Summer of '84

Book excerpt: The summer of 1984 was shaping up to be the greatest for twelve-year-old Ryne Moreland. His beloved Chicago Cubs were on the way to their first penant in 39 years while he and his friends were in hot pursuit of a rumored black panther on the loose. And now that he had discovered girls, his ultimate goal was to obtain his first real kiss from good friend and fellow Cub lover, Marla Hebner. Helped by his good friends, Ryne has to overcome several awkward and comical obstacles to reach his goal and finds himself wondering if he will ever succeed. His journey takes a sudden and serious turn when Marla has to face life's ultimate test, sending Ryne on a search for life's ultimate answers. It is how the young girl and her family handle this test that becomes Ryne's first and greatest spiritual witness. In Summer of 84, Robert Rooney captures joy, laughter and tragedy through the eyes of a child coming of age.