Marco Impossible By Hannah Moskowitz

Thirteen year old best friends Stephen and Marco attempt a go for broke heist to break into the high school prom and get Marco onstage to confess his love for, and hopefully steal the heart of, Benji, the adorable exchange student and bass player of the prom band.


Of course, things don't always go according to plan, and every heist comes with its fair share of hijinks

Stephen has been Marco's shadow or sidekick as long as he can remember. It's the end of Eighth grade, and although Stephen will be moving onto High School, Marco is moving to a new school altogether, Clinton Preparatory Academy, to add injury to insult, Marco is excited to be making the move. The two thirteen year old boys are criminal masterminds, solving crimes and foiling heists., but it's been a while since the last time either of them have worked on a case, not since Stephen's father.

Marco isn't gay, he's dramatic, he's loud and it just so happens that he likes boys, one boy in particular, Benji. Marco has been in love with Benji since the day he arrived, with his charming English accent and impressive soccer skills. Benji isn't openly gay, so Marco has no idea if whether he's straight or not, but the half Italian, half Japanese pint sized rocket needs to find out before it's too late. Benji is heading on his summer holiday back to England earlier than expected, so Marco needs to finally make a declaration of his intentions, but Marco doesn't know the meaning of the word subtle. He plans on crashing the High School prom where Benji's band has been scheduled to play, and publicly confess his love.

But someone at their school has other plans, to make what little time Marco has left at middle school, as miserable for him as possible. Not all students are as accepting of Marco's sexuality, and they aren't afraid to express their disgust. While the boys are working on what could possibly be their last case, the scroll found in the hands of a miniature karate figurine, placed in one of their classrooms. Marco has always been the eyes and ears of their operation, while Stephen handles the documentation, taking notes and photographic evidence for each case. But when it seems the target may in fact be Marco, suddenly the reconnaissance work doesn't seem so fun.

After Marco's locker is vandalised while the collective students are in an assembly, his locker beaten in and it's contents tossed into the hallway, whoever the culprit is, this feels personal, and judging by the folded note that Stephen finds at the scene, Marco's safety might just be in jeopardy. When Marco's parents left for Japan, they've left Marco with Stephen and his loud, chaotic family, while they bring home Marco's new adoptive sister... While Stephen works on a plan to keep Marco safe.

The Great Prom Heist is appropriately named, considering Marco plans on stealing Benji's heart. The plan is to rent tuxedo's, forgery and a break in at the school and making it to the microphone on stage, sounds simple enough. But as the two boys rope in Stephen's sister Julia and his crush Sasha, it seems likely that the suspect of Marco's downfall is Luke, bully and the only one that Marco seems to hesitate around. It almost seems that Marco needs to impress him, and Stephen fears that Luke may also hold Marco's affections. But Luke is often cruel, and it's widely known that he isn't too thrilled that Marco had won the place of esteemed student, while Luke has come second place... Yet again. He has motive, but so does Benji... If Benji doesn't return Marco's affections.

As the night approaches, their plan of making it to the prom is unraveling, when the boys are chased down and confronted by the teen homophobes. But it's clear that this isn't the first time it's happened, and Marco refuses to believe that the bully involved would go so far as to hurt him... Until now. The least of their problems will be making it to the prom, but will Marco ever get the chance to tell Benji before it's too late?

Marco Impossible is quirky, telling the story of two lifelong friends who are essentially complete opposites. Told from Stephen's point of view, but the story surrounding Marco, their friendship, battling bullies and at the age where they are no longer children and forced to grow up far sooner than any child should need to. Marco is brilliant, each day he seems to face his demons and the close minded views of a bully who fears what he doesn't know, Marco is gay, he isn't contagious. Both boys are struggling with their first crushes, but the prospect of Marco not seeing Benji again before he's shipped off to the Academy, spurs him into action.

The underlying story is one boy's ability to rise above the bullying and not being afraid to be an individual. I can't imagine being a thirteen year old gay boy, the bigotry flying his way would be enough to scar most teens for life. But Marco is strong and proud, or gives the impression that he is. Sometimes it's just easier to stick our head in the sand than to look at the bigger picture. To tell someone that you're hurting, and not be afraid to admit that we're scared. Hannah Moskowitz has created a story that is beautifully written and inspiring. I fell in love with Marco, he just leaves that impression on you.

Marco Impossible
Written By Hannah Moskowitz
Published 13 / 03 / 2013
256 Pages


  1. I haven't heard of this book before but it sounds like it focuses on some very real issues. Thanks for sharing Kelly!

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

    1. Hey Jeann, It really was brilliant. I hadn't heard of Hannah Moskowitz before, but so many on my Goodreads friends list sing her praises. If you get your hands on a copy, you'll definitely love it.

  2. After reading your review, I want to read this book! It's my first time to come across the name of this author, and if you say that I will love this, I will take your word for it :)


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