The Marvels

We just finished this book, and I want to go back and re-read already--it's beautifully done, both in its stirring pictures (which feel so ALIVE!) and the many nuanced, real characters. Children of all ages, as well as their parents (and adult readers without children, for that matter) will find many things to love here. I liked "Hugo," loved "Wonderstruck," and would put this one somewhere inbetween. I feel I need to address the only other (as of this writing) review on this, too, which claims there is "explicit" material here. Perhaps this person lives in a hole (or a closet), or doesn't understand what that word means, for there is nothing explicit in this book. This same reviewer claims to not be "gay bashing"--a bad sign, when you have to lead with this--but then puts in the review's title "Gay relationships!" as the first "warning". This is insulting and angering. Not to mention small-minded and homophobic, of course. There is in fact no controversy here. There are gay relationships, but then, so what? My children absolutely loved this story for what it is: a brilliant, imaginative and complex tale (or several tales in one, actually) they'll read again and again. More than anything, it's a story about love, and about the limitless possibilities of love and of stories. That is surely something we can all get behind. (And thank goodness we are growing up in an age when anyone, gay or straight, can marry the ones they love. My children didn't even question the relationships here.) I will be recommending this book to everyone!