King, A. (2017). Me
and Marvin Gardens. NY: Arthur A. Lavine Books
Obe Devlin is an 11 year old boy who loves the environment
and takes pleasure in tasks like picking up trash around his favorite
creek. Obe lives in a small humble home
by a new housing development built on land that once belonged to his
family. Obe still has strong ties to the
Devlin land and learns his family lost their precious land due to his great
grandfather’s drinking problem. Obe’s only
friend, Tommy, has abandoned him for his new friends in this new subdivision,
who bully and are cruel to Obe. Thinking
of this will trigger nose bleeds for Obe.
One day, as Obe is picking up trash along the creek, he stumbles upon a
hybrid animal that appears to be part pig, part dog, and names it Marvin
Gardens after the Monopoly game. Marvin
is an unidentified mammal that only eats plastic and who’s waste is so toxic it
can melt a road. The story is told from
Obe’s point of view and is creatively interrupted with several sections all
titled “One Hundred Years Ago” and is also in a different page color, that
gives readers information about the land and family members of Obe one hundred
years ago. Tommy’s friends eventually find
out about Marvin who Obe has been keeping a secret. Obe is able to confide in a trusted teacher,
Mrs. G, about Marvin. Tommy and Obe are
able to mend the friendship and Obe finds a way to get Marvin protected while
in the wilderness. Obe is thankful for
his time with Marvin Gardens.
This was a lovely story about a boy and the love of his
pet. Although Marvin cannot be
classified as a “dog”, the two shared that type of bond. Obe’s love for the environment and pride for
land wan endearing and innocent. Readers
will be drawn to the protagonist’s bravery and wanting to do what is right.
To learn more about A.S. King and her other works, visit her
official website: d https://www.as-king.com/
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