Marcelo in the Real World

Peach’s Picks Rating


Title:
Marcelo in the Real World

Author:
Francisco X. Stork

Illustrator:
None

ISBN:
978-0-545-05474-4

Publisher:
New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, An Imprint of Scholastic Books

Copyright:
2009

Length:
312 pages

Plot Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Marcelo Sandoval lives in a comfortable bedroom community outside Boston with his mother, father, and sister. The story is told in first person, but Marcelo refers to himself in third person. He is diagnosed with high functioning Asperger Syndrome. Marcelo attends Patterson, a school specializing in educating children with learning differences. He is comfortable at Patterson where he also work caring for the school’s horses. Marcelo’s mother, Aurora, is understanding and empathic, always supporting Marcelo and helping him sort out his emotions. Arturo, Marcelo’s father who is a high powered-lawyer, is less understanding of his son and his son’s relationship to the world. Arturo demands (disguised as a proposition) that Marcelo work in the mailroom of his law office during the summer. Arturo is trying to convince Marcelo to leave Paterson and mainstream into Oak Ridge High, a public high school. If Marcelo successfully completes the summer job, he may choose to remain at Patterson or attend Oakridge. Arturo is sure that Marcelo’s summer experiences will help prepare him for the real world. Marcelo’s summer experiences do prepare him for the real world, but not as Arturo expected.

Critical Evaluation:
Marcelo is a very sympathetic character with whom readers will immediately identify. His experiences and dilemmas are related in a compelling manner that keeps the reader engaged. The portrayal of a teen boy with high functioning Asperger Syndrome is convincingly told as the reader experiences the world through Marcelo’s eyes. The author creates dilemmas that range from simple to complex. Marcelo is conflicted and feels frightened when he must learn to ride mass transit into Boston and find his way to his father’s law office. A more complex dilemma is revealed when Marcelo discovers shady business practices on the part of his father’s law firm. Marcelo deals with his problems in a manner authentic to the teen experience even without the complications presented by Asperger Syndrome. The author does a fine job of creating suspense regarding decisions that Marcelo must make affecting his family and his father’s law firm. The reader holds their breath hoping Marcelo will make it unscathed through encounters with anger, jealousy, and confusing sexual situations. The conclusion is wrapped up neatly in a satisfying package that rings true. Readers will not be disappointed. The book presents many excellent topics for discussion. The use of Asperger Syndrome is not as a condescending “disease of the month” literary device, but an effective means to tell a compelling coming-of-age story.

Reader’s Annotation:
Seventeen-year-old Marcelo is diagnosed with high functioning Asperger Syndrome and has just finished his junior year in high school. He is happy and comfortable with his life, but his father forces him to take a summer job that changes everything.

Author Information:
Born 1953 in Monterrey, Mexico, to an unwed mother who was expected to give Francisco up for adoption, but did not
He was adopted by his stepfather, Charles Stork
Francisco was gifted with a typewriter when he was 7-years-old after saying that he wanted to become a writer
Moved to El Paso, Texas with his mother and step-father at the age of nine
The family lived in poverty and his step-father was killed in a automobile accident when Francisco was 13-years-old
He received a full scholarship to attend Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama where he majored in English literature and philosophy
He attended graduate school at Harvard University, then went on to Columbia Law School
Married with two adult children
Francisco did not speak English when he arrived in El Paso
Works as an attorney in Boston

Genre:
Contemporary realistic fiction - issues

Curriculum Ties:
Use in literature classes

Booktalking Ideas:
Marcelo has Asperger Syndrome, lives in a tree house, and discovers more about his family and the “real” world than he wanted to know.

Read aloud a passage found on page 39 of the book when Yolanda, Marcelo’s sister, give him advice about working at their father’s law firm and his response to her advice.
Yolanda: “You’ll get through it. I did. . . . It’ll be over before you know it. Just don’t let anyone give you any shit. You understand?
Marcelo: “Yes.”
Yolanda: What did I just say?”
Marcelo: “Do not let the a-holes give me shit.”

Reading Level/Interest Age:
High school

Additional Books by Author:
Last Summer of the Death Warriors
Behind the Eyes
The Way of the Jaguar

Challenge Issues:
Sexual situations, language
Deal with challenge by having a challenge policy in place, selection policy in place (ALA policies). Meet with library administration if necessary. Provide positive review(s) from professional publications.

Why this work is included in Peach’s Picks:
This book is included because it was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award (2010) and it received starred reviews in School Library Journal, Booklist, and Horn Book. Five peaches are award because it is a unique story with an authentic voice.

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Marcelo-World-Schneider-Family-Award/dp/0545054745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273367745&sr=1-1

References:
Stork, F. X. (2010). “About Francisco X. Stork.” Franciscostork.com. Retrieved May 2, 2010, from http://www.franciscostork.com/