Review of "The Stories Julian Tells"

"Catalog cats are strange--but a house you eat for dinner is stranger yet."

     Ann Cameron's The Stories Julian Tells turns ordinary childhood moments into snapshots of pure magic. Julian is a regular kid. He has a regular little brother and two regular parents. What is extraordinary is his imagination. From the catalog cats who tend his garden to his special cavemen teeth, Julian's creative mind  makes something special out of the most insignificant situations. Between these covers are six short stories featuring his whole family and a boatload of trouble--because when telling tales comes this easily, you're bound to tell the wrong ones eventually.

     Julian is a brilliant character with a sharp mind and a penchant for fibbing. His brother, Huey, is cute but gullible, their parents kind yet strict. Together, they form a complex cast that balances normal family relationships with drama and adventure. Each relative has their own endearing traits and fatal flaws, which interact with each other to weave little conflicts that feel big. Even if Julian doesn't change a lot over the course of the stories, he has enough of a character arc to give the impression of a rounded, dynamic personality.

     The stories themselves are powerful things that exude realism from every word. There is no cursing, romance, or violence, only a child's wild dreams about invisible felines, towering corn, and having a best friend. Most of these are independent of each other, standalone tales that can be read in any order, but there are a couple that are so intertwined it's difficult to tell where one ends and the next begins. Julian is a great narrator painted with an easy-to-read writing style, leaving only one problem: there are only six plots to explore! 

     I would recommend this book to young readers interested in a fresh approach to ordinary life. The Stories Julian Tells features a likable protagonist, conflict with realistic stakes, lovable supporting characters, and much more. Though it's pretty thin, the tales within are larger-than-life thanks to Ann Cameron's simple, yet engaging, prose. It deserves five stars.