Title: Freakout
Author: Lillian Gardner
Review: I am
not really sure what to write about this book.
It is supposed to be a book for young people but the theme of the book
is not something I would want to have my children or in my case, grandchildren,
reading or thinking about.
It delves into the supernatural, which can make a very good story, but
not in this case, the plot, if there is one, is too confusing, it seems to be
lacking any real point to the story.
There is no real development of the characters, no hero or heroines,
everyone seems to just be there taking up space. We never really get to know them very well so
that we can have feelings for them and understand the plight they find
themselves in. The language is a bit
stilted and a few of the facts are wrong, Toucans are not extinct and that could
also be a bit confusing to a young reader.
The best I can say for this book, it was clean, no foul language, but no
interesting used language either.
Character development is missing totally from this book and is badly
needed. I found myself getting lost as
to who the hero was supposed to be, was it Glenda’s son? But then it jumps to
his mother by way of a bird which the cat tries to attack to protect the boy,
so does the cat become the hero? The father rather drifts in and out but comes
off a little stronger at the end of the book.
There were characters that did not further the plot, such as it is,
namely David and the older sister who rather cluttered the story causing the
reader to lose track of what little storyline there is.
The book needs more time to develop into a real story. A bit more work might develop it into a book
worth reading or perhaps it would be best to toss it out and start all over
again with a stronger story line, some type of a theme maybe of good and evil,
right verses wrong, a lesson to be learned by young readers.
A hero is needed, there is a
villain but with the wedding gown and his hideout it reminds me a bit of
Phantom of the Opera when he takes Christine down to his dungeon and she sees
the wedding gown, not a good correlation or snatch.
I think perhaps it would be best to dump this story and start over again,
at the end of the book is another one Lillian has started writing, it looks
rather interesting, keep up the good work, nothing is achieved without trying!
Thank you Eileen for this review.
Published: Lilian J. Gardner (July 11, 2012)
ISBN: B008KGBZL4
Copyright: 1995
Pages: Kindle Edition
Quick Review: 2 stars (for potential)
stars (out of 5)
Where I Obtained
the Book: Sent by the author
for review.
Synopsis: The ordinary life of the Scott family tips
off balance when a big, black bird flies into the garden and repeats that it is
'Abe.
The too-curious family cat, Joshua, will be its first victim. From this
moment on, Abe will be an elusive, overshadowing presence in their life; but
who, or what, is really Abe?
This is an engaging story that rapidly builds up to reveal a twisted
character and an ‘unguessable’ finale.
Author
Biography:
Lilian J. Gardner was
born in British India, and moved to South Africa after her marriage. At present
she is living in a town near Venice, Italy, where she does voluntary teaching
in State Schools, to Elementary and Middle school immigrant students, to bring
them up to class level. Her pastimes are writing any genre of fiction, fantasy,
song lyrics and listening to people’s life stories. She has decided to share
her stories by publishing them on the Internet. Her husband is an ex-fighter
pilot and enjoys cooking and playing piano. They both love cats, gourmet
tourism and entertaining.
Contacts:
Twitter: @LilianWrites
Other Review:
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