A review by barnstormingbooks
The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.5

In the forward to the 20th Anniversary Edition, Van Camp states that he used Larry to process a lot of his own trauma, the trauma of a child one generation removed from the 60s Scoop, and this comes through heavily in this book. 

I struggled over all as I read this book, however, I often struggle with books told from the perspective of teenage boys. I’m not sure if it is the hyper sexualized interaction with the world around them or just the sort of male gaze of the world that is depicted in a lot of novels with a teen-male protagonist, but I had to force myself to engage. Which is too bad. This book does a lot of things well, and those need to be celebrated. It’s probably just my own hang ups with viewing the world through this lens. 

This is a short and driving narrative. I was very impressed with how Van Camp told the story of Larry’s trauma. Instead of setting a scene and forcing the reader to live it, as I’ve read in many novels, Van Camp gives us moments of memory in the form of rage and panic attacks. The pain, fear and lingering effects are more powerful than if we are just forced to be a witness, instead we are a participant. The experience is disorienting, but feels so real. Giving the reader a stronger understanding of the lasting effects of trauma.