Title: Don’t Let Me Catch You
Author: Silvio Caputo
Publisher: Xlibris US
ISBN: 1664166688
Pages: 400
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel

Read Book Review

A small town where legends once roamed sets the background for the adventures of three boys that come up with a plan to follow the footsteps of those who came before them and those they’ve seen on TV. At the forefront of this story are children with vivid imaginations who believe in the impossible which fuels their dreams. No obstacle will stand in their way whether it comes from man or nature. They’re drawn into a fascinating journey, and along the way, they receive multiple warnings but when they don’t heed these warnings, some things are meant to be learned the hard way. Any risk is worth achieving their dreams.

The tone is derived from the wonder of a child narrator so the story contains a childlike imagination, wonder, and viewpoint which is used to explore the legends of our youth. First-person narration successfully captures the mindset of a child through his daydreams, goals, and innocence which are elements woven into the novel. The story starts with our narrator entering kindergarten which sets up the aura of a new beginning and fits with the tone of a child’s adventures with school, family, friends, church, and goals. Author Silvio Caputo sets the background with historical cues such as referencing President Kennedy on the TV talking about practicing bomb drills “just in case” which gives a realness to the setting. These historical tidbits transport you back into time through the eyes of a child and create a nostalgic atmosphere paring well with the overall theme of legends.

A strong religious element to the story is seen early-on through the town’s name Trinidad (chosen as a reflection of the Holy Trinity) and the priest considered just short of sainthood. Several lessons are seen throughout such as God’s forgiveness being boundless which plays into our narrator’s prankster personality. The religious elements are more prominent towards the end of the story which coincides with his growing mischievous spirit. The narrator is continuously acting in the role of a prankster such as disrupting class and trouble. Other characters include his cousins Bill and Ben who follow along on his adventures while serving as his prominent source of enabling his mischievous behavior and his goals of living in the shoes of the legends he admires.

The setting is the small town of Trinidad which is a place where struggling was a part of life and where you are constantly surrounded by ghosts of the past. This provides the ideal backdrop to the story that explores the idea of legends which are seen through those who the boys idealize and the church encouraging prayers to those from the past. Caputo explores the essence of our youthful admiration of legends and who we idealize that shapes our goals. Several notable names are mentioned which include Dr. Whitlock (who aided in the naming of the town), Billy the Kid, Father Ziccardi, Superman, and Joe DiMaggio. A majority of these legends stem from the TV that these boys are watching which serves as a basis for their imaginations such as flying like Superman. These provide Caputo with a source of blending reality with a fantasy that is brought to life around the narrator in a world that he creates. Nostalgic adventure comes to life in Don’t Let Me Catch You which weaves a tale of growing up, the legends that we dare to be like, and child-like imagination.