When his mother dies and he discovers the man he believed was his father is not, sixteen year old Chris is haunted by a mysterious apparition that forces him to question his pampered existence and embark upon a quest to find himself. Hoping she will “make a man of him”, he seeks sanctuary in the home of Magda, a middle-aged waitress with a penchant for sex, only to discover she lives with her father, a cigarette smoking, beer swilling immigrant.
Chris hates his shabby new surroundings at the end of the street and the shabby old man at the end of his life who spends his days listening to old blues records and making Chris fetch him fresh cans of beer. But, when the old man tells tales of Communism, torture, escape and the mysterious medallion he wears, Chris learns that, like the old man’s skipping records, history repeats itself and the roles we play have been played many times before.

My Thoughts

The Vagabond King was a very interesting and thought-provoking novel. When reading and learning about Chris’ story, you can’t help but feel for this poor kid. When he met up with Magda and her father, he learned some valuable life lessons. I did at first find myself having a hard time getting into this book, but I am glad I persevered. I truly enjoyed the book which did make me think.

Rating: 3

Reviwed by: Kelly