Never Cry "Arp!" and Other Great Adventures

America’s bestselling outdoor humorist shares twelve hilarious tales from his youth in this book for young readers.

“Young people who love the broad physical comedy of Robert Newton Peck’s Soup stories or Gary Paulsen’s Harris and Me . . . are sure to enjoy these 12 stories about growing up in the mountains of Idaho. . . . McManus is a natural storyteller, with a voice so strong that readers will be hard-pressed not to believe his tales.” —Booklist

America's best-selling outdoor humorist for adults has a secret following: middle-grade and young-adult readers.

Never Cry “Arp!” is a lively collection of twelve stories about young Pat's misadventures in the Great American Wilderness.

All the McManus regulars are here: Crazy Eddie Muldoon, the best friend everybody wishes they had (and everybody's mother wishes they didn't); Rancid Crabtree, the good-hearted, if gamey, woodsman; Pat's skunk dog, Strange, who lives up to his name; and Pat's pal, Retch Sweeney, who does, too.

This is a book for kids who love to start fishing at 4 am (at least they say they do) or for those who prefer to experience the mighty outdoors in the safety of their homes.

“Everybody should read Patrick McManus,” said the New York Times. Now, everybody can.

“His stories are not merely amusing: They are laugh-out-loud, stomach-clutching, tears-rolling-down-your-cheeks hilarious. . . . This collection is as welcome as lemonade in the desert.” —Kirkus Reviews