Swear to Howdy

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Book Overview

A funny friendship turns serious in this haunting book about secrets, lies, and what it means to be a true friend. Joey Banks is a walking adventure. He's funny, daring, mischievous--and frequently in trouble. Or he would be if anyone found out about half the stuff he's done. Luckily, Rusty Cooper knows how to keep a secret. Joey is the best friend Rusty's ever had, and he's not going to mess with that. But then comes a secret that is at once too terrible to tell and too terrible to keep. A secret so big it threatens to eat them alive. What would a true friend do now? Wendelin Van Draanen has written a richly layered book that offers a thought-provoking look at the boundaries of friendship and what it really means to be true. "Triumph and tragedy mix in a compelling country tale of boys being boys." -- Kirkus Reviews "A poignant, thought-provoking novel that will strike a chord with young readers hooked by the boyish antics of the early chapters, later to be emotionally drawn to the honest portrayal of characters struggling with the consequences that follow every action." -- Midwest Book Review

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440419433
• ISBN13: 9780440419433
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Rh Childrens Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Swear To Howdy You'll Read This Book

This book is one of the best books I've ever read. It had a perfect mix of funny, sad, and meaningful text that all comes together to form an excellent book. If you're a teenager looking for a good read, then swear to howdy you'll read this book.

Frog Squishin' Fun

I think that Wendelin Van Draanen did a very good job explaining and describing Swear to Howdy. For example, when Joey found Tank, his pet frog, he picked him up and he pooped all over the front of Joey's shirt. They said it looked like green tomatoes. It is a very funny book, and close to the end it gets sad and dramatic. I liked this book because I could see the pictures in my head and I didn't get lost once. I think that teens would understand the book better than younger kids, because it has some words that younger kids wouldn't understand.

You will never want to put this book down!

The book Swear To Howdy by Wendlelin Draanen is funny, awesome, and enjoyable. This book is about two boys named Rusty Cooper and Joey Banks. Joey and Rusty have one older sister each. Their names are Amanda Jane and Jenna Mae, but they call Jenna Mae "Sissy". The boys love to play pranks and jokes on the girls. Amanda Jane and Jenna Mae became The Dimond Dolls until the boys got them fired. I absolutely love this book because its cool and it really makes you think about how good we all have life. The audience I would like to recommend for this book is anybody from the ages 14-adult.

Wow! This is a really great book!

The book Swear to Howdy by Wendlin Van Draanen was really interesting. It had me wanting to read another chapter everytime I quit reading, and it had a lot of drama in it. Joey and Rusty are best friends and they lived next door to each other. They both had an older sister, and they were the same age, and they were best friends. Rusty and Joey were always trying to do something to their sisters. One night they wanted to do something and they went to far. I really liked the book a lot. It is probably for teenagers and adults because they would understand it more. This book made me realize that you should think before you do something and make sure it won't hurt anybody.

A Bittersweet Story of True Friendship

This book starts with a humorous beginning but has a serious plot near the end. Rusty is a perfect example of a true friend. This bittersweet story will fill your eyes with tears, yet you will still have a smile on your face. READ THIS BOOK! :)