Honed Virtue, A Coming of Age Story: Impacts of Youth

by David Radmore

In this coming of age memoir, we follow young Danny Davis living in rural Oregon during the Great Depression and see through his hopeful eyes what he believes is the path to simply living a good life. Early tragedy orphans him, but the love and support of a multinational extended family leads him to a remarkable invention at thirteen years old, that sets the entire family up for life financially.

The characters woven through Danny’s story will make you laugh, cry, and at times shock you, but one thing's for sure—once you start reading this book, you will want to keep reading and see how life’s twists and turns shape Danny and prepare him for future adventures.

Written adeptly by the author, you are the fly on the wall and can’t help feeling you are part of the scene, wondering if this story can really be true.

“… this story grabbed me from the first page. The amazing adventures and accomplishments of this young protagonist were a thrill to read.”
—A. Glass, Five-Star Review

Honed Virtue is Volume 1 of The Saga of Danny Davis.

298 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2020

Reviews

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title leaves the reader leery about the preachiness to come but so far so good. It begins with 5 year old Daniel informing his mother that 7 year old Beverly Jean showed him how to shove his pisser into hers. The language used was somewhat more profane and left his mother dumbfounded and with no comeback. She was not prepared to have a talk on the birds and the bees with her son at any time and certainly not at 5. Daniel’s father was more phlegmatic but it was left to Gran, Annie Louise to have a non judgmental frank discussion on the subject.

He ends up in school with a nightmare teacher who hates little boys. She brings back memories of a one room teacher I had in grade two that engenders feelings of hatred to this day.

Honed in the title is a riff on the knives the boys end up making. As the boys perfect their technique gran has a suspicion of industrial espionage and advises against patenting their methods as that would make them available to copycats.

The outlook remains didactic but the boy’s obsession with boners and the female anatomy gets to be a bit much.

[Jeannie Huie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Danny and Ito!! Great characters! Your attention is definitely grabbed at the very beginning!! I really enjoyed the many interesting conversations and the whole growing up! However, at times I felt I was given more information than was needed. It slowed me down!

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A narrated story of two boys growing up and their friends and family and mentors. Very interesting characters who evolve and grow as the story progresses.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.