The 1950’s was a time of new homes, television, astronauts, new cars, and rock and roll. It was also a time of nuclear threats and deadly polio. Out of this challenging decade comes the enchanting story of a ten-year-old boy from the Midwest showing a small town the meaning of toughness and tenacity.The Shawnee Indian treasure was a myth, they said. Nowhere to be found, except in the legends and … legends and tall tales of the region. Despite his polio, despite his poverty, despite his fractured family, Jesse Hall believes the stories and discovers irresistible clues in the courthouse clock tower.
With each twist and turn, Jesse learns to overcome all that life can throw at him. He leads his Boy Scout pal, his nineteen-year-old nurse, and the local county historian in a quest for the mythical treasure – a hunt that yields a most unexpected discovery.
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I really enjoyed my time with Victor Hess’s The Clock Tower Treasure. It is a well crafted and beautifully written book that tells the sweet story of childhood innocence through the eyes of the young protagonist Jesse Hall.
The plot, for me, felt like it took some time to get going. From opening with the surprising and enthralling bang that was Eugene (a tourist attraction and mummified corpse sitting at the edge of town), to the encounter with a perverted preacher, the story had all the ingredients of a riveting page-turner. I did feel, however, that beyond these two things the first 100 pages were a little mundane, dealing with little leagues and paper routes, childhood friends, and the threat of a house move. The plot exploded from there on, and once the secrets and mystery were established there was nothing that could part me from this book. I loved finding out what the treasure was and it’s links to the town, and I loved the mix between dark and light themes throughout (namely death, poverty, and neglect, undercut with the role of religion, piety towards family, and striving to help others).
As a protagonist, Jesse was an extraordinary character. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. As a boy in the 1950s, his life is far from perfect. His family is broken and his father riddled with addiction, but rather than lamenting and acting out, Jesse gets on with life without a single moan or complaint. He didn’t feel like he came across as naive as someone his age often would; he was simply a boy that gets on with things and when he recognizes a bad situation he tries to help others the best he can. These qualities were why I found him so compelling and why I was rooting for him until the very end.
I found that the role Christianity played in this book was proportionate and did not overshadow the story. It is clear that the subject plays an important role in Hess’s life and that he is clearly well-versed in the subject, but the core of the story remains at the book’s heart. The dialogue and subject matter fits in perfectly with the timeframe and character that Hess has created and created a truly authentic feel for 1950’s America.
I really liked this book. I hope I can revisit Jesse SIngs sometime soon and I look forward to his next adventure.
Sequel to Jessie Sings, Jessie is now 9 years old and taking good care of his baby sister. This book…is exciting as you go on adventures with Jessie and his friends
…is uplifting as Jessie learns about God and puts his knowledge to action by doing good deeds in his community
…is realistic, it is so well written you feel like you are there
I truly enjoyed this book! It brought back a lot of my childhood memories. It was hard to put down. I did not want it to end! It’s definitely worth your time to read!!!!
This book is not so much a story about a boy and his search for a fabled treasure—contrary to the emphasis in the title and blurb. Rather it’s more a delightful slice-of-life story of the mid-1950s. Told from the viewpoint of pre-teen Jesse, the story focuses on his hopes and dreams and the challenges that he faces. While the search for the treasure does play a part, it’s only one piece of Jesse’s tale.
This is the second book about Jesse but reads very well as a standalone. I haven’t yet read book 1 and yet had no problems getting right into this engaging story.
Elements I liked:
The writing has a pleasant, smooth flow that really fits the slower pace of life that we’ve heard was true of that time period. The story’s gentle, easy pace is perfect for following a boy’s life. Jesse is an appealing character, concerned with things a boy of that age would have been interested in but also dealing with the troubles of his fractured family. He meets his challenges with perseverance, without any angst or added drama, and with the support of his faith well integrated into his life.
Elements I struggled with:
In the first part of the book, Jesse’s no-nonsense approach to the troubles in his life felt a little unrealistic. He’s only a boy and he seemed a little too matter-of-fact about the troubles of his past, especially his mother’s struggles. This just seemed a bit out of character for a boy of his age.
Overall:
I enjoyed following Jesse through his troubles and triumphs. I can easily see this book as a great reading assignment for middle-grade students. It reminds me of the best of the books that I remember being assigned when I was in those grades. This story is a very engrossing and enjoyable read!