lindseyrchaney 's review for:

Chaos at Prescott High by C.M. Stunich

5.0

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The HAVOC boys. What can I say? I was hesitant to read this series as I was judging it based on some negative reviews on here. Some reviews say the story line is unrealistic. I would have to disagree. Is it intense? Yes. Are the circumstances extraordinary? Yes. Is it fiction? Yes. However, the characters and why they behave the way they do makes sense given all that has happened to them. This is a story at it's core about teenagers that were exposed to poverty, addiction, rape, abuse, and violence from an early age by their parents and caregivers. These children had to adapt to their surroundings . They couldn't show weakness or expose vulnerabilities even through emotional expression or they could be raped or killed. They found each other and created a family out of the broken pieces. Is the family f*cked up? Yes. Had they been raised in healthy homes they would not be the way they are. There have been complaints about character building, however if CM Stunich would have exposed the characters vulnerable histories too soon it would not have been authentic to the characters themselves. These boys and Bernie have been hurt, badly, in their lives. They are closed off, they are in pain on the inside and they cope through sex, drugs, alcohol, and violence. However, through the bonds of this new family their shells start to crack, even Oscars and what we see is are broken, beautiful, souls that just want to be loved.  This is a series that will truly give me a book handover and one that I will reread over and over again. I am emotionally attached to them now. Please don't judge the book solely based on negative reviews. Keep in mind the overall rating and stick with it. I promise you will fall in love.