The Essay Audiobook By Robin Yocum cover art

The Essay

A Novel

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The Essay

By: Robin Yocum
Narrated by: Fleet Cooper
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About this listen

Jimmy Lee Hickam grew up along Red Dog Road, a dead-end strip of gravel and mud buried deep in the bowels of Appalachian Ohio. It is the poorest road, in the poorest county, in the poorest region of the state. To make things worse, the name Hickam is synonymous with trouble. Jimmy Lee hails from a heathen mix of thieves, moonshiners, drunkards, and general anti-socials that for decades have clung to both the hardscrabble hills and the iron bars of every jail cell in the region. This life, Jimmy Lee believes, is his destiny, someday working with his drunkard father at the sawmill, or sitting next to his arsonist brother in the penitentiary. There aren’t many options if your last name is Hickam.

An inspiring coach and Jimmy Lee's ability to play football are the only things motivating him to return for his junior year of high school - until his visionary English teacher cuts him a break and preserves his eligibility for the coming football season. To thank her, Jimmy Lee writes a winning essay in the high school writing contest. When irate parents and the baffled administration claim he has cheated, his teacher is inspired to take his writing talent as far as it can go, showing him the path out of the hills of Appalachia.

Terrific characterizations, surprising revelations, gut-wrenching past betrayals, and an unforgettable cast of characters born of the dusty, worn-out landscape of southeastern Ohio make The Essay a powerful, evocative, and incredibly moving novel.

©2012 Robin Yocum (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
African American Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Small Town & Rural Sports Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Appalachian
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Editorial reviews

Robin Yocum's novel The Essay is an inspiring and humorous story about Jimmy Lee Hickam, a kid who lives in rural Ohio. As Jimmy sees it, when he grows up, he'll either be locked up or boozing and working at the mill. A teacher shows Jimmy, though, that there just may be another way to get out of Appalachia. Listening to Fleet Cooper is a joy. He brings to life a variety of characters, from gruff drunkards to Jimmy's idealistic teacher. Cooper's performance can be anywhere from quiet and touching to loud and bellicose.

Critic reviews

"Yocum writes like the reporter he used to be. He’s observant and still has his eye for detail and nuance." ( Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Inspiring Underdog Story • Compelling Character Development • Emotional Storytelling • Realistic Portrayal
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This book was amazing from beginning to end. The story moved along nicely and although I knew it was going to be a feel good to the end story, I enjoyed it anyway. The narration is top notch too.

Absolutely terrific!

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From beginning to end, the author developed a wonderfully engaging story that makes you root for the main character and his brother. An excellent story line, very well written, edited and narrated!

Ecellent book!

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A tale about a teen who overcomes adversity with some key characters in his life who support & encourage him. Narrator was wonderful.

Engaging

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karma, fate and a twist of justice. Is it the name or the game? Pictures painted by words - lifelike.

Justice by karma

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I really enjoyed this book. I would totally recommend it ......not my typical listen .....But it was fantastic

Hidden gem

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Aurthor really knew how to draw you in. Nice little read for me. loved it

Wonderful

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I loved this book. Highly recommend reading or listening to it. Wonderful storytelling and interesting story all around.

Great Book!

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I know people say that they never right reviews, I really never have...until now. This book was one of the best books I have listened to in a decade and I listen to many. There were times I laughed out loud and times I teared up. Bravo. Listen to it, you won't be disappointed.

I could listen to this over and over

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Born into the poverty of rural Ohio amongest the dilapidated and abandoned coal mines that once fueled dreams, James Lee Hickam had three strikes already against him. The strikes being his last name, synonymous with white trash in their Ohio corner, older brothers who had already ruined any chance of change in their generation and a woe is me alcoholic father whose big talk and shallow pockets kept in in trouble.

Anyone who has ever lived in a small town knows the truth in everyone knowing your business and who your related to speaks volumes of your character deserving or not. James Lee Hickam had the odds stacked against him. But two teachers of different subjects saw something special in him and spoke up. This story is the power of the pen at its finest. It's one young man's journey to find out who he is and what he's capable of regardless of the last name he was born with.

The Burden of a Bad Name in a Small Town

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I was transported to red dog Road and I could not stop listening. I was drawn into the story.

Could not stop listening

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