The book starts off with a bang, when you meet 12 year old Kiran putting on his mother's makeup. As you get to know Kiran through the story you see how he struggles to fit in and be accepted in his school world made consisting of all caucasian students, his indian world, and even being accepted by his parents. On top of it, his flamboyant nature and love of pink, his Strawberry Shortcake doll don't make his adjustment easier. Lot's of humor and extreme scenes. A good read. The potential within this book was both amazing and heart-breaking. It has all the ingredients of a fantastic novel – quirky characters, a balance of what is culturally familiar and unfamiliar to Americans and Indians, boldness to deal with mature subject matter, and so on – but Satyal simply failed to create a masterpiece. At best, Blue Boy was cute. As worst, however, it was boring, drawn-out, and ultimately dissatisfying. Before I tear this novel apart, I will share one thing that I found refreshing. I loved the characterization of Kiran, the protagonist. He was an eccentric outcast, but wasn’t at all clichéd. For example, he wasn’t afraid to be judgemental. In fact, he would describe overweight people quite unflatteringly in his head. I’m not saying that this should be encouraged, but I personally think it is pointless to pretend that people are perfect and never judge one another. I find it even more ridiculous when authors characterize villains as only evil and protagonists as pure and saint-like. Not only is the juxtaposition boring, but it’s also unrealistic. Books today try not to do that, but most of them fail because the characters always end up making the right choices in the end. This novel wasn’t like that. Kiran may have believed he was the reincarnation of a god, but he was adorably human and imperfect. However, the realistic characterization does in no way excuse the Dickens-esque explanations that Kiran would go off on. Whenever something was about to happen, he would pause to explain a fairly unnecessary backstory for several pages. When he was done, I would have forgotten what was happening in the present, and have to go back and reread. What the Dickens was that all about? In fact, what the Dickens was this book all about? I was curious at the beginning, but now, I have to say that I don’t really care.
What do You think about Błękitny Chłopiec (2011)?
Phenomenally spot on for growing up brown in middle America in the 90s
—lois
Funny! Reminded me of my own childhood.
—calikings321
