Review on Calves in the Mud Room

Have any of you gone on a date with someone you never believed would actually date you? It could be this incredibly handsome guy or the most beautiful girl in school. And you're going with him/her on a date! You are incredibly excited and you just can't wait to be with him/her and possibly share a kiss. Everyone will be totally jealous and you just won't care. But what if something came up? What if you got the flu or your grandmother had an accident? And what if something completely unexpected happened? Like you have to help a cow birth? It's like the universe is trying to tell you something!
Anyway, the book I read is called The Calves in the Mud Room by Jerome O. Brown



Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: February 14th, 2014
Summary:
Wade Summers wants nothing more than to go on his date tonight with high school hottie Glory Schoonover.

Unfortunately, a fierce February blizzard has blown in and a couple of first-time heifers are calving early. Way too early.

And Wade’s never delivered a calf all by himself before.

His grandfather was always there to show him the way. But with him gone and his mom and step dad busy with their own booze-fueled train wrecks, Wade is left to confront bringing a new life into the world on his own.

And hopefully still make it to the dance with Glory.

Kirkus Reviews called this coming-of-age story “An exciting, elegant debut.”

It’s rough around the edges, full of brutal hardship, raw strength, and pure heart.
My rating: 4 out of 5 cows!
My recommendation: Anyone who likes funny, short books!
My review:
My copy was provided by Netgalley.
Wade Summers wasn't really expecting to go to the dance with a date. But when he was asked out by the hottest girl in school, he couldn't possibly say no. He had no idea why she was asking him out on a date, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He was looking forward for his date and couldn't wait to go out with Glory.
But then his cow has to give birth during a blizzard. The cows need help and the only one to help them is Wade. But he's never helped a cow give birth! And he has to go on a date!
Wade has to gather the courage to help bring new life to earth and he also has to find the time to go on the date with Glory or he's never going to experience his once-in-a-lifetime moment!
This book drew me in and never wanted to let me go. The writing was so raw and full of feeling. It felt as if I was Wade and I was feeling all the raw emotions he experienced throughout his troubles. It's going to be the best night of Wade's life, but he has to deal with the cow emergency, the weather, and his stepdad.
I felt so bad for Wade. All he wanted was to go on this date, but it was like the universe didn't even want him to leave the house. This book wanted you to not just read about Wade, but it wanted you to become him. It wanted you to understand the complexity of a mind on the verge of becoming a man and all the troubles Wade faced.
This book taught an important lesson that you should never give up, no matter what life throws at you. No matter how many obstacles Wade faced, he never gave up, allowing him to learn more about the outside world and himself as a person as well.
The book and the characters were practically alive. This book stayed with me for days as I pondered over Wade's troubles and how they changed him as a person. I want to learn more about Wade and his life.
The book was a fast read, but it wasn't just something to read. This book made you think and made you wonder about your like compared to Wade's.
I want to know more about Wade and I hope there is another book coming that will elaborate on Wade's life and even more of the troubles he will face and overcome in the future.