From Publishers
Weekly
It's 1932, the height of the Depression, in Marian, Calif. The
Bloch family is teetering on the brink of dissolution. Mr. Bloch,
widowed and alcoholic, can't or won't find work. Teenage son Albert
has lost respect for him and 12-year-old Freddie, mesmerized by
Hollywood movies, is too young to comprehend the social forces
that are rending the fabric of his life. After the father disappears
and Albert is injured trying to steal money for food, Freddie,
suddenly alone, heads for his father's last known address in Detroit.
He's befriended by Sammy (who calls himself "the King of
Spain"), a troubled and sickly vagabond who teaches him how
to survive as a hobo, coping with hunger and the danger of riding
the freight trains. The two develop a deeply felt attachment as
they travel together, braving labor riots and anti-Semitism. Advancing
classic themes, Vance's Harvey Award-winning story of a young
man forced to become an adult is touching. Burr's black-and-white
drawings are crisply rendered and abound in historical details.
This collaboration by two newcomers is an outstanding example
of mature comic book storytelling.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text
refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
