"A realistic, visceral portrayal of a boy's coming-of-age." -Kirkus Reviews2025 AWA Children's Book International Young Adult WinnerThe year was 1975, and that summer would prove epic for Jimmy Hamilton. Imagine, an eleven-year-old boy with an imagination so powerful that he uses it like others would use a compass. Jimmy Hamilton sets out for the adventure of a lifetime. But summer, with all its promise, throws him a curveball, and he loses his fort on three separate occasions to unwanted squatters. He comes to discover each new unwelcomed tenant proves more difficult to evict than the last. His plans have a modicum of success but each comes with unintended consequences.Add to that mix, the prettiest girl his age, a baseball diamond, a groundhog, a snapping turtle, a boy with a heightened olfactory acuity, and the town vagrant and Jimmy soon finds his summer adventure is more than he expected.Sour Apples is a humorous young adult adventure of a clever young boy who thinks he can outwit the best of them. His riveting antics might one day make Jimmy a legend. Paul Jantzen has masterfully written his debut novel, a tale of mischief and adventure that will grab the reader from the first page.