Once upon a time in America, before helicopter parenting and tending to fragile egos, kids actually grew up. Riding bikes without wearing full body protection, playing unsupervised, and staying away from home until time for dinner were acceptable practices—not parental neglect. Competing in sports and games that ended with winners and losers was how kids learned to accept defeat and relish victory. Daring to stand up to bullies, go skinny-dipping, or trespass to go fishing allowed for good times and better memories—not for counseling. There was a time when brothers, no matter what they were doing, ended up in a fight yet were loyal to each other and always ready for the next bout. If you remember growing up without cable television, organized playdates, and a fear of just about everything, you will enjoy the memoirs of five adolescent boys growing up in New England in the days before dodgeball was illegal.