Brief

Memoir of a boy growing up in the 1960s to a dysfunctional family. His involvement with the catholic church is strained as he watches his mom involved in an extramarital relationship with a priest.

What We Liked

This story brings the innocent regard of a child to serious subjects such as the power and hypocrisy of the Catholic church, important and shocking historical events that took place in the 60's and growing up in a broken home. Surrounded by a currently welcomed nostalgia atmosphere, the narrative flows through the late 50's, the 60's, the early 70's and the year of 1987. Supernatural and mysterious passages, The Beatles, the hippies and great soundtrack are background to a child's struggle to find security. In a naive way, he tries to understand the loss of his father presence and the complexity of events taking place on around him.

Film: One reason it would be a good adaptation for a film is the sweetness of a boy that, while immature, is open to the complexity of the characters. His parents and other relatives aren't considered good or bad, but people with specificities and who are seen and described with a very generous regard. Another reason is the musical and visual richness of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s scenarios described in the passages. Also, a more serious and reflexive tone underlies the whole narrative as it deals with the complex subject as the power of the Catholic church.

TV: It would be a good adaptation for TV because the narrative brings many interesting and fun passages of the narrator's childhood. Even with a plot involving infidelity, violence and a dysfunctional family, the story brings adventurous children exploring haunted houses in the woods, mysterious characters and scary passages, the development of the protagonist in a strict catholic school, his relationship with other kids and the discipline of catholic nuns, as well as careless moments of fun with his dad. It manages to approach heavy subjects and connect them with childhood memories that are rich and lighthearted.

Key points: Nostalgia; Candid childhood memories; Complex characters; Religious critic; Lightness of narrative.

Synopsis

The story begins in 1987, in Bridgeport. The protagonist and narrator, Carl, an adult, meets his brother Mike for a beer in a familiar pub in town. Then, he is told about the possibility of his dad coming back to town after many years. As his brother leaves to go to the restroom, Carl enters a deep journey to memory lane where he reminds himself of his childhood. He then offers a portrait of his family matters - mainly, his family being torn apart by his parents divorce and the relationship of his mom with a powerful priest - and growing up in a catholic environment through the eyes of his childhood self. His memories are separated in three acts.

The first act brings his early childhood, in the late 50's and 60's, on a house in Bridgeport, more precisely, on Broderick Street. Along with his friends from the neighborhood, the adventurous child fears the woods surrounding the area, but at the same time they decide to bother a mysterious woman who lives in the woods. He also travels along with his brother on a fun trip to his aunt's home in New England, from which they try to bring home a snake - and surprisingly, it gets lost on the train back. He then recalls being followed in the woods on a Halloween night, where he went just to get the candies dropped there by a friend. All those candid memories are surrounded by descriptions of heavy fights between his parents and the feeling of insecurity in his own house, at the same time he manages to develop good memories on his father's presence. The presence of Father Jacobson doesn't seem suspicious so far.

The second act of the memoir comes along with being enrolled in a catholic school, the Altar boy training and taking part as an assistant on masses - which brings along a certain status in school. There are also historical passages in the background, such as the first time The Beatles appeared on TV and the assassination of Kennedy. It also brings a nice trip along Wyoming and Michigan before his father presence becomes almost nonexistent.He ends up getting each time closer to Father Jacobson because of his close relationship with Madeline, the mom, as he also tries to suppress feelings about his dad.

The third act marks the end of Carl's childhood as he realizes his parent's marriage is over, his dad disappears from his life and he gets suspicious about the type of relationship his mom has with the priest. Aware that his house physical structure is being destroyed and his mom is struggling to make ends meet, Carl still manages to find relief in music. More interested on the girls around him and discovering rocknroll, Carl is no longer an Altar Boy, and thus is able to have a more critical point of view about the Catholic church and its power. This is the moment when he comes back from the flashback, and the realization of his dad coming back to town leaves a taste of more to come.

About The Author

Phil Stephens is a prized author from Indiana. Raised in a solidly Catholic family, he served as an altar boy in the 60's. His book "Altar Boy" is an historical fiction and was named the 2016 gold medal winner in the International Publisher Awards for Best Contemporary Novel.