The Lost Wink Review

The Lost Wink by Todd Schneider

http://authonomy.com/books/40646/the-lost-wink/

The Lost Wink has to be one of my favorites on the site simply because it’s a story that knows what it’s trying to be. It isn’t shocking or controversial, it’s just a good children’s story that would be great to read to a little kid. It would be a great first book for a seven-year-old and a good classic favorite for when he’s older. This is a new twist on some older stories, having elements of Oliver Twist and Tom Sawyer. It’s not impossibly cute, forbidding anyone older that five from being entertained by it, however it is definitely written for kids.

One thing that did catch me off guard was the author’s willingness to allow his character to experience hardship, but continue to make him a relatable and likable character. I know the main moral of the story was supposed to be “follow your dreams” but I think the underlying message was about perseverance. The story is very well told and I only have a few objections to its direction.

Now to the score. Out of a possible 12 points, including two bonus points, this story scored a solid 10.25. Yes, the author scored a bonus point and still didn’t make it into the 11’s. I have yet to find a story that can make that, and actually 10.25 is one of the highest scores I’ve given (despite appearances, I may be easy to impress, but I do grade hard).

As to our moral rating, I would say that most kids should be able to take this story pretty easily without having nightmares, but still there are things to consider. For one the torments inflicted on the main character are far beyond normal, to the point of imprisonment, isolation, starvation and constant peril. For this the story gets a -2. Also it is not only implied that the main villain violently dies, but also that several good characters die violently towards the end of the story. Their deaths are unlikely to cause nightmares, but when you think about it, the scene of their deaths is kinda unnerving. This gets a -3. This comes to, out of a possible -25, -5. Needless to say, the story really didn’t strike me as scary or bloody. Sure the Care Bears is friendlier, but it also never establishes very well that anything is at stake.

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The Lost Wink is a great children’s story that I would gladly put alongside legends like Charlotte’s Web. The story is goofy in places and childish in others, but also takes its audience seriously enough to allow us to see someone grow as a character not only through victory, but also through adversity. I was very impressed to see the story of an abused character NOT turned evil, introspective or sarcastic. I like to finally read a modern writer who understands that a smile one someone’s face does not imply an easy life or naivety. No punches were pulled, but I still walked away feeling good about myself and the world.

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Now that I’ve given the author a plug he can use if he likes, here’s the meat of the review.

Warning: Spoilers may be ahead.

Full scoring explanation.

1.      Spelling/Grammar

Score: ¾

The writer will have to proof read this story again. Nothing extremely noticeable that sacrificed readability, but if you read through you will find the occasional miss placed word or phrase.

2.      Interesting Plot

Score: 1

The basic premise of the abused kid who is pulled from rags to riches is familiar to us as our own skin. Contrast that to how many stories are about someone pulling himself from rags to riches in the fiction universe. Roscoe is no Cinderella and the story does not force him into greatness. I liked the idea of using a fantasy medieval world as well, which allows for the author to create a world kids can get lost in and remember when they become adults, even if it will seem childish by that point.

3.      Good Direction

Score: 1

Again, I like that Roscoe is not forced into greatness and the path the story takes is actually up to him as the main character. I also love how each adventure forces him to use his mind and engage his moral compass.

If there were one thing I might change, it would be the emphasis on dreams. Not that I disagree with pushing for ones dreams, however I would have liked to see more attention given to being happy where you are, if it’s a good place. In the end Roscoe learned that his ultimate dream of being with royalty was beyond what he was really ready for and he settled for being a farm boy, but this is barely addressed in the last few pages. Also the story has a good range of evil characters contrasted with good ones. It seems necessary that at least something be said about the difference. After all, Roscoe pursuing his dreams helped himself and others, but only because he cared for others just as much as himself if not more. Nasturtium pursing his dreams hurt him and everyone around him because he was self-absorbed, greedy and impatient, however this is never addressed in so many words. But these are personal preferences. Some of the story morals were inherent and didn’t need to be stated or hammered home and maybe that the story made me think about these things without stating them is a good sign.

4.      Author Interest

Score: 1

The author is actively advertising his story.

5.      Believable Main Characters

Score: 1
I was blown away by how easy it was to believe Roscoe as a real person. A balance was struck between making him a character subjected to hardship and a person with a bright outlook. Roscoe is aware of how bad he has it, but he doesn’t let that consume his thoughts. Actually, the person who can go through hardship with a smile strikes me as the stronger character, not the person with a scowl.

Also, much as I wanted to disbelieve people like him could exist, Nasturtium was also believable as a villain. Blinded by ambition and greed, Nasturtium was bitter, not very bright and very self-absorbed. Sure he hit every major character trait for a villain square on the head, but he never felt like a straight up demon, just a bad person. At no point was he portrayed as a force beyond, just someone to be avoided that our hero was stuck having to endure.

Also, yes, I believed the animals. Talking animals is something a lot of stories ask, and these animals, if I am to accept that they were people, acted like reasonable people for the most part. They also acted like animals, a balance that is not often seen.

6.      Likable Main Characters

Score: 1 +1

I liked most of the main characters in this story, including the animals, and the main villain I hated in just the right way. However Roscoe carried the show unbelievably well. He was funny, good natured, patient and yes, ultimately limited and flawed. I love that he persevered in the face of adversity instead of turning into a basket case, and that nothing he did really felt like something that would be impossible for a twelve-year-old boy.

7.      Likable Side Characters

Score: ½  

This is where an otherwise great story, really needs some work. The supporting cast was… okay? I hate to put it this way, but most of them came off as utter morons. I think the author might benefit from a few Encyclopedia Brown books or maybe watching Young Sherlock Holmes. To be quicker witted than his opponents, a kid doesn’t have to be unbelievably genius and his adversaries don’t have to be stupid. As it stands, the only character Roscoe ever crosses wits with that seems a mental match is Nasturtium.

This might be more tolerable if the good characters were intelligent, perhaps offering a subtext about the follies of greed and impatience concerning one’s IQ, however even the King of the entire country was an utter imbecil, and none of those around him seemed smart enough to be able keep him from regularly executing people for blinking at his daughter. Actually on that note, the King started to feel like a villain himself, considering that he no doubt hurt and even killed innocent people through his stupidity, even if those deaths were implied and not “on camera”.

8.      Good Scene Descriptions

Score: 1

The story was full of great scenery and descriptions of not only places, but also people. I actually was able to develop a mental picture of most scenes given the author’s wonderful command of illustrative language.

9.      Targeting

Score: 1

This is definitely a children’s story, and despite not pulling its punches when it comes to violence or even character deaths, I think most children will find it enjoyable. I like that the story allows a character to grow through his troubles, instead of having them spontaneously removed and then growing. This is a great story for children to hear when they’re being bullied or having a hard time at school. Keep going and keep your dreams in sight, something good could be just around the corner!

10.  Broad Appeal

Score: 1

If the side characters were allowed to be more intelligent, I think most adults could also get a kick out of this story. Also not pulling its punches allows for older audiences to take it seriously. While this is definitely a children’s story, like Tom Sawyer, I can still see it resting on someone’s bookshelf well into adulthood.

Note to the author:

If you appreciate this review, please don’t forget to read my story and rate it and if you like it, back it for a while. I appreciate thanks, but what I really need is readers and supporters.