Unforgettable! This is the word that resonated in my mind after reading unflappable boy by Andres Nardo Although all writers must use their imagination and writing skills to create a novel that will hold readers’ interest, the author went far beyond the norm in plotting this intriguing work of fiction. Without his powerful imagination, the main character of Danny Snodgrass could not have been brought to life with such realism.
Who is Danny? He is a seven-year-old boy whose life circumstances are so difficult that he uses his imagination to escape from the reality of his surroundings. Although it’s a common coping technique, Danny’s imagination is so powerful that reality sometimes collides with fantasy, leaving readers anxious for his well-being, even his own survival.
Yes, there is the alluring darkness of danger, the incredible sadness of Danny’s plight, and the desire to beat up bullies, but there is also the lightness of magic, adventure, victory, and laughter. The author subtly or not so subtly allows readers to see the suffering and emotional stress that Danny is trying to deal with. It is almost impossible for him to accept that his father, with whom he had a close relationship, is really dead. He desperately needs it because his mother hasn’t been there for him in a long time.
Danny has a distant memory of her being a loving person before something happened to his mind. As of late, all he did was sit on the porch and watch the aliens, barely acknowledging Danny’s presence. When she did, she looked menacing; however, he had always felt protected by his father, who was a long-distance truck driver, a profession that cost him his life. After this tragedy, Danny initially thought that he would get his mother back from him, as she seemed to change, but instead he found himself imprisoned in the basement of his house. As Danny fights for his own freedom, Tobias, a ghost, also needs some kind of release. Can and will these two characters succeed in helping each other?
There are many other colorful personalities that readers will meet as they turn the pages of unflappable boy. Danny and Alfred are literally inseparable, Captain Neutron is an extraordinary goldfish, Goliath is a fearless rooster, and Mrs. Fenstermaker is a rather eccentric but caring woman. She happens to be one of my favorite characters, aside from Danny, of course. As mentioned above, Tobias is a ghost who also serves as an angel, and while he is very contradictory at times, readers will like him the more they see him in action. He has problems of his own, being dead is just one of them.
This author’s descriptive and general writing skills are remarkable, and readers will no doubt want to pursue his writing career. I believe unflappable boy It is a book that appeals to readers of all ages, from young children to the elderly. It is definitely a “must read” and would make a great gift for all avid fiction readers.
