The Obstacle Course

by J.F. Freedman

Book Overview

From the author of Against the Wind, a story of obstacles--on the track and in life--is the saga of a boy growing up in a tough blue-collar town on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Reprint. PW. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451179889
• ISBN13: 9780451179883
• Release Date: February 1995
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Great Book

The more I read, the better it got. When the book ended I was disappointed. I would love a sequel. This book reminded me of A Boys' Life which I also liked as well. There are not enough books like this. Highly recommended.

Good portrayal of a confused adolescent from poor family

This is an excellent book. Realistic portrayal of a poor boy from a dysfunctional family who has dreams of a better life. Roy Poole builds ship models and dreams of going to the Naval Academy. His crude behavior, salty language and petty delinquency is in keeping with the socio-cultural group he hangs out with, actually the only group available to him until he meets the Admiral and his grand-daughter. All is going well until an unfortunate incident ruins everything. The one flaw in the book is the ending which leaves you unsatisfied. You hope for so much from this kid and its up to your imagination to sort out what his future brings for him. All in all its a worthwhile read and is a meaningful novel. Too bad the language and situations will keep it from being read in schools. I think it teaches a lesson---anyone can make a good life for themself if they make the right choices.

Sequel?

I read 'Bird's-Eye-View' and really liked it. I decided to try Freedman's other non-legal titles starting with 'Obstacle Course'. It was great!!I read at a quick pace. I found the first-person narrative through the eyes of 15 year old Roy Poole very interesting. I agree with the other reviewers that the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. After 500 pages of reading through the eyes and thoughts of Roy Poole I could handle a good or bad ending for him but didn't like the question mark ending. I guess it's up to the reader to decide Roy Poole's fate.

Hope there is a sequel

I read the entire book and found it exciting to read. I could not help but root for this boy the entire way. I came from a similar back ground, white trash and living in some poor ghetto of South Carolina, and I too had a dream of someday going to the U.S. Naval Academy. I saw myself in him because of the sense of absolute hopelessness he had. He was trapped in an dysfunctional family and a nonsupportive environment and was doomed to go nowhere not because he was bad but because he had no opportunities. I never did get accepted to the Naval Academy but I did graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy - it sure was a rough way getting their. All those late nights studying, all those hours reading SAT study guides, an extra year in college and then to have gotten turned down by the Naval Academy twice but to get accepted by the U.S. Air Force Academy instead. I was disappointed in the book because the ending really left me hanging. I really hope that there is a sequel.

AWESOME -- but different

Awesome book, J F Freedman truly is a very gifted author. It's a complete 180 on his other books though. I recommed it highly.