U S REVIEW OF BOOKS
Sockworld
by Cary Grossman
Kallisto Gaia Press
Book review by Carol Anderson
“Purdy screamed when he realized that he had been tapping his chin with the stick he had been using to scrape dog poop.”
Purdy is a seventh grader who lives with his mother in a trailer park in a small town in Arizona. Like many kids, he wants to be a superhero. While he’s intelligent, he’s bored with school, so he spends his time writing stories and trying to stay away from Creighton, the class bully. One day, Purdy meets the new girl in class, Savitri. Her father runs the store where Purdy gets his candy to help with his dizzy spells, which are attributed to low blood sugar. However, these spells turn out to be something much more exciting. Purdy starts hearing a voice no one else can hear, someone from another plane of existence. Purdy names him “Joe,” and so begins the real story of this book. Purdy and Joe have numerous adventures that involve others and directly affect Purdy and his mother. Can Purdy learn how to go to this same plane of existence, a plane he calls “Sockworld,” and what adventures might this incur?
This is a delightful, laugh-out-loud tale that is so engaging that the reader won’t want to put it down. Meant for teenagers, it will also be a great read for adults as well, as the storyline is unique and so well written that it will take one’s mind off any problems that may be floating around in the head. While the tale examines family, morals, humanity, and the search for meaning, as well as life and death, love, and bullying, the way these issues weave in and out of the story in such a humorous and thoughtful manner means one won’t really think about them until later. This highly recommended must-read is for those who wish to be greatly entertained for a few hours.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books
Speak, critic, speak!
“Easy to chew. Two paws up!”
— Duffy, Bainbridge Island, Washington
(This space is available for your review)