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Creeps
Fifteen-year-old Wayne Pumphrey wishes he were courageous enough to actually send the heartfelt letters he writes to friends and family. He also wishes his father would drive on the right side of the street, his mother would stop packing her suitcase to leave, and his sister would stop listening to Nickelback. But most of all, he wishes that Pete “The Meat” would let him walk to school in peace. After all, how many times can one person eat yellow snow?
Then one morning, while facing Pete and his posse, Wayne is rescued by Marjorie, the girl with a dead father and a mother who might as well be. Together, the two of them escape Pete’s relentless bullying by rehearsing for the school play, and an unlikely friendship is formed. As they grow ever closer to one another, they begin to dream of escape from their small town and restricted lives. But Pete now has plans for both of them—and after a moment of sudden violence, nothing will ever be the same again for Wayne, Marjorie, or Pete himself.
Then one morning, while facing Pete and his posse, Wayne is rescued by Marjorie, the girl with a dead father and a mother who might as well be. Together, the two of them escape Pete’s relentless bullying by rehearsing for the school play, and an unlikely friendship is formed. As they grow ever closer to one another, they begin to dream of escape from their small town and restricted lives. But Pete now has plans for both of them—and after a moment of sudden violence, nothing will ever be the same again for Wayne, Marjorie, or Pete himself.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2013
8 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Darren Hynes
5 books6 followersDarren was born in Fogo Island, Newfoundland, but grew up in Labrador City. For fifteen years Darren was a professional actor, having worked in many of the regional theatres in Canada as well as in film/television. In 2006 he was a student at The Humber School for Writers in Toronto. Creative Book Publishing (Killick Press) published his first novel, Flight, in 2010. His first Young Adult novel, Creeps, will be published this summer by Penguin Canada (Razorbill).
Presently, Darren is enrolled in the MFA Creative Writing program at The University of Guelph. He lives in Toronto and is working on his third novel.
Presently, Darren is enrolled in the MFA Creative Writing program at The University of Guelph. He lives in Toronto and is working on his third novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
February 15, 2013
I LOVED this book. Having, like most of us at one time or another, been bullied, this book really struck a chord while I was reading it. I really wish Darren Hynes had written this when I was an awkward 15-year-old. Not only is this book extremely timely, it's extremely important.
- Amy Smith, Marketing Associate
- Amy Smith, Marketing Associate
June 18, 2016
Opening this book is like pulling down the lever on a roller coaster. Once you're in, you can't get out until it's over. You go through all of the emotional ups and downs with the main character Wayne, and you build a connection to him.
There aren't many books that leave me reading until midnight, but this one did. Wow!
THAT ENDING. As the story was coming to a close (about 30 pages left), I thought everything had calmed down and the story was about to die down. All the pieces I thought I had put together had changed! It was very climatic right until the end!
This book had many aspects that reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I found this one to be better written. In Perks, it is all written though journal entries, and I am not a fan of that. I like to be able to know all of the back story, and not have a biased view of what is going on. With Creeps, it is mostly told in third person narrative, but there are little entries from Wayne that are letter he writes to other characters in the book. I found these enjoyable because you got to know Wayne's perspective of what is going on, and how he felt towards the characters he was writing to.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book, found it funny but taught a good lesson. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on a copy when it comes out in August!
There aren't many books that leave me reading until midnight, but this one did. Wow!
THAT ENDING. As the story was coming to a close (about 30 pages left), I thought everything had calmed down and the story was about to die down. All the pieces I thought I had put together had changed! It was very climatic right until the end!
This book had many aspects that reminded me of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, but I found this one to be better written. In Perks, it is all written though journal entries, and I am not a fan of that. I like to be able to know all of the back story, and not have a biased view of what is going on. With Creeps, it is mostly told in third person narrative, but there are little entries from Wayne that are letter he writes to other characters in the book. I found these enjoyable because you got to know Wayne's perspective of what is going on, and how he felt towards the characters he was writing to.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book, found it funny but taught a good lesson. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on a copy when it comes out in August!
February 14, 2023
I received a free advanced reading copy of this through Goodreads' First Reads program.
I really don't know where to begin with this. The crummy writing? The unlikable characters? The terrible dialogue? The totally unnecessary references? The complete abandonment of plot threads? The frankly uncomfortable ending? Well, let's try a quick note for each, in order.
The writing was rife with run-on sentences, one particular example I remember going on for about half a page, full of nothing but the word 'and' and about two commas; no other punctuation. It was dizzying to read, made me completely lost, and was totally unnecessary as it was. This was the worst example, yes, but run on sentences were everywhere. There was also a lot of repetition and extremely strange word choices. Not to mention that the similes and metaphors were often ridiculous, and many of the descriptions heavy handed and unfortunate.
None of the characters were sympathetic to me. In fact, they all seemed to be nothing but caricatures of stereotypes. Very few actually acted the age they were supposed to (the bullying went from juvenile-but-legitimate to horrifically serious in a heartbeat), most made decisions that were totally impossible to relate to, and most of them had no personality outside of their assigned quirk (see: caricatures). I feel like the author wrote down a series of highschool stereotypes and then made them into characters without any real effort beyond that. Gay drama teacher, alcoholic father, depressed mother, fat girl, horny guy, dumb jocks one through four, rebel sister, shopaholic, preppy boy, old man janitor. I could see no real effort to write anything but stereotypes, in most of them. Also, the 'hero' at one point exclaims highly personal information about his friend to a group of relative strangers. This frustrated me immensely.
