Knee High by the Fourth of July: More Stories of Growing Up in and Around Small Towns in the Midwest Review

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(More customer reviews)For "Knee High By The Fourth of July," Jean Tennant gathered and edited another selection of stories about growing up in and around small towns in the Midwest; a sequel to "Walking Beans Wasn`t Something You Did With Your Dog." This book appropriately begins with three corn-related stories --one about picking the ears by hand, another about running between the rows with sparklers on the Fourth of July, and the third about two little girls creating a bit of panic by taking a short cut through a field of tall corn. They knew they weren't lost, but their parents didn't.
Pet lovers are treated to accounts of dogs, horses, chickens and even a talking crow. You will chuckle over a dummy in the outhouse, digging a lake with spades and shovels, carnival rides and skunk encounters. Several school stories are featured. One tells of teacher accommodating student passengers by using a tree trunk to prop open the trunk lid in his coupe, aptly named Carrie.
Other stories feature a ghost, storm adventures and the unusual event of a tree stump falling through the roof of a house. Depression day's essays tell of a sheriff's sale, dust storms and families struggling together to make things work. You will be moved by a soldier's memories from World War II, as well as home-front stories of rationing and recycling. Dan Ruf's ending essay, "The Canvas of Rural America," nostalgically sums up an era of change. The book also features some of Dan's professional photos, a collection of old black and white pictures and the artistry of LaVonne Hansen's pen and ink sketches.
For some readers, the heart-warming stories will evoke memories while others are exposed to a bit of recent history. Even if you grew up in an urban area, you will relate to the human aspect conveyed by thirty-three different writers.

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Thirty-three heartwarming, funny and dramatic stories about life in the Midwest. The authors' ages range from twleve to eight-seven, yet their words share a universal theme of nostalgia and a love of storytelling. "Outhouse Oscar" tells of a lighthearted prank, "The Zipper" recalls a time of budding romance at the county fair, and "A Harvest of Stones" is a haibun, a unique combination of narrative and haiku. Whatever your reading mood, there's a story here for you.

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