs.
My professional career was spent in education, working with teens in various treatment centers, locked units, residential facilities, and public school alternative classrooms. These decades spent with teens who were characterized as losers at best and dangerous at worst taught me much about resilience, strength, and bravery, and helped form the concept of the main character in the Boone series. It has been said that the problem with stereotypes isn’t that they aren’t true, but that they are incomplete. Certainly this is the case with the young people I spent so much time with, who are more like the rest of us than not.
I have a beautiful family, all the necessities of life plus a few luxuries, a fine circle of friends, and time to write books, play music, and enjoy the moments as they present themselves one by one. By any measure that matters to me, I am a very wealthy man.
During my seven decades I have lived in a total of three counties, all in East Tennessee, and all contiguous; in one of those counties is the farm that’s been in our family for five generations. I have deep roots in this area. My immediate family consists of my wife of 40+ years, my two children, their spouses, and, at the moment, a total of six grandchildren. I have been assured that six is it, but I remain skeptical. My wife and I share our home on House Mountain with a cat and two shelter dogs.
My professional career was spent in education, working with teens in various treatment centers, locked units, residential facilities, and public school alternative classrooms. These decades spent with teens who were characterized as losers at best and dangerous at worst taught me much about resilience, strength, and bravery, and helped form the concept of the main character in the Boone series. It has been said that the problem with stereotypes isn’t that they aren’t true, but that they are incomplete. Certainly this is the case with the young people I spent so much time with, who are more like the rest of us than not.
I have a beautiful family, all the necessities of life plus a few luxuries, a fine circle of friends, and time to write books, play music, and enjoy the moments as they present themselves one by one. By any measure that matters to me, I am a very wealthy man.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 11, 2017
After finishing Book One in this series, Pushing Back, I was excited to get the chance to read more about the life of one of my favorite literary characters since Scout Finch. If that sounds like high praise, it's because that's exactly what it is.
Jim Hartsell has a real gift with first-person narrative. Matching Scars picks up where Pushing Back left off. Boone is still struggling with the challenges of adulthood that have been thrust upon him prematurely. He tells you about these challenges in a way that pulls you into his confidence like a brother or close friend. He's engaging. He's real. I almost expect to bump into him on the street in real life. I mentioned this in my review of Pushing Back, but it bears repeating here. Part of Boone's appeal is that he's not perfect. He is, however, perfectly flawed. His human weaknesses and shortcomings remain a part of his psyche, even as he is forced along the path of maturity. This makes Boone an incredibly believable character - and it makes the reader genuinely care about what is happening to him.
For readers of the first book in this series, you will be glad to see the same small cast of characters assembled around Boone in the story. A few newcomers show up, but the circle is still pretty small. This gives the story a sense of intimacy and allows the reader to stay close to the personalities in play. You really do need to read Pushing Back prior to diving into Matching Scars. Book Two is excellent on its own, but there are many threads picked up from the first book.
I loved this book. I can't wait for the next installment.
Note to parents : As always, I try to give some guidance to parents who may have kids reading books I review. Matching Scars is about on par with its predecessor with regard to adult content. There is some scattered mild profanity and a little bit of tasteful sensuality, but nothing offensive or explicit. I would rate this book at about a PG-13 level. It's not a book aimed at children or the YA crowd, but it should be fine for mid-teens and older.
Jim Hartsell has a real gift with first-person narrative. Matching Scars picks up where Pushing Back left off. Boone is still struggling with the challenges of adulthood that have been thrust upon him prematurely. He tells you about these challenges in a way that pulls you into his confidence like a brother or close friend. He's engaging. He's real. I almost expect to bump into him on the street in real life. I mentioned this in my review of Pushing Back, but it bears repeating here. Part of Boone's appeal is that he's not perfect. He is, however, perfectly flawed. His human weaknesses and shortcomings remain a part of his psyche, even as he is forced along the path of maturity. This makes Boone an incredibly believable character - and it makes the reader genuinely care about what is happening to him.
For readers of the first book in this series, you will be glad to see the same small cast of characters assembled around Boone in the story. A few newcomers show up, but the circle is still pretty small. This gives the story a sense of intimacy and allows the reader to stay close to the personalities in play. You really do need to read Pushing Back prior to diving into Matching Scars. Book Two is excellent on its own, but there are many threads picked up from the first book.
I loved this book. I can't wait for the next installment.
Note to parents : As always, I try to give some guidance to parents who may have kids reading books I review. Matching Scars is about on par with its predecessor with regard to adult content. There is some scattered mild profanity and a little bit of tasteful sensuality, but nothing offensive or explicit. I would rate this book at about a PG-13 level. It's not a book aimed at children or the YA crowd, but it should be fine for mid-teens and older.
January 14, 2023
Matching Scars picks up right where Pushing Back ends, and advances the story with excellent action, engaging descriptions and a solid overall sense of Boone’s life in the hard-core Appalachian mountains of east Tennessee. Boone loses his best friend; he develops new friendships; and he begins learning how to fit into an adult-dominated world. Along the way, he has to deal with problems linked to his best friend’s death, and he joins forces with a new friend, Tiny, to begin making moonshine. His developing girlfriend, Nancy, helps him gain a driver’s license and teaches him how to work around some of his anger issues by learning to share himself with others. This is not a book to push aside. Read it, enjoy it! I’m off now to get a copy of Keeping Secrets, the third book in the Boone series.
March 9, 2021
Boone has become a favorite character of mine. After finishing book 1 (Pushing Back), I was anxious to get to know more about him. I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the first person writing style—it helped me get into the mindset of this young man as he faces more challenges and struggles. I like feeling as though I’m there with Boone as I learn how courageous and savvy he becomes one step at a time. Looking forward to book 3!
September 13, 2021
Matching Scars by Jim Hartsell, book 2 in the Boone series. Once again, Jim Hartsell has brought us a fascinating and page-turning book. The main character, Boone, finds that while you can’t choose your family, you can choose your friends. Fortunately, many of the friends that seem to find him are good, trustworthy people, and that is a great help to Boone as he navigates his way to adulthood. The story is told quite simply, but powerfully. I’m eager to get hold of books 3 & 4.
March 1, 2020
A worthy successor to the first Boone book, PUSHING BACK. I can’t say too much about it, in case I ruin it for you, but I hope you’ll race through it like I did, liking Boone more and more as he gets deeper and deeper into trouble. An authentic, from what I can tell, depiction of an Appalachian life lived on the edge.
June 11, 2021
Growing and Learning
Matching scars carries on from where the first book left off. Boone learns to trust from Nancy, learns that others have scars. Boone has to let go and find his inner strengths. Mr. Hartsell has created a realistic and gritty young character the reader will want to continue to know.
Matching scars carries on from where the first book left off. Boone learns to trust from Nancy, learns that others have scars. Boone has to let go and find his inner strengths. Mr. Hartsell has created a realistic and gritty young character the reader will want to continue to know.
February 10, 2019
Even better than book one of this series. Love how the author writes first person even though it is not my favorite type of read. Boone is a character you will both love and hate as he grows to manhood. His decisions are frequently questionable, just like most teens.
Ready to read book two!
Ready to read book two!
January 9, 2024
The author continues his story of Boone, a young boy left to fight his own battles and essentially raise himself. These books are easy to read and full engagement in the story is rapid. Looking forward to reading the next one.
June 1, 2023
Boone, Nancy, and Frankie continue to keep me turning pages!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews