Labor Day

By: Joyce Maynard

Narrated by: Wilson Bethel

With the end of summer closing in and a steamy Labor Day weekend looming in the town of Holton Mills, New Hampshire, 13-year-old Henry - lonely, friendless, not too good at sports - spends most of his time watching television, reading, and daydreaming about the soft skin and budding bodies of his female classmates.

For company, Henry has his long-divorced mother, Adele - a onetime dancer whose summer project was to teach him how to foxtrot; his hamster, Joe; and awkward Saturday-night outings to Friendly's with his estranged father and new stepfamily. As much as he tries, Henry knows that even with his jokes and his "Husband for a Day" coupon, he still can't make his emotionally fragile mother happy.

Adele has a secret that makes it hard for her to leave their house, and seems to possess an irreparably broken heart. But all that changes on the Thursday before Labor Day, when a mysterious bleeding man named Frank approaches Henry and asks for a hand. Over the next five days, Henry will learn some of life's most valuable lessons: how to throw a baseball, the secret to perfect piecrust, the breathless pain of jealousy, the power of betrayal, and the importance of putting others - especially those we love - above ourselves. And the knowledge that real love is worth waiting for.

In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonement and Nick Hornby's About a Boy, acclaimed author Joyce Maynard weaves a beautiful, poignant tale of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery as seen through the eyes of a young teenage boy - and the man he later becomes - looking back at an unexpected encounter that begins one single, long, hot, life-altering weekend.

©2009 Joyce Maynard (P)1997 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Maynard's inventive coming-of-age tale indelibly captures the anxiety and confusion inherent in adolescence, while the addition of a menacing element of suspense makes this emotionally fraught journey that much more harrowing." ( Booklist)

Emotional, not just a story

The characters and story of real emotions and thoughts of adolescents, confusion, fantasy was well presented. The story of struggle, the norm, misinformation, genuine kindness and understanding of people who are different are well portrayed. Well written and presented.

Labor Day

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The book has developed and believable characters. It had a great story line also.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character (the boy) because he learned from his mistakes.

Which scene was your favorite?

Listening to him telling about driving his young child and wife up to visit his mother.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end

Un vrai coup de cœur !

Premier livre audio écouté ...et très bonne pioche.
Je me suis vraiment plongée dans cette histoire, et attachée à ses personnages, perdus dans la vie, mais qui le temps d'un week-end arrive à trouver du sens.
Souvent, on a l'impression que c'est la solution la plus "cliché" qui va être choisie, mais Joyce Maynard nous entraîne ailleurs, comme si elle nous disait "ce n'est pas si simple".
Mention spéciale à Wilson Bethel pour l'interprétation ! Il incarne aussi bien l'évadé de prison que l'adolescente de 13 ans.

Amazing

What did you like best about this story?

This book was so easy to listen to. I couldn't stop. I really loved the story, the characters, and everything. It was just so so so good. Highly recommend.

Beautiful and poetic

There is so much about what matters in life in this book. So much about perceiving the little things that matter, that stick with us, that define us. It is a beautiful story, poetic, romantic and electrifying. The performance was also very well done. Thank you!

A lovely read

A sweet story. I love the simplicity of this story. I do believe that we can have an effect on people even in the most simple way.

Great book

Great love story, easy to listen to. Highly recommend if you want an easy, entertaining listen.

Great story and writing!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, great story and writing skills make for an excellent book.

What did you like best about this story?

it was from the son's point of view of how he saw things....

What about Wilson Bethel’s performance did you like?

his ability to change tones for each emotion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cry

Well told story

It was refreshing to read a story about real issues that people have and to see how each character dealt with them as best they could. Just people, doing the best they can with what they have, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Excellent writing of Great Story

At first, I wasn't sure this book would hold my attention, but it was not long before the escaped convict hooked me with his story and I could see why she fell in love with him. Written from a young boy's POV created more tension - would he or would he not turn Frank in to the police. A good read. I recommend it.