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Knuckleheads
Zachary Amstead and William Ignatius Terrance have been friends since elementary school.
They share a birthday, although Billy is a year older, and their lives are similarly complicated by
the presence of paranormal powers. Zach has lucid dreams, and he has the ability to participate
within those dreams. When this ability began to emerge, he could observe scenes as they
happened in the places his dreams would take him. Over time, his ability grew to the point
where he could step into the dream-scene. Finally, well into his adult life, his prowess over this
ability allowed him to wake up inside the scene he was dreaming about.
Billy has always been a seer. He has visions of the future. Not a general world view, only the
future around him. Like Zach, his capability grew as he became older. He was more certain
about his future, and he was better able to distinguish what might happen from what would
happen. His ability also extended to friends with whom he was close. He didn’t see their future
with the clarity of his own, but he saw it well enough to help them avoid serious problems.
“Knuckleheads” is the story of these two boys as they were only beginning to understand these
skills. They didn’t understand them at first, and they had very little control over the way these
abilities manifested themselves. They were scared, tempted, and frustrated.
Experiencing this
growth in a world controlled by adults was frightening. They frequently found themselves in
trouble.
Zach’s father became aware of their situation. He didn’t understand what they were going
through, or where the limits to their skill might lie, but he knew they needed help. He knew
what could happen if they didn’t find a way to “get ahead of these abilities,” as he liked to say.
In addition to the extraordinary capabilities, they were attempting to master, Zach and Billy
were growing up in the tumultuous period between the early nineteen sixties and mid-nineteen
seventies. The world around them was one of drugs, racial strife, and protests against the war.
The adult world was struggling with those challenges, the pressures of post-war growth and
having to contain a generation of children that was busting out at the seams. There was no
room for children with special needs or abilities.
This short bit of speculative fiction is told by Zach to his adult daughter, Abbie, shortly
immediately following his retirement. The story is interrupted by Abbie which leads to some
sharp lively and sometimes snarky dialog. The book is a fast and fun read.
The story is told two days before the events chronicled in the second and third books in this
series begin. While the second and third book tell a story which can stand on its own, the core
of this series begins in the long-forgotten days of their childhood. Reading Knuckleheads first
will make you feel like a participant in their tale rather than just an observer.
They share a birthday, although Billy is a year older, and their lives are similarly complicated by
the presence of paranormal powers. Zach has lucid dreams, and he has the ability to participate
within those dreams. When this ability began to emerge, he could observe scenes as they
happened in the places his dreams would take him. Over time, his ability grew to the point
where he could step into the dream-scene. Finally, well into his adult life, his prowess over this
ability allowed him to wake up inside the scene he was dreaming about.
Billy has always been a seer. He has visions of the future. Not a general world view, only the
future around him. Like Zach, his capability grew as he became older. He was more certain
about his future, and he was better able to distinguish what might happen from what would
happen. His ability also extended to friends with whom he was close. He didn’t see their future
with the clarity of his own, but he saw it well enough to help them avoid serious problems.
“Knuckleheads” is the story of these two boys as they were only beginning to understand these
skills. They didn’t understand them at first, and they had very little control over the way these
abilities manifested themselves. They were scared, tempted, and frustrated.
Experiencing this
growth in a world controlled by adults was frightening. They frequently found themselves in
trouble.
Zach’s father became aware of their situation. He didn’t understand what they were going
through, or where the limits to their skill might lie, but he knew they needed help. He knew
what could happen if they didn’t find a way to “get ahead of these abilities,” as he liked to say.
In addition to the extraordinary capabilities, they were attempting to master, Zach and Billy
were growing up in the tumultuous period between the early nineteen sixties and mid-nineteen
seventies. The world around them was one of drugs, racial strife, and protests against the war.
The adult world was struggling with those challenges, the pressures of post-war growth and
having to contain a generation of children that was busting out at the seams. There was no
room for children with special needs or abilities.
This short bit of speculative fiction is told by Zach to his adult daughter, Abbie, shortly
immediately following his retirement. The story is interrupted by Abbie which leads to some
sharp lively and sometimes snarky dialog. The book is a fast and fun read.
The story is told two days before the events chronicled in the second and third books in this
series begin. While the second and third book tell a story which can stand on its own, the core
of this series begins in the long-forgotten days of their childhood. Reading Knuckleheads first
will make you feel like a participant in their tale rather than just an observer.
- GenresParanormal
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Dan Antion
13 books17 followersDan Antion was born outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up and attended college in the area around western Pennsylvania. Dan has written and published the popular No Facilities blog since 2011. A lifelong interest in writing became a reality after he retired from a successful 42-year-long career in information management.
Knuckleheads, published in June 2022, is the first book in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series. This story introduces the main characters in this series, in which the next two books will follow in late summer and early winter 2022.
Dan lives in Connecticut with his wife, a few pets and all the wildlife they can feed.
Knuckleheads, published in June 2022, is the first book in the Dreamer’s Alliance Series. This story introduces the main characters in this series, in which the next two books will follow in late summer and early winter 2022.
Dan lives in Connecticut with his wife, a few pets and all the wildlife they can feed.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 11, 2022
“Knuckleheads” is a unique and compelling read that focuses on two boys growing up in the late sixties and seventies. Zach and Billy have found a bonding friendship in their differences from other children their own age. Zach has dreams which he can go into, and Billy knows the future outcome of events, but not how they come to that ending. Billy struggles in school and has a label for his supposed lack of intelligence. He is moved into another school for such children. Zach is put into therapy and learns to just say what is expected of him. Their abilities and how they had to deal with them were my favorite parts of the story. I love the connection between the boys and the gifts they were given, but unfortunately, no one was ready for them. They had to hide what they really were. This was a time of not only war and civil unrest but when computers were in their early stages before they were common in households, yet they captured the boy’s attention—especially Billy. Lots of good details went into not only the town, people, and the computers. Zach’s father owns a bowling alley and both boys work there while Zach tried to learn to control going into his dreams. The bowling alley brought back a lot of good memories of when I grew up, it was the place to go, just like in the story. Zach is retelling the story of his childhood to his daughter Abbie, about him and Billy. So, father and daughter would comment on the story as it went along. A great debut that is a prequel of stories to come. I am looking forward to reading the next book to find out what happens next!
