The Schoolboy

by Tony Rosa

Fourteen-year-old Sam Parma feels pressure to perform in a junior golf tournament, as well as excitement for potential success. Making it past unexpected obstacles, squaring off in conflict, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 160528002X
• ISBN13: 9781605280028
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: iUniverse Star
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A delightful little story of some of life's lessons

This is a light hearted interesting little read of some life's problems and challenges as seen through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Sam Parma. Sam learns through experience the importance of honesty, integrity, and doing what is right. I bought the book because I know the author, and upon reading it, I'm sure that Sam Parma's real name is Tony Rosa. A recommended Saturday afternoon read that's light and refreshing.

Charming story about a young man and golf

At first glance, The Schoolboy appears to be a fun read about fourteen-year-old Sam Parma, who agrees to play in a golf tournament at his mother's firm urging. But, early on, the reader discovers that The Schoolboy is not simply a tale of young boys participating in a golf tournament. Through their actions, the boys are quickly separated into two groups. A lifetime of moral lessons becomes emphatically clear as Sam discovers that the fears and challenges he faces during the tournament become important steppingstones to his future. This is Sam's story, but the secondary characters are vividly written and each one plays a special part and remains true to their individual traits throughout the entire book. Matthew Parma is Sam's little brother and stays in the background throughout most the book. Buzzy Odom and Chad Ashworth, Jr. are lifetime friends, having lived across the street from each other for years. Mark Crowe is an older youth who portrays the tough-guy/bully image. Buzzy is looking for something more stimulating in his life than playing a boring game of golf with his best friend, Chad. He finds excitement with his new pal, Mark, who is the perfect example of all the things Buzzy has secretly yearned for but has been afraid to pursue. When Mark notices that his outrageous antics impress Buzzy, Mark continually pushes the button a little harder, hoping to win more of the younger boy's approval--even to the point of possibly causing injury to an innocent victim. Sam and Chad form an instant bond that continues throughout the entire book. They are disappointed as Buzzy and Mark move forward with total lack of responsibility for their actions. Sam learns that honesty is an important virtue. He is appalled by Mark and Buzzy's actions and learns that there is more to life than winning or losing a golf tournament. I recommend this book for elementary through middle-school students. Armchair Interviews says: The author's unique style will make any reader want to turn the pages.

A fascinating read....

Reviewed by Dylan James (age 12) for Reader Views (1/09) In "The Schoolboy" by Tony Rosa, Sam struggled with the request for a moment. He had golfed one time in his life, and now his mother wanted him to enter a boring old golf tournament called The Schoolboy. But then his mother used her ace in the hole, "For me?" Sam couldn't refuse something point blank like that, so he packed his stuff and off to the tournament he went. Off to his group of golfers: one lied and cursed profusely, one smoked and beat up kids, one was rich and neutral, and then Sam was struggling again with this whole golf thing. What will happen? Imagine for a second that you are in a sports tournament with smoking bullies, cheating liars, and peacemaking rich kids. What could that sport possibly be? It couldn't be a golf tournament, could it? In "The Schoolboy" by Tony Rosa, he takes a regular golf tournament called The Schoolboy and creates wonders. He creates a culture in this tournament, a culture that you're going to read and walk away from thinking "Wow! I had never thought of the moral questions that guy had to go through." The writing was like a spider web, joining every little detail with something that you should remember and look for. This was definitely written for boys, and although the material is fine for age 9+, age 12 and older will enjoy this more because they can understand more of the moral questions and issues the main character faces. This book could be better if there was more of a conflict between the main character and the bully from the start. Then it would have built up to the climax. "The Schoolboy" by Tony Rosa was a fascinating read, and I do hope others will like it, too. Reviewed by Ian McCurley (Age 12) for Reader Views (11/06) "The Schoolboy" begins when 14-year old Sam Parma is awakened with the news that he will be taking part in the Schoolboy Golf Tournament. Sam lives in a neighborhood where cutoff jeans means summer, and the trash can lid is used for first base. Though at first he's not looking forward to it, when he learns that his uncle was the two-time champion, he is persuaded. Upon arriving at the golf course with his younger brother, he meets his three teammates. One of his teammates is an honest and trustworthy rich kid, while another is a cheater who flies off the handle at every letdown. The third character is a 17-year old bully who causes more than his fair share of Sam's problems. The book takes place over one 18-hole tournament and has 18 chapters. There is a new adventure in each chapter as Sam and his friends make it from fairway to fairway. Whether it's a one-armed man or a fight with a bully, Sam always learns his lesson from the challenge. The main point was that problems and challenges are just a part of life, and that without them, we wouldn't learn anything. The author clearly got his point across. The book is more like a gigantic English essay than a novel, and the quote "I quickly decided

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Fourteen-year old Sam Parma has only played one game of 9-hole golf in his life...he's a baseball guy...but Sam's mom wants Sam and his little brother, Matthew, to enter the renowned Schoolboy Junior Golf Tournament that Uncle Charlie won when he was a teenager. It's an annual event and both boys can enter the competition since there are separate categories for each age group. The tournament is today, and she plans to drop the boys off at the golf course. The set of clubs that Grandpa had given Sam are stamped "ladies" on the bottom, and most are repaired with electrical tape. He would like to have a better set of clubs, but, oh well...it will probably be fun. Sam is teamed up with three older boys in the fourteen to seventeen age bracket. There is Chad Ashworth, Jr., who is dressed to the nines, and has a professional set of new looking clubs. Definitely a Country Club kind of guy and probably nearly a pro. Buzzy uses verbal profanity and throws loud tantrums when things don't go quite the way he wants. The third boy is a seventeen-year-old, cigarette-smoking, long-haired kid named Mark Crowe. His indifferent attitude makes him seem like bad news from the start. Sam definitely has his ups-and-downs during the game, but he meets the challenges with integrity and honesty, and makes an exciting par on the 7th hole. There are many unexpected obstacles, and a frightening confrontation between Sam and Mark Crowe as Sam stands up for what he knows is right. Matthew, as well, has a surprising game result. Tony Rosa has penned this exciting, fast-paced story based on some of his own experiences. Rosa incorporates some wonderful moral lessons in this easy-to-read story that would encourage even reluctant readers to join Sam Parma in a game of golf. The realistic characters are just like some people that you probably know. I hope to see more of Sam's adventures from this talented first-time author. Reviewed by: Grandma Bev

Golf and Life Lessons

You will recognize people you know in the characters, and get some insight into their behavior. You'll enjoy the golf game and root for Sam to win. But most of all you'll lose yourself in this book and it's characters and have a wonderful time reading it, and be sad when it's over because there isn't more about Sam Parma and his family.