"A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle" - Father James Keller


Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Author LM Preston Reviews "The Child Thief" by BROM





Author Name: BROM
Book Title: The Child Thief
Book Blurb:
Peter is quick, daring, and full of mischief—and like all boys, he loves to play, though his games often end in blood. His eyes are sparkling gold, and when he graces you with his smile you are his friend for life. He appears to lonely, lost children—the broken, hopeless, and sexually abused—promising to take them to a secret place of great adventure, where magic is alive, and you never grow old. But his promised land is not Neverland. . . . 
Book Length: 483
Publisher : Harper Collins

Book Review: (4 out of 5 stars)
Brom’s, THE CHILD THIEF, is a remake of the epic tale of Peter Pan.  It’s a dark tale bought to modern day, and delves into the hidden or lightly touched on sinister plot of the tale of Peter Pan.
I picked this book up because the artwork on the cover intrigued me.  It was hauntingly beautiful.  The boy on the cover enchanted me and innerved me at the same time.  When I opened the cover to read the excerpt – I couldn’t put it down.  So, I scooped it up and took it home, and fought with my husband to read it first.
Peter Pan was one of my favorite fairy tales when I was younger, and even today I replay the movie even when my kids aren’t there to watch it with me.  The Disney versions of Peter Pan (there were 2 versions, the cartoon and the full length movie) showed the tale as a sort of love story with Peter and Wendy.  Yet, I always thought there was something dark about Peter, Neverland, and those Pirates.
Brom’s THE CHILD THIEF digs into the darker aspect of why would any kid want to go away and never grow up.  Peter’s darker side, the side that made him desire to steal kids away to come to a land where they were in danger of death or worse.  Lastly, whatever became of the ‘lost boys or girls’ that followed Peter?  What made those kids so vicious?
From the moment I read the first chapter I was captured, Peter unfolds as a complex likeable character that is also sinister.  See, Peter needs the kids just as much as they believe they need him.  He purposely selects his victims, stalks them actually.  Peter needs kids that are strong, have nothing to lose and that he can train to fight in the war that is waging in Neverland.
This book has a lot of violence, and is not for kids to read.  The violence has reason and the characters have depth.  The only reason I gave it less than 5 stars was because I cried near the end.  See I prefer happier endings..  The ending of this tale is good and fitting for the tale.  I just wanted a different outcome.



Reviewed By: 
LM Preston 

Writing stories for and about kids that overcome the impossible...

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In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, Kiki Howell of An Author's Musings, would like to advise that in addition to purchasing my own books to review, I also receive books, and/or promotional materials, free of charge in return for an honest review, as do any guest reviewers.