Growing An Inch

Cal Gant #3

by Stanley Gordon West

1949A story about a boy who made a solemn vow and became a man keeping it. Saint Paul/Minneapolis - Those unforgettable days after World War II when people turned back to their personal lives with optimism, a time of Fibber McGee and Molly , newsreels, milkmen, boogie-woogie, The Best Years of Our Lives and chrome grilled automobiles. Against this evocative backdrop, Staley West composes this heartrending song, bittersweet lyrics that will lift your spirit, touch your heart and leave you humming… wishing it wouldn’t end.  In one fateful moment, Donny Cunningham comes face to face with unthinkable horror, when his live caves in on him.  Changed forever.   The task of raising his brothers and sister falls to him when his mother dies.  A senior at St. Paul Central, he does whatever it takes to keep his family together, while his father leads them ever closer to disaster.   Surrounded aby his zany and lionhearted siblings, his fun-loving friends, and hoping to find love and understanding from his high school sweetheart, Donny is caught between the law – which has a claim on his young brother – and the gangsters – who have a claim on his father.  This humor and daring and grit, he fights the dragon of regret with an inner courage and strength that belies his physical stature. (Stanley West)

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Coming Of Age

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2003

About the author

Stanley Gordon West was born in 1932 and attended St. Paul Central High School in Minnesota. He lived in Bozeman, Montana for several years, and now resides in Shakopee, MN. All of his novels are popular book club selections: Blind Your Ponies, two other novels set in the same time and place as Until They Bring the Streetcars Back - Finding Laura Buggs and Growing an Inch - and his most recent, Sweet, Shattered Dreams. His novel Amos was made into a CBS Movie of the Week starring Kirk Douglas that stirred national controversy over abuse of the aged in America. When Kirk Douglas testified before Congress and wrote in the New York Times on the issue, he pointed out that animals had been protected by law for one hundred years before children or the aged. While Amos focused on elder abuse, Until They Bring the Streetcars Back explores the other vulnerable end of the age spectrum.

Reviews

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much. So much so that I read one specific passage out loud or paraphrased it to my friends that would humor me with it. Stanley Gordon West just has this beautiful ability to capture the human spirit. The beauty and grief that accompany our lives, often simultaneously. There are so many lovely metaphors described throughout that all come together in the end. Set in 1949 St. Paul/Minneapolis, Donny Cunningham does whatever it takes to care for his siblings and father after his mother unexpectedly dies. There is so much humor and heart in this story, all while Donny truly grapples with deep regret and grief on his path of navigating forgiveness. This is most likely my favorite Stanley Gordon West novel. Like all of his novels, this has it all: mystery, romance, humor, and heart! You won't regret spending time and "growing an inch" beside Donny Cunningham!

[Holly (bibliophiles_bookstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Stanley Gordon West! Setting St. Paul, storyline simple and in the 40s! I love his writing! SO simple yet so powerful and enjoyable! Only a few left of his to read and can’t wait!

[Thor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for my high school English class... eh.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, my sister-in-law who grew up in Bozeman, MT introduced me to Stanley Gordon West's books by giving me a birthday present of his book, BLIND YOUR PONIES. West had been the youth director at her church when she was growing up. I enjoyed that Montana-based book and enjoyed this one set in St. Paul, MN in 1949. Donny Cunningham is short, very responsible oldest child who takes care of his younger siblings as his mother has died and his father seems to be falling into alcoholism. Slowly, West brings out the family's back story and we get a sense of why Donny feels like he needs to take care of everyone. Sometimes, the language seems dated with the adjective "swell" ending up in almost every chapter, but I remember looking at my dad's high school yearbook who graduated around the same time in western MN and he was often called "swell" by many of his classmates. I liked that it brought out the language and slang of the time period. It is a well-written book that brings out the St. Paul of the late 1940s well, has interesting characters, and a plot that keeps developing as the story moves along.

[Kendra Baguley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 1940s of Minneapolis a senior in high school, Donny Cunningham, works through the trauma of losing his mother, helping raise his siblings, and dealing with his drunk father. During a time where many are optimistic of the future, Donny can't seem to imagine his life being happy. As he works to forgive those around him and himself he also shares of his childhood and the simple life lessons he has gained. Facing gangsters, the law, and love Donny becomes more courageous than he could imagine.

I liked this story. It is slow moving however there are times of humor and drama that push it forward. I enjoyed reading about how Donny's past life lessons are applied in his life presently. I wish there was more elaboration on the gangsters and the connection of certain characters within their ring; it felt as if that storyline was cut short. I would suggest this book for ages 14+. It is very simple and easy to relate with Donny as his character is so straightforward.

Content Warnings:
Death
Murder
Gangs
Alcoholism
Child neglect
Racial Slurs

[Tess Mertens-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many things I can relate to in this book.
I have two adult brothers that are 5 feet 2 inches tall. I saw what they went through in high school. My husband came from a family of alcoholism, so I could relate to how he told me he would make excuses for his parents.
This book was followed Donny his senior year of high school. His father who owns a service station is a practicing alcoholic as he grieves his deceased wife, Donny works two jobs, raises his siblings, and spends most of his time drying out his father, The County is stalking them to break up the family due to his alcoholism,
In all this pain and chaos he finds Mitzi and falls in love.
The story moved well and the reason for his mother’s death is heartbreaking.
This is a very moving story,

[Doris Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I liked the setting after WW2. I like the characters, faults and all, in the Cunningham family. Liked the next door neighbors, Uncle Ellie-Ellie and Nana Riley. Everybody was so closely connected. Donny, the lead character, was such a fine young lad. After accidentally killing his very own mother, it is hard in imagine him going on in life, the hurt being so deep. But he did, and he vowed to keep the family together as his mother would have wanted. A moving story about a 4ft. 11in. young man who only wanted to grow to 5 feet.

