Swashbuckling...what does that mean to you? Captain Blood, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Sea Hawk, Robin Hood, The Mark of Zorro? To Cyd Wyman, it means life.
Cyd is growing up in a hard time (the 30’s) in a tough neighborhood, with his angry, alcoholic father and his mean grandmother. He has few friends and many enemies. His only solace is the time spent in a darkened theater, watching every new movie that comes out with swordplay involved.
When his father vanishes and his grandmother dies,Cyd is taken in by his best friends family, and Cyd begins to feel he finally belongs. When they are unable to keep him, the betrayal cuts deep.
Cyd is placed in a children’s home, where life is even harder. Eventually a distant relative comes singing down the hall, to his rescue.
Lefty is a disfigured, tough man, irreverent, hard drinking, and in terrible pain. He may not know about children, but one thing he does know about is fencing. Lefty has experience staging sword fights for the stage, teaching techniques, and in hooking Cyd up with his friend, a hard drinking fencing master, Russian,Nikolai Varvarinski, together, they teach Cyd how to be a man.
When Cyd encounters old friends and old enemies from his old neighborhood, he is ready. The showdown is just terrific! (The OK Corral can eat it!)
If this book sounds like it is just a YA book, or just for boys, you couldn’t be more wrong. My 13 year old granddaughter read it and she loved it! She still talks about it. My daughter read it and loved it! I loved it! (and still talk about it) Oh, and boys will love it too.
This book is number one of my Best of 2011 list!
We had the extreme pleasure of meeting Joe for lunch when he was in town, and he is a charming, smart and funny man. We talked about the process of writing (and getting published), fencing, movies,the differences between New York and Denver, and spitballs. I can’t thank him enough for taking the time to talk to us! Thanks Joe!!
I received this book as an e-book from his publicist, Marissa at JKS Communications. Thank you!
The hard copy will be out his month!! Congratulations Joe!
Thank you for the lovely review of my book and I too am so happy to have met all three of you - even the close encounter with the spitball! Glad to hear you're feeling better also. All the best!
ReplyDeleteI just have to have this book. I am a fencer and this sounds like a must read. Thanks so much for shairng this review.
ReplyDeleteHeather- It looks like it will be out on the 31st. Joe is a fencer, too. I am sure you will like this book. I just found it to be so interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou were right, I think my son would like this one. Heck, for that matter, I would like this one. Thanks for the review.
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