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Marcelo in the Real World  By  cover art

Marcelo in the Real World

By: Francisco Stork
Narrated by: Lincoln Hoppe
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Publisher's summary

Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear - part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify - and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world." There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.

He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.

Reminiscent of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in the intensity and purity of its voice, this extraordinary novel is a love story, a legal drama, and a celebration of the music each of us hears inside.

©2009 Francisco Stork (P)2009 Listening Library

What listeners say about Marcelo in the Real World

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  • Overall
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fantastic

a fantastic story from the point of view from a boy with autism. read for a class and really enjoyed it. quick read

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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beautiful story

An amazing story, it feels like it ended somewhat quickly. It leaves me wanting more.

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Calm, Rational Way to Think

Narrator calm, set the tone well to introduce one aspect of High Autisum world! It took courage for Marcello to help someone else & to show how he could grow out of his sheltered life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it!

This book is tenderly written and beautifully realized. I could read it again and again <3

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It is interesting, but not for everyone

The narrator is good. The story is profound and is from the perspective of somebody on the autism spectrum.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book.. Good Narrator..

There were moments in which I missed the narrator's shift from one character to another

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

This story shines.

Story that listens as well as it reads. I'd read a few years back when it came out. Still as beautiful via audio. (I felt like the reader nailed Marcelo's tone.) Highly recommend if you like stories with beaucoups heart and don't mind a slower narrative pace.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoughtful

Marcelo in the real world is an incredible book with many great lessons about life and love. I taught this to my high school English class. The actor/reader, however, is a bit anemic and slow--too much so for the students. We ended up reading it aloud.

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3 people found this helpful

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You can't just end it there!

I loved the story. You cannot just end it where it ends. It is a cliffhanger that I need to see finished.

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Exceptional is an understatement

The excellent writing , storyline and narration all placed Marcelo on my top ten favorite books list!

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