Beautiful story. Loved this book! Loved the character portrayals! I wanted to be friends with all of these boys!! Thank you!!

It was 1941 in the small rural town in California when Steven Katz became friends with Ollie, Suki and Nick at school. They were all sons of workers on the farms around the area and three of the four boys were only fourteen. Ollie was seventeen but the group were all close friends, camping, hiking the nearby mountains and just hanging out. But that all changed when the US joined the war effort. With Suki being of Japanese descent, he and his family were made to relocate to an internment camp at Manzanar. Ollie enlisted in the army, prepared to do his duty for his country, while Nick had to disappear after his father told the police it was Nick who committed a crime. Nick’s betrayal by his father hurt him badly, but Steven was prepared to help him stay safe.

As the years passed and life continued, Steven turned eighteen the day war ended. After Steven picked up Suki and his family from the internment camp and took them to the nearest bus stop, it was time for him to make his own life. His first plan was to find Nick whom he knew lived in New York. What would happen when the two friends met once again? What would the future look like for the young man who had been a farmer’s son, and an outcast in his family life?

Boy Underground is another exceptional novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde. I only recently found this author, and in the few of hers I’ve read, not one has disappointed. She’s a wonderful writer, who certainly knows how to weave a story to captivate her readers. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, from the four main characters to the poignant ending. Highly recommended.

Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints, and her latest novel is no less beautiful than her others, an emotionally wrought and all consuming read!

This was was an amazing story told in the POV of a man reliving his teenage years and the friends he made right before WWII began and kept.

Steven Katz grew up as a privileged son of one of the biggest farms in the valley outside of Fresno, California. When he was 14, he walked away from "other socially acceptable kids like him" and made friends with sons of the farm hands' kids. They didn't care that he was different and had different feelings for other people; they just accepted him. His own family didn't even see him.

Steven, Ollie, Suki, and Nick all go camping in the mountains on December 6, 1941. When they came down the following night, the four teens had no idea that their world was about to completely change. Nick's father never picked them up, he's known as a drunk. So they walked until they were able to hitch a ride with someone Suki knew. That's when they all realized that things were different. There were signs on store windows that said "No Japanese." When Steven went home that night, he found out that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the US was at war.

In the months to come Ollie enlisted early, he was the oldest of them; 17. Suki and his family were sent away with only the clothes on their backs to a place in the mountains. All Japanese people were sent there until the war was over. Nick's father, Daniel, was accused of beating a man when he was drunk, sending him into a coma. Daniel pled guilty, then sobered up and said it was his son he was covering for. Nick was with the boys in the mountains. Even though all 3 of them, Ollie had already left for basic training, gave the officers the same story, they didn't believe him.

In the middle of the night, Nick came to Steven's house asking for help, the police were coming to arrest him the next morning and send him to reform school. So Steven hides Nick in the root cellar on the back of the farm for months. Steven comes to see him every night, which is the highlight of his day. He knows that he's in love with Nick, but not sure if its reciprocal.

Ollie dies on a ship. Suki gets sent away, leaving just Steven and Nick. After a few months, Nick is thinking of going to his Mom's in Arizona. He's lost weight and his skin is gray due to being underground and without sun. He promises Steven he'll be back for him and then they will have a future together somewhere else.

After the first letter comes months later from Nick with no return address, he panics. Steven's not sure if it was deliberate or an accident on Nick's part. So he waits. When he finally gets another one several months later, he packs up everything and takes a bus to Arizona. But when he gets there, Nick isn't there anymore.

A few months after Steven's 18th birthday, Suki and his family get released and he goes up to pick them up. Nick had written him a letter a few years ago telling him not to wait for him anymore. To find love elsewhere. It devastated him. So he asked Suki if he knew anything about it. Suki was shocked at that. When Steven drops the family off at the bus station and leaves, Suki gives him his address on an envelope that had Nick's handwriting on the other side. He gave him Nick's address in NY. Steven drove home, packed everything up and his father made sure that Steven saw how he felt about his way of life.

