Wednesday, May 13, 2015
HUPOGRAMMOS: Freddie Cottonmouth: Your New Fiction Friend
HUPOGRAMMOS: Freddie Cottonmouth: Your New Fiction Friend: Recently, I was given the opportunity to read C.S. Fritz’ newest release: Cottonmouth and the End. It is the third book of the Cottonmouth...
Freddie Cottonmouth: Your New Fiction Friend
Recently, I
was given the opportunity to read C.S. Fritz’ newest release: Cottonmouth and
the End. It is the third book of the Cottonmouth Trilogy. I must say this book and the trilogy as a whole are fabulous! This is the new Narnia for a younger
generation! If you’re a parent of a kid
who loves to read, this set needs to be your next purchase. If you’re a parent of a kid who doesn't like
to read, this trilogy might be a springboard to change their thoughts about
reading. Never again will your children
say, “Reading is boring.” Below, I
present an overview of each book's storyline.
Cover price
is $7.99 per book. Each book is packed
with beautiful artwork which guide the reader through each storyline. I finished each book in about ten minutes,
children will probably take 20-25 if they read straight through. The connections to God are unmistakable. The challenge to see Freddie’s life fit into
God’s story bring the point home: our own lives fit into God’s story too!
Want to win a SIGNED piece of artwork straight from Cottonmouth and the End (Book 3)? CLICK HERE TO ENTER
Did you know you can be pen pals with Freddie?
Write a letter to Freddie and he will write one back to you!
INDIVIDUAL BOOK REVIEWS:
Cottonmouth and the River (Book One):
We are
introduced to Frederick Cottonmouth at the river near his home. It is a place of solace and reflection for
young Freddie, who comes to visit the shoreline every day. One day in particular, Freddie finds a
smooth, polished, black egg. As he is a
curious boy, Freddie takes it home with him to examine it more. As he returns home, we realize that young
Freddie’s parents are not there and haven’t been for quite some time. Freddie is enamored by the egg; its shape, its
meaning. As he drifts off to sleep,
unable to find anything conclusive about the egg, Freddie hears movement and a
loud “CRACK” in the upstairs of his
house. The black egg from the River seems
to be at the center of this as Freddie notices it spinning around and
around. Suddenly, a creature
appears. He is large and
boisterous. Freddie has never seen or
heard anything like it before Freddie’s fear is soon replaced by the creature’s
voice: “Hi. I’m Tug, the comforter.” Freddie’s world is turned upside down as Tug
becomes his closest companion. Tug gives Fredrick a command: you must never eat this egg. Fredrick agrees and suddenly, the life he has
always wished for is in his possession as Tug leads the most amazing adventures
and experiences for the two of them. At
the end of two weeks, Fredrick asks Tug if the black egg can bring his parents
back. Tug tells him a story, meant to
assure Fredrick that there is a purpose behind his parents’ absence. Fredrick is hurt and runs away from Tug,
throwing the egg deep into the river as he runs home. A rodent, named Menson, rings the doorbell of
the Cottonmouth home. He speaks with
Fredrick and tells him that what Tug has told him is a lie. Menson convinces Fredrick that he can take
him to his parents if Fredrick will only follow his directions. Fredrick makes a terrible mistake that rips
apart his bond with Tug and at the same time makes Fredrick deathly ill. Tug doesn’t allow Fredrick’s mistake to keep them
separated forever, though. And Tug makes
one of the greatest sacrifices of all while Freddie watches on. Alone once again, Fredrick returns home; only
to hear a loud “CRACK” from upstairs again!
Who could it be this time?
Freddie,
believing that Tug is truly gone decides to return to the River and go
fishing. As he retrieves his pole and
lure, Freddie is confronted with the movement upstairs. Unexpectedly, Tug returns! He leads Freddie to the river and gives him a
new black egg and a special mission: “You
must get this egg to the girl with two different colored eyes. She is in The Great Blue.” Freddie doesn’t understand and asks how he is
supposed to find this girl with two different colored eyes. Tug promises that he will send Freddie a
helper. Freddie is confused and wants
Tug to stay. Tug blows into his hands
and suddenly, he is gone. Everything
goes dark and it feels as if Freddie is sleeping. He is awoken to the sound of his name being
called. There appears a yellow hummingbird
who introduces himself as “Yellowthroat, the Gift”. Yellowthroat leads Freddie on an adventure
down the river that Freddie used to visit every day. They stop so Freddie can stretch his legs and
run into a troll who leads them to a forest full of bookcases. There, Gloom and his octopus, Matilda, have
been expecting Freddie and present him with his book. Inside the book, Freddie finds a letter from
Tug and everything about his whole life written in ink, right down to his
mission and even the current moment itself!
Freddie and Yellowthroat continue on their journey; Freddie feeling a
little more confident because Tug has known his story all along. As the approach what they believe to be the
entrance to The Great Blue, they run into a chimpanzee named Secret who only
answers questions depending on how well he is paid. They are forced to give Secret Freddie’s book
written by Tug for the answer they desperately need. Secret points down to answer the question, “where
is the entrance?” Freddie begins to
dig. And dig. And dig. For days he digs. He is ready to give up until a fluttering
page of his book appears with a reviving message. Freddie musters up energy to dig just a little
more. He finds a door with an egg-shaped
handle but before Freddie can turn the knob, the knob starts turning from the
other side! What could be behind this
door?
Cottonmouth and the End (Book Three):
Behind
the door found by Freddie and Yellowthroat was the Darkness. It had been waiting for Freddie ever since
Tug made the greatest sacrifice of all time.
The darkness tells Freddie that his parents are there, waiting for
him. Yellowthroat, sensing something not
right, admonishes Freddie to follow him instead of the Darkness. Still, the promise of seeing his parents is
too much for Fredrick to contain and instead he devises a way to separate
himself from Yellowthroat’s advice. Yellowthroat
leaves Fredrick’s side, Fredrick is alone but now realizes his mistake. Yellowthroat is shut out of the Darkness
permanently. Suddenly, in the Darkness,
is Menson, the rat. Menson has been
planning for months because Fredrick’s mission has been damaging Menson’s
mission. Menson has since wanted
Fredrick eliminated. He ties Fredrick up
tight, reminding Fredrick of all the things he’s done wrong. Fredrick, finding courage deep inside of him,
yells at Menson that he is unafraid of him.
Fredrick and Menson both hear a loud “CRACK”. Menson wonders who is there and suddenly, an
even louder voice overpowers both of them. Tug has returned and defeats Menson
and giving grace to Fredrick who struggles with the consequences of all he has
done. Tug brings Fredrick to his palace seated
on the banks of The Great Blue. There,
Fredrick meets the girl with the two different colored eyes, Pox. Together, they are given a new mission from
Tug and a treasure chest full of smooth, polished, black eggs. What will they do with them all?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)