August 3, 2022
**Engaging story-telling, unique and refreshing plot, pleasurable reading experience!
I am delighted to rate this book --five stars. I spent a good part of a Saturday enjoying its well-thought-out chapters from cover to cover. Below are the reasons for my five-star rating.
In Knuckleheads, the first in the series: Dreamer's Alliance, author Dan Antion prepares the reader for the prism through which the light of many other books in this series will gleam. Knuckleheads is a journey through the world of the two boys as they grapple with the challenges of those labels concomitant with their special giftings. Giftings that few around them understand; including the boys themselves.
The book chronicles the boys' individual struggles from childhood to adulthood with a view to explaining their often rocky friendship. Particular attention was paid to the traumas of the boys' childhood and to those people, places, and events that shaped their trajectory into adulthood.
The story is told from the beautifully crafted and heartwarming perspective of one of the boys (now an adult) sharing his life story with his daughter over a cup of coffee.
The trials the two main characters endured I found to be a relatable and often poignant commentary on society's influence on its youth, the devastating effects of bullying, and the marginalization of children whose giftings do not comfortably fit society's crisp labels.
Knuckleheads was successful in its premise, its storytelling, and its character development. Therefore, I believe that his first book sets the reader up comfortably to consume later offerings in the Dreamers' Alliance series. I look forward to the next book in this series.
I am delighted to rate this book --five stars. I spent a good part of a Saturday enjoying its well-thought-out chapters from cover to cover. Below are the reasons for my five-star rating.
In Knuckleheads, the first in the series: Dreamer's Alliance, author Dan Antion prepares the reader for the prism through which the light of many other books in this series will gleam. Knuckleheads is a journey through the world of the two boys as they grapple with the challenges of those labels concomitant with their special giftings. Giftings that few around them understand; including the boys themselves.
The book chronicles the boys' individual struggles from childhood to adulthood with a view to explaining their often rocky friendship. Particular attention was paid to the traumas of the boys' childhood and to those people, places, and events that shaped their trajectory into adulthood.
The story is told from the beautifully crafted and heartwarming perspective of one of the boys (now an adult) sharing his life story with his daughter over a cup of coffee.
The trials the two main characters endured I found to be a relatable and often poignant commentary on society's influence on its youth, the devastating effects of bullying, and the marginalization of children whose giftings do not comfortably fit society's crisp labels.
Knuckleheads was successful in its premise, its storytelling, and its character development. Therefore, I believe that his first book sets the reader up comfortably to consume later offerings in the Dreamers' Alliance series. I look forward to the next book in this series.
June 27, 2022
I have always been fascinated by the dream world and the mystery that surrounds it. But lucid dreaming holds an even greater intrigue. Is it truly possible for someone to purposefully travel in dreams? In this book, Zach finds out. This coming-of-age tale is told from Zach's point of view in a conversation with his daughter, Abbie.
The conversation begins following Zach's retirement party and takes the reader back through his growing-up years in Pittsburg, Pa., and his attempt to explore and understand his paranormal ability of lucid dreaming. His best friend, Billy, has psychic abilities. He can't always know details, but he knows outcomes. The lengths Billy will go to to protect Zach touched me. Both Zach and Billy are particular about whom they confide in and Zach's father became their go-to person. I loved how the father respected the boys' abilities but also how he tried to help them learn how to use and control them.
The setting, the sixties, is a wonderful era; Pre-computers, pre-cellphones, pre-TV as we know it. The author did a fabulous job of bringing me into this time period with his descriptions and wonderments. The bowling alley belonging to Zach's father is the setting for a lot of the scenes, with manual pin-setting and maintenance of the lanes. The two boys had so many lessons to learn and I loved that both of them were hard-working and conscientious (something today's youth could use). The mention of a transistor radio certainly took me back in time, as well as eight-track players and manual transmissions in cars. And while the unusual formatting of the conversation between Zach and Abbie was slightly off-putting at first, once I got into the flow of the story, it disappeared into the background. A great journey backward through the eyes of Zach, but with a paranormal twist. I enjoyed this story!
The conversation begins following Zach's retirement party and takes the reader back through his growing-up years in Pittsburg, Pa., and his attempt to explore and understand his paranormal ability of lucid dreaming. His best friend, Billy, has psychic abilities. He can't always know details, but he knows outcomes. The lengths Billy will go to to protect Zach touched me. Both Zach and Billy are particular about whom they confide in and Zach's father became their go-to person. I loved how the father respected the boys' abilities but also how he tried to help them learn how to use and control them.
The setting, the sixties, is a wonderful era; Pre-computers, pre-cellphones, pre-TV as we know it. The author did a fabulous job of bringing me into this time period with his descriptions and wonderments. The bowling alley belonging to Zach's father is the setting for a lot of the scenes, with manual pin-setting and maintenance of the lanes. The two boys had so many lessons to learn and I loved that both of them were hard-working and conscientious (something today's youth could use). The mention of a transistor radio certainly took me back in time, as well as eight-track players and manual transmissions in cars. And while the unusual formatting of the conversation between Zach and Abbie was slightly off-putting at first, once I got into the flow of the story, it disappeared into the background. A great journey backward through the eyes of Zach, but with a paranormal twist. I enjoyed this story!
June 19, 2022
This is an intriguing story within a story--and reads like a slipstream: a perfectly mainstream story with speculative elements. In some ways it is the story of growing up, in others, of looking back. It is a read with flow and a tremendous sense of ease, and it's clear that the author had as much fun writing the story as readers find in enjoying it.
The unusual structure that not so much veers from past to present, is very intriguing in that Abbie and her father Zach provide commentary on the past, their commentary given in italics. This gives a different layer to the narrative, and reinforces its nuances.
