msmattoon's review against another edition
4.0
Great voice, interesting situations and a compelling plot. Really enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
mzdeb's review against another edition
5.0
This book has the feel of a Stephen King novel, in its characters, pacing, and plot, only it doesn't have as much of the head talk as King's novels tend to have. Shreve is the likable hustler and Jack Graves is the 12-fingered newbie he takes under his wing, snowballing into terrifying circumstances that you pray they can outrun.
I have great respect for YA guy reads as occasionally I have to take the break from some of the mushy romance that gets tossed into other YA novels, mostly written by women. I don't think you really can see the ending coming, so I really liked that as well. Goodreads lists this as Book #1 of a series--I'm curious as what would come next from Jacobs, regarding the characters and this world he created.
I have great respect for YA guy reads as occasionally I have to take the break from some of the mushy romance that gets tossed into other YA novels, mostly written by women. I don't think you really can see the ending coming, so I really liked that as well. Goodreads lists this as Book #1 of a series--I'm curious as what would come next from Jacobs, regarding the characters and this world he created.
lisagoe's review against another edition
4.0
The line between sci fi and fantasy continues to blur for me and mostly that's a good thing. This book is fast paced with exciting plot twists and interesting characterization. Imagine a Walter Dean Myers ya novel inspired by Twilight Zone episodes or John Wyndham.
I would recommend it for higher readers in middle grades with the caveat that there's some language (Lead character calls other characters "titty babies" ) that needs unpacking and that the climactic scene involves child abuse. That part is dealt with well and the way the protagonists deal with their persecutors also opens up some interesting discussion. Can't wait to read the next one.
I would recommend it for higher readers in middle grades with the caveat that there's some language (Lead character calls other characters "titty babies" ) that needs unpacking and that the climactic scene involves child abuse. That part is dealt with well and the way the protagonists deal with their persecutors also opens up some interesting discussion. Can't wait to read the next one.
suffering_succotash's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely worth the read. I won't say this book is perfect, but it just has so much heart. What stood out most to me were the two main characters, and the incredible dynamic that develops between them. In a book about juvie, super powers, and adolescent boys, I was NOT expecting the feels train that I found this fantastic book to be.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Twelve-Fingered Boy, and would recommend it to anyone. I can't wait to continue with the rest of the series!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Twelve-Fingered Boy, and would recommend it to anyone. I can't wait to continue with the rest of the series!
jocelynlindsay's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic read. I had no idea what to expect of this one. Coming of age story with a sprinkle of Lovecraftian horror on top. Extremely well written. Character voices are distinct, emotions deeply authentic. Creepy and fun. Really looking forward to getting my hands on the next one.
shogins's review against another edition
4.0
This is super weird and I dig it. I love the narrative voice.
clawfoot's review against another edition
2.0
I originally gave up reading this one, mostly because I felt the setup was ridiculously over-the-top in respect to juvie life, though I recognize that I have no idea what real life in a juvenile facility is like and I could very easily be the one out of touch. What tipped the scales for me were the description of "life on the inside" sounding like something out of Shawshank Redemption and the reference to kids (young teens, 13-15 years old) giving each other prison tattoos with pen ink and needles. It just seemed so... ridiculous, frankly. But maybe it actually happens that way, I really don't know.
Regardless, I had actually given up on the book, read another one, and then found myself without anything new to read on the subway, so I picked The Twelve-Fingered Boy up again.
Once the characters left the juvenile detention centre, the book was more enjoyable, although the plot seemed a bit rudderless for a while. The antagonist is a bit cartoonish, and the whole "shadowy, evil people want to control those who have powers" thing is a bit old, frankly. I have no idea why Quincrux approached Jack as he did (very antagonistically) other than the fact that he was supposed to be an antagonist. I'm wasn't even sure if Quincrux worked alone, or was an agent of a larger organization until the last chapter of the book. If that question were an element of the story, that would be interesting, but considering neither Jack nor Shreve give a damn, it's just left as an unanswered question the narrative doesn't care to answer, and I found that unsatisfying.
The overall plot didn't seem to have a direction or a structure at all, and it ended rather suddenly and oddly. Because the book is the first in a series, it didn't even really end at all. A strange "happy ending" seemed to have been slapped on which felt hollow and weird.
The novel could have benefitted from some more high-level planning and structured plot, plus a bit more logic when explaining the whole thing. If Jack's had his powers since infancy, why is Quincrux only interested in him now? Who does Quincrux work for, if anyone? Does he want to recruit Jack, or imprison him? Although we don't need to know his ultimate goals, or even who he works for, we do need to know more than we do.
What the book does well, however, is the descriptions and actual experience of what it's like to have and use and explore powers that are beyond the normal. Jack's uncontrollable powers slowly coming under haphazard control, Shreve's discovery and exploration of his own talents, and what they look and feel like from inside Shreve's head was really well-done. Shreve is a realistic depiction of a normal kid thrust into extremely abnormal circumstances, and making bad choices and impossible choices and trying to deal with what he has to do in order to survive. He vascillates between feeling guilty for the things he has to do and not giving a fuck, which seems appropriate for a young teen still trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to be.
It's most definitely a boys' book, for boys -- all the characters are boys, except for Shreve's alcoholic mother, his idealized ex-girlfriend, a victimized little girl (kept prisoner for years by a pedophile and near-comatose), and an evil telepath -- all of which are very minor characters. I'm not sure there's any characters of colour in the whole book, either. Odd for a novel that starts in a hard-time juvenile detention center in Arkansas, then moves down to South Carolina and Florida.
