Title: The Boy’s Story: The Legend of Gnat Samson
Author: R. M. Dalton
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media
ISBN: 979-8-88963-603-8
Pages: 256
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Reviewed by: Michaela Gordoni
Hollywood Book Reviews
In The Boy’s Story: The Legend of Gnat Samson, young Samuel is enjoying his peaceful farm life with his loving parents when enemies come and separate them. Samuel becomes a slave to a powerful man. He eventually makes friends among the other slaves, and bides his time, seeking to end his captivity. He soon finds himself on journey after unexpected journey.
I liked how when one journey for Sam ends, another soon begins. It has adventure, and a little romance. I liked the compelling and mysterious cover art as well. In the book, R. M. Dalton tries to make Sam’s life feel real. He doesn’t go into detail when something morbid happens, but he wisely doesn’t sugar-coat things or give everyone a happily ever after. It is also not very clear what time period it is, but it allows the reader freedom to imagine much for themselves. Sam’s character is impossible not to like. He seems like a gentle soul who never gives up, no matter what situation faces him. He always holds onto a glimmer of hope, and his will to see his parents again drives him.
Author R. M. Dalton narrates Sam’s story in first-, second-, and third-person perspective. It is a little unexpected when the perspective shifts, as there is usually nothing to set it apart (italicized text, separated text, or parentheses, etc.) as it is always mixed in a paragraph that is dominantly third person perspective. For example, in the last sentence in a descriptive paragraph the author writes to the reader “…If you think about it, you should be able to find examples enough.” This sentence is also a subtle connotation to things that have happened in the real world, like the injustice enslaving of African nationals which taints many countries’ histories.
Everything about Sam’s story is quite interesting. Truly the only thing The Boy’s Story: The Legend of Gnat Samson lacks is smoother writing mechanics. Some books’ stories can be much better appreciated when read aloud, this is certainly one of them. In this case, the eloquent writing comes to life when it comes out of the lips of the reader, rather than when it stays slightly stagnant on the pages. Overall, this is a wholesome read that any adult or young adult would enjoy.