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Rafe
"The place is backwoods Oklahoma, and Weldon Hill knows every moonshine still, every badger hole, every foxes' den, every skunk hollow. He knows the lives and loves of folk who continue to live the way their forbears did, with their own code for morality, their own wonderful, pungent humor. The boy is Rafe, a kid with a forthright outlook on life, a family that gives him a heck of alot of trouble and a natural affinity for fishing lines, shotguns, and trapping. The man is Pete Cornshucks, former Army sergeant, full blooded Cherokee, incomparable woodsman, maker of the finest white lightning in OK, and Rafe's best friend. Rafe tells the story of a season in the lives of these two-of Pete's beautiful squatter girl friend who has four children and a hunk of trouble called Luwark-of Rafe's continual and mutinous struggles with a world which fails to appreciate him and wishes to treat him as a child instead of the hunter and hero he knows himself to be."
Must have been a good book. Found it selling on eBay for $499.
Must have been a good book. Found it selling on eBay for $499.
- GenresFiction
342 pages, Hard Cover
First published January 1, 1966
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Weldon Hill
17 books4 followersPseudonym of William R. Scott (died in Norman, Oklahoma, at the age of 73).
Scott hit the best-seller lists in the early 1950s with Onionhead, his first book published under the pen name of Weldon Hill. He had already had a successful career as an author of short stories and serials under his own name.
Onionhead, about a University of Oklahoma student who became a reluctant hero, drew on Scott's background in the Coast Guard in World War II. It was later made into a movie starring Andy Griffith.
Other novels he wrote include The Iceman, Rafe and The Long Summer of George Adams.
Scott hit the best-seller lists in the early 1950s with Onionhead, his first book published under the pen name of Weldon Hill. He had already had a successful career as an author of short stories and serials under his own name.
Onionhead, about a University of Oklahoma student who became a reluctant hero, drew on Scott's background in the Coast Guard in World War II. It was later made into a movie starring Andy Griffith.
Other novels he wrote include The Iceman, Rafe and The Long Summer of George Adams.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 15, 2020
Rafe by Weldon Hill is a classic story depicting the life of a boy living the the mid west. Rafe is the middle son who is ridiculed by his classmates, his older brother, Mitch, and his baseball team mates. Rafe is chubby to say the least. He is also charged with taking care of his little preschool brother. Their father is struggling to recover (mentally) from a heart attack. The boys all have responsibilities and chores to do on the farm. They were doing chores near the creek when a flash flood sweeps them away. Mitch is swept away from Rafe and his little brother. Rafe is bitten by a snake as he protects his little brother. They they are swept away in the raging water. Will all the boys survive?
This story is full of action, suspense and drama. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I found this book in a Readers Digest Condensed book Volume 3, 1966. If you can find it, I highly recommend it.
This story is full of action, suspense and drama. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I found this book in a Readers Digest Condensed book Volume 3, 1966. If you can find it, I highly recommend it.
February 28, 2023
Really good story. Great characters that I could relate to on different levels. I’ll probably add another of his books to my reading list.
June 20, 2015
I read this book today in the Reader's Digest Condensed Books version which I found in my basement recently. It was included in Volume 3 for 1966, and the story is written in that time period's frame of mind. I was expecting my first child in 1966 and planned to be a stay-at-home mom. However, some mothers were entering the work force at that time and did not feel that was a bad thing.
The author tells the story from the viewpoint of an 11-year old boy who feels his life is miserable because his mother has taken a job and is not home all day. Rafe became responsible for his 3-year old brother's safety when Rafe was home and his mother was at work. I remember those days in 1966 and before when many people felt it was unthinkable for a mother to work outside the home. It is not easy to get back into that mind set now.
The author did do a good job of character development, but many things that happened to the characters were not realistic. But then again, perhaps that is what readers wanted in 1966.
The author tells the story from the viewpoint of an 11-year old boy who feels his life is miserable because his mother has taken a job and is not home all day. Rafe became responsible for his 3-year old brother's safety when Rafe was home and his mother was at work. I remember those days in 1966 and before when many people felt it was unthinkable for a mother to work outside the home. It is not easy to get back into that mind set now.
The author did do a good job of character development, but many things that happened to the characters were not realistic. But then again, perhaps that is what readers wanted in 1966.
November 29, 2013
I read this book when I was around 12 and it had a big effect on me. Something about a boy on his own on the road struck a chord with me. I re read it 2 or 3 times, an oddity for me. I saved it for years then moved away and lost it. I would love to find a copy again and see how it has weathered the years
April 3, 2015
Reviews were really good but story didn't live up to them.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews