Review: Opposite Brothers
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 19, 2014
Title: Brothers, Bullies, And Bad Guys - The Boulton- Quest Book 1Author: N D RichmanPublisher: N D Richman/CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPublished: 4-10-2014ISBN: 10: 1484122364ISBN-13: 978-1484122365ASIN E-Book: B00CC0XBZWPages: 201Genre: Young AdultTags: Mystery, Thriller, AdventureOverall Rating: GreatReviewed For: Mother Daughter Book Reviews & N. D. RichmanReviewer: DelAnneChris Bolton, age 14, has had the responsibility of watching over his brother Michael, age 12, since he was eight years old.  Something he has never succeeded at.  Michael is a Bully well known in the neighborhood and at school.  He is feared by any child he has come across and even some of the parents.  Their parents were scientist and went to work before the awoke each morning and returned home long after they were in bed asleep.  This routine had been going on so long Michael couldn't remember what their mother looked like.  Then after running from a man following him, Michael comes home and they go to bed.  In the early morning hours both are woken by a noise from downstairs.  His parents are shouting at a number of strange men who have invaded there home and are threatening their parents when shots ring out and they hear one of the men shouting to get the kids and Micheal and Chris hide in a hidden room.  When they finally escape from their house with men with guns on their tail.  The adventure begins.... Who are those men?  Why do they want them?  Are they really going to kill their parents in only a week?  Where have they taken them and how do they get them back?  Who can they trust?The rule in my family is no one under the age of 16 reads anything before an adult reads it first.  Something that often caused a time strain when there are so many children in my extended famly.  Luckily many of the school  reading programs copied one another or as the children grew older the younger ones were assigned books already read the previous  year already for those that graduated to the next level.  This time I did not have that excuse for reading a book geared toward readers ages 14 and under.  That is alright as I enjoyed it tremendously.  In just the first few chapters there is a stalking, a gunfight, an assault, a kidnapping and a wild and bumpy car chase.  Things only get more interesting from there.I personally think Claire and Geoff, the parents, treated their children appallingly.  To see them rarely so rarely a child of twelve has trouble recalling their mother's face seems a bit like neglect. Chris and Mike are like many of today's children unfortunately.  Left alone to raise themselves.  Both boys are resilient, resourceful and bright, Michael is a true genius.  Yet they still just two young boys with fears and sometimes inappropriate remarks and antics.  Michael is a bully, always getting into trouble, perhaps to gain his parents attention?  Chris is the good son, always trying to do the right thing, take care of his brother and himself, cooking and cleaning, do well in school, anything to keep the peace.  Maybe it is his way to get some  recognition from his parents.I was so happy to see them grow and find their own worth in a story that entertains the reader with mystery and adventure.  The reader is drawn into the story and can enjoy living vicariously through Chris and Michael find danger and intrigue every step of the way.  If you have a young reader who likes thrillers, mysteries or adventures they will love Brothers, Bullies and Bad Guys.  I am off to finish book two of the series,Siners, Survivors and Saints.  I'll let you Know what I think of it next.