Porky Baycann: His Summer of '43 in Palomino by Tank Gunner is the story of a young man learning to become a grown man in the most unique way possible. Set in the summer of 1943, Porky is trying to live his life one day at a time to make sure that he misses nothing. When his mother received a letter telling them that his father has gone missing while serving, Porky is sad and a little mad at the world. So any activity is a good activity. He makes a new friend called TJ and together they go on new adventures. He wishes that his friend could be with him everywhere he goes and become a Boy Scout too, but things are not meant to be this way. Soon he realizes that becoming friends is more than just hanging out. He realizes that life has different meanings and starting new friendships is the beginning of a long and beautiful journey.

This is a brilliant coming-of-age story where our young protagonist becomes a mature man who understands that life has so many different faces and every single one of them is worth exploring. TJ and Porky’s friendship is so pure and real. They understand each other, they rely on each other and they simply let the other exist while enjoying the ride with each other. I loved Porky; he is smart for his age and he certainly has a mind that deserves a little more exploring. I haven’t read the companion novel, but after reading this, I will surely give it a try. The narrative is butter-smooth; it flows effortlessly and allows the reader to be swept away in the story. I really enjoyed reading this!

A celebrity passes through in his military uniform. Two teen boys become friends despite the climate of the time. A young woman has been killed. Just another day in a small town in Texas according to Tank Gunner, author of Porky Baycann: His Summer of '43 in Palomino. This is the second book written by Gunner taking place in Porky's hometown, the first being Palomino, which introduced this titular country neighborhood. Porky Baycann reads as a stand-alone and juggles multiple subplots, including news that Porky's father is missing in action after his ship went down. WWII and race relations both play heavy roles in the theme of this book, as it follows the teenage protagonist through personal and political turmoil—none of his own making—and the life in a small town where big things are happening.

Porky Baycann is a well-written book that does a good job of balancing nostalgia and storytelling, and delicately managing the expectations of American war fiction with literary mysteries. I am usually not a fan of accents that are written out phonetically in dialogue, but Tank Gunner is skilled at using them to punctuate the tone of the conversation and the people in Palomino, and so it works well here. Porky is the perfect blend of relative innocence and emotional maturity, and he and his friend TJ are easy to connect with and root for. I really enjoyed this book and believe those who enjoy any of the multiple genres it blankets will have a wonderful time in Palomino as well.