Zach and Billy's story comes alive on these pages, and we understand the various challenges that their gifts brought them in a world that viewed their abilities with suspicion. This is just the beginning of the series and I'm keen to see where Antion takes the Knuckleheads next!
The unusual structure that not so much veers from past to present, is very intriguing in that Abbie and her father Zach provide commentary on the past, their commentary given in italics. This gives a different layer to the narrative, and reinforces its nuances.
Zach and Billy's story comes alive on these pages, and we understand the various challenges that their gifts brought them in a world that viewed their abilities with suspicion. This is just the beginning of the series and I'm keen to see where Antion takes the Knuckleheads next!
August 3, 2022
I think most reviewers would call this a coming-of-age story. I disagree. I think it is one in a series of books that will eventually tell the story of a couple of interesting characters. These characters have unique abilities and well-developed personalities created by Mr. Antion. The reader can’t help but like the protagonists and strongly dislikes the antagonists. All the characters have a deft portrayal.
The story is also interesting because the journey from boyhood to college takes place on a rich tableau. The sights and sounds of Pittsburgh come through in a manner the reader can almost believe they have visited. In addition to the tableau, the written characterizations of the support players give a real sense of their presence and utility to the overall plot.
The writing is engaging, and the plot moves quickly to what I would consider an abrupt ending. But, of course, the reader must remember this is book one in a series, and the end has a purpose of incenting the reader to the next book. This is always a risky move and it takes a solid first book to make it work. I believe Mr. Antion pulled it off.
If the reader wants a book that is a detailed and entertaining story of the life and times of a couple of engaging characters, this is it. However, the reader will have to remember that although this is a terrific read, it is part of a series, and there will be questions unanswered until later. If the reader is okay with this situation, there is none better than Knuckleheads.
The story is also interesting because the journey from boyhood to college takes place on a rich tableau. The sights and sounds of Pittsburgh come through in a manner the reader can almost believe they have visited. In addition to the tableau, the written characterizations of the support players give a real sense of their presence and utility to the overall plot.
The writing is engaging, and the plot moves quickly to what I would consider an abrupt ending. But, of course, the reader must remember this is book one in a series, and the end has a purpose of incenting the reader to the next book. This is always a risky move and it takes a solid first book to make it work. I believe Mr. Antion pulled it off.
If the reader wants a book that is a detailed and entertaining story of the life and times of a couple of engaging characters, this is it. However, the reader will have to remember that although this is a terrific read, it is part of a series, and there will be questions unanswered until later. If the reader is okay with this situation, there is none better than Knuckleheads.
July 19, 2022
I love stories about kids told from a kid’s pov, especially when they include a blend of relatable antics, tough moments, and heart-warming friendships. Knuckleheads touches on all of those elements in a paranormal tale about two friends, Zach and Billy. Zach, the pov character, has lucid dreams in which he can physically travel, and Billy can see the future.
The tale of Zach and Billy’s friendship begins when they’re in elementary school and extends until they graduate from high school with set plans for the future. It’s a story within a story, told by an older Zach to his adult daughter Abbey over a morning’s breakfast. The frequent intervals of present moment conversation (shown in italics) feel perfectly natural and is as entertaining as the reminiscence.
The novel moves at a good pace and the characterization is excellent across the board from teachers to a psychiatrist to the friendly but shady characters in the real estate office next door to his dad’s bowling alley. Zach’s father was one of my favorite characters with his endless street-smart wisdom and support of Zach as he navigates childhood challenges and his unique ability.
The question as to why Billy didn’t attend Zach’s retirement party is the reason for the conversation between Zach and Abbey, and this remains a mystery at the close of the book. The story ends without a major climax and with a sense of more to come. If readers want the answer, I suspect they’ll have to wait for the second book. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with a bit of a paranormal twist.
The tale of Zach and Billy’s friendship begins when they’re in elementary school and extends until they graduate from high school with set plans for the future. It’s a story within a story, told by an older Zach to his adult daughter Abbey over a morning’s breakfast. The frequent intervals of present moment conversation (shown in italics) feel perfectly natural and is as entertaining as the reminiscence.
The novel moves at a good pace and the characterization is excellent across the board from teachers to a psychiatrist to the friendly but shady characters in the real estate office next door to his dad’s bowling alley. Zach’s father was one of my favorite characters with his endless street-smart wisdom and support of Zach as he navigates childhood challenges and his unique ability.
The question as to why Billy didn’t attend Zach’s retirement party is the reason for the conversation between Zach and Abbey, and this remains a mystery at the close of the book. The story ends without a major climax and with a sense of more to come. If readers want the answer, I suspect they’ll have to wait for the second book. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with a bit of a paranormal twist.
July 7, 2022
This book is an interesting coming of age story about two boys growing up in Pittsburg. Zach and Billy appear to live ordinary lives going to school, doing chores at home, and holding down part-time jobs, but they both have extraordinary abilities. Zach has vivid dreams about places he has visited and is able, over time and through practice, to participate in his dreams in a very real way. Billy is able to see the future, not in a clear and exact way, but he has strong feelings about what is going to happen to people. Zach is able to hide his ability to a large extent, although he does have a bad interlude at school due to a slip up on his part, but Billy is weighed down by his gift and his odd behaviour earns him the label 'retard' during a time when little slack was cut to students who did not fit the 'average' mould in the school environment.
Knuckleheads delves deeply into everyday life in an American city and gives insight into relationships and interactions in the church, at school and, as Zach's father owns a bowling alley and part of the story is set there, it also provides an overview of this popular form of entertainment at that point in time. Even the pitfalls of owning a building and the trials and tribulations of difficult customers and the legal system are explored and I found it fascinating.
