Books with author Barry Kienzle

Captivating story of a boy and a dream set in the 1930s. His family struggles to survive and Georgie helps out with a job after school and he is an acolyte in his church. He plans to hop a freight train to New Orleans to see Mardi Gras and is determined nothing will stop him. His adventure is fraught with danger, new friends, and gives him an experience of a lifetime. Based on a true story, all ages will enjoy this story of riding the rails and the rich culture of New Orleans.

Sensational story of two young men approaching adulthood in the wake of the Great Depression and the challenges of the oncoming WWII. George and Schmitty encounter an old man with an antique motorcycle which seems to invoke the spirit of its previous owner – a soldier killed in WWI. Schmitty plans a cross-country trip to Sturgis and Mt. Rushmore to ponder his future, which brings unexpected results. With his and George’s futures weighing in the balance, they both make life-changing decisions which they will carry with them for the remainder of their days.

Grand Prize Winner Great Southeast Book FestivalMom's Choice Award--Young Adult Books--Fiction Hollywood Book Festival Runner UP Best YA Fiction Runner Up New England Book Festival Best YA Novel Runner Up Best YA Fiction New York Book FestivalSan Francisco Book Festival Honorable MentionReaders' Favorite Bronze International Book Award--Best YA Coming of Age Literary Classics International Book Awards Seal of Approval Captivating story of a boy and a dream set in the 1930s. His family struggles to survive and Georgie helps out with a job after school and he is an acolyte in his church. He plans to hop a freight train to New Orleans to see Mardi Gras and is determined nothing will stop him. His adventure is fraught with danger, new friends, and gives him an experience of a lifetime. Based on a true story, all ages will enjoy this story of riding the rails and the rich culture of New Orleans. THE GREAT SOUTHEAST BOOK FESTIVAL NAMES THE CROSSINGS FOR TOP HONORS LOS ANGELES_ The story of a young boy's daring adventure riding the rails to New Orleans and Mardi Gras is the grand prize winner of the 2015 Great Southeast Book Festival. The Crossings by Barry Kienzle is a fiction novel based on a journey taken by the author's father in 1932. Georgie is an altar boy, but he hops a freight train and is determined that nothing will stop him from seeing Mardi Gras in the Big Easy. The colorful characters and the vivid setting make a perfect young adult novel.

Winner London Book FestivalWinner Florida Book Festival Winner Great Southwest Book FestivalMom's Choice Award Runner Up Great Southeast Book Festival Runner Up Great Northwest Book Festival Runner UP Best YA Fiction - The New England Book FestivalRunner UP Best YA Fiction-Great Midwest Book FestivalHonorable Mentions Paris, Los Angeles, New England, New York and Great Midwest Book Festivals Sensational story of two young men approaching adulthood in the wake of the Great Depression and the challenges of the oncoming WWII. George and Schmitty encounter an old man with an antique motorcycle which seems to invoke the spirit of its previous owner - a soldier killed in WWI. Schmitty plans a cross-country trip to Sturgis and Mt. Rushmore to ponder his future, which brings unexpected results. With his and George's futures weighing in the balance, they both make life-changing decisions which they will carry with them for the remainder of their days.