The Boy in the Box by Cary Fagan - NO

Fagan, Cary The Boy in the Box, 283 pgs, Clarion Books, 2012. $16.99.  Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

12yo Sullivan Mintz is a very ordinary boy. So ordinary, that kids at school barely notice him, except of course the school bully.  Sullivan helps his parents run their old folk’s home where his best friend is Manny, an 81yo resident, who encourages him as he learns to juggle.  He’s pretty good and when an old fashioned Medicine Show comes to town, (remarkably out of time period but no one seems to care) Sullivan and his sister set off to watch the kids perform and he is kidnapped by the owner.  Is Sullivan good enough to perform with the show? 

Sullivan’s story, while unlikely, is interesting, however the minor characters, the bully, the police, even the school principal are buffoons, complete with ridiculous names and situations.  In this scary age when kidnapping is such a serious issue, this book which takes the subject so lightly might be best left off the shelves.  

NO Lisa Librarian