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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
calamitykatie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Pedophilia
Minor: Rape
hconk17's review against another edition
4.0
The Monsters We Make is a family drama set in the 1980s that takes place in the midst of the disappearance of two paperboys. Is Fictional True Crime a genre? That's what this is.
This story grabbed me immediately and had me on the edge of my seat. Aside from the page turner feel, what I loved most about this novel was the cautionary tale it tells without preaching. In the 80s and 90s "stranger danger" was pushed on children and parents. We called kidnappers and child abusers "monsters." While of course the things that happen in child abuse cases are horrific, categorizing these people as monsters and preaching stranger danger made instances like this things that happened "out there" when in fact most sexual abuse cases happen with a trusted member of the community / family. Although I think parents know better now, it seems this is something we STILL struggle with. Kids are helicoptered and told to fear strangers but aren't taught boundaries with people they know and how to communicate to a parent or authority figure when something isn't right. Anyway, I love a story that keeps me reading, even when it's dark, and that teaches a lesson without being preachy. This one delivers.
Trigger warning; there is talk of sexual and physical abuse. Although this book deals with tough and dark topics, I will say the violence is not explicit; only really alluded to.
Is it weird that I like true crime / thrillers for a palate cleanser? I had just finished a longer literary fiction type book before this and this story helped keep my reading momentum going.
This story grabbed me immediately and had me on the edge of my seat. Aside from the page turner feel, what I loved most about this novel was the cautionary tale it tells without preaching. In the 80s and 90s "stranger danger" was pushed on children and parents. We called kidnappers and child abusers "monsters." While of course the things that happen in child abuse cases are horrific, categorizing these people as monsters and preaching stranger danger made instances like this things that happened "out there" when in fact most sexual abuse cases happen with a trusted member of the community / family. Although I think parents know better now, it seems this is something we STILL struggle with. Kids are helicoptered and told to fear strangers but aren't taught boundaries with people they know and how to communicate to a parent or authority figure when something isn't right. Anyway, I love a story that keeps me reading, even when it's dark, and that teaches a lesson without being preachy. This one delivers.
Trigger warning; there is talk of sexual and physical abuse. Although this book deals with tough and dark topics, I will say the violence is not explicit; only really alluded to.
Is it weird that I like true crime / thrillers for a palate cleanser? I had just finished a longer literary fiction type book before this and this story helped keep my reading momentum going.
breshan78's review against another edition
4.0
I feel this book needs a heads up, it’s about pedophilia. A disturbing topic, definitely worth the read. I especially like how at the end she connects the story (based on real events) with how those of us who grew up in 80’s parent today.
theresaramp's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
paperbackstash's review against another edition
4.0
Although I think the author missed an opportunity with the ending half - the cop being a major character who didn't get what I think is proper redemption or his involvement in the case bearing strong fruition which would have made more sense (trying to avoid spoilers here) - the story was well written and hard to put down. I also wanted to see more of a follow up with Curtis and the parents of the missing children - I think the story should have revealed more and not cut off abruptly without doing so. The story is a good one, but the different direction in the last quarter weakened it.
Sammy was a sweet kid and the point of view written through him was the most interesting; Crystal was a worthy heroine and I loved the ending article. Dale was the third, but his was iffy and disjointed. Having his point of view given so much time and then not mixing him heavier into the mix harmed the story and almost made his point of view being so dominant time-wise makes it seem almost pointless, but I do recommend the story.
The mystery isn't strong, it's more of a drama-thriller piece where you keep reading to see the next development, who will reveal what, and when it will be revealed. It's not a mystery where you're really trying to solve the culprit, and I think the author intended that, so that's fine and doesn't take away from the story's rating or enjoyment level.
Sammy was a sweet kid and the point of view written through him was the most interesting; Crystal was a worthy heroine and I loved the ending article. Dale was the third, but his was iffy and disjointed. Having his point of view given so much time and then not mixing him heavier into the mix harmed the story and almost made his point of view being so dominant time-wise makes it seem almost pointless, but I do recommend the story.
The mystery isn't strong, it's more of a drama-thriller piece where you keep reading to see the next development, who will reveal what, and when it will be revealed. It's not a mystery where you're really trying to solve the culprit, and I think the author intended that, so that's fine and doesn't take away from the story's rating or enjoyment level.
bmstale2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
laramccune's review against another edition
3.0
I was unsure whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars. The writing was good. The story was good. I liked the characters. I hated that there was no justice for what did get solved and I hated that the bigger question was never solved at all. I get this is based on real life stuff and things don't always get solved and wrapped up with a neat little bow in real life but maybe thats how I like my stories. I read this book as a break from my normal genre and while I enjoyed reading it, I'm going back to fantasy now✌
maddylogic's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not quite sure how to rate this. I certainly didn’t enjoy it and did end up skimming, but that was more from the constant, pervasive sense of dread than because of anything wrong with the book or writing.. The writing itself was fine - my only complaint would be about the ending. It didn’t give any sense of closure.
cosmicbutton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0