Second Son: Growing Up in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom

by Barry Dimick

Dad looked down at us and spoke slowly. "I'm sorry to be late, but something terrible has happened. It's about your mother." *** Barry grows up in the long shadows cast by his older brother and Vermont's Green Mountains. He must deal with his father and the horrible message he delivers. Barry lets off steam on ball fields and basketball courts, hunts the local woods, fishes nearby streams and rivers, gets his first job, and buys his hunting rifle. In this New England coming of age story, Barry leaves behind the questions that troubled him throughout high school and college. But following his father's death, he faces the question that has lingered his entire life.

278 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Tom Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stirred many emotions as I read it. Being a bit younger than Barry, I didn’t have quite the pressure of the draft (I graduated college in 76) but my brother was seven years older and got drafted as soon as he graduated. So I could relate.

I also related to how his father was distant and demanding.

Barry does an excellent job of spinning his formative years into interesting stories of how he developed in character and his questioning of his father and things “best forgotten”. It was a simpler time for growing up and I fondly remembered many similar experiences but the world around was changing rapidly and eventually affected us all.

A well-written book and a good read for a cold winter day.

[Mike Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of sadness and perseverance. I know the author but just got around to read his book. We had a few things in common including our love of baseball and were students at Castleton State College in Vermont, at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed his stories.