Elm Street: Memories of a Home by Scott Douglas Vaughan is all about a young boy who is making his way through life and growing up surrounded by friends and family. You never know what could happen next when you’re watching a young child become not so young anymore and work his way through the drama and trouble that comes with growing up. After all, there’s a whole lot more to the world than what any of us might imagine when we’re just children starting out in school. As we start to grow up though, and as Frank and his friends start to grow up, big changes happen in their lives and in the world around them.

Frank’s life may be a lot like any other boy his age, growing up in a rural area full of farms and close-knit family and friends, but it’s a story that you won’t soon forget. This is a story that really draws you into the character’s life and it makes you want to know even more about him. In this case, that character is actually a real person (at least based on a real person), and even though this is the second book about his life, it’s not necessary to read one before you can read the other. This book will help you get into the mindset of a young boy making his way through school, life, friends, and a whole lot more. Elm Street by Scott Douglas Vaughan is definitely a book you can believe.

Book two in a series, Elm Street: Memories of a Home by Scott Douglas Vaughan is a captivating story that captures the memories of young Frank Wilcox as he grows up in a farmhouse, attends school, and lives through childhood. The story starts in 1965 with a powerful description of Acorn County and, not long after that, readers are introduced to very compelling characters, including the protagonist’s circle of friends and schoolmates. The author then leads the reader from one adventure to another, including facing bullies and trying out in sporting activities, but what is most beautiful is the exploration of the psychology of a growing boy and the power of friendship. This is a story with great emotional and psychological depth.

Elm Street: Memories of a Home is the first book I have read from Scott Douglas Vaughan and I must say that the author is a great storyteller. This is not a very fast read, but it is captivating because of the clear and compelling voice of the narrator; it’s unique and seems to force the reader to look at the world from the perspective of the characters. There is this weird feeling one has of having been to the places the author describes. Scott Douglas Vaughan makes his characters come alive and they seem so familiar that the reader could believe they have been with the characters in their own childhood. Young adults will enjoy exploring the themes of friendship, education, and love that are beautifully developed in the story.

Elm Street: Memories of a Home by Scott Douglas Vaughan is book two in a compelling fiction series that is as entertaining as it is compelling, a coming of age story that beautifully documents the joys and perils of childhood, its thrills, and the conflicts that most grownups still recall. This is a story that will remind readers of the children they once were and the children they are called to be. It is 1965 and the reader gets acquainted with the then Acorn County, Georgia, and it is in this setting that the story of Frank Wilcox begins. The author takes readers through school experiences and adventures, the phobias of childhood, the budding friendships, the bullying at school, and a lot more.

Written in beautiful prose, this story captures the beauty of friendship and courage in a wonderful way. Readers are introduced to compelling characters who play a wonderful role in the protagonist’s life such as Charlie Keller, a carefree kid who’s ever ready to crack, Lester Freemont, Wendell Mann, Pete Yancey, and many others. The social and cultural commentaries are enticing enough to capture the reader’s interest. There are many historical references that embellish the story and infuse life into it. The author is great at creating conflict, lived as tension — psychological, physical, and moral — and it will be wonderful to see how the young protagonist deals with the different conflicts in his life. Although the story starts off slow, with a lengthy description of Acorn County, Elm Street: Memories of a Home by Scott Douglas Vaughan is a captivating read that will remind readers of the street on which they grew up.

In a lovely new work of fiction by author Scott Douglas Vaughan, Elm Street, the second volume in the Memories of a Home series, readers will be treated to a story that will keep them reading and reminiscing throughout. Continuing the story begun in the first book of the series, Brookwood Road, this volume follows our protagonist, Frank Wilcox, as he starts school at Acorn Primary School in Acorn, Georgia, and details all of the adventures he has with his group of close friends; Charlie Keller, Lester Freemont, Pete Yancey and Wendell Mann. The book accounts for eight years in these young men's lives, and provides a delightful coming of age tale that will be enjoyed by many.

I so enjoyed Elm Street. Author Scott Douglas Vaughan has done a wonderful job in creating characters that his readers will enjoy, relate to and truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. His settings are very realistically drawn, and readers will feel as if they can simply slip through the pages and directly into Acorn. Those looking to go back to a simpler time will enjoy this book to no end. Any reader who enjoys a well written work of fiction centering on life in the '50s and '60s should absolutely read this book. I am so pleased to be able to highly recommend Elm Street, and I look forward to reading more from the very talented author, Scott Douglas Vaughan, as soon as I am able to do so!