Here in the Real World

Here in the Real World

From the author of the highly acclaimed, New York Times bestselling novel Pax comes a gorgeous and moving middle grade novel that is an ode to introverts, dreamers, and misfits everywhere. Ware can't wait to spend summer "off in his own world"--dreaming of knights in the Middle Ages and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called "normal" kids do. On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon he starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot. Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer--he doesn't live in the "real world" like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge. But when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware looks to the knights' Code of Chivalry: Thou shalt do battle against unfairness wherever faced with it. Thou shalt be always the champion of the Right and Good--and vows to save the lot. But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?
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Reviews

Photo of Revna
Revna@revna
3 stars
Apr 10, 2023

I enjoyed this. An easy read with very short chapters. I interpreted Ware as undiagnosed autistic which was an interesting lens to view this story though.

Photo of Nadine
Nadine @intlnadine
4 stars
Feb 18, 2022

I’m probably one of the few people who didn’t like Pax, but picked this up anyway and loved it. A great story about finding who you are and self-acceptance while taking action to help a small part of your own world Great for middle grade

Photo of Emily Perkovich
Emily Perkovich@undermeyou
5 stars
Nov 22, 2021

This was not my FAVORITE story line. I prefer something more fantastical. However, this was the most well-written middle grade fiction I have read in a long time. My kids were engrossed. The characters were well developed and world building was convincing and thorough.

Photo of Rani Jango
Rani Jango@ranijango
5 stars
Sep 19, 2021

A beautiful story of loneliness, friendship, and the first taste of rebellion and loss.

Photo of Manon van Heumen
Manon van Heumen@womanon
4 stars
Aug 27, 2021

This was such a wonderful story!

Photo of Mirella Hetekivi
Mirella Hetekivi@euphoricdopamine
3 stars
May 24, 2022
Photo of Courtney
Courtney @theseareader
3 stars
Feb 24, 2022
Photo of Ashlee McCarroll
Ashlee McCarroll@ashleemccarroll
4 stars
Nov 19, 2021
Photo of Julia Pramhaas
Julia Pramhaas @julia_p
4 stars
Aug 22, 2021
Photo of Dustin Wyse-Fisher
Dustin Wyse-Fisher@dwysefisher
4 stars
Jul 26, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Revna
Revna@revna

...artists see something that moves us, we need to take it in, make it part of ourselves. And then give it back to the world, translated, in a way the world can see it too.

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