Tom and Reg's Excellent Adventure
Remember, you read it here first. N. D. Wilson (no relation, I hasten to add) is a name that will soon be widely known. He will write many books, Lord willing, in many genres for our instruction and delight. His first is Leepike Ridge (Random House).
Still in his 20s, Wilson hails from Moscow, Idaho, where his father, Douglas Wilson (one of the leading lights of the classical Christian schooling movement), and a group of kindred spirits have built a Christian community of Reformed conviction centered on Christ Church in Moscow. Wilson the younger is a fellow of literature at New Saint Andrews College, where he also "teaches classical rhetoric to freshmen" (the book jacket informs us), a daunting task, and serves as managing editor of Credenda/Agenda magazine, published by the Christ Church community.
Earlier this year, a short story by Wilson appeared in Esquire magazine, and he'll have adult fiction in book form before too long. (No, not that kind of "adult.") Meanwhile, he has made his debut with what gets called "a novel for young readers"in this case, as publishing conventions go, readers age 8 to 12.
Like many of the age-based generalizations that are common currency in our day, this publishing category combines the silly with the sensible. There is the pseudo-scientific precision of the age range and behind it a pedantic conception of reading that adventurous readers young and old consistently ignore. The young ones wantonly read above their "grade level" (while retaining an affection for the picture-heavy volumes in which they first sounded out words); the old ones move without fuss from Walker Percy and Calvin's Institutes to Narnia and the adventures of Frog and Toad.
So yes, Leepike Ridge was clearly written ...

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Comments
Ron
Excellent review and I just now have ordered Leepike Ridge. I will read it first and in the future (God willing) it will be read to my now 5 year old grandson. How interesting that Max Elliot Anderson comments as I was thinking about his book (The Dangerous Book for Boys) while reading your review. (I also have purchased that book and it is awaiting my grandson attaining the appropriate age -- grin.) At any rate, after reading your review I am sure I will enjoy Mr. Wilson's book -- thank goodness for the completeness of your review compared to some of the abbreviated, opinionated and uninformative reviews which have, unfortunately, plagued this site recently. Good job!
Max Elliot Anderson
Hi John, I enjoyed your article and thought the following might also be of interest to you. Thank you, Max Elliot Anderson Mander8813@aol.com With all of the coverage surrounding The Dangerous Book for Boys, I've sent a press release entitled, More Dangerous Books for Boys. My Christian, action-adventures and mysteries, written especially for boys 8 - 13, include some of the same issues that this popular book reports are of interest to boys. The release can be found at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/06/prweb532684.htm Author web site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com Books for Boys blog: http://booksandboys.blogspot.com