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Precious #2
The Kid by Sapphire (2011) Hardcover
Fifteen years after the publication of Push, one year after the Academy Award–winning film adaptation, Sapphire gives voice to Precious's son, Abdul.
In The Kid bestselling author Sapphire tells the electrifying story of Abdul Jones, the son of Push's unforgettable heroine, Precious.
A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and of the soul, The Kid brings us deep into the interior life of Abdul Jones. We meet him at age nine, on the day of his mother's funeral. Left alone to navigate a world in which love and hate sometimes hideously masquerade, forced to confront unspeakable violence, his history, and the dark corners of his own heart, Abdul claws his way toward adulthood and toward an identity he can stand behind.
In a generational story that moves with the speed of thought from a Mississippi dirt farm to Harlem in its heyday; from a troubled Catholic orphanage to downtown artist's lofts, The Kid tells of a twenty-first-century young man's fight to find a way toward the future. A testament to the ferocity of the human spirit and the deep nourishing power of love and of art, The Kid chronicles a young man about to take flight. In the intimate, terrifying, and deeply alive story of Abdul's journey, we are witness to an artist's birth by fire.
In The Kid bestselling author Sapphire tells the electrifying story of Abdul Jones, the son of Push's unforgettable heroine, Precious.
A story of body and spirit, rooted in the hungers of flesh and of the soul, The Kid brings us deep into the interior life of Abdul Jones. We meet him at age nine, on the day of his mother's funeral. Left alone to navigate a world in which love and hate sometimes hideously masquerade, forced to confront unspeakable violence, his history, and the dark corners of his own heart, Abdul claws his way toward adulthood and toward an identity he can stand behind.
In a generational story that moves with the speed of thought from a Mississippi dirt farm to Harlem in its heyday; from a troubled Catholic orphanage to downtown artist's lofts, The Kid tells of a twenty-first-century young man's fight to find a way toward the future. A testament to the ferocity of the human spirit and the deep nourishing power of love and of art, The Kid chronicles a young man about to take flight. In the intimate, terrifying, and deeply alive story of Abdul's journey, we are witness to an artist's birth by fire.
Hardcover
First published June 5, 2003
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About the author
Sapphire
45 books624 followersSapphire the Author.
Sapphire is the author of Push, American Dreams, The Kid, and Black Wings & Blind Angels.
Push: A novel, won the Book-of-the-Month Club’s Stephen Crane award for First Fiction, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s First Novelist Award, and in Great Britain, the Mind Book of the Year Award. Named by the Village Voice and Time Out New York as one of the top ten books of 1996, Push was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work of Fiction. Push was adapted into the Oscar winning film, Precious.
Sapphire’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Black Scholar, Spin, and Bomb. In February of 2007 Arizona State University presented PUSHing Boundaries, PUSHing Art: A Symposium on the Works of Sapphire. Sapphire's poetry has appeared in the following anthologies: Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Grabbed: Poets & Writers on Sexual Assault, Empowerment & Healing, and New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent. Sapphire’s work has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been adapted for stage in the United States and Europe.
An excerpt from Sapphire's novel in progress, "The Harlem Trilogy," and a new poem, "Poem Found in Scientific American," along with an online interview can be found in the January 2024 issue of Torch Literary Arts:
https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/pos...
For more information, visit:
https://linktr.ee/sapphiretheauthor
Sapphire is the author of Push, American Dreams, The Kid, and Black Wings & Blind Angels.
Push: A novel, won the Book-of-the-Month Club’s Stephen Crane award for First Fiction, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s First Novelist Award, and in Great Britain, the Mind Book of the Year Award. Named by the Village Voice and Time Out New York as one of the top ten books of 1996, Push was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work of Fiction. Push was adapted into the Oscar winning film, Precious.
Sapphire’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, The Black Scholar, Spin, and Bomb. In February of 2007 Arizona State University presented PUSHing Boundaries, PUSHing Art: A Symposium on the Works of Sapphire. Sapphire's poetry has appeared in the following anthologies: Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Grabbed: Poets & Writers on Sexual Assault, Empowerment & Healing, and New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent. Sapphire’s work has been translated into over a dozen languages and has been adapted for stage in the United States and Europe.
An excerpt from Sapphire's novel in progress, "The Harlem Trilogy," and a new poem, "Poem Found in Scientific American," along with an online interview can be found in the January 2024 issue of Torch Literary Arts:
https://www.torchliteraryarts.org/pos...
For more information, visit:
https://linktr.ee/sapphiretheauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 609 reviews
October 6, 2022
I'm not sure why Sapphire insists on writing her characters at the absolute expense of the reader's patience. I disagree with those who rated this book with one or no stars because it wasn't "hopeful" like Push. How in the WORLD can anyone think Push was hopeful? Because she learned to read and hate herself a little less? That's supposed to be hopeful? Please! It wasn't. I also think it's rather self-indulgent and a bit ridiculous to expect the protagonist of this novel to become someone who didn't victimize others. Seriously? Are you paying attention? What in his experience would lead him to be a good person? The answer is nothing and in the end, no one. By the end of the first chapter, it's clear that this manchild (think Bigger Thomas in today's modern DCFS system)is going to have a horrific life. It can not be avoided. The forces were in motion long before he was born.
And so it is. Sapphire's writing in The Kid is similar to that of Push. The hero (who is also an anti-hero, but not as much of an antagonistic "figure" as the world he encounters)narrates, or rather his stream of consciousness narrates the story. It is straightforward, graphic, disgusting and honest. To say it's hard to read is an understatement. Sapphire likes to bruise the mind of her reader - perhaps to mimic the experience of her main characters. Whatever the motivation, it's effective, manipulative and enraging. At certain points, I had to walk away from the book. This happened with Push, but to a lesser degree since it had few pages to get through. From my own experience with the world of foster kids, group homes and the like, a lot of it rings true in the most sickening way. The stories of foster teens in the newspapers and magazines are nearly always of the exceptions. The rule of what it's like to be warehoused is much worse than anything she could write. People who want to read about a character in the protagonist's situation and come out feelin' "hopeful" have a fundamental misunderstanding of what Sapphire and anyone who has worked with and for these children knows. (I'm not saying all are sexually victimized, but many are at some point and the emotional mindf*@k of it all is pretty much across the board.)
That's my defense of her work, but I admit to struggling between giving it two stars or three. The possibility of four or five is out of the question. While there are several poignant lines, observations, epiphanies and concepts throughout the book, they are BURIED in countless pages and scenes that waste the reader's time while insulting his/her intellect. I accepted early on that it would be told in a convoluted way that blended reality with fantasy and confusion, because that's how this kid experiences and processes life. If you pay attention, it becomes clear when he's correctly identified reality and when it's a dream or fantasy. Still, there was FAR TOO MUCH OF IT! This book could have been 100 pages shorter. There was no need to repeat things so often or to drag out a point and then beat it to death before then giving it a literary funeral. I GOT it! It was as if Sapphire didn't trust me to understand some of the deeper issues and conflicts. The more pornographic scenes went from being uncomfortable (almost shocking unless you know what unsupervised and angry, disconnected boys can do to one another when no one's watching) to annoying and then actually boring because there were so many of them and they were drawn out. You really have to wear a person down to make them insensitive to that.
This book is still a powerful statement and the whole monster-like/rapist Oliver Twist tale would make an excellent book club discussion and provide some challenging points/questions to those who even at their best, underserve this population every day. Still, I didn't need to have 10 to 20 pages about the background of side characters because the author wanted to further make a point. I didn't need to have the final portion of the book be a forced mystery just to end as flatly as Push did. Even so, you get the sense that whatever horror and revulsion you experience by reading this pales in comparison to that of kids who encounter any portion of this guy's experience. He enters a lamb, becomes a monster and then ends up being a damaged combination that has no true place in the standard society.
I did appreciate having my eyes opened, but I'm over Saphhire's brand of then throwing acid into the reader's eyes and asking, "Don't that hurt?" Yes, it does. This is the second and final time I'll read a novel by her. Won't do it again, but don't regret it.
And so it is. Sapphire's writing in The Kid is similar to that of Push. The hero (who is also an anti-hero, but not as much of an antagonistic "figure" as the world he encounters)narrates, or rather his stream of consciousness narrates the story. It is straightforward, graphic, disgusting and honest. To say it's hard to read is an understatement. Sapphire likes to bruise the mind of her reader - perhaps to mimic the experience of her main characters. Whatever the motivation, it's effective, manipulative and enraging. At certain points, I had to walk away from the book. This happened with Push, but to a lesser degree since it had few pages to get through. From my own experience with the world of foster kids, group homes and the like, a lot of it rings true in the most sickening way. The stories of foster teens in the newspapers and magazines are nearly always of the exceptions. The rule of what it's like to be warehoused is much worse than anything she could write. People who want to read about a character in the protagonist's situation and come out feelin' "hopeful" have a fundamental misunderstanding of what Sapphire and anyone who has worked with and for these children knows. (I'm not saying all are sexually victimized, but many are at some point and the emotional mindf*@k of it all is pretty much across the board.)
