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Boy underground
Boy Underground is a powerful adventure story of Hugo, an autistic boy who decides to go all the way into the Paris underground to find a place where he belongs.
For Hugo, the world can be too loud and bright. He likes the quiet. He likes the dark. And he loves maps.
When Hugo learns that there’s a whole other world under Paris, a network of tunnels, quarries and catacombs mapped beneath his feet, he sets off on an adventure.
Navigating secret passages, narrowly escaping robbers and returning to old friends, Hugo discovers more than just buried treasure …
For Hugo, the world can be too loud and bright. He likes the quiet. He likes the dark. And he loves maps.
When Hugo learns that there’s a whole other world under Paris, a network of tunnels, quarries and catacombs mapped beneath his feet, he sets off on an adventure.
Navigating secret passages, narrowly escaping robbers and returning to old friends, Hugo discovers more than just buried treasure …
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2023
3 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Marinov
9 books15 followersIsabelle graduated from Cornell Law School (USA) and has worked for 15 years in the legal world before becoming a full-time author. She speaks four languages fluently, but for a reason that defies her understanding, English is her preferred language for prose. Isabelle lives in Luxembourg and holds the Luxembourgish nationality.
Her picture books, published by Templar (Bonnier Books) and Enchanted Lion Books, have been translated into numerous languages. Her latest, Henri and the Machine, was nominated for the Klaus Flugge Prize 2024 and, like Leo and the Octopus, is currently in development as an animated feature.
Her debut middle-grade novel, Boy Underground (Sweet Cherry Publishing, 2022), shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Award 2024, and the Prix Servais and is in development for film/TV. Its sequel, Boy Overboard, was published in 2025.
Isabelle is a state-certified fitness coach, freediver, runner and weight lifter.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 31, 2023
For Hugo, the world can be too loud and bright. He likes the quiet. He likes the dark. And he loves maps.
When Hugo learns that there’s a whole other world under Paris, a network of tunnels, quarries and catacombs mapped beneath his feet, he sets off on an adventure.
Navigating secret passages, narrowly escaping robbers and returning to old friends, Hugo discovers more than just buried treasure …
This was a hidden gem that I absolutely loved from start to finish!
Filled with mystery and adventure this story also includes important messages. Delving into themes of friendship and loyalty the key success of this novel is that the protagonist is a young boy who suffers from autism and the entire story is from his perspective. This affords readers the opportunity to experience the trials and tribulations that young people with autism face on a daily basis and attempts to develop understanding and awareness of these obstacles which is think is a commendable endeavour.
Compassionate and full of heart this is a great story that I think all young readers should experience.
When Hugo learns that there’s a whole other world under Paris, a network of tunnels, quarries and catacombs mapped beneath his feet, he sets off on an adventure.
Navigating secret passages, narrowly escaping robbers and returning to old friends, Hugo discovers more than just buried treasure …
This was a hidden gem that I absolutely loved from start to finish!
Filled with mystery and adventure this story also includes important messages. Delving into themes of friendship and loyalty the key success of this novel is that the protagonist is a young boy who suffers from autism and the entire story is from his perspective. This affords readers the opportunity to experience the trials and tribulations that young people with autism face on a daily basis and attempts to develop understanding and awareness of these obstacles which is think is a commendable endeavour.
Compassionate and full of heart this is a great story that I think all young readers should experience.
March 24, 2025
Hugo has autism and he is obsessed with maps. His classmates make fun of him, and even his old friends from elementary won't hang out with him anymore since they entered middle school. All they care about is looking cool. So when Hugo hears about "cataphiles" who love to explore the catacombs beneath Paris, he knows that that is where he will find his true friends. He prepares to go exploring in the underground, but it's illegal to go down there because it's so dangerous. Hugo memorizes the maps of the underground, and prepares for a solo expedition anyway. His former friends, Alex and Julie, see him sneaking underground through a basement entrance, and they follow him. Can Hugo find his way through the maze of tunnels and get them all out?
I really enjoyed reading this book from the perspective of a person with autism. It was so interesting to learn about the types of difficulties and strengths that come with autism. In the beginning, Hugo is bullied, but gradually his former friends begin to appreciate all that he brings to their friendship. His kindness and courage wins them over!
However, I was dismayed at Hugo's and his friends' lack of a moral compass. They just seem to do whatever they want without asking if it is right or wrong. They go underground even though they know it is illegal. They run from the police when they should have asked the police for help. Hugo runs away from home and leaves a cryptic note for his parents, without considering how much emotional and mental anguish he is putting them through. He breaks into his friend's basement by lifting the door off the hinges, and he doesn't care that he's breaking and entering a private home. Hugo steals something because he really wants to give it to someone else in order to earn their friendship. In the end, he returns it anonymously, but doesn't admit his guilt or ask for forgiveness. There are just so many problems with the moral choices of these kids! For Hugo, it's a little more understandable, since his mind is sometimes unable to grasp the repercussions of his actions, but the other kids have no excuse!
To see the details of sensitive content in this book, including bullying, profanity, and stealing, check out the book on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/boy-un...
I really enjoyed the writing style! Hugo's voice is so unique and compelling. I loved his character right away, and I got so interested in his adventures. The story is fast-paced, and I loved the focus on friendships and family relationships. These kids are all struggling with inner fears and insecurities, and through their adventures their personalities grow and develop. The writing did a great job of balancing those inward and outward journeys.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
I really enjoyed reading this book from the perspective of a person with autism. It was so interesting to learn about the types of difficulties and strengths that come with autism. In the beginning, Hugo is bullied, but gradually his former friends begin to appreciate all that he brings to their friendship. His kindness and courage wins them over!
However, I was dismayed at Hugo's and his friends' lack of a moral compass. They just seem to do whatever they want without asking if it is right or wrong. They go underground even though they know it is illegal. They run from the police when they should have asked the police for help. Hugo runs away from home and leaves a cryptic note for his parents, without considering how much emotional and mental anguish he is putting them through. He breaks into his friend's basement by lifting the door off the hinges, and he doesn't care that he's breaking and entering a private home. Hugo steals something because he really wants to give it to someone else in order to earn their friendship. In the end, he returns it anonymously, but doesn't admit his guilt or ask for forgiveness. There are just so many problems with the moral choices of these kids! For Hugo, it's a little more understandable, since his mind is sometimes unable to grasp the repercussions of his actions, but the other kids have no excuse!
To see the details of sensitive content in this book, including bullying, profanity, and stealing, check out the book on the Screen It First website! https://screenitfirst.com/book/boy-un...
I really enjoyed the writing style! Hugo's voice is so unique and compelling. I loved his character right away, and I got so interested in his adventures. The story is fast-paced, and I loved the focus on friendships and family relationships. These kids are all struggling with inner fears and insecurities, and through their adventures their personalities grow and develop. The writing did a great job of balancing those inward and outward journeys.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.
July 1, 2023
I was interested in Boy Underground because of Hugo who is autistic and I like to find autism rep in books. As a proud aunt to wonderful nephews who have autism, when I find good representation I will pass the details over to my nephews.
I could not put this book down. I thought the story was great and highly recommend!
I could not put this book down. I thought the story was great and highly recommend!
February 19, 2026
This book was quite boring. Great depiction of an autistic main character but otherwise not worth reading.
May 27, 2023
Review to come
November 12, 2022
Hugo has a problem, actually, he has a few, but the main one is loneliness. He used to have two really close friends, Julie and Alex, but that's changed and he doesn't understand why. Hugo is autistic and finds the world a noisy, bright, and confusing place; he likes order, rules, and velcro shoe fastenings.
Another of Hugo's favourite things are maps, just like the lady at the library. She tells him all about the subterranean landscape beneath the streets of his Parisian home and he decides he needs to go there by himself as soon as possible. Nothing in the tunnels will be quite as he imagined but his biggest surprise, when he finally ventures underground, is who goes with him. As they explore the unknown their discoveries take them on a far more exciting and dangerous journey than any of them thought possible.
Isabelle Marinov's first YA novel, beautifully written from Hugo's pov is overall positive and uplifting but also, reading it as the grandma of three boys with autism, heart wrenchingly sad. The author's descriptions of Hugo's gradual awareness of how to help himself gives the storyline a hopefulness but, seen alongside the problems and misunderstanding he regularly faces, shows just how difficult everyday life is for him.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much, and feel it has given me a different perspective on autism and how it is viewed. Highly recommended.
Another of Hugo's favourite things are maps, just like the lady at the library. She tells him all about the subterranean landscape beneath the streets of his Parisian home and he decides he needs to go there by himself as soon as possible. Nothing in the tunnels will be quite as he imagined but his biggest surprise, when he finally ventures underground, is who goes with him. As they explore the unknown their discoveries take them on a far more exciting and dangerous journey than any of them thought possible.
Isabelle Marinov's first YA novel, beautifully written from Hugo's pov is overall positive and uplifting but also, reading it as the grandma of three boys with autism, heart wrenchingly sad. The author's descriptions of Hugo's gradual awareness of how to help himself gives the storyline a hopefulness but, seen alongside the problems and misunderstanding he regularly faces, shows just how difficult everyday life is for him.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much, and feel it has given me a different perspective on autism and how it is viewed. Highly recommended.
April 12, 2023
Gifted this copy by Sweet Cherry Press, thank you.
Hugo lives with his parents and sister, Zoe, in Paris.
He is in year 7 at school, and he is finding it tough to fit in. His primary school friends, Alex and Julie, don't seem to want anything to do with him any more. In fact they are not being nice to him at all! But he doesn't know why.
On a school trip to Jardin des Plantes (a botanical garden) Hugo finds out about an underground world dug out beneath Paris (beneath the Metro even). The garden scientists used to have a lab down there to see what happened to plants and insects in the dark.
Hugo is fascinated by maps so the idea that there is a world beneath him is exciting. He uses his regular weekly spot in the library to get out books containing maps of the underground. Then Claudine, the librarian, speaks to him; she knows all about the underground and is a cataphile - she makes maps of the underground and keeps them up to date. She shows Hugo a map....little does she know he has a photographic memory and in seconds he knows enough about the area and access points. Especially as he asks lots of questions! She tells him about a doorman who got lost down there, and teh bottle of wine that he had stolen. It is the cataphile's Holy Grail to find that bottle.
Hugo thinks that if he can find it he will be able to make friends with all the cataphiles. However, having tried a few access points he decided that the only access he can get into is in the basement of Alex's flat and he knows the combination - except someone has changed the lock for a key operated one.
Can he find a way into the underground? What is down there? Can he remember the way around? What about the fabled Green Devil? Can he make friends?
This is a really good adventure story. Hugo is autistic and this is part of his story, as it causes problems for him reading social situations and he is sensitive to light and noise. His therapist gives him a pack of cards to help with social situations but they don't always help, nor does his weighted vest which causes hilarity for the bullies on the bus. However, his super skills are remembering facts and having a photographic memory; even his sense of smell is helpful in the end. This book is very positive about autism. Hugo's family are incredibly supportive and his friends.....
A really good book.
Hugo lives with his parents and sister, Zoe, in Paris.
He is in year 7 at school, and he is finding it tough to fit in. His primary school friends, Alex and Julie, don't seem to want anything to do with him any more. In fact they are not being nice to him at all! But he doesn't know why.
On a school trip to Jardin des Plantes (a botanical garden) Hugo finds out about an underground world dug out beneath Paris (beneath the Metro even). The garden scientists used to have a lab down there to see what happened to plants and insects in the dark.
Hugo is fascinated by maps so the idea that there is a world beneath him is exciting. He uses his regular weekly spot in the library to get out books containing maps of the underground. Then Claudine, the librarian, speaks to him; she knows all about the underground and is a cataphile - she makes maps of the underground and keeps them up to date. She shows Hugo a map....little does she know he has a photographic memory and in seconds he knows enough about the area and access points. Especially as he asks lots of questions! She tells him about a doorman who got lost down there, and teh bottle of wine that he had stolen. It is the cataphile's Holy Grail to find that bottle.
Hugo thinks that if he can find it he will be able to make friends with all the cataphiles. However, having tried a few access points he decided that the only access he can get into is in the basement of Alex's flat and he knows the combination - except someone has changed the lock for a key operated one.
Can he find a way into the underground? What is down there? Can he remember the way around? What about the fabled Green Devil? Can he make friends?
This is a really good adventure story. Hugo is autistic and this is part of his story, as it causes problems for him reading social situations and he is sensitive to light and noise. His therapist gives him a pack of cards to help with social situations but they don't always help, nor does his weighted vest which causes hilarity for the bullies on the bus. However, his super skills are remembering facts and having a photographic memory; even his sense of smell is helpful in the end. This book is very positive about autism. Hugo's family are incredibly supportive and his friends.....
A really good book.
March 15, 2023
I was interested in this because the main character, Hugo, is autistic. And I was also hesitant to read it because the author herself is not, she based the knowledge she has off her autistic nephew. While I’m not well versed in all the things that would be found offensive in the autistic community, I think this did a pretty decent job with it.
Hugo isn’t a caricature of a kid. He’s a kid that has a sensitivity to light and sounds and smells and textures and it was so relatable. I think it was handled really well especially because when it came to how other kids handled it, the cruelty that kids can inflict was there. What made it worse? Hugo’s once best friends were the ones who were now his tormentors. At least in Alex. The other, Julie, straight up ignores him.
There was a scene in the cafeteria that brought me to tears because of an interaction between Hugo and Julie.
While the characters were great, there were some things I took issue with. For one, Julie is apparently Chinese. I say apparently because you don’t know that at all until a sentence toward the end of the book where Hugo describes making Chinese food at her house and says that Julie is Chinese. This character is in the entire book and she’s not described in any way that lets you know what she looks like. She was a blank for me the entire time. Same with Alex. If it weren’t for the cover art, I’d have no idea what any of these kids were supposed to look like.
Then we get to the writing. Hugo lives in France. So there are some things that go by their French names and in parenthesis next to it, has the English translation. Something about that bothered me. I can’t quite explain it but either have the French name for it or the English. Having both sort of disrupted the narrative flow for me.
All in all, it’s a good book that I don’t think is harmful to the community is represents. I give it a 3 out of 5.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
Hugo isn’t a caricature of a kid. He’s a kid that has a sensitivity to light and sounds and smells and textures and it was so relatable. I think it was handled really well especially because when it came to how other kids handled it, the cruelty that kids can inflict was there. What made it worse? Hugo’s once best friends were the ones who were now his tormentors. At least in Alex. The other, Julie, straight up ignores him.
There was a scene in the cafeteria that brought me to tears because of an interaction between Hugo and Julie.
While the characters were great, there were some things I took issue with. For one, Julie is apparently Chinese. I say apparently because you don’t know that at all until a sentence toward the end of the book where Hugo describes making Chinese food at her house and says that Julie is Chinese. This character is in the entire book and she’s not described in any way that lets you know what she looks like. She was a blank for me the entire time. Same with Alex. If it weren’t for the cover art, I’d have no idea what any of these kids were supposed to look like.
Then we get to the writing. Hugo lives in France. So there are some things that go by their French names and in parenthesis next to it, has the English translation. Something about that bothered me. I can’t quite explain it but either have the French name for it or the English. Having both sort of disrupted the narrative flow for me.
All in all, it’s a good book that I don’t think is harmful to the community is represents. I give it a 3 out of 5.
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
February 3, 2025
Hugo, an eleven-year-old boy with autism, lives in Paris. He’s obsessed with maps, spouts facts easily and often inappropriately, has a photographic memory, and struggles with social situations. He has grown apart from his two closest friends, Julie and Alex, and he misses them.
Hugo becomes fascinated with everything that is under the city of Paris: the catacombs, caves left from mining limestone, structures built to support the city, a WWII Nazi bunker, and the cataphiles who illegally explore them. After extensive research and being told by multiple adults that he should not go down there, Hugo slips away and finds an opening to the underground. Julie and Alex come after him to get him to return, but end up witnessing a wine theft and having other adventures before they leave.
The well-researched details about what’s hidden under Paris is fascinating, and the author does a good job of portraying a neurodivergent boy. I appreciate that it is an adventure being undertaken by a boy like Hugo, rather than devoting the book to only his neurodivergency. His struggles are real, but so is his growing acceptance of himself and his alternative ways of being in the world, which leads to appreciation and renewed friendship with Julie and Alex.
For grades 3-7.
D.B.
Ret. YS Librarian
Hugo becomes fascinated with everything that is under the city of Paris: the catacombs, caves left from mining limestone, structures built to support the city, a WWII Nazi bunker, and the cataphiles who illegally explore them. After extensive research and being told by multiple adults that he should not go down there, Hugo slips away and finds an opening to the underground. Julie and Alex come after him to get him to return, but end up witnessing a wine theft and having other adventures before they leave.
The well-researched details about what’s hidden under Paris is fascinating, and the author does a good job of portraying a neurodivergent boy. I appreciate that it is an adventure being undertaken by a boy like Hugo, rather than devoting the book to only his neurodivergency. His struggles are real, but so is his growing acceptance of himself and his alternative ways of being in the world, which leads to appreciation and renewed friendship with Julie and Alex.
For grades 3-7.
D.B.
Ret. YS Librarian
April 8, 2023
Beneath the streets of Paris is a huge network of underground tunnels. When Hugo finds out about this, he is determined to go exploring and to become a cataphile - a member of the group of underground explorers.
