Boys

“I am a fan of Roger Newman’s books; but this is, in my view, his most profound work. Well written as always, the story of Alex’s efforts to find bridges across the divides in his life is a metaphor for our society’s search. This book is more than a great read; it is a source of hope.” John Sexton is President Emeritus of NYU and author of NY Times Bestseller. “Baseball As A Road To God”

“Newman writes powerfully of two brothers who struggle, both together and alone, through the tragedies of war, hatred and racial discrimination. No matter what their hardships are, Newman’s well-crafted and entertaining tale demonstrates there are few things that cannot be transcended by brotherly love. Boys is a dynamic Southern story that teaches hard but redemptive truths.” Jason Ryan, author of “Swamp Kings: The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina and a Century of Backwoods Power”

“Within this splendid novel is a timely evaluation of family, of the bonds that unite the spirit and propel the heart. Boys courageously offers a narrative grounded in honor, and the indelible bonds that transcend the accidents of birth, place and skin color. There’s a lyrical intensity that mirrors the depth of the tale, and, in the end, this book is both eminently readable and hauntingly profound. Boys belongs on the shelf of any serious reader.” Greg Fields, The Bright Freight of Memory; PEN/Faulkner Award nominee

“Roger Newman’s sweeping novel, Boys, isn’t just a page turner, it’s also a brilliantly painted portrait about how two boys, one Black, the other White, who, during a racially charged time in this country’s history, forged a lifetime bond of brotherhood that began when they were children. Beautifully written and profound!” Joe Palmer, author – “A Mariner’s Tale”

“Beginning during the Great Depression and taking the reader through the Vietnam War, Dr. Roger Newman’s outstanding novel Boys chronicles the parallel, although dramatically different, lives of two men, one Black, the other White, who were joined together in youth by tragic circumstances. In a narrative style that makes the book impossible to put down, the author adroitly captures the deep-seated spectrum of racism experienced by the unequal treatment that followed the “brothers” from childhood through their heroic service to their country. Not only does the novel present an accurate history of the period, but it draws the reader into the emotional and psychological toll racism thrust upon each man.” Bill Noel is the award-winning author of twenty-six novels in the Folly Beach Mystery series.

“Roger Newman’s new historical fiction novel, Boys, skillfully and sensitively explores the theme that “brotherhood is more than skin deep.” Two Depression-era boys growing up in rural North Carolina, one Black, the other White, share a lifelong friendship forged in racism and violence and sealed in savage combat on the battlefields of WWII Normandy. Plot is, of course, the essential foundation of fiction writing, but it is the authentic characters and well-crafted dialogue that bring life to Newman’s storyline. Readers will be captivated by Pete and Alex as they defend their friendship and loyalty to one another through the many challenges confronting them in this excellent novel. Highly recommended.” Michael A. Almond, author of “The Tannery”

“Powerful and sensational best describes Boys, Roger Newman’s potential award-winning masterpiece. He brings passion and authenticity to a time and place in this country many do not wish to remember, the Jim Crow Era. This was when there were two defined Americas, one White and the other Black, both inside the gates of the military and outside: both in war and peace. He identifies two protagonists, one White, referred to by his given name Pete, called Petey, the other Black called Boy, never by his given name, Alex. The story follows Petey and Boy from adolescents growing up on Petey’s family’s dairy farm, to the military during World War Two, where they both enlist. Petey in a White unit, designated to do the heavy lifting while fighting on the front lines, and Boy, in a unit of his own people, serving in rear areas supporting White units. Though segregated, combat brings them together which becomes a story in itself. Roger Newman concludes Boys with an interesting post-war scenario which makes the novel a must read.” Major General Peter J. Gravett, author of “Battling While Black: General Patton’s Heroic African-American WWII Battalions”

“After previously publishing mysteries, Roger Newman has now completed his first historical novel. It follows two “brothers,” one White and one Black through boyhood in the early 20th Century in rural North Carolina, early adulthood during the Second World War, and maturity during the turbulence of the Vietnam era. The plot is riveting, and the characters realistic, some admirable, some hateful. Newman, an esteemed physician and professor, brings his personal and professional experiences to create a gripping tale. Kudos!” Ron Gibbs, author of “The Long Shot”

