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The Outside Boy cover art

The Outside Boy

Written by: Jeanine Cummins
Narrated by: Alan Devally
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Publisher's Summary

The Outside Boy is a poignant coming-of-age novel about an Irish gypsy boy’s childhood in the 1950s from Jeanine Cummins, the national best-selling author of A Rip in Heaven and American Dirt.

Ireland, 1959: Young Christopher Hurley is a tinker, a Pavee gypsy, who roams with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well, haunted by the story of his mother's death in childbirth.

The wandering life is the only one Christy has ever known, but when his grandfather dies, everything changes. His father decides to settle briefly, in a town, where Christy and his cousin can receive proper schooling and prepare for their first communions. But still, always, they are treated as outsiders.

As Christy struggles to find his way amid the more conventional lives of his new classmates, he starts to question who he is and where he belongs. But then the discovery of an old newspaper photograph, and a long-buried secret from his mother's mysterious past, changes his life forever....

A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt and Company

©2010 Jeanine Cummins (P)2020 Macmillan Audio

What listeners say about The Outside Boy

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I loved every minute of it!

From the narration to the storyline, this was a pleasure from start to end. thank you!

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Loved it - Top 10 narration

I wasn’t sure that I was going to like this book, as the description didn’t really intrigue me. It is a bit slow paced but it has depth and builds strong foundations for the characters and the world they live in.
She is a gifted author. I am so glad I decided to get this in an audiobook because it is one of the best narrations I have heard. The combination of both of their storytelling skills really made this a great listen. I am now searching for more books by this author and other books narrated by him.

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Well written

At first it felt hard to pay attention as she described their normal lives. But then I got attached to the story and how believable the characters were and their emotions.

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Incredible experience listening to The Outside Boy

I loved this book so much I can't even tell you! I cared so much about these characters, especially the boy, Christy. The story was rich and intriguing, the performance was fantastic - loved the authenticity of the accent, it took me right into Christy's world. I know I will come back to this story again one day. It was a tear-jerker though, oh my gosh.. My heart swelled up with love and burst a few times. Very cleansing - haha!

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endearing, heart-wrenching, exquisitely performed

your heart just melts as you are escorted through this absolutely heartwarming and at the same time heart wrenching story of a young traveler and how he comes to terms with the unanswered questions of his life. very beautifully told in an authentic Irish brogue. you feel like you're right there experiencing everything in Technicolor. absolutely loved this story how it started and how it brought you back at the very end. enjoy!

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outside boy

it was a nice story. Not much meat to it. I expected much more from this author. a bit disappointing.

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Outstanding Narrator!

Loved every minute, start to finish! The narrator was so expressive, made me laugh out loud.

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Beautiful story, great performance!

The story is very interesting and well written with the characters very well described.
This is now one of my favorite books I am going to recommend to my friends.
Also, after listening this book I learned more from other sources about the ethnic group known as Irish Travellers (Pavees) and their life today.

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A Really Beautiful Book

I absolutely loved this book. The author has beautiful style of writing that makes you feel you are right in the midst of the story. the only thing I didn't like was that it ended!

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