The Real Boy

Title: The Real Boy

Bibliographic information:

Author: Anne Ursu

• Print Length: 357 pages
• Publisher: Walden Pond Press; Reprint edition (September 24, 2013)
• Publication Date: September 24, 2013
• Language: English

Reader's Annotation:

When magic begins to disappear from the Barrow, who will fix things?  Will Caleb, the Last Magician fix the problem and keep the children from getting sick?  Or will the job fall to Oscar, his despised apprintice?

Interest Level: Ages 8-14

Lexile level: 730L

Awards, if applicable:

National Book Award Long List

Plot summary:  Oscar doesn’t know his family, or how he got to be here. He just knows that Caleb, the last magician of the Barrow, picked him out of the orphanage.  And he knows the meaning and usage of all herbs.  When children begin to fall sick and Caleb disappears, suddenly Oscar is the person in charge of the magician’s shop, and he and his friend Callie must solve the problems plaguing the Barrow.

Critical review:  The world building is excellent in this story - always a plus in a fantasy world. But the part that struck me in this story is the main character.  While not clearly stated, he is a variation of neuro-normal; he demonstrates clear signs of Aspergers syndrome.  This difference is both his biggest strength and weakness - and the biggest strength of the book.

Why include it?

This dark fantasy with fairy tale elements features an unlikely hero, who discovers what it means to be real - the reader discovers what it means to fall in love with a world and a book.