Dialogue was extremely stilted and awkward. The main character had serious issues communicating, beyond any reasonable level of 'shy.' As someone who has dealt with legitimate and diagnosed social issues, I did not feel there was a single reason why there would be several page long conversations with the main character in which he says approximately two sentences and the rest is someone talking at him. Plus, the slang choices were awkward. I live in another part of Canada, yes, but so many aspects of dialogue choice (curse words, turns of phrase) are not the kind of thing that I ever hear. This would not be such a problem if it weren't for the fact that it makes it highly awkward at times (some of the word choices just don't sound natural) and, more importantly, all characters use the same word choices. I never hear people call youth 'young ones' in conversation. I especially don't hear every person in a town call them that. I have never heard 'Jesus' used as an adjective, as opposed to an exclamation, let alone have everyone use the same curse words regardless of specific one.
The constant and completely unnecessary references were, in one instance, funny-- and only to Canadians at the current age, which not only makes the book harder to market outside of Canada, but also outside of this half of the decade. Other references also will make the book dated quickly, and many of them are absurd. I'm not sure how many fifteen year old boys will ever mention Twilight or Justin Bieber as things they are 'supposed' to like. I'm not sure how many highschool kids would even know that the Spider-man Broadway show exists (and if they do they probably know it was a disaster and that it's no compliment to tell someone they're a good enough actor to be in it). The references did nothing to add to the book other than make it 'current.' Plus, they act like Radiohead is something no one has heard of and that the 'heroine' is into something completely different, and yet the only thing actually mentioned about Radiohead is the lead singer's name and the title of one whole song (over and over again).
Often times, I felt like plot threads were totally abandoned. The alcoholism is alluded to all of three times after the first part of the book. Many struggles the characters face are mentioned once or twice and never spoken of in any way ever again. Half of the ending, even, was a total cop-out on a major plot for the entire book which, in fact, makes an entire event in the novel completely and utterly pointless.
And the ending, finally. I'm hiding this because of spoilers and because it needs a major warning for sexual assault.
And I think we're still supposed to feel sorry for the bully after all of that, including his completely unprecedented personality change. After all, "he's not a bad kid."
I really don't know where to begin with this. The crummy writing? The unlikable characters? The terrible dialogue? The totally unnecessary references? The complete abandonment of plot threads? The frankly uncomfortable ending? Well, let's try a quick note for each, in order.
The writing was rife with run-on sentences, one particular example I remember going on for about half a page, full of nothing but the word 'and' and about two commas; no other punctuation. It was dizzying to read, made me completely lost, and was totally unnecessary as it was. This was the worst example, yes, but run on sentences were everywhere. There was also a lot of repetition and extremely strange word choices. Not to mention that the similes and metaphors were often ridiculous, and many of the descriptions heavy handed and unfortunate.
None of the characters were sympathetic to me. In fact, they all seemed to be nothing but caricatures of stereotypes. Very few actually acted the age they were supposed to (the bullying went from juvenile-but-legitimate to horrifically serious in a heartbeat), most made decisions that were totally impossible to relate to, and most of them had no personality outside of their assigned quirk (see: caricatures). I feel like the author wrote down a series of highschool stereotypes and then made them into characters without any real effort beyond that. Gay drama teacher, alcoholic father, depressed mother, fat girl, horny guy, dumb jocks one through four, rebel sister, shopaholic, preppy boy, old man janitor. I could see no real effort to write anything but stereotypes, in most of them. Also, the 'hero' at one point exclaims highly personal information about his friend to a group of relative strangers. This frustrated me immensely.
Dialogue was extremely stilted and awkward. The main character had serious issues communicating, beyond any reasonable level of 'shy.' As someone who has dealt with legitimate and diagnosed social issues, I did not feel there was a single reason why there would be several page long conversations with the main character in which he says approximately two sentences and the rest is someone talking at him. Plus, the slang choices were awkward. I live in another part of Canada, yes, but so many aspects of dialogue choice (curse words, turns of phrase) are not the kind of thing that I ever hear. This would not be such a problem if it weren't for the fact that it makes it highly awkward at times (some of the word choices just don't sound natural) and, more importantly, all characters use the same word choices. I never hear people call youth 'young ones' in conversation. I especially don't hear every person in a town call them that. I have never heard 'Jesus' used as an adjective, as opposed to an exclamation, let alone have everyone use the same curse words regardless of specific one.
The constant and completely unnecessary references were, in one instance, funny-- and only to Canadians at the current age, which not only makes the book harder to market outside of Canada, but also outside of this half of the decade. Other references also will make the book dated quickly, and many of them are absurd. I'm not sure how many fifteen year old boys will ever mention Twilight or Justin Bieber as things they are 'supposed' to like. I'm not sure how many highschool kids would even know that the Spider-man Broadway show exists (and if they do they probably know it was a disaster and that it's no compliment to tell someone they're a good enough actor to be in it). The references did nothing to add to the book other than make it 'current.' Plus, they act like Radiohead is something no one has heard of and that the 'heroine' is into something completely different, and yet the only thing actually mentioned about Radiohead is the lead singer's name and the title of one whole song (over and over again).
