The Cuckoo Boy by Grant Gillespie charts the quiet destruction a suburban childhood might sometimes, unexpectedly, wreak: Armed with the wrong set of circumstances, is there anything a child isn’t capable of?
James has landed in the wrong nest. Adopted by well-meaning parents who are anxious to conform, he enters a family where any wrong can be righted by a half-hearted trip to church, cake, vacuuming or, if all else fails, denial. Stifled by shepherd’s pie and scones, James’ imagination comes to the rescue in the form of David, an invisible friend, conspirator and agitator. Then James meets a real life David whose gentle spirit soothes the turbulent and unsettling effects of his make-believe world. But as James becomes more sociable he also becomes more vulnerable.
Once hurt, his revenge leads to an act which shocks his community and breaks the hearts of his parents.
Grant Gillespie’s beautifully observed and disturbing parable shows just how destructive normal can be.
The Cuckoo Boy is now available. BUY IT HERE
Watch Grant talk to To Hell with Publishing founder Laurence Johns about writing The Cuckoo Boy:
[vimeo vimeo.com/10527004]
