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A review by thebooklender
White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock
4.0
17 year old Peter Blankman is scared of almost everything, thanks to an extreme anxiety disorder. The only things in his life he can rely on are his mum, his twin sister Bel, his best friend Ingrid and mathematics.
Peter’s mum is due to receive a prestigious award for her scientific research - to be presented by the Prime Minister and to be broadcast on TV. Before the ceremony, a mystery assailant makes an assassination attempt on Peter’s mother, starting a chain of events that leads to the unravelling of everything that Peter thought he knew - it turns out no one and nothing is who or what he thought they were.
This book is really difficult to review without giving away spoilers. It is a thrilling page turner full of conspiracies, secret government agencies, murder, maths, mental health and a plot that twists and turns and keeps you on your toes all the way through.
The story and character were inspired by Pollock’s own experiences with depression and anxiety. Peter’s condition is shown as both a burden and a strength - indeed, almost a superpower. His anxiety and natural paranoia allow him to see through the lies and conspiracies that surround him.
“Check you out,” [Bel] says. “Doctor of Fear.”
“I like the way you say that… Like it’s a superpower, rather than the product of living seventeen years with various nervous bowel conditions.”
She shrugs. “Any reason it can’t be both?”
This is a title I would recommend to older or more mature readers - it does get violent in places, and the ending… oh, the ending. There’s so much going on here - ideas on maths and science, mental health, bullying. But it never feels like it’s lecturing or preaching.
White Rabbit, Red Wolf is a thrilling, intriguing and engaging story that raises as many questions as it answers.
Peter’s mum is due to receive a prestigious award for her scientific research - to be presented by the Prime Minister and to be broadcast on TV. Before the ceremony, a mystery assailant makes an assassination attempt on Peter’s mother, starting a chain of events that leads to the unravelling of everything that Peter thought he knew - it turns out no one and nothing is who or what he thought they were.
This book is really difficult to review without giving away spoilers. It is a thrilling page turner full of conspiracies, secret government agencies, murder, maths, mental health and a plot that twists and turns and keeps you on your toes all the way through.
The story and character were inspired by Pollock’s own experiences with depression and anxiety. Peter’s condition is shown as both a burden and a strength - indeed, almost a superpower. His anxiety and natural paranoia allow him to see through the lies and conspiracies that surround him.
“Check you out,” [Bel] says. “Doctor of Fear.”
“I like the way you say that… Like it’s a superpower, rather than the product of living seventeen years with various nervous bowel conditions.”
She shrugs. “Any reason it can’t be both?”
This is a title I would recommend to older or more mature readers - it does get violent in places, and the ending… oh, the ending. There’s so much going on here - ideas on maths and science, mental health, bullying. But it never feels like it’s lecturing or preaching.
White Rabbit, Red Wolf is a thrilling, intriguing and engaging story that raises as many questions as it answers.