The Boys! is the first in a series of short stories about three pre-teen boys growing up in 1960s small-town America. Despite their best intentions, the precocious lads manage to create chaos but always end up on topA[a–A]sometimes even as heroes. In this initial installment, Pete, Harry, and Sammy’s crazy escapades lead to a confrontation in the sheriff’s office. Then, after Harry’s surprise encounter with the mayor and his secret lover, the boys attempt to gain redemption by exposing the clandestine affair and getting back into the sheriff’s good graces. When their plans go awry, the boys improvise, the result being a wild and wooly ending on the banks of the Whitewater River. The Boys! will appeal to readers of all ages, especially adults, by rekindling memories of free-spirited school days and the unbounded freedom of endless summer vacations.