** 2011 Christy Award Nominee!
The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers
Reviewed by Amber Stokes
Genre: Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Publication Date: October 2010
Grady’s greatest hope is to belong—even if it means he has to belong to a deceptive and greedy man like Floyd. In a world where the thought of wild creatures called Feechies frightens the citizens, Grady and Floyd have it made putting on shows. But when the citizens no longer believe in the Feechies, the dynamic duo has to find a way to survive—and somehow bring the memory of the Feechies back to life.
Creative, clever, and oh-so chuckle-worthy, The Charlatan’s Boy is a gift I almost didn’t recognize because it came wrapped in a genre I don’t usually read and one that’s actually rather difficult to define. It’s a-bit-of-fantasy meets Mark Twain’s Huck Finn, with enough of the unexpected to turn everything on its head!
Grady and Floyd make a rather ingenious pair of hucksters, and this book is packed full of some interesting schemes for winning a crowd and making some good pocket-change in the unusual world of Corenwald. It’s fun going back to the beginning to consult the map and follow their journeys across Corenwald. And those journeys are full of the wackiest and most entertaining adventures!
Many of the characters are quirky in a rather lovable way–like Short Fronie, the drovers, and Barbary. What an array of personalities! And the narrator, Grady, won me over with his big, mixed-up heart and his witty observations. Just like Huckleberry Finn, he tells it like it is from the way he sees it, and it’s a pleasure to watch him discover just who in this crazy world he is and where he really belongs.
With a great narrator, an enjoyable story, and a surprising depth, I recommend The Charlatan’s Boy for all those who want an adventure with some laughs and smiles along the way!
*With thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*
Note: First reviewed on Amber’s blog, “Seasons of Humility,” in May 2011.
Rating: G – Appropriate for all ages, although younger children might not understand all of the themes.
