Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork

Title: Marcelo in the Real World
Author: Francisco X. Stork

Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 2009
# Pages: 312

Category: Friends & Society Choice
Genre: Contemporary Realistic

My Summary & Critique:
Marcelo Sandoval is a seventeen-year-old young man diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum. He has spent all his school years at Paterson, a special school, which has sheltered him and has provided him with the lessons in social etiquette that help him adjust to interacting with others, which takes considerable thought and effort on his part. The story begins at the beginning of the summer before his senior year and his father, Arturo, who wants his son to be as normal as possible, wants Marcelo to come and work in his law firm’s mailroom for the summer to get a dose of “the real world.” If he is able to successfully navigate the real world rules of the law office, Marcelo will be able to choose whether he wants to spend his senior year in the safe zone of Paterson, which he prefers, or enroll in the local public high school, which would be his father’s choice. His father is loving but seems somewhat embarrassed by his son’s condition and wants Marcelo to live as normal a life as possible, able to hold his own in the sometimes unforgiving “real world.”

Some of the aspects of Marcelo’s personality that keep him from fitting in are his absence of demonstrating characteristic emotional responses, his “special interest” in religion with a tendency to quote scripture on a regular basis, difficulty interpreting the feelings and motivations of others, and his tendency to hear a kind of internal music. He also has a tendency to view and speak of himself in the third person and repeat words and phrases that are unfamiliar to him. His mother, Aurora, and Rabbi Heschel understand him best of all and help him discuss his problems and navigate the intricacies of his interactions with people and the choices he must make. Working at the law firm puts him in the position of dealing with people who are sometimes inconsiderate and callous toward him as well as people who wish to manipulate him, using his weaknesses to their advantage. He also develops a close friendship with Jasmine, a fellow mailroom worker, introducing him to the possibility of love. Marcelo stumbles upon a photograph of a girl involved in a lawsuit at his father’s law firm and is compelled to help her, but there are many ethical implications he must consider. He makes difficult choices and he finds a way to thrive outside of his comfort zone, making plans for his own future.When I turned the final page of this book, I gave it a hug, thankful to have read it. Because one of my children also shows symptoms on the autism spectrum, similar to Marcelo’s, I had personal reasons for reading this book. I feel like the author has used Marcelo’s voice to provide a good picture of some of the struggles faced by those who are affected by Asperger’s or autism—not just the person, but also his family, his teachers, his friends, coworkers. There are plenty of excellent examples of people who seem to understand Marcelo and know exactly just what to say to him, giving him space when needed, and just the right words to help him interpret his surroundings and make the choices he needs to make. They also value him for his contributions, recognizing that his intelligence as well as what he can offer extend beyond the limitations of his condition. There are also people who clearly misunderstand him and mistreat him, teaching him that trust must be earned.

Written in mostly first person narrative, Marcelo’s character is believable, with an authentic voice, giving the reader a glimpse into the thoughts, motivations, and struggles faced by those who are deemed “different” by society. Although there are some instances of sexual talk (and an emphasis on “the f word”) and occasional crude language by an offensive character, most of these instances further the plot and characterization of the story. In fact, there is a frank discussion between Marcelo and the female Rabbi Heschel regarding sex from which many young adults might benefit. I loved the author’s treatment of Marcelo’s “special interest”—religion—because it was incorporated into the story so harmoniously that it became part of the story without feeling intrusive. References to Adam & Eve’s eating of the fruit from the Garden of Eden, giving them knowledge of good and evil, parallel Marcelo’s introduction into the “real world” and give the reader much to ponder. Ultimately, the message of this book is about how we understand and treat people, how we know the difference between right and wrong, and how we all can come to listen to our own inner music.