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A review by alice_digest
Beck by Mal Peet
3.0
So, this is on the 2017 Shortlist for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. I'm quite annoyed about this because, although this may be a beautifully written book, I really do not think it is a "children's book." It's interest and content are not geared towards the vast majority of 16 years olds (which really is the top tier of what you could consider the audience for the Carnegie.. I mean we write "children's books" for children/teenagers right?!). It's an adult book.
It has to come with a major WARNING about the first 60 pages. It is bad enough if you have some idea of what it is to come.. I can't imagine stumbling into this not knowing. There is child abuse, sexual child abuse by Catholic priests.. and it is not easy to read. Peet does not shy away from any details. I felt physically sick for the first 60 pages of reading. There is nothing more of that type past then.. but it's a hell of way to start the novel. Be aware of this! especially if you're giving this book to anybody under 18.
Beck is clearly based on real historical events. He was a orphan in the 1920s, taken from Liverpool to a Catholic orphanage in Canada to "start a new life." Going from cruel "Sisters of Mercy" to super creepy peadophile Catholic Priests. Knowing that this stuff really happened makes it even more difficult to read. He is mixed race and his dark skin also plays a major role in the story and how various characters treat him. After page 60 he goes get away from this and suffers a lot more cruelty and hardship, but eventually there is a hopeful ending.
I'm giving it three stars because I felt like there was something lacking... I cannot put my finger on what exactly but I wanted a lot more from this book, especially given what Beck (and the reader) goes through at the start of the story. I also have a really hard time buying the ending and I really don't know what to make of the relationship with Grace (who is a much older woman, and herself mixed race white-Native America).. I just needed more.. of something. Beck is - quite understandably given the life he has lead - is almost silent through a lot of the book, he hardly speaks and even from his point of view I guess I felt like I didn't really know him. He feels so passive it was hard to connect. I don't feel like I will remember Beck as a character.. what I will remember is how horrified I was reading the bathtub scene.. and feeling sick every time they called him "Chocolate." *shudders*
This book was started by Mal Peet and finished by Meg Rosoff after his death, and I didn't notice any break or change in tone or writing which is great. I have never read Mal Peet before and I will definitely check out his other books now.. I do like the very direct and unflinching style that is apparently his trademark.
Ultimately I wanted more than what this book gave me. It is wasn't satisfying, especially given how traumatic the first 50 pages are.. I needed much more of pay off for that, or at least a more realistic hopeful ending (it's just a bit too good to be true). I also really don't have a clue who the intended audience for this book is. Everything about it is adult.
It has to come with a major WARNING about the first 60 pages. It is bad enough if you have some idea of what it is to come.. I can't imagine stumbling into this not knowing. There is child abuse, sexual child abuse by Catholic priests.. and it is not easy to read. Peet does not shy away from any details. I felt physically sick for the first 60 pages of reading. There is nothing more of that type past then.. but it's a hell of way to start the novel. Be aware of this! especially if you're giving this book to anybody under 18.
Beck is clearly based on real historical events. He was a orphan in the 1920s, taken from Liverpool to a Catholic orphanage in Canada to "start a new life." Going from cruel "Sisters of Mercy" to super creepy peadophile Catholic Priests. Knowing that this stuff really happened makes it even more difficult to read. He is mixed race and his dark skin also plays a major role in the story and how various characters treat him. After page 60 he goes get away from this and suffers a lot more cruelty and hardship, but eventually there is a hopeful ending.
I'm giving it three stars because I felt like there was something lacking... I cannot put my finger on what exactly but I wanted a lot more from this book, especially given what Beck (and the reader) goes through at the start of the story. I also have a really hard time buying the ending and I really don't know what to make of the relationship with Grace (who is a much older woman, and herself mixed race white-Native America).. I just needed more.. of something. Beck is - quite understandably given the life he has lead - is almost silent through a lot of the book, he hardly speaks and even from his point of view I guess I felt like I didn't really know him. He feels so passive it was hard to connect. I don't feel like I will remember Beck as a character.. what I will remember is how horrified I was reading the bathtub scene.. and feeling sick every time they called him "Chocolate." *shudders*
This book was started by Mal Peet and finished by Meg Rosoff after his death, and I didn't notice any break or change in tone or writing which is great. I have never read Mal Peet before and I will definitely check out his other books now.. I do like the very direct and unflinching style that is apparently his trademark.
Ultimately I wanted more than what this book gave me. It is wasn't satisfying, especially given how traumatic the first 50 pages are.. I needed much more of pay off for that, or at least a more realistic hopeful ending (it's just a bit too good to be true). I also really don't have a clue who the intended audience for this book is. Everything about it is adult.