Other editions of book A Boy Called Preacher

Johnny "Preacher" Wilcox can't get a break. When his father abruptly leaves the family, Preacher is left with unanswered questions, wheat land to plow, and a broken tractor. The tractor mechanic is meaner than a bobcat, the creek is drying up, and Preacher's best friend, Earl Floyd, betrays him (or, so he thinks.) He has more going wrong than any twelve-year-old boy wants to think about. How will he get everything done? Why did Dad have to leave? Will Preacher and Earl Floyd ever be friends again?

Johnny "Preacher" Wilcox can't get a break. When his father abruptly leaves the family, Preacher is left with unanswered questions, wheat land to plow, and a broken tractor. The tractor mechanic is meaner than a bobcat, the creek is drying up, and Preacher's best friend, Earl Floyd, betrays him (or, so he thinks.) He has more going wrong than any twelve-year-old boy wants to think about. Why did Dad have to leave? How will he get everything done? Will Preacher and Earl Floyd ever be friends again?

Johnny “Preacher” Wilcox can’t get a break. When Johnny’s father mysteriously leaves the family during the height of World War II, Johnny is left with unanswered questions, a broken tractor, wheat land to plow, and the threat of losing the farm’s water supply. He has more chores and things going wrong than any twelve-year-old boy wants to think about. And, to top it off, he has to face the meanest tractor mechanic in all of Kansas.The opportunity arises for Preacher and his best friend, Earl Floyd, to shoot jackrabbits for the War Effort. They jump on the chance to earn extra money. Earl Floyd usually spends his money at the soda fountain. Preacher must save his for more tractor repairs he knows will come. A stranger working his way to Nebraska stops in town for a few days. Preacher meets him and discovers Hank Brown knew his father. Preacher hopes Hank will stay and sees him as a possible farm hand, tractor mechanic, and fellow well-digger. Help has come. To his disappointment, Hank leaves; but not before revealing a secret about Preacher’s father.When Preacher discovers the reason the farm pond is drying up, he believes Earl Floyd has betrayed him. Preacher feels hopeless, convinced adversity only brings defeat. Determined to solve his own problems, Preacher not only becomes a fair tractor mechanic, but starts digging out the old well by himself. Eventually, Preacher’s need for help and Earl Floyd’s faithfulness reunite the two. Earl Floyd is an unwilling participant at first, believing gangsters tossed their guns and dead bodies in the well. But the discovery of a strongbox makes all the effort worthwhile. By persevering and working hard, Preacher discovers problems can also bring bravery and strength. Though the strongbox does not contain gold coins, it holds greater treasures--keys to understanding Preacher’s father.