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A spellbinding and darkly humorous coming-of-age story about an unusual boy whose family lives on the fringes of society and struggles to survive in a hostile world that shuns and fears them. He was born an outsider, like the rest of his family. Poor yet resilient, he lives in the shadows with his Aunt Libby and Uncle Darren, folk who stubbornly make their way in a society that does not understand or want them. They are mongrels, mixedblood, neither this nor that. The boy at the center of Mongrels must decide if he belongs on the road with his aunt and uncle, or if he fits with the people on the other side of the tracks. For ten years, he and his family have lived a life of late-night exits and close calls—always on the move across the South to stay one step ahead of the law. But the time is drawing near when Darren and Libby will know if their nephew is like them or not. And the close calls they’ve been running from for so long are catching up fast, now. Everything is about to change. A compelling and fascinating journey, Mongrels alternates between past and present to create an unforgettable portrait of a boy trying to understand his family and his place in a complex and unforgiving world. A smart and innovative story—funny, bloody, raw, and real—told in a rhythmic voice full of heart, Mongrels is a deeply moving, sometimes grisly novel that illuminates the challenges and tender joys of a life beyond the ordinary in a bold and imaginative new way.
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Mongrels follows a young man being raised by his werewolf aunt and uncle as they try to stay a step ahead of the human society that they don't fit into. The young man (I honestly can't remember if he's ever named), has yet to show signs of whether he'll be human or werewolf, which will determine whether he has to try to fit in or stay an outcast with his family.
As literary horror, Mongrels fits more into the category of coming of age with a dark sense of humor and SGJ's flair for adding supernatural elements to folks living on the fringes of society. I found myself thinking of Stephen King's IT more than once because it has similar excellent character work that makes you root for flawed but sympathetic characters trying to find their place in the world. The pacing is definitely on the slower side and the speculative elements take a backseat to the character work but for more character-driven, literary fans, I'd definitely recommend it!