The Loblolly Boy

I loved this children's fantasy, one of the best ones I've read for a long while. The Loblolly Boy is a sort of Peter Pan like creature - he can fly, he doesn't have any cares, but he's also invisible and only appears to 'sensitive' children. For Red, it seems like the most marvellous thing and when he gets the chance to become a loblolly boy and exchange his loveless life at the orphanage for a life of flying and adventure he jumps straight in. The twists and turns of this adventure are perfectly done, unexpected and yet just right.

Aka The Loblolly Boy. First in a series!
Yes, the premise has been done... but the reason the book is worth picking up is because of how the 'magic' happens. Is Freedom worth the Cost? It's a big question for a kids' book. But Norcliffe has a light touch, and the intensity of the ideas & 'scary' adventures is balanced by the humor & the 'good' adventures. Honestly, I don't know how to talk about it... just know that I enjoyed it very much and will look for more.

This is a modern fairytale where the moral of the story seems to be " be careful what you wish for; you might just get it!" This is the story of Michael; an orphan, who lives in the Great House and wishes to leave the torment of his guardians and travel to the world beyond the fence. Into his life flies the strange "loblolly boy"; a Peter Pan type figure who can fly and only Michael can see. In a moment of desperation, Michael is tricked by the loblolly boy into changing places.
After initially being enthralled by his new powers, Michael soon discovers that he can no longer eat and no-one can see him. With guidance from a strange sea-captain who lives alone on a deserted island beach, Michael discovers that the only people who can see show more him are Sensitives and that he must watch out for some people who are called Collectors. When Michael uses a special telescope, it points him in the direction of twin girls but also shows him a strange man with a butterfly net who must have something to do with his destiny. An interesting tale but I don't know what today's teenager would make of it. (Set in New Zealand). show less

Did you ever wish you could fly? What if the cost of having wings was becoming invisible to everyone else – permanently? That’s the conundrum the loblolly boy finds himself in. He has escaped his lonely, melancholy existence at an orphanage by soaring away on beautiful green wings; but he soon discovers that he is even lonelier than before because nobody except old Captain Bass can see or hear him. Or can they?

Follow Michael on his funny, dangerous, surprising, and sometimes sad journey as he learns what it is he’s really looking for and how he can find it.

Fans of Lois Lowry’s fantasy (The Giver, Gossamer) and the unfortunate lives of the Baudelaire orphans (A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket) are likely to enjoy show more this book. show less

Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

Michael lives a miserable existence in the strict orphanage he calls home, until the day he meets the loblolly boy.

At first amused by the boy's insistence that he can fly, Michael is awed when he sees the boy's wings, and agrees to learn to fly, too. When, by magic, he and the loblolly boy switch places, he's only too happy to flee the orphanage and thrill in the freedom of flight.

But Michael soon discovers there are plenty of disadvantages to life as a loblolly boy. He can't feel cold or warmth, he can't eat, and only a few people can see and hear him, so for the most part he's completely alone.

With the help of an old sailer and his mysterious telescope, Michael finds a family with twin girls show more he feels a strange connection to. As he gets to know them, he starts to see there may be a way to fix everything, as long as he can stay out of the maniacal Collector's grasp in time to do it.

THE BOY WHO COULD FLY is a magical adventure. Readers will sympathize with Michael's plight both as a regular human and as a loblolly boy, and follow him eagerly through the twists and turns of his journey. Though mostly light with moments of humor, the book also manages to consider what it means to be human, and what is worth sacrificing to hold onto ones humanity, which will leave readers thinking after they've turned the last page. show less

I loved the message of this book; enjoy the life that you have because the grass may be no greener on the other side!

Red lives in an orphanage that he calls 'The Great House', which is completely surrounded by a thick brick wall. He wishes more than anything to have a new life and be free. In the garden one day he discovers the mysterious loblolly boy, who promises to teach Red to fly. The loblolly boy has green, feathery wings, and can go anywhere he wants.

Red meets the boy at night in the garden. The loblolly boy whisltes for the guard dogs which forces Red into an 'exchange' with him - which means Red has switched places with him whether he likes it or not. Red is now 'free' and the loblolly boy 'real.' Red loves his freedom, until show more he discovers the price he has paid for it. show less

Enjoyable. Liked the development of the Loblolly Boy's character, as he discovers that often the grass isn't greener over the fence, and that while being invisible is fun for a while, we humans really do need to be able to interact with others, and be noticed.