Publisher's Synopsis
Two boys spend their last summer together in a small town in Kentucky. They start a business, experience romance and even discover treasure in this charming tale about growing up in the 1940's. In the Penny Necklace, Billy Wright takes us back to a simpler time where kids skipped rope and shot marbles instead of playing video games. Following the daily lives of two teenagers, he reveals the relaxed, unplanned, everyday events that unfold as they endure the hot summer and savor the end of childhood.
In the summer of 1943, Loyall, Kentucky is a town with no action. For kids, the hot, boring days are a challenge to endure. Heading over to the drugstore for a chocolate soda, jukebox music and cool air conditioning is the most popular pastime. Of course, sodas aren't free, and with no jobs around, scrounging up even a nickel can be tough. Wouldn't it be great if a guy could earn a few dollars for a cheeseburger and a movie with his best friend and sweetheart? Well, there's always fishing in the river with bamboo poles, or shooting baskets at the old church, or hiking up the mountain to check out the mysterious cliffs. Somehow these two best friends manage to fill their days with adventure and fun with their heartwarming comradery. Can they keep it up until school starts again? Will a first crush blossom into young romance? And will they ever have more than a dollar in their pockets, or will they only hold marbles?