When Steven gets to NY, he finds Nick's apartment but he's afraid of what he'll find behind the door. When a woman holding a baby steps onto the balcony and calls his name, he's shocked. It's Nick's wife.

An amazing story, A definite must read!!

I’m a long time Catherine Ryan Hyde fan but it had been a while since I’d read anything by her (and I had thought I’d maybe read the ones worth reading until this blurb caught me eye!). That said, it took me an awful long time to get into this. Not because it was uninteresting, slow or lacking; in fact I can’t tell you why I wasn’t drawn in at first, all I do know is that though I wasn’t rushing to get back to this, I had no desire to stop reading either. But unfortunately that lost this one a star for me. Now, once I was enthralled, it was game-over and I couldnotwouldnot stop.

I was invested in everyone and everything: a WWII historical fiction that is a little different from the usual, giving very accurate information about lesser known war atrocities whilst also being not at all about the war. Okay, okay, that isn’t true, but it is about MORE than the war: about ordinary lives whilst a war is ongoing, not the war as all-encompassing (though admittedly for a child living in California the war wasn’t all encompassing, not compared to those in Europe, but I digress).

The ending to me (this renowned ending-hater) was also simply brilliant; a perfect end to this life story without over (or under) doing it, without cliche and without grandeur. 4 solid stars for Boy Underground.

I received an advanced copy of this text by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely use this with students. Japanese internment during WWII is at the heart of the story and Hyde does a FANTASTIC job integrating history into her story. Highly recommend!!!

While coming of age during the beginning of World War II and beyond, Steven becomes friends with some kids from the other side of the tracks, as they say, and to complicate matters he develops feelings beyond friendship for one of them. Then another of his friends is sent to an interment camp and Steven is heckled and bullied for being friends with a boy from Japan. This book follows Steven’s life and does a good job of portraying some of the things that he is thinking and feeling as he deals with all of this and more. This is a tastefully, understandingly written book dealing with these deep subjects and more. I am glad that I read it and got a glimpse of the life and the struggles that persisted during this time period. I would highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

I have read many books by author Catherine Ryan Hyde and have enjoyed them all, but Boy Underground really surprised me! If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure if this story would be of interest to me judging by both the book cover and the synopsis. Was I ever wrong! It’s a coming of age story about a boy named Stephen who teaches us the true meaning of friendship. In the story, Stephen befriends 3 other boys who his parents feel are not worthy of his friendship due to social class. The storyline takes place during the time of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and it discusses how the Japanese are sent to Manzanar. It also tells how far Stephen will go to look out for his friends when he has to hide one in a root cellar when he is falsely accused of committing a crime. It’s this boy that Stephen realizes he has feelings for that consists of much more than friendship. There is so much to this story that I enjoyed and learned from and I’m really glad that I decided to read it. It just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The story inside is remarkable and one I recommend to all. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I found in the Read Now section and Catherine Ryan Hyde for writing such a great story. This is a 5 star read!

Boy Underground is a wonderful story by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Four friends, Steven, Suki , Ollie and Nick become fast friends after meeting in school. The story takes place just before World War II, Narrated by Stephen he tells the tale of each boy facing astronomical problems that together they try to overcome and help each other. Each boy’s story touched my heart. The tale flows perfectly, and kept me rooting for each boy. A great lesson of kindness, strength and loyalty. A Must Read. Don’t Miss This One.
Thank You to the Author Catherine Ryan Hyde, Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me to read this fantastic novel for my honest review.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has published more than 30 books and <b>Boy Underground</b> is her latest offering.   In this book she does a particularly good job of replicating how it must have felt to be a young person when the world is at war and life is altering rapidly for the worse.    Not only that but she made it possible for her readers to walk a mile in the shoes of four young people, several of whom were marginalized.

The story begins with an elderly man, Steven Katz, looking back to the time in his life when he was fourteen.    It was 1941 and he had befriended a group of new friends.   Readers followed the teenaged Steven and his new friends through the war years, learning of their individual difficulties and the lasting relationships they developed during these years.

