Marvin

Hi Debra,
You have an interesting premise which made me want to read your book...but if you'll allow me some comments, not criticisms, as even I'm still learning! There was a thread or two that lost me i.e the paragraph between "counsellor at last school... then word got out" - I had to go back and reread what 'words' got out and why they had an impact, and an incongruency between Dan's "Let him say it...and then a little later, "you let him treat me like dirt". I felt he should say one or the other... otherwise you have a good story going.
Ta - Karen

Nice intro to the family and Marvin's life in chapter 1. I also enjoyed the end of chapter 1 where Marvin's abilities are discussed and how he learned to not talk about it. There was a bit too much reference to boxes and unpacking boxes that you could probably cut down on.

W. J. Howard
The Courier

I’m far from being a YA, but this attracted me.
Minor nitpick is that Mum warrants a capital letter when it’s treated as a name.
In Ch 2 Marvin, surprised in the graveyard, drops his sketch book and pencils on the ground; a couple of lines later this is a floor. Just typos that can be fixed very easily. Marvin is very clearly portrayed, along with his feelings for his mother and stepfather. Can visualise all this as I read.
You’re changing the POV from Marvin to Stella and back again .. doesn’t bother me but others will point it out.
Also a bit more ‘yelled’, ‘screamed’, shouted, etc than I would have used. But this is your story and I’m just giving my opinion and I am no expert. Feel free to ignore me or tell me to go take a running jump, okay.
Another typo … causally when it should be casually in Ch 3. Okay, I’m a nit picker, but I know how easy it is to miss these things in our own writing and how they then leap out at other readers.
‘dying of embarrassment’ is just too much of a cliché. I’d get rid of it. (only imho, remember!)
I’ve read three chapters, didn't shelve as you weren't after that, but I would like to read more. It’s unusual.