Review: Heavy Subject Material With a Good Dose of Hope
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2013
Now, here's a story you don't read about every day. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable when you pick up this book.  We're talking about some really heavy subject subject matter (pedophilia and murder) and a main character that is in an identity crisis.  That's a lot to pack into 154 pages.As I said to my friend Jaime, this book has two things that I love: a male POV and a lot of F bombs. I get giddy with excitement when an author writes an authentic male voice and I completely bought it here.  (Not that I know what the thoughts of a 17 year old boy sound like, but I imagine it to be like this.)  We get just a surface view of Jed and the complexities of his situation in IN THE BLOOD. Part of me wanted to see him work through his "identity crisis" on a deeper level, but I'm not sure how appropriate that would have been.  I mean, Jed's idea of dealing with his situation is to drink to the point of blacking out, so in the end it makes sense that we see just the surface view because that's all HE sees, you know?This may be the one and only time you hear me say this, but I wish there was less romance in the last portion of this story. (Shocking coming from me, right?) Jed is struggling with the idea that he may be a pedophile. The idea that he could start a relationship while in the midst of this crisis felt off to me, but here's the thing. Jed proves over and over again that he deals with his problems by withdrawing and jumping into a romantic relationship provides him with a way to forget.  It was one of those times where you want to reach into the book and shake the main character a bit to make them come to their senses.You're not going to see me crushing on Jed Franklin, but you might catch me trying to scoop my arms around him. Jed is brave and full of love (wait until you see him with his sister. GAH!) even in though he has every reason not to be.  THAT is what makes you walk away from his story feeling hopeful.