Book Review: The Charlatan's Boy

The Charlatan’s Boy

by Jonathan Rogers

More colorful than the book cover is the life of huckster Floyd and orphan Grady on the island of Corenwald.  Rogers is an amazing storyteller as he weaves the adventures of these two and tells the story from the viewpoint of Grady, a young boy.   “Perfessor” Floyd has convinced Grady he is a “feechie” and hails from the “Feechiefen Swamp” .  When this scheme plays out, what will Floyd and Grady do next to “make a coin?”  

Rogers is so good at the art of writing that he is able to successfully weave two story lines together with such skill that you are not aware what is happening as you read.  First, the active story of Floyd and Grady’s life as huckster and helper.  But secondly, and much more importantly, the underlying story of the yearning of this young orphan boy to know just who he is and where does he hail from.  And don’t we all want to belong?  You will find yourself wanting to know the answer, too and not wanting to put the book down until you do.  Will Grady ever know from whence he came?  "I don't remember one thing about the day I was born. It hasn't been for lack of trying either...I only know one man who might be able to tell me where I come from, and that man is a liar and a fraud." 

This is an excellent book....a rare treasure in the tween and teen literature age group.  For parents looking for good reads and wanting to find books with good content, this is a keeper!  It is humorous, yet sad; fantasy-filled yet realistic; entertaining yet truth prevails.  What more would you want in a good fiction read?  

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.  I was not required to give a positive review and my opinions are my own.