A BOY MADE OF BLOCKS by Keith Stuart

Finished Mo 3/11/19

The Rowe family, set in Bristol, England

Jody and Alex; they are in a trial separation.

 Jody has given up her career to take care of their autistic son. She has a masters degree in The Arts. During the separation she begins managing an art gallery which is what she was suited to all along.

Alex also put aside his dreams of working in the music industry. He works in the banking department of a real estate firm. He's not happy, but picked this career path to pay for his family- especially his autistic son.

Sam is eight years old and has trouble in school due to his autism. He is being bullied at school, but due to his nature, he's not able to report the situation.

When Alex is asked to leave by Jody, he goes to live with his friend Dan.

Dan is a very successful graphic designer who seems to always land on his feet. Nobody is really sure what he does, but he's always at the best parties and best events.

Alex sleeps on an inflatable mattress that is always leaking air- A metaphor of his life.

Emma is Alex's sister and she has a history of 'running away'. She has lived all over the world over the past fourteen years. She's not really in the lives of her family. Dan has always loved her, but never had the guts to voice his feelings.

'MINECRAFT' is a computer game that allows Alex to bond with Sam.

He's good enough to enter a national competition and this is a major plot of the novel.

GEORGE IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM-

George is Alex's dead older brother. George and Alex were playing in front of their school fourteen years earlier. George ran ahead and was hit by a car and died. Alex could never forgive himself. This is the most important plot.

'You must deal with your own issues before you can tackle the really big ones. In this case, the 'big issue' is Autism, but all of the characters lives are unfinished and unexamined.

At the competition they are asked to create a famous London building. Sam wins 'a runner up award' by recreating the cafe that Alex, George, and his mum were happy at the day before George was killed.

After the competition Emma leaves for South America, but Dan surprises everyone by buying a ticket and going with her. They are finally a couple.

From Amazon-

"A father who rediscovers love

Alex loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn't understand him. He needs a reason to grab his future with both hands.

A son who shows him how to live

Meet eight-year-old Sam: beautiful, surprising - and different. To him the world is a frightening mystery. But as his imagination comes to life, his family will be changed . . . for good".

KEITH STUART, author of A Boy Made of Blocks (his first novel), is games editor at the Guardian. He started out as writer and features editor on the highly influential magazine Edge, before going freelance in 2000 to cover games culture for publications such as The Official PlayStation Magazine, PC Gamer, and T3, as well as investigating digital and interactive art for Frieze. He also writes about music, film and media for the Guardian, and is a regular on the Tech Weekly podcast. He is married with two sons.

I truly enjoyed the book. It's a real 'crowd pleaser' and I was really moved when it is revealed that Sam created the cafe during the competition. And his speech about 'why' he created it was authentically  inspiring.