“The storyline is gritty & authentic and highly recommended”- 4-STAR REVIEW- HISTORICAL FICTION COMPANY “Storytelling style that raises The Outcast to literary excellence.” MIDWEST B00K REVIEWS " The Outcast captivated us with its raw emotional intensity." POWELL'S CITY OF BOOKS “An absorbing look into how even the most ordinary human beings can suddenly become key players in a terrible drama.” “GET IT” KIRKUS REVIEW In the fall of 1963, Danny Prescott is focused on his school, football, and finding a date for Saturday nights. However, his peaceful life is shattered one fateful Sunday when he offers a ride to Brent Arrington, the town’s celebrated star athlete. This seemingly innocent gesture changes everything for Danny and everyone in Banning, Iowa, when a horrifying act takes place that shakes the very foundation of the town. A girl is brutally assaulted, and the news spreads, igniting rumors and accusations that consume and divide the close-knit rural community. In the aftermath, residents and classmates are reluctant to point fingers at Brent, who has led the school to two regional titles, despite the mounting evidence against him. Instead, Danny—a farm boy from a family with little influence and a tarnished reputation—becomes an easier target. Trusted friends turn their backs on him and his family, caught up in the town’s rush to judge and condemn. Left with few allies, Danny faces an unimaginable choice that jeopardizes not only his future but also cost him his life. "Loved The Outcast. Not since American Graffiti has a book captured the '60s culture in a way Whipple has--the dialogue is entertaining and authentic to the era--a slice of time in rural America that will stay with you." Ryan Dickerson--The BookDigger's Review "The Outcast" i ncludes blunt but realistic dialogue and a diverse web of relationships once the surface of this rural area is scratched. The primary focus of the narrative is on Danny and his relationships with his family. But there are also enemies, creating tension, harm, and a shattering climax to the storyline. There are several twists and turns in the novel's plot, which this reviewer will omit from the review, but suffice it to say the storyline is gritty and authentic, with sunshine and rainbows in short supply. The story will appeal to all those who appreciate realism and who understand that being a teenager, even with loving parents and siblings, is never straightforward. Whipple has written a book with a resounding sense of place - creating a vivid image for the reader of the cattle, the barn, the corn, the weather, and other mainstays of rural life. "The Outcast" by DL Whipple receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company . "In this novel, a teenage boy fails to stop a rape committed by a high school football star and becomes locked in the legal and moral drama that ensues. Whipple's moral drama is layered with complexity...This is especially impressive given the ordinariness of this town-Danny calls it a "grease spot on an Iowa map"-which serves as a perfect stage for the story, a small place that gives birth to big sins. Whipple's writing is generally poetically unembellished, but its plainness is the source of its gathering power, and it brings into sharp relief the averageness of those who participate in this moral contest. At the novel's heart is a delicate portrayal of Danny's maturation...This is an absorbing look into how even the most ordinary human beings can suddenly become key players in a terrible drama. It is a moving exploration of the profound costs of trying to be a good person. " KIRKUS REVIEWS--OUR VERDICT (GET IT) "Original, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging, and showcasing author D. L. Whipple's genuine flair for the kind of distinctive and narrative driven storytelling style that raises "The Outcast" to an impressive level of literary excellence. All the more remarkable when considering that "The Outcast" is D. L. Whipple's debut as an author, his compelling novel is especially and unreservedly recommended for high school and community library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections." Midwest Book Review Dennis Whipple's journey began on a dairy farm in a quaint rural community in Iowa, where his passion for writing blossomed in childhood. However, as he considered the practicalities of life, he redirected his focus toward business, earning a graduate degree in Marketing and Finance. "While writing has always been my passion, the harsh reality of making ends meet forced me to pursue a different path," he shared in a recent interview. Whipple navigated the corporate world with remarkable success, ultimately becoming CEO and president of two Fortune 500 companies. Now retired, he finally returns to his first love-writing. He and his wife relish a lifestyle that blends winters in sunny Florida with summers in the picturesque mountains of North Carolina. This is his debut novel, a testament to the dreams he never st