In case you’re just joining me, I’m posting all about reading this week…
the act of and the books themselves.
I love a lot of books, I really do, but only a few totally and completely wallop me.
This summer, the book that blew me away was YA novel Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork.
Marcelo is a tender, compassionate novel about the truly good-hearted title character negotiating his own challenges with Asperger’s Syndrome, and a summer job at his father’s law firm. And that, dear reader, would be enough. I assure you. Marcelo’s voice is so unique and appealing, and the summer job so jarring that I would’ve read straight through that story and been happy as a little duck.
But noooo…. Stork doesn’t stop there. He lays in a narrative thread of intrigue and moral outrage and suspense. Oh, right, and then how about some biblial allusions and a crisis of faith? And you want a little romance? Let’s toss some of that in there, too.
Mercy, Mr. Stork, you leave us wanting for nothing!
This book got eversomuch bigger than I expected and it held every bit of itself quite gracefully. I never felt conscious of the juggles the author must’ve been pulling off; instead I was just lost in story and crying quite a bit. (I am always so happy to get a good book and a good cry taken care of at the same time…)
I don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling it for anyone. This book is full of energy and humor and passion and love. And If you haven’t read it yet, you ought to…
And . . . there it sits, in my TBR pile. MUST get back to reading. Seriously.
YES. Go read it!!!
Yes, yes, yes to everything you said about Marcelo. Right now, it’s my front-runner for the Printz Award.
I agree with you and with Varian. Amazing book.
I know. It’s really lovely, right?
The scene between him and the rabbi, about 3/4 of the way through I think, is probably one of my top favorite scenes EVER. It literally gave me chills.
I ADORED that scene.
The really frank spiritual digging wowed me…
A new treasure
My TBR pile grows everyday but I’m looking forward to many days of reading in the coming weeks when I’m in Canada. I’ll grab this little gem for the journey. Thanks for sharing, Liz!
Re: A new treasure
Yes, Carmen. A good read for the airplane…
Safe travels!
this week
Would it be too much trouble to hae you list the general age range for these books? I’m always on the lookout for reading for the gulls…
Barb Cooper
Re: this week
No, Barb, no trouble at all and a GOOD IDEA.
Duh. Don’t know why I didn’t include ages to begin with. This is why I’m not a professional reviewer…
Marcelo and the Real World = Young Adult, although I think it’d be fine for strong middle-grade readers.
Eternal = Young Adult and I think should stay in that category.
The picture books are obviously for little ones….
I just got word that my 7 copies of “All the World” are on their way – I expect this to be a book that blows ME away! ^_^
Jen
Ooooo gosh. I HOPE so!