Review: Accessible and entertaining, a strong children's book
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 26, 2013
Full disclosure: I was gifted a copy of this book for review purposes. All of the opinions below are entirely my own.Jumping right into the story, Berenson kicks the story off with clever dialogue and doesn't let up through the whole book. Following Billy through his hilariously doomed efforts was a joy, and the supporting cast was generally delightful. It's definitely aimed at kids - I think "teens" might be a stretch, it is certainly confined to younger teens and preteens, but for the appropriate audience, it will bring laughs aplenty. Love Thug is not a long book by any means, but the pacing is generally snappy and will keep kids reading along for a satisfying ride.A significant departure from Berenson'sFIREBUG, a emotive and touching look into a child's experience with pain and loss, Love Thug sticks to the light side, only challenging kids with the occasional vocabulary word. Berenson's writing is once again generally strong, though I will continue to be averse to his use of onomatopoeia. Still, they are few and far between (as well as a few editing mishaps).Overall: I'd happily put this in the hands of any reluctant reader, just to remind them how fun it can be. Berenson's style seems most suited to pre-teens, but still left a smile on this reviewer's face. With questions or comments, please use the box below or contact me at SeanOnAmazon@gmail.com.