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American Boy

by Larry Watson

American Boy

Hardcover, 251 pages, Pgw, List Price: $24 | purchase

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Book Summary

On Thanksgiving Day 1962, the shooting of a young woman sets off a chain of unsettling events in Willow Falls, Minnesota, all revolving around Matthew Garth, who becomes obsessed with the shooting victim and with the lavish lifestyle of a local doctor's family.

This book is about:

  • Small cities,
  • Minnesota,
  • Life change events,
  • Psychological fiction,
  • Fiction

NPR stories about American Boy

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Matthew Garth is a teen growing up in small-town 1960s Minnesota. Rex Dunbar, the handsome, charismatic town doctor, has taken to schooling Matthew in medical matters. Things get complicated when the doctor is called to help Louisa, a young woman who was shot by her boyfriend. Louisa is taken in as a helper in the doctor's office — and Matthew becomes infatuated with her — which leads to conflict with Dr. Dunbar.

I loved how the roadblocks to adulthood play out among the characters.... more

Daniel Goldin

 

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