Kidnapped: Book Review
Kidnapped, is a story-based book published in Hong Kong by Oxford University Press. The press has published varieties of storybooks level-wise, from Starter till level 5th, and the text length range starts from 8000 words for starter level and 35000 words for 5th level. However, Oxford Progressive English Reading aims to boost the interest of young readers and help them develop the desire to read in great numbers.
Kidnapped is written by Robert Louis Stevenson who was born in Edinburgh Scotland on 13 November 1850. It is an adventure novel containing some phrases from lowland Scots a Germanic language. The writer has authored another book ‘Treasure Island‘ which was a story for the amusement of his family when they were bound indoors. The writer passed away on December 1894 at the age of forty-four.
This book consists of 6 main characters along with the House of Shaws and the others are Mr. David Balfour who was represented as Lowlander and was in the favor of King George while Mr. Alan Break Stewart represented as Highlander who could hardly bear King George. Mr. Ebenezer Balfour was the uncle of Mr. David Balfour, Mr. Rankielor the lawyer of the Balfour family. Mr. Campbell the minister of Lowland and Captain Hoseason by whom the guy was kidnapped.
According to a clause mentioned in the introductory portion of the book, it says that the writer might have written this book to change the negative image of Highlanders against Lowlanders. The book expresses a good friendship between a Highlander and Lowlander such as David Balfour and Alan Break.
David Balfour begins his journey after two weeks after his father’s death and goes to make a great future on the way, he meets a man called Mr. Campbell the minister who offers him a letter. The letter addresses the guy to go for help to the House of Shaws. In the House of Shaws, he meets a man called Mr. Ebenezer Balfour. He asks for his help though unaware of the fact of being his nephew and the owner of Shaw’s house, while the man pretends to be helpful to the guy. But one day the man goes to one of his business dealers along with the guy and there the guy is introduced to Captain Hoseason who kidnaps the guy. Captain Hoseason promises the guy that he would take him in traveling via ship.
However, the guy had never seen ships and sea before and he was in great joy to see the sea and travel by ship. After a long way, he realizes that he was kidnapped then he begins shouting so the guy’s head was hit with something. Further, the story passes through joys, sorrows, adventures, and griefs until the plot.
This is a mysterious book and the writer had elaborated it in a way that the readers do not get bored they find much interest and they would be excited to know the plot. However, such sorts of books are worthy to improve the interest in reading and developing the habit. I personally recommend this book to all those individuals who want to develop a good reading habit and especially English learners. Because the book consists of easy English wording and one can easily understand it and will be interested and passionate to read more.
Shabir Ahmed Bezanjo