And the narrator (the main character, Shreve) uses the word "rape" a lot. Mostly to describe what it feels like when an evil telepath forces his/her way into your unwilling mind. Which is pretty much what Shreve winds up doing to everyone around him in the latter half of the book, although he never uses that word for what he does. Only for what the "bad guys" do. Which is the exact same thing.
That is an interesting piece for deconstruction, there.
Overall, I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would at the beginning, but I don't think I'll be continuing to read the series, nor do I feel like I can really recommend the book to anyone else.
Regardless, I had actually given up on the book, read another one, and then found myself without anything new to read on the subway, so I picked The Twelve-Fingered Boy up again.
Once the characters left the juvenile detention centre, the book was more enjoyable, although the plot seemed a bit rudderless for a while. The antagonist is a bit cartoonish, and the whole "shadowy, evil people want to control those who have powers" thing is a bit old, frankly. I have no idea why Quincrux approached Jack as he did (very antagonistically) other than the fact that he was supposed to be an antagonist. I'm wasn't even sure if Quincrux worked alone, or was an agent of a larger organization until the last chapter of the book. If that question were an element of the story, that would be interesting, but considering neither Jack nor Shreve give a damn, it's just left as an unanswered question the narrative doesn't care to answer, and I found that unsatisfying.
The overall plot didn't seem to have a direction or a structure at all, and it ended rather suddenly and oddly. Because the book is the first in a series, it didn't even really end at all. A strange "happy ending" seemed to have been slapped on which felt hollow and weird.
The novel could have benefitted from some more high-level planning and structured plot, plus a bit more logic when explaining the whole thing. If Jack's had his powers since infancy, why is Quincrux only interested in him now? Who does Quincrux work for, if anyone? Does he want to recruit Jack, or imprison him? Although we don't need to know his ultimate goals, or even who he works for, we do need to know more than we do.
What the book does well, however, is the descriptions and actual experience of what it's like to have and use and explore powers that are beyond the normal. Jack's uncontrollable powers slowly coming under haphazard control, Shreve's discovery and exploration of his own talents, and what they look and feel like from inside Shreve's head was really well-done. Shreve is a realistic depiction of a normal kid thrust into extremely abnormal circumstances, and making bad choices and impossible choices and trying to deal with what he has to do in order to survive. He vascillates between feeling guilty for the things he has to do and not giving a fuck, which seems appropriate for a young teen still trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to be.
It's most definitely a boys' book, for boys -- all the characters are boys, except for Shreve's alcoholic mother, his idealized ex-girlfriend, a victimized little girl (kept prisoner for years by a pedophile and near-comatose), and an evil telepath -- all of which are very minor characters. I'm not sure there's any characters of colour in the whole book, either. Odd for a novel that starts in a hard-time juvenile detention center in Arkansas, then moves down to South Carolina and Florida.
And the narrator (the main character, Shreve) uses the word "rape" a lot. Mostly to describe what it feels like when an evil telepath forces his/her way into your unwilling mind. Which is pretty much what Shreve winds up doing to everyone around him in the latter half of the book, although he never uses that word for what he does. Only for what the "bad guys" do. Which is the exact same thing.
That is an interesting piece for deconstruction, there.
Overall, I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would at the beginning, but I don't think I'll be continuing to read the series, nor do I feel like I can really recommend the book to anyone else.
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Shreve Cannon is a big-wig in juvie. He's the connection if you want candy, and he knows how to use people's sweet teeth to get what he wants. That all changes, though, when Jack, the new kid, shows up. He seems to be the usual newbie, crying at night and keeping to himself, but Shreve figures he's something special because of his twelve fingers. And then there's the thing that happens when Jack gets angry.
The premise isn't anything new, but Jacobs brings a new voice to this kind of story, through Shreve. He's a standard juvie/jail tough guy, at least as much as his front will allow. He winds up being more compassionate and sympathetic than one would expect, since his tough guy image is related to his position as the candy supplier. He still talks like a tough guy, though, and he serves as the narrator, which makes it a little difficult to get into the story, since his voice can be off-putting.
Jacobs also makes the story bigger than just Jack and Shreve, but what sells the story is the relationship between the two boys. It's a coming-of-age story set against the background of developing powers, those powers serving as a metaphor for developing into the adult they will become. It's a compelling story, with strong characterization, and even if parts of the story seem like they're heavily borrowed from Dan Simmons' Carrion Comfort, it's unique enough to stand on its own.
This is the first book in a trilogy, though, so be forewarned that the story Jacobs is writing is larger than the one that exists in this book. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but just know going into the story that you won't get all your questions answered here. Jacobs raises a lot of them, so it's best to be prepared going forward.
The premise isn't anything new, but Jacobs brings a new voice to this kind of story, through Shreve. He's a standard juvie/jail tough guy, at least as much as his front will allow. He winds up being more compassionate and sympathetic than one would expect, since his tough guy image is related to his position as the candy supplier. He still talks like a tough guy, though, and he serves as the narrator, which makes it a little difficult to get into the story, since his voice can be off-putting.
Jacobs also makes the story bigger than just Jack and Shreve, but what sells the story is the relationship between the two boys. It's a coming-of-age story set against the background of developing powers, those powers serving as a metaphor for developing into the adult they will become. It's a compelling story, with strong characterization, and even if parts of the story seem like they're heavily borrowed from Dan Simmons' Carrion Comfort, it's unique enough to stand on its own.
This is the first book in a trilogy, though, so be forewarned that the story Jacobs is writing is larger than the one that exists in this book. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but just know going into the story that you won't get all your questions answered here. Jacobs raises a lot of them, so it's best to be prepared going forward.