literadreams's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.75
reaganrblackwood's review
5.0
I read this book for school. I really was not sure what to think when I started it. At first I wasn't a huge fan, but as I started to get to know kip's character I fell in love! The characters are very relatable, and somehow I felt understood, reading this book. If you are considering this read, I say go for it! (And I am not one to write reviews!)
rachieturtle's review
5.0
Such a strong story about how a kid has to live with the fact that he burned another kid to death. I wanted a little bit more at the end, but I'm happy with it.
tjlcody's review against another edition
4.0
Geez. This was a hard one.
Mostly because of how realistic it is: A child makes a serious mistake in a moment of anger and pain, and for the rest of his life people are calling him a psychopath and saying he deserves to be murdered. Not even willing to give him a chance to prove that he's been rehabilitated.
Really is fucking sick how unempathetic people are. All I could think of while I read this book is "Yeah, yeah, this sounds exactly like how people would respond, because God forbid you entertain the possibility that people are capable of making a deadly mistake in a moment of stress and still not be a psychopath from it?"
Mostly because of how realistic it is: A child makes a serious mistake in a moment of anger and pain, and for the rest of his life people are calling him a psychopath and saying he deserves to be murdered. Not even willing to give him a chance to prove that he's been rehabilitated.
Really is fucking sick how unempathetic people are. All I could think of while I read this book is "Yeah, yeah, this sounds exactly like how people would respond, because God forbid you entertain the possibility that people are capable of making a deadly mistake in a moment of stress and still not be a psychopath from it?"
heykellyjensen's review
3.0
Good, quick read. It gets a little preachy near the end, but I think most readers will overlook it.
abbylynn000's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
carofan88425099936334985803975's review
1.0
Why do we keep picking books about kids killing each other in Alaska?
ventellina's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
wheems01's review against another edition
4.0
At the age of nine Kip MacFarland threw gasoline on seven year old Bobby Clarke and set him on fire. After years in a mental hospital Kip must now try to join society once more, but how do you make a future when your past is always right behind you?
This book is a difficult one for me to both read and evaluate. I am not a big fan of realistic fiction for one, and this is about as real as it gets. Secondly I had trouble with the violence, and just wanted to cry for the mother of Bobby Clarke. As a parent, I think my greatest fear is losing my child and to lose a child to such senseless violence. I wanted, really wanted, to sympathize with Kip, but no matter how much I liked Kip and appreciated his battles, I couldn't get past the fact that a child had died.
Giles is a master storyteller, and even though you know Kip did this horrible thing, you find yourself both rooting for his successes and condemning him for his actions. At points you want to stand up for Kip and say that you know he didn't mean for Bobby Clarke to die, and at others you too want to condemn him for his thoughtless and selfish actions. She makes her characters so real you can reach out and touch them and you share their pain.
This is definitely a tear jerker. The reader will find themselve frustrated and torn apart by all the injustices. It is a perfect example of how this isn't a perfect world and people have flaws.
My favorite character in this novel would have to be Kip's new stepmother, Carrie, who marries Kip's father and knows Kip's history. She was a trooper and unconditionally loves Kip because his father loves him--I just loved her.
Overall I would say that if you like realistic fiction and don't mind a few tears, this is a great book. It is an extremely fast read, and definitely worth picking up.
Cautions for sensitive readers: Extreme violence, drinking, but no sex.
lisamquinn's review against another edition
4.0
I read the first few pages of this book and let it sit. I thought I wouldn't be interested in reading the story of a kid who set another kid on fire. I was wrong. I began to love this kid, and I definitely wanted to read his story.