BOOK REVIEW: Frog Boy by Carolyn S. Blevins

Frog Boy

Author: Carolyn S. Blevins

Genre: Children's Fiction / Middle-Grade / Paranormal Adventure

Book Description:

Armed with Pete the frog and Buck his shaggy mutt, Frog Boy sets out for a day of frog-catchin' at the creek.But his adventure takes a surprise turn when he spies Old Man Harris, a man long thought to be dead. Eleven-year-old Frog Boy just wants to catch frogs but seein' the old man diggin'' a big ole hole leads to trouble. Old Man Harris snatches Frog Boy to keep him quiet. Now livin' in a gross shack with only Pete to keep him company 'cause Buck had run home, Frog Boy must hatch a plan to escape the clutches of Old Man Harris. But it becomes more complicated when he meets a mystifyin' lady in the woods.What was Old Man Harris buryin'? Will Frog Boy sneak away from the shack? And how can he defeat Old Man Harris? Frog Boy is a story of resilience flavored with a Southern style that shows how a family and a town work together for justice.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

11-year-old "Frog Boy" Tommy heads out one day with his pet frog Pete and his dog Ole Buck to catch some frogs at the creek but ends up in a right pickle when he crosses path with Old Man Harris, a man long thought to be dead. Curiosity getting the better of him, Tommy decides to follow Old Man Harris and spies on him digging a large hole. When he's caught and kidnapped by Old Man Harris, his only help is in the form of a mysterious lady named Katy, who just so happens to a ghost, having been brutally murdered by Old Man Harris. Can Tommy escape and unveil the truth or will he meet the same fate as Katy? With his best friend Hal, Hal's brother Billy and Tommy's grandmother teaming up for the challenge, anything could happen.

I wasn't expecting to like the story as much as I did, but it was a jolly good read indeed. Tommy is a brilliant character. He's very likeable and makes you want to go on an adventure with him. He made me feel like a kid again. I absolutely loved the deep Southern dialect. It was very fitting and transported me to Tommy's reality. Catching frogs is a strange hobby, but hey, to each his own. I mean, I collect mugs, so no judgements here. A good ensemble of characters who had their own quirky personalities. Tommy spoke like an eleven year old, behaved like an eleven year old, so I thought the characterisation was great. Underneath all the adventure and mystery, there's a weighty story buried within the pages and that's the sad tragedy of Katy's murder. I liked how the author handled this tragedy and how the burden of Katy's story didn't overshadow the fun and youthful aspect of the story. Beneath the sadness was a sense of justice, and it was down to Tommy's perseverance.

I really enjoyed the story. I thought the story went on a little longer than was necessary, and the illustrations, while they were cute, didn’t do much for me in the way of inciting emotions. All the same, it was a fun journey.

VERDICT:

GOLD

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Courtesy of Author