Kevin's Point of View (Book Review)

Title: Kevin's Point of View
Author: Del Shannon
Source: From author for review
Publisher: Flatiron View Books


Goodreads Summary:
To escape the emotional turmoil of his father’s death 12-year-old Kevin Tobin has retreated inside himself, developing his imagination into a dangerous foil and a powerful ally. While he antagonizes everyone with his superhero antics, his ability to escape inside himself becomes critical to his survival after his life is once-again turned upside down a year after his father’s death. When a mysterious package arrives in the mail, Kevin and his best friend are hunted by a ruthless villain who is determined to retrieve the package, which holds the key to his plans for world domination. After enlisting Kevin’s teenage sister and her pizza-delivery boyfriend in a battle for control over time itself, the group escapes into the mountains west of Boulder, Colorado and eventually discover that Kevin’s entire existence is because of the love of someone we never expected.

Kevin's Point of View is Del Shannon's debut novel and shows a deep appreciation for the powers of imagination, family ties, and the desire of young boys to both escape reality and prove themselves within it. The fast-paced, adventure-filled storytelling style makes this a book with wide appeal for readers of all ages.


Thoughts: This novel is strange with outlandish happenings and constant drifts into imagination, and it is so fun to read. I love Kevin's imagination and how it helps to deal with his father's death. I love that everyone else is annoyed by it, because it is a realistic reaction to him. And then things get very unrealistic when package arrives and Kevin and his best friend Toby spend their day running away from a super villain, but it works. The story pulls you along mixing reality with imagination to create a tale that you won't soon forget.
The story ends with a nice explanation for everything that has happened. And while I have to say, I saw the twist at the ending coming well before I got there, this book is meant for audience younger than myself and I am sure that they would be thrilled and surprised by the conclusion as well as the rest of the novel.


Rating: 4/5