Finished audio 12-12-11, rating 4/5, pub. 2004
Unabridged audio. 6 hours. Read by Dick Hill.
An orphan and a bastard, Jamie grew up tough enough to handle almost anything. He survived foreign prisons, smugglers, pirates, gunrunners, and shark attacks. But what he finds in the quote town of Hawkes Harbor, Delaware, was enough to drive him almost insane—and change his life forever.
This is a shortened overview from the paperback version of the book and it is bland enough to be true. I wish I could include the one from the audio version because then you’d understand the few issues I had while listening to this one, but I can’t because I already returned it to the library.
Jamie was orphaned at 8, and on his own for a long while, having only his friend, Kell, to watch his back. He was crude and always looking for the easy way, for the big payoff. When Jamie ended up in Hawkes Harbor he found the shock of his life, and that’s saying a lot given all that Jamie had been through. He ends up staying in Hawkes Hall, working for Grenville Hawke. Until he gets sent to state hospital for the mentally ill.
The book is supposed to have a bit of mystery attached to it, I guess, since none of the descriptions really give Jamie’s shock away, so I won’t either. I was surprised that by the end of the book I found it to be a rather charming story of an unlikely friendship.
I assumed that a book by SE Hinton would be teen friendly, but I was wrong. This is definitely an adult book, with frank and bawdy sex talk and situations, but it does have the popular teen themes of the day. I liked it quite a bit, but wouldn’t have read it if I’d known what happened to Jamie. Are you curious yet?
I checked this audio out from the library. Thanks for the recommendation, Jill.
Stacy's Books 
Well, I never actually read this one! In fact, I never read an S.E. Hinton book, although I’ve always been meaning to do so. Maybe this year!
I am curious! I thought this would be a teen book too.
I liked the Outsiders when I read it as a teen. Didn’t know she wrote adult fiction. Have to say the synopsis doesn’t really appeal to me but when you said you found it charming in the end I added it to my TBR list. Nice review!
Hmmm. My review is purposely vague and although in the end I did like it I’m not sure it has broad appeal. Maybe I should add that to my reviiew!
Here I thought I’d read all of SE Hinton’s books back in the day. Guess not! Cna you just tell me what happened now that you made me all curious!?
Not a chance!
I read this book when it was first released (seems like at least 5 years ago, but not sure). For some reason, I recall not liking it?? Need to see if I can find any notes –I doubt it though. Glad it worked for you.
I admit that it didn’t grow on me til the end.
I’m very curious. I didn’t realize that she wrote any adult novels.
I saw her speak once and was surprised that she was a grown up. Which is ridiculous, I know, but I will forever think of her as that teenager who wrote books for teenagers. So yeah…the idea of her writing a grown-up book is kinda weird, too.
I am curious and except for the Outsiders (one of my all time favorites) Haven never read any of her other work. Thanks for the review 🙂