The Cottage Park Puzzle
by Richard M. Siddoway
Paperback, 208 pages
Publication:
January 13th 2015
by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Description:
When two teenagers are
found beaten in the quiet town of Cottage Park and another boy is
standing over them holding a baseball bat, it seems like a simple task
to convict the perpetrator. There’s just one problem: he’s autistic.
This poignant tale of one town’s journey to forgiveness and love will
stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.
My Review:
I read this book in a sitting--it was that fascinating. Corky is a severely autistic teenager who is found holding a baseball bat when two schoolmates are found beaten at lunch. Rocky and Pete are placed in medically induced comas for awhile to recover from the injuries.
I think almost everyone knows someone who has some type of issue and I loved the way family life, school life, and the community was portrayed. The story is so realistic--I had to check myself several times because I got so worked up and felt so many emotions and it's not even a true story. There are characters who want revenge on this boy and others who rally around him. Of course, he's oblivious to it all. I love the way compassion and forgiveness are major themes in the book.
I finished the book quite upset because I felt there was a major issue left unresolved--at least, it wasn't very clear to me.
Content: no language; no graphic violence, but the crime is described moderately; no romance; religious elements--one scene where a pastor briefly teaches about compassion and forgiveness. Clean for a more mature reader, due to the beating.
About the Author:
Richard M. Siddoway was born in Salt Lake City and reared in Bountiful, Utah. He was a professional educator for over 45 years. In 1994, he was asked by Governor Leavitt to create the nation’s first state-wide virtual high school—the Electronic High School—which served students nation-wide. Richard served three terms in the Utah House of Representatives; the last two years he served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House. He has served as a Bishop and Stake President in the Bountiful Utah Val Verda Stake. He and his wife, Janice, have served missions in Nauvoo, Illinois, and Taylorsville, Utah. He is the author of ten books including the New York Times best seller—The Christmas Wish which was made into a movie starring Debbie Reynolds, Neil Patrick Harris, and Naomi Watts.
I think almost everyone knows someone who has some type of issue and I loved the way family life, school life, and the community was portrayed. The story is so realistic--I had to check myself several times because I got so worked up and felt so many emotions and it's not even a true story. There are characters who want revenge on this boy and others who rally around him. Of course, he's oblivious to it all. I love the way compassion and forgiveness are major themes in the book.
I finished the book quite upset because I felt there was a major issue left unresolved--at least, it wasn't very clear to me.
Content: no language; no graphic violence, but the crime is described moderately; no romance; religious elements--one scene where a pastor briefly teaches about compassion and forgiveness. Clean for a more mature reader, due to the beating.
Richard M. Siddoway was born in Salt Lake City and reared in Bountiful, Utah. He was a professional educator for over 45 years. In 1994, he was asked by Governor Leavitt to create the nation’s first state-wide virtual high school—the Electronic High School—which served students nation-wide. Richard served three terms in the Utah House of Representatives; the last two years he served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House. He has served as a Bishop and Stake President in the Bountiful Utah Val Verda Stake. He and his wife, Janice, have served missions in Nauvoo, Illinois, and Taylorsville, Utah. He is the author of ten books including the New York Times best seller—The Christmas Wish which was made into a movie starring Debbie Reynolds, Neil Patrick Harris, and Naomi Watts.
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