{"product_id":"the-old-block-mark-scott-piper-9781735504407","title":"The Old Block","description":"\u003cb\u003eShortly after his father dies, 24-year-old Nick Castle discovers what seems to be a draft of the novel\u003c\/b\u003e his father had always hoped to write. But a \u003cb\u003eclue at the end causes Nick to fear that this story of a serious federal crime and escape from the U.S. may not be fiction at all.\u003c\/b\u003e When Nick sets out to find out the truth about his father's past, he learns more than he ever expected-about his father and about himself. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Old Block\u003c\/i\u003e appeals to anyone who understands the \u003cb\u003e coming of age\u003c\/b\u003e process, who appreciates the complexities of \u003cb\u003eself-discovery\u003c\/b\u003e, who enjoys \u003cb\u003etouches of humor\u003c\/b\u003e, and who remembers the experience of a \u003cb\u003efirst-love romance.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Old Block\u003c\/i\u003e is the latest \u003cb\u003econtemporary fiction\u003c\/b\u003e by Mark Scott Piper, the author of the \u003cb\u003eaward-winning\u003c\/b\u003e crossover YA novel, \u003ci\u003eYou Wish.\u003c\/i\u003e It takes you on an emotional journey with young Nick Castle, as he sets off on cross-cultural adventure to unfurl \u003cb\u003ethe mystery of his father's true identity\u003c\/b\u003e. Along the way, Nick's quest to discover the truth about his father becomes a journey of \u003cb\u003eself-discovery\u003c\/b\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eNick Castle is as close to his father as any son could be.\u003c\/b\u003e Nick patterns his life, his personality, and his world view after Jim Castle. He is truly a \"chip off the old block\" and he's extremely proud of it. Nick gets his whole identity from his dad, and when Jim dies, in 2012, Nick is devastated. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJim Castle has left behind a manuscript for Nick's eyes only. It is the story of young Braden Delaney, who gets caught up in \u003cb\u003ea cross-cultural adventure\u003c\/b\u003e. During the student anti-war protests of 1970, he commits a violent act of rebellion that destroys government property--and ends in the death of an innocent victim. Braden escapes the U.S. to avoid government agents and spends the next \u003cb\u003e15 years of his life on the run in Central America\u003c\/b\u003e. Finally, he returns to the States with a new name and identity. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThat new identity is a clue that leads Nick to fear that his beloved father, Jim Castle, and Braden Delaney are in fact the same person. Nick's suspicion sends him on \u003cb\u003ean emotional quest\u003c\/b\u003e to prove his dad is not the protagonist of his own story. He retraces the steps of Braden Delaney to find facts that will prove his fear unwarranted and put the \u003cb\u003emystery of his father's identity\u003c\/b\u003e to rest. Nick's dilemma: If his father is not the man he thought he was, where does that leave his son? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs he pursues his quest to discover the truth about his father, Nick meets Sophie Cole and \u003cb\u003efalls truly in love for the first time in his life\u003c\/b\u003e. Nick's quest also helps him uncover something else important--his own \u003cb\u003eunique identity\u003c\/b\u003e--and that opens the door for him to truly \u003cb\u003ebecome his own man.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAmazon Categories: \u003cbr\u003e\"Fiction: Contemporary\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Romance Contemporary\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Romance: 20th Century\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Fiction: Coming of Age\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Romance: Multicultural \u0026amp; Interracial\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Fiction: New Adult\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Fiction: Literary\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Fiction: Mystery\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mark Scott Piper\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1735504408\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781735504407\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Mark Scott Piper\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/16\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 308\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.69d","brand":"Mark Scott Piper","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48800536297727,"sku":"9781735504407","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-old-block-mark-scott-piper-9781735504407","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}