A Boy Called Duct Tape Book Review by Vicki Vaughn

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A Boy Called Duct Tape Book Tour

Pablo Perez is a 12-year-old poor kid without much going for him. His classmates have dubbed him “Duct Tape” because his tattered discount-store sneakers are held together with…you guessed it, duct tape. He can’t escape the bullying.

Pablo’s luck, however, changes after he finds a $20 gold coin while swimming in a river near his home. Pablo later buys a $1 treasure map at the county fair. The map shows the route to the “lost treasure” of Jesse James. Pablo can’t help but wonder: Is there a link between the map and the gold coin? He is determined to find out, and he, his 9-year-old sister and 13-year-old cousin hire an ill-natured cave guide, and begin a treacherous underground adventure in search of treasure.

Purchase at Amazon.

My Review by Vicki Vaughn

I just finished reading A Boy Called Duct Tape” by Christopher Cloud and could not wait to tell others about it. The book is a delightful adventure and I would encourage upper elementary and middle grade kids to read this. The book keep my interest as an adult,  I smiled, giggled and wondered what was next.

A Boy Called Duct Tape was hard to put down until I was finished. I kept wanting to know what was to follow as the group trudged into a dangerous unknown. All because a stolen $20 gold coin dated 1879 that Pablo found in James Creek while skipping rocks.  The adventure is well written with all sorts of twist and turns, dark places ,eerie sounds, bottomless pits and lots of what next? ..,And “no way Pablo is not going to do that!”…  (Now that is a Good Book).

The characters were described by the author Christopher Cloud , so well that you have a clear picture  of each person by name. Kiki, a cousin that changed from last years visit now having reached puberty almost unrecognizable, and the boys from town, taking long looks at her. Pia, with her small frame and injured leg from an auto accident several years ago and Pablo also known as “Duct Tape” the protective older brother to Pia; growing but not filled out as much as he would like; although, enough to hold his own with other boys his age in the trailer park in Jamesville where they lived. Two brothers named Blood, that seemed slimy in appearance and in their coin business too. I can’t forget to mention the infamous man named Monroe, obviously an Ozark guide throw back from a survivor show named “Caveman”.

It was interesting to get a bit of history about Jesse James, a western outlaw, thrown into to the story added to the intrigue. The author added a printed Jessie James treasure map that Pablo followed in his treasure hunt.  I looked back several times to follow along with them wondering if it was real or just another souvenir fake bought at the town festival?

This book on a scale of 1-5 rates a full 5. I enjoyed this book and members of my family will be receiving this book.  Get your copy soon, for a great gift idea.

A Boy Called Duct Tape By Christopher Cloud is available as a Kindle Edition also in Printed Book  available at Amazon.

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Author Christopher Cloud

About Christopher Cloud

Christopher Cloud admits he came to literature late in life. “I was in my 60s before I developed a real interest in writing fiction,” he said. A Boy Called Duct Tape is Cloud’s debut middle-grade novel. It is a first-person account of three Latino children searching for the “lost treasure” of Jesse James.

Cloud began writing children’s fiction after a long career in journalism and public relations. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist for newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. His work has appeared in many national publications, including Time Magazine.

He was employed by Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, as a public relations executive, and later operated his own PR agency. He created the board game Sixth Sense in 2002. The game sold at independent bookstores nationwide.

Cloud said his next project is a young-adult novel. “I have written the first draft of a story I’m calling 16 And In Love,” Cloud said. “This story—like A Boy Called Duct Tape—is multicultural.”

Cloud lives in Joplin, Missouri.


One Response to “A Boy Called Duct Tape Book Review by Vicki Vaughn”

  1. Vicki,

    So glad you enjoyed A Boy Called Duct Tape! Thanks for those kind words.

    Chris

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