The Boy who Fell to Earth by Kate Lette

This book opens to a Prologue with a gripping first paragraph, which, because the rest of the book is so good I completely forgot about until it re-appeared almost at the end of the story!

It is a laugh-out-loud book: funny, witty and completely unputdownable!

I have no personal experience of living with a family member with Aspergers (high functioning Autism) but if what this book describes is anywhere near accurate it must be exhausting, exhilarating, heart-breaking and hilarious all rolled into one. One example, a quote from Merlin: “It’s delightful to have my grandma here, even though my mother and my grandma haven’t the ideal relationship. In fact I’m rather surprised they’re in the same room. Mum says you’re two-faced Grandma, but if so, why would you be wearing that one?” he asked without a trace of irony.” You get the picture I’m sure.

It tells the life of a mother, Lucy and her son Merlin. The boy’s father, Jeremy - a very good-looking, highly successful business-man from an extremely wealthy family - leaves his wife and son soon after the boy’s diagnosis, successfully hiding his assets so the divorce leaves her with little but bitter thoughts. So Lucy battles on: with the difficult task of looking after Merlin (including constantly having to seek new schooling for him as he is expelled from one school after another), their home (DIY not her strong point) and her own necessary full-time paid employment. Unhelpful offers from Jeremy’s mother to have the boy put away in a private care home are declined. Lucy’s own mother and sister have their own interesting lives to pursue but appear often enough in the picture to provide support, amusement and offer advice such as “ Speaking of Merlin, he needs a male influence in his life.” After which the “Pursuit of the Potential Father” begins with much mishap, madness and hilarity. After eventually giving up on that idea, and when it seems to the reader that nothing else could possibly be added to further complicate the life they lead, Lucy’s mother emails from The Great Barrier Reef, where she is cruising on a wealthy widow friend’s retirement home boat called “HMS Panty Liner”, counting tiger sharks for scientific research saying in part “Sweet pea, sorry to let you down but I just can’t make it home for summer………… but I’m sending you a replacement – your cousin Kimmy’s husband Archibald. He needs a place to stay in London for a few weeks and has offered to do all your DIY, burglar-bashing and Merlin chauffeuring in exchange for your spare room.” Archibald turns out to be an Australian, aging, hippy, rock musician and the fun ramps up (or down depending on your point of view) a notch or two.

Posted by Catherine

Catalogue Link: Boy who Fell to Earth