That's my defense of her work, but I admit to struggling between giving it two stars or three. The possibility of four or five is out of the question. While there are several poignant lines, observations, epiphanies and concepts throughout the book, they are BURIED in countless pages and scenes that waste the reader's time while insulting his/her intellect. I accepted early on that it would be told in a convoluted way that blended reality with fantasy and confusion, because that's how this kid experiences and processes life. If you pay attention, it becomes clear when he's correctly identified reality and when it's a dream or fantasy. Still, there was FAR TOO MUCH OF IT! This book could have been 100 pages shorter. There was no need to repeat things so often or to drag out a point and then beat it to death before then giving it a literary funeral. I GOT it! It was as if Sapphire didn't trust me to understand some of the deeper issues and conflicts. The more pornographic scenes went from being uncomfortable (almost shocking unless you know what unsupervised and angry, disconnected boys can do to one another when no one's watching) to annoying and then actually boring because there were so many of them and they were drawn out. You really have to wear a person down to make them insensitive to that.
This book is still a powerful statement and the whole monster-like/rapist Oliver Twist tale would make an excellent book club discussion and provide some challenging points/questions to those who even at their best, underserve this population every day. Still, I didn't need to have 10 to 20 pages about the background of side characters because the author wanted to further make a point. I didn't need to have the final portion of the book be a forced mystery just to end as flatly as Push did. Even so, you get the sense that whatever horror and revulsion you experience by reading this pales in comparison to that of kids who encounter any portion of this guy's experience. He enters a lamb, becomes a monster and then ends up being a damaged combination that has no true place in the standard society.
I did appreciate having my eyes opened, but I'm over Saphhire's brand of then throwing acid into the reader's eyes and asking, "Don't that hurt?" Yes, it does. This is the second and final time I'll read a novel by her. Won't do it again, but don't regret it.
July 27, 2011
This book is awful. It takes the kitchen sink approach used in Push (everything bad that can happen to the protagonist does.) But in The Kid, Sapphire removes the heart and characterization that made Push shine in spite of the bleakness of the subject matter.
Abdul is a cipher. His motivations are a mystery. And while the opening sequence broke my heart, I quickly lost sympathy as Abdul grew into a sociopath and rapist. He is a monster, and impossible to root for. His supporting characters fare no better, mostly victims and victimizers.
Sapphire overused poorly delineated dream sequences in the narrative, often obscuring her intent. I am done with the book and not entirely clear on what really happened. Unreliable narrator stories need more than others for the author to have a clear idea of where they're going and a firm grasp on the big picture. The Kid had neither.
Sapphire also piled on abuse and rape scenarios beyond the point of plausibility or utility to the story. There are at least ten rapes in the book. As the abuse piled up, it began to feel cheap and exploitive.
I cannot recommend this book for anyone. It features many intense depictions of rape. The stream of consciousness style and frequent dream sequences make the narrative hard to follow. And in the end, there was no point to all the suffering. Just a story about a broken abuse victim who grew up to be an unrepentant rapist and murderer.
Abdul is a cipher. His motivations are a mystery. And while the opening sequence broke my heart, I quickly lost sympathy as Abdul grew into a sociopath and rapist. He is a monster, and impossible to root for. His supporting characters fare no better, mostly victims and victimizers.
Sapphire overused poorly delineated dream sequences in the narrative, often obscuring her intent. I am done with the book and not entirely clear on what really happened. Unreliable narrator stories need more than others for the author to have a clear idea of where they're going and a firm grasp on the big picture. The Kid had neither.
Sapphire also piled on abuse and rape scenarios beyond the point of plausibility or utility to the story. There are at least ten rapes in the book. As the abuse piled up, it began to feel cheap and exploitive.
I cannot recommend this book for anyone. It features many intense depictions of rape. The stream of consciousness style and frequent dream sequences make the narrative hard to follow. And in the end, there was no point to all the suffering. Just a story about a broken abuse victim who grew up to be an unrepentant rapist and murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2011
What a terrible, awful book. It's not the writing. Sapphire's writing is amazing. But Abdul is such a terrible, unlikeable, awful person. And being in his head is so disturbing and unsettling, and that is why this is such a terrible book.
My friend Kassie wrote a review over on BlogHer that I agree with completely. This is nothing more I can add to what she's put so well. Please visit her review here.
As Kassie put it, "[T]hese lessons don’t make for easy reads. This is not a book I would read a second time. This is a book that I will pass from friend to friend, encouraging them to read it because they should, but not because they will enjoy it. To read it out of obligation to the thousands and thousands of children in our foster care system and the thousands and thousands of men and women in prisons and mental hospitals. Read it to have a better understanding of how and why people make the decisions they do and end up where they do, read it because as you sit in your clean, safe home, a little boy somewhere is in jeopardy. And you should care about that. Even if it hurts."
My friend Kassie wrote a review over on BlogHer that I agree with completely. This is nothing more I can add to what she's put so well. Please visit her review here.
As Kassie put it, "[T]hese lessons don’t make for easy reads. This is not a book I would read a second time. This is a book that I will pass from friend to friend, encouraging them to read it because they should, but not because they will enjoy it. To read it out of obligation to the thousands and thousands of children in our foster care system and the thousands and thousands of men and women in prisons and mental hospitals. Read it to have a better understanding of how and why people make the decisions they do and end up where they do, read it because as you sit in your clean, safe home, a little boy somewhere is in jeopardy. And you should care about that. Even if it hurts."
October 10, 2011
It amazes me that many reviewers of this book are disappointed because this work isn't uplifting, hopeful, redeeming, etc. It further astounds me that readers feel as though The Kid "rapes the memory of Push".
First, these are two separate books. Yes, there is a bond between them of Precious, but she is not a living, breathing character in The Kid. She is alive only as much as she is remembered by Abdul/JJ. This is not her story, it is her son's.
I, personally, don't find Push that uplifting. But this review is about The Kid, and it is a rough read. I find that Sapphire's stream of consciousness narrative enables the reader to live what Abdul lives. It doesn't always make sense. It isn't always real. It is just how he is perceiving the moment. The reader is on his ride, in his mind and it isn't always comfortable or pretty. In fact, it is rarely pretty and is downright ugly most of the time.
I haven't seen a review yet that has solely reviewed this one work. Most are juxtaposed with the story of Precious. I can totally understand that. It practically begs to be compared, yet it can stand alone. Where we see Precious rise against odds in Push, we see her son sink. It begs the question of Nature vs Nurture for me. What would his life have been like if Precious would have lived? She certainly was trying to make a different life for her son. In a way she succeeded because Abdul is so angry at the life he leads (which is directly correlated with his Mother's) because she raised him to expect more. She gave him the ability to hope. She gave him the ability to dream and dare to assume that he will be a success.
All of that is ripped away when he becomes orphaned. He grows up abused and is returned to the cycle of violence that Precious fought so hard to escape. It is hard to watch him endure the atrocities that he does. It is hard to see him perpetrate onto others what has been done to him. It is bizarre to be in his heard, seeing how he justifies his actions, perceives his reality - actually believes his abuse is wanted.
We all wonder "at what point do we stop crying for the child and start hating what he has become". This book shoves that question in the reader's face and makes us examine it.
I also find it interesting that at one point Abdul is told that he is like his mother in the respect that Precious used to stare and fixate into space. The physical abuse his mother suffered is very similar to the abuse that Abdul suffered in the first foster home.
I have read many reviews which talked about how there was too much narrative for extraneous characters. I don't see any characters that are extraneous. I find them all central to the psyche of Abdul. In the beginning we are introduced to Rita. She is an important figure for Abdul. She represents the descent of the ladder of love that Abdul is on.
The book fell apart for me at the end. I am left with so much confusion as to what the hell happened. Perhaps that is the point.
Apologies for the scattered review. I just finished this book 1/2 hour ago and it is ruminating in my mind. I think it will be with me for a long time. This isn't a book you will reread. This isn't a book you will enjoy reading. It is a book that needs to be read.
First, these are two separate books. Yes, there is a bond between them of Precious, but she is not a living, breathing character in The Kid. She is alive only as much as she is remembered by Abdul/JJ. This is not her story, it is her son's.
I, personally, don't find Push that uplifting. But this review is about The Kid, and it is a rough read. I find that Sapphire's stream of consciousness narrative enables the reader to live what Abdul lives. It doesn't always make sense. It isn't always real. It is just how he is perceiving the moment. The reader is on his ride, in his mind and it isn't always comfortable or pretty. In fact, it is rarely pretty and is downright ugly most of the time.
