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Biding Time
Franklin Myers never met the uncle he was named for. His mother's brother Franklin died in Vietnam when he was only 22. At least, everyone thinks he did. He's still MIA. As the young Frank Myers grows up in the schools and on the streets of Washington, D.C., his path crosses that of the uncle he never met through the memories of his uncle's friends, especially at the Veterans Outreach Center. Frank has his own friends, especially Eric, so he doesn't focus too much on his uncle. But, it's other Vietnam vets who may save Frank from the problems youth of the late 1980s find in DC, problems Eric seems drawn to.
93 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2010
13 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Orr
41 books263 followersAlso published as Elaine L. Orr
Elaine L. Orr has authored 35 works of fiction, including four mystery series. They include the fourteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, which is set at the Jersey shore. "Behind the Walls" was short-listed for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. "Demise of a Devious Neighbor," second of the River's Edge series, set in Iowa, was a Chanticleer shortlister in 2017.
The Western Maryland mountains host the five-book Family History Mystery Series, which began with "Least Trodden Ground." The "Unscheduled Murder Trip" received a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021. Small-town Illinois is the setting for the Logland Series, which features Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman -- a police procedural with a cozy feel.
Elaine also writes plays and novellas, including the one-act, "Common Ground," published in 2015. Her novella, "Biding Time," was one of five finalists in the National Press Club's first fiction contest, in 1993. "Falling into Place" is a novella about family strength as a World War II veteran rises to the toughest occasion. "In the Shadow of Light" is the fictional story of Corozón and her family, who are separated at the U.S./Mexico border.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994.
Elaine L. Orr has authored 35 works of fiction, including four mystery series. They include the fourteen-book Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series, which is set at the Jersey shore. "Behind the Walls" was short-listed for the 2014 Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards. "Demise of a Devious Neighbor," second of the River's Edge series, set in Iowa, was a Chanticleer shortlister in 2017.
The Western Maryland mountains host the five-book Family History Mystery Series, which began with "Least Trodden Ground." The "Unscheduled Murder Trip" received a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2021. Small-town Illinois is the setting for the Logland Series, which features Police Chief Elizabeth Friedman -- a police procedural with a cozy feel.
Elaine also writes plays and novellas, including the one-act, "Common Ground," published in 2015. Her novella, "Biding Time," was one of five finalists in the National Press Club's first fiction contest, in 1993. "Falling into Place" is a novella about family strength as a World War II veteran rises to the toughest occasion. "In the Shadow of Light" is the fictional story of Corozón and her family, who are separated at the U.S./Mexico border.
A member of Sisters in Crime, Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 12, 2021
Working through life's challenges
A story of a young boy growing up in a grieving family. Challenges of how to deal with questions, hurts, and confusion. His uncle was MIA in Vietnam. His best friend turns "strange". Then gets killed! How to understand all these things and learn to " move on". A teacher, A Brother, from the catholic school he is attending "cares". He helps with his grieving for his friend. Helps him get a job. There he meets good people, as well. He meets a man who was with his uncle in Vietnam. After joining the military he finds more relief when he's assigned to a job of moving coffins from a plane of American soldiers being returned from Vietnam. A story of sorrow and grief and recovery
A story of a young boy growing up in a grieving family. Challenges of how to deal with questions, hurts, and confusion. His uncle was MIA in Vietnam. His best friend turns "strange". Then gets killed! How to understand all these things and learn to " move on". A teacher, A Brother, from the catholic school he is attending "cares". He helps with his grieving for his friend. Helps him get a job. There he meets good people, as well. He meets a man who was with his uncle in Vietnam. After joining the military he finds more relief when he's assigned to a job of moving coffins from a plane of American soldiers being returned from Vietnam. A story of sorrow and grief and recovery
January 16, 2021
What a wonderful little story. It was very moving and showed that sometimes things really do happen for a reason. Highly recommend all of Elaine Orr's books.
May 7, 2013
An interesting story about a young african-american boy in DC in the 1980's and how the death in Vietnam of an uncle he didn't even know, affected his life. I actually listened to the audio version of this book, which was read by my nephew and which certainly enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
December 6, 2014
A very poignant coming of age story. Excellent for young adults. If anything a little too brief.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews