The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman

by Robin Gregory

Set in the early 1900s, THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF MOOJIE LITTLEMAN is a heartrending, coming-of-age story, with a dose of humor and magical realism. After his mother dies, disabled Moojie is sent from the mythical American village of San Miguel de las Gaviotas to live with his grandfather at St. Isidore’s Fainting Goat Dairy, where he discovers a clan from an alternate universe. Moojie shares more than supernatural powers in common with the ones who call themselves Light-Eaters. Anxious to re-create a family of his own, he undergoes life-changing trials, trials complicated by the girl he falls for, a bully-magician, a cantankerous, war-hero grandfather, and a meddlesome, Irish aunt. Moojie must decide who he belongs with. An earthquake forces him to make a last-ditch effort to save what family he has, a harrowing rescue which completes his miraculous transformation and makes him a hero.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Magical Realism, New Adult, Adult, Novels

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2015

About the author

A lover of literature, Robin Gregory has been by turns a lay minister, artist, mapmaker, and substitute teacher. Now, she is now a mom and full-time writer living in California with two comedians, her husband and son.

Her début novel, THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF MOOJIE LITTLEMAN (Gatekeeper Press/2015), was published in three languages. It won Best Books of the Year from Kirkus, Eric Hoffer, Gelett Burgess, and more, and was curated by Library Journal. Her second novel, HALFKIN, is in editing now.

Website: http://www.robingregory.net/
Twitter @tweety_robin
Stage 32
facebook.com/RobinGregoryAuthor.

Reviews

[Kevin Ansbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

"…even rats have families, you know. Even monkeys and fish. Aren’t I as good as a fish?"
—Moojie Littleman


In the aftermath of an earthquake, a baby boy is found tucked inside a wooden fishing basket by the nuns of San Miguel de las Gaviotas. The word 'Moojie' is smudged across his forehead and deemed to be good a name as any.
Author Robin Gregory, in similarity to Neil Gaiman, has the rare gift of being able to re-imagine childhood fairy tales. The book has, at its beating heart, a bygone innocence, a C. S. Lewis/J. M. Barrie/Mark Twain type of story, populated by fey creatures and unrefined hillbillies.
Gregory can write, of that there is no doubt. There is a poetry to her free-flowing prose and I’m pleased to see an onomatopoeia or two being drawn from her quiver of literary arrows.
The dialogue is delightfully euphonious, some of the characters positively Pratchett-esque. And to top it all, she invents synonyms that perfectly suit their purpose.
Poor, sweet Moojie, orphaned, malformed, illiterate and clumsy, is left in the disgruntled care of his gruff grandpappy, a fellow with all the sensitivity of a hangman.
Loved only by readers of this book, our kind-natured misfit unearths an otherworld of possibilities. Kindred spirits whisper to him from the woods and he answers a preternatural call of the wild, discovering cosmic codes and altruism on the way.
Due to his being a conduit for prophecy, our maladroit boy wonder eventually finds his purpose, rivalling Forrest Gump, Bilbo Baggins, and Clarence, from It’s a Wonderful Life, in the 'unlikely hero' department.

I thoroughly enjoyed Gregory’s mystical, offbeat story. Her prose is playful and there is a tenderness to her writing that perfectly complements Moojie’s innate empathy for humans, animals and nature.
The tale is altogether allegorical and folkloric, and I was very easily led into its magical hinterland. An impressive début and I very much look forward to seeing what this talented author comes up with next!

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cheese and crackers, I'm stupid."

"Sahib, did you not know? Without being stupid, you will never know love!"

this book is charming and magical and while i didn't always understand what was going on, i don't see that as a bad thing in this type of children's fantasy. there's a certain freedom in just letting the story carry you along and allowing the magic to exist without stopping to try to pin everything down with explanations. in fact, i'm not even going to bother trying to write a review in which there is any plot description at all, because i wouldn't know where to begin or how to make it make sense to you without explaining too much in a boring infodump.

i'm not even sure what the target audience for this book is. it reads older than middle grade in some places, and older than YA in others - it kind of bounces around and ends up being in that catchall - "for audiences young and old!" category. like the circus. or oreos.

the language here reads like the fun kind of ESL, which i mean in the best possible way. there are times when an unexpected word choice can make one's own language come across newly expressive and delightful and full of possibilities:

…she swallowed Moojie in a pentamorous* hug, her body all tentacles and suction pressing in and taking out and spooky altogether.

and

"My lord," she said, "is there no one in the village?"

