The Green Forty

Jonathan Green stands at the beginning of his adolescence: a crossroads. The decisions he makes this summer will determine whether he walks in the light or sinks into darkness like his father. This is a book about making a man out of a boy. While it is true that a mother's influence is both profound and indispensable, it is also true that a boy needs a man in his life. That man doesn't always have to be the boy's father. In fact, these days, such a thing is unlikely. That doesn't mean it's impossible; just challenging. Therefore Sarah Green, Jonathan's mom, has decided that the best thing for her boy is a few weeks with her dad at the family farm: the Green Forty. Given how cantankerous Graham Green has become over the years, she thinks perhaps getting these two together will be good for both of them. If she knew how profound the change would be, and what it would cost, she might not have taken this step. But she has a sense that Jonathan needs some time with a real man, however uncompromising he may be. Jonathan needs a defining experience, good stories, and hard work. He gets that and more at the Forty, mainly because when you meet Graham Green, you're not the same ever again. When Jonathan finally passes through the gateway, the price of his entry into manhood will be high. But only his Granddad could ever have led him there.