Book Review: If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late By Bosch’s Pen Name
Website design By BotEap.comQuestion: What do you get when you combine a 500-year-old man born in a bottle… an evil society bent on discovering the secret of immortality… and two adventurous 11-year-old boys?
Website design By BotEap.comAnswer: A fun and witty book that children will surely enjoy reading.
Website design By BotEap.comYes, Pseudonymous Bosch has done it again. In his annoyingly sarcastic way, he’s crafted a story that kids will gobble up, but will parents choke on the mild violence and occult references?
Website design By BotEap.comthe good things
Website design By BotEap.comThis is the story of a very independent survivor (Cass) who gradually learns to depend on and trust others, especially Max-Ernest and the members of the Terces Society.
Website design By BotEap.comCass, Max-Ernest, Yo-Yoji, and the other members of the Terces Society show true friendship as they support each other through thick and thin.
Website design By BotEap.comHere are some examples that caught my eye…
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass asks Cabbage Face to forgive her for lying to her.
Website design By BotEap.com– Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji assemble the Terces Society to rescue Cass from the Midnight Sun.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cabbage Face sacrifices his life to save Cass.
Website design By BotEap.comViolence
Website design By BotEap.comWhile “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late” isn’t what most people would consider violent, Cass and Max-Ernest find themselves in some hair-raising situations.
Website design By BotEap.comFor example…
Website design By BotEap.com– Dr. L transports Cass and Max-Ernest aboard a boat, ties them up and threatens to use them as shark bait.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass finds out that Cabbage Face (the 500 year old homunculus) killed Lord Pharaoh and buried his remains. (At one point, she claims to have “eaten” Lord Pharaoh.)
Website design By BotEap.com– Mrs. Mauvais’ evil henchmen grab Cass and the homunculus at the Skelton Sisters concert and threaten them with bodily harm.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass is tied to a tree in a graveyard and freezes.
Website design By BotEap.com– When the Terces Society fights the Midnight Sun to rescue Cass, there is a lot of punching, flame throwing, biting and kicking.
Website design By BotEap.comMagic, Sorcery and Spirituality
Website design By BotEap.com“If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late” has some ancient Egyptian-style spirituality to it.
Website design By BotEap.comFor example,
Website design By BotEap.com– The doctor who “created” the homunculus was a devotee of the secret science called alchemy – and wanted power over life itself. He even started calling himself “Lord Pharaoh” because he discovered powers only known to the kings of ancient Egypt.
Website design By BotEap.com– The madmen seeking immortality of the Masters of the Midnight Sun sing as the tomb of Lord Pharaoh is dug up.
Website design By BotEap.com– Mrs. Bad calls Lord Pharaoh a “god”. She wants to continue her work, so that the members of Midnight Sun can also be gods.
Website design By BotEap.comBut there is something else…
Website design By BotEap.comIt’s not exactly magic, but there are some strange and inexplicable things that happen in the story.
Website design By BotEap.comFor example, Cass has nightmares about a short, strange-looking creature (the homunculus), BEFORE she knew it existed. She also dreams that she can find him in a nearby lake, and lo and behold, that is where she finds him.
Website design By BotEap.comAnd while I’m on the subject, how can Cabbage Face (the homunculus) be alive in the first place? It was created in a bottle 500 years ago. Who comes into the world like this and who lives that long? It’s very strange, if you ask me.
Website design By BotEap.comAlso, there is the mysterious Sound Prism that has the power to call Cabbage Face. Hmmm… It’s not exactly magic, but how do you explain it?
Website design By BotEap.comsexual content
Website design By BotEap.comNone.
Website design By BotEap.comDrugs and alcohol
Website design By BotEap.comCabbage Face steals a bottle of wine that Cass’s grandfather brought on the camping trip to the lake. The kids discover that he has a stash of stolen alcohol when he kindly offers them a shot of wine, vodka, gin, single malt scotch, tequila, or cognac. (Kids wisely drink water instead.)
Website design By BotEap.comObscene language
Website design By BotEap.comNone.
Website design By BotEap.comother negative things
Website design By BotEap.comOur heroes lie, steal and disobey a bit to have their adventures.
Website design By BotEap.comFor example…
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass and Max-Ernest ignore their teacher’s orders to stay close and sneak out on a field trip to join the Terces Society…and end up in a mess of trouble.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass steals the Sound Prism from Dr. L and Mrs. Bad – but I guess the fact that she “stole” the bad guys makes the theft a bit more justified.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass lies to the homunculus to accompany her to the Terces Society.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass uses the Sound Prism to listen to a couple of girls in the school bathroom.
Website design By BotEap.com– Cass lies to her mom to get her permission to go to the Skelton Sisters concert with Max-Ernest and Yo-Yoji.
Website design By BotEap.commy two cents
Website design By BotEap.com“If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late” is a witty and funny sequel to “The Name of This Book Is Secret.” The kids will enjoy reading while Cass and her friends have another adventure with the Terces Society. And they will enjoy all the extras in the appendix.
Website design By BotEap.comSome parents may not be comfortable with the hidden nature of the Masters of the Midnight Sun. But for the most part, this book is appropriate for most 9-12 year olds.