Bruised

by Siobhán Parkinson

It all started when Gramma died. And then Jonathan and Julie had only apples for dinner. Apples, an alcoholic mother, and one big bruise on Julie's face. Jonathan had no choice but to pack their schoolbags and run away, far from Ma. Until the police catch up with them and take Julie away and lock up Jono.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Family, Teen, Ireland, Abuse

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2011

About the author

Siobhán Parkinson is an Irish writer for both children and adults. Siobhán grew up in Galway and Donegal. Her books have won numerous awards and have been translated into several languages. She is currently a co-editor of Bookbird, the magazine of international children's literature organsation IBBY. She resides in The Republic of Ireland with her husband Roger Bennett and son Matthew.

Reviews

[VJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The grandmother dies, Mom's a basket case, Dad is not in the picture when a 14- and 8-year old lam outta there only to end up in foster care.

This story rambles to me. It is confused, as is the protagonist.

I wonder how many young adults liked this one . . ..

[Margaret Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow...

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

So did he, like, kill her or not?

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at:
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/...

Summary: Jonathan (Jono) and Julie's mother might as well be nonexistent. She sleeps through the day, goes out to drink at night and then comes home to pass out. Jono is in charge of Julie since he is 8 years her senior. It isn't too bad, except when their mom forgets to get their government check for food or if she spends it all on booze. But then their mother goes one step too far- she hits Julie. Jono cannot take the thought of being separated from Julie because of their mother, so the two of them run away to make it together.

What I Think: This is one of those books that when you are done you have to go just sit somewhere and breath. It is too real. By the end you are so attached to the characters that leaving them feels like part of you is being put away with the book. It is so emotionally draining. It is a story of finding hope when there is none. When all choices are poor choices, but you still have to make one.

Siobhan Parkinson is the Children's Literature Laureate of Ireland and she has received this honor for a reason- the writing of this book is phenomenal. The authenticity of her voice resonates throughout the book. Jono is sarcastic, funny, dramatic... real.

I think that this book has just enough drama and realism in it to hook a reader. Often I find that some really well written books just do not have the kid appeal that you'd hope. This book is different because most students can connect with (or find interesting/horrifying) what is going on with Jono and Julie. However, I could foresee a problem with some of the Irish slang in the book. Although the book is universal, Jono is Irish and as any 16 year old boy would, he uses slang just not American slang. I could see how a struggling reader would find this a difficulty.

[Rae's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book to read. Its well written and is based on a boy who would do anything to protect his younger sister after the incidents that happened during their family lives

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a bad story, and true, it is nice and short--often a big selling point with teen readers; but it's just way too Irish, too foreign, for the average American reluctant reader.

People that can get past all the chip shops, dole checks, garda, steak and kidney pies, and bejaysus may enjoy the devotion Jonathan feels for his 8-year-old sister Julie and be suitably horrified when their drunk of a mother strikes Julie when she complains about only apples for dinner and marks her so completely that Jono has to lie about why he and Julie are missing days of school. Ultimately, he runs with Julie from Dublin to Galway, enduring privation and homelessness before dropping Julie at the doorstep of the father that has completely moved on with a new family. When Jono gets into a few scrapes living off the grid, we learn he's telling his story to the police and a social worker and that things got a lot worse before there's any chance he can move toward the better.

Nice characterization and a mild dose of schadenfreude make this a good choice for the YA readers cosmopolitan enough to go with the Irish diction and environment and still enjoy personal distance from Jono's troubles and his eventual progress toward overcoming them.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The strength of 14-year-old Jono's voice is what sells this story. From the beginning, his awareness of the uses and malleability of narrative forms hints that he might be an unreliable narrator. We never lose sight of the fact that we are grounded in Jono's interpretation of events, a position that creates an intense empathy for him. The story does falter slightly in Part II, when his omission of several events becomes clear. The presence of a gap in the timeline could have been made explicit to the reader earlier on; I actually went back to the initial telling of the events to see if I'd missed something. Even so, this is a powerful story. I cried (a rare thing for me) at the unfairness of Jono's situation and the depths of his hopelessness and desperation to hang on to his sister. The emotional life of the protagonist is finely and truthfully constructed. He may be fictional, but I wish only the best for this kid!

I also think the themes and events are universal enough to overcome any confusion an American audience might encounter with the Irish slang.

[Kiona Zomers · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long story short is about a boy (Jonathan) whose mom who gets drunk all the time, and one day the mom hits the little sister (Julie). Now they want to run away. I really didn't like this book. I normally like books like this, but it was really confusing. The book jumps back and forth, like one chapter it will be in the present then the next chapter will be one of Jonathan's memories. I really don't like books that do that. I actually only like books that are always in the present, but if you don't mind books that go from present to past this would be a good book for you. Besides it going back and forth it really wasn't that bad I guess. I mean the book wasn't what I thought it was going to be it needed a lot more detail. It also needed more events, and it needs a bigger climax there wasn't like a big shocking climax. Also the grammar is really bad. I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jono struggles to take care of his little sister, Julie, and his alcoholic mom. Although he's still a kid himself, he does a pretty good job of keeping things going at home and covering up for the lack of an adult in his life. But when his mom finally goes too far and hits Julie Jono knows he's got to do something. Initially he dismisses Julie's idea to run away but finally decides that it's their only option.
Things quickly go downhill and Jono finds himself in police custody. What's the deal? Has he been telling us the whole story?

