Timons Tide [Hardcover]

Charles Butler (Author), George Smith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

Six years ago, Daniel's older brother, Timon, was killed, presumably in a drug-related crime. Timon had always been in charge, with Daniel as his faithful sidekick. But since his death, Daniel has been concerned that -- because he once failed to carry out a scary errand for Timon -- he may be responsible for Timon's killing.

Now nearly seventeen, Daniel is still trying to find himself and come to terms with all the changes of the last six years. Besides Timon's death, their father -- a charming, irresponsible Irishman -- has left the family for good, and their mother, Lisa, has remarried. Daniel's stepfather, Max, and Max's daughter, Ruby, have moved in with Lisa, Daniel, and old Aunt Jenkins. And then Timon reappears -- to Daniel, to Aunt Jenkins, and also to Ruby. What is Timon now -- alive, dead, or undead?

Daniel must untangle the mystery of Timon's death and the uncertainties of his own life, past and present, in this haunting tale that builds to a gripping climax.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This ghost story is haunting, but not entirely comprehensible. Sixteen-year-old Daniel thwarted his older brother Timon's drug deal six years ago. Timon was subsequently tied up and left on the beach to drown as the tide came in, and the reasons are unclear: was it because of the delivery Daniel never made on Timon's behalf? or because of mysterious beings with flat white faces suspected of murdering other children in their small seaside town? When police found Timon, his face had been eaten away. As Daniel contemplates his possible role in his brother's death and copes with a new stepfather and stepsister, and his mother's pregnancy, Timon mysteriously reappears. Is he a ghost? Or was he never really dead? As in British author Butler's previous gothic, The Darkling, motivations and logic remain tangled even at the end. The third-person narrative switches perspectives so often that it's hard to keep track of who is conscious of what set of facts, and many of the more dramatic subplots take place offstage (in one outlandish sideline, the stepsister gets pregnant by Timon and Daniel's absentee father). But for those who don't mind putting character development on hold, there are chills aplenty that fright fans will likely enjoy nonetheless. Ages 12-up. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Great Britain is the setting for this contemporary gothic tale in which Daniel, 16, is haunted by the tragic death of his older brother six years before. Timon's body, ravaged by the sea and unrecognizable, washed ashore miles from where he presumably drowned. It is assumed that Timon's fate was the result of drug-related activities but the details are a bit murky, as is the relationship between the two brothers. Daniel's mother and stepfather are trying to heal the sorrows of the past and they announce to the family that she is expecting a new baby. Slow to warm up to these changes, Daniel withdraws to his "hide" by the sea. Butler creates a dichotomous world once Timon reappears. The normality of school and family life soon take on an eerie twist when ghostly images appear to senile Aunt Jenkins and Daniel. The characters who appear from the nether regions of the sea are portrayed vividly and with imagination. This malicious squad of "Lockermen," who threaten to take Timon away again forever, are intriguing but their motives are insufficiently explained. The story comes to an exciting and dramatic climax when Daniel's stepsister is enticed to the sea by these rogues and he must rescue her. Extraneous characters and subplots further complicate the story, but it is essentially an evocative mystery that will appeal to most supernatural fans.
Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689825935
• ISBN-13: 978-0689825934
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,838,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars teen review, November 3, 2000

By 

monica (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Timons Tide (Hardcover)

The book Timon's Tide is about a boy named Daniel. He is 17 years old, he lived with his mother who is remarried and prenant. 6 years ago his older brother Timon die of a drugs related accident. Daniel blame himself for his brother death. Now he must accept the fact that his older brother is dead and doesn't have a brother to advise him on how to express his love to the girl he like. He still think that his older brother is still alive because Timon keep on reappearing. Now he must solve the mystery his older brother death so that he can move on with his life. I think the book is confusing because it skip some part that I think were important. It did not talk about Daniel's real problem. The book did not decribes the charaters clearly. It talk about drugs, affair, and mental problem which did not go well in the story. I did not like the ending of the book because nothing good happen and it just leave me hanging. Overall I did not like the book.