Review | The Season of Styx Malone

Summary: The Season of Styx Malone

When Caleb and his older brother meet a 16-year-old wise-cracking, smart-mouthed Styx Malone in their small town, they are enthralled with the young man and begin to look up to him. Even when Styx’s actions are questionable including lying, swindling, and petty theft, verging on illegal, Caleb and Bobby Gene continue to follow him, much to their parents’ concerns. As their summer adventure to raise enough money to buy a fancy motorcycle takes a turn, all three boys are surprised by how much they come to care for each other.

The Good

I enjoyed this one on audio, and even though I had no idea where it was taking me, I found this story impossible to put down. The premise is novel and fascinating, with an interesting perspective on stranger danger. Throughout the boy’s interactions with Styx, my brain was screaming, “Nooo, this is bad for you.” At the same time, I liked the small-town vibe, even though it’s the reason Caleb and Gene’s parents allowed them to wander so much.

Magoon’s stories tend to be too run-on for me, with plenty of character development, dialogue, and description but very little story, but this one and her Blue Stars series with Leitich have been the two exceptions — although this one does go on and on a bit, too. The tension between the two brothers, with Caleb wanting to be special (not ordinary or “extra-ordinary”) and Bobby Gene being more content with small-town life and avoiding danger, adds some conflict for readers to chew on.

I would be remiss not to mention how funny this book is. Caleb and Bobby Gene are naive, as most kids are about how certain things work and what some words mean, leading to several hilarious situations and mishaps. Finally, at its heart, this is a sweet story about male friendships and the ways they can inspire young boys. It also tackles the failures of the foster care system (that’s all I can say without spoiling things for you!) and a bullying situation turned unlikely friendship.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None
• Sexual content: None
• Violence: A road accident is depicted on page but not too graphic

Diversity

• Ethnic: Main characters are Black
• Sexual orientation: None.

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Funny books
• Books about male friendships
• Summer stories
• Books starring boys

Publisher Details

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