Boy Underground: A Novel
- Downloads：5852
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-12-20 11:21:15
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Catherine Ryan Hyde
- ISBN：1713588889
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Sarah B White
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Boy Underground: A Novel （A novel about internment camps during World War II。）As a child of the 1950s， I had several uncles who fought in the World War II。 My uncles did not talk much about the war。 And， of course， they may have talked with their sons and nephews more than with daughters and nieces about the war。 I depend more on books since I am a senior citizen。 And Boy Underground gave me lots of information about the internment camps。 I am so glad I took advantage of the opportunity to read Boy Underground: A Novel （A novel about internment camps during World War II。）As a child of the 1950s， I had several uncles who fought in the World War II。 My uncles did not talk much about the war。 And， of course， they may have talked with their sons and nephews more than with daughters and nieces about the war。 I depend more on books since I am a senior citizen。 And Boy Underground gave me lots of information about the internment camps。 I am so glad I took advantage of the opportunity to read this book。 I hope you enjoy the book also。 。。。more
Karen。J。
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Boy Underground by Catherine Ryan Hyde⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Catherine Ryan Hyde once again you have completely captivated me with another incredible story。 Your writing skills never sees to amaze me！
Ruth Claxton
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Wow！ Just Wow！My favorite reading is that dealing with history， whether it be biography or fiction based on history。 This book is that and just so much more。 Congratulations to the author for a job well done。
Ruth Huey
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The Price of Seeing Into A SoulA teenage boy ， choosing his friends based on what he sees in a Japanese American boy's soul as opposed to the reactions of his peers to the color of his skin， inadvertently becomes a savior to his friend。 He hides him on his parents property to keep him from being sent to jail。 and later an internment camp。 Steven spends all his free time down in a root cellar keeping his friend safe。 An attractive builds between the two boys， Eventually ， they fall in love。 Steve The Price of Seeing Into A SoulA teenage boy ， choosing his friends based on what he sees in a Japanese American boy's soul as opposed to the reactions of his peers to the color of his skin， inadvertently becomes a savior to his friend。 He hides him on his parents property to keep him from being sent to jail。 and later an internment camp。 Steven spends all his free time down in a root cellar keeping his friend safe。 An attractive builds between the two boys， Eventually ， they fall in love。 Steven is willing to follow his first love to a city， after the war ends。 Will the two end up sharing their lives or will they realize changes in each other that lead to self discovery and growth？ This plot will keep the reader engaged til the final page。 A spellbinding novel for sure。 。。。more
Debbie
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4。75 stars - WW II in America - the topics we want to forget。 Well written and an absorbing read。
Ginger Robinson
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Wow！ As always CRH delivers a winner。 This book explores two topics that are often not talked about。 The author handles both of these situations with compassion。 I wish I could have known Steven。 He was such an extraordinary character already at age 14。 Each time I read a new CRH I am determined this is the best one yet， but in reality， they are so difficult to compare。 I love them all and couldn't possibly choose a favorite。 Wow！ As always CRH delivers a winner。 This book explores two topics that are often not talked about。 The author handles both of these situations with compassion。 I wish I could have known Steven。 He was such an extraordinary character already at age 14。 Each time I read a new CRH I am determined this is the best one yet， but in reality， they are so difficult to compare。 I love them all and couldn't possibly choose a favorite。 。。。more
Dino Constantinou
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When a book moves me I consider it good literature。 Because it is wise and it understands how to portray our natures in a way that brings deeper understanding。 It’s why I read。 To understand humanity better。 And CRH is truly gifted in creating characters you just want to love and who make you ache with the wonders of life。 They’re so down to earth and real and their language has a deeply endearing quality to it。 And then she describes emotions in ways you get to feel them。 And she describes them When a book moves me I consider it good literature。 Because it is wise and it understands how to portray our natures in a way that brings deeper understanding。 It’s why I read。 To understand humanity better。 And CRH is truly gifted in creating characters you just want to love and who make you ache with the wonders of life。 They’re so down to earth and real and their language has a deeply endearing quality to it。 And then she describes emotions in ways you get to feel them。 And she describes them to the limit of what English can do so you feel that part which is indescribable， too。 This is a beautiful story。 It’s a coming of age story。 A story about awakening。 A beautiful book that also shattered my heart。 I mean broke it！ Made me realize that every pain I’ve experienced in my life is still with me。 You think you get over it， and you do， but it’s still there。 That’s what makes us who we are。 And that’s why this book had to end the way it did。 It’s not a fairy tale！ 。。。more