"WHAT?" His voice a scrape of tin.

"Peace," Ninti said, raising a hand. She would say, "Peace peace," and he felt he might lift off the ground. Or she would begin a sentence with, "It is written…" and her words, honeyed and woodminty, smelling of citrus and dark earth, caused great hope to surge through his body. And Moojie would think, I can do this.

and

Eyes dilated, Zagros devoured every word as if it were a magic grape.

and

Yes, he had been cruel at times, and yes, he was a cold turnip, but some inexplicable, nagging summons bid Moojie closer.

maybe these are real expressions that i've just never heard, but i would come across things like this and it would make me stop for a breath and envision what it would mean to call someone a cold turnip - what characteristics a cold turnip would have. the mere fact that this story mostly takes place at st. isidore's fainting goat dairy should suffice as an example of how evocative and unusual the language is, to say nothing of moojie himself - his afflictions, his abilities, his friends.

my only wish is that this had been illustrated. i think it would have helped me to be given more visual context in some instances. also, it would be fun to see giant watermelon drawings, since giant fruit already has such a place in my heart



that's all i'm willing to say. it's about half-lovely/half-confusing, which seems just about right for a kids fantasy book. i still don't understand all those madeleine l'engle books...

one more long quote for you to chew over on your own:

The dreary guitarist came in and strummed a dreary hymn. There was a great hoop of white roses, lilies, mums, and snapdragons propped on an easel. No coffin. Only the pretty blue and white jar on the white satin-draped table.

"What d-do the ashes look like, Papa?" Moojie asked.

"I don't know, crushed seashells."

Father Grabbe and two altar boys appeared from the sacristy. The father incensed the altar, pink smoke causing a flurry of sneezing in the pews. He crossed the congregation. "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."

Moojie fidgeted with his bow tie. He couldn't follow the priest because of the horrifying image of boots crushing seashells falling through the Father's ringed fingers and waves lapping them up salty and wet, the cold wild sea closing its mouth. The wild sea coming and going. In out in out.

Moojie felt everyone's attention shifting between the Pretty Jar and himself, between the creepy vessel of Mamma-sand and her misfit of a son.

*which, technically, is misspelled, but it's better for it with its nod to "amor" in the middle.

come to my blog!

[Kimber Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Only dreamers, artists and misfits enjoy an alternate reality."
—BanaNat

Behind the beautiful mystical cover awaits the story of a youngster named Moojie. An earthquake occurs on the night an abandoned baby is found by the nuns of San Miguel de las Gaviotas; the name Moojie is smudged across his tiny forehead. These events set in motion an extraordinary life. Magic swirls around this forsaken child as the nuns watch and worry that the imperfect infant might never find a family. But fate has its own plans for the babe and sets about bringing people into his path who can see all the possibilities that lie behind his enormous black eyes.

The road that this special young man must travel will be filled with potholes and washouts, but the pilgrimage will teach him everything he needs know so that if greatness calls, he will be ready. Impatience presses down on our uncared-for traveler, because a loving family is what he yearns for most. His quest to find where he belongs is both delightful and heartbreaking: I felt for dear Moojie, cheered his every victory and wished along with him that he would someday have his heart’s desire.

"Would anyone ever love him for his tender, kind, strange, ordinary Moojie-self?"

Robin Gregory has created a sparkling world filled with touching characters and magical folk full of spit and vinegar. This touching story stirs up those underlying human needs for belonging, acceptance and love, reminding us that love is all around if we’d only open our eyes and look.