Steven, Suki, Ollie and Nick were the four boys at the centre of Boy Underground and they each had their own rod to carry.     Steven, our narrator,  struggled with his sexuality and though he was not ashamed of his feelings for other boys, homosexuality was neither understood nor accepted in the small-town in which they lived and as a result he ended up estranged from his family.    Suki was born in America to Japanese parents but he and his family were rounded up and relocated to Manzanar concentration camp following the attack on Pearl Harbour.    The family remained there until their release at the end of the war.    Ollie, was older than the other friends and being seventeen he was afraid of being called up to fight in the war on his next birthday.     Instead, with his parents permission, he decided to take matters into his own hands and enlisted.   Last but certainly not least, Nick, a boy who was completely betrayed by his father.     His Dad had seriously injured another man in a bar fight yet he told police Nick was the perpetrator of the crime.   To avoid arrest and being sent to reform school for four years Steven helped Nick go into hiding.   During this time Nick and Steven developed an extremely close and loving relationship - not in the physical sense - but in the sense that Steven became a saviour for Nick.
 
This was a book about genuine friendships.   Friendships where acceptance of each other was not questioned despite societal attitudes and strong repercussions.    As is often the case in Catherine Ryan Hyde's novels the young people had great moral and ethical compasses despite the examples set by some of the important adults in their lives.  It was a story of love and lessons from youth to carry and remember throughout a long life.

My thanks to the author,  Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

Thanks NetGalley, Catherine Ryan Hyde and the publisher for a copy to review.
I simply love Catherine Ryan Hyde and anything she writes, such a talented writer and an incredible human being.
A powerful story about friendship, acceptance, love, change.
I absolutely loved it.

I freaking loved loved loved this one!!

Steven is a school boy when we first meet him who has just changed his circle of friends.

He has a difficult childhood and so do his friends, it is shown in the book how each of their younger years are difficult.

As he gets older his friend group end up in different parts of the country such as life except in there case these circumstances are out with their control.

Later in the book he manages to meet up with his friends again though not in the way he thought it would be.

Rarely I get upset over a book but this one gave me the feels and I felt soo emotional over it.

The only thing I didn’t care for much was how quickly it came to the ending, like I actually liked the ending and thought it was appropriate but I didn’t like how quickly she got there.

The author is a favourite of mine and I’ve read some of her other books which I love.

Though I definitely think this has my heart now. ❤️

Please read this book or you’ll be missing out.

I was given a copy of this arc from #NetGalley #BoyUnderground and all opinions are my own

I always enjoy Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and although this wasn't my favorite, it was still a good book. I couldn't identify with the characters and at times they didn't seem especially realistic but the excellent writing kept me engaged and wanting to know what happened next. There seemed to be a lot of emphasis on some of the themes at the expense of others. I would have liked to have known more of Suki and his family's experiences.

This is a unique look at WWII and how it affected people in the United States - even those not directly affected.

I look forward to Ryan Hyde's next book.

Boy Underground by Catherine Ryan Hyde is another emotional read, that is both uplifting and dark at the same time. This book took me much longer to read than normal but that was due to being under the weather and struggling to read anything. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I haven’t a really great coming of age book in a while and this one was great. When Steven Katz gravitated towards a new group of friends after his childhood friends became too homophobic it changed the entire course of his life. Ollie, Suki & Nick became Steven’s family where his natural family was cold & seemingly uncaring. The characters were interesting. Even Nick’s evil Dad was given a chance to explain his actions to the reader & Steven.
There were also a few difficult topics in this book such as the internment of the Japanese in camps & but the issue was presented factually.
I think my favourite part was the end but I won’t elaborate since I don’t want to ruin this wonderful story.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Wonderful, poignant novel that follows a young man's struggle, or a few young men actually, to come to terms with themselves and the hands that they were dealt in this fickle life. A lot of worthy topics are discussed here, and I'm SO glad Catherine was the one bringing these topics to the table. She always does it so well!! Easily 10/10. 5 gold stars!

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

Boy Underground is another great story by Catherine Ryan Hyde, I really love the way she always brings a story to life making it very down to earth with situations that are very normal in our daily lives.

