Lost in Mississippi

Alabama author Mark Childress has allowed us to experience all of the eccentricities, oddities and quirkiness that is characteristic of small town southern life.

In his new book, One Mississippi, the reader experiences yet again those 1970’s memories of lime green and sky blue tuxedos, The Sonny & Cher Show, American Bandstand, Led Zeplin and drive-in movies. Some prom memories and experiences with adolescent cliques, we might prefer to forget. We view small town southern life through the eyes of two adolescent best friends, Daniel Musgrove and Tim Cousins. What a pair! From the dreaded adolescent cliques, to high school prom night, chores, zany high school teachers and odd family members; we relive our old high school memories.

According to Daniel Musgrove, the story’s narrator, the family must transfer from Indiana to, of all places, Mississippi. The author uses characteristic dark humor to describe the journey experiences by Daniel and his family. The family watched as movers loaded their things onto a giant moving van. According to Daniel: “On Tuesday we set out down the brand-new interstate highway toward our future.” A sign welcomed them to Mississippi. Suddenly Janie, Daniel’s sister remarks: “Mama, that girl hasn’t got on a shirt.” The mother remarked: “Don’t stare Jane. People can’t help it if they’re not as well off as us.” From the quality of the schools, to the Mississippi heat, the family characters find themselves in many exasperating situations.

Daniel soon meets Tim Cousins at school and the two adolescents become inseparable friends. The two young boys deal with love, friendship and tragedy with all of the sensitivity that comes with being young. From high school proms to classroom pranks, they have some interesting and comical experiences.

If you would like to read more about Daniel and Tim, as well as a collection of other zany characters, read this book. Get ready for a startling ending!

You will laugh and cry with these characters, as you relive both the terrific and the terrible, your high school years. Oh, those were the days!

Links:

The Mark Childress Page