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Toby Tales #1
The Miserable Move
Meet Toby, a ten-year-old boy from Colorado who's new to Washington, D.C. A long, boring summer lies ahead before he makes his first friend, Hailey. The only problem—she’s a girl.
As this newcomer adjusts, he finds himself passing the days with his bothersome neighbor on her annoying summer adventures. When the school year begins, nothing sounds more exciting than starting the fifth-grade and venturing out into new friendships with boys.
Yet, to Toby's surprise, the guys just aren't the same, and his friendship with Hailey grows into something unexpected. Join this duo through Toby's tales of friendships and triumphs, and stay tuned to see what happens next!
As this newcomer adjusts, he finds himself passing the days with his bothersome neighbor on her annoying summer adventures. When the school year begins, nothing sounds more exciting than starting the fifth-grade and venturing out into new friendships with boys.
Yet, to Toby's surprise, the guys just aren't the same, and his friendship with Hailey grows into something unexpected. Join this duo through Toby's tales of friendships and triumphs, and stay tuned to see what happens next!
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2018
5 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Susan Kinsey
38 books10 followersOriginally from the East Coast, Susan moved to California with her mother and brother when she was five. In the sixth-grade, an arts and crafts teacher led the project of writing and illustrating storybooks to read to the Kindergarteners. She fell in love with the process and continued writing fiction through high school and college. Majoring in Child Development, she worked as an child caregiver, pre-school teacher and Director, and in school age programs. Those experiences led her to write for young audiences, and she plans to continue forward with more Y/A novels and branch into thrillers.
Other works such as Susan's pre-school books: "The Spider With So Many Shoes" and "There's a Chicken in My Kitchen" are available on amazon in hard copy and in the Kindle e-book store.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 10, 2018
When the author started this book I’m sure they had the intention of entertaining people with
the stories of Toby, Hailey, and the many other adorable characters. That is what I expected.
What I did not expect that halfway through the book I ended up crying.
Toby Tales is a book about a young boy called, Toby. From first impressions Toby seems like the
stereotypical grade schooler: worrying about meaningless crushes, science projects, and many
other childhood problems: but the more you read the more one can relate to his thoughts,
feelings, and actions There is no major plot point or conflict, it’s is literally the daily lives of
these grade-schoolers but that was completely fine with me. The reason I started to cry was
because of one certain chapter where the Toby and Hailey were performing a magic show. For
some reason the amount of effort the kids put into their small show was, nostalgic. The
adorable and sweet stories reminded me of my childhood and how I was once like that. Now
some of the adorable kids I hung out with in my youth are now drug addicts, in jail, or dead.
This book made me reminisce on the old times and I’m sure it will do the same for others.
I only have a problem that sometimes the young children don’t sound or think they’re age. But
at the same time, I have no right to judge since all 10-year olds are raised differently.
In conclusion Toby Tales is an enjoyable and heartwarming read for young, and older people
alike. Anybody who just wants to enjoy a good book with heartwarming story about childhood
should read this story. Just to ponder on the good old days.
the stories of Toby, Hailey, and the many other adorable characters. That is what I expected.
What I did not expect that halfway through the book I ended up crying.
Toby Tales is a book about a young boy called, Toby. From first impressions Toby seems like the
stereotypical grade schooler: worrying about meaningless crushes, science projects, and many
other childhood problems: but the more you read the more one can relate to his thoughts,
feelings, and actions There is no major plot point or conflict, it’s is literally the daily lives of
these grade-schoolers but that was completely fine with me. The reason I started to cry was
because of one certain chapter where the Toby and Hailey were performing a magic show. For
some reason the amount of effort the kids put into their small show was, nostalgic. The
adorable and sweet stories reminded me of my childhood and how I was once like that. Now
some of the adorable kids I hung out with in my youth are now drug addicts, in jail, or dead.
This book made me reminisce on the old times and I’m sure it will do the same for others.
I only have a problem that sometimes the young children don’t sound or think they’re age. But
at the same time, I have no right to judge since all 10-year olds are raised differently.
In conclusion Toby Tales is an enjoyable and heartwarming read for young, and older people
alike. Anybody who just wants to enjoy a good book with heartwarming story about childhood
should read this story. Just to ponder on the good old days.
September 6, 2018
Boy talk about a blast from the past. My best friend in high school was a guy (i am a girl). It is hard enough to move for a young child and make new friends while leaving old ones. I can imagine what it was like to move from Colorado to Washington D.C. I did the opposite and moved from a big town to small one. You go through all sorts of emotions in this book. It has it all. This is a great coming of age book. After all middle school is hard enough. Toby and Hailey's story is a heartwarming, compassionate story of friendship. I recommend this book to 10+ boy or girl. I look forward to more Toby Tales.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 22, 2019
10-year old Toby Perkins just moved to Washington, D.C. It was such a miserable move. Life in the new town was so boring! Then he meets Hailey.
Yeah, she seemed cool and easy to talk to, but there’s just no way he could see himself hanging out with her. After all, she was a girl. Boys and girls can’t be friends…could they?
The writing was okay and the pace was a little slow, but, overall, I thought this was a decent read for middle-grade readers. It definitely has life lesson of looking beyond the differences and accepting others. It relays the message that friendship can come in all formats. I think most kids would be able to relate.
Yeah, she seemed cool and easy to talk to, but there’s just no way he could see himself hanging out with her. After all, she was a girl. Boys and girls can’t be friends…could they?
The writing was okay and the pace was a little slow, but, overall, I thought this was a decent read for middle-grade readers. It definitely has life lesson of looking beyond the differences and accepting others. It relays the message that friendship can come in all formats. I think most kids would be able to relate.
November 12, 2019
This is a well written book with a message of friendship about Tony who has just moved from across country and knows no one. He meets Hailey who also has no one to hang out with. They have to cross the barrier of the ten year old boys and girls. They do things Tony has never done before, like picking blackberries. Hailey does things she hasn't done before like catching tadpoles. They become best friends without knowing. Enjoy reading about the carnivals they go to and the big hat contest at school.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 19, 2019
Very factual and bland
My son and I read this together. He enjoyed the story and I did not. I found it more factual and it didn't run together smoothly. I thought the book had a good message of friendship but it had a lot of unrelated fluff. It gets three stars only because my son says 5 and I say 2.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
My son and I read this together. He enjoyed the story and I did not. I found it more factual and it didn't run together smoothly. I thought the book had a good message of friendship but it had a lot of unrelated fluff. It gets three stars only because my son says 5 and I say 2.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews