Robert Falconer

"Robert Falconer" by George MacDonald is a late 19th-century story about a boy named Robert Falconer, who, as a fourteen-year-old, attempts to understand his family's secrets while growing up in Scotland. The book follows Robert's memories of his past while dealing with an absent father, his grandmother, and his friends. Robert's old memories include a strange man who he thinks is his father. As Robert grows up, he thinks about his lonely childhood and tries to understand the lack of emotion from his family. The story reveals a picture of introspective thoughts and difficult times and also shows how Robert connects with his classmate Shargar who also deals with hard challenges. The story mixes looking back with the tough truths of Robert's life, predicting the challenges he will face in understanding his family's past and finding his place in the world.