Review: Gripping, Tragically Beautiful and Honestly Raw
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 4, 2014
Review by [...]Read it in one sitting, not because it's short or an easy read, but because it refuses to let you put it down. There is so much depth to this book, but it's written in almost a shallow voice that allows the reader to get the concepts without being drowned by them. It deals with aspects of teenage male culture, masculine expectations, reactions to tragedy, nature of abuse, homosexuality, drugs as escapism, and so much more that I could never hope to cram into a review.Both the main characters are expertly written. When I read "16 year old" in the blurb, I almost didn't get a copy, as that tends to be a red-flag for an angst-driven, watered-down plot with meh characters. Instead, the characters in this book are complex, especially Kevin, who has built up these three social worlds around him, all separately contained, to maintain some sort of facade of control over his life. This book deals a lot with control and manipulation and is a true social commentary on how we live our lives compartmentalized, oblivious to what's really going on around us. It also sheds light onto the darkness that we are allowing to grow in our society through accepted ostracization, machismo culture and repression of natural love.A warning that this book is almost painful to read in places due to subject matter and the ending may leave you feeling... well, I'll let you decide, because I think that you should read this book, every page, and allow it to affect you in it's own way, as I think this will be one of those books that gives and takes something unique for each reader.