Laura Drake
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I've read most of CRH's books， but this one - this one is special。I usually don't read WWII books， because it was such a dark time， and they're so sad。 But I trusted this author， and I'm so glad I did。 She put me IN that time and space。 I've been to Manzanar， and roamed all the areas the story covers - they mean more to me now。I flew through the book。 The prose is wonderful， and I highlighted much of it。 But it's the way she describes complex emotions of the characters - feelings we don't talk a I've read most of CRH's books， but this one - this one is special。I usually don't read WWII books， because it was such a dark time， and they're so sad。 But I trusted this author， and I'm so glad I did。 She put me IN that time and space。 I've been to Manzanar， and roamed all the areas the story covers - they mean more to me now。I flew through the book。 The prose is wonderful， and I highlighted much of it。 But it's the way she describes complex emotions of the characters - feelings we don't talk about out loud。 Do yourself a favor， and read this wonderful book。 。。。more
Cindy Lea
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Another amazing story！You have done it again Catherine！ I loved each and every heart wrenching and growing moment of this story。 Every character came into their own to make this book very special。
sumeet
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Beautiful A story of love and loss， of the idealism of youth and the disillusionment that unfortunately follows。 An absolute masterpiece that I hope is made into a movie sometime
Margo Stocker
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4。2
Heather
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When I first started reading this book I wasn't 100% sure I was going to enjoy it the way that I did。 This book takes place in 1941 during the world war and ends up in 2019 when our main character is 92。 I have always loved historical fiction books and this one definitely didn't disappoint。 The accuracy of how the Japanese Americans were treated during that time period in this book was written beautifully。 I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Book Thief or any of Ruta Sepetys w When I first started reading this book I wasn't 100% sure I was going to enjoy it the way that I did。 This book takes place in 1941 during the world war and ends up in 2019 when our main character is 92。 I have always loved historical fiction books and this one definitely didn't disappoint。 The accuracy of how the Japanese Americans were treated during that time period in this book was written beautifully。 I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Book Thief or any of Ruta Sepetys works。 。。。more
Lu Etchells
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This is the second book I’ve read by Catherine Ryan Hyde （My Name Is Anton， being the first） and it’s safe to say she is an astoundingly good writer。Narrated by Steven， aged 94， this book looks over a pivotal period in his life （1941-1945） which is set against the backdrop of WWII and the Sierra Nevada Mountains。 Essentially a coming of age story， we follow Steven’s friendships with Nick， Ollie and Suki as he tries to make sense of the world around him， and himself。 With dysfunctional family dyn This is the second book I’ve read by Catherine Ryan Hyde （My Name Is Anton， being the first） and it’s safe to say she is an astoundingly good writer。Narrated by Steven， aged 94， this book looks over a pivotal period in his life （1941-1945） which is set against the backdrop of WWII and the Sierra Nevada Mountains。 Essentially a coming of age story， we follow Steven’s friendships with Nick， Ollie and Suki as he tries to make sense of the world around him， and himself。 With dysfunctional family dynamics， prejudice， loyalty， morality， justice all strong themes there is a lot going on， but not in a crowded or confusing way。 The story flows effortlessly， and is very character driven。 My only wish is that we could have had more Gordon Cho。Beautifully written， I felt myself fall in to this novel and honestly didn’t want to come out。 The characters are beautifully portrayed， and some very sensitive topics are handled expertly。 Emotional， without being overdone and cliched， I honestly cannot recommend this book enough。 。。。more
rhonda granquist
