Although I struggled to get into this at first, by the end I didn't want to leave the characters behind. The early chapters, where Vincent is describing the painting over his bed and how he ended up in the Camargue, dragged a little, but once Kezia started telling her story, I was gripped. A gentle story about two outcast children who find each other and build a friendship that lasts a lifetime, set against a background of the German occupation of France during the second world war and the natural history of the Camargue, it is ultimately a tale of love, loss, and the importance of kindness and trust. I enjoyed it very much.

This story is so stereotypical of the kind this author creates and the fact he still does it is why I choose to still read them myself even now my Son is older.
In modern day France our protagonist meets a lady and her autistic friend who go on to tell him the tales of how life was for them when the County was War torn, what happened when the German soldiers came to town and how the carousel and flamingo's on the land helped them rebuild their lives.
There are underlying messages in the historical story and we analyse friendships and how different people can pull together in the face of adversity.
Although aged at a young audience this tale is one of those that will warm the heart of readers any age.
A special book I would recommend.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this arc in return for a honest review.

This is the story of an 18 year old boy called Vincent, who travels to Southern France in the footsteps of his namesake Vincent van Gogh to visit the site where Van Gogh painted one of his favourite pictures. While he is in the South of France he meets an elderly man and women, Kezia and Lorenzo, who take him into their home when he falls in. Kezia tells Vincent the story of their childhood, how they became to live together, and how Lorenzo became the Flamingo Boy.
So although this novel begins in the 21st century and is narrated by Vincent, the majority of this novel takes place during WWII. This is quite a common setting for Morpurgo, my favourite novels from him are all set during WWI or WWII, and this novel doesn’t disappoint. Morpurgo writes such clear and calm descriptions of WWII in this novel, he manages to get across the sheer depravity of the actions carried out, and the strength and humanity displayed by many who fought against the Nazis. Morpurgo does this in a consise way which makes it simple to understand for younger children, yet still detailed enough to create a story, and fuel the plotline, and with enough clarity that none of the gravitas of what happened is lost.
As per usual, Morpurgo’s storytelling is masterful. His ability to make stories personal, to give tragedies and huge historic events a human face and to give insight into the individual tales that make up the event is a skill that Morpurgo does better than most. He writes such beautifully powerful and moving novels that are predominantly aimed at children, but appeal just as strongly to adults.
Morpurgo always writes wonderful characters, and this novel is no different. Lorenzo, the Flamingo Boy is my particular favourite in this novel. He is described as having Autism in the blurb, and he sees the world in a slightly different way to the way everyone else does. He is so carefully and sensitively written by Morpurgo, and he is genuinely a lovely character. I really liked the relationship between Lorenzo and Kezia, it definitely added to my enjoyment of the novel, and was an integral part of the plot in general.
This is probably one of the less emotionally draining Morpurgo novels that I have read. I am used to crying a great deal when I read any of Morpurgo’s novels, and I was preparing myself mentally and physically for tears, but this novel wasn’t quite there for me. Perhaps because this novel ends with a lovely happy ending, but whatever the reason, I just felt there was a bit of emotion and sadness missing from this novel.
Overall I really enjoyed this novel. I love Michael Morpurgo’s novels, and although this one isn’t quite up there with War Horse and Private Peaceful for me, it is still an excellent Morpurgo novel, and I would recommend it to children and adults alike.

Flamingo Boy is Michael Morpurgo's attempt to write a book with a protagonist who is on the autism spectrum; he is only partially successful, as the narrator is in fact 'Flamingo Boy's best friend and lifelong protector, a Romani girl who finds herself at risk when the town her family 'winters' in is occupied by Nazi forces. I am by no means an expert on ASD, but many of the traits displayed by Renzo seem to come from the 'Rain Man' playbook. He is shy, obsessive, and prone to outbursts of emotion, yet he possesses an incredible talent that sets him apart from his 'normal' peers. I found the scenes where Renzo cares for the local animals very moving, but I had to suspend my disbelief during the scenes where he displayed incredible engineering skills. Not because I doubt that a person with ASD could rebuild a carousel from shattered, burnt remains- but because I doubt a child with no previous experience of engineering could! It was one amazing feat too far for me. Why do we have to portray people who are 'different' as borderline superheroes? Why can't they just 'be'?

I was also a little perturbed by Morpurgo's portrayal of the elder Nazi officer as sympathetic. I don't understand how somebody with so much sympathy for disabled and traveller children could rise up the Nazi hierarchy. I worry that by teaching children that "there are good people on both sides of every conflict", we are encouraging them view the Nazis sympathetically- something which is downright dangerous given the rise of the alt-right. If Morpurgo felt his book was lacking in well-rounded adult characters, perhaps he could have featured the French Resistance instead? I don't want to read a story about a "good" Nazi.

I would recommend Flamingo Boy with a couple of caveats. I would make sure that anybody reading it understood that this is ONE portrayal of ASD and that children who have ASD without any savant traits are still unique and worthy individuals. I would also remind them that of all the Nazi characters in the book, only one makes any attempt to come to Renzo's aid. The rest are wantonly destructive, bullying, violent and cruel.

