Books with author James Kerswell

“Chasing Becky Turner” is the story of young Johnny Miller's obsession with a skinny neighborhood brat who had morphed into an unbelievably delicious redhead virtually overnight. The story takes place in 1956, a time when a new kind of music called Rock and Roll swept the land, UFOs populated the skies, and hot rods roamed the streets. Although many years have passed since then, Johnny still talks about it like it was yesterday:I was just a high school freshman at the time, and I was totally mystified when it came to understanding what makes women tick. Just about the time I thought I had them figured out, I would be blindsided by some completely unexpected behavior. If only I could have walked into a library or book store and picked up a copy of “Women: Instruction Manual for Dummies,” things might have been different. By the time I was fifteen, I had already been dumped twice by my girlfriends, the first time because I was “boring” and the second time because I was “dull”. My third time at bat I resolved I would be neither boring nor dull; instead I would be creative, exciting, and generally irresistible. And so it was, with high hopes and steely determination, that I set my sights on Becky Turner. And creative I was. Becky loved Elvis Presley, the Rock and Roller who had girls all across the country swooning at the mere mention of his name. Becky's love for the man was so great, she founded the local chapter of the Elvis Presley fan club. My new, creative self came up with a surefire plan to win her heart: I would serenade her by singing “Hound Dog” beneath her bedroom window. I know, that sounds like an idiotic song choice, but it was her favorite Elvis recording. Boy, did that plan backfire.Undaunted, I came up with a new plan. I figured that if I became a star basketball player, she would ditch Elvis for me. That little scheme veered off coarse when I met Sidney “Ollie” Oliphant, the grandson of a UFO abduction victim. Ollie introduced me to UFOs, which led to the idea that I could become famous if I could prove that UFOs came from a secret base on the far side of the moon. Becky would be impressed for sure. I know, that sounds beyond idiotic, but you have to admit that it was very creative. That plan fizzled, also.Next, I tried to impress her with my boy racer driving skills by doing a burnout in the Drivers Education car. Pretty dumb, I admit, and it brought me tons of grief.Enter Dr. Hypno. That was my name for Ollie after he hypnotized me and convinced me I was a puppy dog. Except I didn't know it. One minute I was walking down the hallway at school and the next I had my paws on Becky's shoulders and I was licking her face and wagging my butt. Pretty creepy, huh? Becky sure thought so.Then I was in for a big shock when I saw her at the drag races in the company of my tormentor, senior Bob Gander, and she is looking mighty cozy with him. But I did get the last laugh. You will just have to read the book to find out what happened. Please don't laugh, though, I am very sensitive guy.