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arydberg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
marco_dexie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
jdintr's review against another edition
4.0
As a high school creative writing teacher, this was a really tough read, which proves how good the book really is. As a father of a son entering the eighth grade, it was utterly agonizing.
Edwin Hanratty would seem to come from a "good" family, but as eighth grade begins, he just can't seem to 'get it together.' He and his friend, Flake, occupy the lowest rungs of the social ladder at their junior high school and every day his tally of "good" and "bad" events seems to end up with more negatives.
Neither Edwin nor Flake has much of a plan, but they face bullying, get into fights, and finally determine to take extreme measures when a 9th-grader spreads rumors of their sexual orientation.
Every school--every social group for that matter--has both its alphas and its omegas. Getting kids through the meat-grinder of middle school involves reaching out to omega students and lifting them up. There are many efforts on Edwin's behalf by family, administrators, classmates, and others--efforts that tragically fail to arrest him in time.
This is a fascinating read, not the best in this category--We Need to Talk About Kevin will always be the most harrowing book about a school shooting. Still, I know there is a lot of interest among students every year about the psychology of school shooters, and I plan to recommend this book whenever I get the chance.
Edwin Hanratty would seem to come from a "good" family, but as eighth grade begins, he just can't seem to 'get it together.' He and his friend, Flake, occupy the lowest rungs of the social ladder at their junior high school and every day his tally of "good" and "bad" events seems to end up with more negatives.
Neither Edwin nor Flake has much of a plan, but they face bullying, get into fights, and finally determine to take extreme measures when a 9th-grader spreads rumors of their sexual orientation.
Every school--every social group for that matter--has both its alphas and its omegas. Getting kids through the meat-grinder of middle school involves reaching out to omega students and lifting them up. There are many efforts on Edwin's behalf by family, administrators, classmates, and others--efforts that tragically fail to arrest him in time.
This is a fascinating read, not the best in this category--We Need to Talk About Kevin will always be the most harrowing book about a school shooting. Still, I know there is a lot of interest among students every year about the psychology of school shooters, and I plan to recommend this book whenever I get the chance.
hannahbrostrom's review against another edition
4.0
This book had gritty realism, terrific characters, and a plot so unsettling the novel was impossible to put down.
All the events scattered throughout the novel, although random, have a fascinating way of fitting right into place with the main story. Everything incapsulates a tremendously real life of a troubled teenage boy with fierce accuracy.
The way this fragile topic was not treaded lightly made the novel just that more amazing. Extremely relevant and the ending, although expected, finds a way to be just as hard hitting as the rest of the novel.
All the events scattered throughout the novel, although random, have a fascinating way of fitting right into place with the main story. Everything incapsulates a tremendously real life of a troubled teenage boy with fierce accuracy.
The way this fragile topic was not treaded lightly made the novel just that more amazing. Extremely relevant and the ending, although expected, finds a way to be just as hard hitting as the rest of the novel.
randybo5's review against another edition
2.0
I just didn't think this book succeeded in getting inside the head of a troubled teenager.
isabellazorich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
geeohvahknee's review against another edition
5.0
Easy, short read. Felt very real and believable. Sad, depressing and suspenseful
aliceelizabethb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Bullying, Cursing, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Child death, Mass/school shootings, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
ajsterkel's review against another edition
4.0
This review is going to be short because I can’t say much about this book without spoiling it.
Edwin is a depressed and socially awkward eighth grader. His parents try to help him adjust to school, but the only person he can relate to is his friend, Flake. Unfortunately, Flake is just as depressed and socially awkward as Edwin. Together, the boys plan a school shooting to get revenge on the kids who bully them.
This book is a bit like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You know that it won’t have a happy ending, but you can’t stop reading. I was nervous about how it would end because there is no perfect ending for it. It would be disappointing if the boys went through with the shooting, and it would be anticlimactic if they didn’t. I think the story ended in the best way it could.
I also appreciate that this book isn’t a mental health fairytale. Edwin really struggles with his depression. He isn’t magically cured by a loving family, a pill, or a visit to a school counselor. No matter how hard his parents and teachers try to help, he’s still miserable. It’s sad, but it’s also very realistic.
The only thing that I don’t like about the book is that sometimes Edwin and Flake seem unrealistically weird. They’re socially awkward in the extreme. They do and say things that real humans probably wouldn’t. I’ve seen these ultra-weird characters in fiction before, and I don’t like them. They don’t feel realistic to me, and it takes away from the realism of the plot.
Other than the weirdness, I enjoyed this book. It’s a short, fast-paced read that you can get through in a few hours.
Edwin is a depressed and socially awkward eighth grader. His parents try to help him adjust to school, but the only person he can relate to is his friend, Flake. Unfortunately, Flake is just as depressed and socially awkward as Edwin. Together, the boys plan a school shooting to get revenge on the kids who bully them.
This book is a bit like watching a slow-motion train wreck. You know that it won’t have a happy ending, but you can’t stop reading. I was nervous about how it would end because there is no perfect ending for it. It would be disappointing if the boys went through with the shooting, and it would be anticlimactic if they didn’t. I think the story ended in the best way it could.
I also appreciate that this book isn’t a mental health fairytale. Edwin really struggles with his depression. He isn’t magically cured by a loving family, a pill, or a visit to a school counselor. No matter how hard his parents and teachers try to help, he’s still miserable. It’s sad, but it’s also very realistic.
The only thing that I don’t like about the book is that sometimes Edwin and Flake seem unrealistically weird. They’re socially awkward in the extreme. They do and say things that real humans probably wouldn’t. I’ve seen these ultra-weird characters in fiction before, and I don’t like them. They don’t feel realistic to me, and it takes away from the realism of the plot.
Other than the weirdness, I enjoyed this book. It’s a short, fast-paced read that you can get through in a few hours.