Review of A Bloody Book

[Pearl Thomas]

[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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Maxx is an eighth-grader who is part of a class called ‘Reading Hell’. If you are part of this class, it means you are stupid. This is a class where in order to be cool you need a nonchalant attitude and a collection of F grades. But this class of ‘rebels without a cause is challenged when a new teacher, Mr. Foxx, enters their lives and gives them a cause for their rebellion.

A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen is a story of an angsty teenager; at least on the surface, it seems to be just about an angsty teenager whose life seems nothing but a tragedy. But delving deeper into the story, it becomes a tale of apathy caused by neglect and how the system of education sucks the life out of many students’ childhood dreams and passion.

This book highlights important aspects of the education system, especially about the crucial role that a teacher plays in the lives of so many children and teens; that a school is not just about academics but also about learning life skills or as Mr. Foxx would call it, ‘F-you' skills. The character of Maxx, our protagonist is developed brilliantly. His personality is a perfect blend of empathy and humor that makes him more than just an angsty teenager. Maxx is someone who cares about everything yet cares about nothing. The author has done a brilliant job in developing his character and flawlessly portrays his complex being in simple language.

To quote something from the book to highlight the author’s excellence in showing Maxx’s emotional complexity, it’d be this, “Being happy never lasts and when it ends and you remember just how badly your life sucks, you wind up even sadder than you ever were before you had the happiness. So, I try my best to stay away from any happy stuff.” On the surface, it seems simple but if paid enough attention, these lines show Maxx’s perception of life basing on the philosophy of ‘positive nihilism’.

This book is filled with wonderful characters, good and evil. And I would love to write down a character analysis for each of them, but I’d rather not bore you by making this review too lengthy. All you need to know is that this is a book that you will not regret reading if you’re able to see the colorful emotions behind each seemingly dull line and let Maxx take you on a journey that goes beyond the apathy that they express.

Readers must be forewarned about the usage of foul language and mentions of drug abuse and domestic violence. Since the book only brushes up on these topics and does not delve much deeper into these issues, it is appropriate for readers aged 15 and above. Readers who are sensitive to the usage of abusive language might not feel comfortable reading this book. And of course, as the writer rightfully named this book A Bloody Book, certain scenes of violence are pretty graphic.

The editing of this book is not thorough. I came across many typographical errors. But this doesn’t stop the book from reaching the reader’s mind in any way. With simple language and complex characters, this book talks to readers and challenges them to think about the world as a whole in a more realistic light. For this reason, I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book for high schoolers, teachers, and more importantly to all the thinkers out there.

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A Bloody Book
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[Akintola Ola]

Thanks for this detailed review. The title alone leaves enough hint of its gory content which you later confirmed. I however seem to like the character of Mr Foxx. He reminds me of Freedom Writers which is a movie of a true account of some troubled students too. They were also fortunate to have a new teacher who challenged them to change for good. I have forgotten this teacher's name. Perhaps she is Erin Gruwell? That name, for some reason, rings a bell.

[PeterRabitt20]

The name of the class is deprecating. I already feel sorry for the protagonist. Thanks for the review!

[khaulah]

I absolutely love the setting of the story. I'm intrigued. I'll be sure to read the book if I get a chance. Thank you for your wonderful review!

[addicted reader]

A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen sounds an amazing book. Though, the book's cover and title look horrific. Thanks for the this great review.

[reviewinraven]

This book has a gripping premise with a concept that I have never seen in other books. I especially love that this book spreads the message about the significant role a teacher plays within the education system. An angsty teenager as the main character makes the book even more appealing as I enjoy reading about troubled characters and learning about their thought process. Thank you for this great review!

[Sanju Lali]

It is stunning to read Mr. Foxx, enters their lives and gives them a cause for their rebellion. The book looks interesting from your review. Thanks for your honest and insightful review.

[Joyful17]

This book would probably have a wider range of audience if there were no profanities in the narrative. Teenagers could learn from this book. Thanks for your review.

[Ellylion]

Sounds like a honest book depicting real life problems. I love that it is character-driven. Thank you very much for a great review!

[Astral Magi]

Max sounds intriguing. Teenagers go through a tough time and it sounds as though this book could be of assistance. Thanks for a great review.

[Amina Yusuf]

From the title, I thought the book will appeal to an adult audience. Max is an interesting character and the author touches on aspects that I haven't read about before. I think I will like to read the book and see how Max gets on.

[Medhansh Bhardwaj]

The book is really well-written and edited, but it is full of gory content. So I think I will skip this one. But this book is definitely a masterpiece for those people who are into this kind of stuff. Thanks for the great review!

[Asma Aisha Ansari]

This book is a thought-provoking work, with an interesting protagonist. And I must say that Mr. Foxx is the type of teacher we all need in our lives.
Thanks for this amazing review.