Review of A Bloody Book

[Winnie_Grace]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Bloody Book" by Chris Bowen.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Chris Bowen's A Bloody Book is a gripping story about Maxx, a thirteen-year-old boy who has seen a lot in his young and tender life. Neglected by parents who are victims of drugs and poverty, this young person's hopes are crushed very early in life. As readers, we see Maxx's malnourished life through his eyes, as he has stopped caring about anything around him and has become apathetic. Though the focus of the book is on the dark and hopeless side of the story, the narration keeps us going and provides some hope.

Initially, the author makes an effort to keep us readers interested by promising a bloody book with the words "start for the story, care for the characters, and stay for the twist." Chris Bowen manages to entice us with his words and transports us into Maxx's world, where we witness the horrible and frequent murder of hopes and failed attempts to keep them afloat.

On the surface, the story appears to be a rant of a teenage boy who refuses to follow school rules and rebels against the concept of manners and education. Because of this outward appearance, I had the impression that the book would be similar to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. However, as I continued reading, I noticed similarities between the two books, but the underlying themes are quite different.

Through Maxx, Chris Bowen raises the questions on family and school as an institution that fails at so many levels while being overlooked by all of us. Children and people around us are going through a lot, and its right under our noses; they are suffering and teetering on the edges. We maintain a façade and try to uphold the very structures that fail us. Maxx notices the structures and points out their hollowness while maintaining his own. I didn’t go through many of the things that Maxx went through, but I found some of the character’s segments relatable.

Maxx is a complete character in his own right. He is perceptive, empathic, responsible, caring, and yet he is also uncaring. He is the embodiment of a real complex human being who juggles between dying hope and managing to get through the day. He is a grey character who gradually shifts toward the dark side. He tells us that when he was nine, he couldn't hate his mother for any of her actions, but now that he's thirteen, he can. Chris Bowen demonstrates how the complex nature of the human fights inner conflict in order to reach a decision in life, whether it involves loving or hating.

I really liked Mr. Foxx's character, who serves as a bright light at the end of the tunnel. His unconventional approach to teaching in the classroom astounds the students and provides them with a platform and an open space to shed the shame that surrounds their lives. Furthermore, Mr. Foxx attempts to create a safe space for the Reading Hell students to show what their real lives are like in order to elicit empathy and ignite a sense of community among all of them. I admired Mr. Foxx when he scolded and stated unequivocally that no other student in the classroom will be laughed at. He was crazy in his ways, but teachers like him are desperately needed in our society.
The book's language is simple and engaging. Some readers may be able to finish it in one sitting, while others might need a little more time to soak in the emotions evoked. Be aware that the book contains some mild language and a drug-related topic that is sensitive.

I congratulate Chris Bowen on his successful attempt to bring to light one of America's most overlooked issues- poverty. Chris Bowen provokes pity, empathy, and anger in response to Maxx's bleak reality. Not only poverty but also other societal issues such as drug addiction, prison sentence, domestic violence, and familial strife.

I would give this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is a book that no one would put down before finishing. There were only a few grammatical errors, which does not justify the drop in ratings. There is nothing in the book that casts a negative light on it. There is no erotic or graphic content, only mild and sensitive language, as previously mentioned. Anyone over the age of 13 should read this book, in my opinion. People who enjoy emotional stories and those who enjoy reading stories about the dark side of human life as a result of societal suffering will find this book enriching and satisfying.

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A Bloody Book
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[Amiczy Heaven]

A book that is simple to read always gets my attention. The story looks like it provokes empathy and I’ll love to read it. Maxx sounds like an interesting character.

[Aisha Yakub]

Maxx seems to have gone through a whole lot. Would be interesting to see how he pulled through. Thank you for the review.