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siriface's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Ableism, and Toxic friendship
goodem9199's review
2.0
I really, really wanted to like this, but I was bored stiff...maybe it's the audio narrator
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
mildly autistic Marcelo has to deal with the "real world", as his dad calls it, by working in his dad's law firm, which is a real viper's nest of lying, cheating, malicious, self-serving, angry people. Not exactly the kind of place Marcelo would like to be. But he learns a lot about this so-called real world, and how to deal straight with under-handed, deceptive people. great narrator, too.
shareen17's review
4.0
Nicely written book about a naive boy who is on the asperger's spectrum. He's spent all his previous time at a sheltered private school. Now his dad wants him to get a summer job that forces him to learn about the "real world". Marcelo is a strong, interesting character facing new challenges and moral dilemmas. There's a small amount of swearing in this book.
elnaann1313's review
5.0
Fabulous! Very well written. Pair with Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight. Particulary like the Rabbi's explaination of Adam and Eve's shame at their nakedness. p. 119
boluvsmikayla's review
4.0
Marcelo is quite the thought provoking character. I felt myself experiencing a lot of emotions as I read this book. I wanted to stand up for Marcelo in every conversation he had with Wendell. I enjoyed the book a lot. It was also extremely frustrating. I feel like Marcelo only had two and a half people who truly loved him and has his best interest at heart.
stephxsu's review
5.0
MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD is an unassuming winner that’s deserving of all the praise it’s received. Sensitive, touching, and hopeful, this remarkable book will make you rethink your position in life, and the influences you can have on it.
Marcelo is an incredibly genuine protagonist. Reading his narration feels in a way like a novelization of the character of Forrest Gump: that charming, yet heartbreaking, guilelessness, the literal way with which he looks at the world, the difficult lessons he can only learn through experience. The completeness with which Francisco Stork seems to know his protagonist is astonishing, and convincingly touching as a result.
In a sense, MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD is a celebration of characters, both good and bad. A law firm is an interesting but quite genius place to set such a story, as it allows Marcelo—and readers—to come in contact with people who lie and manipulate, and yet have people they love, and dreams they aspire to. Marcelo’s changing relationship with his father is particularly well done, as it shows us the all-too-real complexities of loving people with good and bad parts.
Sometimes the plot feels slow (it took a few chapters before I got into the story), and sometimes the scenes are disjointed, but overall MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD is an amazing accomplishment. I highly recommend that everyone read this book: it might encourage you to approach the world around you differently, with a more open mind and heart.
Marcelo is an incredibly genuine protagonist. Reading his narration feels in a way like a novelization of the character of Forrest Gump: that charming, yet heartbreaking, guilelessness, the literal way with which he looks at the world, the difficult lessons he can only learn through experience. The completeness with which Francisco Stork seems to know his protagonist is astonishing, and convincingly touching as a result.
In a sense, MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD is a celebration of characters, both good and bad. A law firm is an interesting but quite genius place to set such a story, as it allows Marcelo—and readers—to come in contact with people who lie and manipulate, and yet have people they love, and dreams they aspire to. Marcelo’s changing relationship with his father is particularly well done, as it shows us the all-too-real complexities of loving people with good and bad parts.
Sometimes the plot feels slow (it took a few chapters before I got into the story), and sometimes the scenes are disjointed, but overall MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD is an amazing accomplishment. I highly recommend that everyone read this book: it might encourage you to approach the world around you differently, with a more open mind and heart.
mollywetta's review
4.0
I first came about this book when I was putting together a book list for National Autism Awareness day while writing a post for our library blog (I know, would you believe it, I contribute to 3 different blogs?) I was immediately anxious to read it, but I put it off because my current WIP has a supporting character who has an autism-like condition, so I didn’t want to read any other conceptions until he was fully formed in my mind (luckily I have a live in autism expert in the form of Mister BS, who put me in touch with a lot of great resources and was able to introduce me to children on the autism spectrum). Oh, was this book worth the wait. I fell in love immediately and devoured it in one sitting.
The characterization of Marcelo is realistic and life-like. I felt like I knew him from the first page. The opening scene when he is meeting with researchers who are scanning his brain while he listens to “real” music versus his “internal music” was fascinating. Then, we are immediately thrust into the conflict of the story. Marcelo’s father is insisting he give up his beloved position caring for the ponies at his private school for children with exceptionalities to join the “real world” as a mail clerk in his father’s law firm.
