by Rita Klundt

It’s been a long, long time since I was required to do a book report, so I may have forgotten some of the rules. Teachers often had unique requests, but they always instructed, “Put your name at the top of the page.” I remembered!

I started this book on Memorial Day and expected it to last through the full three months of summer. I finished it in half that time. It was that good. The author used the entire first chapter as an introduction. I suppose he might have thought readers would skip over it if he called it what is was. I probably would have. I went back and skimmed the first chapter after reading the last, and now it’s clear how his introduction was so important he didn’t want us to miss it.

Chapter 2 is where the action really begins. A good sized crowd is gathered for a holiday, a Memorial Day of sorts. A huge wind storm dropped out of the sky, kind of freakish-like, and everybody got excited. They all started talking at once. For sure, it was the strangest storm they had ever experienced. Not only could they hear each other through the noise, they knew what each other was saying. It was such a funny site. People who were close enough to see, without being in the storm, laughed and thought they were stirring up all the dust because they were drunk.

Then a man named Pete (a big part, but not really the main character of the book) mesmerized the crowd with his explanation of what had been happening. He warned them that they’d been getting a lot of things wrong. They’d been remembering the past and counting on the day when life as they knew it would be better. It was a hard life for them. Their country, and even the world, was being ruled by self-serving and evil men.

Pete reminded them of what they should have already known, and told them what needed to be done if they were to survive. He was surprised by his own words. The storm had really shaken him. That Pete would get up and confront a big crowd was not a shock. He was a rowdy and forceful man’s man. But that he could deliver such a powerful, yet eloquent speech had everyone wondering.

In Chapters 3 and 4, Pete runs around town getting mouthy. He practically causes a riot. Along with his friend, John, he’s got a peaceful campaign for change going on. Some politicians and other important people get all upset. The whole stage is set for a huge conflict between these rival gangs: Two uneducated rebel rousers, with their gang, and a powerful group of men, determined to maintain their status quo, with their gang.

You get the idea that it’s mostly Pete, but his friend John is a co-conspirator and the two of them get arrested. Then they get released. A faulty arrest…and no proof. You’d think the leader of the rival gang would leave them alone, but no. If ever there was a story that pits the hard-working, good and common citizen, against the system, this is it.

I hope it doesn’t ruin the read for you if I tell you that the guy who leads the gang against Pete and John kills one of their best friends. The murder goes unpunished because it was a mob type killing, and they couldn’t arrest and convict half the town, or there wouldn’t have been a town.

This is a book report, so I’m not supposed to give away the plot twists, but I think you’ll still enjoy the read if I tell you that the leader of the gang who killed Pete and John’s friend is confronted and overtaken by the hero. I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you how. But the guy does a complete turnaround. I actually started to like his character after that scene. That chapter alone is worth reading the whole book.

The rest of the chapters take you from one horribly unfair circumstance to another. The writer is a natural born storyteller with a supernatural flair. He has you reeling in anguish over the hero, who never actually appears in person throughout the entire book. Same way with the villain. I’ve never read a story like it! He knows how to insert one of those warm, fuzzy, mysterious moments at just the right time. Let’s you catch your breath, and then better than a roller coaster, someone is breaking out of jail and another guy is about to commit suicide.

There aren’t a lot of female characters in the book, but one or two of them stands out. A woman named Pricilla dropped dead—no reason, other than she told a lie. I guess her heart just stopped. Pinocchio got off easy. (Ha Ha).

I’m telling you, this book was written by a pro. As a writer myself, I think it ought to be used as a textbook for journalists. It’s got everything it takes to be a best selling novel. I may have to read it again next summer, just to glean more writing tips.

Chapter 28, the final chapter, leaves readers at an amazing cliffhanger. It looks like everyone is safe, but there are rumblings that the war between the gangs is not over. Did I mention this book is part of a series? Sixty-six books in all. I think I forgot to say the title, and any teacher would take off points for that. Have you read The Acts of the Apostles lately?