The style of writing of this book is also unusual in that the entire story comprises a series of conversations between the older, retired Zach and his daughter, Abbie. Abbie is engaged in the conversation about her father's childhood and unusual gift and asks lots of questions, the answers to which move the story along nicely and provide additional details. There are a few interesting aspects to the relationships in this story. One is that Abbie's deceased mother, Ronnie, Zach's former wife, plays a small role in this novel. Zach has a strong relationship with his daughter and Abbie doesn't seem to feel emotionally deprived by not having a mother figure in her life. My distinct impression was that Zach had filled the hole left by the death of his wife very well. The second, is that Zach's father plays the role of confidant and nurturer to his son as he learns to control his ability. In fact, Zach's father fills this role for Billy too after his mother dies and his grandparents become to old to cope with his perceived strangeness. I thought this was a rather unique take on relationships between fathers and their children.
This is a character driven book and it was entertaining and fulfilling to watch the two boys, Zach and Billy, adapt to their unusual situations and learn to make the most of life's opportunities. Both of them end up pursuing careers that are well suited to their needs and emotional and intellectual make-ups.
This is an enjoyable coming of age story with an interesting paranormal twist.
Knuckleheads delves deeply into everyday life in an American city and gives insight into relationships and interactions in the church, at school and, as Zach's father owns a bowling alley and part of the story is set there, it also provides an overview of this popular form of entertainment at that point in time. Even the pitfalls of owning a building and the trials and tribulations of difficult customers and the legal system are explored and I found it fascinating.
The style of writing of this book is also unusual in that the entire story comprises a series of conversations between the older, retired Zach and his daughter, Abbie. Abbie is engaged in the conversation about her father's childhood and unusual gift and asks lots of questions, the answers to which move the story along nicely and provide additional details. There are a few interesting aspects to the relationships in this story. One is that Abbie's deceased mother, Ronnie, Zach's former wife, plays a small role in this novel. Zach has a strong relationship with his daughter and Abbie doesn't seem to feel emotionally deprived by not having a mother figure in her life. My distinct impression was that Zach had filled the hole left by the death of his wife very well. The second, is that Zach's father plays the role of confidant and nurturer to his son as he learns to control his ability. In fact, Zach's father fills this role for Billy too after his mother dies and his grandparents become to old to cope with his perceived strangeness. I thought this was a rather unique take on relationships between fathers and their children.
This is a character driven book and it was entertaining and fulfilling to watch the two boys, Zach and Billy, adapt to their unusual situations and learn to make the most of life's opportunities. Both of them end up pursuing careers that are well suited to their needs and emotional and intellectual make-ups.
This is an enjoyable coming of age story with an interesting paranormal twist.
July 5, 2022
An original and moving story of two boys with extraordinary powers, Knuckleheads follows the lives of Zach and Billy from grade school to graduation. This is a coming of age story, set in the 1960s with snippets in the present (Zach relays his past to his daughter) with a strong dose of the unusual tossed in.
I loved the authenticity of character voice, and the slice-of-life settings that kept me riveted from page one. I finished this book in a single day, unable to put it down as I watched Zach's life unfold. From his problems at school, to the wonderful relationship he had with his father, and his time spent working at his dad's bowling alley, scenes flow effortlessly. There is an assortment of colorful secondary characters that come and go in Zach's world as he moves from one situation to the next. Through it all, there is a strong message of friendship, loyalty, and family ties. I loved the look back at things from the sixties I had all but forgotten, and I look forward to more books to come in this promising series. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for review purposes.
I loved the authenticity of character voice, and the slice-of-life settings that kept me riveted from page one. I finished this book in a single day, unable to put it down as I watched Zach's life unfold. From his problems at school, to the wonderful relationship he had with his father, and his time spent working at his dad's bowling alley, scenes flow effortlessly. There is an assortment of colorful secondary characters that come and go in Zach's world as he moves from one situation to the next. Through it all, there is a strong message of friendship, loyalty, and family ties. I loved the look back at things from the sixties I had all but forgotten, and I look forward to more books to come in this promising series. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for review purposes.
June 1, 2022
I was privileged to be able to read various parts of early drafts of this entire series. My immediate reaction was that the youthful versions of the characters deserved more “screen time.” I’m delighted to see an entire book given to them. Read along and watch these amazing characters grow up from Knuckleheads to men.
I do love a good genre mash-up. This series has aspects of thriller, speculative fiction, and a touch of conspiracy – and a strong sense of family carries throughout the series.
Quotes:
“I knew this would be hard for Abbie to understand, and the interaction between my dad and me and Billy and me was essential to the story I wanted to share.”
“If you have any more dreams like this, tell me about them, but don’t tell your mother. In fact, don’t tell anyone else about these dreams.”
I do love a good genre mash-up. This series has aspects of thriller, speculative fiction, and a touch of conspiracy – and a strong sense of family carries throughout the series.
Quotes:
“I knew this would be hard for Abbie to understand, and the interaction between my dad and me and Billy and me was essential to the story I wanted to share.”
“If you have any more dreams like this, tell me about them, but don’t tell your mother. In fact, don’t tell anyone else about these dreams.”
June 14, 2022
A few pages into the book, I realized that Knuckleheads is a story within a story. Antion’s unique approach takes the reader into the lives of three generations and two different time periods. His approach is both effective and intriguing. The main characters, young boys named Billy and Zach, are like your next-door neighbor’s kids, except for their special gifts. They have dreams and foresight that other kids may not.
Knuckleheads is brilliant in its ordinariness. The scenes are familiar, the people are ones we all know. What is different is Antion’s ability to give life to the everyday. This is a 5-star achievement. I highly endorse it and look forward to reading Book 2.
Knuckleheads is brilliant in its ordinariness. The scenes are familiar, the people are ones we all know. What is different is Antion’s ability to give life to the everyday. This is a 5-star achievement. I highly endorse it and look forward to reading Book 2.
August 1, 2022
Friendship
Zach and Billy are relatable characters. This story was entertaining throughout. The conversations between Zach and Abbie are witty, displaying a closeness & deep love. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Zach and Billy are relatable characters. This story was entertaining throughout. The conversations between Zach and Abbie are witty, displaying a closeness & deep love. I can’t wait for the next installment.
June 27, 2022
A Poignant Look at Days Gone By… and So Much More
In this debut novel, readers follow two teenage boys who discover they have paranormal gifts. For most kids, that would be a boon. They’d envision themselves as superheroes, possibly exploit their talents for selfish means.
