Status
Available
Call number
Call number
F Dak
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
EgmontUSA (2009), 320 pages
Description
Thirteen-year-old Theo, who has lived in seclusion his entire life, discovers he is the descendant of the Candle Man, a Victorian vigilante with the ability to melt criminals with a single touch.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member zibilee
Theo Saint lives a very uncomfortable life. Locked away from society and put through painful daily medical treatments, Theo has been told that he has an illness that makes it much too dangerous for him to go out into the world. Along with being physically sheltered, his guardian, Mr. Saint, also
I haven't read many books that are targeted to the 9 to 12 year old age bracket but I thought that this was a very satisfying read overall. I really liked that the characters were quirky, yet not too quirky to be believable, and I thought Theo was a protagonist that kids would really be able to relate to and find compassion for. The story itself moved along briskly, which I appreciated, and it was a spectacularly unusual tale and one which I think many will enjoy.
As Theo began to discover more and more about the people who were raising him and what and who he actually was, I found that he began to grow into a sympathetic character and begin to embody many of the characteristics of a real hero. I also appreciated the unusual ironies in the story and felt that at times it had similar hallmarks to, and reminded me of a cross between, The Phantom Tollbooth and A Series of Unfortunate Events books.
There were a handful of unique characters in the book, one of which I enjoyed most was The Dodo, a terribly disfigured and haunting criminal who finds himself in a very interesting conundrum by the end of the story. I found him to be a character that was easy to relate to while still not losing any of the sinister aspects of his personality. I also think that Dr. Saint and his lackeys will appeal to readers, who won't be able to help themselves from getting caught up in their nefarious deeds.
I think one of the things about this book that will grip younger readers is the excellent tension of the storyline and the fast-paced style of the narrative. I believe readers of this book will not only be drawn in by Theo and his very strange circumstances but also by the unpredictability of the storyline and the writing style.
Another thing that I really liked about the book is the fact that it is not dumbed down for its target audience. There are a lot of complicated themes and ideas in the book as well as some really challenging vocabulary, which is one of the reasons that I think that this book will translate well for a more mature audience. This book is the first in a series, and although the story does come to completion by the last page, it does leave itself open for its forthcoming sequels.
This was a light and engaging read that I think many outside of its target audience will enjoy. It was very elegant in its imparting of messages and it was full of quick wit and whimsical situations. I am really looking forward to seeing where these books are headed and finding out just what Theo makes of his discoveries. I think this book would make a great gift for anyone who loves to get wrapped up in a greatly exciting story.
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makes sure that Theo is not unduly stimulated mentally by the things around him, much to Theo's chagrin. But everything begins to change when one night, a duo of bumbling thieves break into the mansion that Theo calls home. As the thieves grab Theo and force him to show them where to find the loot, Theo comes upon a secret room strewn with pictures of a mysterious figure named Lord Wickland. Theo's discovery of Lord Wickland is just the beginning though, because, to Theo's surprise, the illness that he has so long feared may not really be an illness at all. Soon other new faces creep into Theo's life and miraculously unfold a new destiny for him. But it's not all good news for Theo, because he also begins to discover some surprising facts about those who he once trusted so blindly, and it will be up to Theo to right the many wrongs that have been committed in the name of goodness and order. Fast paced and inventive, Candleman is wickedly fun romp for readers of all ages.I haven't read many books that are targeted to the 9 to 12 year old age bracket but I thought that this was a very satisfying read overall. I really liked that the characters were quirky, yet not too quirky to be believable, and I thought Theo was a protagonist that kids would really be able to relate to and find compassion for. The story itself moved along briskly, which I appreciated, and it was a spectacularly unusual tale and one which I think many will enjoy.
As Theo began to discover more and more about the people who were raising him and what and who he actually was, I found that he began to grow into a sympathetic character and begin to embody many of the characteristics of a real hero. I also appreciated the unusual ironies in the story and felt that at times it had similar hallmarks to, and reminded me of a cross between, The Phantom Tollbooth and A Series of Unfortunate Events books.
