(WPF) The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket / John Boyne - 3***

[Book Concierge]

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket – John Boyne
3***

Eleanor and Alistair Brocket are perfectly normal. The live on a normal street, in a normal neighborhood, and have normal jobs and a normal house. Their two children, Henry and Melanie, are also perfectly normal. And then Barnaby is born, and he is immediately and obviously different.

This is a fable and a children’s adventure story full of improbable and exciting adventures but teaching a lesson about acceptance and compassion and courage. The entire story is a lesson on tolerance.

I felt for Barnaby and cheered him on when he (view spoiler)[made his brave decision to be himself. I read this entire story as an allegory of gay children coming out to their families and learning to live in a society that is not always welcoming, or even tolerant of their “difference.”. (hide spoiler)]



LINK to my review