[.ca] The Beet Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer (ISBN 0440415578)

From Amazon.com:
The striking cover picture of a beautiful young man's bare, muscular back foreshadows the sensuality of this brilliant autobiographical novel for older boys by the author of Hatchet and Soldier's Heart. In this remarkable book, Gary Paulsen reworks material from his own life that has appeared earlier in his novels, to tell--with simple words and Hemingwayesque cadences--the story of a summer when a 16-year-old boy became a man. Fleeing his mother's confusing drunken advances, a boy runs away and finds work in the beet fields of North Dakota. Wielding a hoe for long, hot days, he learns about cruelty from the farmer's wife and about kindness from his Mexican coworkers. Later an attraction to a girl glimpsed only once leads him into accepting a job driving a tractor, but a brush with the deputy sheriff sends him running again, only to be taken in by a sleazy carnival as a roustabout. He learns to shill for the geek, a fake wild man of Borneo who bites the heads off chickens, and yearns for Ruby, the voluptuous hootchy-kootchy dancer. During the summer the boy learns about life and people and his own ability to work and survive, and when Ruby invites him into her bed, his transition to manhood is complete. While the sensual scenes and occasionally gritty language may make this novel problematic for adults, there is not a 15-year-old boy around who would not find that this poetic, powerful novel speaks to his soul. (Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell

The Beet Fields Memories of a Sixteenth Summer:
The Beet Fields Memories of a Sixteenth Summer is a book about the author's, Gary Paulsen, experiences. After "The Boy," as he is called, runs from his drunk parents he ends up working the beet fields with the Mexicans. As he juggles farm jobs, runs from the cops, and seeks love, he has many adventures. This book never has a dull moment and always keeps the reader on his or her toes. Each job ends quickly with split second decisions to take another. You never know if he will fall off a barn or fall in love with the farmer's daughter he has seen only once. The best part of all was the fast pace which never bores the reader.

The Beet Fields Memories of a Sixteenth Summer:
The Beet Fields Memories of a Sixteenth Summer is a book about the author's, Gary Paulsen, experiences. After "The Boy," as he is called, runs from his drunk parents he ends up working the beet fields with the Mexicans. As he juggles farm jobs, runs from the cops, and seeks love, he has many adventures. This book never has a dull moment and always keeps the reader on his or her toes. Each job ends quickly with split second decisions to take another. You never know if he will fall off a barn or fall in love with the farmer's daughter he has seen only once. The best part of all was the fast pace which never bores the reader.

My Review:
I think the book was pretty good. It started of slow and i didnt think i would like it, but it didnt get interesting until the middle of the story. The story is about a sixteen year old boy who spends his hot summer days in the beet fields on North Dakota. He works from early that morning till almost dark along with Mexicans. The Boy meets to friends named Bobby and Rudy, who teach him many things and change his life for the best.

Finding a Home:
A Review by Clint This book is about a boy with a troubled home life so he decides to take a chance and help himself. He finds many friends along the North Dakota prairies that give hope but his old life continues to trouble him. He has troubles with the law, girls and again his former life. This book seems somewhat real but is still fictional. It fits right in with the rest of the books that you may have read about being lost in this world. The characters in the book are seemingly real almost all are hard working farm hands or illegal Mexicans and some are alcoholics. The book does not have a ton of action but it kept me wanting to know more. I suggest that anyone who has ever read a Gay Paulsen book and liked it read this book. I personally think this book is one of the top 15 books I've ever read.

Beat Fields:
Beat Fields: Memories of a Sixteenth Summer by Gary Paulsen is an exciting story about a teenage boy who runs away from his home. Beatfields takes place in the 1950's in North Dakota. Throughout the book, the boy is constantly on the run. He learns a lot from the people he meets and works for. I enjoyed this book because something new and exiteing is always happening! I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys Gary Paulsen's writing.