Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)
By Madison Salvati
The children that live and grow in this world today have never known what it means to be disconnected from the superficial life that surrounds most of them. In other words all of the distractions that seem to be controlling them have become all they have ever known. John Martin's approach to this sensitive subject is cleverly disguised in only the first few pages of his debut, children's novel. Through the eyes of a twelve-year- old boy , life is all about his little league baseball team and the constant obsession of fitting into the jigsaw puzzle of school.
As life progresses we are forced to make decisions. Now, most of the decisions we make throughout our lifetime are tough. The most important decisions usually are. But it is these small, yet unforgiving decisions that change us and fashion our values and mentality into what they represent today. Ask yourself right this very moment, What would you do if your parents told you that you had to leave these everyday distractions, give up the life you have always known, and sail indefinitely around the entire world? Some may leap triumphantly into the air, salute society goodbye, and embrace the thrill of sailing into the unknown. However, most of us do not possess this kind of adventure-loving, thrill-seeking spark. Who in their right mind would want to give up the comforts of everyday society for nothing but a little boat with sails and freezing cold water? Only those who take that giant leap into the abyss with the confidence to come out alive are brave enough to take on such a larger-than-life expedition. Mr. Martin does just that as he creates a mysterious, page-turning tale about a boy and his dog who are forced from society and into the looming abyss, on a sailboat named Imagine.
Although this book seems to portray the message that adventures are good for the soul and can be the key to discovering yourself, countless other themes are slipped into this piece of literature as well. A message of hope and new beginning is revealed when the Tiller family decides to live in Nova Scotia or when their dog, Rudder, is unexpectedly named a hero and the newest member of the family. Dr. Martin touches only briefly on these beautiful moments and very laconically expresses the benefits of packing up and starting over. However concisely these moments are described, there was failure to dig down deep and define how this twelve year old felt after experiencing such a beautiful adventure. A feeling of wanting more is most definitely prominent by the end of this sea-fairing tale because the feeling of satisfaction was strangely absent.
The young, innocent mind of an adventure-seeking, eleven- year- old will undeniably be filled with joy as Imagine seems to float serenely off the page. Dr. Martin has undoubtedly created wonderful imagery every child enjoys reading about. Mysterious islands in the Atlantic, a heroic dog, and a boy in desperate need of adventure, cunningly bind together this story of new beginnings at the seams.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Tommy Tiller and His Dog Rudder
When 12 year old Tommy Tiller is told he and his family are leaving behind their comfortable Chicago lifestyle for an indefinitely long voyage at sea, he is shocked. Expecting nothing but monotonous days stuck with his annoyingly precocious sister Caroline, Tommy reluctantly sails away into Lake Michigan bound for the Atlantic Ocean on a 46 foot Sloop. He soon discovers, though, that often the most exciting parts of life come with the uncharted territories of the world at large, and that sometimes the greatest lessons come from simple moments with the ones who love us most. A charming tale of self-discovery, open water and a dog that finds his forever home with a boy on a boat called Imagine, "The Sailing Adventures of Tommy Tiller" is bound to captivate the hearts of curious adventurers of all ages.
Click here for more information about Tommy Tiller and His Dog Rudder
0 comments:
Post a Comment