I haven't seen a review yet that has solely reviewed this one work. Most are juxtaposed with the story of Precious. I can totally understand that. It practically begs to be compared, yet it can stand alone. Where we see Precious rise against odds in Push, we see her son sink. It begs the question of Nature vs Nurture for me. What would his life have been like if Precious would have lived? She certainly was trying to make a different life for her son. In a way she succeeded because Abdul is so angry at the life he leads (which is directly correlated with his Mother's) because she raised him to expect more. She gave him the ability to hope. She gave him the ability to dream and dare to assume that he will be a success.
All of that is ripped away when he becomes orphaned. He grows up abused and is returned to the cycle of violence that Precious fought so hard to escape. It is hard to watch him endure the atrocities that he does. It is hard to see him perpetrate onto others what has been done to him. It is bizarre to be in his heard, seeing how he justifies his actions, perceives his reality - actually believes his abuse is wanted.
We all wonder "at what point do we stop crying for the child and start hating what he has become". This book shoves that question in the reader's face and makes us examine it.
I also find it interesting that at one point Abdul is told that he is like his mother in the respect that Precious used to stare and fixate into space. The physical abuse his mother suffered is very similar to the abuse that Abdul suffered in the first foster home.
I have read many reviews which talked about how there was too much narrative for extraneous characters. I don't see any characters that are extraneous. I find them all central to the psyche of Abdul. In the beginning we are introduced to Rita. She is an important figure for Abdul. She represents the descent of the ladder of love that Abdul is on.
The book fell apart for me at the end. I am left with so much confusion as to what the hell happened. Perhaps that is the point.
Apologies for the scattered review. I just finished this book 1/2 hour ago and it is ruminating in my mind. I think it will be with me for a long time. This isn't a book you will reread. This isn't a book you will enjoy reading. It is a book that needs to be read.
October 16, 2011
This IS a DNF book, and the full length explanation of why I chose to set this one aside was originally written up for my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
The Kid by Sapphire is a novel I really should have liked. I read and reviewed Push on the blog last year (click to read my review) and while I can't say that I loved the book, I definitely understood the point and was left with an overall feeling of purpose. The Kid, however, did not leave me feeling any of that. I am not going to give this an official review, since I didn't actually finish reading it, but I am going to leave you with my thoughts and explain why this was a book I found myself unable to complete.
Note- this review is going to contain spoilers for the first half of the book. I really struggle with not finishing books. I read quickly so it's usually not a big deal to push through a book I'm not loving. So for me to have really put this one down, I feel like I owe a thorough explanation. You have been warned.
The thing is, I tried. Really I did. I had every intention of finishing the book, even after I realized I wasn't enjoying it. In all honesty, if this hadn't been a review book I probably would have made the DNF decision somewhere between pages 5 and 50. I knew that early that this wasn't going to be a book I'd enjoy. But, because this is a review book and I felt terrible not finishing I ended up making it to page 207 before finally admitting defeat and admitting that I just...wasn't going to be able to do it. I intend to identify the scene that finally pushed me over the edge, but I want to talk a little more about the book before I do that.
One of my main complaints in my review of Push is what I felt to be an extreme level of graphic content. I said, "Although it is important for the direction of the story that we understand Precious has been abused both sexually and emotionally, I did not then, and do not now feel that the level of description was necessary. Some of the specific details the author included seemed in place merely for the shock and horror value." That feeling is amplified in The Kid. Extremely amplified. I honestly feel like Sapphire sat down and asked herself about all the hard, rough, graphic and extreme stuff she could possibly add to a story like this and then added it into the story. -Just add graphic rape, stir in a bit of cussing and VIOLA! Instant edge.
The story is told by Abdul (also called J.J.), Precious's son. And the narrative is incredibly difficult to follow. I don't know if that's because Sapphire is female and unsure how to write an authentic young boy character (something I strongly suspect...) or where it is merely her writing style. But I felt such a strong detachment and disconnect from the story I found myself completely unable to care about the story or Abdul. Even in the very beginning of the story, before we realize that Abdul is going to pass along the abuse he receives while in the system, I didn't care about him. And for serious- Who can't care about a nine year old boy?! Abdul has all these strange and very violent thoughts, where he screams in his mind things like Crazy Ass Roach Bitch and F*cking Bitch and on and on. And I wasn't always sure if he's only thinking these things or when they actually cross over into actual speech or actions. This is especially noticeable in the 13 year old section, but is also present in the beginning, when he's only nine. So, the story starts the day of him mother's funeral and Abdul is sent into the system. A boy in his first foster home rapes and severely beats him, landing him in the hospital for 3 weeks. They then decide to send him to a Catholic orphanage where two of the priests rape him on a regular basis. So, J.J. decides to return the favor and he rapes other boys in the orphanage. After being kicked out of the orphanage, for reasons that are a bit sketchy (unreliable narrator and as mentioned before, very awkward and detached narration) Abdul/J.J. is sent to live with the great-grandmother who should have been taking care of him for the last 4 years. But the priest at the orphanage decided he liked Abdul and wanted to keep him close. (barf)
This is where I finally accepted that this book wasn't for me, that I was going to have to call it quits on the story because I just couldn't stomach it or believe it anymore. I finally gave it up after listening to page after page after page after page of his great-grandmother describing, in graphic detail to a 13 year old boy how she had been raped at the age of ten, gave birth to his grandmother, ran away from home and ended up living and working in a whore house. Graphic detail. To a 13 year old. I was disturbed but still pushing through... And then- In the middle of this disturbing and inappropriate story from great-grandma, Abdul decides he is going to teach her a lesson, he decides he's going to really 'show' her. So he pulls his pants off and proceeds to masturbate to the point of orgasm while g-gma is still talking. He's 13 and he thinks that jacking off in front of his grandma is a good idea... Really? Really?! SERIOUSLY?!
I read a few pages past this but just couldn't do it anymore. I get that he's had a crappy life. Really, I do. I get that his life experiences are so far from mine that I can't possibly understand what he's gone through or what he feels. But I also felt that Sapphire failed her job as a writer, because she didn't write the book in a way that allowed me to understand or sympathize with Abdul. I was never able to understand his thoughts, his motives, anything. And I never cared to either.
Normally, in a book like this, I can find something good to say about the story. And I tried, really I did. I don't mind telling you what I don't like about a book, but I really like having something positive to say about the book as well. But, I have nothing. I was unable to find a single redeeming quality. I can't even say that the author's motives were pure or acceptable, because I can't figure out what they were.
And, I'm worried that given the nature of the book, given the subject matter this tries to tackle that people are going to be hesitant to say anything bad about it. I can see it. And I know that there are some people out there who will genuinely like this book. I get that. I know that not every book is for every reader. But I also believe that this book is going to be getting more praise than it deserves because no one wants to say something bad about a book like this. But you know what, there are great books out there that handle the topic of abuse. Great writers that manage to give credibility to their characters, their situations and their reactions, whether positive or not. In my opinion, Sapphire is not one of them.
Maybe some of you will be interested in this book. Maybe you will be better able to make sense of the jumbled and confused mess that is Abdul's narration. If so, I'd love to hear from you, love to hear what you think. But for the most part, this is not a book I would ever recommend.
The Kid by Sapphire is a novel I really should have liked. I read and reviewed Push on the blog last year (click to read my review) and while I can't say that I loved the book, I definitely understood the point and was left with an overall feeling of purpose. The Kid, however, did not leave me feeling any of that. I am not going to give this an official review, since I didn't actually finish reading it, but I am going to leave you with my thoughts and explain why this was a book I found myself unable to complete.
Note- this review is going to contain spoilers for the first half of the book. I really struggle with not finishing books. I read quickly so it's usually not a big deal to push through a book I'm not loving. So for me to have really put this one down, I feel like I owe a thorough explanation. You have been warned.
The thing is, I tried. Really I did. I had every intention of finishing the book, even after I realized I wasn't enjoying it. In all honesty, if this hadn't been a review book I probably would have made the DNF decision somewhere between pages 5 and 50. I knew that early that this wasn't going to be a book I'd enjoy. But, because this is a review book and I felt terrible not finishing I ended up making it to page 207 before finally admitting defeat and admitting that I just...wasn't going to be able to do it. I intend to identify the scene that finally pushed me over the edge, but I want to talk a little more about the book before I do that.
One of my main complaints in my review of Push is what I felt to be an extreme level of graphic content. I said, "Although it is important for the direction of the story that we understand Precious has been abused both sexually and emotionally, I did not then, and do not now feel that the level of description was necessary. Some of the specific details the author included seemed in place merely for the shock and horror value." That feeling is amplified in The Kid. Extremely amplified. I honestly feel like Sapphire sat down and asked herself about all the hard, rough, graphic and extreme stuff she could possibly add to a story like this and then added it into the story. -Just add graphic rape, stir in a bit of cussing and VIOLA! Instant edge.
