Wow. Powerful. And the writing -- it clearly evokes time, place, people, the south. Loved, loved, loved the writing style, the brilliance with which it was done. The writing is the best and most unusual and most gifted example I've seen of fitting the story for all the above reasons. Easy to read, simple and yet somehow poetic language in a most honest kind of way. The reader will feel this story, feel the terror, love, emotions, hopelessness, tenderness, anger, hatred, ignorance, sorrow, all of it.

I liked that the author told both sides of the story, such that even the reader is torn and sympathetic to both sides. This one kept me up late reading. The 5 stars is solid for many reasons. This author has it -- show, don't tell. He didn't have to describe every thought, every environment. We get it. The story moves right along like a rushing stream and just as beautifully. This is real; if you don't like real, don't read this. If you do, embrace it. ( )

Billy, is the story of ten-year-old Billy Lee Turner who strays into the white area of his little Southern town with another boy in the 1930's. They are immediately set upon by two white teenagers who become enraged at the sight of black kids wading in a backyard pond. Attempting to protect himself, Billy stabs one of the teenagers. When the teenager dies, the entire white community thirsts for vengeance.

"Albert French's novel ... is told in the voice of an anonymous, omniscient narrator whose tough, earthy dialect vividly paints this ugly little place."

Loaned to pop ( )

This is in every way the wrong kind of book to be reading at Christmas time. It's full of racism, prejudice, violence and hate. Ten year old Billy makes a huge mistake. With twelve year old friend, Gumpy, Billy explores a local pond only to be confronted by the owner of the pond's daughter, an older girl named Lori and her cousin. Lori is a mean white girl who doesn't take too kindly to black boys splashing in "her" pond. The situation gets out of control and the entire novel spirals into death and disaster. It's tragic. ( )

Billy is a book that from the beginning you know the end, but you keep reading in hopes that something will help Billy out or some kind of miracle would happen. It is emotionally gripping and makes for a great read if you don't have too much time on your hands.

The characters are well Described and give the book a more realist feel to it.

The only gripe I have is that this book is like others of the genre, such as A Lesson Before Dying. Other than that this is a great read for anyone. ( )

I've just finished reading this amazing debut novel by Albert French. This book sat on my bookshelf for years. I’ve wanted to read it, but kept passing it up for other choices. It became a pick as a book club selection.

It’s a wonderful although disturbing story. This extraordinary novel sinks deep within the reader's mind with vivid characters and a powerful setting. I found it difficult keeping my attention on the dramatic prose (beautiful as it was) as the story unfolded.

Though set in 1937, it is a story still very relevant to our attitudes about race today. The acts of racism 1937 as described in this book still continue in 2012, in height of the Trayvon Martin case, a more recent examples that prove that racism is a disease that has not yet been cured in the heart of America.

I read Billy and actually felt like it was a true story. I had to keep reminding my self that it is fiction. However, in reality the youngest person tried and executed in the history of the United States at the age of 14 for first degree murder. George Junius Stinney Jr. died by electric chair in Columbia, South Carolina in 1944 for suspicion of murdering two white girls.

It's impossible to avoid an emotional reaction to Billy. The grief of the families' losses, Billy's confusion about what he did and what's happening to him is well-written, but extremely difficult to read, as I realized where it was going, and that there was no outcome other than the obvious one.

Now on to "Cinder". "Cinder" is the follow-up to Albert French's outstanding novel, "Billy". ( )