Tim Shoemaker’s book Code of Silence is a Boy’s Book!

Filled with: Action, Suspense, Independence, and Honesty

Well maybe not so much honesty, but that’s what the book is actually about. Honesty is one of the hardest virtues for all of us to practice. The kids in this book struggle from the beginning but let me fill you in. 

The kids are eyewitnesses to what they assume is murder at their favorite hot dog hangout. A chase by a masked man, fear, and threats produce a code of silence. At every turn, lies, fear and racing hearts create the suspense that moves the story forward. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out – You Don’t!

Cooper, Hiro, and Gordy demonstrate courage but not honesty. Honesty is the trait Shoemaker so expertly teaches from a kid’s perspective. Finding mentor texts for ourselves as writers and for our children is often a difficult task. Tim Shoemaker’s books are the type of writing we need to model not only for our children but also for children living in today’s secular world. We must consider writing in a way that will reach out to our Samaria and into all the world with the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness. We have to westy, rap that message in a story that will scare the daylights out of a kid and make them want to hold a flashlight under the cover to find out how the story ends. May it always end with the message of love and forgiveness found in Christ.