Reviews:
“Cottonwood Summer documents author Gary Slaughter, an undeniably talented writer, as a master at creating loveable characters and an engaging story-telling narrative enriched with humor and originality. Cottonwood Summer is a mystery with Nazi spies, nasty POW’s, undercover moles, small-town values, and Gold Star mothers who will never see their sons again. Irreverent, touching, and a reader involving story, Cottonwood Summer is one of those novels so easy to pick up and so hard to put down. And when it is finished, the book sends the reader searching to find other stories by this undeniably talented writer.”
Midwest Book Review, May 2004
“In Cottonwood Summer and Cottonwood Fall, Gary Slaughter has created an intimate portrait of a small town during World War II. Both novels feature a plethora of eccentrics, humble heroes, grieving families, and dastardly Nazis. Slaughter’s memoir-like style makes these stories a languid reminiscence.”
Nashville Scene, October 2005
“Slaughter has carefully crafted assorted themes including small-town life on the World War II home front, vengeful German POWs, and the Roosevelt-Dewey presidential race into the hilarious and heart-warming tour de force called Cottonwood Fall, a masterful sequel to his best-selling novel, Cottonwood Summer.”
Bookwoman, Woman’s National Book Association, Winter 2006
“It’s a light book and fun to read. In an era when much published fiction is shoot-em-up or bed-to-bed, Slaughter’s is a G-rated book.”
The Argus-Press, May 2004
“Two real-life incidents provided fertile ground for his novel. In one, a group of POWs working at a canning factory saved a bedridden pregnant woman from dying in a house fire.”
The Flint Journal, May 2004
“Humor, history, and fiction merge in a touching account of the 1944 home front when a small Michigan town objects to a nearby German POW camp.”
Great Lakes Booksellers Association, March/April 2004
“The home front during World War II has been a goldmine of great stories for authors. This compelling story (Cottonwood Summer) of two adventurous and highly imaginative boys presents a new approach. Add in an array of colorful town folk, a nearby German Prison Camp, a suspected spy and you have all the ingredients for one of the funniest and most entertaining stories I have read in a long time. Gary Slaughter’s writing style is easy and comfortable. You will want to keep turning pages just to see what happens next. I predict that this author will have more stories to tell us in days to come.”
Jerry Hooper, Nashville, TN
“Cottonwood Summer is a delightful return to simpler times, when kids played outdoor, when imagination and ingenuity reigned. I felt that I was there with Danny and Jase in their many adventures – from their earthworm collecting to their church visits. The description and dialogue in this book are that of a great storyteller. This is a most enjoyable book for all generations.”
Harriet Ward, Atlanta, GA
“Cottonwood Summer is a timeless classic! Though set against a World War II backdrop, this tale is a must read for anyone looking to disconnect from today’s hectic pace and reconnect with a time when things were far less complicated. The lessons learned by the boys during the course of the novel, about themselves, friendship, and diversity to name a few, apply as much today as they did when the story is set. This leaves you with just one question. When do we get to see this on screen?”
Billy Rainey, Los Angeles, CA
“I had forgotten how the world looks through a 10 year-old boy’s eyes. Cottonwood Summer is a refreshing and entertaining book with a blend of mystery, humor, and boyhood sleuthing. You will find yourself immersed in the lives of Jase and his best friend Danny as they go about their day-to-day adventures in small town America during the end of WWII.”
Roger Rieman, Ocala, FL
“A wonderfully readable tale of life in small town America in 1944. Filled with adventure, mystery, laugh-out-loud humor, memorable characters and heartfelt moments. Cottonwood Summer is a fun and entertaining read!”
R. S. Regen, Nashville, TN |
