Dec 18 2010
The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers
One of the challenges of reading young adult fiction is trying to determine what actual young people might think. As an adult I have different expectations, and experience books differently, and this makes reviews tricky. To be honest, I read YA fiction mostly because it offers some very creative approaches to fantasy and imaginative fiction that is often lacking in “adult” fiction.
This came up again while reading The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers.
Here is the publisher’s description:
As far back as he can remember, the orphan Grady has tramped from village to village in the company of a huckster named Floyd. With his adolescent accomplice, Floyd perpetrates a variety of hoaxes and flimflams on the good citizens of the Corenwald frontier, such as the Ugliest Boy in the World act.
It’s a hard way to make a living, made harder by the memory of fatter times when audiences thronged to see young Grady perform as “The Wild Man of the Feechiefen Swamp.” But what can they do? Nobody believes in feechies anymore.
When Floyd stages an elaborate plot to revive Corenwalders’ belief in the mythical swamp-dwellers known as the feechiefolk, he overshoots the mark. Floyd’s Great Feechie Scare becomes widespread panic. Eager audiences become angry mobs, and in the ensuing chaos, the Charlatan’s Boy discovers the truth that has evaded him all his life—and will change his path forever.
My first mistake was not really thinking of this as a young adult book. I guess I vaguely knew that but when I picked up the book I didn’t have that clearly in my mind and it affected my reaction.
But then knowing that it is YA what expectations should I have?
I love the setting and the personality and voice of the main character, Grady, but found the story dragged and held little suspense. But this might be due to “adult” expectations so your mileage may vary.
