Review: If you enjoy the "Rules of Ten" series, this is a must-read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2014
I read the first two “Rule of Ten” mysteries and enjoyed them immensely. In the first books, Ten is an adult ex-monk, ex-cop turned private eye. He hints at his unusual upbringing in which he was shuttled back and forth between his alcoholic mother in France and the strict discipline of a Tibetan monastery where his father lives. Now we have a book dedicated to Tenzing’s childhood. We join him as he is arriving at the monastery in Tibet at the age of thirteen to spend time with his father. Thirteen is not an easy age for boys, under any circumstances. It’s true he is bewildered, troubled in many ways, and -- like many boys his age – believes rules are made to be broken. My son is also thirteen. By comparison,  I find young Tenzing to be much more contemplative and insightful than any thirteen-year-old boy I know. Maybe that’s because he’s been trained in the Buddhist discipline, which involves following strict rules and sitting silent and still in meditation for hours on end. Or maybe it’s because the author writes through the eyes of an adult. I enjoyed this inside look at life in a Buddhist monastery, and the time spent with Tenzing at a pivotal point in his childhood. The book is short (121 pages) and I’d say that’s enough. If you are a fan of the “Rules of Ten” books, this is a must-read. It's also suitable for teens, free of foul language, graphic violence, and graphic sex. I hope some teens will read and enjoy it.