Baby Boomer website I Remember JFK reviews East Bench. Open it up and scroll down the front page!

The Roanoke Times published an article on November 13, 2009 of the book East Bench. Read it here for the first time!

Classmates team up to write coming-of-age novel – Roanoke.com

East Bench was partly inspired by my Newsweek essay titled “When I Met You” published in 2007. Read it here!

‘Leap’ Contest Winners | Newsweek Boomer Files | Newsweek.com

“This refreshingly funny coming of age story is a ‘must-read’ for the Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling fan. Professional and amateur musicians, their friends and family will howl with delight. The brothers Potter start with nothing but innocence to overcome barriers to creating magic with their music. Beautifully written with countless inspired moments, East Bench is sure to become a classic for young adults and Baby Boomers alike.”

-Russell Salamon
Published Poet and teacher

“A charming, hilarious, often heartbreaking coming-of-age tale, told from a lower middle class twelve year old’s viewpoint.  The characters are unique—frightening and endearing at the same time, an instant classic for young adults and adults alike. I couldn’t put it down!”

-Willow Jaffe-Bellotti
Author of the upcoming novel,
Skylight—Confessions of a Vampire Housewife

“Witty, fun, a trip down memory lane…” East Bench is a warm hearted and clever look into the muddled life of a strapped, yet very colorful catholic family living in the heart of 1960’s Salt Lake City. It takes you back to a time where kids learned to creatively improvise with whatever was on hand. Sometimes the endeavors were successful… Sometimes they were not. Either way, East Bench is sure to capture your heart and have you routing for the boys and the fulfillment of their dreams.

- Betty Fritz, Los Angeles

“It is rare that I read a book that makes me laugh out loud but East Bench did. Jim Potter’s insights into human behavior and motivations caught me off guard more than once! It was fun to remember my own experiences from that part of my youth, and I have old Beatles tunes in my head all the time now. East Bench is more than just pure fun, there’s intrigue and a bit of history. It gave me a few things to think about.”

- D. Wiseman, Roanoke, Virginia

For anyone who experienced adolescence during the mid-sixties, who remembers the excitement of Beatlemania, and who ever even dreamed of being in a rock and roll band, East Bench is a delightful journey into the collective experiences that we share. And for those of us who spent our childhood in Salt Lake City, the story reminds us of the culture, landmarks, and prevailing attitudes of the setting of our youth. Author, James Potter allows his readers a glimpse of the world through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old child and artfully recreates the innocence of youth and the optimistic feeling shared by only the young at heart; that if we wish hard enough, persevere, and pray just a little, our dreams can come true. East Bench is nostalgically entertaining. I couldn’t put it down.

Linda L. Morgan, Salt Lake City, UT