The story is told by Abdul (also called J.J.), Precious's son. And the narrative is incredibly difficult to follow. I don't know if that's because Sapphire is female and unsure how to write an authentic young boy character (something I strongly suspect...) or where it is merely her writing style. But I felt such a strong detachment and disconnect from the story I found myself completely unable to care about the story or Abdul. Even in the very beginning of the story, before we realize that Abdul is going to pass along the abuse he receives while in the system, I didn't care about him. And for serious- Who can't care about a nine year old boy?! Abdul has all these strange and very violent thoughts, where he screams in his mind things like Crazy Ass Roach Bitch and F*cking Bitch and on and on. And I wasn't always sure if he's only thinking these things or when they actually cross over into actual speech or actions. This is especially noticeable in the 13 year old section, but is also present in the beginning, when he's only nine. So, the story starts the day of him mother's funeral and Abdul is sent into the system. A boy in his first foster home rapes and severely beats him, landing him in the hospital for 3 weeks. They then decide to send him to a Catholic orphanage where two of the priests rape him on a regular basis. So, J.J. decides to return the favor and he rapes other boys in the orphanage. After being kicked out of the orphanage, for reasons that are a bit sketchy (unreliable narrator and as mentioned before, very awkward and detached narration) Abdul/J.J. is sent to live with the great-grandmother who should have been taking care of him for the last 4 years. But the priest at the orphanage decided he liked Abdul and wanted to keep him close. (barf)
This is where I finally accepted that this book wasn't for me, that I was going to have to call it quits on the story because I just couldn't stomach it or believe it anymore. I finally gave it up after listening to page after page after page after page of his great-grandmother describing, in graphic detail to a 13 year old boy how she had been raped at the age of ten, gave birth to his grandmother, ran away from home and ended up living and working in a whore house. Graphic detail. To a 13 year old. I was disturbed but still pushing through... And then- In the middle of this disturbing and inappropriate story from great-grandma, Abdul decides he is going to teach her a lesson, he decides he's going to really 'show' her. So he pulls his pants off and proceeds to masturbate to the point of orgasm while g-gma is still talking. He's 13 and he thinks that jacking off in front of his grandma is a good idea... Really? Really?! SERIOUSLY?!
I read a few pages past this but just couldn't do it anymore. I get that he's had a crappy life. Really, I do. I get that his life experiences are so far from mine that I can't possibly understand what he's gone through or what he feels. But I also felt that Sapphire failed her job as a writer, because she didn't write the book in a way that allowed me to understand or sympathize with Abdul. I was never able to understand his thoughts, his motives, anything. And I never cared to either.
Normally, in a book like this, I can find something good to say about the story. And I tried, really I did. I don't mind telling you what I don't like about a book, but I really like having something positive to say about the book as well. But, I have nothing. I was unable to find a single redeeming quality. I can't even say that the author's motives were pure or acceptable, because I can't figure out what they were.
And, I'm worried that given the nature of the book, given the subject matter this tries to tackle that people are going to be hesitant to say anything bad about it. I can see it. And I know that there are some people out there who will genuinely like this book. I get that. I know that not every book is for every reader. But I also believe that this book is going to be getting more praise than it deserves because no one wants to say something bad about a book like this. But you know what, there are great books out there that handle the topic of abuse. Great writers that manage to give credibility to their characters, their situations and their reactions, whether positive or not. In my opinion, Sapphire is not one of them.
Maybe some of you will be interested in this book. Maybe you will be better able to make sense of the jumbled and confused mess that is Abdul's narration. If so, I'd love to hear from you, love to hear what you think. But for the most part, this is not a book I would ever recommend.
September 19, 2011
I have mixed feelings about this book but overall am going to give it a very good rating. Sapphire is a writer, she takes the reader through alot of emotions as we follow the hellish life of Precious son, Abdul. At the age of nine, Precious dies from HIV and life changes forever for her son. He goes from boarding with a friend of Precious to a foster home. While in the home he suffers abuse and after an injury lands him in the hospital, he is taken to St. Ailanthus, a Catholic orphanage. There he endures the most horrific, sexual, physical, mental, abuse a human can experience. It is at times unimaginable that anyone would go through that type of abuse.
Abdul, also called JJ, was only supposed to be in the home temporarily but ends up living there for five years. It is during that time, that Abdul abuses other little boys, the way that he was abused. After an investigation, he is kicked out of the school. When he gets kicked out, his great grandmother surfaces and claims him. But where was she all along? One of the mysteries that later unravels. It comes to light that Abdul, or JJ was supposed to go live with his grandmother (remember Precious mother) and her mother when his mother first died. But he ends up "lost" in the foster care system and that is how he ends up at the Catholic terror zone. When he learns all of this, he goes crazy as anyone would. The only thing keeping him sane is his love for dance. He first becomes exposed while at school. When he decides to run away from his great grandmother he then gets "taken in" by an older dancer who exploits him, again sexually and emotionally abusing him. Abdul lives there until he becomes an adult. O
One of the issues I found most chilling about this book is how he ends up getting "lost" so many times. The foster care system didn't know he was in the Catholic home, they had him listed as dead. His grandmother and living relatives never pressed hard to find out where he was. So he was left with these gaping holes in his history. Those questions, who am I? Where do I come from? Who is my father, how did my mother really die haunted him. That, mixed with the abuse he endured left him a shattered soul. Yet there was another side to him, he was a smart boy, good at math, good at art, literature and science. One can only wonder what he could have become had he had a loving person to guide him and nurture his mind and body instead of take advantage of him.
I know many of the reviews of this book are not good, and people don't feel the same level of empathy and compassion for Abdul that they did for Precious, mainly because Abdul becomes a purpratrator himself. But I do feel for Abdul and as I read the book I just thought about all of the orphan kids out there who don't have anyone to protect them. Protect, and Love and Guide, and Nurture.
In the introduction of the book it is written that there are 16 million orphans around the world, as a result of the HIV epidemic. This book tells the story of what can happen when our most vulnerable and helpless are left in the wrong hands and how the cycle of abuse continues.
I pray we can find a way to slow down the spread of HIV and one day eradicate it. I pray that we can protect the future generation from abuse in all of its forms. I thank Sapphire for bringing light to these important issues.
Abdul, also called JJ, was only supposed to be in the home temporarily but ends up living there for five years. It is during that time, that Abdul abuses other little boys, the way that he was abused. After an investigation, he is kicked out of the school. When he gets kicked out, his great grandmother surfaces and claims him. But where was she all along? One of the mysteries that later unravels. It comes to light that Abdul, or JJ was supposed to go live with his grandmother (remember Precious mother) and her mother when his mother first died. But he ends up "lost" in the foster care system and that is how he ends up at the Catholic terror zone. When he learns all of this, he goes crazy as anyone would. The only thing keeping him sane is his love for dance. He first becomes exposed while at school. When he decides to run away from his great grandmother he then gets "taken in" by an older dancer who exploits him, again sexually and emotionally abusing him. Abdul lives there until he becomes an adult. O
One of the issues I found most chilling about this book is how he ends up getting "lost" so many times. The foster care system didn't know he was in the Catholic home, they had him listed as dead. His grandmother and living relatives never pressed hard to find out where he was. So he was left with these gaping holes in his history. Those questions, who am I? Where do I come from? Who is my father, how did my mother really die haunted him. That, mixed with the abuse he endured left him a shattered soul. Yet there was another side to him, he was a smart boy, good at math, good at art, literature and science. One can only wonder what he could have become had he had a loving person to guide him and nurture his mind and body instead of take advantage of him.
I know many of the reviews of this book are not good, and people don't feel the same level of empathy and compassion for Abdul that they did for Precious, mainly because Abdul becomes a purpratrator himself. But I do feel for Abdul and as I read the book I just thought about all of the orphan kids out there who don't have anyone to protect them. Protect, and Love and Guide, and Nurture.
In the introduction of the book it is written that there are 16 million orphans around the world, as a result of the HIV epidemic. This book tells the story of what can happen when our most vulnerable and helpless are left in the wrong hands and how the cycle of abuse continues.
I pray we can find a way to slow down the spread of HIV and one day eradicate it. I pray that we can protect the future generation from abuse in all of its forms. I thank Sapphire for bringing light to these important issues.
July 8, 2012
I read Push for a class. While I can't say I would have ever voluntarily picked it up, I lost count of how many times I looked up a passage for the paper I was writing and found myself, yet again, at the end of the book. This, however, I just didn't care for. I picked it up at the library, largely because Sapphire had created such a compelling character in Precious that I really wanted to know what happened next, seeing as how this was the sequel and all. I have to admit that it really bothered me that a woman who had been through so much and took so much time and effort to turn her life around and be the best possible mother for her son, knowing that she had HIV, apparently never gave a thought to what would happen to that son she after she was gone. (I get that grandma wasn't an option - I wouldn't, either - but deliberately dooming a child to a life of foster care bothers me. A lot.) I can't fault her for not sharing her son's history with him (some things are just too much for a 9 year old to handle) but right from the get-go, it's pretty clear that this is not going to end well.
