Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork
Reviewed by Julia, age 14, New York
Judging from the cover and strategically written description by the online Nook Store, I expected to immerse myself in the fictional mind of seventeen year old Marcelo Sandoval as he navigates a law firm and finds first love. (Why else would the front cover display two figures holding hands in the starry night?) While the main plot was Marcelo's social progression in a summer job at his father's law firm, Stork embellishes the novel with a mystery Marcelo seeks to solve. This requires him to choose between following his father's instruction and returning to the school of his choice or discovering something only he could learn.
Francisco X. Stork was surrounded by people with mental complications his entire life and it shows through his comfortable storytelling. Marcelo encounters daunting city streets and an arrogant young man who attempts to use him to lure a hookup. His character is believable and relatable, and his struggles are thought provoking. Religion, poverty, and addiction are amongst other themes touched, but it is the reader who is left to make an informed decision regarding them.
I give Marcelo in the Real World a solid four stars (of a possible five).