This is a charming YA novel appropriate for the young and the young at heart. Moojie is an adorable misfit, and the ending left me with a starry smile that won’t soon dim.

"I used to be mad at life, mad at everything. And then, I woke up. It takes a long time to wake up. That’s why it doesn’t happen to people who are in a hurry."

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The problem with science was that it explained how God worked but not how to work with God. The problem with the Holy Scriptures was that they didn’t teach a boy how to capture a Girl with Starlit Eyes.”

Whimsical, sometimes touching, and with a narrative that moves like summer fireflies too quick to catch, The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman is filled with enough wonder and magic to capture the imagination of preteen and early teens. While it is clear from an adult standpoint that that is the audience at whom this wonderfully written fable is aimed, the lessons underscoring this account of Moojie’s life widen its appeal considerably.

The reader is an observer of this fantastic tale, but one invested in its outcome. In essence, the chapters are like slideshows of Moojie’s life. If there is a caveat — at least for an adult reader — it is that the swiftness at which the author shows us Moojie’s life and adventures — and misadventures — fly by so quickly, it leaves little time to appreciate the many imaginative trappings. It also makes it difficult at first to make an emotional connection with Moojie, who for the first quarter of the book is somewhat bratty. I suspect that young teens and preteens however, will love the blistering pace, and appreciate Moojie’s growth and confusion as he encounters a world filled with magical realism; which might be the key to finding love and family, the two things he most wants in the world.

It is obvious right away that there is magic that lurks within Moojie — including a very special power I won’t reveal. This is despite the fact that he is crippled, and has trouble speaking and writing. Though he is adopted, things are not all peaches and cream in Moojie’s life where love is concerned. Once Moojie loses someone — I won’t reveal who — his need for love and family increase, while the love around him decreases. But then he becomes involved with the Hostiles, who may not be hostile at all. This is when the narrative, already quickly flowing, takes wings.

The author creates a whimsical yet tender narrative filled with a plethora of detail, but because the story is told so well, it never bogs down. Moojie’s affection for Babylonia and how young love plays out is beautifully handled, as are the lessons about life and how we treat one another. Anything but heavy-handed, this book is like a light-show of Hostiles and Light Eaters, magic watermelons and Cave Dwellers, and lessons regarding how important it is to live by a moral code. In the end, it shows how important it is to find our place in the world, a place where we belong, and are loved — even if that place is not perfect.

Moojie’s life with his adoptive parents cover the first portion of the narrative, the time with his Pappy covering the middle of the book. The last third — and most exciting — has much action, and brings everything to a satisfying ending. It is this last third which will have teen and preteen readers racing to see how it all works out for Moojie. A life-altering decision he makes near the end, might come as a surprise. While it took me a while — as an adult — to make a connection, and I felt the first portion might have been better had it been trimmed a bit, the world created here, and the manner in which it is told, show a very talented and imaginative writer with a gift for storytelling. I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a big deal over time, and leads to greater things for this author.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

He arrived on the heels of an earthquake…At a quarter past seven, the candelabras in the chapel stopped swaying. The nuns crossed themselves, went outside and found a wooden fishing bucket on the porch. Expecting the catch of the day, they were nothing short of horrified to see a baby boy bundled in fur and tucked inside it. He had bright black eyes, enormous ears, and his hair was the texture of caterpillar fuzz…The word Moojie had been smudged across his forehead. And that was what they called him—a peculiar name for a peculiar boy, who wasn’t particularly welcome.

It is 1892 when this foundling appears on their doorstep in this little California coastal town, and as time passes, and the nuns worry over Moojie’s fate, his physical imperfections concern them. It is difficult to find homes for even a perfect child, but a seemingly imperfect one might never find one. But Moojie has his own mysterious charms, and he finds a home with the Littlemans, where he is loved, deeply, if only for a time. And then another, when his mother passes, and his father disappears. After a time, he goes to live with his grandfather, a crotchety old man whose delight in the wonders of the world, if he ever felt that wonder, has evaporated. Moojie, while physically cared for, housed, and fed has only the hazy memories of what it feels like to feel loved, and yet is incapable of unkindness, himself.

