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davidcottington's review against another edition
Really great YA thriller. Full of suspense and believable.
leafblade's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so
I'm a psychology student and I REALLY think mental illnesses should be treated with extreme care in literature, specially thrillers, specially psychological thrillers. And while I don't think this book was awful in that aspect, I don't really think the author made an effort, really. Elliott's mental illness is never named. We kinda assume it's schizophrenia bc that's what it more likely is when there are those kind of visual and auditory hallucinations. But we get told his doctor doesn't know what it is, so maybe it's some invented mental illness? Which if it is would be walking on the line of right and wrong. Sometimes Elliott felt like he was JUST his mental illness, which is something that can happen when we show a character that's confined to his house since he was little, but that was easily avoidable and just not ideal at all.
Also. Just. Using a gun against the bad guy to make it seem right is SUCH an American trope and as a latina I'm so done with it please stop it's not right nor cool.
The story felt really short bc it's set in such a limited period of time (maybe an hour?? and then lots of flashbacks), and it was not always a good thing. Like, I have no reason to say it but somehow I feel Elliott wouldn't pick up a gun just because, and the book doesn't give me information to tell me I'm right or wrong, so sometimes the lenght of the story is just used to make the main character do things without justification.
I mean, it was okay, but barely.
I'm a psychology student and I REALLY think mental illnesses should be treated with extreme care in literature, specially thrillers, specially psychological thrillers. And while I don't think this book was awful in that aspect, I don't really think the author made an effort, really. Elliott's mental illness is never named. We kinda assume it's schizophrenia bc that's what it more likely is when there are those kind of visual and auditory hallucinations. But we get told his doctor doesn't know what it is, so maybe it's some invented mental illness? Which if it is would be walking on the line of right and wrong. Sometimes Elliott felt like he was JUST his mental illness, which is something that can happen when we show a character that's confined to his house since he was little, but that was easily avoidable and just not ideal at all.
Also. Just. Using a gun against the bad guy to make it seem right is SUCH an American trope and as a latina I'm so done with it please stop it's not right nor cool.
The story felt really short bc it's set in such a limited period of time (maybe an hour?? and then lots of flashbacks), and it was not always a good thing. Like, I have no reason to say it but somehow I feel Elliott wouldn't pick up a gun just because, and the book doesn't give me information to tell me I'm right or wrong, so sometimes the lenght of the story is just used to make the main character do things without justification.
I mean, it was okay, but barely.
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
One for reluctant readers - a gripping short story with tension, excitement, criminals and an unusual protagonist.
Elliott is scared of almost everything. He can't leave the house, he can't function as a normal child would, and only his pills keep him feeling halfway in control.
So when he finds himself on a snowy Christmas Eve down to the last few, and his mum runs out to replenish the supply, he has to hold himself together until she returns.... but she doesn't... What should he do? What CAN he do?
In just a few short chapters, Brooks sets up a very tense story, involving a boy with a serious mental health condition that is very well characterised, and a story involving his mum entangled in criminal activity. It doesn't feel too full, it's a series of unfortunate accidents really, in which Elliot will have to face his fears to help both himself and the person he loves most in the world.
It would make a great TV one-off at Christmas! Brooks is a great writer of exciting situation pieces (The Bunker Diary is hard to forget), and this is a fantastic piece to appeal to young teenagers that won't be persuaded to try anything longer, while exhibiting excellent writing and structure.
More like this, please!
WIth thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
Elliott is scared of almost everything. He can't leave the house, he can't function as a normal child would, and only his pills keep him feeling halfway in control.
So when he finds himself on a snowy Christmas Eve down to the last few, and his mum runs out to replenish the supply, he has to hold himself together until she returns.... but she doesn't... What should he do? What CAN he do?
In just a few short chapters, Brooks sets up a very tense story, involving a boy with a serious mental health condition that is very well characterised, and a story involving his mum entangled in criminal activity. It doesn't feel too full, it's a series of unfortunate accidents really, in which Elliot will have to face his fears to help both himself and the person he loves most in the world.
