In this coming of age story, debut novelist, Richard Mason takes us back to 1944 Arkansas through the eyes of Richard, a twelve-year-old with a dream. The dream seems simple enough—to buy a red scarf for Rosalie, the prettiest girl in school. However, simply buying a scarf doesn’t usually include skunks, bobcats, robbers, and a cast of eccentric characters such as Wing, the one-armed constable who swings a mean blackjack, and Bubba, a big man who wields an even bigger frying pan.
REVIEWS
NBC10 News Today
— Angela Cruz, Anchor/Producer
"I LOOOOOOOOOOVED the
Red Scarf!!! This is the best book
I've read in awhile. I actually shed some tears over it, it was that good!"
Bloomsbury Review
— Heather Drumm
Meet Richard, a 12-year-old boy who has a desperate need to buy a red scarf for his crush, Rosalie. On New Year's Day, 1944, Richard tells us his story in flashbacks that start on November 24 of the previous year. Never did Richard imagine that his quest to impress the prettiest girl in school would lead to run-ins with wild animals and bandits that populate rural Arkansas.
Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries
— Cindy Yeager
During World War II, 12 year-old Richard desperately wants to earn enough money to buy a red scarf for classmate Rosalie but keeps getting thwarted by the eccentric townfolk and lively critters of Norphlet, Arkansas.
Folksy in tone,
The Red Scarf evokes a southern town during WWII very well. The townfolk, including Wing, the town marshall, Peg the bar owner and Bubba the cook at the local greasy spoon, are well-drawn secondary characters, but the most important relationship in the book belongs to Richard, his best friend John Clayton and Uncle Hugh - where book gets its heart. You never know what Richard is going to do next to earn money, just to see it slip through his fingers again. I would give this to upper elementary students, boy or girl and watch them chuckle.
Genres:
Adventure
Coming of Age
Historical
Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Excellent
Recommendation: Recommended
The Horn Book Guide
— Jack Forman
Based loosely on Mason's childhood experiences in rural Arkansas, this story is narrated by twelve-year-old Richard, whose goal is to buy a red scarf as a Christmas present for beautiful Rosalie. Along the way, he and his best friend have encounters with a host of offbeat and dangerous adversaries (human and animal). The story meanders, but Richard's folksy voice is winsome.
