13 April 2018

Review #704: Flamingo Boy by Michael Morpurgo



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Close friends are truly life's treasures. Sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone.”

----Vincent van Gogh



Michael Morpurgo, a bestselling English writer, has penned a delightful children's historical fiction called, Flamingo Boy that revolves around a young teenage boy, who after finding the real artists behind the painting in his room, journeys to the north of France, where he stumbles upon a family of an old woman and a strange old man living in a farm, and gradually the old lady narrates the story of that strange old man, who was once known as the Flamingo Boy, a story that involves the German invasion, the playful song of a carousel, friendship, laughter, even grief, a boy with healing powers and lots and lots of flamingos.


Synopsis:

A stunning new classic from master storyteller Michael Morpurgo for readers of 9+, in the vein of PRIVATE PEACEFUL and THE BUTTERFLY LION

This is a landmark new novel form the nation's favourite storyteller, set in the unique landscape of the Camargue in the South of France during WW2. There, a young autistic boy lives on his parents' farm among the salt flats, and the flamingos that live there. There are lots of things he doesn't understand: but he does know how to heal animals. He loves routine, and music too: and every week he goes to market with his mother, to ride his special horse on the town carousel.

But then the Germans come, with their guns, and take the town. A soldier shoots a flamingo from the sky, and it falls to earth terribly injured. And even worse is to come: the carousel is damaged, the horses broken. For this vulnerable boy, everything is falling apart.

Only there's a kind sergeant among the Germans – a man with a young boy of his own at home, a man who trained as a carpenter. Between them, perhaps boy and man can mend what has been broken – and maybe even the whole town.



One fine summer in England, Vincent found out about the artists and his story behind the boat painting hanging in his room, and that leads him to embark on a voyage to the north of France in a small sleepy sea side town called, Camargue where the artist, Vince Van Gogh, found his inspiration behind the boat painting. But on his way, Vincent, the young teenage protagonist of this story, stumbles upon a kind pair of couple living by the farm, when the old strange man rescues Vincent from a wild storm and takes him back to his home, where he was taken care of by a lovely old lady. That old lady later opens up her heart and narrates the story of the old strange man, who was once known as the "Flamingo Boy" and how German invasion disrupted the peace and snatched away happiness from their lives, and how that strange boy could heal the ailing animals on the farm and how he used to talk to the flamingos and so much more about their lost and happy past, that is the very foundation of their strong bond of friendship through love and war.

A spectacular historical children's fiction that narrates the story of pure, innocent friendship and its significance. The author has vividly captivated the essence of a long, forgotten past of German invasion and how it affected lives through his story. Not only that, the author has delightfully portrayed the eccentric character of an autistic child and the way he perceived the world around him in his unique way. This is a story within a story, where the author has explored the world in a sensitive, loving and honest manner to let his users reflect upon a bygone era and the importance of accepting and welcoming autistic children in the society.

The author's writing style is coherent, laced with enough emotions and suspense to keep the readers curious and intrigued and so the protagonist. The narrative is painted with enough realism and is easy to comprehend with, as the dialogues are kept simple yet evocative enough to make the readers feel deeply for the cast of the characters. The pacing is really fast, as the style of the story-telling by the second protagonist is done in an engaging manner. The backdrop of the small sea side town in the North of France comes alive right before the eyes of the readers through this tale, as the author has portrayed the background in a striking way, complete with tiny details so that his readers can visualize the town pretty vividly.

The characters in this book are extremely well developed that reflects their genuine demeanor through the tale. The main character Vincent is just an onlooker or rather say an observer of the main story line. Hence his character isn't explored in depths to give a strong personality in the eyes of the readers. Vincent is more like us, the readers. But the next two protagonists as well as the supporting cast of diverse characters are sketched in an impeccable way and those which reflect the pains of the war. But the best character would be the "Flamingo Boy" whose autism is not only penned in a sensitive and realistic manner, but with so much heart, charm and encouraging manner that will make the readers fall for this young, enthusiastic boy all at once.

In a nutshell, the story is not just a war story about two diverse families caught in the wrong side of it, but it is also about the people who are actually causing this war, and in center of it stands that amazing "Flamingo Boy" who screams "Fly, Flam Fly" to the flock of pink flamingos.

Verdict: This compelling, poignant and charming story is a must real for any and every age group of readers.

Courtesy: Thanks to the publishers from Harper Collins India, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
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Author Info:
Sir Michael Andrew Morpurgo, OBE, FRSL is the author of many books for children, five of which have been made into films. He also writes his own screenplays and libretti for opera. Born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in 1943, he was evacuated to Cumberland during the last years of the Second World War, then returned to London, moving later to Essex. After a brief and unsuccessful spell in the army, he took up teaching and started to write. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up 'Farms for City Children' with his wife. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the animals. In 1999 this work was publicly recognised when he and his wife were invested a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to youth. In 2003, he was advanced to an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL) in 2004. He was knighted in the 2018 for his services to literature and charity. He is also a father and grandfather, so children have always played a large part in his life. Every year he and his family spend time in the Scilly Isles, the setting for three of his books.
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