"Ham Loaf Hawaiian by Pete Pellissier is a perfect treasury and combination of story after story....The book is a funny and delightful read... Ham Loaf Hawaiian has universal appeal...and has everything that any reader could want in a book."

BooksandAuthors.net, May 10, 2005

"Ham Loaf Hawaiian is hilarious and I am convinced that it will be a screaming success!  I've become enamoured with the characters and the stories whisked me back to my own childhood. Charming, naturally told, and delightful!! Well done, Peter. Well done!"  

Aaron Paul Lazar, author of Double Forte'

"...a nostalgic look at a happy childhood, with stories that make readers laugh and remember their own bygone days."

York, Pennsylvania Sunday News, March 20, 2005

"Ham Loaf Hawaiian is a delightful romp through the author’s childhood in central Pennsylvania from 1962-72.   Set in an era when kids actually played outdoors after school and weren’t glued to their computers or satellite TVs, this hilarious collection of colorful stories spans Mr. Pellissier’s early boyhood exploits, many of which take place in a Catholic elementary school.  The rules were clear and simple.  Parents and teachers were respected and rarely challenged.  Kids obeyed, but frequently got into light-hearted mischief. 

Ham Loaf Hawaiian, the catchy title, is based on one of the funniest and most endearing stories in the collection. Seven-year-old Pete and his brother attempt to cook a special meal for Mother’s Day using The Betty Crocker Kid’s Cookbook.  The boys earnestly try to interpret the recipes, prepare the main course, and attempt to bake a cake that ends up a soggy, concave mess, much to the “delight” of their parents, who lovingly partake of the meal.  From realistic descriptions of “dirt-bomb” fights to young Pete’s first love, Mr. Pellissier doesn’t hold back.  A refreshing sense of gritty reality comes through in his work, unfettered by political correctness of contemporary times. 

Mr. Pellissier’s writing is free-flowing and easy to read.  The dialogue is natural and unvarnished.  The stories have a universal appeal that will attract a broad range of audiences – from young to old.  The baby boomers will recall their own adventures as they sit back and laugh along with Pete and his pals.  Adolescents will be fascinated that their parents and grandparents discovered such innovative ways to enjoy life – minus the hollow, soul-deadening influences of Instant Messaging and grisly video games.  Whether it’s sliding on odiferous patches of sawdust in the long hallways of his school, holding “sock ball” tournaments at recess, or camping out with the Boy Scouts for the first time, readers will find this collection of stories charming and will beg for more."   

Aaron Paul Lazar

Author of the LeGarde Mystery series

 www.legardemysteries.com