Down Sand Mountain

By Steve Watkins

Book Overview

In a tale full of humor and poignancy, a sheltered twelve-year-old boy comes of age in a small Florida mining town amid the changing mores of the 1960s. It's 1966 and Dewey Turner is determined to start the school year right. No more being the brunt of every joke. No more "Deweyitis." But after he stains his face with shoe polish trying to mimic the popular Shoeshine Boy at the minstrel show, he begins seventh grade on an even lower rung, earning the nickname Sambo and being barred from the "whites only" bathroom. The only person willing to talk to him, besides his older brother, Wayne, is fellow outsider Darla Turkel, who wears her hair like Shirley Temple and sings and dances like her, too. Through their friendship, Dewey gains awareness of issues bigger than himself and bigger than his small town of Sand Mountain: issues like race and segregation, the reality of the Vietnam War, abuse, sexuality, and even death and grieving. Written in a riveting, authentic voice, at times light-hearted and humorous and at others devastating and lonely, this deeply affecting story will stay with readers long after the book is closed.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763638390
• ISBN13: 9780763638399
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

more real than life

I couldn't put this book down--I felt like I was inside Dewey Turner's head. What a great depiction of a 12-year-old boy's struggle to make friends and understand the racial tensions in his small Florida town in the '60s. It's funny, and embarrassing and heartrendingly real. --Jennifer Motl, Wisconsin

Brilliant!

"Down Sand Mountain" is brilliant. My nine-year-old son and I have been taking turns reading it out loud to each other--we're at Chapter 11 after two nights because we hate putting it down. I can't tell you the joy I get from explaining the tough situations where needed and the wonderful gut-busting laughs that come from him while reading. This morning, through the haze of sleep, I could hear him excitedly telling his father all about Dewey and his family and especially about the dog Lightning, with whom Elliott identifies as he loves to fart on me (especially when we're reading the book together). Ooops, too many beans! So, Steve, thank you for all that you do in this world, but most especially for bringing the magic of words to my boy!

An Amazing Coming of Age Tale

After hearing the author, Steve Watkins, speak at my school this evening I purchased a copy of "Down Sand Mountain" for my thirteen year old cousin as a Christmas gift. I was hesitant to give him a novel that I had read myself, so I curled up with his copy of the book and dug in. Pausing only for the occasional snack break or drink refill, I did not put the book down until I had finished it. While marketed for young readers, I am hesitant to use the term young adult novel when describing this book for the sheer fact that the message and beautiful writing of this novel transcends all limitations imposed by age. The characters were easy to relate to and the messages of tolerance and acceptance so resounding that I feel this novel is well suited for any reader. Reminiscent of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", this is a book that will transcend generations and age to deliver an important social message. To quickly address the brief "sexually graphic" depiction in the book I will say the following: while the scene does allude to a sexual act between two of the main characters, it is brief (totaling only four sentences) and hardly what I would call descriptive. At some point weren't many of the great classic novels shunned for "inappropriate content"? Overall, I would highly recommend the book to any prospective buyers. I know that I greatly look forward to passing this gem onto my cousin and hope to see more of Steve's work in the near future.

A must-have for everyone's personal library

"Down Sand Mountain" is a masterpiece that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Each night I tried to put the book down but was drawn back in only to find that way more time had elapsed than I had initially planned. So I suppose I don't recommend it for those on a rigid schedule. This one cast a spell over me, and I couldn't put it down, former obligations be damned! I was drawn in from the start, and was not the least bit disappointed the entire way through. I laughed, I sometimes felt like I was going to cry. The book is inspiring, and thought-provoking at the same time, with a sprinkle of good humor that anyone will enjoy. It is also a tale of understanding of our fellow man. There is a lot that can be learned about life and about one's own self in this book.

FIVE STARS

"Down Sand Mountain" by Steve Watkins is the greatest book in its genre I've seen in a long time. It addresses so many complex issues, but does so with the innocence and humor only a narrator like Dewey could bring to a story. I disagree with the comment about sexual content. The scene being referred to is subtle and appropriately woven into the story line. Not only would I have no problem with my own children reading this one day, but I hope it would inspire them to re-evealuate our judgement on others and the world around us the way it has inspired me!