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Excellent book about 4 boys coming of age at the beginning of WWII。 Steven Katz ， Nick Mattaliano， both 14， Ollie， 17 and Suki， a。japanese boy about the same age as Steven。 Rumor had it that japanese holding camps' are being built for the japanese， both American born and Japanese born。 One afternoon the 4 boys go on a camping trip in the Sierra Nevadas。 Nick's father was suppose to pick them up the next day at the bottom of those mountains but he never showed。 When they hot to town they heard th Excellent book about 4 boys coming of age at the beginning of WWII。 Steven Katz ， Nick Mattaliano， both 14， Ollie， 17 and Suki， a。japanese boy about the same age as Steven。 Rumor had it that japanese holding camps' are being built for the japanese， both American born and Japanese born。 One afternoon the 4 boys go on a camping trip in the Sierra Nevadas。 Nick's father was suppose to pick them up the next day at the bottom of those mountains but he never showed。 When they hot to town they heard that the police is looking for Nick for attempted murder。 There was a fight in the bar the night the boys were camping and a customer was in a fight。。ending in a coma。 Nicks dad told the police that it was his son who put the patient in the coma。 Steven hid Nick in an old building on their property that no one ever goes to。。 Nick stayed in that old building underground for several years。 Ollie enlisted in the army at yhe age of 17， and eventually Suki ， his family and other japanese were interred at Manzanaro。 。。。more
Avery
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With very few exceptions I love every book by this author and this might be in me top 3 or 4 by her。
Jessica Higgins
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A very different tale of war， love and what it means to be wanted by someone and feel the love you have been deprived of for years。Steven Katz grew up in 1941 as the son of a landowner in California。 He doesn’t realize it at the time， but he is very different than others he hangs out with。 His parents don’t approve of his new friends Nick， Suki， and Ollie who are sons of field workers in town。 About the time he starts to hang out with them， Steven realizes that his feelings for Nick are more tha A very different tale of war， love and what it means to be wanted by someone and feel the love you have been deprived of for years。Steven Katz grew up in 1941 as the son of a landowner in California。 He doesn’t realize it at the time， but he is very different than others he hangs out with。 His parents don’t approve of his new friends Nick， Suki， and Ollie who are sons of field workers in town。 About the time he starts to hang out with them， Steven realizes that his feelings for Nick are more than just friendship。 After Pearl Harbor is bombed and the US enters the war， Suki and his family are forced into an Internment camp， Ollie leaves to enlist in the war and Nick goes into hiding after he is falsely accused of a crime actually committed by his father。 Steven hides Nick and spends his time trying to take care of the boy he is falling in love with。 When Nick leaves， Steven tries to find him and ends up finding more than he bargained for about life， love and what it means to be happy。This isn’t the normal book I would pick up and read but I have been a fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde for a long time and honestly didn’t know what it was about before starting it。 The story was written really well， just like all of hers are。 Even though the subject matter isn’t what I agree with and doesn’t follow my views， I enjoyed the story and the way it was written。 Even though this is a story about a boy finding love in an unconventional way， especially at this time， it is really more about how he finds himself and learns to move beyond his family and how they have treated him over the course of his life。 Steven learns how to be his own person and help others， even if it isn’t what his parents would approve of。 He knows in his heart he is doing the right thing and he sticks with it， that is what made him a great character in my eyes。 Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of crafting stories and characters in a way that others just can’t do，;she makes these stories relatable in one way or another for everyone who reads them and wants to walk away from the story feeling changed， even if what the character feels and believes doesn’t match up with the readers beliefs。 I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher。 The views and opinions expressed within are my own。 。。。more
Jacqueline Jordan
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Wonderful！！Powerful story of adversity， personal truth， lasting love and deep friendship。As always Catherine Hyde tells a tale so riveting and consuming it is very hard to put this book down。
Susan （The Book Bag）
