The Wendals

by Austin Kennedy

When Austin finds out his best friend Steve's home is being foreclosed on, which would force his friend to move out of state, he and his group of best buds, the Wendals, set off on a journey to save their pal, and to keep the Wendals together; setting them on a collision course with a notorious and dangerous local bank robber. Set in Southern California in the late nineteen nineties, The Wendals is a Young Adult novel about an extremely tight-knit group of teenage boys, who have a serious knack for getting into trouble together. Austin, the leader of the pack, is obsessed with his group of friends--especially his best friend Steve--and would never let anything come between them. He also has an odd obsession with a local bank robber, known as Bart the Burglar, who has been successfully evading the police for quite some time. When Steve's mom falls into serious financial trouble, Austin concocts a plan to hunt down the local bank robber's hidden stash of money, in hopes of being able to pay off Steve's family debts. What follows is an epic adventure that will pit the Wendals against bullies, wild animals, an angry fugitive, and even themselves. How far will Austin go to save his friend and to keep the Wendals together? The Wendals is the next big young adult/middle grade adventure book. A thrillingly fun story about friendship, family, bravery, and being there for the ones you love. Packed full of page-turning suspense, excitement, and teenage hijinks, The Wendals is the perfect book for boys and girls ages 10-15. Anyone who is a fan of Holes, The Outsiders, Percy Jackson, The Goonies, and The Sandlot, will absolutely love The Wendals. "This tale of true friendship will make you yearn for a time when MTV played music videos and being friends wasn't done on a computer." (Amazon Reviewer) "Every mom wants their kid to grow up with a group of friends like the they're loyal, fun, active, and most importantly, they get in the *right kind* of trouble." (Amazon Reviewer) "Such a fun, uplifting story!" (Amazon Reviewer) "The best book I have ever read!" (Amazon Reviewer) "A fun and original book. I laughed so many times while reading this and could not put it down." (Amazon Reviewer) "Great read for the whole family! Fun coming of age story with a bit of action and a lot of heart. Reminded me of The Goonies!" (Amazon Reviewer)

Genres: Childrens

279 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2020

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book from start to finish and had so much going for it. The group dynamic was immediately endearing. The book starts right out of the gate with interesting action and it just keeps going all the way to the end. Along the way, the author plants little seeds that all come together perfectly at the end and it's just delightful the way everything comes together. Definitely read this book for yourself, then give a copy as a gift to someone who you really love.

[McCain Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and original book. I laughed so many times while reading this and could not put it down. The main characters—The Wendals—had such a sweet and funny dynamic and I loved every page. I will definitely go back for a reread.

[Dawn Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Kristen Parnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 for me. Just okay, but interesting enough for a road trip. Audio is read by AI, which is terrible. I probably would’ve liked it more if it was read by a real person.

[Jamie Frischknecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Read it with Tanner.

[Barbara Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relive your childhood with these four adventurous youth.
Just read the first four chapters on line and ordered my copy. I can’t wait to get it and pick up where I left off. So far so good. Fun and descriptive. I can picture it all like a movie as I’m reading it. A movie? Hmmmm, a great idea! It’s been too long since we’ve had a great youth adventure movie. The Wendals could be the next, and long anticipated teen movie.
Addendum: Finished reading the book last week on vacation. So awesome and I can’t wait for volume two of The Wendals. Loved it!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that creates a nostalgic feeling that is hard to fight. Engaging characters and a premise that is easy to visualize. A good, fast read that's perfect to read on the weekend next to a cozy fire or when camping out on the beach in the summer. First time novelist Austin Kennedy is one sure to have a steady career turning out stories that put a smile on your face.

[Kerstin Daynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. It is a clean YA book that girls and boys could enjoy...which is hard to find. It captivated me with the suspense in the last 1/3 of the book. The late 1990s references are fun. The writing isn’t super complex and feels underdeveloped at times, plus some of it is cheesy. But I will say I enjoyed it and it was just a fun, quick read which we all need every once in a while.

[Tina Elm · Rating 5 out of 5]

My granddaughter loves this book, she’s 10- and an advanced reader but she thinks it funny and suspenseful, it kept her entertained until the very end! High recommend for any 10+ year old !

[Lauren Mahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read this nostalgic book! It is fun and captivating, and an overall enjoyable read!