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alaramie's review against another edition
5.0
I've had a hard time with this book. It certainly forced me to re-examine how I see child offenders. You want to be victim focused, but how can you see the killer as "evil" when they're a child themself.
bookbabe0614's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.25
violetturtledove's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Wow, where to start with this one? It's a bit confused but very thorough.
The main problem i have with it is the order, there are three separate introductions, relating to three different editions of the book, and then the sections aren't totally in chronological order, although it makes sense based on how the talks with Mary were done.
Once i accepted that, it was a really absorbing read. It's uncomfortable subject matter, but i had to keep reading.
This was written in the late 90's, while the crimes themselves took place in 1968, so you have to keep in mind that the general attitude to children in 1968 was closer to that in the time was written (and so even more shocking for a modern audience) and also when the author links these events to more recent crimes, a lot has happened and changed even since then. However it is sad to realise that, even with the progress made there is still a long way to go, and as the author points out, the situation in America doesn't seem to have changed much either
The main problem i have with it is the order, there are three separate introductions, relating to three different editions of the book, and then the sections aren't totally in chronological order, although it makes sense based on how the talks with Mary were done.
Once i accepted that, it was a really absorbing read. It's uncomfortable subject matter, but i had to keep reading.
This was written in the late 90's, while the crimes themselves took place in 1968, so you have to keep in mind that the general attitude to children in 1968 was closer to that in the time was written (and so even more shocking for a modern audience) and also when the author links these events to more recent crimes, a lot has happened and changed even since then. However it is sad to realise that, even with the progress made there is still a long way to go, and as the author points out, the situation in America doesn't seem to have changed much either
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Child death
jimmylorunning's review against another edition
5.0
Nonfiction.
In 1968: an eleven year old girl named Mary Bell killed two boys (ages 3 and 4). The courts tried her, found her guilty, put her in jail until she was in her 20's. This book revisits her case years after she was released from jail and tries to figure out why she did it, what her life was like before she committed this crime, and whether she really understood the gravity of what she did at the time. I don't want to give any of it away, but I was so engrossed that I wanted to read the whole thing in one sitting... I couldn't only because it was so overwhelming: at times so depressing, at other times funny and even joyful. I had to take breathers because it was so intense.
I really felt for Mary Bell and totally rooted for her the whole time. The author does a good job of bringing out the various threads of the story. She's compassionate and understanding, but also she makes it clear that none of this is an excuse for the crime itself. She makes the case that when a child commits a horrible crime like this, the court's job is not only to say whether she was guilty of the crime or not, but also to ask why a child would do this? And to help the child psychologically with their problems. A child does not commit a crime like this because they are evil. It is usually a sign of some disturbing realities at home. To ignore this is to make the problem worse.
I found that Mary Bell was (predictably) messed up, but what surprised me was how strong she was as well, and how positively she looked at life despite everything that happened to her. This was a wonderful read.
In 1968: an eleven year old girl named Mary Bell killed two boys (ages 3 and 4). The courts tried her, found her guilty, put her in jail until she was in her 20's. This book revisits her case years after she was released from jail and tries to figure out why she did it, what her life was like before she committed this crime, and whether she really understood the gravity of what she did at the time. I don't want to give any of it away, but I was so engrossed that I wanted to read the whole thing in one sitting... I couldn't only because it was so overwhelming: at times so depressing, at other times funny and even joyful. I had to take breathers because it was so intense.
I really felt for Mary Bell and totally rooted for her the whole time. The author does a good job of bringing out the various threads of the story. She's compassionate and understanding, but also she makes it clear that none of this is an excuse for the crime itself. She makes the case that when a child commits a horrible crime like this, the court's job is not only to say whether she was guilty of the crime or not, but also to ask why a child would do this? And to help the child psychologically with their problems. A child does not commit a crime like this because they are evil. It is usually a sign of some disturbing realities at home. To ignore this is to make the problem worse.
I found that Mary Bell was (predictably) messed up, but what surprised me was how strong she was as well, and how positively she looked at life despite everything that happened to her. This was a wonderful read.
willemijnkranendonk's review against another edition
5.0
‘Er zijn veel mensen in onze maatschappij die een kind als Mary een ‘monster’ noemen en daarmee zowel het kind verdoemen als zichzelf vrijpleiten van verantwoordelijkheid voor hun lot. Als het verhaal van Mary al een doel heeft, dan is het dat het veranderen van die opvatting, het veranderen van de toekomst - voor al onze kinderen.’
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