laurenleyendolibros's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’d been waiting for this book to come out since I read a very interesting review – I was expecting a kind of English, male My Dark Vanessa. And though that description is not wholly inaccurate, it’s not exactly the book I was expecting.
It’s January 1987 and ten-year-old Max is sent off to prep school near his grandparents’ house (his parents work abroad) and during his three years there we learn about the cruelty and eventual physical and sexual abuse the pupils face there.
At first, Max makes it sound like a big adventure – some punishments, yes, but especially given that this is fiction nothing too shocking. And the time actually spent at school is a relatively short part of the book – it’s more a story of how trauma can follow you through life. The more sensitive, difficult to read parts come later.
I can’t help but think 1987 is significant given that until 1986 corporal punishment was legal in ALL schools in the UK and helps the author with his ‘private schools are bad’ thesis. Just as a side note, CP was legal in fee-paying schools until 1998 (outrageous, I know!) but bear in mind, the fact that it was legal certainly does not mean that it was in practice everywhere. Even so, I think that’s all besides the point as the real issue in this book is the trauma of sexual abuse, which was never legal anywhere (obviously).
In the end, it’s not quite the book I expected – I really thought I would like it more. I did read it quickly though. I found myself liking the scenes with the Grandad, even if I thought he was a bit sinister at first, they reminded me a bit of Unsettled Ground.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
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