He discovers another manner of family in those others who galloped through his dreams.

They were the first wayshowers, sent to liberate the world from darkness, the Akil-Nuri—heavenly messengers, otherwise known as the Light-Eaters.

Moojie’s quest for a loving family requires courage, and strength of character that he will develop along his journey. A journey that is touching and occasionally tragic, at times distressing, but ultimately delightful, with a sprinkling of magic that was reminiscent of the fairy tales of my youth. In this enchanted story, the sweet is balanced by the youthful energy, the eternal questioning of why things are the way they are, and fighting for a better way of life, and love, for all.

This is a story for all from the young to the young-at-heart; for those still searching, following a quest for love – it’s here, right here – in these words, in this story, in Moojie Littleman.


Many thanks to my friend Kevin for pointing the way to this perfect story for these crazy days.

Kevin’s review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Stephanie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure why, but I decided to do something I haven't done for years and years. I pulled my daughter up onto my lap and read this book out loud to her. I couldn't have chosen a better book to share with her. In many ways, she's my little Moojie - she has led a very improbable life, inspiring many along the way. I can't honestly speak to how much she enjoyed the story - she is non-verbal, after all. I'd like to think she enjoyed it as much as I did. Even if she wasn't able to process the passages, I allow myself the hope that somehow the beauty of the message was not lost on her. It certainly wasn't lost on me. It was an absolutely unique and inspiring tale, told with an incredibly creative voice, in a beautifully poetic manner. I took the liberty of rereading my favorite passages (...and there were a lot of them, so one could argue I nearly read the book twice). My daughter didn't complain. Maybe she found the prose just as enchanting and lyrical. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this tale, and highly recommend it.

[Benedict Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life as a Wonder!

The story of Moojie Littleman combines elerments of magical realism with some current issues of today's society. Including social problems like complicated relationships between parents and children, death, coming of age, fighting life problems etc. The book reminds of Dickens's novels in a way as well.
Overall, an enjoyable and profound read.

[Bill Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ultimately inspiring story of a little boy who overcomes terrible adversity and a difficult upbringing to become a hero! It's an emotional story, beautifully written, with very descriptive prose and wonderful characters. I loved Moojie but also thought his Aunt and Grandfather were great creations. I have to mention the unusual plot, which combines a down to earth story about a terribly disadvantaged child growing up, which would have stood on its own as an interesting story, but the author's imagination has given us Moojies's friends, who are in conflict with the local people and from another world! This makes the book unusual but what stays with me is Moojie's inner feelings. The reminder that, however well we do in the lottery of life, what we all want most is to be loved, have friends and be accepted for who we are. Moojie proves there is hope for all of us!

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moojie Littleman has nearly every strike against him that a boy could have when he was born in 1892: He’s biracial, deformed, a foundling. But the boy has mysterious powers, making the local families reluctant to adopt him from the convent of San Miguel de las Gaviotas on the Pacific Coast, where he was abandoned. Even when he’s finally adopted by the childless Littlemans, poor Moojie can’t catch a break, as his adoptive mother dies, leaving him an orphan at 8 years old. Dispatched to St. Isadore’s Fainting Goat Dairy to live with his harsh, hard-drinking grandfather, Moojie grows up missing love and a real family. But as he enters his teenage years, Moojie realizes just how wondrous the world can be when he discovers love, his own worth, and a place to finally belong.

Author Robin Gregory has penned a thought-provoking fable that never seems twee or cliché. Moojie Littleman never seems too good to be true, and the alien Akil-Nuri, or Light-Eaters, and their Cosmic Code deliver a thought-provoking message without ever stooping to preachiness. The ending really took me by surprise, as well. It’s hard to believe that Gregory’s quirky novel is her debut. Here’s hoping for many more.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Mad Mystical Journey Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moojie Littleman was abandoned on the church steps as a baby. He grew up with bad legs and a claw hand. His adoptive mother saw his inner beauty, but she died young. His adoptive father couldn't see past his inability to speak clearly and to do "guy" things. He abandoned Moojie to the cranky care of his grandfather, a hillbilly who ran a dairy farm. Moojie grew up angry and his longing for a real family became more crippling than his physical handicaps.

