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Seekers of the Lost Boy
"What is that?" Simon narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the object at the water's edge. It was probably nothing. Except... it glowed.
Set in Cape Town, South Africa, Seekers of the Lost Boy is an adventure that brings a homeschooling family face to face with the atrocities of their apartheid past.
It begins when 12-year-old Simon finds a bottle on the water's edge during a visit to Muizenberg beach on a cold winter's day. He brings the bottle home, dreaming of adventures, pirates and hidden treasures, only to have the bottle shatter within minutes of returning home. At first he is dismayed, but his disappointment is soon turned to intrigue when he discovers an envelope in the bottle. It contains a letter written 30 years prior by another 12-year-old school boy from the poverty-stricken Cape Flats. The letter is brief and contains one question: Who is God and does he care about me?
The letter fascinates the Ward family, so they embark on a journey of discovery. Through clues left in the letter, Simon, his mom and his twin 10-year-old siblings, Nic and Kim, find themselves revisiting their country's apartheid past as they search for their mystery letter-writer.
Set in Cape Town, South Africa, Seekers of the Lost Boy is an adventure that brings a homeschooling family face to face with the atrocities of their apartheid past.
It begins when 12-year-old Simon finds a bottle on the water's edge during a visit to Muizenberg beach on a cold winter's day. He brings the bottle home, dreaming of adventures, pirates and hidden treasures, only to have the bottle shatter within minutes of returning home. At first he is dismayed, but his disappointment is soon turned to intrigue when he discovers an envelope in the bottle. It contains a letter written 30 years prior by another 12-year-old school boy from the poverty-stricken Cape Flats. The letter is brief and contains one question: Who is God and does he care about me?
The letter fascinates the Ward family, so they embark on a journey of discovery. Through clues left in the letter, Simon, his mom and his twin 10-year-old siblings, Nic and Kim, find themselves revisiting their country's apartheid past as they search for their mystery letter-writer.
- GenresChristian Fiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2013
24 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Taryn Hayes
5 books7 followersTARYN HAYES lives in Cape Town, South Africa with her husband, Craig and their four children. The bulk of her days involves mothering and teaching the kids, using an eclectic mix of homeschooling materials and a little bit of neglect!
Thanks to the excellent books Taryn and her children have been exposed to through their literature-based homeschooling experience, Taryn's future dreams of writing stories became a very present-day reality in 2013.
Seekers of the Lost Boy is Taryn's first youth novel. It is the first of a planned series where adventure meets historical exploration and big questions of faith are addressed.
More about Taryn's book and future plans and dreams can be found at her website or her facebook page
Thanks to the excellent books Taryn and her children have been exposed to through their literature-based homeschooling experience, Taryn's future dreams of writing stories became a very present-day reality in 2013.
Seekers of the Lost Boy is Taryn's first youth novel. It is the first of a planned series where adventure meets historical exploration and big questions of faith are addressed.
More about Taryn's book and future plans and dreams can be found at her website or her facebook page
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 24, 2013
Seekers of the Lost Boy, by Taryn Hayes is a great read for my pre-teen children, packed full of mystery, history, adventure, and a message. It engaged me from the first page with a setting that Americans rarely see—Cape Town, South Africa—and an opening that grabbed me attention—finding a message in a bottle. Who hasn’t wished for that when they go to a beach?
Taryn Hayes begins with a message in a bottle and through skillful storytelling, delves into the tragedy of apartheid and one boy’s journey from despair to faith. Along the way, we meet a homeschooling family and experience with them the discovery of not only the one who sent the message, but the One who invites us to discover Him.
The story is full of great characters and dialogue that rings true in any family setting, whether in South Africa or middle America. And for extra credit—the ending had a few twists and turns I didn’t expect! Seekers of the Lost Boy left me story-satisfied and hoping for more from Taryn in the future.
Taryn Hayes begins with a message in a bottle and through skillful storytelling, delves into the tragedy of apartheid and one boy’s journey from despair to faith. Along the way, we meet a homeschooling family and experience with them the discovery of not only the one who sent the message, but the One who invites us to discover Him.
The story is full of great characters and dialogue that rings true in any family setting, whether in South Africa or middle America. And for extra credit—the ending had a few twists and turns I didn’t expect! Seekers of the Lost Boy left me story-satisfied and hoping for more from Taryn in the future.
