Lawn Darts & Lemonade: Tackling the '80s by Steven Manchester

 Book Excerpt:

"From New England's Storyteller, Steven Manchester comes the nostalgia-filled sequel to Bread Bags & Bullies, a novel about growing up in a whacky family during the 1980s. Boomboxes, leg warmers, and Rubik's Cubes—it's all there. A hysterical walk down memory lane!

"Steven Manchester's Lawn Darts & Lemonade is so much fun, filled with laughter, tears, and Big Hair." – Taylor Dayne, '80s Recording Artist, Love Will Lead You Back.

It's the summer of 1984, a season of dodging lawn darts and chugging lemonade—or at least the discolored tap water Ma tried to disguise as lemonade.

Growing up is never easy, no matter what era you do it in. For generations, teenagers have suffered peer pressure, bullying, fear of rejection, and a sadistic obstacle course of one unexpected challenge after the next. Three brothers, Wally, Herbie, and Cockroach, learn that the past can be filled with questions—even shame and regret—while the future might be shrouded in worry and fear. But staying in the moment, now that's where the sweet spot is."

Title: Lawn Darts & Lemonade: Tackling the '80s
Author: Steven Manchester
Publisher: Luna Bella Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Lawn Darts & Lemonade" By Steven Manchester

My Assessment:

My, my, all I can say about this author's 'Lawn Darts & Lemonade' was that the story was well-written, warm, funny, and relatable to the years of the '80s. It was definitely 'the summer of 1984, a season of dodging lawn darts and chugging lemonade-or least the discolored tap water Ma tried to disguise as lemonade.' Growing up in this family ... the Mom, Dad, three brothers, Walley, Herbie, and Cockroach, really went through a lot... 'learning that the past can be filled with questions-even, shame, and regret-while the future might be shrouded in worry and fear.' But when it's all said and done, it was 'where the sweet spot is.' Oh, two sisters [Louann & Lynn] came later but were also there and loved very much by their family.

It was so much fun reading how this family persevered during this time in the '80s, as the story strolls down memory lane, doing all of this family loved during this coming-of-age time and survived it all. It was fun listening to what Pop had them doing during this two-week vacation.

The story made it clear that Mom smoked; Herbie showed how much he loved the shake of his Magic 8 Ball for questions he needed answered; the two other brothers had their way of having the reader shake their heads and say now what was that? But above everything, the Mom and Dad showed they loved their children very much. Also, some relatives [Uncle Skinny and Aunt Phyllis] were in the story that showed they cared too.

The story was so well delivered, showing how Herbie took us on a journey down memory lane after the death of his Pop. However, what left me in tears was the ending and the Poem this author had for the Mom. "Everything that I am, everything that I achieve, is because the Lord blessed me with your love."