A review by devon2112
Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Just finished it yesterday. Reminded me of A Christmas Story but with a fantasy hook, in it being a coming of age story set in the past told in a reflective first person narration. Each chapter, a different episode of the young protagonist, Cory, navigating boyhood (parents, friends, teachers, bullies) in his small southern town while brushing up against the strange and fantastical which has him encountering the sometimes unpleasant reality of the adult world (bigotry, war, death, crime, unemployment and alcoholism). Incidents in which the book tickled many genre flavor fancies of mine such as small town mysteries, supernatural horror, urban folklore, neo western, historical fiction due to its 1960s setting, and science fiction. This book I felt truly captures the sense we all had at one time as kids, that the world is full of magic. Thoroughly enjoyed this read!