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Boy Underground is another spell-binding story by a wonderful storyteller。 I fell in love with Steven and the group of misfit boys that end up becoming his life-long friends。 Catherine always writes such heartwarmingly beautiful stories rich with memorable characters that stay with me for a long time。 Her characters never seem to have an easy go of it but they somehow make it through life and become better people because of their circumstances。 Steven is just trying to fit in。 Being a teenager i Boy Underground is another spell-binding story by a wonderful storyteller。 I fell in love with Steven and the group of misfit boys that end up becoming his life-long friends。 Catherine always writes such heartwarmingly beautiful stories rich with memorable characters that stay with me for a long time。 Her characters never seem to have an easy go of it but they somehow make it through life and become better people because of their circumstances。 Steven is just trying to fit in。 Being a teenager is tough， especially when you don't really conform to the mold。 He befriends three other boys who accept him for who he is and who are there for each other。 As the war ramps up， the turmoil in all of their lives ram up as well， with plenty of drama and trauma。 I thoroughly enjoyed Boy Underground and highly recommend it。 You can never go wrong with a Catherine Ryan Hyde story！ 。。。more
Maria
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This is a YA coming of age story whose entire plot is pretty much laid out in the summary of the book so no surprises there。 The narrator’s insistence on sticking to his values despite his family’s bigotry is sad for him and heartwarming for humanity。 Because it’s YA， the parents’ motives are not delved into deeply。 Aside from the main character and his friends， most of the characters in the book appear to be stock caricatures of Central Valley farmers during WWII。
Tara Baisden
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Catherine Ryan Hyde is a favorite author of mine and this novel did not disappoint， A coming of age story set in a world of war。 This was a very emotional read for me。 I loved the characters and enjoyed the historical setting。
Chandra Sundeep
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Boy Underground is my first time reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s work， and I’ve fallen in love with the author’s style of story-telling。 Ryan Hyde’s skill and craft is clear as she has created fully developed characters who are unforgettable and stole my heart。 Their journeys of self-discovery and realization make the tale even more beautiful and memorable。 Even Steven’s parents are well-etched， reflecting on the times the story is set in。 Steven and Gordan Cho remain my favourites from this beaut Boy Underground is my first time reading Catherine Ryan Hyde’s work， and I’ve fallen in love with the author’s style of story-telling。 Ryan Hyde’s skill and craft is clear as she has created fully developed characters who are unforgettable and stole my heart。 Their journeys of self-discovery and realization make the tale even more beautiful and memorable。 Even Steven’s parents are well-etched， reflecting on the times the story is set in。 Steven and Gordan Cho remain my favourites from this beautiful tale。I loved reading the epilogue， set in 2019。 It left me in tears， yet wishing the story would go on。The author has well-handled many themes in this emotional tale- familial relationships， poverty， identity issues， racial discrimination， social injustice， war and sacrifice。The only complaint I have is regarding the foreshadowing， as I found it a little distracting。 But it’s a minor issue compared to the powerful narration and sensitive handling of various themes in this book。This is a historical fiction based on the second world war。 The war acts as a backdrop， but plays an important role in directing the story from behind the curtains and holds the narration together。 The friendship between the four friends who are inseparable until war tears them apart forms the central narrative。 Each boy has his own story， filled with challenges and difficulties。Boy Underground is a beautifully crafted story of acceptance and tolerance。 It is well written， and character-driven， tugging at the heartstrings。 Any reader who enjoys fictional stories based on war would love this。Thanks to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel。 All opinions expressed are my own。BLOG 。。。more
Angie Thompson
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I’ve read a lot of CRH’s books and this by far the best I’ve read。 Riveting and engaging， a fantastic read。
christine murdock
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OutstandingThis is a rare and beautiful understanding of youth coming of age with a twist。 To be gay in 1941 in farmland with stunted views was she opening。 Japanese internment was horrific。 The double standard typical in this country。
Cheryle Peloni
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Without a doubt her best work yet。This book started out as a journey of 4 friends and coming of age during the early 1940's。 It became an homage to the diversity in life and the ability to survive if you listen with your heart not just hear with your ears。 Keep your mind open and options limitless。 Stay true to your beliefs and don't give up。 Without a doubt her best work yet。This book started out as a journey of 4 friends and coming of age during the early 1940's。 It became an homage to the diversity in life and the ability to survive if you listen with your heart not just hear with your ears。 Keep your mind open and options limitless。 Stay true to your beliefs and don't give up。 。。。more
Rosemary Dreyer
