Airy Nothing

By: Clarissa Pattern

Narrated by: Dael Akkerman

When you’ve always been told you’re wrong, finding a place that accepts you can be the most magical thing in the world.

John has always seen things others could not see. He runs away to fabled London to find his fortune, but all he finds are grimy streets, rife with hangings and disease.

Black Jack is a fast-talking pickpocket, ready to show John a new life, in the big city. When John first sees Shakespeare’s wondrous Globe theatre, he becomes convinced that this is where he truly belongs. But, can Black Jack resist the urge to make some easy coin off of his new, naïve friend? And can John step up to the stage, before the beast of the city swallows them both?

Airy Nothing is a magical period tale of two boys finding friendship, love, and acceptance in seething Elizabethan London.

©2021 Clarissa Pattern (P)2022 Clarissa Pattern

Wonderful story

An adorable fantasy-inflected picaresque full of fairies and street urchins. Written with all the breezy strength of C.S. Lewis or Lloyd Alexander's young adult adventure novels. Reminded me of crypto-gay boys adventure stories like Edward Irenaeus Prime-Stevenson's Left to Themselves, only at last freer to express and explore gender deviancy and queer romance. I like the mishmash of London influences too--it's Shakespearan, Dafoean and Dickensian all rolled up in one.

Okay I feel like when I'm at a loss for words, I just compare the book I'm reviewing to other books I like, and I'm doing that here now. Suffice to say, loved it! Perfect for its audience. Enjoyed its restrained scope and limited stakes, too--genre YA is often far too concerns with world-shattering conflicts when a story about two boys romping about London is just as valid.

Lovely narration from Dael Akkerman, whose performance more than makes up for the lo-fi sound quality.