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wren_in_black 's review for:
Bruiser
by Neal Shusterman
I didn't want to put this one down. Neal Shusterman is a god among mortals.
Bruiser is the story of a fifteen year old boy who steals the pain from those he loves. He didn't choose to be able to do it, but whenever he is around people he cares for, their bruises, cuts, scrapes, and ills become his. Their anger, sadness, anxiety, and pain become his. With a life like that, it's easiest to care for no one at all. So Brewster gets the nickname "Bruiser" for his abrasive and caustic personality. In junior high he was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty", unofficially, of course.
But just because Brewster has closed himself off to the public doesn't mean he can't love or that he doesn't care deeply. He does. He reads to feel emotions without the dangerous connection to other living and breathing people. He loves his younger brother. He even cares for his abusive uncle, even when he can't understand why and wishes he didn't.
But somehow Bronte and her twin brother Tennyson push past all his walls and suddenly Brewster has friends and the world becomes more dangerous for him than it has ever been before.
And as much as his friends love him. As much as his brother cares from him (and even his uncle, in a twisted way) everyone can't help but use him. Brewster soaks up their pain and no one can seem to help giving it all freely to him. But what if our pain, physical and emotional, is necessary to be who we are, to change, to grow into better people? What happens to us if we just stagnate in false contentment?
The story raises so many ethical questions and dilemmas. I know this one will be siting with me for a while.
Also, if you're a teacher and want to teach these themes without the length of a full novel, I recommend [b:The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas|92625|The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389866872l/92625._SX50_.jpg|89324]. Or if you teach that in class and want something to recommend to kids after finishing the short story, this is the perfect book.
Bruiser is the story of a fifteen year old boy who steals the pain from those he loves. He didn't choose to be able to do it, but whenever he is around people he cares for, their bruises, cuts, scrapes, and ills become his. Their anger, sadness, anxiety, and pain become his. With a life like that, it's easiest to care for no one at all. So Brewster gets the nickname "Bruiser" for his abrasive and caustic personality. In junior high he was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty", unofficially, of course.
But just because Brewster has closed himself off to the public doesn't mean he can't love or that he doesn't care deeply. He does. He reads to feel emotions without the dangerous connection to other living and breathing people. He loves his younger brother. He even cares for his abusive uncle, even when he can't understand why and wishes he didn't.
But somehow Bronte and her twin brother Tennyson push past all his walls and suddenly Brewster has friends and the world becomes more dangerous for him than it has ever been before.
And as much as his friends love him. As much as his brother cares from him (and even his uncle, in a twisted way) everyone can't help but use him. Brewster soaks up their pain and no one can seem to help giving it all freely to him. But what if our pain, physical and emotional, is necessary to be who we are, to change, to grow into better people? What happens to us if we just stagnate in false contentment?
The story raises so many ethical questions and dilemmas. I know this one will be siting with me for a while.
Also, if you're a teacher and want to teach these themes without the length of a full novel, I recommend [b:The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas|92625|The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389866872l/92625._SX50_.jpg|89324]. Or if you teach that in class and want something to recommend to kids after finishing the short story, this is the perfect book.