The Manny (review)

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Manny Karen Coats Thomson, Sarah L. The Manny. Dutton, 2005181p ISBN 0-525-47413-7$15.99 R Gr. 7-10 Justin isn't putting his masculinity on the line when he takes a summer job as a "manny," that is, a male nanny. In fact, it's just the opposite—he is on his way to the Hamptons to meet girls who can't resist a man who's good with kids. He's also rehearsing for his future, when he hopes the Hamptons lifestyle of his employers will be his. He sights his target the first day—the lovely Serafina, a Manhattanite originally from Buenos Aires who summers at the Hamptons. He also meets Liz, a local, who isn't as pretty or as rich as she needs to be to get his attention but who still proves useful as a source of information. Alas, the intensity of Justin's well-developed fantasy quickly gets in the way of his actual relationship with Serafina [End Page 49] and blinds him to the feelings he is developing for Liz. Serafina graciously points all this out to him, but by the time he approaches Liz, she's not of a mind to slot into second place. Justin's narration reveals a credible inner life and voice—self-aware, goal-oriented, and romantic in a decidedly masculine key. His ambivalence about his mom's starting to date while he is away rings true, and he (thankfully) never waxes schmaltzy about the cuteness of his charge, Aspen, or overplays the hip babysitter role. Instead, he simply enjoys playing Legos and chasing Aspen around on the beach. He teaches Aspen to belch on demand, effectively cows the playground bully, loses his temper, and doesn't know quite how to handle Aspen's tears—all of the things you would expect of a manny. His efforts at transcending the economic class divide predictably fail, but readers will remain as hopeful as he that Liz's rejection is nothing that a really sincere apology from a sensitive guy who's okay with kids can't overcome. Copyright © 2005 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois