Just a Regular Boy

Just a Regular Boy is a standalone contemporary fiction novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Just a Regular Boy follows Remy Blake, a young boy snatched from society by his survivalist father and forced to live off the grid in the middle of the woods. The years pass and Remy loses sight of the life he once lived — supplies are running out and his father hesitates to scavage for necessities. As his father grows sicker by the day, Remy is terrified of the reality of being alone in the middle of nowhere. In an attempt to fend for himself, Remy is found by authorities and is deemed a 'feral child'. Anne, who is no stranger to dealing with the foster system, sees something special in Remy and vows to take care of him.

I really loved this book. It's wholesome, tugs on the heartstrings and tells a beautiful story of found family coming together. Remy is such a complex yet wonderful character — from the age of five, it is instilled in him that talking to strangers will get him killed, and he doesn't know better. The way his dad was able to brainwash him so easily was upsetting to read, but it makes complete sense because Remy had nobody else to trust.

Anne is the mother of two adopted kids who she fostered with her husband, Chris. She has experience with raising children who come from troubled backgrounds, but Remy is someone she hasn't experienced before. Anne's approach to Remy is that of nurture and understanding, and it's clear that Remy appreciates that because he allows her to get close to him — a privilege that not many people have.

The side characters in this book are equally as enjoyable. Chris is torn about fostering another child, and this causes a strain on his marriage with Anne but he turns out to be a brilliant foster father. Remy's new siblings are welcoming and make an effort to make him feel included in the family.

A beautiful read, 100% recommend!