The Manny Files
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Christian Burch |
| Products | Young adult literature |
The Manny Files is a young adult novel authored by Christian Burch and released in 2006 through Atheneum Books. It earned the 2007 Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature as well as the Josette Frank Award. Its follow-up, Hit the Road, Manny (2008), also received the Lambda Literary Award in 2009.
Plot introduction
The narrative centers on Keats Dalinger, a reserved boy who gains self-assurance after his family employs a new male caregiver, referred to as a manny. Keats navigates difficulties at school while tending to his sick grandmother. Toward the conclusion, it is disclosed that the Manny is homosexual, culminating in a kiss shared with Keats' Uncle Max. The story unfolds through Keats' first-person viewpoint.
Summary
The book chronicles Keats and his family's journey with their manny, emphasizing Keats' initial lack of confidence and how he gradually overcomes it with the Manny's assistance. Keats portrays the Manny as compassionate, easygoing, lively, and imaginatively daring. Over time, the Manny supports Keats in confronting his anxieties and learning to gain respect through dignity and honor.