MO

by Toby Heale ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Heale presents a satirical novel about modern-day justice.

Mo Harris is a 14-year-old boy in rural New Zealand. Mo’s life is no walk in the park: He lives with his destitute mother, who blames her problems on her son. After Mo punches a girl at school, he takes off. After some wandering, he meets Gulliver, an old man who offers to take Mo to his off-the-grid farm; The man and his wife, Daphne, are former university professors who have taken a few steps back from society. Mo matures as he works on the farm. Meanwhile, James Carstairs teaches children the excitement of the English language at an unnamed school. His lively style awakens the imaginations of youngsters that the school system has failed through neglect and under-funding. The headmaster explains that the school employing Carstairs “is run exclusively for the benefit of every interested party with the exception of the pupils.” Such comments make Carstairs wonder if nefarious forces are intentionally dumbing down New Zealand’s education system. Carstairs wants to “engage marginalized and disenfranchised young men and adults,” so, he sets out to do something bigger than conventional teaching, establishing Project Robin Hood.Carstairs argues that the world lacks any sense of fairness, and that, while laws certainly exist, justice is all too often lacking, proclaiming to his potential Sherwood Clan that “Robin Hood is needed today as much as ever.” How does project Robin Hood work? Much like the figure of legend, Carstairs will fight for the little guy; from helping an elderly couple being ripped off by a builder to confronting a supermarket chain that engages in foul tactics, there is much work to be done. The narrative takes a turn when Carstairs’ story intersects with Mo’s, who has come into some trouble of his own.

The excitement of the story comes from watching “Robin Hood” and company go about their avenging. The humor emerges from many of the reactions they receive. As an executive at the corrupt supermarket chain complains when he is bothered, “This had better be good. I was watching the cricket.” The story is not all revenge schemes; the author is careful to include frequent critiques of modern society, as when the judicial system is snidely referred to as “an old and leaky convoy. It moves at the speed of the slowest components and those components are lawyers who charge by the hour.” While the text teems with such observations, the dialogue frequently leans toward the excessive and drawn-out. Some extraneous information slows the satirical onslaught—many of the early pages are taken up by Mo’s adventures in off-grid living. In a work that pokes fun at many different things, Mo’s farm life is not particularly funny. Nor does it seem meant to be: The old man is prone to flat statements like “You are welcome to our home, that I hope will become your home.” The mixture of fun and earnestness gives the reader pause—Carstairs does not intend for his project to simply cause amusing chaos, he wants to change the world. And what of Mo and his trouble? The answer to that predicament proves to be far stranger than the reader could imagine.

A chatty, thoughtful mixture of humor and sincerity.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Self

Review Posted Online: March 7, 2025

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

LITERARY FICTION | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | GENERAL FICTION