The Tale Of The Boy Who Could Stop Time: A Fable for Children and Their Parents

Anyone who has been bullied knows it can drain the color from your world, but also provoke anger and the desire for revenge. Author Lance Lee’s novel, The Tale of the Boy Who Could Stop Time honors those extremes but finds a peaceful middle path.

Peter is ten years old, a sweet boy who is happy when running in the park or studying animals in his room. At school, though, he’s tormented by a quartet of creeps. When his mother asks for help, she’s rebuffed by Peter’s teacher.

One day, a kind neighbor gives Peter a stone with a white lightning bolt down the middle and warns him to be careful with it. In a moment of crisis, Peter clutches the stone and time stops for everyone but him. He’s able to defuse the situation in this pause, and later uses the power to intervene and help someone else. Soon after, another crisis arises, and he jumps in to assist with no pause at all.

The cover describes this story as, “A fable for children and their parents,” and ideally it will lead to discussion between them. It’s a beautifully constructed tale, setting up Peter to discover his own power and defeat his tormentors by simply being present and facing them openly, without trickery. His mother ultimately advocates for him by supporting his passion for running, which pays off as he leaves some bullies in the dust.

The kind neighbor’s name is Merlin, which inspires a humorous running bit that leads to a fun revelation at story’s end.

There’s a dreamy, relaxed quality to the writing that lets the story breathe and occasionally sneak up and surprise. With beautiful illustrations tying the narrative threads together, The Tale of a Boy Who Could Stop Time is a powerful reminder of how much can change for the better with just a moment’s pause.

Also available in hardcover.