Zach and Billy aren’t typical kids.
Despite trying to hide their abilities, they are constantly impacted by them, sometimes to serious detriment. Seeing the world through Zach’s eyes proves to be a brilliant character study. We feel his pain and confusion, we live his anger and fear. That, juxtaposed with his adult reflections, paints a complete picture of who the man is and how he developed from the boy he was.
Many secondary characters help form this picture, but none more than Zach’s father. As much as I love the boys, he may actually be my favorite of the cast. He’s a picture of strength, pragmatism, and understanding. While he’s not always transparent with his wife, readers would do well to remember this book is set in a different time, which, while not exactly excusing his subterfuge, absolutely makes it believable and puts it in context. The way Zach’s dad teaches lessons while still supporting his son is heartwarming. Too often in literature, we see the father figure being too tough, closed off, and unsympathetic. Or they go too far to the other side of the spectrum and are unrealistic caricatures like sitcom dads who are unflappable pillars of wisdom and virtue. This character was the perfect balance, and he was exactly who Zach needed to guide him during those confusing, formative years. That he could also take on another child to advise and nurture only made me love him more.
I’m always drawn to stories set in my stomping grounds, so the Pittsburgh element definitely appealed to me. But you don’t need to be from there or even like the city (but really, who wouldn’t love the Burgh?) to appreciate the work. There is a familiarity for me, but I believe all readers would be able to relate to the novel and its setting. The real gem for me was the era. It was nice to go back in time to an age where no one envisioned the future glut of computers in our homes and offices, and instantaneous communication via cell phones were the dreams of sci-fi fans. Every non-paranormal memory Zach related to his daughter was right out of my childhood, and it was a joy to revisit those times.
This work is actually a story within a story… a difficult form for seasoned writers to undertake. This debut author handled the convention in a creative way, and once I acclimated to the convention, I was drawn into the tale and had no problem differentiating between timelines.
I believe the action is just getting started, and I’m very much looking forward to the second book in the series.
In this debut novel, readers follow two teenage boys who discover they have paranormal gifts. For most kids, that would be a boon. They’d envision themselves as superheroes, possibly exploit their talents for selfish means.
Zach and Billy aren’t typical kids.
Despite trying to hide their abilities, they are constantly impacted by them, sometimes to serious detriment. Seeing the world through Zach’s eyes proves to be a brilliant character study. We feel his pain and confusion, we live his anger and fear. That, juxtaposed with his adult reflections, paints a complete picture of who the man is and how he developed from the boy he was.
Many secondary characters help form this picture, but none more than Zach’s father. As much as I love the boys, he may actually be my favorite of the cast. He’s a picture of strength, pragmatism, and understanding. While he’s not always transparent with his wife, readers would do well to remember this book is set in a different time, which, while not exactly excusing his subterfuge, absolutely makes it believable and puts it in context. The way Zach’s dad teaches lessons while still supporting his son is heartwarming. Too often in literature, we see the father figure being too tough, closed off, and unsympathetic. Or they go too far to the other side of the spectrum and are unrealistic caricatures like sitcom dads who are unflappable pillars of wisdom and virtue. This character was the perfect balance, and he was exactly who Zach needed to guide him during those confusing, formative years. That he could also take on another child to advise and nurture only made me love him more.
I’m always drawn to stories set in my stomping grounds, so the Pittsburgh element definitely appealed to me. But you don’t need to be from there or even like the city (but really, who wouldn’t love the Burgh?) to appreciate the work. There is a familiarity for me, but I believe all readers would be able to relate to the novel and its setting. The real gem for me was the era. It was nice to go back in time to an age where no one envisioned the future glut of computers in our homes and offices, and instantaneous communication via cell phones were the dreams of sci-fi fans. Every non-paranormal memory Zach related to his daughter was right out of my childhood, and it was a joy to revisit those times.
This work is actually a story within a story… a difficult form for seasoned writers to undertake. This debut author handled the convention in a creative way, and once I acclimated to the convention, I was drawn into the tale and had no problem differentiating between timelines.
I believe the action is just getting started, and I’m very much looking forward to the second book in the series.
August 13, 2025
Zachary and Billy grew up in the 60s. Zach and his daughter compare notes to tell the story of Zach's and Billy's special talents as they developed from fourth grade through high school. He relived the troubles they got into because of them.
I loved how Zach's daughter, Abbie, interrupted him frequently to ask why he didn't text or use a copy machine. His recollections included old things we had forgotten that we had to rely on in those days.
You won't want to put Knuckleheads down until you finish the last word. It's like eating a piece of chocolate lava cake. You want to lick the plate to prolong the taste. When you finish this book, you will rush out and buy the next book in the series. At least, that's what I did. :)
I loved how Zach's daughter, Abbie, interrupted him frequently to ask why he didn't text or use a copy machine. His recollections included old things we had forgotten that we had to rely on in those days.
You won't want to put Knuckleheads down until you finish the last word. It's like eating a piece of chocolate lava cake. You want to lick the plate to prolong the taste. When you finish this book, you will rush out and buy the next book in the series. At least, that's what I did. :)
August 27, 2023
Knuckleheads is the first in a three-part series written by Dan Antion. The book was released on 31/5/2022. The genre of the book showed Paranormal and Urban Fantasy. 'Not my kind of book' was the first thought that came to my head, and I did not pick it up. However, sometime in June this year, I read a review of Dan Antion's books, which made me pick them up immediately.
My background knowledge of books about boys: I'm afraid I haven't read many books on boys other than Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. When a number of my classmates read Hardy Boys after completing the Nancy Drew series, I didn't. So, this book, a coming-of-age story of two boys, is one I read after a long haul.
