Matt McAvoy Book Review

Pure tribute and nostalgia from Javier.  A dramatized throwback to his childhood years of Spielberg movies and a life before you really grow up – though this has definitely more in common with Stephen King’s “The Body” (which became the movie Stand by Me) than The Goonies.  I don’t know how much of this tale is real, fictionalized or based on hearsay from Javier’s own childhood, but it is one of those crime stories which pop up often in fiction and rarely in real life; although, of course, such things happen.  Instead of a body, it is a bag of mob cash the pre-teen kids find, between their antics of BMX-ing, treehouses and baseball cards.  It is total Americana, and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. 

That said, I’ve read a few from Javier, of whom I’m a big fan, and I wouldn’t say this one hits anywhere near the high notes I know he’s capable of.  There are a few reasons for this.  Firstly, it is of course a novella, rather than a novel, and a pretty short one at that, at only 16,000 words; I read it in an hour or two, so don’t expect to be fully immersed in either the characters or the narrative.  It is short, easy reading, for no other purpose than killing time with entertainment.  That’s absolutely fine, of course, and in fact there isn’t a great deal more meat on this story to enable drawing it out.  That said, Javier is usually a masterclass in character development and engagement.  In other books of his I’ve read, you don’t just empathize with the characters, you become them, and feel every moment of their coming of age.  I assume that the lead in this story, Calvin, is the same Calvin in his epic Wake of Expectations saga, although I might be wrong.  If he is, then this offering has a completely different pace and tone, as a direct prequel.  I would suggest that it be included in a volume of three or four loosely themed shorts (as indeed King’s is); I know this excellent author has it in him to produce.  Additionally, I would like to know a little more about the fact on which it is based, if indeed that is the case.  Considering the villains of the piece, I think a little more grime and genuine danger might be expected.

In short, the story covers a few elements, though none particularly deeply.  We don’t get heavily invested in any of the characters, the plot or indeed the threat.  It is simply a brief, fun, coming-of-age crime tale.  Give it a go, but don’t think it represents Javier, because he is profound, cerebral and utterly engrossing; this one perhaps could just do with a sprinkle of grit.