A Mighty Wall (Flux, 2009)
Gravity always wins in the end…sometimes gradually, sometimes with an avalanche. A lifelong climber, seventeen-year-old Jordan Woods spends as much time as possible at the gym or the crags near his home north of Seattle. He’s a bit of a pipsqueak – a buck-forty with satellite dish ears – but he’s got a solid hold on happiness…for a while.
“(Foley) maintains a quick pace, the descriptions of climbing are good, and the portrayal of high school life with a strong outside interest is enhanced by detailed descriptions of specific locales, crags, and routes…brings to mind Terry Davis’s Vision Quest…Teens will likely find this book sobering and thought provoking.”–Joel Shoemaker, for School Library Journal
“An engaging and reassuring story about friendship, love and loss, family, the importance of following one’s heart, and truly living in the present moment.”–Bill Sherwonit, author of To the Top of Denali and Living With Wildness: An Alaskan Odyssey
“A sensitive coming-of-age drama — with plenty of exciting rock climbing…the authenticity carries over to Foley’s characters…”–Booklist
Hoops of Steel (Flux, 2007)
In this novel a young basketball player struggles with family dysfunction.
Review
Sure there’s basketball action inside this book-and it’s convincing and exciting. But there is so much more. Jackson O’Connell is fully-realized character, tied to family, friends, and school. His eyes are on his future, but he’s been marked by his past. John Foley’s Hoops of Steel is terrific and deserves a wide audience.
-Carl Deuker, Author of Night Hoops and On the Devil’s Court
Hoops of Steel is a winner in every way. The first-person narration is spot-on; completely matter-of-fact yet insightful at the same time, with a healthy dose of humor thrown in. In keeping with the down-to-earth tone, serious themes (such as racism) are treated so calmly that all the fuss seems like no big deal. Author John Foley’s love of basketball permeates the book, but so does his love of teaching and learning, and his impressive understanding of human nature comes through, especially in the original and believable characters. In the same way as school movies Dead Poets Society and The History Boys, this novel will touch and inspire readers–and teachers–of all ages.–Marla Arbach, Young Adult Central
Candid, witty, and full of angst. . . . Crisp dialogue, and an assertive but reflective narrator will attract teen readers.–School Library Journal
Running With the Wind (Flux, 2007)
A sequel to Hoops, involving the protagonist learning to love sailing and the sea.
Review
Running with the Wind provides a powerful and honest approach to coping with life’s difficulties. Many teens will relate to Jackson’s struggles with self-doubt and the choices he needs to make. The book teaches a powerful lesson on the importance of self-reliance and finding one’s dreams.
–School Library Journal
Tundra Teacher (Epicenter Press, Kenmore, WA, 2003)
This is a memoir about teaching in Native Alaska villages
Review
Becoming a schoolteacher in a remote Eskimo village on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea is not what John Foley imagined. He finds out what it’s like to be in the racial minority. His wife feels isolated, lost, and unhappy; eventually they divorce. Thus, Foley tells his story. He speaks candidly about relationships, students, teachers, and village life. Using humor and insight in his difficult teaching situations, he writes about what many teachers face: a lack of self-confidence, frustration, and heart-breaking reality.
-NEA Today
(Foley) writes with a flow and clarity that carry the reader along, effortless and entertaining.
–Shana Loshbaugh, Kenai Peninsula Clarion