In the 1950s, growing up took place outside, with new suburban neighborhoods as the backdrop. One group of boys led by “Cowboy” filled their summer days with games and explored the outskirts of their neighborhood, leading them to the haunted house that would serve as a hideout for years.As the boys grew, many things changed, but not their friendship. They traded in their toy guns for bottles of beer, as experimentation became the new game. The pranks never ceased, even for their poor, unassuming dates. As the saying goes: boys will be boys.However, Cowboy and his friends can't escape the realities of life forever. Tragedy strikes, and the lives of these friends will never be the same. In Three Whistles, author Tim Soyars captures the timeless truths of growing up in a coming-of-age tale that will leave its mark on the reader. The seemingly mundane days of Cowboy and his friends are recounted with a sense of nostalgia, a nostalgia that becomes painfully interwoven with heartache.