This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite
Precocious is a short story by Joseph Riden. A gifted Florida schoolboy named Kevin has shown amazing creativity and brilliant mechanical aptitude since he was little. His parents encourage his curiosity, self-directed learning, and experimentation. But there’s one thing Kevin wants more than anything else. He wants his father, a skilled hobby fisherman, to invite him to go on one of his fishing trips where they would be away for a week and return with a large catch. Kevin knew he would only be asked if he proved himself a good fisherman first. That would take the equipment he didn’t have and access to deeper water. Kevin will pour his creativity and determination into the effort. Will he succeed?
In Precocious, Jospeh Riden gives us a delightful story about a young boy who pursues a dream. On its surface, it doesn’t seem achievable for someone of his age and without the necessary resources, especially if he wants to do it on his own except for his loyal dog by his side and some advice from the man at the tackle shop. The narrative is descriptive and flows at a good pace. We share in Kevin’s thoughts and solutions as he tackles one obstacle after another. The warmth of family relationships, especially the parental role in fostering Kevin’s ingenuity and Kevin’s admiration of his father, is beautifully described. And with the emphasis these days on reusing, recycling, and repurposing what otherwise might go into a landfill, the story has a laudable environmental subtheme as well. An enjoyable read.