Often times, I felt like plot threads were totally abandoned. The alcoholism is alluded to all of three times after the first part of the book. Many struggles the characters face are mentioned once or twice and never spoken of in any way ever again. Half of the ending, even, was a total cop-out on a major plot for the entire book which, in fact, makes an entire event in the novel completely and utterly pointless.
And the ending, finally. I'm hiding this because of spoilers and because it needs a major warning for sexual assault.
And I think we're still supposed to feel sorry for the bully after all of that, including his completely unprecedented personality change. After all, "he's not a bad kid."
August 17, 2013
Creeps by Darren Hynes Creeps by Darren Hynes was one of those reads that I could only take in moderation. Every time I would read a little further into the book, I was feeling so overwhelmingly sad and upset with the events that would transpire! This is one of those books about bullying that really got me to the core. My heart cried out for both Wayne Pumphrey, and his only friend, Marjorie.
Wayne Pumphry is counting down the days when he can be finally free of the bullying he gets from Pete “The Meat” and his buds. Around every corner, it seems like these bullies are there ready to dish out a new bullying tactic, whether it be forcing Wayne to eat yellow snow, humping a snow pile, or reading a hard snowball to smash into his face.
One day, as Wayne is in the middle of another bullying session, he is saved by someone he least expected…Marjorie. Marjorie who is also considered a loner, loser…nobody. A victim of taunts and teasing, whispers behind her back and vicious rumors that spread like wild fire. But it’s Marjorie’s courageous act that saves Wayne this time. And eventually, these two find themselves in a friendship that came out of nowhere.
But with a mother who is suffering from a deep depression due to the loss of Marjorie’s father, Marjorie’s life at both home and school are insufferable. This could be the reason why these two seem to have warmed up to each other since they both are living in similar situations.
But when an act of bullying goes way to far, will Wayne and Marjorie be able to walk away unscathed? Or will this change the course of their lives, and the lives of those around them?
The one thought that kept going on and on in my head was “Is the bullying out there in this day and age really this awful?” I was taken aback over and over again with the different ways in which Pete “The Meat” and his gang of goons would torment poor Wayne Pumphry.
I could picture it from both perspectives. Of that I mean of Wayne and his father. For one thing, as a parent myself, I would definitely want to know if my children were suffering the way Wayne suffers on a daily basis. And should I find out that they are being bullied, and the identity of the tormentors were revealed to me, I’d for sure want to confront the parents and say “WTF!” But looking it from Wayne’s perspective (the victim), I would have to agree that in some situations, the torment is only going to get worse because the bully has been ousted and would be seeking revenge.
I couldn’t help but cry out and want to hold Wayne in my arms and comfort him with each letter that he wrote. Seeing as how this was the only way in which he could convey his feelings and thoughts, his letters to whomever (friends, family, teachers, yes…even the bullies) were full of so much sadness and a little semblance of hope.
Whether you are aware or not, I’m am huge on the anti-bullying front and wish that it could be eradicated. My wish is that no child should ever have to suffer from the hands of any bullies, and to be able to enjoy their youth, free of fear and stress. My wish throughout this entire read was for Wayne to find the peace he is looking for.
The thing is, not only do we witness the bullying that Wayne must endure outside of the home front, but we also see the troubles that he has to deal with at home. With a father who has a pretty close relationship with the bottle, and mother who is constantly threatening to leave, Wayne is going through a lot in his young life.
If you’re looking for a read about bullying that will rock you to the core, I recommend you read Creeps by Darren Hynes. It’s a huge eye opener for just how awful bullying can be, and really gives the reader an in depth look into the head of the victim, and what coping mechanisms are used to just get by.
Wayne Pumphry is counting down the days when he can be finally free of the bullying he gets from Pete “The Meat” and his buds. Around every corner, it seems like these bullies are there ready to dish out a new bullying tactic, whether it be forcing Wayne to eat yellow snow, humping a snow pile, or reading a hard snowball to smash into his face.
One day, as Wayne is in the middle of another bullying session, he is saved by someone he least expected…Marjorie. Marjorie who is also considered a loner, loser…nobody. A victim of taunts and teasing, whispers behind her back and vicious rumors that spread like wild fire. But it’s Marjorie’s courageous act that saves Wayne this time. And eventually, these two find themselves in a friendship that came out of nowhere.
But with a mother who is suffering from a deep depression due to the loss of Marjorie’s father, Marjorie’s life at both home and school are insufferable. This could be the reason why these two seem to have warmed up to each other since they both are living in similar situations.
But when an act of bullying goes way to far, will Wayne and Marjorie be able to walk away unscathed? Or will this change the course of their lives, and the lives of those around them?
The one thought that kept going on and on in my head was “Is the bullying out there in this day and age really this awful?” I was taken aback over and over again with the different ways in which Pete “The Meat” and his gang of goons would torment poor Wayne Pumphry.
I could picture it from both perspectives. Of that I mean of Wayne and his father. For one thing, as a parent myself, I would definitely want to know if my children were suffering the way Wayne suffers on a daily basis. And should I find out that they are being bullied, and the identity of the tormentors were revealed to me, I’d for sure want to confront the parents and say “WTF!” But looking it from Wayne’s perspective (the victim), I would have to agree that in some situations, the torment is only going to get worse because the bully has been ousted and would be seeking revenge.
I couldn’t help but cry out and want to hold Wayne in my arms and comfort him with each letter that he wrote. Seeing as how this was the only way in which he could convey his feelings and thoughts, his letters to whomever (friends, family, teachers, yes…even the bullies) were full of so much sadness and a little semblance of hope.
Whether you are aware or not, I’m am huge on the anti-bullying front and wish that it could be eradicated. My wish is that no child should ever have to suffer from the hands of any bullies, and to be able to enjoy their youth, free of fear and stress. My wish throughout this entire read was for Wayne to find the peace he is looking for.
The thing is, not only do we witness the bullying that Wayne must endure outside of the home front, but we also see the troubles that he has to deal with at home. With a father who has a pretty close relationship with the bottle, and mother who is constantly threatening to leave, Wayne is going through a lot in his young life.
If you’re looking for a read about bullying that will rock you to the core, I recommend you read Creeps by Darren Hynes. It’s a huge eye opener for just how awful bullying can be, and really gives the reader an in depth look into the head of the victim, and what coping mechanisms are used to just get by.
July 18, 2013
I received this book free from a contest on goodreads.
Poor Wayne. He gets bullied. Because of his appearance, his attitude, his everything. And it's really harsh physical and physiologic bullying. Everyday when he walks to school he is harassed by Pete the Meat and his gang of cronies. Until one day Marjorie, perhaps the only person more of an outcast then he, steps in. Marjorie and Wayne form an unlikely friendship and their interactions with Pete will change all of them forever.
This was a very well written book. I loved the descriptions of winter in Labrador and the characters were interesting and complicated, really made you think. At times I was frustrated with Wayne and his stubborn unwillingness to do anything about his situation. He is an eternal optimist who is very naive and just hopes for the best. Although it annoyed me, I also found it endearing...
There are quite a few creepy, almost adult undertones of sexual violence and suicide in this novel. That being said in today's world teenagers can definitely be exposed to this type of thing. Although this was quite a sad story it had moments of beauty and hope. I really enjoyed it.
Poor Wayne. He gets bullied. Because of his appearance, his attitude, his everything. And it's really harsh physical and physiologic bullying. Everyday when he walks to school he is harassed by Pete the Meat and his gang of cronies. Until one day Marjorie, perhaps the only person more of an outcast then he, steps in. Marjorie and Wayne form an unlikely friendship and their interactions with Pete will change all of them forever.
This was a very well written book. I loved the descriptions of winter in Labrador and the characters were interesting and complicated, really made you think. At times I was frustrated with Wayne and his stubborn unwillingness to do anything about his situation. He is an eternal optimist who is very naive and just hopes for the best. Although it annoyed me, I also found it endearing...
There are quite a few creepy, almost adult undertones of sexual violence and suicide in this novel. That being said in today's world teenagers can definitely be exposed to this type of thing. Although this was quite a sad story it had moments of beauty and hope. I really enjoyed it.
May 26, 2013
A heartbreaking and candid story of Wayne’s endless bout with school bullying. It will make you want to hug your children and never let them go.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
August 24, 2013
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
A Canadian novel, named after a Radiohead song with fantastic and incredibly realistic characters? What’s not to love about Creeps?
Creeps is the story of Wayne Pumphrey – fifteen years old, a bit small for his age and more than a little self conscious. Unfortunately for Wayne, being different doesn’t win you any favours in high school and he is targeted by a group of particularly nasty bullies.
I thought Darren Hynes’s depection of being bullied was incredibly realistic. Bullying comes in a lot of varieities and Wayne experiences quite a few of them – from emotional to physical. Some parts were difficult to read – such as any of the more violent episodes – but I appreciated that Hynes didn’t shy away from those scenes. These things DO happen and Creeps is honest about it.
Thankfully there’s Marjorie. A quirky, fascinating girl who – though often bullied herself – sticks up for Wayne one day. From there they form an unlikely but fantastic friendship. It was a difficult friendship and at times you didn’t think it would last but they are both incredibly strong and admirable people. I loved that Marjorie was quirky and out there, but didn’t fall into the whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl archtype. She was a fully developed character who was just as flawed and complicated as Wayne. I also liked that she gave Wayne hope. That she was a ray of light that he didn’t have to wait for. So many YA books about bullying seem to subcribe to the “it gets better” message. And while that is important, I believe it’s just important to show that there can be amazing things DURING your teen years as well.
I also think Hynes did a good job depicting how adults and other students react to bullying. From Wayne’s father thinking he could just talk it out with the bully’s parents to the oblivious high school principal. The principal in particular really angered me. I think a lot of the time teachers/principals don’t want to believe bullying is happening in their school. Or that certain kids are actually bullies. And that kind of behaviour can make a horrible situation even more desperate. And because of this I think Creeps is also a great book for adults to read – particularly parents or those who work with teens on a regular basis. I think it could be a bit of an eye opener.
Finally, I loved the setting of this book. Set in Labrador it’s hard to imagine a more remote location. If we’re being honest I don’t know that much about the area so it was nice to get a glimpse into life there. There aren’t enough books set in Northern Canada and I think that’s something that really sets Creeps apart.
