Chris Fuhrman (1960–1991)

A while ago - a long time ago, really - my at-the-time best friend and I held weekly Friday Night Movie-athons in my bedroom as escapism of our freshman year in college. In was in one of these weekly sessions that we came across The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, starring Kieran Culkin, Emile Hirsch and Jena Malone. Because I had a movie with Jena Malone prior to this, I had a sneaky suspicion it might be worth watching. Also, watching one of the younger Culkin siblings act wasn't holding me back either.

Fast forward about six years, I decided that I would read the novel that's set in Savannah, Georgia in the 1970s as seen through the eyes of a young Catholic school boy named Francis Doyle. Heart struck, Francis has fallen in love with the misfit girl, Margie Flynn. His best friend, Tim Sullivan aids him in his romantic aspects. But don't think for a second this is your typical YA, teenage-first-love babble. There is conflict when Father Kavanagh threatens to expose a comic book entitled "Sodom vs. Gomorrah '74," which Francis, Tim and their friends created. Ever smart Tim is quick to come up with a plan that might have deadly consequences.

While I never had the opportunity to risk all danger like Francis and his gang did in the pages, I could easily summon memories of boys like Rusty, Wade, Joey and Tim. Not to mention first loves like Margie Flynn - girls I would've given anything if only to kiss them once upon their lips. In a sense, the book allows my thirteen-year-old self to live vicariously in the 70s. [more]… (more)

This book seemed like the contemporary adult version of Tom Sawyer and without Twain's type of ending. That said, it was a great read and it really did seem reminiscent of Tom Sawyer with the main character/narrator, Francis, being Huck to his friend Tim's Tom. There was also touches of race issues throughout and I'd say even a Becky Thatcher - although again , much racier than what Twain wrote.

The only disappointment - well two really, the first being that there were definitely passages and subjects that aren't for kids, this book will never be used in school and I think it would have been something that would have gone over well - although by name alone, there would have probably been groups hellbent on banning in (see what I did there?)
The bigger upset is that Fuhrman died from cancer just after finishing his final draft of the book and it makes you wonder what great work the world missed out on. If this was just the tip of the iceberg, we missed out on a lot.… (more)