Knuckleheads is a story set in the sixties in America. It begins when Zach's thirty-two-year-old daughter, Abbie, hands over a note from Billy to Zach. Billy apologizes for not coming to the retirement party and ends with a 'See you soon.' Seeing a change in Zach's expression on reading the note, Abbie asks him, 'What's wrong?' The story is told as a conversation between Zach and Abbie. The difference between growing up in the sixties vis-a-vis the nineties is brought out as a remark or a question during the conversation between father and daughter. the book is sure to bring back memories of growing up in that era as it did for me (if you're a product of the sixties, seventies or eighties) or will give you a glimpse of how we survived, a few decades ago (if you're a millenial).
I especially enjoyed getting a peek into the culture in schools in the US during the sixties. I don't think much has changed with regards to students there working along with school or the need for certificates other than academic ones to get admission to University. Sadly, it hasn't changed in India, too. We only begin work after we graduate or do our Masters. It's probably because labor is cheap and the population is huge. So, there's no need for students to work unless they are trying to make ends meet.
The friendship between Zach and Billy and the father-son relationship have been beautifully portrayed in the book. Zach's father is the only one who knows of his son's ability to see lucid dreams and Billy's ability to see the future and is supportive of children like Billy with disabilities. He teaches Zach to stick up for himself and be humane.
The story throws light on the workings of a bowling center (Zach's father owns it), the stigma associated with being crippled (Zach's friend, Michael is on a wheelchair because of polio) or having a learning disability (Billy is called 'retarded') in the sixties.
Although the manner of living was different in the sixties or is different between the US and in India, basic human emotions have not changed over the ages. The book highlights how school can be hard for some- the divide between popular kids and the ones trying to fit in, that teens have the innate tendency to be mean, labels in school stick and not everything about school is fair. Whoever said, 'School days are the best days of one's life, was looking at a small percentage of children at school.'
While Zach's ability to dream, enter his dreams and return to reality with an object from his dream may be paranormal, this accounted for a small, exciting part of the book. Mostly, it was about school, friendship, community, and growing up in a small town where everybody knows everybody else; I enjoyed that.
On the whole, Knuckleheads is a feel-good, exciting book, and I recommend it if you want to read a heartwarming story that follows the life of two boys from the age of 9 or 10 to 18, mixed with some amount of paranormal (that's not scary but fun) and a large amount of good life wisdom.
My background knowledge of books about boys: I'm afraid I haven't read many books on boys other than Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. When a number of my classmates read Hardy Boys after completing the Nancy Drew series, I didn't. So, this book, a coming-of-age story of two boys, is one I read after a long haul.
Knuckleheads is a story set in the sixties in America. It begins when Zach's thirty-two-year-old daughter, Abbie, hands over a note from Billy to Zach. Billy apologizes for not coming to the retirement party and ends with a 'See you soon.' Seeing a change in Zach's expression on reading the note, Abbie asks him, 'What's wrong?' The story is told as a conversation between Zach and Abbie. The difference between growing up in the sixties vis-a-vis the nineties is brought out as a remark or a question during the conversation between father and daughter. the book is sure to bring back memories of growing up in that era as it did for me (if you're a product of the sixties, seventies or eighties) or will give you a glimpse of how we survived, a few decades ago (if you're a millenial).
I especially enjoyed getting a peek into the culture in schools in the US during the sixties. I don't think much has changed with regards to students there working along with school or the need for certificates other than academic ones to get admission to University. Sadly, it hasn't changed in India, too. We only begin work after we graduate or do our Masters. It's probably because labor is cheap and the population is huge. So, there's no need for students to work unless they are trying to make ends meet.
The friendship between Zach and Billy and the father-son relationship have been beautifully portrayed in the book. Zach's father is the only one who knows of his son's ability to see lucid dreams and Billy's ability to see the future and is supportive of children like Billy with disabilities. He teaches Zach to stick up for himself and be humane.
The story throws light on the workings of a bowling center (Zach's father owns it), the stigma associated with being crippled (Zach's friend, Michael is on a wheelchair because of polio) or having a learning disability (Billy is called 'retarded') in the sixties.
Although the manner of living was different in the sixties or is different between the US and in India, basic human emotions have not changed over the ages. The book highlights how school can be hard for some- the divide between popular kids and the ones trying to fit in, that teens have the innate tendency to be mean, labels in school stick and not everything about school is fair. Whoever said, 'School days are the best days of one's life, was looking at a small percentage of children at school.'
While Zach's ability to dream, enter his dreams and return to reality with an object from his dream may be paranormal, this accounted for a small, exciting part of the book. Mostly, it was about school, friendship, community, and growing up in a small town where everybody knows everybody else; I enjoyed that.
On the whole, Knuckleheads is a feel-good, exciting book, and I recommend it if you want to read a heartwarming story that follows the life of two boys from the age of 9 or 10 to 18, mixed with some amount of paranormal (that's not scary but fun) and a large amount of good life wisdom.
October 29, 2022
This is not just a coming of age story set in the 60s, with teenagers coming to grips with life, tragedy and the challenges of finding their way in the future. It is an intriguing exploration of the world of those with special gifts.
Zach and Billy are destined to be outsiders. Both have a gift that sets them aside from their peers from early childhood and bring them to the attention of the ‘experts’ who are keen to label them and manipulate them into the accepted normalcy.
It is hard enough to find your place amongst your peers during these early years but even more challenging when you cannot reveal your true nature for fear of rejection and possible institutionalisation.
They do have an ally in Zach’s father who does his best to shield both of them by employing them in his bowling alley and teaching them street smarts to avoid detection. He is a good man who is open-minded and his approach to their gifts enables both the boys to develop them in reasonable safety and for the benefit of others as well as themselves.
The characters are interesting and relatable, as is the time period for those readers brought up in the 60s and 70s, even in other countries. Told from Zach’s perspective and in dialogue with his daughter following his retirement, the story takes the reader to the end of the school years and with a hint of what is to come next for the two boys.
I was engaged from the first page and connected with Zach and Billy and their fascinating abilities. I think most of us might think having lucid dreams where you could visit anywhere you wished or be able to foretell elements of the future, would be exciting and filled with opportunities, but as the story unfolds it becomes clear is not necessarily a gift but sometimes a curse.
It certainly does not make it easier for the boys as they navigate the teenage years or come to terms with loss of friends.