The plot unfolds with very careful development. I only question the reality of two minor elements—that Jasmine, the supervisor of the mail room—has been given a bonus of $2000 a month for accepting Marcelo as an assistant rather than her first choice. I think it’s more likely that a mail room clerk could earn a raise of $200 a month and consider herself lucky. I’m not sure a mail clerk at a Boston law firm would make mure more than $2000 a month to begin with. I also found it unbelievable that Marcelo sleeps in a treehouse—year round? In Boston? That can’t be comfortable on the extreme ends of the weather spectrum, even if it is outfitted with electricity.
Besides these minor snags, I was completely engrossed in the story. Marcelo learns a lot about the “real world”, including the lesson that is sometimes the most difficult for a son to learn—that his father is not perfect or infallible.
I was particularly interested in the conversations that Marcelo has with his Rabbi friend. Though he’s Catholic, his primary interest is religion and God, in all forms, so he meets regularly with a friend of his mother’s, who he seems to speak the most freely with and who is able to candidly answer many of his questions about life. These scenes were particularly endearing.
This was a feel-good book, a coming-of-age story in all the right ways, a story of family and friendship and finding your own way in the world. I recommend it for both teens and adults and this will be making it’s way onto my “favorites” shelf.
The characterization of Marcelo is realistic and life-like. I felt like I knew him from the first page. The opening scene when he is meeting with researchers who are scanning his brain while he listens to “real” music versus his “internal music” was fascinating. Then, we are immediately thrust into the conflict of the story. Marcelo’s father is insisting he give up his beloved position caring for the ponies at his private school for children with exceptionalities to join the “real world” as a mail clerk in his father’s law firm.
The plot unfolds with very careful development. I only question the reality of two minor elements—that Jasmine, the supervisor of the mail room—has been given a bonus of $2000 a month for accepting Marcelo as an assistant rather than her first choice. I think it’s more likely that a mail room clerk could earn a raise of $200 a month and consider herself lucky. I’m not sure a mail clerk at a Boston law firm would make mure more than $2000 a month to begin with. I also found it unbelievable that Marcelo sleeps in a treehouse—year round? In Boston? That can’t be comfortable on the extreme ends of the weather spectrum, even if it is outfitted with electricity.
Besides these minor snags, I was completely engrossed in the story. Marcelo learns a lot about the “real world”, including the lesson that is sometimes the most difficult for a son to learn—that his father is not perfect or infallible.
I was particularly interested in the conversations that Marcelo has with his Rabbi friend. Though he’s Catholic, his primary interest is religion and God, in all forms, so he meets regularly with a friend of his mother’s, who he seems to speak the most freely with and who is able to candidly answer many of his questions about life. These scenes were particularly endearing.
This was a feel-good book, a coming-of-age story in all the right ways, a story of family and friendship and finding your own way in the world. I recommend it for both teens and adults and this will be making it’s way onto my “favorites” shelf.
xaqrii's review
2.0
REQUIRED
Marcelo in the Real World is about a 17-year-old boy who is a little different. He hears music that no one else can hear and he has a deep interest in religion. Those who don't know him might think that he's on the Autism spectrum but that isn't quite right. In order to keep attending his special school, he has to work in the mail room at his dad's law firm. Over time, he becomes friends with his coworker Jade, which proves helpful when he gets involved, secretly, in the case his father is working on. When faced with doing what is right by the victims of his dad's client and what is right in the eyes of his father, Marcelo must decide where his loyalties lie: his own conscious or "the real world." This book is a beautiful character study into someone who doesn't quite fit the mold society has set for us. Marcelo stays true to himself and learns that fitting in isn't always worth it. I think this would be a great book for younger teens to read. It helps the reader see that there isn't anything wrong with being different and to understand the struggle some people have navigating life.
Marcelo in the Real World is about a 17-year-old boy who is a little different. He hears music that no one else can hear and he has a deep interest in religion. Those who don't know him might think that he's on the Autism spectrum but that isn't quite right. In order to keep attending his special school, he has to work in the mail room at his dad's law firm. Over time, he becomes friends with his coworker Jade, which proves helpful when he gets involved, secretly, in the case his father is working on. When faced with doing what is right by the victims of his dad's client and what is right in the eyes of his father, Marcelo must decide where his loyalties lie: his own conscious or "the real world." This book is a beautiful character study into someone who doesn't quite fit the mold society has set for us. Marcelo stays true to himself and learns that fitting in isn't always worth it. I think this would be a great book for younger teens to read. It helps the reader see that there isn't anything wrong with being different and to understand the struggle some people have navigating life.