The Charlatan’s Boy by Jonathan Rogers is billed as a young adult fantasy novel. But I think this is a story for all ages. Grady and Perfesser Floyd travel throughout Corenwald making a living out of trickery and huckstering. The feechie trade has fallen on hard times since people have stopped believing in the existence of feechies, swamp-dwelling creatures from folklore. Floyd soon comes up with a scheme to bring back the feechie trade by starting a Great Feechie Scare. Grady, ever eager to please, joins in the scam creating a scare to rival all scares on the island. But always in the back of his mind, Grady wonders who he is and where he belongs.
Rogers has created a storybook, old-South styled countryside complete with villages, cattle drovers, ugly boys and yes, feechies. Told by Grady, the story is one that should be read aloud to capture the lyrical language and emotions. A true story for all ages, The Charlatan’s Boy would make a great family read-along. The themes of belonging, identity and love are perfect for discussion.
I fell in love with ugly and lovable Grady. He is truly a noble soul searching for what is true and right in himself and life. Join Grady in his adventurous life on the road. You’ll discover what really matters along the way.
Highly Recommended.
To purchase The Charlatan’s Boy, click here.
(I received The Charlatan’s Boy from Waterbrook in exchange for an honest review. The views expressed are mine alone.)
See what others are saying:
Beckie, you’ve gone right to the heart of the book. Excellent review.
Becky