Boy Underground is about finding yourself no matter if your whole family is against it, about supporting your friends and sticking and following what you believe in. about being humble, empathic, and working hard to achieve what you have been dreaming.

Steven Katz didn't have the family he wanted, they didn't support him and had many beliefs that weren't exactly what Steve felt, he was constantly chastised and criticized by his own mother, making him feel like he was never good enough in her eyes. Steven had a very kind heart and he had a true friendship with Nick, Suki, and Ollie, sons of field workers. his parents didn't approve of this friendship, especially because of the heritage some of these boys had. in his mother's eyes, they were traitors of the United States, and they didn't deserve a friendship or a second chance.

Steven knew the real truth about what his friends were enduring and this was enough for him to forget about everything and help them in any way he could even if that meant hiding stuff from his family and even the police.

Boy Underground is the story many Japanese endure during WWll, an era they were being deported for the mistakes of others, without giving them any second chance to explain or even revoke such a terrible idea. they didn't have a home or family left and they were robbed of their citizenship, their family, their home.

I cried so much with Steven, the many times his family didn't see him or spoke so illy about his preferences and ideas. is like for them he didn't exist, it was more important what the neighbors will think of them than what Steven felt.

Steven's character was amazing, he was kind, humble and he had a heart of gold. I really love how he embrace his friend nick and helped him and the other in any way he could without caring if he would have any problems with his family.

Another great book by Catherine, I enjoy so much all of her books, and Boy Underground was not the exception it was beautiful, it was emotional it was hopeful, I enjoy it so much

Thank to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Catherine Ryan Hyde never disappoints her readers. This is a beautiful book, the story of Steven Katz, who is 14 in 1941, like many teenagers he isn’t quite comfortable with himself yet. He meets a new group of friends, Suki, Ollie and Nick, they are different from his previous friends in many ways,
The story brings Steven through his teenage years, His inward struggles with himself as he learns about life, how difficult it can often be. It doesn’t help that his family are cold and uncommunicative with one another., there is little love in the Katz family home. Steven is loyal and true to his friends regardless of how difficult it makes things for himself at home, school and in the community.
The story is emotional, sad, racist, and tragic, It covers homosexuality in a sensitive way. The story comes to a close with Steven being an old man and he is meeting up with Suki, which they have been doing regularly over the years,, they are visiting the Japanese interment camp, you must read this poignant beautiful book to find out why this is relevant to both of the old men.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will stay with me for some time as this authors books often do.

This is a good coming of age story that read to me like it belongs in a young adult genre. The reason for only 3 stars is simply because I often find I don't get swept up in these types of stories. However if you like them I do recommend this one. The setting, characters and plot are unique. The writing is insightful at times, although at other times I felt the story dragged a bit. I was ready to move on and the writer still had more to say.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When I pick up a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, I know I will not be disappointed in my choice. I've read so many of her books its difficult to choose a favorite, but this book would be near the top! The book begins in 1941 and we are introduced to four young teen boys, Steven, Suki, Ollie and Nick. Each boy has their own difficulties in life, which may be what draws them together in the first place. Although Steven is the late-comer to the group, he is accepted by the others when introduced by Suki. While Ollie plays an important part in this story, his character is the one that is least expanded upon. However, the character development andstorylines for the other three boys carry throughout the book and affect each other significantly. The title, Boy Underground, can refer to each of the boys in one aspect or another, but mainly refers to Nick, which I was not expecting. The friendship that is formed between Nick and Steven due to an accusation of assault, is intense and very confusing to Steven who is dealing with his own sexualtiy issues along with his need to protect and provide for Nick. This is exacerbated when Suki's Japanese family is uprooted from their home and sent to an internment camp, Ollie goes off to war, and his parents make disparaging remarks about both Japanese and homosexuals. The author is able to pull all of these storylines together in a manner that flows easily through character interactions showing their desires for a life that brings them happiness and peace. The book shows how important and long-lasting some friendships can be. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. #NetGalley #BoyUnderground