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suneaters's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
From the flap summary I was reminded of the Johnny Gosch case, which has never been solved just like the missing paper boys in this novel. Told by Dale the police officer, Crystal the high school student, and her younger, overweight and unhappy young brother Sammy, we're drawn into a mystery over a missing paper boy. It's the second such case, to Officer Dale's dismay. Learning who did it is less interesting than the response to the idea that we never know each other and even people we like do bad things. Sammy's narration is haunting as we learn he's being sexually abused and feels utterly powerless, even as he breaks the cycle and warns a new boy to stay away. Crystal is in love with a tutor that is seen as a possible culprit in the boys' disappearances. Because of his oddities, he is suspected. He fits the "stranger danger" profile, despite being innocent. Kenny, Sammy and Crystal's mother's old boyfriend, looks respectable but in actuality isn't. He has been abusing her little brother Sammy, despite seeming to be a "safe" person. It's implied he could've been involved in the boy's kidnappings. We see the boy's kidnapping, his politeness leading him to get into the car of someone he knows tangentially well. Disturbing ending with no neat answers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death and Kidnapping
bgmartin0696's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Rape, Child abuse, Child death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Self harm
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