The Boy Who Granted Dreams by Luca Di Fulvio

This book was my first freelance copy editor manuscript from Bastei Lübbe, a German publishing company who is increasing their English language catalog. 

I did not know what to expect when I received it. When I started reading it, I quickly realized it wasn't something I would have picked out for myself. I typically read urban fantasy, in all it's variations. The Boy Who Granted Dreams is historical fiction. It's the story of a young girl, Cetta, who is becoming a young woman in a farming community in 1920's Italy. The girls family is poor and leaves Italy for America with her son, Natale. 

As the story brings the readers to America, the story begins to flash forward and back as the story moves from the view point of the mother to that of her son. Both Cetta and Natale have good and bad experiences, do good and bad things. But ultimately this book is the story of what people do for love, power, and money. I don't want to say too much about the plot itself as I really feel that this story should reveal itself as the author presents it. 

The author, Luca Di Fulvio, presents a very well written novel. Characters have distinct voices and are interesting. Transitions are not confusing or jarring to the reader. The setting of the story only adds to the interest for the reader. The 1920's and 1930's have long been a glamorized era for Americans with it's speakeasies, radio shows, flashy cars, and picture shows. The one issue I have with the story overall is the repeated sexual assaults that occur. I found it difficult to read those paragraphs. That said, I do not feel the novel would benefit from the removal or changing of those scenes. 

In the end, I would recommend this book. I think readers of historical fiction would particularly enjoy this read.  I would also encourage exploration of Luca's other works -- most of which are in Italian.

The Boy Who Granted Dreams is available from a variety of retailers.