October 8, 2013
This is a delightful children's book designed as a "living book" (one that gives information as the child reads it). It is a warm family adventure story which takes the family into the history of the infamous forced removals of the 'Coloured' population from District Six in Cape Town in the 1960s. It is a Christian book which provided captivating reading to the end through the adventures and the mysteries (How did a bottle with a message land up on Muizenberg Beach? Who was the author and why did he write that particular message?). Heartily recommended as edutainment for home-schoolers and general reading.
July 15, 2013
This was an easy read. What made it interesting to me, was the timeframe and history in which the story happens, as I am familiar with both. This writer has an excellent writing style and I will definitely read any other books of her. The religious part of the book didn't bother me, as I believe as well. But it might become a bit much for other readers. However I don't think the writer must change what she writes about. It clearly came from the heart. To me this book was different from what I normally read, but I loved the story.
June 21, 2013
Amazing and captivating, with a brilliant Godly message.
November 6, 2018
I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I finished this.
I don't usually pick up 'serious' reading as I prefer to keep the serious stuff to real life - thank you very much! But the historical background of this caught my attention. What I didn't expect was the deep religious message that was also included.
Suitable for both children (age 10+ I would say) and grown ups alike this story takes you on an awesome adventure of discovery. And at the end the protagonists find not only 'the lost boy' but God. You also realise that Joseph was not only literally lost, but metaphorically too.
The family dynamics are very realistic and draw you into their lives from the very first pages. As they research their country's past, the children are also let into a tragic family secret. This is very much a tale of growing up and reaching some maturity in thought and ideals.
We who have lived through tragic times in our lives - be in apartheid in South Africa, or the civil war in my home country Sri Lanka - have accepted those troubled times as part of our lives. It is not history - it is real fact. But, this is something I realised while reading this book, to the next generation, to those who are our students or children, all that 'stuff' is history. Bringing them to an understanding of that history is our duty.
Coming to the other aspect of the tale - Christianity. The book has a very strong, inspiring, positive message about God and his mysterious ways, put in a very simple way. The lesson in the sand, for example, was beautifully put across and any child reading this book would grasp a very deep concept. I am a Catholic and therefore had no adverse reaction to this aspect of the book - I do not know how non-Christians would react. I myself did not find it preachy.
Overall, a very good book.
I don't usually pick up 'serious' reading as I prefer to keep the serious stuff to real life - thank you very much! But the historical background of this caught my attention. What I didn't expect was the deep religious message that was also included.
Suitable for both children (age 10+ I would say) and grown ups alike this story takes you on an awesome adventure of discovery. And at the end the protagonists find not only 'the lost boy' but God. You also realise that Joseph was not only literally lost, but metaphorically too.
The family dynamics are very realistic and draw you into their lives from the very first pages. As they research their country's past, the children are also let into a tragic family secret. This is very much a tale of growing up and reaching some maturity in thought and ideals.
We who have lived through tragic times in our lives - be in apartheid in South Africa, or the civil war in my home country Sri Lanka - have accepted those troubled times as part of our lives. It is not history - it is real fact. But, this is something I realised while reading this book, to the next generation, to those who are our students or children, all that 'stuff' is history. Bringing them to an understanding of that history is our duty.
Coming to the other aspect of the tale - Christianity. The book has a very strong, inspiring, positive message about God and his mysterious ways, put in a very simple way. The lesson in the sand, for example, was beautifully put across and any child reading this book would grasp a very deep concept. I am a Catholic and therefore had no adverse reaction to this aspect of the book - I do not know how non-Christians would react. I myself did not find it preachy.
Overall, a very good book.
June 16, 2013
Brilliant first attempt. I loved the historical elements having grown up in the same era. Will definately read more from Taryn.
February 24, 2014
This was a delightful, well-written and educational story. A longer review I've written can be found here:
http://reflectiontherapy.wordpress.co...
http://reflectiontherapy.wordpress.co...
August 12, 2016
An amazing book... PS i live in Cape Town
January 8, 2017
Quick and easy read. Really enjoyed the variety of humor and "whoa it's getting emotional now" times in the book. Very Gospel focused and encouraging.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews