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A review by carlisajc
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
4.0
This book is about a boy named Marcelo who is somewhere on the autistic spectrum, although highly-functioning. His father wants him to be able to live in the real world so he gives him a summer job at his law firm in the mail room. Marcelo has to really push himself out of his comfort zone and learn to stand up for things that he believes in...even if it's hard.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was interesting because in my YA lit class we've talked about how one characteristic of YA literature is that it's very plot-driven. And to be honest, there's not much plot in Marcelo in the Real World. Well, there for sure is a plot. But it's a very, very quiet plot. But it's still engaging. I think it's because Marcelo is trying to figure out the world around him. We make connections before he does sometimes, and I found myself rooting for him, hoping he'll understand and be able to accomplish his goals. I don't know. It was interesting, but I definitely liked it. His character is believable (for as much as I know about autistic people... which, granted, isn't a lot) and I enjoyed getting to know him better and seeing him grow throughout the pages of this book.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was interesting because in my YA lit class we've talked about how one characteristic of YA literature is that it's very plot-driven. And to be honest, there's not much plot in Marcelo in the Real World. Well, there for sure is a plot. But it's a very, very quiet plot. But it's still engaging. I think it's because Marcelo is trying to figure out the world around him. We make connections before he does sometimes, and I found myself rooting for him, hoping he'll understand and be able to accomplish his goals. I don't know. It was interesting, but I definitely liked it. His character is believable (for as much as I know about autistic people... which, granted, isn't a lot) and I enjoyed getting to know him better and seeing him grow throughout the pages of this book.