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A powerful novel about prejudice， belonging， and the journey of the Self。 What I loved: the richly drawn characters; the unfolding of the story; Steven’s growth and strength; the writing。 A lovely book that I would recommend。
Marits
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Great storytelling regarding this period in history。 The underlying theme was handled well and graciously。
Brenda
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It was 1941 in the small rural town in California when Steven Katz became friends with Ollie， Suki and Nick at school。 They were all sons of workers on the farms around the area and three of the four boys were only fourteen。 Ollie was seventeen but the group were all close friends， camping， hiking the nearby mountains and just hanging out。 But that all changed when the US joined the war effort。 With Suki being of Japanese descent， he and his family were made to relocate to an internment camp at It was 1941 in the small rural town in California when Steven Katz became friends with Ollie， Suki and Nick at school。 They were all sons of workers on the farms around the area and three of the four boys were only fourteen。 Ollie was seventeen but the group were all close friends， camping， hiking the nearby mountains and just hanging out。 But that all changed when the US joined the war effort。 With Suki being of Japanese descent， he and his family were made to relocate to an internment camp at Manzanar。 Ollie enlisted in the army， prepared to do his duty for his country， while Nick had to disappear after his father told the police it was Nick who committed a crime。 Nick’s betrayal by his father hurt him badly， but Steven was prepared to help him stay safe。As the years passed and life continued， Steven turned eighteen the day war ended。 After Steven picked up Suki and his family from the internment camp and took them to the nearest bus stop， it was time for him to make his own life。 His first plan was to find Nick whom he knew lived in New York。 What would happen when the two friends met once again？ What would the future look like for the young man who had been a farmer’s son， and an outcast in his family life？ Boy Underground is another exceptional novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde。 I only recently found this author， and in the few of hers I’ve read， not one has disappointed。 She’s a wonderful writer， who certainly knows how to weave a story to captivate her readers。 I thoroughly enjoyed the experience， from the four main characters to the poignant ending。 Highly recommended。With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Arielle
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When I saw the words “WWII” describing this book， I almost said， no， I don’t want to read anything about WWII。 But this is Catherine Ryan Hyde - she never disappoints and so I bought the book。tAnd am I ever glad I did。There are many kinds of war - war against hate， war against ignorance， war against intolerance， war against just giving up。 And unlike physical wars， these wars go on and on and on。 I always identify with the characters in this author’s books and this was no exception even tho the When I saw the words “WWII” describing this book， I almost said， no， I don’t want to read anything about WWII。 But this is Catherine Ryan Hyde - she never disappoints and so I bought the book。tAnd am I ever glad I did。There are many kinds of war - war against hate， war against ignorance， war against intolerance， war against just giving up。 And unlike physical wars， these wars go on and on and on。 I always identify with the characters in this author’s books and this was no exception even tho the main character is a young gay boy。 I was immediately on his team。 Ms。 Hyde has a way of making us see and even understand things we might normally overlook。 We are all much better for the experience。 。。。more
Cathrine ☯️
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3。5 🌠 🌠 🌠This book was gifted to me and though YA， coming of age are not subjects I gravitate to， I enjoyed reading this way more than I thought I might and would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling to find their own voice and path in life or looking for a lighter read which tackles the tough circumstances and choices we all encounter in life。 I agree with the description life affirming but there is depth and accountability in getting there and Catherine Ryan Hyde knows how to tell a 3。5 🌠 🌠 🌠This book was gifted to me and though YA， coming of age are not subjects I gravitate to， I enjoyed reading this way more than I thought I might and would definitely recommend this to anyone struggling to find their own voice and path in life or looking for a lighter read which tackles the tough circumstances and choices we all encounter in life。 I agree with the description life affirming but there is depth and accountability in getting there and Catherine Ryan Hyde knows how to tell a good story。 It was gratifying company for me at just the right time （in more ways than you can know） which is why I choose to round up my rating with a new determination to get to those other titles by her languishing on my Kindle。 。。。more
Karen
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