A typical Michael Morpurgo story. Heart warming and sensitive. It's the story of a young man who goes exploring in modern day France where he meets a lady and her life long friend who is autistic. Through her story she tells of her life in war torn France and the importance of the flamingos around her farm. The book is along the vein of many of Michael Morpurgo's books but is enjoyable nevertheless. Ideal for upper key stage 2.

Set against the backdrop of WWII, Michael Morpurgo weaves a tale of trust, commitment, acceptance and love. A truly lovely story that warms the heart of all ages.

Beginning in 1982, 18 year-old Vincent sets off to the south of France to visit the beach Van Gough painted in the picture that’s hung in his bedroom. Whilst there, events lead him to meet Kezia and Renzo, a man who has autism; and Vincent hears, through Kezia’s retelling, how they dealt with and overcame Nazi occupation in their idyllic town.

In the generations since both World Wars, it has become commonplace to assume that all German soldiers were evil. However, with the character of Willi Brenner (“Capo”), Morpurgo reminds us that this was not the case - that these were normal, everyday men who were simply ordered to do a job.

Renzo’s disability is beautifully conveyed through the love his family, and Kezia’s family, have for him. Their ability and commitment to go into his world, rather than forcing him to adhere to social norms (particularly in the 1940’s), is very special to read. I hope that this will transcend into today’s world and change some people’s perception of children like Renzo. They are special and they do have a voice, if you’re willing to listen.

I really loved this book and I can’t wait to read it to my own class of children.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins, Children’s Books UK for this advanced copy.

Young Vincent is inspired by a painting by his namesake, Vincent Van Gogh, to go travelling to the South of France. There he falls ill in the wild Camargue region and is rescued by Renzo.

Whilst recovering at a farmhouse, Vincent listens to the story of Renzo and Kezia before and during World War 2.

Renzo himself has a great affinity with animals particularly the flamingos that inhabit the marshes. He may not communicate verbally with more than a few words but seems to understand the animals around him. He is autistic and doesn't relate to the world in the way others do.

Gradually Vincent hears how Renzo and Kezia became like brother and sister. Kezia's family are Roma and had a beautiful carousel that visited the local town every year. Renzo’s family own a local farm.

However, a violent storm coinciding with the arrival of German troops breaks the Charbonneau carousel. The lives of Kezia and her Roma family become threatened by the Nazis and Renzo is also endangered

Morpurgo is too skilled a writer to make the occupying Germans pure evil. There is a giant soldier, Caporal, or Capo as Renzo calls him who is set apart from the other soldiers and tries to help the two families.

Can the two families recover from the changes that arrive with the war?

The characters of Renzo and Kezia are lovingly drawn. Morpurgo doesn't shy away from more "difficult to understand" aspects of autistic behaviour but neither does he patronise. Instead he shows, through Kezia's understanding of Renzo, that you need to get "inside" Renzo's world and then you CAN understand.

There are beautiful scenes involving the environment of the Camargue with its wild horses, flamingos etc. Also, the deep bond between Renzo and Kezia is very moving and beautiful in its own way.

What a sensitive writer Morpurgo is.

I picked up this book to read "between" adult books but couldn't bear to put it down. Morpurgo offers such sensitivity within a fast moving plot that I can totally understand why many adult customers come in to our shop to buy his books to read themselves.
A great storyteller shouldn't have to be "confined" to the children's section and that is what Morpurgo is. He captures what Sebastian Faulks does in Birdsong for example with the brilliance of Van Gogh's vivid brushstrokes.

Flamingo Boy by Michael Morpurgo is a delightful historical children's novel that can be enjoyed by all ages. I am a granny and really enjoyed it.
Michael Morpurgo weaves a wonderful tale beginning in 1982, he then transports the reader back to the occupied south of France during World War II. The reader gets caught up in the war as the peaceful countryside is taken over by the Nazis.
There is the theme of trust. Not all Nazis were evil. They all wore uniforms but underneath some were men and not monsters. "In this uniform, I am Caporal Willi Brenner. Under this uniform, I am Herr Willi Brenner, husband, father and Lehrer."
The novel revolves around two children in the 1940's. One has special needs. It sounded like autism to me. He finds trusting hard but his instincts are key. If he likes you, you receive "an open-hearted smile, a smile of complete trust."
Children (and adults) with special needs may have an affinity with animals. The reader sees an animal whisperer who has patience, love and care. "He puts his hands on them, breathes on them and they get better."
There is a carousel in the story. This can be seen as a motif for French lives. "What looks broken can always be mended." Lives disrupted by the Nazis would one day be restored.
In spite of occupation, there is a calmness to the story. I think this is due to the tranquil setting and the personalities that radiate love. In the midst of war, there is an "oasis of peace."
When all seems hopeless, there is still prayer. "I kept praying... more in hope than in faith." The day that hope dies is the day that all will seem lost. We must keep hope alive.
I really loved Flamingo Boy. It is a story of love, of friendship, of hope in the midst of adversity and of a beautiful bond with animals. There is a wonderful gentle soul who is not sullied by the world and it is beautiful to witness.
An absolute joy to read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.