Way Back in The Ozarks By Howard Hefley Review By Kooper A

Have you ever read a book were you feel like you are in the action just like a main character? Have you ever felt cool creek water run down your body on a hot summer day from reading a book? In the book, Way Back in The Ozarks, you will. This book will keep you guessing and get your adrenalin rushing to see what happens next.
In this book the main character is Howard “Monk” Hefley. He is a young boy growing up in a small town in the Ozark Mountains. They call Howard, Monk, because he runs through the Ozark Forest, like he is the monk of those mountains. Monk has many adventures in the book with a few other characters like his dog and best friend Danny Boy who he picked up right before the dog owner was going to get rid of him. Danny Boy is a really smart dog with a whole lot of character. Monk also hangs around with his best friend, and cousin Junior. These two had lots of great adventures together and grew up side-by-side. Monk also has his brother (James a.k.a Fesser), and the rest of his family of eight children. His dad is one of the best coon dog raisers and one of the best hunters in the small town of Judy. With his wife they have quite a handful with Monk and the other seven kids.
Monk lived in a small town way back in the Ozark Mountains where everybody knows who you are or might even be related to you. It might be the Dry Branch forest where Monk goes to hunt, or by creek where Monk swims and fishes. You might also catch him leaving the school at the school grounds. Or out with his dog causing up some trouble in Judy. Even though Judy is a small town there was always something to do there.
In Judy, Monk always was up to fun, and exciting adventures. One adventure that Monk had, that was one of my favorites, was when monk lived in the log cabin where he was born and, he went to the one-roomed school near by. One day in the middle of winter, Monk ran out of the classroom so hot from the stove that he went and jumped in the freezing cold creek and climbed in a tree so know one could find him. Another adventure Monk had, was when Junior and him put firecrackers in the knotholes of the school’s firewood. They then blew up all the school’s stoves. In the high school, and the school Monk and Junior were in. The final adventure Monk had was to get back his pet raccoons hide back from a hard wear store. Monk’s pet raccoon was killed and his hide was sold to a hard wear store, thirty miles away from his hometown. Monk hitched a ride there and broke in with Danny Boy and found the hide with snakebite above the eye. It was a very hard time for Monk and Danny Boy because he lost their best friend.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and will make you laugh and make you cry. But Way Back in The Ozarks is a great book to read and I would suggest it to everyone who would like to see what growing up back then in a small town is like.