Review by Jenniferg_1105 -- A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
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Jennifer Garcia 555
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Review by Jenniferg_1105 -- A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Bloody Book" by Chris Bowen.]
A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen is a book written by a teacher who created this story from the many struggling students he had experience with over his years of teaching. Bowen writes from the view point of a troubled 13 year old boy named Maxx. He comes from a very broken home with no parental support. Maxx is a young boy that is placed in a class he refers to as Reading Hell because of his poor grades and overall lack of caring about his education. The class gets a new teacher Mr. Foxx that forces the kids to confront the troubles in their lives and families. Maxx's story takes place in his class but jumps back to detailed memories from his childhood of abuse by his father, neglect by his mother and father, the near death of his sibling, and other troubling stories that give you a clear picture of Maxx's extremely difficult childhood.
Bowen writes an emotional story that will draw you into Maxx's struggles. The story flows very nicely despite the many jumps from the present to the past. Maxx is a likable character that is very insightful. This book helps you to see that a child that seems tough and defiant on the surface, may have deep emotional pain, and that school may be the only place they feel safe and get a hot meal. Maxx's story includes struggles with may difficult topics like poverty, neglect, abuse and addiction. His story is at times hard to read without becoming emotional but gives important insight into children that are living in similar situations.
There is very little negative to say about this book. The title and cover do not seem to represent the story well. I initially thought this book would be a murder mystery not a child struggling in school. It is written from the view of a failing student and is written in very simple language. This book may be difficult for some to read as there is a small amount of profanity and detailed stories of physical and emotional abuse by parents and teachers.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It is a very engaging story that hooks you right from the beginning. There are only a few editorial errors. The story is very believable and insightful. I read the entire book in just a couple days. It is hard to put down since you quickly get so drawn into Maxx's story. I really enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
I highly recommend this book. It is listed as a YA novel, but I feel it would appeal to many adults as well. This story would be beneficial to anyone that works with children. Teachers, social workers, and child therapists should read Maxx's story. Teens would also enjoy this story and maybe even gain some compassion and understanding for fellow students that may have a bleak life outside of school.
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A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen is a book written by a teacher who created this story from the many struggling students he had experience with over his years of teaching. Bowen writes from the view point of a troubled 13 year old boy named Maxx. He comes from a very broken home with no parental support. Maxx is a young boy that is placed in a class he refers to as Reading Hell because of his poor grades and overall lack of caring about his education. The class gets a new teacher Mr. Foxx that forces the kids to confront the troubles in their lives and families. Maxx's story takes place in his class but jumps back to detailed memories from his childhood of abuse by his father, neglect by his mother and father, the near death of his sibling, and other troubling stories that give you a clear picture of Maxx's extremely difficult childhood.
Bowen writes an emotional story that will draw you into Maxx's struggles. The story flows very nicely despite the many jumps from the present to the past. Maxx is a likable character that is very insightful. This book helps you to see that a child that seems tough and defiant on the surface, may have deep emotional pain, and that school may be the only place they feel safe and get a hot meal. Maxx's story includes struggles with may difficult topics like poverty, neglect, abuse and addiction. His story is at times hard to read without becoming emotional but gives important insight into children that are living in similar situations.
There is very little negative to say about this book. The title and cover do not seem to represent the story well. I initially thought this book would be a murder mystery not a child struggling in school. It is written from the view of a failing student and is written in very simple language. This book may be difficult for some to read as there is a small amount of profanity and detailed stories of physical and emotional abuse by parents and teachers.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It is a very engaging story that hooks you right from the beginning. There are only a few editorial errors. The story is very believable and insightful. I read the entire book in just a couple days. It is hard to put down since you quickly get so drawn into Maxx's story. I really enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for more books by this author.
I highly recommend this book. It is listed as a YA novel, but I feel it would appeal to many adults as well. This story would be beneficial to anyone that works with children. Teachers, social workers, and child therapists should read Maxx's story. Teens would also enjoy this story and maybe even gain some compassion and understanding for fellow students that may have a bleak life outside of school.
******
A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: Donny, Mary Grace and the Ugly Marbles by Catherine A. Pepe
