Reviews

Of a Boy by Sonya Hartnett

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mollydanton's review

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

stanro's review against another edition

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challenging sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

When my son was two or three years old, I would take him to a busy shopppng centre to do the weekly shopping at the supermarket and at specialist food shops. This was not long after the horrendous abduction and murder of 2-year old James Bolger in Liverpool, taken from a shopping centre. As I completed a transaction at the delicatessen, I would be very uncomfortable as anxious until I located my son again, as he often moved from my side by half a metre - always to my “blind” side it seemed to me.

I found myself thinking of those repeated Saturdays as I read this book, and also of Adelaide’s three Beaumont children, who “disappeared” in 1966.

This book is about the impact upon two young children who are each poorly socialised, it seems, and having some difficulties at home. It also left me thinking about the unrealistic view of life that children and teens and even young adults can have, and the trouble they can find if they lack effective support and guidance as they pass through this period of development. And then I pondered the responsibilities of parenthood.

Not bad for a short book!