Reviews

White is clearly more at home dealing with the harshness of a murderous desert than with the byzantine dangers of the legal system. His description of the boy's struggle to survive in a killing wilderness is riveting, admirable, and breathtaking. His description of the boy's legal response to the attempt on his life is maddening. I believe the author was trying to show compassion and forgiveness on the boy's part, but it feels like the author surgically removed the character's spine and brain as well as the brains of those around him.

sarahjackman's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

colleenaf's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this in 6th grade and I remembered two main things about it a) i had read it in one sitting and found it super compelling and action packed b) the main boy was totally naked about it, which aa) gave 6th grade Colleen the giggles and bb) I blame this book and my overactive imagination for me becoming boy crazy. Rereading this as an adult (a no longer boy crazy one) I find it hysterical that my first literary crush was so bland and stuck in such a 'meh' book. Sure it had it's moments but I was rather bored through most of it, which is odd considering it's a book about a man hunting a teenage boy in the dessert and how he survives. Probably won't be re-re-reading this anytime soon.