A Boy and his Maps

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet is physically a beautiful book. Wide silky pages are home to a central narrative, drawings, maps and sub narratives. T.S of the title is a twelve year old boy genius who loves maps. He maps concepts - such as the construction of longing by McDonald's- as well as his physical surroundings. He lives on a ranch in Montana with his scientist mother Dr Clair and his archetypal rancher father and is dealing with the grief of the loss of his younger brother.

The book has a number of literary touchstones. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime comes to mind as well as the boy wizard who shall remain unnamed! Reif Larsen plays with these connections cleverly, yet his protagonist is still a compelling fully realised character. I loved this book. It swept me along!