Helpful Score: 1
Reviewed by Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen for TeensReadToo.com
Marcelo is seventeen and has an Asperger's-like condition. He goes to a special school and has a summer job lined up caring for the therapy horses at his school. But Marcelo's father has other plans - he wants Marcelo to experience the real world.
He gets Marcelo a job working in the mail room of his law firm. Marcelo isn't interested in working at the law firm, but his father makes him a deal - survive in the real world and he won't have to go to the public high school his father would like him to attend for his senior year.
While working at the firm, Marcelo uncovers secrets, experiences friendship, fights a battle for justice, and learns about the real world.
I was first drawn to this book because of Marcelo - I was interested in reading a book written from the perspective of a character with Asperger's. I thought it would be a story about Marcelo navigating the real world, but there was so much more. Marcelo finds himself faced with tough decisions, and fighting a battle between what's right and wrong, and I think anyone can relate to his struggles. There's some mystery, some romance, and even some religious searching all packed in these pages.
Marcelo hears internal music and music is a connection for Marcelo and Jasmine, his co-worker in the mail room. This novel is beautifully written and there were times I could hear the music in Marcelo's words. I also enjoyed the fact that the book is written in first person from Marcelo's point of view. It was interesting to get inside Marcelo's head and understand how he processed things.
Jasmine is an inspiration. She's patient, she's kind, and she's smart. We could all hope to be like Jasmine, especially when dealing with people who are "different."
If you want to see the real world through new eyes, be sure to pick up a copy of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.
Marcelo is seventeen and has an Asperger's-like condition. He goes to a special school and has a summer job lined up caring for the therapy horses at his school. But Marcelo's father has other plans - he wants Marcelo to experience the real world.
He gets Marcelo a job working in the mail room of his law firm. Marcelo isn't interested in working at the law firm, but his father makes him a deal - survive in the real world and he won't have to go to the public high school his father would like him to attend for his senior year.
While working at the firm, Marcelo uncovers secrets, experiences friendship, fights a battle for justice, and learns about the real world.
I was first drawn to this book because of Marcelo - I was interested in reading a book written from the perspective of a character with Asperger's. I thought it would be a story about Marcelo navigating the real world, but there was so much more. Marcelo finds himself faced with tough decisions, and fighting a battle between what's right and wrong, and I think anyone can relate to his struggles. There's some mystery, some romance, and even some religious searching all packed in these pages.
Marcelo hears internal music and music is a connection for Marcelo and Jasmine, his co-worker in the mail room. This novel is beautifully written and there were times I could hear the music in Marcelo's words. I also enjoyed the fact that the book is written in first person from Marcelo's point of view. It was interesting to get inside Marcelo's head and understand how he processed things.
Jasmine is an inspiration. She's patient, she's kind, and she's smart. We could all hope to be like Jasmine, especially when dealing with people who are "different."
If you want to see the real world through new eyes, be sure to pick up a copy of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.
