The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory

Has author Robin Gregory written a mythical coming-of-age tale of epic proportions? Not as improbable as you’d think. This Young Adult tale is garnering rave reviews (at the time of this writing, they are all 5-stars).

After his mother dies, a disabled boy is sent to live with his grandfather at St. Isidore’s Fainting Goat Dairy, where he discovers a clan from an alternate universe. Moojie shares more than supernatural powers in common with the ones who call themselves Light-Eaters. Anxious to re-create a family of his own, he undergoes life-changing trials, trials complicated by the girl he falls for, a bully-magician, a cantankerous, war-hero grandfather, and a meddlesome, Irish aunt. Moojie must decide who he belongs with.  An earthquake forces him to make a harrowing rescue to save what family he has. A surprising destiny awaits him if he can survive one last terrifying trial.

Editorial Reviews

“Gregory imbues her story with a power and unity that make it a
genuine page-turner … Add a host of cleverly nuanced and eclectic characters to guide Moojie along the way and it simply makes a superb read.”—Book Viral

“Gregory’s storytelling skills are inspired and make this mythologically based, historical novel a delight to read. Some passages are so lovely that I found myself rereading them to more fully appreciate the masterful blending of sound, sense and meaning.”—Reader’s Favorite

The setting is in the late 1800’s in a coastal Californian town. Moojie was found on the doorstep of a couple. It was discovered early on that he was a special child. Though there was a special bond between him and his mother, he found it difficult to relate to anyone else. This loneliness is the central theme of the story as he learns to cope with the loss of his mother.

Moojie discovers he has powers. He befriends a clan known as the Hostiles by the locals who are deathly afraid of them. Their relationship develops through the years and we find that these “Hostiles” actually help the humans. I don’t want to give away too much of the story. There are moral and spiritual messages throughout the tale and the parallels to our current state of affairs are a bit unsettling (like the bias or prejudice against an outside group). But the way Moojie finally turns his disabilities into strengths is inspiring and makes the reader believe in the power of forgiveness. The answers are within us after all and we can turn around any situation. If you don’t feel that at the end of this book, you’ve probably not read the right book.  This is a book any adult would enjoy-especially those who love literature.

 

 

Available at Old Capitol Books