I stuck with it, even after deciding I just plain don't like Abdul...or perhaps it's merely the way Sapphire writes from a male perspective. I slogged through Toosie's narrative...and by the time My Lei was telling her story, I realized I was skimming more than actually reading. With Push, I genuinely cared about Precious, and something in her story resonated with me. The Kid was the polar opposite in that I couldn't find a shred of empathy for any of the characters. I found myself longing for the brief snippets of journal entries that Push had offered, or some other storytelling device that would somehow make me care about these characters.
Don't even get me started on the fourth part of the book, which was utterly perplexing and left me wondering what on earth I had just read. "Loose ends" is beyond an understatement. I like books that leave me with questions and stick in my head for months afterward. This was a situation where the ending was unresolved, and quite frankly, that pissed me off, since that was the sole reason I'd stuck with it - the hope of some (any!) resolution to some (any!) part of the narrative.
Quite frankly, after writing a 10 page paper on Langston Hughes this past semester, I found myself spending more time drawing parallels between Hughes and the various events and characters of The Kid than I did processing or getting emotionally invested in the novel. I would say that perhaps that's the brain training of an English major, save that I don't typically have that issue except with novels I can't engage with.
Ultimately, what I was looking for was to find out that Precious had been a good mom (she was), what had happened to the other girls from Each One Teach One (which we only get a tiny glimpse of), and that Abdul had ended up with a better future than his mother (he didn't), and I'm glad to be moving on to something else...which makes me sad, since Push was such a compelling novel, and this simply wasn't.
I stuck with it, even after deciding I just plain don't like Abdul...or perhaps it's merely the way Sapphire writes from a male perspective. I slogged through Toosie's narrative...and by the time My Lei was telling her story, I realized I was skimming more than actually reading. With Push, I genuinely cared about Precious, and something in her story resonated with me. The Kid was the polar opposite in that I couldn't find a shred of empathy for any of the characters. I found myself longing for the brief snippets of journal entries that Push had offered, or some other storytelling device that would somehow make me care about these characters.
Don't even get me started on the fourth part of the book, which was utterly perplexing and left me wondering what on earth I had just read. "Loose ends" is beyond an understatement. I like books that leave me with questions and stick in my head for months afterward. This was a situation where the ending was unresolved, and quite frankly, that pissed me off, since that was the sole reason I'd stuck with it - the hope of some (any!) resolution to some (any!) part of the narrative.
Quite frankly, after writing a 10 page paper on Langston Hughes this past semester, I found myself spending more time drawing parallels between Hughes and the various events and characters of The Kid than I did processing or getting emotionally invested in the novel. I would say that perhaps that's the brain training of an English major, save that I don't typically have that issue except with novels I can't engage with.
Ultimately, what I was looking for was to find out that Precious had been a good mom (she was), what had happened to the other girls from Each One Teach One (which we only get a tiny glimpse of), and that Abdul had ended up with a better future than his mother (he didn't), and I'm glad to be moving on to something else...which makes me sad, since Push was such a compelling novel, and this simply wasn't.
August 21, 2025
SPOILERS AHEAD
Just like his father/grandfather and his great grandfather, Abdul becomes a rapist but constantly denies he is anything but a great kid. I like that Sapphire shed a light on his great grandmother because we can see that the system failed that entire family. Here is a mini breakdown:
Tootsie Johnston - Originally from the south and was abandoned by her mother. Was raped at the age of 9/10 and gave birth to Mary. Not loving towards Mary in anyway and even tried to kill her once. Named her Mary after her aunt or mother I forgot but didn't want to name her Mary. Was a prostitute for some time.
Mary L. Johnston - Not much is known about her past. Died weighing close to 500 lbs, a product of rape, raped her own daughter, and allowed her boyfriend to rape her child.
Claireece Precious Jones - Has two children with her father, who began to rape her at a young age. Her mother ignores the abuse and eventually begins to abuse her as well. Despite all of her hurdles she was able to get her GED and get herself into college.
Abdul Jamal Louis Jones - Pathological liar, the product of rape, a smart man, prone to being nasty, closed off, can dance well, becomes a predator.
This novel was trash, just torture porn honestly. I couldn't identify with Abdul. If you're going to abuse people don't deny it once its done. The writing was well because Sapphire is an excellent writer but Abdul was such a weak man (IRONIC BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WANTED TO NAME HIM AFTER STRONG MEN). What a sick book, Push didn't have a happy ending but at least Precious is trying to overcome and better herself. What is Abdul doing? Raping children and saying hes a great person. I honestly wish I never spent money on this book.
Just like his father/grandfather and his great grandfather, Abdul becomes a rapist but constantly denies he is anything but a great kid. I like that Sapphire shed a light on his great grandmother because we can see that the system failed that entire family. Here is a mini breakdown:
Tootsie Johnston - Originally from the south and was abandoned by her mother. Was raped at the age of 9/10 and gave birth to Mary. Not loving towards Mary in anyway and even tried to kill her once. Named her Mary after her aunt or mother I forgot but didn't want to name her Mary. Was a prostitute for some time.
Mary L. Johnston - Not much is known about her past. Died weighing close to 500 lbs, a product of rape, raped her own daughter, and allowed her boyfriend to rape her child.
Claireece Precious Jones - Has two children with her father, who began to rape her at a young age. Her mother ignores the abuse and eventually begins to abuse her as well. Despite all of her hurdles she was able to get her GED and get herself into college.
Abdul Jamal Louis Jones - Pathological liar, the product of rape, a smart man, prone to being nasty, closed off, can dance well, becomes a predator.
This novel was trash, just torture porn honestly. I couldn't identify with Abdul. If you're going to abuse people don't deny it once its done. The writing was well because Sapphire is an excellent writer but Abdul was such a weak man (IRONIC BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WANTED TO NAME HIM AFTER STRONG MEN). What a sick book, Push didn't have a happy ending but at least Precious is trying to overcome and better herself. What is Abdul doing? Raping children and saying hes a great person. I honestly wish I never spent money on this book.
May 7, 2013
This is the absolute worst, most nauseatingly horrific book I have ever read. I'd give it negative stars if I could. This is the story of Precious Jones' son, and while her story of abuse and her rise above it was inspiring and heart-wrenching, this was no more than a glorification of pedophilia and sexual abuse.
It is no surprise that many victims turn perpetrator when they are finally big enough to dominate others, but the protagonist seemed to revel in his abuse, take pride in what he did to others, and overall just pat himself on the back for being a monster.
The stream of consciousness style of writing was disjointed and confusing at best, and at worst it was nightmare-inducing. There were such an overwhelming number of scenes where rape and violence were prevalent that I am still heartsick at having read through them.
I kept waiting for the moment when Abdul would rise above himself and learn from his mistakes. I waded through page after page of depravity, and that redemption never came. I was as enraged by the end of the book as I was at the beginning.
I have not only wasted my time with this filth, but I now see terrible images when I close my eyes at night. Sapphire could write the most wonderful book the world has ever seen for her next project, but I will never again give my time or my money to anything that has her name on it, ever.
It is no surprise that many victims turn perpetrator when they are finally big enough to dominate others, but the protagonist seemed to revel in his abuse, take pride in what he did to others, and overall just pat himself on the back for being a monster.
The stream of consciousness style of writing was disjointed and confusing at best, and at worst it was nightmare-inducing. There were such an overwhelming number of scenes where rape and violence were prevalent that I am still heartsick at having read through them.
I kept waiting for the moment when Abdul would rise above himself and learn from his mistakes. I waded through page after page of depravity, and that redemption never came. I was as enraged by the end of the book as I was at the beginning.
I have not only wasted my time with this filth, but I now see terrible images when I close my eyes at night. Sapphire could write the most wonderful book the world has ever seen for her next project, but I will never again give my time or my money to anything that has her name on it, ever.
July 2, 2011
I'm going to be completely honest here. This book needs to simmer for a while longer before it is published. The base story is incredible, the ride is harrowing - but it loses a lot of it's power in some of the scatter.
Written in first person, as was "Push", you are taken right into the mind of her son right after she dies. He is young, he is swept into a foster home with little understanding of the implications or his future or why he can't have his stuff. He is dissociated on his mother's death, thinking of her as still alive.
Then a violent act occurs. We wake up in a hospital. We skip from there over to the boy's home he is taken to, and the horrible things Abdul does there. You only know he has suffered those same horrible things done to himself if you are familiar with traumatic stress and how victims act out - it isn't until much later in the story that we are let in on the original abuses done at the home. This DOES make the story suffer a lot, as does her treatment of his pleasure during raping his fellow wards. You hear his internal voice of great pleasure as he takes them - you don't hear any pain in that moment, you know he's fucked up but the set up leads you to believe maybe it's from brain damage or some mental illness. This is the part of the book that I'd like to see revisited, refined, and made more consistent and clear for the reader.
