Matteo

by Michael Leali

Matteo has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, LGBT, Retellings

Audible Audio

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Michael Leali is a writer and educator. He received his MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. When he’s not dreaming up stories, he’s probably playing a board game, eating cheese, or grading papers somewhere in the suburbs of Chicago. The Civil War of Amos Abernathy is his debut novel. Visit Michael at michaelleali.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @michaelleali.

Reviews

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Pride Month Read #3: 4 stars. Lots of heart, lots of humor. Plus, an excellent narrator.

I wasn't sure how the author was going to write his way to the end, given how the story was developing, but I'm happy to say it basically worked. Definitely recommend.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

June 2023 Wrap Up
Review coming up when life gets back to normal.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some promotion surrounding the 2023 debut of Michael Leali's Matteo compared it to Carlo Collodi's classic novel Pinocchio from 1883, and I see why. The story arc bears more than passing resemblance. Matteo Lorenzini's upbringing in the town of Creekside hasn't always been normal. His mom and dad struggled for years to have a child, until his dad wished for one at the base of Creekside's old oak tree. An abandoned baby soon showed up beside the tree, and Matteo's parents adopted him. Matteo is eleven now and loves his mom and dad, but not everything in his life is quite right.

Baseball is the favored pastime of Lorenzini boys for generations past, but Matteo struggles to earn a spot on Creekside's junior team, the Blue Whales. He's an unreliable fielder and hitter, as the best player, Tyler Sudbury, won't let him forget. Omar Jones, another star on the Blue Whales, is nicer to him, but Matteo wonders how long that will last if he never improves at baseball. His anxiety is heightened by the fact that he has a secret crush on Omar, which could turn Matteo's life inside out if anyone learns the truth. Would his parents love him if they find out he likes other boys? He has no doubt his best friend, blue-haired Azura Gonzalez, wouldn't love him any less. Matteo can count on her.

Unexplainable things happen to Matteo as the old oak tree his parents found him beside shows signs of decay and death. No one wants to see the landmark excised, but Matteo feels a closer connection than most. Regardless, he's shocked to find his body exhibiting signs of treelike growth every time he lies. Matteo endeavors to keep the phenomena under wraps, but the signs he's morphing into a tree are blatant. He has to figure out why the oak tree is dying, what his own connection to it means, and piece together a plan to rescue the tree from death before something equally awful happens to him. The responsibility weighs heavy on Matteo's shoulders to save the tree and perhaps all of Creekside...but how deep a sacrifice will be required of him?

"I think every story is true. Just a little."

—Matteo, P. 122

Potential exists in these pages for an all-time great junior novel, but Matteo is too complicated for its own good. The implications behind Matteo's physical transformation are also weird. I appreciate the metaphor behind his symptoms, that becoming what is natural to you can be met with fear and anger by those who don't understand. Growing up means figuring out who you are and helping others realize you aren't a threat. I might consider rating Matteo two and a half stars; it could have been magnificent, but I do like it.

[Anita Kelly]

Picked this up on a bit of a whim because frankly I am in desperate need at the moment of seeing the world through the eyes of a child (which MG authors are so very skilled at portraying) & it hit the spot. I had no idea it was a queer Pinocchio retelling but give me a sweet, diverse cast of characters and a lot of big feelings about trees and I’m there. I particularly loved the interview with the townspeople throughout! Really charming & I’m excited to go back and read Leali’s debut.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

QUEER PINOCCHIO RETELLING

I didn't know anything about this book going into it only that I had just recently read another book by this author and loved it and wanted to read more of his books. This was ah-freaking-dorable.

This book starts on Matteo's 11th birthday where he hears his favorite story about how his two parents both wanted a kid so badly that they told the magical oak tree in town about it separately and then baby Matteo was found on the steps of the firehouse that his dad works at later that day. Adorable right. He also is passed down the family baseball bat and is trying to live up to his parents' expectations of being the kid that they deserve. Cue the tears.

This book follows Mateo as he tries to figure out what is going on with him because patches of wood start appearing on his body when he lies. There is this magical oak tree in the park of this town and everyone's got stories about their own interactions with it but when the tree starts to die, the town plans to tear it down. Mateo and his friends are determined to not let that happen.

I had no idea this had a magical realism element to it and it was a little bit surprised when it happened but in a good way. This was a really fun read that I'm happy to add to my favorite middle grade.

Gay MC, Black SC

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute middle grade! A.S. King was Leali's Master's advisor (yes, I read the acknowledgements!) and that definitely shines through in this contemporary-magical-realism book. I loved Matteo's story and the ways queerness is symbolized and allegorized through the tree. This reminded me a lot of Ellie Engle Saves Herself in that queer-kid-gets-mysterious-powers-and-also-a-goldfish type of way. Overall, such a cute and wonderful read and I will definitely be picking up more of Michael Leali's books in the future.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contemporary fantasy about a magical tree and a seemingly non-magical boy is an odd book, that I don’t think I can compare with anything else I have read. Not so much a modern telling of Pinocchio, as perhaps an homage to it. There is a goldfish that Matteo tells everything to, called Cricket.

Matteo is a boy that his parents found as a baby, after making a wish on the old oak tree in their small town. The oak tree was nearly as old as the town, and people had many stories about how it could grant wishes, and how strange things had happened regarding the tree.

But strange things start happening, as he hits puberty. Every time he lies, he doesn’t so much have his nose grow, but have leaves appear on him, or bark.

There are several themes running through this story, the most is being true to yourself as well as others, in all things, including who you love. We know that Matteo is in love with his best friend, Omar, but can’t find a way to tell him. But there is someone else in the past that also wasn’t true to themselves, and that is affecting the health of the tree, which appears to be dying.

Good middle grade story.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Isaiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book.

I wanted to like it more, but I was really just not into it. The casual homophobia, the abandoning of friends (then acting like they abandoned you being forgiven so easily), the weird focus on little league baseball. A lot of it just made me feel weird.

The turning into a tree when he lied plot was interesting, but then even that wasn't enough to keep me going. I needed more from this. The only parts I went ahead and skimmed after I decided to give up were the interviews that happened between the chapters. Those were always highlights. Those interviews are why I didn't rate this one star. They were that much a draw for me.

[BooksAsDreams (Tiffany)]

If you are looking for an engaging text that includes contemporary activities mixed with magical realism and a ghost fish, then this is for you! To say you won’t see what’s coming is an understatement. Themes of fitting in, family, ancestry, first crush, sports, and more! Ages 10 and up. Shout out to #NetGalley & #HarperCollins for the ARC of this middle grades book!

[Kary H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this book and can’t wait to booktalk it next week.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Eleven-year-old Matteo Lorenzini loves listening on his birthday to the story of how his parents found him at the fire station in Creekside when he was abandoned there as a baby, after they both wished on the big tree in the center of town for a child. He's happy with his family, but feels he is a disappointment to his father because he is small for his age and not a fabulous baseball player. His father played for the Blue Whales team when he was young, and it meant a lot to him because his father left his family about that time. Matteo receives the family baseball bat that was carved from a branch of the tree for his birthday. Even though he has a good friend in Azura, whose father owns the local bakery, Matteo doesn't feel like he can talk to anyone but his pet goldfish, Cricket, about his feelings of failure, or his crush on Omar, who used to be his good friend but doesn't hang out as much ever since Omar made the Blue Whales team and Matteo didn't. This year, Matteo makes the team, but isn't a great player. Not only that, but odd things are starting to happen to him. At first, it's his socks filling up with leaves, and it progresses to bark like scabs on his legs, and then moves on to leaves growing out of his skin. Does this have something to do with the fact that when Cricket died, he buried him near the tree? Finding the name "Kaz" on the tree, and connecting it with Mr. Kowalski, the elderly school librarian, Matteo asks him about what he knows of the history of the town and the tree, but doesn't get a lot of answers. The tree is dying, and the town is thinking of cutting it down, which worries Matteo. There are a lot of secrets in Creekside, and while Matteo and Azura are working on an interview project to celebrate the town's bicentennial, they uncover some of them, but will they be able to find out what family secrets of Matteo's are causing him to turn into a tree?
Strengths: Creekside was an amazing setting, and I loved that Matteo and Azura were interviewing residents about various facets of the town. The civic pride, especially around the tree, was great to see. I especially liked the depiction of Mr. Kowalski's library. The other interesting thing is that Matteo does consult his parents about the fact that he is turning into a tree, and they try to help him figure out what is going on. I don't want to reveal the family secrets, or the surprise ending, but it is all very satisfying.
Weaknesses: This author's The Civil War of Amos Abernathy has been very popular in my library, but I'm not sure that my fans of this title are going to be as interested in this Pinocchio flavored fantasy. The fact that Matteo's parents are involved does make this seem like a better choice for younger readers.
What I really think: This is an interesting modern fairy tale for readers who liked Applegate's The Wishtree or Haydu's One Jar of Magic.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matteo feels the pressure - the pressure to be who he thinks his parents want him to be, which means making the Blue Whales baseball team and living up to his father's legacy. Matteo is clearly loved; however, in trying to be helpful and supportive, his parents inadvertently make him feel like he's not living up to their expectations. For example, he doesn't know how they'll react to his developing crush on friend and teammate Omar. And he really doesn't know how they'll react to the fact that he seems to be turning into a tree.

This magical realism middle grade novel gives a nod to Pinocchio as a pointedly diverse cast of characters supports Matteo in his quest to understand his connection to the giant oak tree in the middle of their hometown. Each chapter is preceded by a brief interview transcript from the documentary Matteo and his friend Azura are making for the town bicentennial celebration. Leali takes on a lot in this novel including bullying, and past and present attitudes toward those who identify as LGBTQIA+. Readers will have to suspend their disbelief as Matteo grows branches and receives council from the talking ghost of his deceased pet goldfish, but the payoff is worth it for those who give this sweet story a chance.

Recommended for readers in grades 5-8.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magical realism is hard. You've got to strike the right balance between magic and realism to establish a consistent tone, and you've got to let the magical elements inform the human themes. Mateo isn't entirely successful on either front. A wacky magical pal shows up just when the story is getting serious, leading to some tonal whiplash. And while I appreciate what the finale is trying to say about identity and being true to yourself, the metaphor doesn't really work. The things they make being an out gay kid hard in the 2020s just can't be overcome by magic potions and wishing hard enough.

Still, the elements I have enjoyed in Leali's other books still work well. I like that even "good" parents in Leali's works are neither all knowing nor all loving. They bring their own baggage to the table and sometimes hurt their kids because of it. I also like how Leali's protagonists tend to be more honest and articulate about their crushes and the feelings they evoke.

[Emily Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to #NetGalley, Michael Leali and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy of "Matteo" in exchange for an honest review.

Matteo has never really felt like the other boys in his town, but he hopes that will change now that he's on the blue whales baseball team. The same team is dad was on.
Things change though when Matteo turns 11. He soon starts sprouting leaves from his fingers and growing bark on his skin. Matteo is obviously panicked and begins trying to find out the truth about himself and the town. Matteo tries to hide the truth from his parents, but as things get worse it's harder to hide. Will Matteo be able to figure out what is going on before it is too late?

A very unique book about liking you for who you are! I thought it was a great read and I would recommend it to other readers.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t like the story of Pinocchio. Never did. So, with all the references to that story that permeate “Matteo,” you probably wouldn’t expect me to give it a second thought. But something about this charming boy and his family, the town he lives in, the beautiful backstory he’s got—it drew me in. I loved Matteo from the very first page. He is an outcast in his town. He loves baseball, but can’t seem to do well at it. He’s bullied and bruised, much like the tree in the center of his town. In fact, the more he denies who he is and tries to conform to other people’s expectations, the more trouble seems to follow him. What can Matteo do to stay true to himself while also helping the world around him?

Shoutout to Michael Leali for creating such a wonderful cast of characters and a sweet, metaphorical, unforgettable story! 🏳️‍🌈

[Donna Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story that kids should read full of great imagery, useful themes, and lots of emotion. It has a little of everything: baseball, love for pets, dealing with bullies, being different, magic and so much more. This is definitely a fantasy book (and a different read, esp. for me, who is not usually a fan).But kids I think will be drawn into it because of its fantastical features. The main circle of friends that Matteo has are quite diverse, thinking individuals, and the book teaches what good friends can be. The ending was especially effective, and I would recommend this book to any kids out there, esp. who like fantasy. This should be read by Disney people because it would make a great animation film one day.

[Rebecca Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upper elementary and lower middle school appropriate. A magical story about being true to yourself and being seen for yourself. It was sort of a new version of Pinocchio but I liked the way the author handled the lying better than the original tale. For me, the magical elements at the end of the book were actually a little bit too incredulous but it made for a nice happy and safe story. I think I might have rated the story higher if it had been realistic fiction instead of fantasy because I liked the very real family issues relating to being adopted and who you love but the fantasy elements felt like they lowered the maturity level of the book and watered down those other elements. I also did not like the pet goldfish at all. It was corny. All in all, a cute but somewhat confused story.

[Amy Howerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leali hit it out of the park with his second novel - just WOW!

Matteo impacted me in ways few middle grade novels have. With his strong heart and beautiful barky soul, Matteo movingly explores one's sense of community and home, family and belonging. Mature style and true heart permeate this text letting readers know Leali is the real deal, and I cannot wait to read more from this amazing author.

"It's hard to look up when you're always looking in. Makes you feel small and then it's just easier to look down, isn't it?"

"I'm finally standing on my own two feet, sure that I am growing into the person I want to be."

Cheers on Matteo, Michael. What a gift to young (and older!) readers.

[Beth for BPL Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure how a Pinocchio retelling would work, but this book was pure joy and delight. I smiled most of the time I was reading it, and wanted to wrap Matteo up in a hug. It's a simple story, and would be perfect for any middle grade reader. It was a sweet story about family, love, acceptance, and community. I loved the character development and the way the interviews were interspersed throughout the chapters. I also was riveted by the mystery of Matteo and where he came from. I think any reader, both young and young at heart, will find something to resonate with in this book.

[Rafael Andrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the new take on Pinnochio and the issue this book raises: from adoption to sexual orientation. The approach of such themes was smooth and blended so organically in the narrative that Matteo's crush on a boy goes unnoticed. I mean the fact that this 11-year-old boy is in love with another boy. However, I just think that 11-year-olds should not be concerned about dating and crushes but enjoy the wonders of childhood. Matteo, wait until you are 13. :)

[Megan Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I am so impressed with this book. It was nothing like I thought it’d be. I never knew what was going to happen next and I’m glad. This took magical realism up a notch and it was so great. It has such great SEL elements and really let’s readers know the importance of being yourself.

I’m definitely excited to read more from this author.

[Sarah Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique, heartwarming, and sweet! This Pinocchio retelling had me pondering the deeper meanings of the original. Loved the positive overall message and the queer first crush rep. Cricket had me cracking up! A great read for middle grade and up.

[Lillian Poulsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun middle-grade. I enjoyed the magical elements and pulling from different children’s stories. It felt a little preachy at times, and I didn’t really enjoy the religious elements and allusions. Aside from those critiques, I really enjoyed it!

[Claire Wrobel]

I love this author

[Ashley Onken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was exceptional! It had everything I want from a book -- it was warm and cozy, imaginative, thought-provoking, emotional, and I devoured it! Truly an unforgettable read.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful modern Pinocchio.

[Kyle Kimmal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok Mr. Leali you have given me two great books. One last summer and one this summer. I can't wait to see what is next. I hope I have time to read Matteo as a read aloud this year!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely story by Michael Leali, full of love, quirks, and soul.

[Amanda ☆ Nana's Books ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute retelling of Pinocchio. We even get a ghost fish named Cricket!

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and touching body-horror middle grade novel about a boy turning into a tree.