This Week’s Topic is:
What was the best book you read in October?
Wow I read a lot of books in October, some that upset me like Barry Lyga’s Boy Toy, some that took me on an unforgettable journey like Julie Kagawa’s The Iron King and others that left me wanting more like Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, but none of these great reads had the impact that Neal Shusterman’s Bruiser did.
Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:
Award-winning author Shusterman (“Downsiders, Crank”) has crafted a chilling and unforgettable novel about the power of unconditional friendship, the complex gear workings of a family, and the sacrifices we endure for the people we love.
Seriously? That says nothing about how dark and brutal this YA story is. Brewster aka Bruiser is a troubled kid who can absorb the pain of others. I can’t say more without giving away too many spoilers but suffice it to say this kid takes on a world of hurt, literally. This story is expertly woven across multiple points of view, each unique to the character describing events. This made getting to know the main cast of teenagers so much easier, and made the overall story that much more powerful because I had insight into what each of them were feeling. Brewster’s POV is the most poignant and if I have any criticism for this book, it’s that I could have had less of the other POVs and more of his. Still, for anyone wanting a contemporary YA that’s more a boy’s coming-of-age story than teen romance, then this is the book to read. This novel should come with a warning though: while there is no explicit content, the theme definitely gets dark and there are a few scenes involving child abuse that left me feeling wrecked.
What was your best October read?
