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gmamartha's review
3.0
Just what makes a Real Boy? What is loyalty and hard work worth? Watching this world unfold through tragedy and history is worth your time and conjecture.
karen_hallam's review
5.0
So much to love in this book. It had me filled with goosebumps throughout. And I particularly loved the natural healing aspect as I have a herbalist certificate.
One of my favorite paragraphs, and I think it has relevance to how people often look outside, instead of within, to their own voice and heart, seeking soothsayers and fortunetellers.
p. 215: "Malcome had an odd look. "I'm sorry. I know this is hard. Magic is not ours to use, my boy. We think it serves us, but that is only magic playing tricks. Magic only makes us hungry for more magic. We need it more, we rely on it more, and thus it has more control over us. Do you understand?"
And the ending was very, very satisfying.
One of my favorite paragraphs, and I think it has relevance to how people often look outside, instead of within, to their own voice and heart, seeking soothsayers and fortunetellers.
p. 215: "Malcome had an odd look. "I'm sorry. I know this is hard. Magic is not ours to use, my boy. We think it serves us, but that is only magic playing tricks. Magic only makes us hungry for more magic. We need it more, we rely on it more, and thus it has more control over us. Do you understand?"
And the ending was very, very satisfying.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
Kids who like a healthy dose of magical realism will enjoy this story about Oscar - a young orphan who works for one of the most powerful magicians in the Barrows. Oscar is brilliant with herbs and spices but doesn't understand people much. Callie, apprentice to the local healer, helps Oscar develop some people skills while the two of them figure out what's going wrong in their world. There were some beautiful, thoughtful sentences about living a meaningful life but I found the story a little slow for my taste.
readinginfairyland's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This unique middle grade fantasy is about a boy on the spectrum who’s plunged into a role he’s not quite sure he wants to take on when his mentor disappears and leaves him in charge of his magic shop. I loved Oscar as a character. I believe that Ursu did a wonderful job capturing the way that he thinks—how he doesn’t quite understand the world the way everyone else does and has to spend extra time parsing out basic things like facial expressions and conversational skills. I felt that she portrayed his frustrations and doubts in a believable way. And, as always, I adored Ursu’s wonderful prose.
I’ll confess that at one point in the book, I got very nervous about a message related to Oscar’s autism (check out the review on my blog for a spoiler about this. Just click on the spoiler tag once you get there.). But in the end, the message was just what I was hoping it would be—one of acceptance and self-worth. I enjoyed the magical elements and the twists and turns in the story! Overall, this book was a win for me!
NARRATION: Chris Sorenson did a lovely job bringing Oscar’s unique childlike voice to life!
This unique middle grade fantasy is about a boy on the spectrum who’s plunged into a role he’s not quite sure he wants to take on when his mentor disappears and leaves him in charge of his magic shop. I loved Oscar as a character. I believe that Ursu did a wonderful job capturing the way that he thinks—how he doesn’t quite understand the world the way everyone else does and has to spend extra time parsing out basic things like facial expressions and conversational skills. I felt that she portrayed his frustrations and doubts in a believable way. And, as always, I adored Ursu’s wonderful prose.
I’ll confess that at one point in the book, I got very nervous about a message related to Oscar’s autism (check out the review on my blog for a spoiler about this. Just click on the spoiler tag once you get there.). But in the end, the message was just what I was hoping it would be—one of acceptance and self-worth. I enjoyed the magical elements and the twists and turns in the story! Overall, this book was a win for me!
NARRATION: Chris Sorenson did a lovely job bringing Oscar’s unique childlike voice to life!
readwithrishika's review
5.0
summary: so this book is about a world of magic! but something's not quite right. the magic isn't exactly working as it should, and Caleb isn't here to fix it. Oscar (the mc) has to use his cellar knowledge, magic, and cats to figure out what's wrong.
footnotes: this was a book i read as a child and i loved it so much. i reread it from time to time and i still love it just as much.
it's not a fantasy book by any means, but makes for great escapism. i remember escaping away to world full of cats, and spices, and children that were not quite right.
the main character, Oscar is someone i related to a lot. he finds himself on the outskirts, and doesn't quite get people. he's only known two people his whole life, and he doesn't want to know any more.
his whole life is his cats and his spells. even as a kid, i could see the metaphor for hiding away from things with things you enjoy.
thoughts: i really really enjoyed this book. all of the characters were so well thought out, the plot was one i enjoyed, and this book just holds such a special place in my heart.
each character has a metaphorical meaning that i enjoyed deeply. i could not have fallen in love with a book more. each page seemed to come alive, with vivd description and actual problems to solve. a wonderfully nostalgic read.
footnotes: this was a book i read as a child and i loved it so much. i reread it from time to time and i still love it just as much.
it's not a fantasy book by any means, but makes for great escapism. i remember escaping away to world full of cats, and spices, and children that were not quite right.
the main character, Oscar is someone i related to a lot. he finds himself on the outskirts, and doesn't quite get people. he's only known two people his whole life, and he doesn't want to know any more.
his whole life is his cats and his spells. even as a kid, i could see the metaphor for hiding away from things with things you enjoy.
thoughts: i really really enjoyed this book. all of the characters were so well thought out, the plot was one i enjoyed, and this book just holds such a special place in my heart.
each character has a metaphorical meaning that i enjoyed deeply. i could not have fallen in love with a book more. each page seemed to come alive, with vivd description and actual problems to solve. a wonderfully nostalgic read.
jennymock's review
5.0
I love Anne Ursu's writing. It's soothing to read. This novel is an intriguing fantasy with plenty of important themes and plot twists.
lattelibrarian's review
5.0
This was the most wonderful and (un)expected retelling of Pinocchio I've read. Oscar has trouble acting the way that others do--he doesn't understand small talk, doesn't know how to infer from people's indirect questions. But as his master is called away, he's left to run the magic shop, something hugely outside of his comfort zone.
This retelling offers discussions surrounding on just what "real" is, the importance of the environment, and when it's best to let non-understanding to remain not understood. This tale is just so incredible in deconstructing what we think we know, cultural knowledge, and our understanding of humans. Not only that, but it offers a fantastical setting for an autistic main character--I've personally never seen fantasy with dis/abled main characters, so this was something just wonderful to see!
The Real Boy had me shocked, confused, eager to read more. I had to step away from it, I had to come right back. It left me reeling with so many emotions. Overall, it was a great book, and a good one, too. It's so worth the read. You will not be disappointed.
Review cross-listed here!
This retelling offers discussions surrounding on just what "real" is, the importance of the environment, and when it's best to let non-understanding to remain not understood. This tale is just so incredible in deconstructing what we think we know, cultural knowledge, and our understanding of humans. Not only that, but it offers a fantastical setting for an autistic main character--I've personally never seen fantasy with dis/abled main characters, so this was something just wonderful to see!
The Real Boy had me shocked, confused, eager to read more. I had to step away from it, I had to come right back. It left me reeling with so many emotions. Overall, it was a great book, and a good one, too. It's so worth the read. You will not be disappointed.
Review cross-listed here!
timberwolf's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75