This story was a unique one set in a place and time I didn't know a lot about. I enjoyed Ellis as a main character and the heartbreak of his failed adoption and struggle to survive is one that tugged on my heartstrings.

This reads like a middle school vocabulary assignment: “big” words, used (sometimes inaccurately) in order to sound high-brow. The style is overall amateurish, with a plot overrun with outlandish coincidences and awkward, meandering segues into paragraph after paragraph of unnecessary history or descriptions. My main reactions were snorting, sighing, and eye-rolling. A major editing overhaul of the language could make a passable story from this.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Ellis Sayre has always felt out of place – as an orphan and one of the few American Indian people in his small Wisconsin town. His adoptive parents got him after their son died, and he felt like an inadequate replacement, especially to his mom. One day, Ellis and his two friends, George and Mason, decide to steal some day old bread that the town's bakery is just going to throw away, but while there, they become witness to a murder committed by the bakery's owner, who already has a reputation for his shady dealings on town. In fear for their lives, the three boys decide to run away.

There were points in the story where the writing was good but more points where I felt we were being told rather than shown what was going on. I had hoped for more from the story. It wasn't bad, but it was just OK.

I read this book back in October. That's when I gave it five stars. I stand by this five star rating six and a half months later because I still think about this book.

Ryan Coughlin tells the story of friendship in "Right Handed Lefty," of Ellis, George, and Mason forming a trio of steadfast friends as the outsiders and loners in their tiny Wisconsin town. They are not alike, not outsiders because they share much beyond a sense of not belonging. They are alike because they are good kids. Another story of friendship within the book is that of Ellis Sayre and Boscobel - and that plotline pulled me in right away too. And a third friendship is that of Ellis Abbott and Hank the Chief, child Ellis' biological grandfather and the heir of sorts to Boscobel. Early on it was clear that the grandfatherly sorts would have a moment to shine and they do.

Taken together, Ellis, George, and Mason form a band of misfits that rivals the boys in IT and in STRANGER THINGS. Only theirs is a crime drama instead of a supernatural one. This does mean that it veers a little toward the cliched side of things but it is infinitely readable and would be infinitely watchable.

There is a backstory of Two Left Feet, and Indian who used to live in the town, and that's interesting enough that idea read a book about him too! Just saying, Ryan Coughlin, that you've got a reader in me!

One of the running themes that works so well is that Ellis, of the trio of buddies who go on the run after witnessing a murder, thinks no one will miss him because his adoptive parents are getting a divorce. But they do miss him. Marty fast becomes one of the best fathers I've read in this sort of novel in a very long time as he panics and turns over every proverbial stone in search of his son.

This was an unexpectedly good story. It's not a genre I'd normally choose but I am very glad to have had the chance to read this book. The friendship between Chief Hank and Ellis Abbott is an excellent mirror image of sorts to the fine line Ellis Sayre has to walk as a child of two worlds, or more. Backstories and sidestories don't always work as well as they do in this book. I loved it and I'm going to read it again soon!

Thanks to NetGalley and CHBB Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest and original review. Apologies for the shamefully late and inexcusable review. All thoughts are my own.

Did not finish, due to being distracted by errors. There seemed to be a good story here, but the lack of editing, awkward sentences, and many spelling and grammar errors kept me from engaging.

Right Handed Lefty
by Ryan Coughlin
This book took a while to get into, the meaning of the story comes in the last pages and is more poignant than as could be believed. A young orphan boy does not know the meaning of his existence. He had been placed and and placed so many times when his last foster parents adopted him, their dysfunctional relationship just added to his unease and lack of security. When a school bully attacked his best friend his participation in his defence caused them both to have Saturday school. The story starts mainly about the small two in the 1980’s but many of the prejudices and problems are profound. Things that today we would not see, impoverished families struggling to feed their children, racial injustices for Native Americans, and crime bosses in an age of less communication and more profit. The story shows that it’s not where you come from but who you are that define you.