Recommendation: Creeps is an authentic and emotional look at what it’s like to be bullied. This is a book that a lot of people are going to be able to relate to, even if they weren’t bullied as heavily as Wayne. Definitely an essential read for high schoolers and those who work with teens.
A Canadian novel, named after a Radiohead song with fantastic and incredibly realistic characters? What’s not to love about Creeps?
Creeps is the story of Wayne Pumphrey – fifteen years old, a bit small for his age and more than a little self conscious. Unfortunately for Wayne, being different doesn’t win you any favours in high school and he is targeted by a group of particularly nasty bullies.
I thought Darren Hynes’s depection of being bullied was incredibly realistic. Bullying comes in a lot of varieities and Wayne experiences quite a few of them – from emotional to physical. Some parts were difficult to read – such as any of the more violent episodes – but I appreciated that Hynes didn’t shy away from those scenes. These things DO happen and Creeps is honest about it.
Thankfully there’s Marjorie. A quirky, fascinating girl who – though often bullied herself – sticks up for Wayne one day. From there they form an unlikely but fantastic friendship. It was a difficult friendship and at times you didn’t think it would last but they are both incredibly strong and admirable people. I loved that Marjorie was quirky and out there, but didn’t fall into the whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl archtype. She was a fully developed character who was just as flawed and complicated as Wayne. I also liked that she gave Wayne hope. That she was a ray of light that he didn’t have to wait for. So many YA books about bullying seem to subcribe to the “it gets better” message. And while that is important, I believe it’s just important to show that there can be amazing things DURING your teen years as well.
I also think Hynes did a good job depicting how adults and other students react to bullying. From Wayne’s father thinking he could just talk it out with the bully’s parents to the oblivious high school principal. The principal in particular really angered me. I think a lot of the time teachers/principals don’t want to believe bullying is happening in their school. Or that certain kids are actually bullies. And that kind of behaviour can make a horrible situation even more desperate. And because of this I think Creeps is also a great book for adults to read – particularly parents or those who work with teens on a regular basis. I think it could be a bit of an eye opener.
Finally, I loved the setting of this book. Set in Labrador it’s hard to imagine a more remote location. If we’re being honest I don’t know that much about the area so it was nice to get a glimpse into life there. There aren’t enough books set in Northern Canada and I think that’s something that really sets Creeps apart.
Recommendation: Creeps is an authentic and emotional look at what it’s like to be bullied. This is a book that a lot of people are going to be able to relate to, even if they weren’t bullied as heavily as Wayne. Definitely an essential read for high schoolers and those who work with teens.
July 23, 2013
What can I say about this book that has not already been said? It is fantastic, real, and heart shattering in a way I never expected. Going into this story I knew it was about bullying and I knew that it dealt with some serious topics but honestly I never once expected what I just read. It blew my expectations into a millions and one pieces.
Before I get into the bullying aspect of the novel, I would just like to commend Darren for writing this story. It was extremely hard for me to read so I expect it was just as hard to write, if not more. Wayne is the type of character that defines what it is to be an outsider. He is skinny, sensitive and loves to write-these are not aspects of a boys personality that get him on the "cool list" and it becomes painfully clear right from the beginning. What I also loved about Wayne's character was his relationship with Marjorie. Their friendship makes no sense on paper but it works for some reason, and it is that relationship and the trials and tribulations that they go through that brought me to tears at the end.
Bullying is something that has always been very close to my heart when it comes to awareness and discipline. When I was in middle school I was bullied relentlessly for 3 years. I have always been semi ashamed of those years but I know that they were detrimental to the person that I became. I have always been overweight, it was something I used to be ashamed of, and at times still am, but at the time that was what those kids focused on, the same went for Wayne. There was one scene that really hit home for me and that was when Wayne was forced onto the ground (on multiple occasions) by his tormentors. That same thing happened to me, so reading that got me extremely emotional in a way I never expected. I thought I was done with that part of my life, but this book took me down some memories I thought I had forgotten and honestly I am glad it did, because those moments in your life are important and should never be forgotten because they will shape the way you view others and I think it made me a better person.
If you read any book this year please let it be this one because it is important. It is important for young kids and their parents because it will demonstrate what it is like to be on the other side of the laughter and how horrible it can be. I want every kid to read this book just so they know what it feels like, at least on paper. Creeps is one of the best books I have ever read...ever. And every person on the planet needs to read it.
Before I get into the bullying aspect of the novel, I would just like to commend Darren for writing this story. It was extremely hard for me to read so I expect it was just as hard to write, if not more. Wayne is the type of character that defines what it is to be an outsider. He is skinny, sensitive and loves to write-these are not aspects of a boys personality that get him on the "cool list" and it becomes painfully clear right from the beginning. What I also loved about Wayne's character was his relationship with Marjorie. Their friendship makes no sense on paper but it works for some reason, and it is that relationship and the trials and tribulations that they go through that brought me to tears at the end.
