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Cracker's Mule NewSouth Books During the polio scare of the 1950s, a boy’s parents send him for the summer from his small-town Florida home to the refuge of his grandparents’ farm in rural Alabama. He settles into country life with Papa and Bigmother. The locals nickname him Cracker, after the term for Florida cowboys. One day he and Papa go to a livestock auction and Papa lets him buy a small mule. The mule turns out to be blind and Cracker must suffer ridicule while caring for the animal he comes to love. Over the summer Cracker teaches the mule to respond to his voice and together they learn to plow. The summer passes with lazy days of fishing in the local creek mixed with frightening episodes involving poisonous snakes. In this idyllic setting, Cracker makes the transition from boy to young man.
Reviews “Inspired by his own childhood, Billy Moore spins an engaging yarn about a boy’s summer at this grandparents’ farm and the cantankerous and loveable characters who challenge and support his emerging maturity. Cracker’s Mule is a fun read, filled with boyish good humor and true grit.” “Cracker’s Mule is not to be hurried through. It is a book for savoring the rich experiences of an eleven-year-old boy’s country summer. His growing understanding of his place in family and community will appeal to all ages.” “A warm-hearted story of an innocent time.” “Reminiscent of books like Cold Sassy Tree, Cracker’s Mule vividly recreates a time, a place, and a way of life. Cracker’s voice captivates as he observes the grown-ups around him with honesty, tenderness, and humor.”
Also by Billy Loran Moore:
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