I Never Called Him Pa

Diane Kane

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I Never Called Him Pa by Diane Kane is a coming-of-age novel set in the 1950s told in the voice of Henry, a young fatherless boy living on a farm in Northern Illinois with his Grandmother, his wayward mother, and the traveler who changes all their lives. After WWII, the military sent men home on trains. Some never got off. They rode the rails in boxcars, searching for their souls lost to the toils of society or the ravages of war. Ernest, one such man of color, seeks refuge with Henry, Gram, and her daughter Janie on the farm. Their sins and secrets could either drive them apart or bind them together. Take a journey you will never forget in I Never Called Him Pa, by Diane Kane.

Book Details

Publisher: Diane Kane Publishing
Publish Date: Feb 18th, 2023
Pages: 390
Language: English
Edition: undefined - undefined
Dimensions: 9.00in - 6.00in - 0.87in - 1.26lb
EAN: 9781735460499
Categories: • Historical - 20th Century - Post-World War II• Coming of Age

About the Author

Kane, Diane: - Author Diane Kane measures her success by the friends she's made in her journey. Her fiction and nonfiction short stories appear in Red Penguin, Monadnock Underground, and Written Tales publications. Kane is the publisher and co-author of Flash in the Can Number One and Number Two, books of short stories. She also writes public interest articles for Uniquely Quabbin Magazine and several newspapers. Kane's first children's book, Don Gateau the Three-Legged Cat of Seborga published in English, Spanish, French and Italian, won the Purple Dragonfly Award for Caring/Making a Difference in 2020. The sequel Don Gateau Moves to Vallebona is due for publication in 2023. Kane published her second children's book, Brayden the Brave Goes to the Hospital, in April 2021 to help children and families with medical issues.

Praise for this book

"Reading Diane Kane's endearing new novel, I Never Called Him Pa, is like slipping into your favorite old sweater on a chilly winter night, adding a log to the potbelly stove, and stepping back in time. It is 1950 in Northern Illinois, and for young Henry and the grandmother who is raising him, life on their small farm is about to change.

They live by the railroad tracks, and hobos sometimes do odd jobs in return for meals. Ernest, an ailing Knight of The Road, becomes a part of the family as they nurse him back to health and he brings his road-weary wisdom and kindness into their lives. But Ernest is a black man, they are white, and their bonds are tested by pervasive prejudices they cannot ignore.

Rich in nostalgia, and peopled with memorable characters we recognize-or wish we did-from our own lives, I Never Called Him Pa will linger in your memory, and leave you longing, in a good way, for bygone days when the world was young, and you saw it through young eyes."

Ed Davis, Author of The Last Professional

"Reading this story transported me back to my first experiences with the great American works of Harper Lee, John Steinbeck, et al who seamlessly blended social commentary with great storytelling and rich characters. Uplifting, profound, and poignant, Ernest left me with a warm feeling and great admiration for its author.

James Vasey, Author of The Seborga Trilogy

"I Never Called him Pa is the perfect example of a feel-good novel. Henry's innocent introspections, coupled with Ernest's unwavering beliefs, are guaranteed to uplift your spirits. Diane Kane has tackled even the most sensitive topics with unbelievable finesse. Whether it was the initial disturbing reaction of the people toward Ernest because of the color of his skin or the question of Mr. Shoemaker's sexuality, every prejudice was handled with the utmost sensitivity and proper respect. And what's even more beautiful is that the author has managed to create an unforgettable story out of it. I Never Called him Pa by Diane Kane is a must-read book. If nothing else, it will encourage you to become a better human being."

Ankita Shukla from Reader's Favorite

"Diane Kane's compelling book I Never Called Him Pa follows the life of Ernest, a black veteran in the 1950s. The story takes readers on a journey with Ernest, from riding the rails in box cars to becoming homeless and near death. Ernest's travels eventually bring him to the farm of a grandmother raising her grandson. Here he finds miraculous healing of body and soul that leads him to become an instrument of change in other's lives through laughter and sometimes tears. This incredible story will strengthen your faith to hold on a little while longer."

Catherine Reed, Author of Fire Goes Out Without Wood

"I Never Called Him Pa by Diane Kane spans time in a heartwarming Forest Gump style. I had to keep reminding myself that the characters weren't real. I felt as though I knew them-like we were old friends."

Lynda Francoeur, retired educator