Walter Lavender, Jr. feels most at home in his mother's unusual West Village dessert shop, where vol-au-vents scamper and marzipan dragons breathe real fire. When the magical and mysterious Book at the heart of the shop vanishes (right when their new landlord is threatening to stop their lease), it's up to Walter and his unusual talents to find it. Although Walter has a communication disorder that renders him speechless (and friendless), he has a special ability to find things that no one else can. Accompanied by Milton, his golden retriever, Walter's quest for the Book takes him around and under New York City, introducing him to some extraordinary people along the way.
This is the kind of story that has some sweet and sad elements together, combined with unforgettable characters and, as I'm sure you've guessed, a touch of magical realism. I enjoyed getting Walter's perspective and found him endearing and fascinating. His unusual way of looking at the world makes him insightful and he's apt to notice things that many people just gloss over. Admittedly, I did worry for him several times when he's on his quest to find the book, but I chalk that up to really caring about the character (which is a good thing).
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