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Paperboy

By: Vince Vawter
Narrated by: Lincoln Hoppe, Vince Vawter
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Publisher's summary

For fans of To Kill a Mockingbird, The King's Speech, and The Help. A boy who stutters comes of age in the segregated South, during the summer that changes his life.

An 11-year-old boy living in Memphis in 1959 throws the meanest fastball in town, but talking is a whole different ball game. He can barely say a word without stuttering, not even his own name. So when he takes over his best friend's paper route for the month of July, he knows he'll be forced to communicate with the different customers, including a housewife who drinks too much and a retired merchant marine who seems to know just about everything.

The paper route poses challenges, but it's a run-in with the neighborhood junkman, a bully and thief, that stirs up real trouble - and puts the boy's life, as well as that of his family's devoted housekeeper, in danger.

©2013 Vince Vawter (P)2013 Listening Library
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Critic reviews

"[A] compelling first-person narrative." ( The Washington Post)
"Lincoln Hoppe's narration is pure perfection.... [he] brings out Little Man's endearing vulnerability and portrays the stutter with a tender ease and grace that will make listeners feel empathy and hope for the boy.... The afterword is read by author, and stutterer, Vince Vawter, making this an extraordinary listening and learning experience." ( AudioFile)
"In a compelling climax, he, still stuttering, proudly announces his real name; the moment is as eloquent as his story." ( The Horn Book)

What listeners say about Paperboy

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

My boys and I enjoyed listening to the story.
Great lessons around the difficulties of life for a young stuttering boy in the late 50s

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intelligent and innocent, a perfect story

Through the eyes of a young traveler in life, the journey told in "Paperboy" is so honest, insightful, and triumphant that it is now my "go to" story for motivation and inspiration.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Most Amazing, Beautiful book, but age range needs to be raised a tiny bit more!

One of the most beautiful, and interesting books ever! I feel like this helps raise awareness of speech impediments, and really describes how hard it can be to have one. Although this book is wonderful, the age range shows to “10 & up,” which maybe be at least 2 years raised than what it is already. It includes few “B” words some “A” words, and some violence, which I don’t think is too much of and issue, but I’m just being mindful :) Narrator was great, I love this book so much!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book my favorite!

Paper boy is my favorite book I am a 9 year old boy a d my name is Owen White and I read this book with my Mom I do not think there were any parts I disliked in the book. I think it's a good book from 9 to 10 and up it made me cry it made me laugh it made me happy but I highly recommend it 9 and up for adults to. This book also has positive remodels and positive messages it should take you a month to read. 😀😬😍😅😡🤔😭 those are all of the emotions that you feel read paper boy!





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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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loved it

This was a great book. I dont give out 5 stars very often, but I loved this book.

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Paperboy Delivers!

As a speech-language pathologist working with people who stutter, I was enthralled and impressed with this story in the life of an 11-year-old male during a significant summer in the tumultuous times of Memphis in 1959. This memoir is relevant reading for any person interested in the unique complexities of communication.

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    5 out of 5 stars

great story...even better narrator

i loved it. was a sweet thought provoking story. im glad I listened to it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

touching and inspiring

An authentic and beautiful story about learning to understand and the importance of facing hard individual circumstances with fortitude and support.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story line

Great story line. Never know how stuttering can have such a great impact on your life. This book was excellent in describing how one can overcome it and how you don’t let your stuttering define you as a person and who you will become I am a 13 year old and this was a great read very interested. Glad I chose to read this book. Thank you.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pierces and opens the Heart

If everyone in the world were to be required to read this book the world would be a much kinder and easier place to be. Judgement would fall by the wayside a lot quicker and invite the reader to be a much gentler kinder person and become more aware of dismissing and judging others. It’s perfect for early middle school age. I’m a grandmother raises 2 granddaughters. My youngest picked it to read for her 6th grade required reading. After she finished I decided to listen to it on Audible. Not only did it take me back it reminded me there has always been cruel judgement of others AND pure goodness that melts your heart. We have to pick which person we want to be. I want to be more like Victor and Mam. ❤️

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