Review of Another Life

[Laura Britos]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Another Life" by Andrew Foote.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Isn't it almost counterintuitive how abused people, regardless of how much they have to endure, prefer to stay with their abusers rather than start over somewhere new? And yet, it happens. Maybe most abused kids have the same thoughts as Edward, blood is thicker than water, and they might prefer to live in an abusive household their entire life instead of living without a house. Another Life by Andrew Foote is the transition of a young gay teenager, from an abusive household, into what could be considered very premature adulthood. It is a powerful story of how some people internalize abuse, and yet how to fight against it, to be free. This story will surely make people realize that sometimes blood from fraternity is thicker than water from the womb.

If you, reader, are looking for a sort of devastating story, mixed with a hint of John Green´s come to age theme and a bit of an angsty teenager, then you have found the right book.
My favorite part about this very tragic yet enlightening story is the fact that we get to grow up with the main character. The author managed to involve us in the story, in such a way that readers will feel compelled to keep on reading, keep on growing and keep on unraveling the story at the same time.

I would recommend this story to older readers since it touches on certain topics that might be triggering and quite shocking for youngsters. Themes like abuse might need the reader's discretion and therefore might not be suitable for young teens. Nonetheless, the story is delicious and rich in emotions. It has a lot of substance and nuances that show what life is about and what coming of age books and movies should be about.

The only part that I did not enjoy was the amount of foul language that the dialogues have. I understand it was part of the characterization and theme, but sometimes it felt a bit exaggerated and saturated. However, it was not something that interrupt my reading

In conclusion, the story is wonderful. It is very respectful, not even close to being tone-deaf, sensitive, and heartbroken. I found no grammatical mistakes and no problems with this absolute page-turner. I give this book 3 out of 4 stars since the foul language was something that I did not thoroughly enjoy.

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Another Life
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[Amy Luman]

Many abuse victims wonder if anywhere else they go will be wore then where they are. Lots of books have been written about the after effects of abuse on children. Adults just don’t realize what their actions do.

[Peace10]

A lot are just scared of the outside world or whoever they are breaking off from, turning out to be like what they left behind. That feeling of uncertainty is a lot.

[Ruthwriter]

Reaction to an abusive home is different. some choose to stay for the fear of the unknown. The book is a great help for people in this situation to find a solution. great review from you.