Summer 2005 Review:

A giant fish, a royal lineage, an unknown romance, and a near-death experience. These are some of the things you will experience in reading the young adult book “The King of Slippery Falls”. This work follows the path of Louis (Lewis) Poisson (Hinton), the name in parentheses being the one he received as an adopted child. He lives an ordinary enough life in the town of Slippery Falls, Idaho until he receives some startling news. He finds out he is adopted on his 15^th birthday. He learns the story and is trying to find meaning to life through a fish. A big fish mind you, but still, a fish.

This was a very interesting book with quite a few twists though I had a fair idea of what would happen. This may have something to do with the fact that the book was written for younger children not soon-to-be seniors in high school. I did not like the simplicity of the work, though I found the plot appealing. I believe there was a lot to be desired. My choice of recommendation for the level of readers is 6^th grade and up. I don’t know how many older kids will like it but I like to leave, “and up” open to the masses. This book is similar only to one other book I’ve read. This book is entitled, “Hush” by Jacqueline Woodson. It is similar due to the idea of identity crisis but not much else. Is the book okay? Sure. Would I read it again? Probably not. 

~ Brian Adams, 11^th Grade, Linesville High School

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