“The author takes us through 5 decades of racial injustice. Two brothers, one Black, one White who grew up together and struggled together through all the adversity in their parallel lives. As usual, Roger Newman has written a fictional story based on the background of actual history. A great story, a very good read.” William F Fuqua, author of “Honey Island and the Cleansing Fire”

“In 1930 North Carolina, an 8-year-old Black child, Alex Broadnax, survives an attack by Ku Klux Klan members that kills his entire family, and he is taken in by a local White farmer. One of the farmer’s sons, Pete Barnes, is Alex’s age, and the two boys become like brothers. In 1940, they both enlist in the military, but they’re separated because of the armed forces policy of racial segregation. Throughout the novel, Newman skillfully compares the two men’s lives: specifically, how Alex repeatedly fights for recognition of his achievements.” The Kirkus Review

“Boys promises an exquisite racial examination between Pete and Alex, who, although not related, consider themselves brothers. The emotional resonance in this story is potent. Readers will easily be able to empathize and sympathize with both characters.” The Book Pipeline Workshop

Readers’ Favorite Book Review(s)
Review by Carol Thompson
Review Rating: 5 Stars 

“Boys” by Roger Newman is a compelling and heartfelt exploration of family, friendship, and resilience set against the turbulent backdrop of the Great Depression in the rural American South. The story revolves around young Petey Barnes and Alex, a Black boy taken in by Petey’s family under tense and challenging circumstances. Newman crafts a poignant tale of loyalty and survival through their bond as the boys navigate a world divided by race, hardship, and unyielding societal expectations. “Boys” is an incredibly moving coming-of-age story that beautifully portrays friendship’s strength and the courage to face adversity. Newman captures the daily rhythms and struggles of the era, bringing to life both the beauty and starkness of rural America.

I don’t even know how to describe this book without writing a thousand words because it’s worth a thousand stars. The world-building is immersive and impressive, with vivid descriptions of farm life, dusty small towns, and the Southern landscapes. The farm setting is almost a character, underscoring the hardships and resilience of those living off the land. The story’s structure is layered, with Petey and Alex alternating perspectives, adding depth to their relationship and allowing readers to experience the complexities of the era’s racial tensions. Roger Newman’s rich and subtle storytelling offers readers an evocative glimpse into a difficult period while highlighting the transformative power of love and loyalty. This novel is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, capturing the essence of a friendship that transcends the divides of an unforgiving world. It’s on my top ten list of books to reread in 2025.

BLUE INK REVIEW
“Boys” Roger Newman Koehler Books, 334 pages, (hardcover) $25, 979-8-88824-569-9 (Reviewed: November, 2024)

Roger Newman’s Boys tells the transfixing story of two brothers from 1930s boyhood to the mid1970s. Its first-person narrative alternates between the two, but their accounts of shared events differ widely: Pete is white, and Alex is black.

Set mostly in deeply segregated, small-town South Carolina, “Boys” opens amidst high tension as Pete’s father, Poppa, a Baptist pastor and dairy farmer, points a rifle at Alex, who is caught stealing milk after escaping a fire and lynching that killed the boy’s entire family. Poppa’s decision to bring Alex into his family is predicated not on empathy but on Alex working hard (and sleeping on the porch). The narrative follows the boys, who come to consider themselves brothers, as they grow, fight wars and bigotry, gain families, and save each other literally and figuratively.

Clear-eyed, unsentimental writing sculpts characters, like Poppa, who are filled with disturbing contradictions—and utterly true-to-life. Newman also informs on a rich tapestry of topics and insights, from military cruelties and politics to cows to Supreme Court cases to 1970s breakfast foods. Sharp dialogue and plenty of humor entertain, as when a soldier introduces Pete to his first brothel (“she’s made far more boys speak in tongues than your preacher father ever has”).

Newman’s philosophizing and social commentary rarely slip into didacticism. As Alex notes early about his adopted father: “Anger and gratitude are difficult feelings to hold at the same time. I managed it, though, and never let go of either one.” Pete also sees much about the world realistically, as when he notes that his father’s remarriage after the excruciating death of his mother was partly to spawn his own work force: “Poppa had … made it clear he needed a hatful of dairy workers.” Readers will laugh, learn, and become immersed in this fascinating story from its early, horrifying pages to its satisfying, cathartic conclusion and will eagerly await Newman’s next book.