A couple months ago, I started revisiting some of the books I had read back when I was in grade school. I was traditionally homeschooled through Seton Home Study School, which fostered and promoted a strong love and appreciation for literature. Therefore, I couldn’t help feeling a little nostalgic while re-reading all the wonderful books that I grew up with, whether it had been for a homework assignment or just for pure pleasure, but I can honestly say that I have since come to appreciate and enjoy these stories even more now that I am a bit older and (somewhat) wiser! I just recently finished re-reading the delightful Tom Playfair trilogy, written by Fr. Francis J. Finn, and I felt so charmed by his heart-warming characters and captivating writing style:

1. Tom Playfair: Or Making a Start – As the main hero or co-hero featured in all 3 books, Tom reminds me a lot of the famous Ash Ketchum from Pokémon (I’m a Pokéfan, just for the record!). Tom is determined, stubborn, and headstrong, and he never thinks things through before he acts. He is also courageous without even realizing it, as well as selfless to a fault, constantly putting the needs of others before his own. It’s impossible not to like Tom, due to his great strength of character and unprecedented sense of humor, both of which make him a natural born leader and an inspiring protagonist to cheer for.
2. Percy Wynn: Or Making a Boy of Him – Percy is my personal favorite out of the three characters whose names are featured in the book titles. As much as I love all of these boys, Percy holds a special place in my heart because he strikes a pleasing yet peculiar balance between the feminine and the masculine. His formal manner of speech is winsome and endearing (if not outdated), and he possesses all the grace and gentleness of a girl. I find it particularly cute how Percy transitions from being a rather effeminate little boy to becoming a sweet-tempered, soft-hearted young man.
3. Harry Dee: Or Working It Out – While Percy may be my favorite character, this third and final book about Harry is the actually one that I have enjoyed reading the most. Unlike the first two stories, which are written from a third person point of view, this last story is written from a first-person point of view. This hits differently because it’s almost as if we, the readers, are suddenly seeing and feeling everything from Harry’s perspective, as we get reintroduced to both Tom and Percy, and undergo our own character development, so to speak, by experiencing all the peaks and valleys of their many adventures through Harry. At first, I was surprised to find that this last book in the series is narrated from different point of view, but I soon became fascinated by the personalizing effect produced by this change in writing. There is also an additional element of mystery and thriller in Harry’s story, which distinguishes it from the other two, and reveals an extra dimension to Fr. Finn’s tone of voice.

I would undoubtedly recommend the Tom Playfair series to anyone who values wholesome stories, traditional morals, and good old-fashioned humor. Fr. Finn’s books appeal to people of all ages – children, teens, and adults alike – through his timeless themes of friendship, virtue, and coming of age, as well as his regular implementation of archaic terms which constantly prompted me to reach for my dictionary. (In fact, I highly suggest keeping a dictionary close at hand when reading these stories, as I can assure you that you will come across some exotically curious words which practically beg for an inquisitive definition!) So, I invite you to come and meet Tom Playfair, Percy Wynn, and Harry Dee for yourself, by tagging along with all their other friends and immersing yourself in the wonderful world of the all-American boy.

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