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Keith Stuart
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A Boy Made of Blocks: The most uplifting novel of 2017 Hardcover

4.3 out of 5 stars 22,256 ratings
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  1. Language
    English
  2. Publisher
    Sphere
  3. Dimensions
    9.49 x 1.38 x 6.14 inches
  4. ISBN-10
    0751563277
  5. ISBN-13
    978-0751563276
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sphere
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0751563277
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0751563276
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.46 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.49 x 1.38 x 6.14 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #4,678,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 22,256 ratings

About the author

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Keith Stuart

Keith Stuart

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Keith Stuart is a veteran journalist who has been covering video games and digital culture for over 20 years. In 2015 he wrote his first novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. It has sold over 200,000 copies and is translated into 24 languages. His second novel, Days of Wonder, is available in paperback, audio and ebook, and his third, The Frequency of Us, was selected for BBC2's Between the Covers series and is available in hardback, ebook and audio.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
22,256 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book heartwarming and deeply moving, describing it as an emotional roller coaster of loving. Moreover, they appreciate how it provides a detailed look into an autistic child's world, helping parents and educators understand autism better. Additionally, the book is well-written, with relatable characters and believable real-life situations, and customers enjoy its humor, noting they both laughed and cried while reading.

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ReadabilityUpliftingInsightStory qualityHumourWriting qualityCharacter development
48 customers mention "Readability"46 positive2 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a wonderful and insightful read, with one customer noting it's particularly suitable for parents and teachers.

"...who also has similar challenges, and partly as a great read...." Read more

"I loved this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions - happy, sad, frustrated etc...." Read more

"Enjoyed the book...." Read more

"Great read" Read more

33 customers mention "Uplifting"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and deeply moving, describing it as an emotional roller coaster of loving.

"Heartwarming and refreshing" Read more

"...The story is lovely and heartwarming, if a little predictable in parts...." Read more

"What a great uplifting read! I am an ex teacher so I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how this wonderful Dad 'connected' with his autistic son...." Read more

"Liked the way the relationships were illustrated and the struggle that the whole family went through and how they resolved it...." Read more

28 customers mention "Insight"28 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detailed portrayal of autism and how it helps readers understand the experiences of autistic children, making it helpful for parents and educators.

"Well- written, insightful and worth reading" Read more

"...too, so I really appreciated the humo(u)r and the references to everyday things in Britain...." Read more

"...described with sensitivity and a degree of humour, which helps the narrative of a subject about which I learned a great deal, so for that, the..." Read more

"Well written and honest, gives a true account of life with autism...." Read more

17 customers mention "Story quality"14 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, with one mentioning its believable real-life situations and another describing it as an amazing journey.

"...This is a lovely story, well worth the read." Read more

"...So this story resonates with me on a lot of levels...." Read more

"...The story is lovely and heartwarming, if a little predictable in parts...." Read more

"...Nothing should interfere while you are reading this amazing journey of both the father and the autistic son. It is also a journey for a married...." Read more

16 customers mention "Humour"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor, finding it both funny and emotional, with several mentioning they laughed and cried while reading.

"...Utterly amazing, funny, sad, and moving, all at the same time. This was the most intense read for a very long time. Highly recommended." Read more

"I loved this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions - happy, sad, frustrated etc...." Read more

"A lovely storey. EMPATHETIC, FUNNY AND SAD." Read more

"...Jody and Alex are real and are described with sensitivity and a degree of humour, which helps the narrative of a subject about which I learned a..." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is completely readable.

"Well written and honest, gives a true account of life with autism...." Read more

"Beautifully written , amazing relationships between family members and friends as well as insights into autism. Blessed to have read this book" Read more

"Well- written, insightful and worth reading" Read more

"Loved every minute of reading this beautifully written book...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them very relatable, with one customer particularly noting the journey of each character's courage.

"...It has a great array of characters, and I loved how it made me feel that I had really walked the streets of Bristol...." Read more

"...I was touched by the story and loved the characters." Read more

"...I broke down in tears so many times. What wonderful characters and a beautiful story with a happy ending. Best read I have had in ages...." Read more

"A good read with genuine complex characters and believable real-life situations but softened by some quirky humour. Takes you along for the ride...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Diane E. Main
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reads like Nick Hornby, but with autism and Minecraft!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I love this book. A little background: I love Minecraft, I use it in my teaching, and I have a son with Asperger's. So this story resonates with me on a lot of levels. My family is British, too, so I really appreciated the humo(u)r and the references to everyday things in Britain. I understood all too well the challenges of parenting a child who can feel very threatened by the world around him. I also could appreciate how going into a gaming world can push off some of the extra stimuli of reality and provide a safe place to explore, interact, and connect. I found myself wanting to shake Alex, but I also found myself empathizing with him. (By the way, Keith, in the movie version of your book, I think Chris O'Dowd of The IT Crowd should play Alex, as that's who I pictured playing him as I read the book.) In short, I laughed out loud many times while reading this book, which I wasn't expecting. I also wasn't initially expecting the depth of Alex's character, which helps show why it's just hard sometimes for parents of kids with autism to handle all that life throws at them. This book truly helped me as a parent and educator.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Seahorse reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars It has a great array of characters
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Alex is Sam's dad. Sam is autistic, and Alex struggles to connect with him. This failure to connect is so severe that Alex is afraid to be alone with Sam because he might meltdown. Jody, Alex's wife, is understandably fed up with his nonsense, so she kicks him out. It's the kick in the pants he needed.
    Alex has a lot of obstacles to overcome, but he finds a way to connect with his son by remotely playing Minecraft with him - hence the title.
    The story is lovely and heartwarming, if a little predictable in parts. It has a great array of characters, and I loved how it made me feel that I had really walked the streets of Bristol.
    I did find that the writer had a tendency to romanticise autism - that notion that if you crack the condition, autistic children become mainstream happy kids with slightly quirky insights. At the same time, I accept that the writer is a parent to an autistic child and that the book reflects his own experience (I also have an autistic family member, so our experiences clearly differ).
    That aside, the book was fun and filled me with warm and fuzzies.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Lara Franklin
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good reminder not to judge other people
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions - happy, sad, frustrated etc.

