The Cloud People
by Father Kenard Tuzeneu

Christian Faith Publishing

Book Review by Kat Kennedy

"That’s when I heard it, one distinct and clear voice, 'Come closer.'"

When Billy leaves for his summer vacation at his grandparents’ farm, he believes the most exciting thing about the trip is flying alone for the first time. However, as he looks out of the plane’s window at the beautiful, fluffy clouds, he is flabbergasted to see a face in a cloud. “This wasn’t just another shape in the clouds that I was imagining. It was an actual face!” Believing it truly must be his imagination, Billy puts the image out of his mind as he greets his grandparents, and they head home for Billy’s favorite meal and a visit from his Uncle Frank. When his best friend, Megan, comes for dinner that night, he confides to her about what he saw on the plane. Thinking he is joking with her, Megan tells the family about his sighting, but their reaction is unexpected. Is it possible that Billy really did see cloud people from the plane?

This whimsical young adult/middle grades novel is an imaginative adventure that is sure to stoke curiosity in young readers. Fr. Tuzeneu captures the excitement of discovery as Billy and Megan, with the help of Billy’s grandparents and Uncle Frank, go in search of the strange creatures living in the clouds. Lessons in trust and creative imagination abound in this fantasy about life among the clouds. When Billy learns that his ability to see the cloud people extends to his grandfather, Uncle Frank, and even Megan, he becomes obsessed with trying to reconnect with Zon, whom he had met on a nighttime escapade. Billy wants to learn all he can about these strange creatures with their telepathic communication, Munchkin-like voices, and penchant for showing up when needed. This is a wonderfully unique and entertaining story that is sure to capture any young reader’s imagination.

This review was written by a professional book reviewer with no guarantee that it would receive a positive rating. Some authors pay a small fee to have a book reviewed, while others do not. All reviews are approximately half summary and half criticism. The US Review of Books is dedicated to providing fair and honest coverage to all books