Reviews

Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens

debbiemdgray's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

4.25

cariane's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

bkmckown's review against another edition

3.5

 I enjoyed the story overall, the characters and how everything connected but I read this as part of the series and, aside from Boady being a character in the Joe books, there’s really no connection to the overall story arc. It would make a better stand alone. 

skynet666's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this story and I wasn’t expecting it to be so good. I think the extra star comes from the wonderful narration that worked so well.

trashroyal's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sumsunalli's review against another edition

5.0

"People can change if they want to, but the sad truth is that humans are hardwired to be prejudiced. It's passed down from ancestors who were just trying to figure out what to fear and what to hunt. We learned to separate things into good and bad, and that particular human frailty is alive and well in every one of us. It's not a matter of if we have prejudices - we do. It's a matter of understanding those instincts and fighting against them."

There were so many good, thought-provoking quotes in this book. I sort of wish I would have read it a little slower to savor it longer but it was just. so. good.

835mphelps's review against another edition

5.0

This book is especially relevant given everything going on right now in our world. I had meant to read it last year, but just got to it and now I'm glad I waited. I think I have a new appreciation for the conflict and struggle depicted. I love Allen Eskens writing style and can't wait for the next book he writes...

scknitter's review against another edition

5.0

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This is the basis for Allen Eskins masterfully written coming of age story. Eskins began writing the novel to explore his own feelings about prejudice and racism and 20 years later he finally decided it was ready. And, it couldn’t be a more perfect read for today’s world. It is a coming of age story that will make you laugh and cry and cry some more as 15 yo Boady Sanden is forced to grow up during the violent summer of 1976 in the Ozark town of Jessup, MO. Boady lives with his widowed mother way out in the country with only one neighbor. Hoke is a man of mystery who has been there as long as Boady can remember and who has taken Boady under his wing and quietly taught him things he thought a boy should know. Nothing More Dangerous is much more than simply a coming of age story. It is a story of family, guilt, benevolence and a mystery that addresses prejudice, racism and class. It is filled with vivid characters and a small town insular atmosphere which helps to make this one of the most memorable books I have read this year.

the_heather_martin's review against another edition

4.0

I feel like this book was a slow build to about the halfway point and then it was action packed to the end. Racism is a central theme of the book and the n-word is used liberally…which makes sense for the time, place and characters but it was still hard to read. I came to be invested in these characters and I laughed and cried with them. Even though it’s a series, this book can stand alone and I appreciate that.

bsmith27's review against another edition

3.0

A good story that takes place in the 70s in a small roll down. Boadie is a teenager doesn't like school and can't wait to get out of the small life. Then Thomas moves next door. Thomas is a black teenager and Boadie realizes his whole life has had lots of racism in it. Their other neighbor Mr hoes is sort of a replacement dad for Bodie. Brody and his mom are barely making ends meet since booty's dad died in a drywall accident when he was a baby. There is one company in town really and that is run by a man named cecil. However a black woman went missing a few weeks ago and she, lida poe, is suspected of taking money from the company and running. Some others think that Cecil may have had something to do with her disappearance. The voice Thomas and Boadie come upon her body outside of a KKK like hangout. Boadie works for this in company that his father worked for in the summer and helps out with drywall. The boss wally, is a nice man and tries to help him. Thomas also gets a job with him for the summer. There's several close calls with boadie and Thomas. They are almost hurt many times. They do in the end find themselves confronting Jarvis, the son of Cecile. Jarvis dies. See you soon follows the boys back to Thomas's house in attempts to kill them. But the neighbor Mr holze comes in and saves the boy and dies. The ending is very sweet with them carrying out the wishes of their older neighbor.