Pappy got Moojie exercising and then saddled him with chores and work around the farm to do. Slowly Moojie learned to speak, walk with braces, and use his hand for the chores. His chores gave him the opportunity to explore the hills around the farm, and there he met The Lighteaters. This clan of loveable misfits are the sworn enemies of his Pappy and the townfolk who call them The Hostiles.

Moojie longed to become part of the Lighteater clan, but they wouldn't accept him until he learned to live by The Code. Through his improbable adventures, Moojie learned the power of mercy, charity, forgiveness, and love.

This is a quirky, funny, and touching story that will surprise and delight you. I highly recommend it!

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the reader on a wild and magical journey. It is a beautifully written story
about a young man’s dream of fitting in and finding love. It is a story of the classic clash between good and evil, but told in such a refreshing, and heart-gripping way. I was so drawn into the story, I actually wished I could have been there and witnessed it first-hand.

This story challenges us to look at things it different ways – things, and people, are not always what they seem. It will test your faith, your belief in miracles, and the way you look at the world around you.

I read this book a week ago, and the images and emotions it stirred are still with me. I find it hard to believe this is the author’s first novel. I look forward to reading more amazing stories from her.

[T. C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided a powerful story that kept me interested throughout its entire journey. The author did a great job creating characters that felt real and showed complex ideas as they tried to overcome adversity. The plot itself was surprising at times and provided plenty of twists, which I personally like. It kept everything fresh and fluid as the plot continued to unfold. I also liked how there were lots of different characters with very diverse personalities. It made the book come to life and also showed character growth. Overall, this book was both fun and enjoyable to read.

T.C.

[Wendy Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly Recommend to Lovers of Magical Realism and Fantasy!

“The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman” by Robin Gregory is a wonderful, unique and original novel. Gregory’s book can be classified as magical realism, fantasy, and YA fiction. Woven into the story are wonderful characters, beautiful descriptions, excellent writing, and rich dialogue. There is a deep message in the story about staying true to one’s course. Moojie’s tale is about growing through wounds, developing resilience, healing, forgiveness, and mediating with one’s enemy—which is ultimately a reflection of some buried wound within ourselves. Gregory artfully demonstrates through her excellent storytelling how humility can be so often misinterpreted by others as insecurity or vulnerability.

I loved this book and its magic, flavorful characters, and beautiful blend of realism and fantasy! “The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman” was unique to me as a person who loves the genre of magical realism. What was so unusual--in a great and wonderful way--about Gregory’s writing is that she conveys the story with depth and tenderness through a backdrop of dryness, rather than the usual lushness found in magical realism. Yet, the author’s tone is the perfect complement to her story. I say this because Moojie is full of magic that is unrecognized and disregarded by others –so there is an austerity that he must break through, and this is reflected in Gregory’s tone and descriptions.

The story of Moojie Littleman is the story of the hero’s journey as Moojie has great burdens to overcome as well as isolation and grief. Yet, the reader senses the hope within his heart that never can be extinguished entirely. Ultimately, Moojie comes to accept, love and embrace parts of himself that he was certain would be branded to him forever like tar and feathers. The reader knows all along the magic that Moojie possesses, and ultimately, one sees he was born into a world that could not understand him until he finished his own journey of inner healing and accepting who he is –regardless of other’s misperceptions. It is at this point that those that could not see the truth of Moojie’s being can finally see the beauty of who he is.

This book is delightful, original, intriguing, mysterious, and over brimming with magical creativity!

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moojie Littleman had a tough start to life. Born in the 19th century, being orphaned, biracial and deformed did not really help his case. When he was adopted by the Littlemans, his mother loved and protected him as much she could. But after her death, his father packed him off to his Grandfather's Dairy Farm. It was like Moojie never had a chance against life until he decided to take control of it by doing his best. Unlikely friendships along with the hardships of life shaped up the little Moojie into a wonderful person as he grew up.