It would make a great TV one-off at Christmas! Brooks is a great writer of exciting situation pieces (The Bunker Diary is hard to forget), and this is a fantastic piece to appeal to young teenagers that won't be persuaded to try anything longer, while exhibiting excellent writing and structure.
More like this, please!
WIth thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
hayleybeale's review against another edition
3.0
13 year-old Elliot is scared of “everything” and hardly ever leaves the sanctuary of his room, or his home in rural England. But in the middle of a blizzard, Elliot realizes there’s been a mixup with his anti-anxiety meds, so his mother goes out, just for 10 minutes, to get them, but then she doesn’t come back. After several hours, Elliott screws up his courage and goes to look for her. Though Elliott is an engaging narrator, there is an odd tonal mix with a storyline about robbers. See my full review here.
sunshine169's review against another edition
3.0
From the moment of his birth, Elliot’s life has been governed by fear of almost everything, even of his own fear — a beast that holds him prisoner in his room. The beast is kept at bay, though not eliminated, with a daily regimen of pills. But on Christmas Eve, a mix-up at the pharmacy threatens to unleash the beast full force, and his mother must venture out in a raging snowstorm to a store that should be only minutes away. Hours later, when she still hasn’t returned, Elliot sees no choice but to push through his terror, leave the house, and hunt for her. What happens if the last of his medication wears off and the beast starts scratching at the doors of his mind? Everyone has a breaking point — will Elliot come to his?
I related on a less extreme level to Elliot. My fears can sometimes cause me to become numb to the world. I think the book did a fantastic job with describing how fear and anxiety can be so debilitating. I was able to really get into Elliot's mindsets as he tried to calm his inner fear beast and find his mother. The suspense of the book kept the pages turning for me until about three quarters of the way through. The end fell flat and didn't really wrap up the events that led us there. It felt like it just ended abruptly.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the book but would have like to see the ending fleshed out a bit more.
I related on a less extreme level to Elliot. My fears can sometimes cause me to become numb to the world. I think the book did a fantastic job with describing how fear and anxiety can be so debilitating. I was able to really get into Elliot's mindsets as he tried to calm his inner fear beast and find his mother. The suspense of the book kept the pages turning for me until about three quarters of the way through. The end fell flat and didn't really wrap up the events that led us there. It felt like it just ended abruptly.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the book but would have like to see the ending fleshed out a bit more.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
4.0
Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.
Elliot is 13 and afraid of everything. He copes through isolation, a controlled environment, and a carefully regimented medication scheme. Due to some unfortunate timing his medication is about to run out and as tomorrow is Christmas his prescription has been pushed through as an emergency, the snag? His mum must go out in a snowstorm in a trip that should only take 10 minutes. She doesn’t return and Elliot makes the agonising decision to try and find her at a friend’s house, her most likely final destination. It’s not far in distance but the journey is epic and arduous!
This book was intense! So much happened in such a short space of time. It makes for quite a narrow perspective and not a lot of other characters or time spent developing them.
Elliot is 13 and afraid of everything. He copes through isolation, a controlled environment, and a carefully regimented medication scheme. Due to some unfortunate timing his medication is about to run out and as tomorrow is Christmas his prescription has been pushed through as an emergency, the snag? His mum must go out in a snowstorm in a trip that should only take 10 minutes. She doesn’t return and Elliot makes the agonising decision to try and find her at a friend’s house, her most likely final destination. It’s not far in distance but the journey is epic and arduous!
This book was intense! So much happened in such a short space of time. It makes for quite a narrow perspective and not a lot of other characters or time spent developing them.
cauchemarlena's review against another edition
5.0
In my hometown library, there's a whiteboard where people write recommendations. Every once in a while, someone has written Kevin Brooks - "Lucas" on it and every time I see it, I can't help smiling, glad that someone has discovered a book that has had such an impact on me. After all, this was the book that made me cry over fictional characters for the very first time. When I was approved for his "Born Scared" on Netgalley, I was excited for days - and for a good reason, it was an amazing book.
