Standing at the Scratch Line

I couldn't put the book down. The ending left me wanting more. I read the booking thinking that it was the first written by Guy Johnson, only to discover that this book was written after echoes of a distant summer to better understand the King Tremain character. My bookclub actually changed the scheduled reading so that we could read echoes as our next book.

I found this book to be exciting from start to finish. The story starts in Louisiana where "King" Tremain is still a teenager and goes with his favorite uncle on a raid of the hated DuMont property. The situation goes bad and young Tremain has to leave town to avoid certain death. Tremain joins the army and this is just the beginning. His adventures leads the reader through France, Germany, to New York, back to Louisiana, to Oklahoma, again to Louisiana and finally San Fransico. Tremain is a hard, determined man who is a highly skilled fighter who is no stranger to violence and death. However, he does have a strict moral code, and is a staunch believer in family and loyalty. Despite how he is able to evade death and serious harm throughout the book when it comes to dealing with his enemies, the same cannot be said for Tremain's family life. In some ways Tremain's family problems are a result of the way he deals with the his enemies. If you are the type of person who enjoys action adventures, where the hero overcomes all odds to right wrongs, etc. then this book is definitely for you.

Great book! I read it to my husband! Please include a Character Index in the next printing! At the Scratch Line will make at least three movies! I see my Dad and my father-in-law in King Tremaine. I can hardly wait to see a film version - would you consider Spike Lee? Hope to see you, Guy, in Detroit, soon! Ami D.

In King Tremain, Guy Johnson has created the kind of character that Hollywood has traditional been afraid of protraying! Tremain is a strong, confident Black man who does not need nor seek the approval of whites. In fact he has no qualms in killing them to protect his family and community. Tremain is a man committed to the uplift of his people in general and his family in particular. He will let no man, white or black stand in his way! I reccomend this book to anyone who wants to better understand the conditions that black people had to struggle under in this country. It is truly amazing that we have come as far as we have considering the unrelenting physical and pyschological violence commited daily against our ancestors! I especially recommend this book to young people, both Black and White, to help them understand the shameful history that still divides this country.As an African I take my hat off to Mr. Johnson; he has created a character and a story of epic proprotions! This is a story that truly needs to be told. I can't wait for the sequel!

I was hesitant to even pick up this book, yet alone read it...the cover doesn't do the contents justice. So glad am I that I decided to open the cover and read the synopsis. After that, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to have it and from beginning to the end I simply could not put it down. It was the best read and I simply could not believe that this was Guy Johnson's first work of non-fiction material. I have raved about this book to all my male friends...it simply is required reading for all African-American males. It instilled in me such a sense of pride...King Tremain does unto White Americans what they have long done to us without retribution! Finally, some payback! Alas, too bad that King Tremain is only a fictional character! If this book is not movie material, what is?