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Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite
Boy With Wings by Mark Mustian is a magical, highly imaginative tour de force featuring, as its title suggests, a boy whose unusual birthmark gradually turns into a set of functional wings as he approaches adulthood. As Johnny Cruel drifts through the Depression-Era deep South, he encounters the full diapason of life in all its human absurdity, including baseless hatred, rampant ignorance, depravity, usury, violence, and even unexpected kindness. As he struggles to find identity, acceptance, and a way to fit into a world of self-described freaks, Johnny’s journey of self-discovery leads him to revelations that will resonate deeply with readers attempting to embrace and accept their own idiosyncrasies and differences. Mustian’s Johnny Cruel is a modern-day Everyman—a sojourner set apart by burning self-doubt and questions that only real-world experience can answer. His quest for identity is an aching reflection of the human condition in an increasingly complicated world.
The list of possible markers for which Johnny’s quest serves as an allegory is virtually endless: any reader with a self-perception of being outside the norms of society (or has known/loved such a person) will no doubt feel intimately connected to Johnny’s struggle, told in Mark Mustian’s staccato, yet magically real and detailed storyteller’s voice. The narrative is presented in chapters spoken by featured characters in succession, revealing widely differing thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. It is virtually un-put-downable, with each chapter adding depth and richness to the artfully woven tapestry of Johnny’s extraordinary life. Boy With Wings is a boldly original and unexpectedly profound novel that will leave readers thinking about life, growth, and identity long after they have turned the final page.