In the younger years, his voice changes a few times - suddenly more educated than he is, or suddenly less educated than he is. This makes his character hard to follow, hard to buy into.
The central section is awesome, but the final wrap up feels cheap, forced - like there needed to be a way to end the book. It might serve better to split it into two and tell the story a little more thoroughly with less jumping.
Again, a great idea, I did get something out of it, but I think it is lacking in too many places and should be delayed in publication if the author really wants to get her voice across. Having lived with, known, been around many victims of traumatic sexual and familial and foster abuse, I think the story is worth telling right.
Written in first person, as was "Push", you are taken right into the mind of her son right after she dies. He is young, he is swept into a foster home with little understanding of the implications or his future or why he can't have his stuff. He is dissociated on his mother's death, thinking of her as still alive.
Then a violent act occurs. We wake up in a hospital. We skip from there over to the boy's home he is taken to, and the horrible things Abdul does there. You only know he has suffered those same horrible things done to himself if you are familiar with traumatic stress and how victims act out - it isn't until much later in the story that we are let in on the original abuses done at the home. This DOES make the story suffer a lot, as does her treatment of his pleasure during raping his fellow wards. You hear his internal voice of great pleasure as he takes them - you don't hear any pain in that moment, you know he's fucked up but the set up leads you to believe maybe it's from brain damage or some mental illness. This is the part of the book that I'd like to see revisited, refined, and made more consistent and clear for the reader.
In the younger years, his voice changes a few times - suddenly more educated than he is, or suddenly less educated than he is. This makes his character hard to follow, hard to buy into.
The central section is awesome, but the final wrap up feels cheap, forced - like there needed to be a way to end the book. It might serve better to split it into two and tell the story a little more thoroughly with less jumping.
Again, a great idea, I did get something out of it, but I think it is lacking in too many places and should be delayed in publication if the author really wants to get her voice across. Having lived with, known, been around many victims of traumatic sexual and familial and foster abuse, I think the story is worth telling right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 26, 2012Worst. Book. Ever?
The Kid, which I had to FORCE myself to finish, gets zero stars. I'm stunned to discover it had an editor, the story was so bad. If I could be the editor now that it's published (inexplicably), here would be some of my notes:
1. Consider making at least one of the characters likable. Like maybe the main character.
2. Consider making at least one of the characters a non-cliche.
3. The kid's great-grandmother barely talks to him his whole life and then lays out her life story for him in 20 rambling pages? And he jacks off in the middle of it and the two of them just continue on like nothing happened? Really???
4. Number 3 isn't the only unbelievable thing about this story. You know the phrase "too much of a good thing"? Well the same goes for bad things. After a while, I stop buying all the horror.
5. Why, with the ballet kids? They're boring, and the whole section with them seems like name-dropping, only with cultural references instead of names.
6. The ending? WTF???
The only hope I have for this book is that it's so nonsensical and ridiculous because Sapphire was attempting to illustrate just how messed up a kid's brain and life can be when his father is also his mother's father. I'm pretty sure that's not what she was doing, since there's no insight even remotely close to that, but I want to believe there's SOME sort of justification for what I just read. Bleh.
The Kid, which I had to FORCE myself to finish, gets zero stars. I'm stunned to discover it had an editor, the story was so bad. If I could be the editor now that it's published (inexplicably), here would be some of my notes:
1. Consider making at least one of the characters likable. Like maybe the main character.
2. Consider making at least one of the characters a non-cliche.
3. The kid's great-grandmother barely talks to him his whole life and then lays out her life story for him in 20 rambling pages? And he jacks off in the middle of it and the two of them just continue on like nothing happened? Really???
4. Number 3 isn't the only unbelievable thing about this story. You know the phrase "too much of a good thing"? Well the same goes for bad things. After a while, I stop buying all the horror.
5. Why, with the ballet kids? They're boring, and the whole section with them seems like name-dropping, only with cultural references instead of names.
6. The ending? WTF???
The only hope I have for this book is that it's so nonsensical and ridiculous because Sapphire was attempting to illustrate just how messed up a kid's brain and life can be when his father is also his mother's father. I'm pretty sure that's not what she was doing, since there's no insight even remotely close to that, but I want to believe there's SOME sort of justification for what I just read. Bleh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2012
Unfortunate this book has such a low rating. I think that's probably more due to the difficulty of the subject matter than the actual worth of the book. Going by my volunteer work for CASA with abused and neglected kids in our court system, this book is unfortunately very possible. Maybe unlikely that all this stuff happened to one kid, but definitely realistic. A lot of the vernacular that was used in the first half of the book was hard for me to read, then a lot of it is kind of stream of consciousness style that I just went with; I've found that's just how I have to do that. Seemed entirely plausible that the mind of a kid who had gone through what Abdul had might actually have a similar thought process format. An excellent vision of what can and does happen to kids in the system - and out of it.
February 9, 2012
Hard to believe, but this was more violent, more sickening, more bleak than it's predecessor "Push". I was horrified in the beginning and then angry and finally depressed by The Kid's story. In my work as an RN and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) I touched on the nightmare lived by children in "the system"; the abuse and neglect and torture they suffered first from blood-family and then from foster-family. Family history and individual identity become too horrific to live with. These damaged children grow into irretrievably damaged adults who repeat the horror in a never-ending spiral leading to suicide, homicide, or Death Row, leaving a trail of more damaged children in their wake. Bleak. Very Bleak. More so because it reads so true. So how do I rate this book? I can't say I "liked" it or "loved" it. I can say that reading it deeply affected me. It requires a completely different rating system. Here's a quote from the first Chapter Heading. The quote is by Flannery O'Connor (from "Wise Blood"), but it describes The Kid's dilemma: "Where you come from is gone, where you thought you were going never was there, and where you are is no good unless you get away from it."
January 15, 2013
This book is so excessive in its endless rape scenarios that add nothing to anything. No character is even remotely likeable or redeemable in remotely any way. I think Sapphire saw how people enjoyed the depressing grittiness of the first book, and then, to cash in on the movie, she decided to see how far she could push the envelope. What made Push endearing was Precious's desire (and success?) to break the cycle. This was apparently for nothing, though, as her son becomes one of the most depraved characters in history... really cheapens her efforts in Push.
July 13, 2011
This book was the follow up to Push and I just didn't get it. I still don't quite know if I could explain what happened in this book. It seemed like it was written to shock with language and content and that really turned me off. The level of crudity didn't seem to be needed, and I'm not easily put off by that stuff. The story was just a downer that got even more down which, again, I feel wasn't warranted.
August 12, 2011
I am forever scarred from reading this book. I have read many books in my life, but none have caused me so much pain, anguish, and terror as this one. I loved Push because despite the horror of Precious' life, the ending was uplifting and hopeful. This, book, however provides nothing but agony and damage. Why Sapphire would choose to create a life like this for Precious' son is beyond belief. I know that I cannot be the only reader who questions Sapphire's motives for writing this book; she has destroyed all vestiges of hope and redemption found in Push.
Despite the grueling process of reading this book, I could not put it down. Yes, I know Abdul's story rings true for too many children in his circumstances, but Sapphire makes him into such a deplorable monster that it negates much of the sympathy I want to feel for him because of what was done to him. The sex scenes are so prevalent and so revolting that it's hard to recommend this book to others. Unlike his mother, Abdul has no true identity (his constant name changes highlight this), but he does have a thirst for knowledge which Sapphire uses to pepper the novel with his monologue ramblings of historical facts and literary references. If this is supposed to endear us to Abdul more, it does not. And even Abdul's love of dance is just a copycat (and lazy technique by Sapphire) of his mother's love of writing which SAVES her. Alas, nothing saves Abdul. Sapphire had to know that this book would alienate her from many of her fans.
I do not hate this book, but I am upset over its many flaws and disappointed in Sapphire. Yes, I like the stream of consciousness feel to it and the uncomfortable, uneasy feelings that the dream sequences (what is real and what is not) instilled in me. But as for a coming of age story of a strong willed young man who overcomes adversity as some reviewers have called this, all I can say is, did they read the same book I did? Abdul is abused by everyone and he abuses others in return.
This book will haunt me for the rest of my life. If that was Sapphire's intent, then she has succeeded with me on that one point.
Despite the grueling process of reading this book, I could not put it down. Yes, I know Abdul's story rings true for too many children in his circumstances, but Sapphire makes him into such a deplorable monster that it negates much of the sympathy I want to feel for him because of what was done to him. The sex scenes are so prevalent and so revolting that it's hard to recommend this book to others. Unlike his mother, Abdul has no true identity (his constant name changes highlight this), but he does have a thirst for knowledge which Sapphire uses to pepper the novel with his monologue ramblings of historical facts and literary references. If this is supposed to endear us to Abdul more, it does not. And even Abdul's love of dance is just a copycat (and lazy technique by Sapphire) of his mother's love of writing which SAVES her. Alas, nothing saves Abdul. Sapphire had to know that this book would alienate her from many of her fans.
