The Boy with Strange Eyes
Dr. Thomas Davison
Cosmic Chipmunk Productions (2023)
ISBN: 979-8989639014
Reviewed by Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views (10/2024)
“The Boy with Strange Eyes” by Dr. Thomas Davison introduces us to Kuni the child, who is at odds with his lot in life. Closer to his mother than his father when she died, he continues reading books instead of fishing with the nets, much to his father’s chagrin. His father wants him to be a fisherman, but Kuni has different ideas on what to do with his life – and in society. It is these different ideas that will shape him and help him to figure out what kind of man he wants to become, along with a little help from the spirit of his departed mother and certain other spirits who can communicate with him.
The story of Kuni is written in the style of old Asian legends, complete with lessons and morals within the pages. Additionally, in a culture that holds seeking the wisdom of our elders in high esteem, Kuni is able to communicate with his deceased mother or grandmother, depending on the occasion. To his predicament, he responds to this mental form of communication with his voice, so the villagers often see Kuni talking aloud to someone who is not there and assuming he is not right in the head. I also appreciated how the voices of the departed loved ones are set out in bold, so it is easier to distinguish who is speaking. (Rarely is there a third person joining in!) The chapters are short, which prompted me to keep reading and reading.
It was nice to see Kuni, now Kimyo, accepting a new life after leaving his village. While he struggled with learning the new language, he still tried to fit in.
The young man was determined to learn how to read and write the language of his new home. (page 30)
When he first arrives, there is talk about him, mainly because now he has the strange eyes mentioned in the book’s title. But in finding a way to fit into this new village, he also finds a way to fit into his new identity. It’s not like he forgets the life he lived before, but it’s sort of a transition for him. I appreciated how this came about in the story because, in a way, Kuni’s life was sad and unfulfilling. He sees this new chapter of living elsewhere as a “new life” and I think that is what makes it easier for him to accept it. His new life is very different from the old one, and it helps him to grow, mature, and understand things better.
Even so, Kimyo continues conversing with a kind spirit which he believes to be his mother as it cares about him and treats him kindly in conversation. Though one might think these conversations would only make the people in this new village more distant from him it was enjoyable to see that Kimyo was accepted without question or prejudice. He may have “strange eyes” but nevertheless, he develops friendships close to familial bonds with people in this new village and during his training period. It was nice to see how he finally gets to be somewhere that his dream of equality among all is observed. He also develops strong friendships with others, and he learns how some friends can be like family. As the author notes on page 99,
Relationships of blood are not always stronger than relationships of the soul.
The man Kimyo becomes a good person despite all the hardships he faced in his younger years. Kimyo is an example of how overcoming our hardships and challenges in life can define our character. As noted on page 127,
Kenshi said that Kimyo’s hard life as an orphan had helped him. He was starved, beaten, ridiculed as mad, bullied, and more, which pounded out all his weaknesses. His life’s poundings did not break him; it only made him stronger like a sword.
In life, we are not given instructions on how to be, how to act among others, and what to do with ourselves. In Dr. Thomas Davison’s “The Boy with Strange Eyes” Kimyo learns these things the hard way and it is through his experiences, observation of others, discipline, and soul searching that he is able to become the man he wants to be and create the kind of life for himself that he wants. These are all very important lessons we can use in our own lives. The stories of how he overcomes struggles, perseveres despite hard times, and honors the relationships he has with others are all inspiring reminders of how we, too, can do these things in order to achieve fulfillment.
well said…