"As long as Ellis Sayre could remember, he wanted to know his real parents.  He was Native American and had the brown skin to prove it. Which exact tribe was a mystery; he didn’t have the luxury of that information.  It was hard for him to gauge why he was the way he was. Awkward. Difficult. Disinterested."

Ellis was lacking in self-confidence, had sensitive nerves, would have anxiety attacks, and could not play badminton if his life depended on it.  Considering that Ellis was the “most unwanted child under one year old” at the orphanage, was returned to the orphanage by his first adoptive parents, and felt like an outsider with his new adoptive parents, it was no wonder he considered himself different and unwanted.  However, his friends George, defender of the less fortunate, and Mason, the wisecracking ninja warrior, accepted him as the honest, quirky, "Native Warrior" that he was.

When Mason mentioned that his family didn't have any money for food because his dad's store closed, George suggested stealing day-old bread thrown away in the trash by the Schaefer’s Bread and Bakery.  Unfortunately, while carrying out their plan, they witnessed a murder and the police didn't believe them.  With their lives in danger, they go on the run from the menacing madman, Ray Schaefer, "sole distributor of all things illegal", who is out for revenge.

This is a coming-of-age story set in Wisconsin intermingled with the past life of a Native American named Right Handed Lefty.  The author skillfully shares similarities between Ellis and Right Handed Lefty and throws in a bit of mysticism and some historical facts on the Native American sport of lacrosse which was reportedly discovered by explorers near the territory, now named Wisconson, as early as the 1600s.  The added murder and suspense to the book seemed strange at first, but it grabbed my attention enough to find out what happened.  The three boys were both vulnerable and resilient in their own ways and their journey captivates the reader.  If you like Stand By Me, give this one a try.

Thank you to Mr. Coughlin, CHBB Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Ellis Sayre lives in a small town in Wisconsin. It is 1983. Ellis has been adopted by a couple who has lost their child. Being a Native American, he feels even more distant from his parents when he finds out he is to replaced their lost child. He has two friends at school, George and Mason, a Hmong.when Ellis and George find out that Mason's family don't have the finances to give Mason lunch, Ellis comes up with the idea of them going to the bakery after it closes. The bakery tosses their day-old bread that didn't sell into the garbage bin. However they become witnesses to the bakery owner and his assistant disposing a body. The boys run. When Ellis tells the police, he isn't taken seriously, even though his parents believe him. Ellis fears for his life and decides to run away. George and Mason go with him. Will they be able to survive on their own? Will the bakery boss go after the boys?

At first, the story is a little slow (at least it was for me), but then picks up. It is an interesting novel that allows you to see how they deal with situations that aren't part of their everyday life. There is another story included about two senior citizens with one of them being a Native American and the relationship they develop. A story is told by this Native American senior citizen that was told about a Native American boy who is adopted by the chief. There is much more to the tale but I don't want to spoil the story for you. It all ties in -- the three boys, the senior citizens and story told by the Native American senior citizen. It's a good story.

TW: Racism against Laotians and Native Americans

I would feel better if I knew if this was ownvoices or not. But I can't find anything about the author and I have to side with caution.

It was an interesting read. For about half way, I kept thinking "What am I reading?" but the kids kept me going. The intervening threads were interesting and helped break up the school narrative. Then the Big Bad appeared and it got exciting.

However. However. However.

The bigot gets reformed and forgiven, but Ellis never finds his culture or parents despite said bigot knowing some information that could help easily track them down. Ellis ends with the "happy" acceptance, but it feels fake and hollow, too cheesy really with the "I'm me" message. Why not tie up that end instead of waxing poetic over the dude who rejected him because of his heritage? It said right in the beginning the dude felt bad about his parents getting hit by a car. Why mention that but not follow through?

And what about Mason and his family that they were stealing bread for? It's not okay that they continue to struggle and be hungry, but there's no resolution or mention of it again!

Two Stars for keeping my interest and finishing it, but the important threads are left dangling and reinforces colonization.