    My grandson has Aspergers and although he’s not affected as much as Sam is with his Autism it took a while before he was officially diagnosed and it was a challenging time for him and his parents. This story makes you realise how judgemental people can be. Giving parents filthy looks or making unhelpful comments about their child’s behaviour when there could be a valid reason for the meltdown or unusual behaviour.

    This is a lovely story, well worth the read.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Sascot
    3.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting yes but not the easiest of reads.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Dunno what it is that when I read a novel and turn the last page to find an author's note that explains how biographical elements are of the story, I feel cheated. During the reading of this story I nearly gave up because I do not have the slightest interest, nor do I know or understand anything about video games. But then I read - surprise, surprise ! - the author writes about them for a living ! I completely get the connection between the therapy of the fantasy as well as the connection that Sam makes with Minecraft but could have done with less of the detail of what goes on. I suspect this will not concern readers familiar with this world but I am not one of them. A lot of it I skipped. The challenges Sam imposes on Jody and Alex are real and are described with sensitivity and a degree of humour, which helps the narrative of a subject about which I learned a great deal, so for that, the author deserves praise
    One person found this helpful
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  • Tamara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and honest, gives a true account of life with autism. Would recommend to anyone that works in the field of autism or families dealing with autism. A book full of hope, honesty and wit! I have that nice warm feeling despite a serious topic.
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  • Mika Kortelainen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic description of autism and life and lessons
    Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was recommended this book by a friend, partly because we have a son (also 8y and called Sam, incidentally), who also has similar challenges, and partly as a great read.
    I found the book highly addictive, and was unable to put it down, reading it in about 24hrs (unusual, as I normally like to savour books). Utterly amazing, funny, sad, and moving, all at the same time. This was the most intense read for a very long time.
    Highly recommended.
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  • Doreen Coetzee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome and inspiring
    Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Please make time to read this. Nothing should interfere while you are reading this amazing journey of both the father and the autistic son. It is also a journey for a married. couple who seem to face insurmountable odds not only in their relationship, but also in the life of their son and the world they and he, especially, must live in.
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  • joyce jameson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting into the world of autism and how People react to it.Parenting is hard and the author doesn't sugar coat it which makes it more real.It goes too much into the actual game of mine craft though and sometimes it feels like an advertisement for x box.Not surprised that author works in the gaming industry.Leaving that aside other parts of the book were funny and overall it was a great read.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Linda's Book Bag
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very special book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Sam Rowe is autistic and his parents’ separation is not aiding his progress.

    I found the self deprecating and honest first person narrative in A Boy Made of Blocks totally convincing so that it felt as if I knew Alex personally. The more I read, the more he had my empathy and sympathy even though I thought he’d been selfish and unhelpful towards Jody in the time before the novel actually begins. Here is a man with flaws and struggles so many of us can relate to.

    I felt Keith Stuart balanced the challenges of dealing with Sam with the use of wry humour very effectively, giving a realistic and touching narrative in which I became so immersed I forgot I was reading about characters in a book and not real people. I’m not sure if that experience for me was because Keith Stuart has lived a similar life to Alex or because the writing was so skilful and effective but either way I absolutely loved this book.

    Having no experience of dealing with children like Sam, I have no idea how realistic this portrayal is, but it felt thoroughly honest, convincing and authentic to me. It also taught me to be less judgmental of other people’s children when I’m out!

    The allegory of the Minecraft game works incredibly well as a device to illustrate Sam’s life as it is invariably scary and also an adventure. I appreciated the multiple meanings of the title as Sam uses blocks to create his Minecraft world and suffers blocks in his actual life – from society, school, his father and his own perceptions of what he can achieve. However, I felt actually this was not a story so much about a boy made of blocks as a man, Alex, building a wall of blocks around himself. Both narrative elements are wonderful.

    I thought the plotting was so stylish as the story is really about the quotidian events many families face, but I found it held my attention so thoroughly that I couldn’t bear to put the book down to do other things. I was completely engaged by the sub-plots involving Alex’s wife Jody, his sister Emma, his best friend Dan and Alex’s mother too. This isn’t just a novel about autism, it’s a novel about humanity, relationships and our insecurities and triumphs.

    I honestly adored this book. I cried, as I often do with affecting reads, but A Boy Made of Blocks had an emotional intensity for me from despair to joy that I found extremely touching. I usually pass on copies of books to others to read. I’m keeping this one as it’s too special to part with.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book
    Reviewed in France on October 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I Loved this book.
    I was just completely enthralled by the whole story.
    I have always tried to understand how difficult it must be for parents of autistic children. Having once seen a tv programme on a boy who was helped by having a pet dog to calm him down my friend and I raised money towards a special dog for two little girls here in France. Although I know nothing about video games I felt as though I was in the Minecraft game in that part of the book.
    Thank you Keith Stuart for such a brilliant read.
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  • Cris Varnier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    It is an amazing story! So good! I read it so fast, could not stop reading. Don't Miss it! Great!
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  • Mandy in Spain
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous book
    Reviewed in Spain on March 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    So enjoyed this book, the building of the relationship between father and son
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book, great story line
    Reviewed in Australia on April 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    It felt like a refreshing perspective on autism particularly as it's written from a male/father perspective. Whilst there were some sad emotional parts, it was a very uplifting and hopeful ending.
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