I honestly feel like this book should be on the reading list of all teenagers. While it's a very good example of mental health awareness, for me, it was also about courage. It was gripping and emotion-evoking. I could barely put the book down to get some sleep and wanted to finish it in one go, even though some bits were a bit strange compared to some other books that I've read. However, that's also what I love about this author and what makes him so interesting. At times, this book reminded me of his first book "Martyn PIg" which I didn't really enjoy. However, in my opinion, "Born Scared" is one of his best works so far.
I honestly feel like this book should be on the reading list of all teenagers. While it's a very good example of mental health awareness, for me, it was also about courage. It was gripping and emotion-evoking. I could barely put the book down to get some sleep and wanted to finish it in one go, even though some bits were a bit strange compared to some other books that I've read. However, that's also what I love about this author and what makes him so interesting. At times, this book reminded me of his first book "Martyn PIg" which I didn't really enjoy. However, in my opinion, "Born Scared" is one of his best works so far.
spookybookz's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. When it started it had real potential for me but then it just got a little all over the place, with what was real and what wasn’t. Not for me this one
bookloversofi's review against another edition
4.0
I want to thank Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a kind of strange book being honest, but I think it was an interesting and new experience for me. It's a pretty short story with a fixed central plot and I liked that, I liked that although it's short, it's very intense and you can really feel everything that happens to the main character in a very raw and real way.
3.7/5 Stars
You can find more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The book follows the story of Elliot. He's a thirteen-year-old boy who fears of almost everything since he's only a baby, he lives isolated in his room specially built for him and his needs, but he's also helped by a pills that he takes daily which help him with his illness, making it the every day easier. On Christmas day something happens and his mother must leave the house for a few hours to look for her son's medicine, but she never comes back and Elliot's forced to go out and look for her, and it's from here that the story begins and Elliot must face her worst fears
This book focuses on a mental illness as the main theme throughout the book, and I honestly feel that I must say it, in case some people are sensitive to this kind of thing, especially because I'm not sure if it was touched in a correct way, because I have no information about it. Personally I liked knowing more about this illness, but at the same time I feel like it fell short of information, I would have liked to know a little more
I didn't expect it to be as dark as it was, it's a rather dark thriller, where we see the main character have hallucinations and be lost in his own mind under the effects of his illness and honestly see everything he was going through and how the author described it was really scary, I can't imagine what it would be like to live in this way, with a constant fear to the point that it becomes something physical, it's really hard to read about it.
In a beginning it may be somewhat disorganized, the change between one character and another felt kind of weird and we don't know what role they take in the story and what has to do with Elliot, but after the 50%, take shape and I think that makes sense. Although there are no very memorable characters really
I was more interested in following Elliot all the time so the other points of view didn't really catch my attention, although in the end all the stories connect in a very good way and I liked that. It was very interesting to see Elliot leave his comfort zone and face the outside world, it broke my heart to see how every simple thing in our life was a challenge for him, and if I think about it, he faced it all for his mother and the love he has for her and that was very brave. On the other hand, I think the author gave a very mature voice to a 13 year old boy, and that felt weird, I didn't mind at the time of reading, but I feel like you forget the true age of the character at times because he talks and reasons as an adult
I feel that I love the beginning much more than the end, I don't think it was a good closing for the story, I understand what the author wanted to show but I think it felt very open and I don't always enjoy those types of endings, it was strange for me I expected a better conclusion.
So, I recommend it, although I feel it's not for everyone, there's something in it that makes it heavy, intense and brutal, and it can be difficult if you're a sensitive person, especially since it touches a very sensitive issue like a mental illness. If you're looking for a strong and short thriller it's perfect for you