LitPick Review
Forever Boy is a paranormal book by Micheal J. Bowler about a young boy named Isaac who met a boy and became friends with him only to discover something shocking and mysterious about him. Isaac, a ninth grader, is an outcast at school. One day, he came across a young boy named Drágan who told him that he was an orphan. Isaac decided to take him home and introduced him to his mother. After much thought on how he would survive as an orphan, Mrs. Penelope, Isaac's mother, who is used to taking in foster children, decided to let him stay at their house. A few hours into Drágan's presence at his house, Isaac has a weird feeling about him. He was curious to know more about him but did not pry into his privacy. Dragán soon enrolled into the same school as Isaac and even helped him deal with the bullies who had been terrorizing him. One night, Issac went out into the woods with Dragan. In the woods, Isaac discovered something about Drágan that left him dumbfounded. It was a secret that posed a threat to Isaac's friendly relationship with Drágan. What was the secret? Do you think Isaac would still be friends with Drágan after this discovery?
Opinion:
The novel's plot is an engaging, yet spooky one. It centers around Isaac and his life with his newfound friend. At first, Isaac felt like an outcast, but after the arrival of Drágan at school, it all became bearable. Yet, the fact that Isaac felt some difference and strangeness in Drágan's behavior made it more creepy to Isaac, and when Isaac finally found out about Drágan and his past stories, he felt disheartened. Some parts were heartbreaking to me, like the part where Drágan told Isaac how he lost his family. In some chapters, there were interludes which explained Drágan's life and stories about his past life that he wished to tell to Isaac.
There was a friendly relationship that existed between Isaac, Drágan, and other young characters. This relationship made Isaac and Drágan feel like they belonged somewhere. It even made Drágan able to freely express himself, unlike in the past. The characters were a great asset to the story. Isaac is a caring character who brought Drágan to his home and made him feel welcomed. He is also a horror movie freak who looks forward to becoming a film director. Dragán Albescu, called Drágan, is a unique being (I wouldn't want to spoil it) with many experiences which he gained over time in life, the people he has related with, and others that one can only imagine. He is a straightforward, honest, and caring character. Even though he has encountered painful tragedies, he does not let his feelings get in the way of helping others. Well, there were other characters, but these two stood out to me because of their profound relationship.
The book was set in Millwood, a small old town where almost everyone knew each other. The places used in the book include Isaac's house where Isaac, his mom, Penelope, and Drágan live, the school where Isaac and Drágan attend, and other places like the woods, more like a forest, where Drágan took Isaac to occasionally. The author's detailed description of these places created vivid images in my mind as I was able to picture places like Isaac's house and the woods.
The plot, characters, and settings are what made the book very captivating and interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
