Man Made Boy

Fleeing a claustrophobic life in a New York City theater that shelters mythological monsters from trolls to Medusa herself, Boy—the 17-year-old son of Frank-enstein’s monster—seeks self-understanding and an identity in contemporary America. Pursued by Viral Intelligence, or VI, a computer virus Boy created that seeks his love, he finds a traveling companion in Claire/Sophie, the granddaughter of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. Their shared experiences and her revelation of a tortured past lead Boy to evolve from self-pity to compassion in this tumultuous tale of attachment and growth from Skovron (Misfit). The abundance of nonhuman characters and Boy’s search for answers underscore pointed references to yet another literary influence—The Wizard of Oz—and the fiery interactions between Boy and Claire/Sophie keep the tone light. The efforts of Skovron’s hero to fit in with the world, as well as his lack of control over his own life, appeal directly to teenage angst, and Skovron resolves the VI dilemma in a way that suggests a union between creators and that which they create. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Oct.)