Bullying is something that has always been very close to my heart when it comes to awareness and discipline. When I was in middle school I was bullied relentlessly for 3 years. I have always been semi ashamed of those years but I know that they were detrimental to the person that I became. I have always been overweight, it was something I used to be ashamed of, and at times still am, but at the time that was what those kids focused on, the same went for Wayne. There was one scene that really hit home for me and that was when Wayne was forced onto the ground (on multiple occasions) by his tormentors. That same thing happened to me, so reading that got me extremely emotional in a way I never expected. I thought I was done with that part of my life, but this book took me down some memories I thought I had forgotten and honestly I am glad it did, because those moments in your life are important and should never be forgotten because they will shape the way you view others and I think it made me a better person.
If you read any book this year please let it be this one because it is important. It is important for young kids and their parents because it will demonstrate what it is like to be on the other side of the laughter and how horrible it can be. I want every kid to read this book just so they know what it feels like, at least on paper. Creeps is one of the best books I have ever read...ever. And every person on the planet needs to read it.
September 8, 2013
You can find my full review (with LazyDay Additions!) of Creeps at LazyDay Reviews + a GIVEAWAY for a copy of the book {CANADA ONLY & Ends Sept 23/13}
Creeps is one of those books that will rip your heart out, break it in half and then try to place it back in your chest! It’s set in a small mining town of Canning, Labrador and as you would expect, it’s written with precision that can only come from the knowledge of living in small town Canada. It’s told by a 15 year old boy, Wayne Pumphrey, who gets EXCESSIVELY bullied by Pete “The Meat” Avery and his followers. To add extreme insult to injury, Wayne’s home life is a constant nightmare. His father is an alcoholic, his mother packs her bags to leave all the time and his sister doesn’t listen to anything but Nickelback while also having a serious addiction to Diet Coke!
Wayne writes letters to his only friend Marjorie, his family, God, his teachers, and the boys that bully him but he doesn’t have the courage to send these letters. They pretty much explain Wayne’s anguish over his home life, how he wishes things could actually be and how he really feels about the people around him. It’s probably one of the saddest things I’ve read with the exception of A Child Called It.
I really hate predictable books and I made a prediction within the first 20 pages of Creeps. At around the 33% (according to my Kindle) mark there was a line that made me so smug and sure of my prediction that I was gloating to myself about how great I am, Mrs. Bibliophile herself!
I. Was. Wrong. *I hope your happy Justin – I've finally admitted I’m wrong about something* (Editor: Excellent.)
I was pleasantly surprised and quite happy that I was wrong. It was really surprising and unexpected but you’re just going to have to read it to find out folks! I don’t spoil books for you guys in my reviews, you should know that!
Lastly I just want to say that this book was a potential 5 star read for me but sadly there was a flaw that I just couldn't overlook. Wayne Pumphrey is suppose to be a 15 year old boy and it seems to me that he was written in a mind set of about a 9 year old. I just kept thinking that the kid sounded like my son Jeffrey. This is a flaw I find with a lot of YA books that I read. They either write the teen characters way too mature or not mature enough for the age written.
Creeps is one of those books that will rip your heart out, break it in half and then try to place it back in your chest! It’s set in a small mining town of Canning, Labrador and as you would expect, it’s written with precision that can only come from the knowledge of living in small town Canada. It’s told by a 15 year old boy, Wayne Pumphrey, who gets EXCESSIVELY bullied by Pete “The Meat” Avery and his followers. To add extreme insult to injury, Wayne’s home life is a constant nightmare. His father is an alcoholic, his mother packs her bags to leave all the time and his sister doesn’t listen to anything but Nickelback while also having a serious addiction to Diet Coke!
Wayne writes letters to his only friend Marjorie, his family, God, his teachers, and the boys that bully him but he doesn’t have the courage to send these letters. They pretty much explain Wayne’s anguish over his home life, how he wishes things could actually be and how he really feels about the people around him. It’s probably one of the saddest things I’ve read with the exception of A Child Called It.
I really hate predictable books and I made a prediction within the first 20 pages of Creeps. At around the 33% (according to my Kindle) mark there was a line that made me so smug and sure of my prediction that I was gloating to myself about how great I am, Mrs. Bibliophile herself!
I. Was. Wrong. *I hope your happy Justin – I've finally admitted I’m wrong about something* (Editor: Excellent.)
I was pleasantly surprised and quite happy that I was wrong. It was really surprising and unexpected but you’re just going to have to read it to find out folks! I don’t spoil books for you guys in my reviews, you should know that!
Lastly I just want to say that this book was a potential 5 star read for me but sadly there was a flaw that I just couldn't overlook. Wayne Pumphrey is suppose to be a 15 year old boy and it seems to me that he was written in a mind set of about a 9 year old. I just kept thinking that the kid sounded like my son Jeffrey. This is a flaw I find with a lot of YA books that I read. They either write the teen characters way too mature or not mature enough for the age written.
August 6, 2013
2.5 stars (??)
Dear Creeps,
You remind of why high school can be the bane of existences for some kids, of why being a considered a "creep" is a pass to taunt and tease and abuse you. It doesn't help when your family life isn't that easy either. I'm glad Wayne found a friend in Marjorie. In the end however, I don't know how I feel about you Creeps. You are a hard book to read and it's daunting knowing that though you are fiction, that is not the case for many kids. I'm left unsure of my feelings towards you. Are you an interesting book that deals with tough topics? Yes. But are you a good book that's enjoyable? That's where my confusion lies. It's probably me and not you (for the most part.)