I really enjoyed this short book. Parkinson does a great job of revealing an abusive family situation without resorting to graphic depictions of violence. Jono is a terrific, if somewhat unreliable, narrator and his self effacing style is endearing. He is a great kid who is desperately searching for some normalcy in a very abnormal world.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for any audience, but is presented, successfully, from a male perspective. The plot is not new, and is based on a far too frequent reality. This is a good piece of realistic fiction that looks at the chain of events that culminates in two children running away from the neglect and abuse that has reached a crisis point.

The older child, a fourteen year old boy, is telling us the story in bursts and fits. The narration becomes a little too fragmented sometimes, but not so much that it detracts from the story. If anything, it adds to the realistic tone of the telling.

Despite it's painful topic, the book ends on a note of hope and with the narrator's "growth", emotionally and mentally speaking.

The underlying theme of fierce love between two siblings when the adults in their lives have let them down is intriguing and rare in juvenile literature.

[w :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I had to give it a 2, instead of a 1, because although I want to dislike it, it was ok.
Jono has always been able to cope with his mother's drinking, but when she hits his little sister Julie, he decides it's time for them to run away. (Haha, direct from GR).
And along the way he gets accused of murder and what-not. Sad when people don't believe in the truth :(

I liked Jono's character a lot, and also the style of writing (very personal with the character) but something about the story made me dislike it. Can't think what...

Maybe the fragmented telling of the story? Ok, people say it adds to the story, makes it more realistic, but I find it a bit nonsensical. You can still tell whet it's about, but in a messy way...?

So, it was an ok book, and I guess it would appeal to some people more than others (as with most book...) but for me, I can't say it was amazing.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and an engaging read. It tells the story of a young boy and his sister. They leave their perpetually drunk mother in an effort to escape being abused, only to find living on the streets and trying to make your own way is more difficult than they imagined. Although written for younger readers, this has an element of realism which would be difficult for some to cope with. It portrays the love a boy has for his younger sister and the lengths he goes to to look after his mother and sister before he takes the decision to leave.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story of a 14 year old boy who has to be the adult in his dysfunctional family. His mom is a falling down drunk, dad's gone and his gramma has recently died so he is the only one who cares for his little sister. His mom hits the girl one day in a drunken rage so he takes her and they run away from home. It is nice to read a story like this though, where, while the system has failed these kids, they do end up with caring people who can help them.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bleak story and an unreliable narrator. It's hard going into a story knowing the narrator is unreliable, because you're constantly on the lookout for signs of deception. I picked this up after reading reviews, partly because the characters go to Galway and partly to see if it felt more tween or teen (answer: teen). I'd recommend this to teens who like books that feel a bit unsettled and gritty.

[Sheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am so confused after reading this. 14 year old Jonathan is on the run with his eight year old sister after their mom hits Julie. Next thing you know he is accused of murdering his mother and has robbed a store. This seemed to come out of nowhere and was not resolved by the end of the book. The plot was very disjointed and I am disappointed as I truly thought I would enjoy this book based on the description.

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed parts of the book, but there seems to be no closure. There wasn't enough justice done to Jono, I wasn't really satisfied with the ending.

Of course parts of the book I liked. The part where Jono had told the adults that they were worse than his mother who had hit Julie. Which I found true.

The book seemed too short and did not have much happenings along the way, much was not elaborated on either.

[Jools · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good quick read that will grab some younger teens, probably for 12 to 15 years. A teenager 'rescues' his 8 year old sister from their downward spiraling alcoholic mother. Their grandmother was the glue that kept them going, but now she has died it is really clear that their mother is not capable of looking after them. And now she has become violent. Terrified that social services will separate them, Jonathan decides the only answer is to run away.

[Tenille Shade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough story to read. The child abuse and violence was difficult to swallow, and the connection of the siblings broke my heart. I fell in love with Juno, and the mother's death came as a shock to me. I liked how the main character referenced what he had learned about writing from his English teacher. Quick read, and worth my time.

[Emily Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't exactly the sweet little runaway story you might expect. Jono takes off with his little sister after their alcoholic mother hits his sister. Jono wants the best for his sister and this story tells the tale of how he decides what will be best and shows what he does. I wish it were a longer story and I could have learned more about how it ends, but I enjoyed it just the same.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonathan's dad has moved away, and his mother is an alcoholic. After one too many abusive nights, he sets off on a "trip" with his younger sister, Julie. Author Siobhan Parkinson was named the first laureate for children's literature in Ireland, and this short book is sure to engage readers who enjoy realistic tales and don't mind a little Irish slang!

[Conor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was at the beginning a very easy read, that was predictable and not extremely interesting or original. The minute I started part two, I knew instantly that I was going to love this book, the twist is so powerful that it could not have been saw coming and it turned a book that I would have rated a low four, to a 91/2 out of ten!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It was weird, and truly a long story short. It had an air of mystery to it, and I actually really liked how it ended even though it was kind of weird. The whole book was really weird and I liked it. It kind of left me feeling confused, but in a good way. I don't even know how to describe it because it was just weird.

[Cristi-Lael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well told story about a teen boy with the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. It simply breaks my heart that kids have to go through this kind of thing. Why can't parents just take care of their children?

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good recommendation for younger teen guys & reluctant readers who prefer realistic stories of survival and grit. A fast, fairy easy read that's got great dialogue, with an Irish twist.

[Lara Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember when I started/finished this one, but I thought it was a great story. I passed it along to my son to read.

[Neeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad, and very insightful.

[Ms_M_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and despite the deep subject material it was a good light read.

[Lowri · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good, but in my opinion the ending was not the best. but awesome story line and i loved the characters and drama. very good.

[Jon Finkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much darker than any blurbs or reviews I came across, so I was a little unprepared. Didn't like the direction, although it ended in a better place than I'd expected

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful little novel. One that I wish had been around when I was a teen.