In 1925, in a small Washington State community made up of families from different ethnic backgrounds, twelve-year-old Cuss tries to stay in school as he watches those around him struggle with various financial difficulties. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

The intelligent, often humorous voice of 12-year-old Cuss, a first-generation Croatian-American nicknamed for his ability to curse in the myriad languages spoken in his small Washington State mining town, propels this historical novel set in 1925. The story begins lightheartedly enough, as Cuss and his friends prankishly attempt to steal from the annual "grape train," which, in spite of Prohibition, brings the local "ethnics" the fruit from which they make wine. But the stakes quickly escalate. His brothers' fatal altercation with his sister's beau (they recognize him as a mobster in hiding) forces them to flee, leaving behind Cuss, his widowed mother and ailing younger brother. The family dynamics and tight-knit community play strongest here. Franklin (Lone Wolf) convincingly portrays the suffocating lack of options in the dying mining town, making readers understand the generosity of Cuss's mother in allowing her smart son (his gift for languages extends to other subjects) to remain in school through the seventh grade. Cuss's observations and experiences pack a wallop, such as when his best friend brags about pocketing a dime a week of his wages and Cuss plays along, but understands this means "they were worse off than I'd figured." While anxiety for the absent brothers feels real, the story line about the mob and Prohibition seems tacked on. The wish-fulfilling conclusion proves a bit too tidy, but the memorable protagonist and cast offer an intriguing look at the sacrifices and responsibilities of early-20th-century immigrants and their children. Ages 10-13. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 5-8-Slava Petrovich, 12, also known as "Cuss" for his outstanding ability to curse in 14 languages, balances his life around friends, school, and his fatherless, Croatian-immigrant family struggling to make a living in the 1925 coal-mining town of Roslyn, WA. He and his best buddies, Perks and Skinny, plan to take part in the annual ritual of stealing grapes from the train that arrives from California. This boyhood prank transpires on a fateful night that marks the end of the protagonist's childhood and has long-lasting repercussions for the whole family. Slava's older brothers, who are both miners, become involved in the death of a man who worked for the mob, and are forced to leave town for their safety. Slava, intelligent and eager to profit from his education, is forced to make tough choices between staying in school and dropping out to support his younger brother and widowed mother. Franklin's intriguing adventure is full of suspense, drama, and good old-fashioned boyish shenanigans. The author's fine characterization of Slava and the struggles of his family are passionately portrayed as themes of hard work, deep religious faith, responsibility, and proud self-sufficiency are woven into the story.-Rita Soltan, Oakland University, Rochester, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 5-9. Growing up in the coal-mining town of Roslyn in Washington State in the 1920s, Slava Petrovick (nicknamed Cuss because he can swear in 14 languages) would love to stay in school; in fact, Latin is his favorite subject, and the kind Catholic priest is his mentor. But times are hard. His older brothers had to leave town to escape mobster violence, the mine is dismissing workers, and his widowed mother can barely feed the family. With his best friends, Italian ( wop ) Skinny and black ( colored ) Perks, 13-year-old Cuss decides to jump the grape train to California and find work. But where will he get money to bribe the trainman? Franklin has drawn on her Croatian father's stories to create a strong sense of the multiethnic community in that time and place. The happy ending seems patched on, but Cuss' fast, first-person narrative rings true: clear about prejudice and violence, funny about his pals, and also anguished about family sorrow, sacrifice, and love. HazelRochman. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.