A reader who really wanted to like you, I swear
Cynthia
I felt like a letter to express my thoughts on was appropriate as Wayne tends to write many (unsent) letters. It's actually the main things I enjoyed the most about this book. Besides the letters and occasional interaction with Mr. Rollie and Majorie, I found I wasn't really enjoying the rest of the book. I also found the writing a bit stilted which made it hard for me to really get into the book. I didn't enjoy it, but I also didn't dislike it...which leads me back to the age old "It's me and not you". I think someone looking for this more type of book would really enjoy it, but I think I was expecting some a bit more lighthearted as Wayne and Majorie learned to dealing with bullying, but that wasn't the case.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, I truly enjoyed Wayne's heartfelt letters to the people around him, but I just didn't fully enjoy the book.
{* Thanks to the publisher & Goodreads first read program for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. Original review at BookMunchies
Dear Creeps,
You remind of why high school can be the bane of existences for some kids, of why being a considered a "creep" is a pass to taunt and tease and abuse you. It doesn't help when your family life isn't that easy either. I'm glad Wayne found a friend in Marjorie. In the end however, I don't know how I feel about you Creeps. You are a hard book to read and it's daunting knowing that though you are fiction, that is not the case for many kids. I'm left unsure of my feelings towards you. Are you an interesting book that deals with tough topics? Yes. But are you a good book that's enjoyable? That's where my confusion lies. It's probably me and not you (for the most part.)
A reader who really wanted to like you, I swear
Cynthia
I felt like a letter to express my thoughts on was appropriate as Wayne tends to write many (unsent) letters. It's actually the main things I enjoyed the most about this book. Besides the letters and occasional interaction with Mr. Rollie and Majorie, I found I wasn't really enjoying the rest of the book. I also found the writing a bit stilted which made it hard for me to really get into the book. I didn't enjoy it, but I also didn't dislike it...which leads me back to the age old "It's me and not you". I think someone looking for this more type of book would really enjoy it, but I think I was expecting some a bit more lighthearted as Wayne and Majorie learned to dealing with bullying, but that wasn't the case.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book, I truly enjoyed Wayne's heartfelt letters to the people around him, but I just didn't fully enjoy the book.
{* Thanks to the publisher & Goodreads first read program for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. Original review at BookMunchies
July 28, 2013
Wayne Pumphrey is small, skinny, 15 years old and with no friends trying to survive the next three years of high school. But Pete the Meat and his gang have other ideas. When does being bullied cross the line and become torture.
Wayne learns to cope with the daily punishment and tries to avoid Pete as best he can. Until he finally finds a friend. Marjorie and Wayne become friends and join the cast of the school play and it seems that together they can almost avoid the daily torment of their bullies.
But outside of school and at home Wayne, Marjorie and even Pete have their own personal battles. Wayne's father drinks too much, his mom is always threatening to leave but never does. Marjorie is mourning the loss of her father and her mother can't even begin to cope and whatever has happened in the past to Pete is driving him to take his anger out on anyone who is smaller and weaker.
Hynes is able to get into the way a victim feels, the helplessness and the wanting to just do whatever it takes to make it from one day to the next until you can escape. I only wish that this book touched on what really drove Pete to do what he did, not to justify it or explain it away but a look at what makes some bullies act the way they do.
This is a great book and could be a great way to open up discussions on what bullying means to students and how to react and what onlookers, bystanders and adults can do.
Wayne learns to cope with the daily punishment and tries to avoid Pete as best he can. Until he finally finds a friend. Marjorie and Wayne become friends and join the cast of the school play and it seems that together they can almost avoid the daily torment of their bullies.
But outside of school and at home Wayne, Marjorie and even Pete have their own personal battles. Wayne's father drinks too much, his mom is always threatening to leave but never does. Marjorie is mourning the loss of her father and her mother can't even begin to cope and whatever has happened in the past to Pete is driving him to take his anger out on anyone who is smaller and weaker.
Hynes is able to get into the way a victim feels, the helplessness and the wanting to just do whatever it takes to make it from one day to the next until you can escape. I only wish that this book touched on what really drove Pete to do what he did, not to justify it or explain it away but a look at what makes some bullies act the way they do.
This is a great book and could be a great way to open up discussions on what bullying means to students and how to react and what onlookers, bystanders and adults can do.
February 27, 2017
There was something utterly captivating about this novel. Wayne's voice is unique, but it's still somehow easy to relate to him. He's alienated and alone while trying to be a good son. I loved the letters he wrote to people. It broke my heart that all he wanted was to understand why people acted the way they did. They're questions all bullied children ask and I really felt for Wayne.
The climax of the book was entirely unexpected and it was quite a mature scene. I don't think it's appropriate for a younger teen audience. The end was also unexpected and I read the last 20 pages with a lump in my throat.
All in all, it's a solid novel for teenagers. I think it will make them think and hopefully change their perspective.
I received this book from the Goodreads FirstReads program.
The climax of the book was entirely unexpected and it was quite a mature scene. I don't think it's appropriate for a younger teen audience. The end was also unexpected and I read the last 20 pages with a lump in my throat.
All in all, it's a solid novel for teenagers. I think it will make them think and hopefully change their perspective.
I received this book from the Goodreads FirstReads program.
