MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD
by Francisco X. Stork
(Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic)
Imagine for a moment what Erin Brockovich would have been like if Erin were a 17-year-old with Asperger's syndrome. Ok, Marcelo in the Real World isn't exactly like that, but I've got your attention now, don't I? Good, because Marcelo is worth you attention. The kid's got a voice that stands out every bit as much as Brockovich's boobs and scathing wit, and he will make you consider just how effortlessly you perceive the world. Even if you're accustomed to not seeing the forest for the trees, looking through Marcelo's eyes will make you aware of the leaves.
And by the way, it's Mar-SEL-o, not Mar-CHELLO.
(Speaking of names, Francisco X. Stork has to be the best name I've ever seen outside of my Spam folder.)