The author has done a great job with this debut novel and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to discover how the lives of Zach, Billy and family and friends continue to develop.
Zach and Billy are destined to be outsiders. Both have a gift that sets them aside from their peers from early childhood and bring them to the attention of the ‘experts’ who are keen to label them and manipulate them into the accepted normalcy.
It is hard enough to find your place amongst your peers during these early years but even more challenging when you cannot reveal your true nature for fear of rejection and possible institutionalisation.
They do have an ally in Zach’s father who does his best to shield both of them by employing them in his bowling alley and teaching them street smarts to avoid detection. He is a good man who is open-minded and his approach to their gifts enables both the boys to develop them in reasonable safety and for the benefit of others as well as themselves.
The characters are interesting and relatable, as is the time period for those readers brought up in the 60s and 70s, even in other countries. Told from Zach’s perspective and in dialogue with his daughter following his retirement, the story takes the reader to the end of the school years and with a hint of what is to come next for the two boys.
I was engaged from the first page and connected with Zach and Billy and their fascinating abilities. I think most of us might think having lucid dreams where you could visit anywhere you wished or be able to foretell elements of the future, would be exciting and filled with opportunities, but as the story unfolds it becomes clear is not necessarily a gift but sometimes a curse.
It certainly does not make it easier for the boys as they navigate the teenage years or come to terms with loss of friends.
The author has done a great job with this debut novel and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series to discover how the lives of Zach, Billy and family and friends continue to develop.
June 2, 2023
Knuckleheads is a coming of age tale that introduces us to Zach and Billy, two boys with extraordinary abilities. Zach maneuvers the world through his lucid dreams, and Billy receives bits and pieces of the future. Much of the story retells school situations where the boy’s abilities came into play.
Both boys grow up in 1960s Pittsburgh. Zach is lucky. His dad owns a bowling alley and employs the boys as pin boys. Billy’s not as lucky, but Zach’s dad more or less adopts him and takes him under wing. What I really found interesting was Zach’s relationship with his father. He believed in his son’s abilities and worked hard to help him understand how to make this ability work for him.
I found the book engaging. Once I started reading, the pages flew by. In fact, the author’s style of writing is conversational. The entire book is written in a series of conversations between the adult Zach, and his daughter.
The characters drive the story forward, as Zach and Billy maneuver life’s obstacles and adapt to their gifts.
If you enjoy speculative fiction with unique storytelling methods, you will enjoy Knuckleheads. I was thrilled to find out this is a series. As soon as I finished book one, I grabbed the second book in the series.
Both boys grow up in 1960s Pittsburgh. Zach is lucky. His dad owns a bowling alley and employs the boys as pin boys. Billy’s not as lucky, but Zach’s dad more or less adopts him and takes him under wing. What I really found interesting was Zach’s relationship with his father. He believed in his son’s abilities and worked hard to help him understand how to make this ability work for him.
I found the book engaging. Once I started reading, the pages flew by. In fact, the author’s style of writing is conversational. The entire book is written in a series of conversations between the adult Zach, and his daughter.
The characters drive the story forward, as Zach and Billy maneuver life’s obstacles and adapt to their gifts.
If you enjoy speculative fiction with unique storytelling methods, you will enjoy Knuckleheads. I was thrilled to find out this is a series. As soon as I finished book one, I grabbed the second book in the series.
June 16, 2023
This is a wonderful tale.
Abbie, Zach's daughter, has a retirement party for her father. One of the guests she invited, Billy, a friend of his through elementary and high school, wrote that he could not come. When Zach questioned his daughter about why she invited Billy he began telling her about their friendship and when he first met her mother, Ronnie, who passed away fifteen years earlier.
Both Zach and Billy had intuitive gifts. Billy could predict what was going to happen and Zach could dream himself realistically into remote locations. These skills got them in and, with the help of Zach's father, out of trouble.
As Zach narrates his adventures with Billy you will learn a lot about Pittsburg, about bowling alleys before automatic pin machines were in place and how life has changed since the 1960s. Although these details may seem more than one needs to know hearing Zach relate them in such careful detail to Abbie helped to describe the integrity of his character as well as his father's character.
Zach's wife Ronnie comes in at the end along with a tragedy. Although she is not mentioned with as much detail as the bowling alley or the kinds of computers being used in those good old days, the love Zach still feels for her shouts through the silence.
Abbie, Zach's daughter, has a retirement party for her father. One of the guests she invited, Billy, a friend of his through elementary and high school, wrote that he could not come. When Zach questioned his daughter about why she invited Billy he began telling her about their friendship and when he first met her mother, Ronnie, who passed away fifteen years earlier.
Both Zach and Billy had intuitive gifts. Billy could predict what was going to happen and Zach could dream himself realistically into remote locations. These skills got them in and, with the help of Zach's father, out of trouble.
As Zach narrates his adventures with Billy you will learn a lot about Pittsburg, about bowling alleys before automatic pin machines were in place and how life has changed since the 1960s. Although these details may seem more than one needs to know hearing Zach relate them in such careful detail to Abbie helped to describe the integrity of his character as well as his father's character.
Zach's wife Ronnie comes in at the end along with a tragedy. Although she is not mentioned with as much detail as the bowling alley or the kinds of computers being used in those good old days, the love Zach still feels for her shouts through the silence.
August 16, 2022
A story about friendships; a friendship between two young boys, Zach and Billy, both with unique and unexplainable abilities. It is also about family friendships, like the friendship between the main character and his wise and practical father, as well as the friendship between the main character and his daughter which comes out in their dialogue during the telling of the story. The characters are well developed and grow on you as you learn how these two boys manoeuvre growing up in the 60s and 70s, sometimes in difficult situations. I love the father of Zach and his no-nonsense advice. At times I found a bit too much technical detail, but that is just me. I am looking forward to more books with these characters as I'm sure there is much more to their story.
August 11, 2023
Well here is what I loved about this book. It captivates you immediately. It’s like a social history of life set in the era and area that Dan himself grew up in.
