In The Adventures of Uncle Billy and Ross, Solon Phillips has conjured a magical world that speaks to young people and adults alike. Mind you, this is no swashbuckler. These adventures are not those of an urban Peter Pan, flying through the air and battling pirates. These are the adventures of life, real life. Thirteen-year-old Ross Miller, an only child being raised by his mom in a tough city neighborhood, and his retired Uncle Billy come together each day after school. That might seem prosaic. But as these two engage head-on the issues and concerns of a boy coming of age, it is quite an adventure. They slay the dragons of what it means to feel poor and to have your name dragged in the mud. They take on the quests of taking control of your world just by using your own thoughts, choosing your friends wisely, transforming a situation by transforming your attitude, and more.
And they manage all this right in Uncle Billy's living room. That's what makes this book a tour de force; it deals with the everyday elements of our world. Phillips weaves a realistic dialogue between this wise man and this man-to-be; they laugh, they fight, they care, they love. They share a full range of emotions. They are you and me. And in each thoughtful chapter, another adventure helps Ross (and you and me) grow and deepen. Children of all ages who join this duo will have fun and mature at the same time. Through their adventures, Uncle Billy and Ross really do make life lessons simple.
---John T. Salatti
