by Chloe Townson
Ages 15-150 | LGBTQ+ rep | $32.99
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk sets the scene in mid 1700s England and Constantinople. The first half of the novel follows Abel Cloudesley — a slightly eccentric clock maker who, through unfortunate circumstances, becomes a single father to a son, Zachary. Young Zachary is surrounded by a quirky cast of part-time caretakers including his wet nurse Grace Morley, his aunt Frances (who is arguably far more eccentric than his own father), his butler Mr Samuels, and his father’s apprentice-with-a-secret, Tom.
When he’s six years old, Young Zachary is victim to an accident in his father’s workshop which costs him half his sight. Convinced that he is not fit to be a father, Abel sends Zachary to live with his Aunt Frances. Before he is able to change his mind, Abel is sent to Constantinople to act as spy — he never comes home.
The second half of the novel follows a sixteen-year-old, diabolically clever Zachary who has a peculiar second sight. Zachary is able to see into the hearts of others, to prophesise things past or things yet to come. Upon finding out that his father is still alive, Zachary sets off on an adventure to find him and bring him home.
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley is akin to a warm hot chocolate on a Winter night, but with a touch of spice. The cast of characters are rightly described as Dickensian in nature — they are quirky and larger-than-life, caricaturistic but not to the point of ridicule (though they are ridiculously lovable). Historically accurate, the events described in the book are thoroughly researched and richly detailed so you’ll feel as if you’re stepping into the past.
Zachary’s second sight is unobtrusively threaded through the novel; it’s that twist of magical realism that, even in the story itself, is constantly questioned and disbelieved. The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley is ultimately about what it means to be a parent, and the love shared between family. It’s about found family and finding family, and is an inclusive coming-of-age adventure written in a way that hearkens back to the classics.
Five out of five.