Title: The Bond
Author: Manuel Pelaez
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-164803185
Pages: 44
Genre: Fiction / Fantasy
Reviewed by: Nicole Olson
Hollywood Book Reviews
A coming of age story suited for young and old alike – The Bond by author Manuel Pelaez tells a marvelous tale of a boy with a special friend. Jeremy is a young boy trying to get noticed in California. His mom works in the talent industry and takes him to and from auditions nearly every day. While she offers encouragement and advice – Jeremy storms away to his room when they return home. Jeremy feels lost, incapable and misunderstood by everyone except his Blue Throat Tigerfish, Finn. This is no ordinary fish – he listens to Jeremy’s problems and even responds by nodding his head yes and no.
Not only does Jeremy feel like a failure because he cannot land a role or get noticed by a talent scout – he must navigate the hardship for growing up with parents who are separated. Though they are very close friends – Raymond and Carole are no longer together. In a coming of age story like Jeremy’s, parents play a large role. Since their home is incomplete – Jeremy must turn to his friend Finn to have connection and companionship.
Pelaez adds wonder and excitement to the typical coming of age story with Finn’s legendary history. Not only was he owned by a Great Samurai – he has his own magical properties as well. Finn turns The Bond into a saga, an adventure full of fantastic elements under the sea. With Finn’s help Jeremy finally finds where he belongs.
The narrator of The Bond speaks to the audience as if he was talking on a stage. Pelaez uses long and broken up sentences that makes the writing read like a theatrical performance. The narrator describes Jeremy’s experience in a believable way – it does not take long for the reader to feel as if they understand Jeremy perhaps even more than his parents do. What I like about this book is that even though it is a coming of age story, it does not touch taboo subjects such as sex and drugs. The characters speak with clean and polite language. Though Jeremy is troubled – he is a very grateful and well-mannered young person.
Pelaez draws on Japanese heritage and culture in his story The Bond. Readers can come away from this book learning more about Japanese legends and literary tropes. Jeremy is a first generation Japanese American and his experience can resonate with children of immigrants of any culture.