Jim the Boy

Jim the Boy

by Tony Earley (2000)

Loved it.

A boy whose father died before he was born, but is very much present in his and his mother's life*, grows up in small town America with trains, Ty Cobb, the coming of electric lights, and his 3 uncles to show him the way.  Good balance between the lighter county fair and school yard chapters and those that deal with Polio, a dead father, and a scary grandfather.  Captures the confusion and perspective of a young boy well.

*Probably some of the "eternal love" stuff is above a 10 yr old, but even if the boys just skim through those parts there's a lot good in the book.