While this is marketed as a teen/young adult title, the message speaks to people of all ages and I love this book for that. My favorite part was the stellar character development - bravo to the author! The characters come to life, jump out of the pages and pull you into their lives.

This was a good book and I was admittedly drawn to it because I have lived in Illinois my entire life, with Boscobel being a little over an hour away. The book started out slow, but I was interested by approximately 25% through.
The book follows the life of Ellis, who has gone through the foster care system, was returned, is picked on at school and now his adoptive parents aren't sure if they are staying together. When his two friends and he decide to get bread for one of them (his family is to poor for him to eat lunch) they witness 'the devil' commit a crime. When the police won't help them, they decide to runaway.
While I did find the beginning a little confusing; too many pov's when I was still figuring out who everybody was, it did get less confusing the further I read. This book would be good for a child who is learning about Native Americans or different cultures.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review..

I had hoped to like this book more than I did. It makes it into the three-star category. It's a coming of age story that doesn't quite work for me. Granted, it is sad and has some suspense. Ellis has a sad story, but we tend to like him, it's just that it didn't hold as well as I would have liked. I did like the forgiveness themes.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition.

This was an Ok story, a coming of age thriller of sorts that slowly draws you in. That was also the problem, it started off very slow and had a hard time picking up steam. I didn't really start getting into the story until about 45% in, while most would put down a story by that point I say you should keep going. You will be rewarded with a pretty interesting and heartwarming ending.
Even though it was slow I did enjoy the writing style, Mr. Coughlin was very descriptive when describing the landscape, felt like I was right on that ledge on Granddad Bluff. Normally I'm all over Google Maps when reading location heavy books but with the way Mr. Coughlin wrote it I didn't need to, I could just see the forest and the carving in the tree.

All in all, this is a good story about forgiveness, especially being able to forgive yourself, and finding the strength within.

This is a coming of age story about an adopted boy and a couple of his friends, all somewhat misfits. The author weaves in the stories of two characters from the past that kind of help Ellis figure out his place in the world. I like the friendship the boys had and the story was pretty good, but it seemed a bit awkwardly done.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book.

Right Handed Lefty
By Ryan Coughlin

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley and the publisher.

Twelve year old Native American Ellis Sayer is different from other kids. He knows he is different and feels as though no one really wants him. Orphaned as a baby, he was adopted by a family that returned him. Now he lives with Marty and Suzanne who adopted him to fill the void in their lives that was created when their son died.

Ellis has two friends. Both of them are quirky but they get by a bit better than he does. Like other teens Ellis falls for a girl that currently hates him, and she is the cousin of one of his two only friends. The lives of the three boys turn upside down after an incident at school. They band together for a noble cause that pits them against an evil man that holds the power to destroy them. Now they only have each other to depend on in the life and death situation life that has been thrust upon them. They feel the only available option is flight.

Ellis is an interesting character. He is trying his best to fit in. He knows he is different and that the other kids don't like him. He just tries to keep his head down and not get hurt. He breaks my heart for all of the kids that don't feel like they fit in. This amazing YA novel will have you cheering for the misfits. Against all odds they must work together with a clear plan to accomplish their goal of staying alive.

Coughlin's first novel is captivating. The parallel story lines of a Native American from years ago struggling with his identity and Ellis struggling with fitting in are expertly woven together to create a beautiful story. He addresses racism, the ostracizing of people who are different and acceptance of the world as it is, not as we would like it to be. He helps the reader realize that love can't cure all evils but it helps make the evils a bit less painful.

Copyright © 2017 Laura Hartman

Right Handed Lefty is going to surprise you more than once.  The story is actually three different stories weaved into one.  That may seem confusing, but it works to tell this complex and exciting tale.  

The story focus' is on a boy named Ellis, a Native American who does not know how he fits into the world.  He does not know who he is, where he comes from, or anything about his past.  Oddly enough, it is the present that will reveal who he really is.  