Moojie starts of as this sad little character who you wish would catch a break in his life. But things really turn around for him when he makes friends with the group of ‘hostiles’ and he starts working hard at the farm. As a reader I saw the growth and development of his character right through the pages. However, it is not just Moojie’s character that surprised me. Without giving out any spoilers, let me just say that there are other characters who will tickle your interest in them and help shape the story, as well as Moojie.

The plot, the narration and the language – everything surprised me as I, frankly did not expect anything of this caliber from a debut author. It is pretty difficult to believe that this is Robin Gregory’s first work. If I hadn’t known, I would have expected this book to be a work of a season writer with at least 4-5 books under her belt already. The world building and the plot delivery is just flawless.

I have to admit that the title of the book almost made me ignore the book and surf on… it was the cover of the book and the blurb that caught my attention and I decided to give this one a try. The decision turned out to be a wise one. I thoroughly enjoyed the book with its vibrant characters and beautiful narration.

[Chantelle Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just magical. One of those rare books you need time to think about after you have finished it. Not like anything I have come across before, I would best describe it as coming-of-age but also magical, or fantasy in genre. It had a lovely old fashioned feel to it, both in style and content, and there were so many phrases in the narrative and in the dialogue that made me smile. The story of Moojie, who is found and then adopted by a young couple, is heart warming from start to finish. Moojie has things stacked against him from the starts. Unwanted and abandoned, his new parents then discover he has physical disabilities. He is often scorned and ridiculed throughout his young life, and things get even worse when his beloved mother dies and his father, unable to cope, sends him to live on his grandfathers goat farm. As he grows from child to young man, Moojie yearns and aches for belonging and love. One by one he overcomes the difficulties life has thrown at him, and as a character, I just loved him. I wanted to reach into the book and make everything okay for him! Moojie soon discovers he had special healing powers, and life gets interesting when he meets the mystical 'light-eaters' who dwell in the caves in the mountain. His grandfather and the people of the village are fearful and suspicious of these strange 'hostiles' but Moojie befriends them, learns from them and becomes desperate to join them. What follows is a journey of self-discovery, growing up and towards the end, page turning scenes of heroism and drama. I just couldn't put it down, and I am extremely curious to read more from this author. For me, a very, very unique and beautiful book.

[Artemiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory is a story about a boy, who's life has not been easy since his birth, but there have been good people around him, some showing their love more some less, but he never really have been alone.

For him his life is terrible, he's not like other boys, his legs don't work and his left hand is stiff and he stutters. His parents left him at the church doorstep on a night of earthquake, his new mother loved him but his new dad didn't like him after they found out his not perfect. When he lost his mother second time, his dad took him to his granddad and left him there. For years he lived every day to please his granddad so he would not be sent to boarding school, so he learned to do things around house and in fields one handed and on crutches. He also befriended the local "hostiles" who taught him to read, to love, to believe and to find good in himself and in others. He was not an ordinary boy, he had abilities he learned to control and to use.

But then things just start to go wrong and Moojie's life as he has known it so far is chancing, he loses people who have been dear to him, he learns about love and he looses his first love, he finds new friends and he finds new things about himself.

It's a emotional story about a boy and his challenged life. A good story.

[Philip Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman by Robin Gregory belongs among the company of books that I have read which have nothing in common other than that they are odd. Like The Golem and the Djinni by Helen Wecker and Little, Big by John Crowley it is an odd book, with its own strange world, which is why I liked it. Though rooted in the real world, the presence of magical, otherworldly beings in the story made it full of surprises, kept me on my toes, and my last remaining brain cell active. Its prose is very fine, original, fresh. Care has been taken over each sentence it seemed to me, which I appreciated. Often a sentence stood out as sounding poetic. That I admired. Moojie Littleman as the main character in the story I found interesting enough to make me want to know what happens to him. The other characters are well drawn, interesting, too. The cover illustration by Catrin Welz-Stein is a fine work of art. The Prologue, written like a parable, I really liked. It is good to have a rest from the kind of books you like best and feel safe with and to stray from your usual path to read something odd. More than a refreshing change, such a book as The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman can renew your sense of wonder and make you remember why you enjoy reading fiction in the first place.