The main reason for Hugo wanting to join this group is because he has no friends above ground. Hugo is autistic, which makes him different, and the other kids don’t want to hang around with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I felt the plot became a bit complicated and rushed towards the end, but I was willing to overlook this because of the way Hugo’s autism was described and his special interests and sensory differences were woven into the story. I love books with autistic characters and Hugo is one of the best I’ve ever come across. I enjoyed finding out about the history of Paris too.
This is a lovely, heartwarming story about friendship and accepting people for who they are. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The main reason for Hugo wanting to join this group is because he has no friends above ground. Hugo is autistic, which makes him different, and the other kids don’t want to hang around with him.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I felt the plot became a bit complicated and rushed towards the end, but I was willing to overlook this because of the way Hugo’s autism was described and his special interests and sensory differences were woven into the story. I love books with autistic characters and Hugo is one of the best I’ve ever come across. I enjoyed finding out about the history of Paris too.
This is a lovely, heartwarming story about friendship and accepting people for who they are. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
abandoned
February 6, 2023I just couldn't take to this, I'm afraid. While all the woke demands for "lived experience only!" really pee me off, I felt this was one instance where narrating this as an autistic character was not the best idea – for moralistic and entertainment reasons, both. The opening chapters are just bludgeoning in portraying the lead's autism, resultant bullying and loneliness, and it takes far too long to get underground and get on with anything exciting. Also, having to be set in Paris feels counter-productive as regards sales and interest, too. And if the other characters were once the lead's friends, as he alleges, why are we still stuck with him explaining his eidetic memory to them at the start of Chapter Seventeen??!!
November 26, 2024
Adventure, friendship, danger. Hugo loves maps and is very interested in the maps of underground Paris. He wants to explore and find the other cataphiles (a group of people who love to explore underground Paris and maintain accurate maps of all the tunnels) but also get away from people like Julie and Alex who used to be his friends. When Alex and Julie follow Hugo into the underground, they find some bad people stealing wine from a famous restaurant. The bad people lock them up underground and Hugo, Alex, and Julie have to figure out how to escape and get the police. This is a thrilling story full of suspense.
November 13, 2022
Thank you to netgalley and Sweet Cherry Publishing for providing me with an arc to review.
The premise is about an autistic boy finding his way, written by a mother for her son, This is where I find fault in this story, It is written very much how someone would imagine being autistic is like and this resulted in a character that was too self-aware of environmental triggers, that someone his age or even any age should be. As lovely as this story was intended I believe autistic stories should be written by autistic authors.
The premise is about an autistic boy finding his way, written by a mother for her son, This is where I find fault in this story, It is written very much how someone would imagine being autistic is like and this resulted in a character that was too self-aware of environmental triggers, that someone his age or even any age should be. As lovely as this story was intended I believe autistic stories should be written by autistic authors.
November 18, 2024
Boy Underground is a captivating, daring, action-packed, suspenseful, and wonderful read! Hugo is a character you can root for. The world above is sensory overload. While some find it exciting to explore the world above, Hugo's discovery of a world below is more his style. Paris has a network of underground tunnels, quarries, and catacombs and lucky for Hugo he has a map! Hugo sets off on a daring adventure with his friends. Things are far more dangerous and shocking than anyone imagined, but through teamwork Hugo and his friends succeed!
August 30, 2023
There are some books that you just find yourself putting off and putting off. This was one of those books. I was fascinated by the history of the catacombs under Paris and I like the representation of Autistic characters in literature. But I just couldn't get myself into this story. Hugo and his friends just didn't interest me long term.
March 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this brilliant exploration of friendship, autism and the subterranean world in the tunnels beneath Paris. The strength of this book really lay in the voice of the main character which was so easy to connect with, and his viewpoint of his world. Thoroughly enjoyed and will seek out more from this writer. Also the interior illustrations were absolutely fabulous!
January 2, 2023
This is an amazingly wonderful book which puts a focus on the world of an autistic child and the difficulties which they experience in the world that we live in. It shows how they interact differently and how they view the world
May 29, 2023
Have to say I enjoyed this. Was lovely having the main character portraying autism. Lots of factual information and some great adventures.
June 18, 2023
Could not put the book down. Hugo’s point of view was fantastic and I think it could help a lot of people understand others.
It is very well written and enjoyed by the family
It is very well written and enjoyed by the family
February 17, 2026
Great book for kids and young teens. Love the historical information about the Paris underground. Enjoyed seeing how he managed his sensory overloads. Cute story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews