“A LIKELY PLACE BY PAUL FOX”
The book entitled “A Likely Place” is written by Paula Fox , a Newberry Medal Awardee in New York City and Edward Ardizzone that illustrates book has been recognized by the New York Times. A Likely Place centered to a young boy turning 10 named Lewis who has been wanting to run away from home because of his parents that are overly strict. Lewis as a young boy has pressured through the expectation that his parents has given him that has come to the point that even a hat that he forgotten to taken off makes it a big deal for her mother. His father even got a fish for him to take care of so that he could be responsible even if he doesn’t to and unfortunately the fish died.

Every Saturday on every month, his uncle, aunt, and his cousin visits his family to hangout. There Lewis has gotten a chance to play with his cousin . Because of his laziness he was introduced to Charlie Flocker’s farm wherein it is [4] “A place for people who hang their clothes on the floor and who sits down doing anything all day” a statement by his cousin where it explained that Charlie Floker’s farm are for people who where lazy. Lewis got scared and try to act just like as his parents wants.

Lewis wasn’t really gotten used for all those rants that his parents give him and just wished to make the people around him to shut up and stop asking what he felt or telling him what should he felt or act. Lewis spent most Sunday thinking about running away but those plans would totally fail when he noticed that the doorman of the building across the street always seems to be watching him. But then again he forgotten the plans of running away because of what he remembered about his test every first thing in the morning. Lewis goes to school and yet just stood at the corridor knowing that he was been marked as absent. Later on, the principal noticed Lewis and make him attend the class. For the thoughts of his teacher Lewis is just a young boy who doesn’t excel in class nor good at spelling and a student who doesn’t even know what’s the differences between there and their.

Lewis friends are around the age of 7 has visited him to make him read them books which they do really liked. But his mother do not sees it as a thing that would make his son happy and even pointed out that Lewis shouldn’t hang out with them but instead find some friends around at his age. But he declined and continued the relationship with his friends . Lewis friends who are Henry, Betty Anne and Thomas really liked for Lewis to read The Monkey’s Paw a dozen times particularly the screech, moans, and squeaks that Lewis makes. In that friendship, Lewis feels special for the treatment that he received from his friends that he wouldn’t get from the grownups.
Lewis parents are going out to the town just like it used to. The young boy looked at it as an opportunity to run away from home and yet worried to his new nanny because of the thought that maybe she will be just like the other nannies that guard him every seconds. But when he meet her nanny it wasn’t what he predict to her to be. Miss Fitchlow, his nanny, just let him if he wants to be alone and knows when to take care of him. In which Lewis was really appreciate the act that made him feel ease. By Miss Fitchlow hands, Lewis can now go to a place where he wanted to explore. When Lewis was given a permission to go outside, he went to a park where he met Mr. Madruga.

Mr. Madruga was a Spanish shoemaker but due to his age he wasn’t really given the opportunity to have a job since he’s now old. Lewis and Mr.Madruga have a good time together even if they have age difference between each other.

Lewis felt very comfortable having Mr. Madruga to his side knowing that the old man wasn’t even good enough to spell english words that caused him to unable to literate. Mr. Madruga wants Lewis to help him on writing his letters to his son in law to make him work again. But as an exchange the old man should help Lewis to find a cave. Which on the story it describes that the cave is

A Likely Place for Lewis because he wanted a hideout to escape from his parents. Fortunately, both of them got there goals that will change their lives.
Through the experience of Lewis of being with Mr. Madruga. It helped him to have confidence and courage to be himself. Lewis has gotten good at spelling and even makes decisions for his own good. Lewis did not mind his overprotective parents and let them be and just decide to show what is he made of.

Paula Fox, the author, made Lewis a young curious boy that just wanted to stop the adults wanting him to tell what should he feel and what should he act. Lewis as a character is kind of relatable wanting for independence and treating him as like every actions he would do should be spooned feed. Sometimes doing those acts would make the child feel he was cage and not exploring his life as it should. Grownups should limit their self on what to act and be sensitive on how they raise their children. Just like what happen to Lewis because of his strict parents he decided to ran away and if it was not prevented it may cause danger to him.

The story A Likely Place is a story that would make you realize that a kid is just a kid. Adults shouldn’t give pressure to them just because of what society wants to nor a norm that are used to be followed. Do not force them to do something that they don’t really like especially if it will affect their mentality and development of the child as they grow.

I would rate this book 10/10 it has a good plot, it gives moral lesson to children that running away isn’t a solution to something that you don’t like and it is easy to read. The usage of words that the writer chose are simple that would make the readers understand it more which I definitely commend. The story is relatable and its really happening to children right now where in they kind of rebel their parent which are not good for them. This book is not just for kids but also for those people who just wanted to spend time reading and get a moral lesson from it that would make them realize something that would probably changed the perceptions of how should a child should raise.