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Of Foster Homes And Flies Hardcover – September 20, 2019

by Chad Lutzke (Author)

4.5 454 ratings

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A neglected 12-year-old boy does nothing to report the death of his mother in order to compete in a spelling bee. A tragic coming-of-age tale of horror and drama in the setting of a hot New Orleans summer.

"Original, touching coming of age."—Jack Ketchum, author of The Girl Next Door

"With "Of Foster Homes and Flies" Lutzke is firing on all cylinders. It's a lean mean emotional machine. Coming-of-age presented in a fresh direction. Bearing tremendous emotional weight and heart. It made me cry. "—John Boden, author of Jedi Summer and Dominoes

"Disturbing, often gruesome, yet poignant at the same time, Chad Lutzke's Of Foster Homes and Flies is one of the best dark coming-of-age tales I've read in years. You'll laugh (sometimes when you know you shouldn't), you'll cry, you'll find yourself wondering how soon you can read more of this guy's work. Highly recommended!"—James Newman, author of Midnight Rain, Ugly as Sin, and Odd Man Out

"...one of those real treats that comes down the pipe and manages to get you all excited about reading again...the whole ting is just beautiful."—Ginger Nuts of Horror

"Loved it, wished I loved all books I read as much...a sweet, yet subtly horrific and superbly written story. Lutzke shows incredible skills...Highly recommended."—Mark Matthews, author of All Smoke Rises

"Of Foster Homes and Flies by Chad Lutzke is a lovely addition to the coming of age subgenre. He creates in the character of Denny an authentic young man with passions and foibles, someone easy to relate to and root for. The novella hits all the right notes you expect out of a coming of age tale, while also providing a plot that has originality and surprises."—Mark Allan Gunnells, author of Flowers in a Dumpster and The Summer of Winters

"Of Foster Homes and Flies is the darkest, most disturbing story ChadLutzke has written. It's also his best...the ultimate one-finger salute to oppression...Highly recommended."—Dan Padavona, author of the Dark Vanishing Series

"As heartbreaking as it is horrifying...Of Foster Homes and Flies is a clearly written, fine-tuned entry into the canon of coming-of-age/innocence lost genre...Southern Gothic in the true sense of the word."—Barrymore Tebbs, author of A Thousand Paper Cranes and The Haunting at Blackwood Hall

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Poltergeist Press (September 20, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913138038
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913138035
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.51 x 0.38 x 8.5 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 454 ratings

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About the author

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Chad Lutzke

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Chad has written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance, and Scream magazine. He's had dozens of short stories published, and some of his books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, THE PALE WHITE, SKULLFACE BOY, THE NEON OWL and OUT BEHIND THE BARN co-written with John Boden. Lutzke's work has been praised by authors Jack Ketchum, Richard Chizmar, Joe Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones and his own mother.

He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com

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Maggie Dean

Page turner!

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024

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Wow! Just wow! Could this be a real scenario? I think it could. This well written story puts you firmly inside the mind and heart of an abused and neglected child, in all its simplicity and simultaneous complexity.

Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2018

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This novella by Chad Lutzke is exactly as its described in the synopsis. Young Denny's mother passes away days before his long sought after spelling bee competition. He doesn't report it so he can compete in the competition. This was a great little story. I didn't expect to get through it so fast but it was very enjoyable. The writing is well done and yhe story captivating. It should definitely be worth a read of your needing a short story to pass the time.

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parlor of horror

Quiet horror in this coming of age story...

Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2016

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We have a genuine masterpiece here and I’m so glad I’ve has the pleasure to read the work of this very talented author.
If you want to be blessed by an emotional moving story, you have to read the tale of a young boy whose hopes and dreams are about to be dashed by a non-loving, alcoholic mother and the intervening finger of fate. The 12-year-old boy, Denny, lost his father several years ago, left to be raised by his neglectful and perpetually boozed up mother. Denny's dad had one time won a 'spelling bee' at his hometown school and Denny cherished the ribbon award as a great memory from his father. Denny never entered the spelling bee himself because of lack of confidence and drive. However, this year was supposed to be different. Denny had studied since the beginning of the school year, practicing, rehearsing the spellings and preparing himself to do good in his father's eyes and follow in his footsteps. With the Spelling Bee fast approaching there was nothing that was going to stop him from paying this ultimate homage to his dad. Then a few days before the big event, his mother dies overnight on the living room couch. In the first few minutes of this event, Denny makes a big decision. He is not going to miss the spelling bee. It's not straight up horror but shades of King abound with the dead body of Denny's mom doing what dead bodies do best, being creepy. The final few pages when Denny calls the police and they arrive to the scene of the 'crime' are incredibly written and pulled on my heart-strings the way few stories have in a long time. It was gut-wrenching sadness and happiness at once; a strange combination. I want to tell everyone that reads to get a copy of this; I want to yell from a mountain top with a bull horn, it's just that damn good!

