The Jackass

by Thomas Stimson

Fifteen-year old Mario is the Jackass of Puerto de Santa Maria. His silly songs, tricks and mimicry are an embarrassment to his widowed father with many mouths to feed. Considered old enough to learn a trade, Papa hires Mario out to a trading ship bound for New Spain.

While collecting water and coconuts on a foreign shore, the landing crew is attacked and Mario becomes the lone captive of the Jaguar People. Without a way home, he is soon transported to the capital city and traded to the King. As the Royal Fool, can Mario use his talents as a jackass to survive the intrigues among the Royal Court of the indigenous Jaguars?

Genres: Humor, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Family

102 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2020

About the author

Thomas Stimson is a native of Washington State who has found his writing voice with ‘fish out of water stories’ where the primary character(s) make their way through unfamiliar, and sometimes dangerous, situations in a humorous fashion.

Under the pen-name Charles Thomas, he has also published the SweetSips series of liqueur-making recipe books which can be found on Amazon along with his novels.

Reviews

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of an odd story.
First, I thought it was an adventure story for YA or some teens. But the story took a turn, and then I thought YAs only.
There's an adventure, killings, man, and beast, and finally love, with implied sex.
The main character was spared death from pox as a child. But, scared for life with pox marks all over his face.
He took to playing jokes, singing made-up songs, and dancing for the villagers where he grew up.
His father thought he was wasting his life away, so he booked him on a trade ship to earn money for the family. A maybe end up with a job that could last a lifetime.
When the sailors land on a small island, they were attacked and only Mario survived. He acted the fool and the islanders let him live.
Let the adventure being.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mario is considered a jackass by his family for his silly songs, antics, tricks and the joy he gets in making people happy. His Dad has had enough – sends him off on a ship to learn a trade. Stopping at an Island, Mario is left behind – becomes the King’s jester. As the World changes and smallpox enters his new world, most of whom he knows dies – he manages to finagle enough money from the palace to pay for passage back home with his newborn son. His family is glad to see him but, he is the city jackass. Truly an interesting and entertaining story! Left me with a smile!

[Rose and Mike Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of “The Jackass” by Thomas Stimson in a Goodreads Giveaway. This is the short but sweet story of Mario, a young class clown who gets sent away by his father to learn a profession, like sailing, anything to get Mario to grow up and not be such a Jackass. From this beginning, Mario finds his way through multiple life changing scenarios from a deadly shipwreck to saving royalty from a wild beast. Although the young Mario grows older he keeps his sense of humor and his desire to remain a jackass. Cute read. Four stars.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little book that tells the story of a born comic and mime. He has some remarkable adventures ... some very horrific ... before eventually returning to his home in Spain. It's a fast, humorous, pleasant read with a really upbeat tone. (I especially liked the message regarding turning your enemies into friends.)
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Irene Wenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun little story!

Mario’s father called him a jackass. And Mario played into it. He loved to entertain people with mimicry and magic. Set in Spain slightly after the time of Columbus, Mario’s father arranges for him to become a sailor on a vessel to New Spain. There Mario is taken captive by the people of the Jaguar people. I enjoyed the story of Mario.

[Brenda Keckeisen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

Very cute and easy read. It’s great to see how this young man started out and his adventure! And how he proved to his father his worth.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting fast paced tale of using one’s dubious talent to survive a series of fortune and misfortune.

[Lourdes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book, I won this copy through Goodreads, and I would recommend to parents or grandparents to read to their kids.

Thank you.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Spain and Mesoamerica. 102 pp. Charming story about a boy who chooses joy and forgiveness for his life. Although captured, he uses his charm and good nature to rise to the highest ranks of the people who captured him and eventually finds great happiness and satisfaction.

The Jackass by Thomas Stimson

[Craig Stucko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quaint story with a great deeper meaning about being yourself and seeing the good in things. The main character puts his own beliefs of himself first, even when his family tries to get him to conform to social norms. Lots of references to Spain’s overtaking of lands in the America’s as the protagonist, Mario, struggles through capture, abandonment, disease, and sabotage. The jokes are cute, and forgiveness is king. Very enjoyable and good for young and old alike.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy in a goodreads giveaway.

[Angela Holstedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, entertaining story about the time of the conquistadors in New España, and the lives of the tribes they interacted in, and one boy who just likes to be funny.

[Joy Rosales · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.
I didn’t really get the point of this book and I thought the portrayal of indigenous people was kind of weird.

[Corinne Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway a while back and it was a short read. The story itself was a fable-esque feel. The pacing was quick and we moved through many years rather quickly.

The language was uncomplicated and unfortunately, I felt like the sentence structure was as varied as it could have been. It felt very stiff as we read and I didn’t connect with the characters very well.

Mario, our main character, does have a moment where I thought we would get to know him a bit more intimately when his “to-be wife” falls in; but we are rushed through this scene and on to the next rather quickly.

I was a little disappointed in the novel – particularly since I didn’t really see Mario doing anything amazing – instead the narrator just tells us that he is. Overall, this was a great idea that in my opinion wasn’t executed in the most effective way. I don’t recommend this novel if you are looking to be immersed in a story; however, if you are looking to pass some time and need something quick and mindless (I don’t mean that in a bad way!), then giving this book a quick read might not be a bad idea.

[Kathleen Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I like to know what books would be suitable as gifts for my grandchildren or to put into our small community free library. This was a very good book for preteen age and will make a nice gift for a parent or grandparent to give to their children. I would recommend the purchase of this book for a favorite preteen.