[Mehreen Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mehreen Ahmed's review

Robin Gregory's The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman is superbly crafted with well thought out diction and bold imagery. Both poignant and optimistic, it is but life's paradox depicted in the character of Moojie Littleman. When the boy's mother dies, he is confronted with all of life's drudgery, but this drudgery does not break him rather makes him into a mature and rounded character, as he develops through the story. Moojie loses his mother at eight but since then, all his fears, nightmares, delusions egg him on towards one goal. He begins to observe and understand laws of nature. Wiser nonetheless, with tremendous insight into self-organisation, he discovers how flocks of birds may fly in unison sometimes to form one whole. Moojie ripens unwittingly, inspite of all provocations. With all the wondrous adventures he encounters, he takes this reader through an enchanted, yet thorny path of an 'improbable' journey of truth and beauty.

[Rea Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moojie Littleman struggles through life with physical handicaps that pale in comparison to the social handicaps of the grownups who are supposed to be caring for him. This is the story of a spiritual coming of age,and the power to heal oneself when one first learns to surrender to the concerns of others. It's about light and love and the moral convictions that only arise from within when we are quiet enough to listen. Moojie, a disappointment even to himself, must, like many of us, look beyond his life circumstances for the answers he seeks. His is a hero's journey. The lyrical prose and unique 'Voice' of this tale do not obscure the strong character and story lines that are sure to inspire generations of YA and adult readers alike. Robin Gregory is a storyteller in the classical style of a bygone era. This book is a gem that deserves to be widely read.

[Janelle Jalbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman is an enjoyable read on many levels. That fact alone makes it refreshing. I absolutely loved the fact that the character had so many strikes against him, yet it is not a pity party. The elements of visionary fiction combined with a classical brit lit approach were intriguing. That being said, there were passages in the middle of the book that seemed to drag and had me forcing a read which detracted a bit from the overall experience until the final third which picked up the pace. Still, the fact that the book can be read on a more superficial, literal level as well as on a deeper level scores points in this reader’s book.

[Anna Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story with well-developed characters--especially the lead character Moojie! The story is well-written with enough fantasy adventure to satisfy most any fan of the genre. Not all of what this 'Littleman' goes through is fun and games, but the overall feeling conveyed by the tale is uplifting. The story unfolds at a reasonable pace and engages readers on many levels. An entertaining read appropriate for older children and adults. Kudos, too, for the lovely cover!

[Danni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one very powerful story. With rich descriptive prose and an intricate narrative the author takes her readers on a genuinely mesmerizing journey. For the story is especially magical as Moojie grows both physically and as a heroic figure through the many interactions he has. This is one book I will be reading again.

[Barbara Gillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moojie is A+ great

I don't give five star reviews very often, but this little book deserves 5 star and more. This book came to me as a freebie, but it's well worth whatever is being asked. Buy the book - read it - enjoy the experience.

[Sandra Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy

Some of this story is hard to understand, but isn't that true of fantasy in general. I loved the main character. The story is well written. The main theme is that everyone needs to be loved and accepted, and that is never hard to understand.

[SA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystical lyricism; and a story worth sharing with my Grandchildren

[James Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book titled The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman does not disappoint when it comes to improbable adventures. I might compare it to the absurd adventures of Pippi Longstocking or Italo Calvino’s Barron in the Trees. As the title foreshadows the story recounts the surrealistic adventures of the main character. To portray the bizarre and surreal a writer needs to firmly ground the story in reality and, again, the book does not disappoint.

In The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman you will find a detail or description and the kind of specificity of word choice that Twain was talking about when he said that The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.

