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cjcook987's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
colinreedmoon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.5
inthebooknook's review
4.0
Absolutely gorgeous writing. Captured the wildness is children so adeptly, but lost me at the end of the story. I usually agree with Roxanne Gay’s reviews, and she put into words exactly what I was thinking about this novel. Still certainly worth the read for the beautiful writing and family dynamic.
gwimo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
book_concierge's review
3.0
The opening line is: We wanted more. This is a coming-of-age story focused on three brothers growing up in upstate New York; it is narrated by the youngest boy. Their parents married as teenagers and struggle to make do. Paps is a frequently-out-of-work alcoholic. Ma toils long hours on the graveyard shift, and occasionally sinks into depression. Left largely to fend for themselves, the boys grow up as wild animals. In various scenes they are rambunctious, energetic, tender, seeking adventure, neglected, abused, hungry, confused and lonely. And always, they want more - food, attention, love, security.
Torres writes with a unique prose-poetry style that packs a powerful punch. Sentences and phrases tumble over one another as three boys at play will do – each demanding ALL your attention until the next comes along and does the same thing. It’s raw and compelling. There were times when I gasped aloud and times when I chuckled at the boys’ mischievous antics.
However … At about page 100 (of 125 pages) the novel takes a VERY dark turn. I felt completely sucker punched by the descriptions of the narrator’s awakening sexuality. The language is graphic and violent. The choppy, short sentences that moved the story forward for the first 100 pages were completely inadequate to explain what was happening in the characters’ lives. Having pictured the boys as somewhere between 8-12 years old, I’m suddenly confronted with scenes that must involve 15-17-year-olds (or I sure hope so, though even that is young). I felt completely disconnected from the story at that point and re-read the last 15 or so pages twice to ensure I hadn’t somehow missed something. Torres is clearly talented, but the hole he left in this work is a huge disappointment.
I give the book 3*** in recognition of the emotional impact, especially in the first 100 pages.
WARNING - readers averse to crude language or reading about homosexuality might want to avoid this book.
Torres writes with a unique prose-poetry style that packs a powerful punch. Sentences and phrases tumble over one another as three boys at play will do – each demanding ALL your attention until the next comes along and does the same thing. It’s raw and compelling. There were times when I gasped aloud and times when I chuckled at the boys’ mischievous antics.
However … At about page 100 (of 125 pages) the novel takes a VERY dark turn. I felt completely sucker punched by the descriptions of the narrator’s awakening sexuality. The language is graphic and violent. The choppy, short sentences that moved the story forward for the first 100 pages were completely inadequate to explain what was happening in the characters’ lives. Having pictured the boys as somewhere between 8-12 years old, I’m suddenly confronted with scenes that must involve 15-17-year-olds (or I sure hope so, though even that is young). I felt completely disconnected from the story at that point and re-read the last 15 or so pages twice to ensure I hadn’t somehow missed something. Torres is clearly talented, but the hole he left in this work is a huge disappointment.
I give the book 3*** in recognition of the emotional impact, especially in the first 100 pages.
WARNING - readers averse to crude language or reading about homosexuality might want to avoid this book.
eileenthecrow's review
2.0
The "twist" would have worked better if the book was longer. The book would have been better if he stopped calling the kids "half-breed" and stopped talking about their animal ways because they aren't white. The writer isn't white either so I'm thoroughly confused. One kid gets good grades and he says, "They hated me because of my white ways, my good grades." Awful. See, I understand what he is trying to do with this "animal" imagery but I don't like the way he is doing it.
It's disappointing because I thought his prose was poetic and beautiful.
It's disappointing because I thought his prose was poetic and beautiful.
mscezik's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0