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(as of Nov 02, 2024 20:21:29 UTC – Details)
A dazzling debut novel – at once a charming romance, a hilarious crime caper, and a moving coming-of-age story – about what happens when a 14-year-old boy pretends to seduce a girl to steal a copy of Playboy but then discovers she is his computer-loving soul mate.
Billy Marvin’s first love was a computer. Then he met Mary Zelinsky.
Do you remember your first love?
The Impossible Fortress begins with a magazine. The year is 1987, and Playboy has just published scandalous photographs of Vanna White, from the popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune. For three teenage boys – Billy, Alf, and Clark – who are desperately uneducated in the ways of women, the magazine is somewhat of a Holy Grail: priceless beyond measure and impossible to attain. So, they hatch a plan to steal it.
The heist will be fraught with peril: a locked building, intrepid police officers, rusty fire escapes, leaps across rooftops, electronic alarm systems, and a hyperactive Shih Tzu named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Failed attempt after failed attempt leads them to a genius master plan – they’ll swipe the security code to Zelinsky’s convenience store by seducing the owner’s daughter, Mary Zelinsky. It becomes Billy’s mission to befriend her and get the information by any means necessary. But Mary isn’t your average teenage girl. She’s a computer loving expert coder, already strides ahead of Billy in ability, with a wry sense of humor and a hidden big heart. But what starts as a game to win Mary’s affection leaves Billy with a gut-wrenching choice: deceive the girl who may well be his first love or break a promise to his best friends.
At its heart, The Impossible Fortress is a tender exploration of young love, true friends, and the confusing realities of male adolescence – with a dash of old-school computer programming.
Customers say
Customers find the book enjoyable, entertaining, and fun. They describe the storyline as cute, nostalgic, and a classic coming-of-age tale. Readers praise the writing style as clear, concise, and well-composed. They also find the characters compelling and connect emotionally with them. They mention the pacing is fast and the ending is just right. Opinions differ on the plot twists, with some finding them unexpected and surprising, while others say they’re forced and unbelievable.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
