Darkstroke

Labor Day

Labor Day book cover
LD
Fiction Romance Fiction Young Adult Chick-lit

by Joyce Maynard

starstarstarstar_halfstar
3.55 (23K ratings)
calendar_today 2009
description 244 pages

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard holds a well received rating of 3.55 out of 5, based on 23K reader ratings. First published in 2009. The book spans 244 pages.

About Labor Day

With the end of summer closing in and a steamy Labor Day weekend looming in the town of Holton Mills, New Hampshire, thirteen-year-old Henry—lonely, friendless, not too good at sports—spends most of his time watching television, reading, and daydreaming about the soft skin and budding bodies of his female classmates. For company Henry has his long-divorced mother, Adele—a onetime dancer whose summer project was to teach him how to foxtrot; his hamster, Joe; and awkward Saturday-night outings to Friendly's with his estranged father and new stepfamily. As much as he tries, Henry knows that even with his jokes and his "Husband for a Day" coupon, he still can't make his emotionally fragile mother happy. Adele has a secret that makes it hard for her to leave their house, and seems to possess an irreparably broken heart.But all that changes on the Thursday before Labor Day, when a mysterious bleeding man named Frank approaches Henry and asks for a hand. Over the next five days, Henry will learn some of life's most valuable lessons: how to throw a baseball, the secret to perfect piecrust, the breathless pain of jealousy, the power of betrayal, and the importance of putting others—especially those we love—above ourselves. And the knowledge that real love is worth waiting for.In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonement and Nick Hornby's About a Boy, acclaimed author Joyce Maynard weaves a beautiful, poignant tale of love, sex, adolescence, and devastating treachery as seen through the eyes of a young teenage boy—and the man he later becomes—looking back at an unexpected encounter that begins one single long, hot, life-altering weekend.

Detail Value
Author Joyce Maynard
Published 2009
Pages 244
Genres Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult, Chick-lit
Average Rating 3.55 / 5.00
Total Ratings 23,043

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

3.6
starstarstarstar_halfstar
23K ratings
With a rating of 3.55, Labor Day is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs below the genre benchmark.

How It Compares

3.55
This Book
3.99
Romance Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is Labor Day?

Labor Day is categorized as Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult. Its primary genre classification is Romance.

Is Labor Day worth reading?

Based on 23K reader ratings, Labor Day has an average score of 3.55 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."

How many pages is Labor Day?

Labor Day has 244 pages.

Who wrote Labor Day?

Labor Day was written by Joyce Maynard. It was first published in 2009.

What is the ISBN for Labor Day?

The ISBN-13 for Labor Day is 9780061843400.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026