I do not hate this book, but I am upset over its many flaws and disappointed in Sapphire. Yes, I like the stream of consciousness feel to it and the uncomfortable, uneasy feelings that the dream sequences (what is real and what is not) instilled in me. But as for a coming of age story of a strong willed young man who overcomes adversity as some reviewers have called this, all I can say is, did they read the same book I did? Abdul is abused by everyone and he abuses others in return.
This book will haunt me for the rest of my life. If that was Sapphire's intent, then she has succeeded with me on that one point.
May 3, 2018
Original Review : I can describe this book in four words: THAT NIGGA IS CRAZY.
Updated Review : I felt compelled to come back update this review and really explain why I gave a one star. First, I read the book and watched the movie Precious and I was sadden that both her mother and father had victimized her and after she build her self up and was trying to better herself she was plagued with that incurable disease. So when I found out the author Sapphire did another book from the perspective of the son I was excited. I couldn’t wait to read and find out if Precious son continued his mother fight. I was expecting to hear a great turn of events........this was not it. Even within the first few chapters I was horrified, grossed and disturbed by what I was reading and yet I didn’t stop reading. I kept reading hoping that it would get better, it’s gonna get better, there is more and it will be better......it never did. It got worst and worst and worst. I said in my original review that I’m four words “this nigga is crazy” but what I should have said is that no only is he crazy, but he is nasty, a sociopath but is also a perpetrator of the same crimes that his grandmother and grandfather-father imposed upon Precious but yet he is doing it to other. If I could put no stars I would have. Sapphire did not need to continue the precious story she should have left it as one book.
Updated Review : I felt compelled to come back update this review and really explain why I gave a one star. First, I read the book and watched the movie Precious and I was sadden that both her mother and father had victimized her and after she build her self up and was trying to better herself she was plagued with that incurable disease. So when I found out the author Sapphire did another book from the perspective of the son I was excited. I couldn’t wait to read and find out if Precious son continued his mother fight. I was expecting to hear a great turn of events........this was not it. Even within the first few chapters I was horrified, grossed and disturbed by what I was reading and yet I didn’t stop reading. I kept reading hoping that it would get better, it’s gonna get better, there is more and it will be better......it never did. It got worst and worst and worst. I said in my original review that I’m four words “this nigga is crazy” but what I should have said is that no only is he crazy, but he is nasty, a sociopath but is also a perpetrator of the same crimes that his grandmother and grandfather-father imposed upon Precious but yet he is doing it to other. If I could put no stars I would have. Sapphire did not need to continue the precious story she should have left it as one book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2011
This is the bleakest book I've ever read. Bar none. The author doesn't just break your heart. She rips it out of your chest, stamps it with her boot, and then rubs your face in it. There's not a glimmer of hope, no hint of redemption. Just ugliness.
The book starts with Precious dying of AIDS, and Abdul taken to foster care where he is repeatedly physically and sexually abused. In graphic detail. Over and over again.
More disturbing is that Abdul himself becomes an abuser and rapist against other boys. In graphic detail. Over and over again.
It is double disturbing because it is Precious' child. All her struggle, all her abuse was for nothing because Abdul was her hope.
I get that the point is that abuse begats abuse, but it was just too much for me.
The book starts with Precious dying of AIDS, and Abdul taken to foster care where he is repeatedly physically and sexually abused. In graphic detail. Over and over again.
More disturbing is that Abdul himself becomes an abuser and rapist against other boys. In graphic detail. Over and over again.
It is double disturbing because it is Precious' child. All her struggle, all her abuse was for nothing because Abdul was her hope.
I get that the point is that abuse begats abuse, but it was just too much for me.
July 23, 2012
Beautiful, ugly, brilliant. From a literary perspective, one of the best books I've read in a long time. I would recommend The Kid to readers that are unafraid of a challenge, and who want to explore a portrayal of human experience rooted not only in physical actions or the "facts of what happened," but in the realms of consciousness that cannot be measured by common perceptions of "reality."
January 27, 2019
I am unfortunately not able to finish this one at this time. I am just not able to handle the content at this difficult time in my own life. Maybe I will try it again later, or maybe not.
February 13, 2012
A very thought-provoking and engaging book. But ultimately confusing and some what unsatisfying. This is a sequel to Push, Sapphire's 1996 novel which was made into the 2009 movie Precious. While you can read The Kid without having read Push, I'd do them in order. If you have not read Push, or seen Precious, this review will have spoilers.
Push ends as as the main character leaves her abusive life behind and creates a new life with her toddler son, Abdul. The Kid begins when Abdul is 9 and his mother has just died of AIDS. The rest is a story of a child ground up by the foster care system and how he tries to create a life for himself despite it.
It's as if Sapphire is telling two stories. I find it hard to believe that Precious would not have made plans for her son's care, since she had nearly a decade after being diagnosed with, what was then, a near universally fatal disease. Precious' grandmother states later that she was supposed to have taken Abdul, but we don't know if we can take her word for it since she also had no contact with Precious or her child since he was a baby. Precious has middle class friends savvy to the system. They speak at her funeral, yet none of them take the child in. And no one, not a soul, has any communication with him for years or attempts to follow his progress.
I don't know Sapphire's motivations but it reads like she wanted to write about "throwaway" foster children and she wanted to do a sequel to her one and only novel. It is unfortunate that she did both in the same character.
Putting that aside, the book does deal with the insanity of the system and how kids either break or cope (or both). We see how abuse creates abusers. And how few really care enough about the children to insist on change. We also learn about Precious' family, though in an odd way. We get levels of detail that seem completely inappropriate for the story (an elderly woman telling her teenaged relative what she likes sexually) but there are a lot of gaps (huge gaping holes).
Like his mother, Abdul fantasizes constantly, but his dreams are often true (especially when he pretends actions he knows are wrong are dreams). The last chunk of the book is an extended dream sequence where we don't know what is real or fantasy and we never find out. I don't mind a book ending with an uncertain future, as Push does. We know at the end of Push that Precious is not now going to have a normal, financially secure, life. But she is determined to make the most of the life she does have. With The Kid, we know so little about what was happening towards the end that we can't even guess what might happen once the book closes. And that is, unsatisfying.
Push ends as as the main character leaves her abusive life behind and creates a new life with her toddler son, Abdul. The Kid begins when Abdul is 9 and his mother has just died of AIDS. The rest is a story of a child ground up by the foster care system and how he tries to create a life for himself despite it.
It's as if Sapphire is telling two stories. I find it hard to believe that Precious would not have made plans for her son's care, since she had nearly a decade after being diagnosed with, what was then, a near universally fatal disease. Precious' grandmother states later that she was supposed to have taken Abdul, but we don't know if we can take her word for it since she also had no contact with Precious or her child since he was a baby. Precious has middle class friends savvy to the system. They speak at her funeral, yet none of them take the child in. And no one, not a soul, has any communication with him for years or attempts to follow his progress.
I don't know Sapphire's motivations but it reads like she wanted to write about "throwaway" foster children and she wanted to do a sequel to her one and only novel. It is unfortunate that she did both in the same character.
Putting that aside, the book does deal with the insanity of the system and how kids either break or cope (or both). We see how abuse creates abusers. And how few really care enough about the children to insist on change. We also learn about Precious' family, though in an odd way. We get levels of detail that seem completely inappropriate for the story (an elderly woman telling her teenaged relative what she likes sexually) but there are a lot of gaps (huge gaping holes).
Like his mother, Abdul fantasizes constantly, but his dreams are often true (especially when he pretends actions he knows are wrong are dreams). The last chunk of the book is an extended dream sequence where we don't know what is real or fantasy and we never find out. I don't mind a book ending with an uncertain future, as Push does. We know at the end of Push that Precious is not now going to have a normal, financially secure, life. But she is determined to make the most of the life she does have. With The Kid, we know so little about what was happening towards the end that we can't even guess what might happen once the book closes. And that is, unsatisfying.