There were a handful of unique characters in the book, one of which I enjoyed most was The Dodo, a terribly disfigured and haunting criminal who finds himself in a very interesting conundrum by the end of the story. I found him to be a character that was easy to relate to while still not losing any of the sinister aspects of his personality. I also think that Dr. Saint and his lackeys will appeal to readers, who won't be able to help themselves from getting caught up in their nefarious deeds.
I think one of the things about this book that will grip younger readers is the excellent tension of the storyline and the fast-paced style of the narrative. I believe readers of this book will not only be drawn in by Theo and his very strange circumstances but also by the unpredictability of the storyline and the writing style.
Another thing that I really liked about the book is the fact that it is not dumbed down for its target audience. There are a lot of complicated themes and ideas in the book as well as some really challenging vocabulary, which is one of the reasons that I think that this book will translate well for a more mature audience. This book is the first in a series, and although the story does come to completion by the last page, it does leave itself open for its forthcoming sequels.
This was a light and engaging read that I think many outside of its target audience will enjoy. It was very elegant in its imparting of messages and it was full of quick wit and whimsical situations. I am really looking forward to seeing where these books are headed and finding out just what Theo makes of his discoveries. I think this book would make a great gift for anyone who loves to get wrapped up in a greatly exciting story.
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LibraryThing member twonickels
Theo is bored with his room. He is bored with the millet and greens that he eats for every meal. He is bored with his one yearly visit to the outside world - a birthday trip to a deserted cemetary. He is bored with the three people who he has met in his boring, boring life.But Theo has a terrible
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disease, and so he must be kept locked away from other people, he must wear gloves at all times, and he must submit to horrible medical treatments every day inside the Mercy Tube. And so nothing interesting ever happens to Theo - until he finds a strange package during his birthday trip to the cemetary. A package with his name on it. And suddenly Theo finds himself out in the world, and learning some alarming things about his disease and the people who have kept him prisoner for so long.Theo's world is a strange and wonderful one, and the reader has the fun of discovering it along with him. The strange creatures, diabolical machines, and very unusual people who Theo meets would already be enough to leave the sheletered young man breathless and confused, but the people in this world also have a maddening habit of giving things very misleading names. The Society of Good Works, led by Dr. Saint? Yeah, they're the bad guys. On top of all this, Theo must quickly learn about his strange powers - and what exactly they have to do with the mysterious newspaper clippings about an old hero named the Candle Man.Theo grows into self-reliance very quickly in the second half of the book - too quickly for me to believe after getting to know him as a completely ineffectual young man who has almost no knowledge of the world. And honestly, I missed the early version of Theo later in the book. Watching Theo learn how he world works after his isolation was the part of the book that drew me in most, and also provided some of the funniest moments. There was some implication that his sudden transformation into the kind of hero who gets things done is tied up into his powers - perhaps this is something the reader will learn more about in later books.In the end, this is a good old-fashioned adventure story of the kind that has plenty of mystery and doesn't forget how to be funny. I did find it a little bit meandering and occasionally too caught up in all the cool creatures that exist in the world. But since most of the meanders (and the creatures!) are genuinely interesting, I don't think the target audience will be bothered. Readers will be curious about Theo's further adventures - I know that I'll be looking forward to learning more about the myth of the Candle Man. Show Less
LibraryThing member picardyrose
Fun, but I don't see how there can be a sequel -- where's the bad guy?
LibraryThing member prkcs
Thirteen-year-old Theo, who has lived in seclusion his entire life, discovers he is the descendant of the Candle Man, a Victorian vigilante with the ability to melt criminals with a single touch.
LibraryThing member galleysmith
Candle Man is a great adventure book for young boys and girls alike. Though there are a bevy of characters to wade through and a few are a bit more cliched (at least for the adult reader) than others it is a fun and thrilling ride from beginning to end.