Luckily, as the reader, we have access to the other two stories to understand Ellis' background, which all works towards the climax near the end of the story.  

You may assume this story is about adolescents finding their way, but it is so much more!  It is about generations of people and how their lives affected the others, in ways they will never understand.  It is fun, fast-paced, story with deep connotations about what it means to be hurt, courageous, and finding out what the word "family" really means.

Right Handed Lefty by Ryan Coughlin is the coming of age story in 1983, in the small town of Boscobel, Wisconsin, as a boy with no real identity in his family history discovers you are much more than your bloodline. Ellis Sayre has had a crazy life. Orphaned as a baby, adopted then return. He spent much of his early years in an orphanage until he is adopted by Marty and Suzanne Sayre after the tragic death of their only son. When the story opens, Ellis is 12 years old and trying to figure out where he fits in with his new family, his classmates and his friends. Until one day when he, along with his friends George and Mason, witness a crime. The authorities and their parents don’t believe them. Fearing for their lives, the three boys run away and have an adventure along the Mississippi River. The search begins for the boys. One group, the concerned parents who become increasingly aware the boys were telling the truth, and one man who wants to make sure the boys never tell their story again. The stories of Ellis Abbot, a World War II vet, and an orphaned Native American boy, Two Right Feet, in the 1800s, are key to helping Ellis come to terms who he is.
The beginning of the story hooked me in. I felt a connection to Ellis and his uncertainly as he life has been anything but stable. However, when the side stories of Ellis Abbot and Two Right Feet start to intertwine with Ellis Sayre’s story, I got lost and seemed to lose interest. It reminded me of the 1986 film, Stand by Me, as a group of boys leave on an adventure innocent and return with a new perspective on life and their own identity. The story picked up again once the boys were on their adventure and the adults were on their trail to find them. It is a decent coming of age story about finding your true identity and place in the world. Right Handed Lefty is marketed as a Young Adult book and this may be its main audience; however, I feel adults would enjoy this story as well.

Right Handed Lefty
is available in paperback and eBook

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

This is an engrossing story of three young boys whose lives are less than ordinary. They are considered misfits and outsiders. On their own, they stay away from the “normal” kids keeping to themselves. But when circumstances bring them together they become a force to recon with. This coming of age tale involves the town’s criminal element and murder. The boys witness the murder and must seek safety on their own.

Mixed into this tale is a tribal legend that at first seems irrelevant, but in truth adds an element to the story that gives Ellis’s action a credibility otherwise missed. It also leaves the door open for a sequel, or two. We will have to wait to see what the author does.

I enjoyed this book even with the existence of some flaws. The cautionary tale is creative, touching and has a strong moral statement.

I really enjoyed this story of three boys growing up in a small town and the lessons life taught them. This story did a fantastic job of illustrating the ties that connect people in a small town and just how many there are. A story of hope and love and growing up.

This book has a strong sense of place, that place being southwestern Wisconsin in 1983. Locals talk like someone out of the movie Fargo, and small town life makes it hard to be different. Characters include a twelve-year-old Native American boy adopted by white parents; his two misfit friends, one of whom is Hmong; and adults haunted by the loss of a child, infidelity, and memories of combat in World War II. There is also a sexually abused girl and an elderly Native American man with his own history of persecution.

The story centers on the three boys but also delves into the minds and backstories of the adults, making this a multi-layered work that eventually all comes together. The one superfluous character is the girl, who has no real influence on the plot except to be a first love for Ellis, the Native American boy. It takes a while for the action to get going, but once it does, things move along pretty well. I admit to sliding over some of the description, and I really don’t like dream sequences since they don’t show what’s really happening and just bog things down.

The writing style is clunky at times, and the book needs a good editor. It has misspelled, extra, or missing words, and words that are just plain wrong, like “illicit” where the author meant “elicit.” I think the author has promise and his characters were interesting, but this book needs refining to be as good as it could be.