Here are just a few random snippets from a book that is chock full of descriptions and turns of phrase you can chew on for quite a while.
The old buckboard careened along, a deliberate plodding wooden ship, hooves pounding against the earth, like the pain in Moojie’s head.

The rotting perfume of sulphur rose from the Earth, pungent and nauseating. Moojie got down, leaned a shoulder into the buckboard and pushed; he pushed with all of his might; he pushed with every hob-raising, light-shucking, hemp-stretching particle of his being, “Pull Hokey! Pull Baggie!” The team lifted their heads, dug their hooves into the dirt, the axle twisted, the harness stretched, and the wagon lurched free.

Trees swayed, walls tumbled, buildings rattled like teapots, and the street rolled like a shaken picnic blanket.
Phineas, the chubby cat with a cantaloupe head, gold eyes, and great clumps of brown fur which no one was allowed to brush, was Moojie’s only friend. And Phineas suffered for it. Deaf as a turnip, Phineas never heard the flying objects falling around him.

He knew every wrought iron detail of the wood-burning stove, and the exact order of knives on the wall rack. Mason jars lined the open shelves, dried kelp and pickled kelp, canned sardines and more canned sardines.

But this book is much more than a caricature of reality. There is an underlying humanity to it such as in The Velveteen Rabbit that beautifully portrays what it means to be human. So much so that, while this book would be suitable for young adults or even older children, it could be read by adults looking for a meaningful story as well.

[Kathleen Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman
by Robin Gregory

Moojie Littleman is left in a basket at the chapel of San Miguel de las Gaviotas, where Mother Teagardin oversees his care and his adoption by Katie Littleman and her spouse. His new parents discover the child is disabled and does not grow and learn as a normal child should. His mother focuses all of her energy on the child, whereas the father begins to despair, already dividing the family. When Katie dies in an accident, the father takes the boy to his grandfather and leaves him on the grandfather's farm, himself heading away in grief into the unknown. Moojie feels both abandoned by his mother and rejected by his father. His grandfather is rough and uneducated and not the type to show affection. Then Moojie discovers a clan of folk called the Light-Eaters, who share the wise secrets of their Code with him. Through the tutoring of many members of the clan, the mentoring of Ninti, a leader, Moojie moves through many stages of discovering his own healing and leadership powers and enabling him to enter adulthood as a wise and loving man.

The plot itself is poignant, but the narrative is told as if in poetry with swirling and almost flamboyant vocabulary, not a little of it made-up words but having the rhythm and sound of just the right ones. Anyone who appreciates good use of words will love this book. The reader will also appreciate the well-drawn full-blooded characters that enable this story to have the depth it has.

I do not ordinarily read fantasy, but I have enjoyed this one. The message is strong and clear: to listen for universal wisdom and allow it to work through you to create peaceful life. The story gives us an alternative legend by which to understand life on our planet and how to exceed paradigms of the past that have brought us to the now but struggle to take us further. In this sense, the book attempts to open our consciousness wider but nevertheless in a simple and credible way.

The Improbable Wonders of Moojie Littleman is well worth a read.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what this book was about, but was intrigued by the cover and the awards it had won. The voice and the superb writing sucked me in from the first page. This is an unusual but powerful coming-of-age story, made even more surreal and poignant for me because I lost my mother unexpectedly while reading it and so my heart felt even more empathy for the MC. I recommend this book for anyone who has ever felt like a square peg in a world of round holes. You will be encouraged, and you will never forget this story!

[Harmony Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a little disabled boy who loses his family not once, but twice. It is a story of magic and miracles, love and hope, and coming of age, that will touch the heart strings. I loved seeing the world through Moojie's eyes, and the book kept me entertained throughout. The characters are complex and three-dimensional, and the world building, plot, and pacing are all done well. It gets a strong 4 stars from me.

[Connie Lansberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting.. I understood the spiritual themes and thought they were dealt with well. I'm not sure if Mooji himself is interesting enough to go on another journey, this one was pretty epic, but I would certainly read more from this author.
If you can see behind this world's veil, reading stories trying expose this is worthwhile.