101 Books, Number 79

Favorite Books from Throughout My Life

79: The Golden Summer, 1953, by Daniel Nathan (Frederic Dannay,* 1905–82)

I loved this book—how could I not?

I read the hero’s name—was caught

So easily. Yes, Danny was

His name. I loved that name because …

Oh, please! You surely can relate!

A character so named is bait

For fishy readers; I was hooked—

Or, better, I was really “booked.”

My parents bought it for me when

I was a boy. And (way) back then

I didn’t read a lot. But here

I found a story, very dear.

A boy. A summer. Danny. Wow!

It all seemed like my life somehow.

The tricks he played—his friends and foes—

But—slowly, slowly—Danny grows.

I read it more than once, I’ll say.

(I wished to read it every day.)

And then I lost it (in a move?),

And life went on—a different groove.

An older man, I wished it back.

(You never know what you will lack.)

I found a copy—searched online.

And it arrived: condition—fine.

I read it fast—such memories kept—

And at the end I guess I wept.

Why else were my eyes red and wet?

I must have cried (let’s take a bet!).

I read of Danny with such joy—

For once again, I was a boy.

*co-author of nearly 40 Ellery Queen novels; I didn’t know this until years later