Ware, an eleven year-old boy, is staying with his grandmother at her retirement home for the summer. He thought he would hate the place, but it turns out to be quite nice. There is so much time and quiet for him to think and experiment in, and his grandmother is even letting him build a castle replica on her table out of found materials. When Ware's grandmother falls and needs to live in the hospital for a while, though, Ware is sent back home and his parents enroll him in the dreaded rec camp. They want him to have fun and positive social interaction, but rec provides the opposite of that for Ware. When Ware meets a girl gardening in a torn-down church lot, though, his summer takes a turn for the better. Over this eventful summer, Ware learns to accept himself for who he is.
AGE RANGE INETERMEDIATE
THEMES
Friends
Love (family/friendship)
Community
Birds
Garden
Outdoors
Construction
Poverty
Family issues
OVERALL RATING 10/10
I absolutely LOVE this book! It has such wonderful messages, a beautiful plot, realistic and diverse characters, and a satisfying ending. The story is exciting and inspiring. It makes you want to go out to adventure, play, and build in the real world. Here in the Real World is the perfect mix of fun and serious, and I will never forget what an amazing book it is.
PROS
Sweet
Realistic
Epic
Inspiring
Represents families that aren't perfect
Engaging
CONS
The first few chapters are a little confusing