[Wendy Johansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this little novel was interesting due to it's place and time. I learned about the state of welfare for distressed families in 1949, which was a far cry from today, as well as treatment for alcoholism. The community's support, or lack thereof, for both was too. While their neighbors knew of the family's struggles and did what they could to help, or politely looked away, the family was pretty much were on its own. The clipped tone of the narrative was probably just how the protagonist would've delivered it.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous storyteller!!! This is the second novel I have read by Stanley Gordon West, it was definitely not a disappointment. His descriptions of the Twin Cities and life in the 40s makes me nostalgic for a time past (even though I was born in 1961). I love how he mixes humor with pathos, one minute you want to cry and the next moment you are laughing at the adolescent antics of his main character.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

[Megan Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn’t have normally picked this out but I was lent it from a family member. I ended up really enjoying the writing. I felt emotions with each character.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It was a great read!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd book in series by Stanley Gordon West. Enjoyed as much as the first 2!

[Barba Covington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. A wonderful read.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, wonderful book. A book that conjures up high school memories for the reader.

For those having been raised and or are living in St Paul, this is a most read!

[Janelle Saville-O'Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy his story telling combining fiction, actual locations and events.

[Hailey Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (read in la reading class)

[Abbey Wichman · Rating 4 out of 5]

His books always make me feel classically good!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

December selection for Book Club.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the greatest historical fiction book I have ever laid my eyes on. It is about this kid who's life is as bad as it can get. Ever since his mom died his dad has turned into a constant drunk and he has had to take care of his three younger siblings. But, a social service worker has devoted her life to find a reason to split the family apart. Now, Donny must cover for his dad so that he won't be ruled as an "irresponsible parent" and make the children go to an orphanage. On top of all of this Donny is also a senior at Central High in St. Paul. How he balances all of these things and the rest of his life is written wonderfully. The author makes you feel his emotions and his struggles. Just when you think Donny is finally going to be alright it all gets bad again. Action packed and very very sad this is the book about a senior who is 4'11" and just wants to be five feet tall. Growing and Inch.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading SG West is like watching a wonderful old black & white movie. The nostalgia, the great stories that you just know will end well no matter how much awful happens, the more innocent times. I love it. This book has all of that, sometimes some LOL humor, moments that brought me to tears. As a resident of St. Paul, I must confess a strong bias. A little bit of trivia: his publishing company is named Lexington-Marshall Publishing. Lexington & Marshall is the intersection in St. Paul where Central High is situated.

[Kath Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a young boy's life in his last year of high school. Bittersweet, poignantly funny, set in St. Paul, MN in the late 1940's. Donny's heroism in keeping his family together while his father struggles with alcoholism, warding off the local social worker, 'Miss Doomsday', and listening to war stories from neighbor, 'Uncle Effie', I found myself cheering that last inch and the growth of character that lead to it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third and last book in this series. It's still excellent, but I did think it was the weakest of the three because it was so focused on Donny's home life and didn't have the interactions at school as much. He played such a big role in a pivotal scene Sandy's book, I was surprised that wasn't mentioned in this one. I also didn't like the flashbacks in time, but it did make sense. I am sad there aren't any more books in this series. It was so fun to live in that world for a while.

[Chery · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's funny, but I hear my boyhood sometimes." I loved this book; told from the perspective of a 17 year old high school senior, set in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1949. The simplicity of the story unexpectedly takes the reader, from time to time, into the deep emotional truths of life, love, and family, all the while staying true the times. Mr. West is one of my favorite authors. I have not been disappointed. I highly recommend this book.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 3rd book in West's St. Paul trilogy was not my favorite. The life lessons and nostalgia get laid on pretty thick, and the story which is maybe the most plausible of the series also wasn't as captivating as the others. Yet it is hard not to like these characters, and the circa 1950 setting is obviously a time and place the author has a great fondness for.

[Jake Wieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, it was a great read with an exciting twis. Donny Cunningham does whatever he can do to keep his family together after he accidently kills his motha. He does everything he can do to get rid of the mean lady next door and keep his dad from drinking. in the end he keeps his family together and makes his dad not drink.

[Ptaylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent book! It takes place after WWII in St. Paul, MN.
The task of raising his brothers and sister falls on this young boy after his mother dies. He deals with an alcoholic father and tries his best to go to school and hold down two jobs. With humor, daring and wit, an inner courage gives him strength in spite of his physical stature.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a good book if you liked until they bring the street cars back you will like this book too.....it really pulls at your emotions and has a very unexpected but long anticipated happy ending, I recommended it.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! This was 3rd in a series, & all 3 stand on their own. 1949-50 St. Paul, MN -- high school seniors. My new favorite author. "Blind Your Ponies" by the same author was also excellent! I highly suggest giving Stanley Gordon West an opportunity to entertain you.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Loved the characters. Touching.