Boy Abandoned by Victor Merkel follows Charles Remke and his children, Walter (aka: Blondie) and Mary, as they navigate poverty, illness, and personal hardship in late 19th- and early 20th-century Pennsylvania. Charles struggles with unemployment, alcoholism, and, later, becomes involved in crime. He sends Blondie to work on a farm, where he labors and experiences horse care, local conflicts, and early adulthood, including apprenticeships, relationships, and work in New York City. Mary grows up under her grandparents’ guidance, learning skills like reading, writing, and mushroom farming, while forming meaningful attachments. Over time, Blondie begins asserting control over his work and life after years of enduring hardship. The story tracks their separation, coming-of-age, the responsibilities thrust upon them, and the broader community over nearly two decades.

Victor Merkel’s Boy Abandoned is a memorable journey that takes readers through the early 1900s in a sweeping lifetime family saga. From Mary’s caring bond with Dale and the determined rebuilding of her family farm after a devastating tornado, to Blondie’s hardworking apprenticeship and daring exploits in New York City, Merkel does really well in substantiating the overriding plot with an undercurrent of subplots that drive the story forward. Both Mary and Blondie are likable and easy to root for, and despite some terrible missteps, I found Charlie to be the most complicated and fascinating character. Merkel's period detailing is expansive, and readers are brought into the cultural, political, and individualistic outlook of the era. City streets, construction sites, railways, and rural landscapes all have life breathed into them. The ending is a tear-jerker but appropriate in its realism. Overall, this is a novel with all the great hallmarks of classic literary fiction.

Boy Abandoned is a historical drama novel by Victor Merkel. Born in 1892, Walter "Blondie" Remke's life turned upside down when his broke and alcoholic father left him with Adolph Muller's family to work as a farmhand at the tender age of ten. His sister, Mary, continued to live with their father in Shanty Town, where she somehow managed to educate herself and learn how to read and write. Meanwhile, Blondie finds a kindred soul in Muller's daughter, Sophie, and as the years pass, their bond blossoms into love. But Adolph never approved of their relationship. Determined to make something of himself, Blondie travels to New York City, only to find himself embroiled in the city's gang skirmishes. Additionally, upon returning home, he is met with devastating news that threatens to overwhelm his life.

Inspired by true events, Boy Abandoned is a riveting coming-of-age tale that highlights the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, showing how it can help us triumph even in the most challenging of circumstances. Author Victor Merkel weaves a captivating narrative that spans over a decade in the life of a young man who must navigate the challenges of neglectful parenting and profound adversity to forge his own path in the world. Merkel's worldbuilding is phenomenal. The author skillfully immerses the reader in the vibrant atmosphere of early 1900s rural America, bringing the setting to life with detail and depth. The characters are salt-of-the-earth people readers can relate to. The story features heartbreaking moments, yet the overarching themes resonate with resilience and hope. If you enjoy character-driven coming-of-age stories, you will love this novel.