September 7, 2011
Still reeling from this book. Interestingly enough, I feel I have a better understanding for the fluidity, repetitiveness and paranoia of an insane persons' thoughts. The writing *is* excellent, but it is a mentally exhausting read. Sapphire definitely has a gift, but I would not recommend THE KID to anyone without warning them about the disturbing content. Before reading THE KID, I had heard it was a story about a dancer with a troubled past. I love dance, and can handle 'troubled' stories - or so I thought. It turns out he not only was an incredibly damaged/damaging youth, but also a disturbing preadolescent-through-adolescent-through-the end? Everyone used and abuses J.J/ Abdul; he comes to expect it from teachers, friends, parent-figures, doctors, etc. He uses and abuses others - even children - without remorse, because he has no basis to understand his actions. As the story progresses J.J./Abdul becomes increasingly violent, and relates to everyone with suspicion, if he relates at all. The dance portion of the story is shrouded by many disappointing, ultra-violent, sexually explicit and damaging events in the characters' life that, as a reader, you feel the character is always barely treading water in the sea of his life. The final chapters were disorienting, to say the least as neither Abdul - now nineteen, or is it twenty? - nor the other characters in whateverplaceheendsupin can explain the exact chain of events. Finally, at the end of the book, the door is left open. Or so we think. We are told the door will be open, but will it? Are we sure? There are so many disappointments, that we can not expect what characters say to be true. At the half-way read point, I begun to wish Sapphire would kill-off THE KID at the end. I couldn't think of another ending; but of course I'm no author or storyteller. J.J./Abdul is violent and couldn't control his impulses, except when dancing; in control ONLY while focusing on the rigor of dance. I think the story is left open because Sapphire plans to write a third book; I won't be reading it. Well, maybe I'll skim the summary. Thing is, I was wrapped by the story and hoped something, anything would work out for J.J./Abdul without also carrying disappointment. I'm curious about what will happen next, even if I metaphorically want to 'cover my eyes'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2011
The Kid was a book that of course, was highly advertised as an "epic follow up to Push", (the acclaimed story of "Precious" and her struggles).
I received this book as a birthday gift and eagerly tore into the pages expecting a harrowing tale of a boy left orphaned by the death of his HIV+ mother and a journey of growth and struggle escaping the ghetto life he was destined for.
Instead, this book disappointed me, disgusted me and even made me shut the pages and put the book down several times. There is nothing wrong with adding a little descriptive sexual horror or straining violence to accentuate a point but to pepper every page with poor grammar and intrusive sexual pedophilia for pure shock value crosses the line.
Sapphire tries to open the readers eyes to a boy thrown into foster care without love or reason and wants us to attach or feel for this character. Truth be told, not once do you have the opportunity to connect with this character. He is short spoken and the threads that hold reality and fiction together strain the story line. In many cases, you are actually rooting against the main character, Abdul JJ, as he rapes, molests and violates young boys throughout the story.
As an honest closing statement, read the book if you are interested in just knowing what the book is all about. Do not expect to connect with the characters or long for them well after you close the pages. In fact, it is relieving to close the back cover and know that it is all over. The book could have really brought to light some intense troubles that do exist in foster homes and Catholic boarding homes, but instead Sapphire withheld this critical emotional connection from the readers. I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with this book other than sell it on Amazon, I cannot imagine even lending this book to any friend or family member. It's that disturbing.
I received this book as a birthday gift and eagerly tore into the pages expecting a harrowing tale of a boy left orphaned by the death of his HIV+ mother and a journey of growth and struggle escaping the ghetto life he was destined for.
Instead, this book disappointed me, disgusted me and even made me shut the pages and put the book down several times. There is nothing wrong with adding a little descriptive sexual horror or straining violence to accentuate a point but to pepper every page with poor grammar and intrusive sexual pedophilia for pure shock value crosses the line.
Sapphire tries to open the readers eyes to a boy thrown into foster care without love or reason and wants us to attach or feel for this character. Truth be told, not once do you have the opportunity to connect with this character. He is short spoken and the threads that hold reality and fiction together strain the story line. In many cases, you are actually rooting against the main character, Abdul JJ, as he rapes, molests and violates young boys throughout the story.
As an honest closing statement, read the book if you are interested in just knowing what the book is all about. Do not expect to connect with the characters or long for them well after you close the pages. In fact, it is relieving to close the back cover and know that it is all over. The book could have really brought to light some intense troubles that do exist in foster homes and Catholic boarding homes, but instead Sapphire withheld this critical emotional connection from the readers. I'm not even sure what I'm going to do with this book other than sell it on Amazon, I cannot imagine even lending this book to any friend or family member. It's that disturbing.
October 4, 2011
Okay... I have a lot to say about this book but I am going to be brief and to the point.
1. This book is very very heavy on male on male rape and pedophilia. I mean so heavy that it makes you sick to your stomach. So sick that it makes you want to go hug your children and pray they never have to live this kind of life.
2. This book is depressing. I gave it three stars because she achieves her goal in making the reader feel what Abdul is feeling and thinking but... It's too much. It's just too much and it makes your brain feel like mush, the run on sentences, the constant feeling of what the hell is going on here...
3. I will never read this book again. Ever. I have never been so disgusted in my life. Example: "I lick the drops of urine off of his little penis." Yeah, see where this is going? And that is the milder stuff, trust me.
After reading this I feel like I need to bathe in Holy Water and recite ten Hail Mary's, and just go meditate or something. I'm so glad I am done with it.
1. This book is very very heavy on male on male rape and pedophilia. I mean so heavy that it makes you sick to your stomach. So sick that it makes you want to go hug your children and pray they never have to live this kind of life.
2. This book is depressing. I gave it three stars because she achieves her goal in making the reader feel what Abdul is feeling and thinking but... It's too much. It's just too much and it makes your brain feel like mush, the run on sentences, the constant feeling of what the hell is going on here...
3. I will never read this book again. Ever. I have never been so disgusted in my life. Example: "I lick the drops of urine off of his little penis." Yeah, see where this is going? And that is the milder stuff, trust me.
After reading this I feel like I need to bathe in Holy Water and recite ten Hail Mary's, and just go meditate or something. I'm so glad I am done with it.
July 28, 2011
Just... totally unsatisfying. I loved Push and had wanted the best for Precious, but this book just took Precious's struggle and stomped it into nonexistance. Precious wanted to shield Abdul from the life she had endured, but at the end it was all for nothing. I had to slog through this book, force myself to finish because I don't like to give up on books. But this was just a wasted read. I couldn't make sense of Abdul's thoughts, tell fantasy from reality, or even bring myself to like him. This book was missing all the heart and likeability that Push had. Maybe you're not supposed to like Abdul, but I just couldn't sympathize with him at all like I could with Precious, and therefore I couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to him.
Sorry, Sapphire, but I don't see this one being made into a movie. Who wants to watch a movie about a monster who rapes little boys and beats people and feels good about it?
Sorry, Sapphire, but I don't see this one being made into a movie. Who wants to watch a movie about a monster who rapes little boys and beats people and feels good about it?
September 5, 2011
This is a hard book to review. The sexual violence in this novel is so raw and disturbing that I'd have a hard time recommending it to anyone. Stylistically, the stream of consciousness narrative - especially when the protagonist is younger, 9 and 13 - reads annoyingly gratuitous for long stretches at a time. On the other hand, the book makes such an important point about the systematic and layered vulnerability to physical and psychological violence confronting kids, especially those of a racial minority, who enter the child welfare system that it's hard to dismiss. This is a similar theme to Push, but while that novel ended with a glimmer of hope that Precious' coming to critical consciousness would offer her some protection, The Kid reminds us that, oftentimes, will alone is not enough in the quest to survive. Perhaps, in the end, this is what makes this book so hard to read.
abandoned
July 25, 2011I made it only to about page 65 in this one, so no star rating from me because I don't have enough basis. Too much abuse, bad language, things that are too hard for me to read. I don't usually have a problem with bad language and can soldier on through the violent and rough parts of a book, even gravitate towards some horror, some very dark books, but this one hurt me to read. The author's book Push on which the movie Precious was based, was also an emotionally hard read, but I thought it was excellent. This one is just too much for me right now. And probably too much for me ever.
August 15, 2011
This is the deal, I loved Push by Sapphire and was interested in reading The Kid by the same author. Of course, Push was difficult to read in places but I could "stomach" it becuase it was a beautiful story and well written. However, I had to quit reading the Kid at page 53. I cannot finish this book and would NOT recommend this to book to anyone. The violence in so horrific and so ghastly that my stomach actually did a flip and I felt ill. The sad part is that the horrendous and sick (nearly pornographic and not in a good way) scenes didn't seem timely not necessary for that early on in the story. I am sorry but feel compelled to speak up about this book.
July 20, 2011
This book was really hard to read. Part of the problem that it was raw, gritty and exceptionally profane with graphic abuse, that was to be expected after Push (only The Kid is way more so). The main issue is that in 374 pages about 200 are just rambling. The story line goes in some strange directions and you never really know much. In Push Sapphire told a heartbreaking but well conceived story. In The Kid she goes from real and thought provoking to existential babble, any sort of realness (and there is some) gets buried.
August 3, 2012
The book was obviously depressing but well written. The goal of the novel was to provide a look inside the lives of foster children, and orphans and the book did that. A bit graphic, but that is the reality of life for children on a regular basis. The book covered mental rape, psychosis, depression, and abandonment. If you weren't crying and angered Sapphire's writing must be terrible. But since the single stars are based on emotion, she did well. The ending was meant to be as confused with Abdul's life as he was.
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