The tale of the two friends with unusual special powers …not really your ‘normal’ super powers but to be honest more intriguing and amazing. It’s great to see these two lads grow together as friends and allies. The way they help each other through school even when separated by circumstances!
I really enjoyed every part of the book, Zach’s family were beautifully portrayed especially his father who helped both boys. I also learned a lot about the running of a bowling alley and also how mechanisation changed things! Also how both sides of the criminal line were bonded together. I am saying no more just do read Knuckleheads!
The tale of the two friends with unusual special powers …not really your ‘normal’ super powers but to be honest more intriguing and amazing. It’s great to see these two lads grow together as friends and allies. The way they help each other through school even when separated by circumstances!
I really enjoyed every part of the book, Zach’s family were beautifully portrayed especially his father who helped both boys. I also learned a lot about the running of a bowling alley and also how mechanisation changed things! Also how both sides of the criminal line were bonded together. I am saying no more just do read Knuckleheads!
January 1, 2026
Zach Amstead, as an adult, tells his growing-up stories to his adult daughter, who regularly makes comments or asks questions. Zach's best friend Billy is considered by most to be retarded, but his life was a "series of paradoxes," and it was easier just to let the comments go. During the late sixties, both of them were outsider, both dealing with strong premonitions, but "the late sixties were good years to be not normal." Zach's dad owned a bowling alley where he hired kids as pinsetters in the days before automation. Pinsetters and premonitions. Some crude language but a fascinating story of the awkwardness of growing up misunderstood.
November 15, 2023
Kudos!
Looking forward to book two! Quality storytelling of the time period in which the book is set and character building. The enhanced abilities and call out of disabilities and stigmas of the characters and society provided realism of the time period still relatable and present in life today. I enjoyed the Boomer and GenX references around technology and their developing changes. A fun, multigenerational book to share with family and friends!
Looking forward to book two! Quality storytelling of the time period in which the book is set and character building. The enhanced abilities and call out of disabilities and stigmas of the characters and society provided realism of the time period still relatable and present in life today. I enjoyed the Boomer and GenX references around technology and their developing changes. A fun, multigenerational book to share with family and friends!
November 29, 2022
Told from an adult Zack’s point of view in a conversational format with his daughter, Abbie, this is the story of two boys growing up in the early sixties, which is interesting in and of itself, but these boys are different- special.
We learn of their creative gifts through a series of vignette-type scenes highlighting the difficulties they encounter. People fear what they don’t understand, and this leads the boys to attempt to hide their true nature.
What stood out for me was the support Zach’s father showed when everyone else thought his son was crazy.
Being a sixties kid myself, many of the settings in the story such as the bowling alley, school, and home life were like a trip down memory lane, so thank you, Mr. Antion!
We learn of their creative gifts through a series of vignette-type scenes highlighting the difficulties they encounter. People fear what they don’t understand, and this leads the boys to attempt to hide their true nature.
What stood out for me was the support Zach’s father showed when everyone else thought his son was crazy.
Being a sixties kid myself, many of the settings in the story such as the bowling alley, school, and home life were like a trip down memory lane, so thank you, Mr. Antion!
November 23, 2022
a fun read
Interesting premise, nicely worked through to the hanging conclusion. If you like your supernatural set inside a dose of reality this is for you
Interesting premise, nicely worked through to the hanging conclusion. If you like your supernatural set inside a dose of reality this is for you
December 15, 2023
The story is told by Zach, shortly after his retirement, to his adult daughter Abbie. Zach is supposed to meet his childhood friend Billy soon, so he decides to finally confess and share with his daughter the secret of his and Billy’s special paranormal powers…
Told during the span of a morning of their life, Knuckleheads is a heartwarming and, in places, humorous portrayal of small-town life and the bonds that bring people together.
But it is also a tale of perseverance, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Throughout the story, as they grow up (in the nineteen sixties and mid-nineteen seventies America), Zach and Billy face numerous challenges and obstacles as back then there was no room for children with special needs or abilities. Nevertheless, their strong bond and determination helps them overcome all adversity. As well as something else. Someone else – and, as a parent and a daughter this aspect got me hooked. Zack’s dad, although not fully understanding how the boys’ special abilities work, stepped in showing a great deal of support.
Dan Antion created a refreshing plot and relatable characters, especially Zach’s dad, but I also enjoyed the open relationship that Zach, later a father himself, has with his daughter. The characters exchange witty dialogue, and the storytelling is engaging.
Knuckleheads by Dan Antion, Dreamer’s Alliance Book 1, is a 5 Stars read.
Told during the span of a morning of their life, Knuckleheads is a heartwarming and, in places, humorous portrayal of small-town life and the bonds that bring people together.
But it is also a tale of perseverance, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Throughout the story, as they grow up (in the nineteen sixties and mid-nineteen seventies America), Zach and Billy face numerous challenges and obstacles as back then there was no room for children with special needs or abilities. Nevertheless, their strong bond and determination helps them overcome all adversity. As well as something else. Someone else – and, as a parent and a daughter this aspect got me hooked. Zack’s dad, although not fully understanding how the boys’ special abilities work, stepped in showing a great deal of support.
Dan Antion created a refreshing plot and relatable characters, especially Zach’s dad, but I also enjoyed the open relationship that Zach, later a father himself, has with his daughter. The characters exchange witty dialogue, and the storytelling is engaging.
Knuckleheads by Dan Antion, Dreamer’s Alliance Book 1, is a 5 Stars read.
August 23, 2022
I encourage you to read all the previous comments shared about this book. I agree with all of them and don't want to reiterate what has already been well-stated. On a personal feedback note, as I read the book I felt as though I was there in the room listening right along with Abbie. I found myself nodding in agreement, laughing out loud, reliving the pains of childhood struggles, and the joys of discovering how to navigate that time in life. I'm a fan of Dan's SoCS blog posts for Saturdays - this book reminded me much of the fun interactions shared there. The stories within other stories in the plot twists are intriguing and kept me reading until the book was done. I look forward to the next book in the series. Congrats to you Dan - well done!
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