Wound Too Tight

A Novel by TJ Perkins

ISBN # 1-59129-539-4
115 pp at 16.95 paperback
Publish America
PO Box 151
Frederick MD 21705-0151

 

You know, I need to rethink this whole stigma that I have about books for young readers. This is the second one that I have read that has surprised me by being as well written and as engrossing as any book geared for adults that has crossed my desk.

“Wound Too Tight’ is the captivating tale of 6 young boys and their discovery of lost pirate treasure. While that might sound as much of a tried old formula as an ancient Indian burial ground, author T.J. Perkins has mixed in enough magic and adventure to leave a reader spellbound. The treasure of Simon de Cruel (love that name) at first seems like a godsend to Shawn, Steve, Jay, Bobby, Carl, and Rick, but is quickly becomes more than they bargained for with the winding of an old watch discovered in one of the chests.

As his friends start disappearing one by one, Shawn discovers that the watch is cursed, that by it ticking it has returned the pirate de Cruel to life, and he is not ready to give that up. De Cruel takes Shawn’s friends and turns them into mindless crewmembers for his ship, pirate zombies if you will (my name, not hers) and it is up to Shawn to not only rescue his friends, but also see that de Cruel is stopped.

If there is some magic to writing a children’s book that is filled with adventure and excitement, Ms. Perkins has certainly found the proper spell. Her characters are kids; they interacted as I expected boys to do, and their dialogue never once sounded like it was the words of an adult trying to sound like a child. I’m sure you have read work like that-either the writer writes so far down to his audience that a ten year old sounds like a five, or they place fake hip slang that hasn’t been used since they were a child themselves. Her kids in this book are just that-kids. Refreshingly, the adults are neither played as buffoons or as staunch authorities, but as adults from a child’s perspective.

Let me just say this as simply as I can, read this book, but most importantly, let your children read it. And if you don’t have any, well, get one of the neighbor’s kids and read it with them. The entire family can enjoy this book with no qualms or misgivings, kudos to Ms. Perkins. Now, maybe when I’m looking for a book to read (once I get caught up on all the ones I have to review), I might just wander over to the kids section of the store and be surprised by what I find.