Slava Petrovich is 12-years old. A small coal mining town, Roslyn, Washington, is a melting pot of cultures and languages. Cuss picks up languages quickly.
I told them if I knew enough cuss words in other languages, no kid would ever be able to pull a fast one in Old Country talk.
Prohibition started five years ago and once a year the grape train comes to Roslyn. Since people couldn't buy alcohol, many Roslyn families decided to make their own wine; California grape farmers were happy to supply the grapes. Every year boys strategize how to steal some delicious grapes.
Boys drop out of school all of the time to work in the coal mines. Life in Roslyn can be tough, and Cuss's family struggles to survive. Cuss's two older brothers work in the mine, and it's only a matter of time before Cuss has to join them. Even his seven-year old brother wants to quit school to start working. More than anything, Cuss wants to stay in school.
"You can't stay in school forever," she said. "That's the fact of the matter."
"I'm no miner," I said.
"Put a pickax in your hands and you will be," she said. "If Ma needs you to, you will right?"
On the day the grape train arrived, Cuss's older sister, Mary invited a gentleman to dinner. Later that evening, Cuss's older brothers confronted Mary's gentleman caller.
"It's him," said Joey. "I'm sure."
Suddenly Cuss's brothers, Matt and Joey, are mixed up in something big, and Cuss witnessed everything. He knew rumors would swirl around his brothers, rumors about bootlegging and mobsters.
In the middle of the night, Joey and Matt leave Roslyn.
"There's talk, Cuss...I hear things," he said, "as in your brothers went to the sheriff, told him the whole thing, and he told 'em to get outta town for fear of the mobsters."
With Joey and Matt gone, money is tight. After his younger brother gets sick, the family may even lose their house.
Will Cuss be able to stay in school? Could Cuss even get a job in the mines now that fuel oil has become more popular? What will happen to the coal mining town of Roslyn? Will everyone have to move back to the Old Country?
Will Cuss be able to stay in school? Could Cuss even get a job in the mines now that fuel oil has become more popular? What will happen to the coal mining town of Roslyn? Will everyone have to move back to the Old Country?
Cuss is an excellent read if you like realistic fiction, historical fiction, or fiction with strong characters. It gives great glimpse into what life looked like in 1925 Roslyn.
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!
(Formerly titled The Grape Thief)
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
To check this book out at NOLS, click HERE!
(Formerly titled The Grape Thief)
