King of the Pygmies

King of the Pygmies is a young adult novel that lies on the line between magic and mental illness. It is the sixth novel written by author [http://www.jonathonscottfuqua.com/ Jonathon Scott Fuqua] , originally published in 2005 by Candlewick Press. It is based upon a 15 year old boy Penrod "Penn" Swayne and the troubles that he faces when he starts hearing the thoughts of people close to him. [ [http://www.jonathonscottfuqua.com/index.html Jonathon Scott Fuqua | Fuqua Home ] ]

Plot Summary

Penn is an average boy in American High school in the small town of Havre de Grace, Maryland. He has a crush on the new girl at school, Daisy. Penn has an older brother, Matt, who he looks out for as has brain damage from birth. Penn is on his way to a successful life.

All of this changes when he starts hearing voices.

He learns of the worries that his brother wouldn't voice out loud, the depression that his neighbor is fighting and the quiet struggles that his parents face each day.

After Penn shares the details of being able to hear peoples' thoughts, his mother forces him to see a psychiatrist as she suspects that he suffers from schizophrenia. He desperately tries to show his father that he is not insane and takes him to see his Uncle Hewitt, who had convinced Penn that he too could read peoples' minds. Unfortunately his Uncle couldn't correctly guess the thoughts of Penn's dad and both Penn and Hewitt are both left looking as if they are not mentally stable.

Penn is let down by his uncle again after he promised that a man would come and see him and explain the Pygmy disease, which causes the ability to hear the thoughts of other people. The man doesn't show up, leaving Penn unsure weather his Uncle can truly hear the thoughts of other people, and even creates doubts concerning Penn's metal state and if he is magic or mentally unstable. [King of the Pygmies]

Cover

The cover shows the ocean and shoreline of the coast described in the novel. King of the Pygmies mentions that you can see what the weather will be like hours before it hits due to the huge expanse of uninterrupted skyline.

Awards and nominations

A Junior Library Guild Selection 2005-2006
An Ingram Collection Suggestion, 2005
Teen Reads November Selection, 2005
Nominated for the American Library Associations Best Young Adult Book of the Year, 2006

Reviews

"King of the Pygmies" doesn't settle easily on the side of magic or of medicine, suggesting instead that the world may be more complicated, more terrible and beautiful and unnerving than we could ever believe. . . . High and true art." - The Boston Globe

"King of the Pygmies" is worth reading and discussing, as it is one of too-few teen novels that deal compassionately� with mental illness" - Teenreads.com

"This is an amazing book for several reasons...The desperation and confusion, but also the ordinariness of a teenager is eloquently portrayed, as is the redemptive power of love...this is a well-written novel with special appeal for teenagers." - Magpies Magazine [http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/Books/King-of-the-Pygmies-0763614181/Reviews]

"Fuqua has written a persuasive and engaging story." - Reading Time

References

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