In speaking of the characters on in
The combination of mystical creatures, folklore and Theo’s history as well as the use of advanced technology for the time gave this book a very steampunk vibe. I think it will certainly open the eyes of any child who reads it to that particular category of books. There was a definite dark, murky and foggy feeling to the book though it was not depressing. It certainly lent itself well to the air of mystery. For that reason, even though it got slightly predictable (again for the adult reader), the twists and turns were enjoyable and certainly well structured for the target audience. There was definitely plenty of action to be had.
Having a strong boy and equally strong girl as main characters will make this a book that both genders can enjoy. I do, however, think boys will enjoy it more. The first in a series, Candle Man was an enjoyable read, one that I think middle-graders will want to read through until the final chapter of the final story.
In speaking of the characters on in
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particular, the main foe of the story, Dr. Saint reminded me of the cartoon character Dick Dastardly. I half expected him to twirl the ends of a mustache (which he doesn’t have by the way) and cackle “mwuahahahah!”. He was, however the right amount of evil for this type of book. His cohort in crime Mr. Nicely was just the right combination of clueless and frightened in order to be appropriately manipulated by his master. Clarice, on the other hand was a surprise. One that I’ll refrain from sharing with you so it doesn’t spoil the story.The combination of mystical creatures, folklore and Theo’s history as well as the use of advanced technology for the time gave this book a very steampunk vibe. I think it will certainly open the eyes of any child who reads it to that particular category of books. There was a definite dark, murky and foggy feeling to the book though it was not depressing. It certainly lent itself well to the air of mystery. For that reason, even though it got slightly predictable (again for the adult reader), the twists and turns were enjoyable and certainly well structured for the target audience. There was definitely plenty of action to be had.
Having a strong boy and equally strong girl as main characters will make this a book that both genders can enjoy. I do, however, think boys will enjoy it more. The first in a series, Candle Man was an enjoyable read, one that I think middle-graders will want to read through until the final chapter of the final story.
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LibraryThing member RefPenny
Theo has been told he has a rare skin disease. That is why he can’t go outside, has never known more than 3 people and has to have treatments in the ‘mercy tube’. One day, however, he is kidnapped. Once he has escaped from his guardian he discovers a whole new strange world; a world of secret
Although definitely a horror story there are also many humorous touches as Theo attempts to reconcile the real world with what he has always been told. This is the first book in a series that is already being compared to Percy Jackson and it would suit children 10 and up.
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societies, strange creatures and frightening powers.Although definitely a horror story there are also many humorous touches as Theo attempts to reconcile the real world with what he has always been told. This is the first book in a series that is already being compared to Percy Jackson and it would suit children 10 and up.
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LibraryThing member SprouleT
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is the first novel in the Candle Man series of books by Glenn Dakin. The book has been nominated for the Great Stone Face Book Award.
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance starts off much like the life of the protagonist, Theo, boring and plodding; but along with
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is filed at my local library in the juvenile section despite the sometimes graphic depictions and number of characters that are killed. The reading level is suitable to young readers, but some parents may be sensitive to the themes.
The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance starts off much like the life of the protagonist, Theo, boring and plodding; but along with
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Theo, the reader is suddenly picked up and carried away into a bizarre world. Theo possesses a unique ability, his caretakers refer to it as a disease, that places him at the heart of a centuries old conspiracy between two secret organizations. Despite his lack of education and worldliness, Theo is forced to choose between these opposing ideologies, and try to save not only himself, but the people he comes to care for and the entire world as well.The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is filed at my local library in the juvenile section despite the sometimes graphic depictions and number of characters that are killed. The reading level is suitable to young readers, but some parents may be sensitive to the themes.
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LibraryThing member cougargirl1967
I really enjoyed this book, even though it's a YA book it easily held my interest.
LibraryThing member grahzny
Fun style, interesting characters, secret societies, disturbing plots, and an intriguing setting. Unfortunately, spends a bit too much time...building up to things. Things sped up nicely in the final act, however, with enough action and excitement and payoff that I very nearly bumped this to four
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stars. Much promise. Guess I'll got get the next one. Show Less
Pages
320