Review: Touching story of struggle and coping
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2013
Jed had a good life, he was happy, his family was happy. But it was all ripped away from him when the world discovered that his father was a pedophile and murderer. Now Jed lives with ridicule from people he used to call friends, insecurities within himself, and acts as the parent as his mother collapses in on herself.In the Blood begins about 9 months after Jed's dad is arrested and charged with being a pedophile and murderer, and follows the torment that Jed goes through in his day to day life. On top of constant ridicule and untrusting eyes at school, Jed struggles with the very real and very scary possibility that he could be next. That he could somehow turn into his dad.Every day Jed beats himself up. How did he not know? Did he miss the signs? Will he be like his father? Is he like his father? Is he to blame? And with every question Jed get's angrier and attempts to bury his woes at the end of a bottle and withdrawal's himself from the few people who have stuck with him. On top of his personal fears he has to stand in as the parent to his little sister Amy while his mom caves in on herself becoming a shell of the woman he used to know. Jed had a good life, but the life he lives now is just a shadow of what it used to be. It's like a cruel joke or like living in a messed up paradigm where everything you have ever known is thrown on its head.This is a tough story to read, the pain that Jed goes through is so real and it often pained me to read it. I imagine his fears being the fears of anyone in his position. Okay so maybe he took it more like a champ than most. Sure he dabbled in alcohol a little and had a few spats, but I know a ton of teens who would have turned into rage monsters, alcoholics, or druggies at the first sign of trouble. So maybe it wasn't the most realistic reaction of a teenage boy, but it was definitely one that had a good spin on it.As Jed goes through all his thoughts and crap you are front and center as Sara Hantz gives you a front row seat into all of Jed's thoughts, both good and bad. I really liked how she gave us all his thoughts, even those that sort of made you cringe. There wasn't much dialog in this book, but what dialog there was really added to the story. Instead we spent a lot of time getting to know the main character Jed. The young teen trying to cope in his new messed up reality. Jed, the incredibly strong young man who didn't break when his world came crushing down. Jed, the teen you want to adopt, take under your wing and show that there really is good inside him.In the Blood is a deep story that will tug at your heart strings in the most painful way. It will make you cringe and maybe even skip over a few parts, because let's face it a few parts are a little too real. But In the Blood gives you a great look at what life may be like for the other victims, those left to pick up the pieces, those that were part of the beautifully crafted facade. In the Blood is a great story of not giving up, that no matter what life throws at you you need to pick yourself up and move along. Jed reminds us that we all have a choice.*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.