Book Review – Timothy of the 10th Floor by Jenny Phillips

Co-read with my 8-year-old daughter, this book offers a mix of challenging words for an improving reader and switches about every two times a chapter between parent and child on sections to read. That has to be a unique thread to try and weave for an author and Phillips does well enough to provide a good little mystery, emotion, and character development. While Timothy is the title character and covers some internal dialogue of his and not anyone else’s, his cousin, Zoey, is an equal star to the story as well. While her character doesn’t have the same arc Timothy does, she’s a good character that leads him on his journey. There are some sweet moments and even some very well-done sad moments that add to the fact that this story about Christian homeschoolers who are maybe a little too good doesn’t have to always have a story where everything always works out in the way you think it will. The moral of the story, not that there is only one, but that small actions can make big impacts is a great lesson for young readers to learn. My one big negative with the story is the reveal of a mysterious character who is not once alluded to or mentioned in passing before the reveal. It is a let down because it is so built up in the book as an added mystery to the other ones mentioned. Other than that, this is a sweet story with good morals and some good emotional depth to show young readers that stories can move and motivate.