3 people found this helpful

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Brennan LaFaro

This is how you write coming-of-age

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2020

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I have a lot of Lutzke left to read, but this is far from my first. If I’m honest, I’ve kind of been saving this one. It seems to hold a special place in the hearts of all Chad’s diehard readers. Now I get to count myself among the lucky ones who know why.

As is his modus operandi, Chad Lutzke trims anything resembling fat from the beginning of the story and drops us right into the story. Denny is a twelve year old boy whose mom is barely there. The book has quite a bit to say about alcohol addiction, all of it relevant and poignant. Denny wakes one day to find that his mother has passed away. Instead of immediately seeking help, Denny thinks of all the ways this could derail his plans for the upcoming spelling bee, and chooses to simply...ignore it.

What follows is the story of a young boy coming to terms with the life he has lead up to this point, and what his life will be going forward. Lutzke’s gift for creating compelling characters has us wanting to take Denny under our wing from page one, and as a result, invests us in every decision he makes, no matter how trivial it might seem.

One of my favorite parts of the story were Denny’s interactions with Sam, and the role she plays in his journey, however direct or indirect you look at it. The emotional climax of the story is stunning, and I can only imagine what it must have been like for readers that had no inkling of what this author could do with 150 pages before they picked up Of Fosters Homes and Flies.

This book should be required reading. Feel free to fight me over it.

4 people found this helpful

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Scott E. High

Loneliness Can Be A Powerful Motivator

Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2020

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This is the second novella I've read written by Chad Lutzke. The first one was "Stirring The Sheets", a story of an older funeral home worker who has lost his wife and now has to decide whether to wallow in self pity or look forward instead of backward. And I would probably read more of this author's books if they were lengthier. While Mr. Lutzke gives you enough detail to make his stories work, I appreciate longer narratives with more history and detail. I'm just not a short story kind of guy.

On the other hand, Mr. Lutzke knows how to tell a story, mixing major "coming of age "plots with all the pitfalls and potential benefits that can result from confronting serious issues. Growing up as a sole child in a one parent household, who happens to be an abusive and alcoholic mother, allows this latchkey kid to learn how to take care of himself at an early age. Not only that but he is forced to confront serious personal issues, including his own lack of confidence and the fear of being placed in a foster home.

While loneliness is not a typical preferred state, it does provide time (without interference) for self-analysis and planning for some "what if" scenarios. Having one or two persons in your life that you can periodically bounce some ideas off is certainly beneficial, but it is totally different than having someone in your household constantly telling you that you're worthless and will never amount to anything. Especially when you discover that your mother wishes that you were never born in the first place.

This is a story interspersed with love, logic, and personal tragedy. Loneliness is a major theme but the positive aspects of it win out in the end. Otherwise this would be a totally depressing story.

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

A sleeper

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2023

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I read the reviews and almost didn't read the book. I did however select it and was very impressed with the story, the emotions and the characters. It's a quick read but a good one.
I'll leave it at that....read the book!

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Top reviews from other countries

J

Wonderful coming-of-age novel

Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2019

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I truly didn't know what to expect when I bought this. The odd cover and the title caught my attention so I thought I would give it a try. I'm glad I chose it. It's very moving, and the main character is really well-developed. It reminded of Boy's Life and They Cage the Animals at Night.

One person found this helpful

Joyfalula

An emotional but very worthwhile read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2017

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Of Foster Homes and flies is a moving and at times horrifying story about 12 year old Denny who finds his alcoholic mother dead one morning and basically does nothing about it.
Denny continues his day to day routine, preparing for the upcoming spelling bee at school and hangs out with his friend; all the while telling no one about his mothers death. Back at home, his mother’s body is swiftly decomposing in the sweltering Louisiana heat and Denny comes up with various ideas for dealing with the putrid smell and grotesque sight of the decaying body. The book sounds horrific but to me the most traumatising aspects were hearing about the abuse Denny had suffered prior to his mother’s death and then having to desperately try to deal with the aftermath, not to mention Denny’s epic struggle just trying to take care of himself. Out of the 50+ books I’ve read over the last year, only 3 made me cry, and this was one of them. I’m talking genuine, blub in public tears. This book moved me, the writing was spot on and I truly felt for little Denny.

Coley Doodle

Good concept!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 4, 2022

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If you’re looking for an extremely easy, quick “horror” read then this is for you.
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Slightly creepy. Not exactly “horror” scary. Kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this one!
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As much as this was a fiction book, it gave (what I would assume and imagine) to be a very accurate way of portraying how trauma can impact someone, especially a child. The fact that his mother is dead yet he admits to not caring was a shock and learning point for me. The neglect and abuse he experienced at the hands of his mother as well as her dangerous drinking habits, he feels like he lost her long before she actually died.

BookEater

My mistake. This is beautiful prose

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2024

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I first wrote a one star review because I had to cease reading because of a scene concerning a dog which upset me.
I pushed through my discomfort to continue with the book and I’m so glad I did.
It’s a beautiful story or lonesome longing and living.

Josee L.

A horrific coming of age story

Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2018

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I enjoyed this well written coming of age story and really felt for Denny because of the horrors he had to endure. I highly recommend this novella!

One person found this helpful