Review of A Bloody Book
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Candace F
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- Latest Review: A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
Review of A Bloody Book
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Bloody Book" by Chris Bowen.]
Hope is a fragile thing in today's world. Very often, hope is shattered and denied at a young age. And these children, being young, can never seek retribution for having denied them this. That's how a story such as A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen is born. The painful acceptance that so many were let down and even abused in childhood makes such a story possible. A Bloody Book is the story of Maxx, as told by Maxx himself. Every horrible thing you can imagine for yourself Maxx has had reaped upon him. His mother has run out on him and his sister and his father prone to abuse. The new teacher at school however, makes him stop and think outside his own box for a moment. Readers are reminded that at one point in everyone's life they cared about learning. Reading. Delving into unknown depths of their minds to master something new. But somehow it all stopped. When? And why? But also Bowen let's it sink into our minds that without learning these things where would our lives have lead? Down the path of the adults Maxx had come to know? The new teacher at school, Mr. Foxx gives Maxx and his classmates sight where they had once been blind.
As you turn the pages of this riveting story you will find that the writing comes off almost as a conversation. As though Maxx were there in the room with you, chatting away. It's a very enjoyable part of the book, as it can feel very heavy at times due to the dark areas of life the author has decided to focus upon. Maxx is a prime example of a disadvantaged, yet intelligent, child being lost in the system. These children are often forgotten. This is particularly sad if you consider that we are all disadvantaged and even crippled to a point, by our circumstances. We all have felt that our lives have no purpose at some moment in time.
Despite the spectacular job Bowen did in writing this very relatable novel, the last part of the book didn't seem necessary. As in, the story should have never veered that way. I'm unsure what led the author down a route such as he took, but it felt very off putting to say the least. However, when considering the first parts of the novel, I feel some of the areas that seem out of place may be overlooked. There are some moments of reading the first half of the book where Bowen's ability to take words and twist them into such strong feelings makes him eligible for a reprieve on some things.
Overall, I am giving this novel 4 out of 4 stars. The creation of 13 year old Maxx was done exceptionally well and the editing was thorough throughout the novel. Despite the authors veering in a different direction at the end, it isn't completely out of place. The story is able to flow.
Due to the nature of this story I am highly recommending this novel to teenage children of any age. This book is something that in a sense could be considered therapeutic. It's not unheard of for abuse victims to turn their anguish inward. So there is always the consideration, that one of the '1 in 7' children who suffer abuse may come across this book. Whether it's in their school library, in the grocery store magazine aisle, or even well into their adulthood when they think it doesn't affect them any longer. Perhaps one of them will pick up this book and they will feel that alarmingly warm feeling of camaraderie. They will feel understood somehow. And for Bowen to so easily tap into that in his writing is jaw dropping. These children who have for so long been overlooked by society as the poor ones, the dumb ones, the "bad" kids, they finally have a voice through Maxx. This isn't easy to do. And the same as I would recommend this book to them, I will do so for teachers. As it is our educational figures who interact with children such as this every day. They must learn to delve deeper than the surface, as Mr. Foxx does with Maxx and his classmates.
******
A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Hope is a fragile thing in today's world. Very often, hope is shattered and denied at a young age. And these children, being young, can never seek retribution for having denied them this. That's how a story such as A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen is born. The painful acceptance that so many were let down and even abused in childhood makes such a story possible. A Bloody Book is the story of Maxx, as told by Maxx himself. Every horrible thing you can imagine for yourself Maxx has had reaped upon him. His mother has run out on him and his sister and his father prone to abuse. The new teacher at school however, makes him stop and think outside his own box for a moment. Readers are reminded that at one point in everyone's life they cared about learning. Reading. Delving into unknown depths of their minds to master something new. But somehow it all stopped. When? And why? But also Bowen let's it sink into our minds that without learning these things where would our lives have lead? Down the path of the adults Maxx had come to know? The new teacher at school, Mr. Foxx gives Maxx and his classmates sight where they had once been blind.
As you turn the pages of this riveting story you will find that the writing comes off almost as a conversation. As though Maxx were there in the room with you, chatting away. It's a very enjoyable part of the book, as it can feel very heavy at times due to the dark areas of life the author has decided to focus upon. Maxx is a prime example of a disadvantaged, yet intelligent, child being lost in the system. These children are often forgotten. This is particularly sad if you consider that we are all disadvantaged and even crippled to a point, by our circumstances. We all have felt that our lives have no purpose at some moment in time.
Despite the spectacular job Bowen did in writing this very relatable novel, the last part of the book didn't seem necessary. As in, the story should have never veered that way. I'm unsure what led the author down a route such as he took, but it felt very off putting to say the least. However, when considering the first parts of the novel, I feel some of the areas that seem out of place may be overlooked. There are some moments of reading the first half of the book where Bowen's ability to take words and twist them into such strong feelings makes him eligible for a reprieve on some things.
Overall, I am giving this novel 4 out of 4 stars. The creation of 13 year old Maxx was done exceptionally well and the editing was thorough throughout the novel. Despite the authors veering in a different direction at the end, it isn't completely out of place. The story is able to flow.
Due to the nature of this story I am highly recommending this novel to teenage children of any age. This book is something that in a sense could be considered therapeutic. It's not unheard of for abuse victims to turn their anguish inward. So there is always the consideration, that one of the '1 in 7' children who suffer abuse may come across this book. Whether it's in their school library, in the grocery store magazine aisle, or even well into their adulthood when they think it doesn't affect them any longer. Perhaps one of them will pick up this book and they will feel that alarmingly warm feeling of camaraderie. They will feel understood somehow. And for Bowen to so easily tap into that in his writing is jaw dropping. These children who have for so long been overlooked by society as the poor ones, the dumb ones, the "bad" kids, they finally have a voice through Maxx. This isn't easy to do. And the same as I would recommend this book to them, I will do so for teachers. As it is our educational figures who interact with children such as this every day. They must learn to delve deeper than the surface, as Mr. Foxx does with Maxx and his classmates.
******
A Bloody Book
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: A Bloody Book by Chris Bowen