March 28, 2013
Wow! Made me uncomfortable watching Wayne Pumphrey's life. Wayne is the victim of relentless bullying and yet finds escape in writing heartfelt letters that he has no intention of sending. I found the letters honest and refreshing and not without humor. Wayne finds an unlikely friend in Marjorie and this friendship makes life tolerable for them both. I love the courage that both Wayne and Marjorie show when facing the bullies. I hope that Creeps will create more awareness and empathy to stop bullying.
June 4, 2013
I really liked this book a lot and loved the complicated, troubled characters. I love books that makes me want to laugh and cry (sometimes at the same time). I read this book shortly after having read Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell and found similarities in the seriousness about bullying and family problems and similarities in the characters' wry sense of humour. The harsh lives of the characters is alleviated by their feisty attitudes and you're left with the feeling that they have hope. Otherwise these stories would be too heartbreaking.
January 4, 2013
A less angsty Perks of Being a Wallflower, this book is a very real and moving depiction of what it's like to be bullied in high school. It's full of heartfelt letters from Wayne Pumphrey, and the characters could have been in my high school growing up. Loved this book!
July 6, 2013
Once I started reading I was captivated and had to finished reading the book immediately. Well written novel of the journey of a 15 year old boy that is bullied. Looking forward to reading more Darren Hynes books.
January 9, 2016
Bullying. Alcoholism. Suicide. Dysfunctional familes. Bad Dads. Warning: Profanity and homophobic content. A dark tale told with moments of humour. Definitely not for everyone. I enjoyed it. Made me appreciate my Dad even more.
April 2, 2013
Remarkable and heartbreaking. Review to follow closer to publication.
August 23, 2013
Reminiscent of another YA novel called The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. Really good story. I loved Marjorie!!
December 6, 2013
A powerful YA novel which covers a number of tough issues such as bullying,fitting in and alcoholism, yet through all the sadness still has hope. Fans of "Eleanor and Park" will enjoy this.
January 3, 2014
"...and I just want you to know that I'm proud to be me and I hope you're proud to be you too, 'cause for a couple of creeps we're doing alright."
March 30, 2014
This book was absolutely delightful. I has had a wonderful time reading it. I even wrote an essay on it at school!
November 11, 2017
Rating: 4.95 stars
This book was good, bad and everything else all at the same time. The characters were not perfect and all had many flaw, but all of them had a problem or secret and they each were unique. I couldn't help loving all of them. This book was very sad and dealt with serious topics such as; suicide, alcohol addiction and bullying. There were gross parts in this book and phrases that pissed me off, there were whole chapters that pissed me off. The one thing that made sure it got an extra star was because of the one gay teacher who was married and happy in his relationship., Yes, finally, I've been waiting for this for so long! Over all this book was good and I am glad I read it.
Spoilers:
There is sexual assault in this that is horrible and disgusting and looking back on it, made the main character seem like an asshole, because he wasn't doing it, he was forced to by his bullies, but rereading that pert he later said he kind of liked doing that to his only friend and that was pretty gross. It wasn't full on sex or anything like that, but it was still pretty close to that and was still absolutely disgusting.
This book was good, bad and everything else all at the same time. The characters were not perfect and all had many flaw, but all of them had a problem or secret and they each were unique. I couldn't help loving all of them. This book was very sad and dealt with serious topics such as; suicide, alcohol addiction and bullying. There were gross parts in this book and phrases that pissed me off, there were whole chapters that pissed me off. The one thing that made sure it got an extra star was because of the one gay teacher who was married and happy in his relationship., Yes, finally, I've been waiting for this for so long! Over all this book was good and I am glad I read it.
Spoilers:
There is sexual assault in this that is horrible and disgusting and looking back on it, made the main character seem like an asshole, because he wasn't doing it, he was forced to by his bullies, but rereading that pert he later said he kind of liked doing that to his only friend and that was pretty gross. It wasn't full on sex or anything like that, but it was still pretty close to that and was still absolutely disgusting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2017
It was an interesting story to read but I wasn't completely blown away by it. My favourite part is on page 306 "without you I'm roast beef without gravy and tea without sugar and an ocean without a beach and I guess what I'm trying to say is: you make everything better, because before you I was alone and now I hardly ever feel that way..."
December 18, 2017
For me this book was a tough read, man's inhumanity to man. How can kids be so cruel to each other? This is extreme bullying and it doesn't let up through out the whole book. I wouldn't want to live under these circumstances. But it is a wonderful feel bad read with solid characters.
October 30, 2018
Excellent ! Ces scènes de harcèlement au sein d'un collège sont un peu pénibles mais je m'apprête quand même à prêter ce roman (en anglais) à mes petites-filles de 12 et 14 ans car elles devraient l'aimer !
July 4, 2024
i really liked this book more than i thought i would. it was funny but it also taught some good lessons.
May 4, 2014
An ARC was provided to me from Goodreads, won by a contest. Thank you!
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!! BEWARE!!!
Still fairly new to writing reviews. So...I guess I'll pre-apologize in case. But go on and read. Now. It's not too bad.
Ok...so FINALLY I have gotten around to write a review for Creeps. This is a book unlike anything I have ever read, as I'm used to reading either classic books or sci-fi, dystopia, or new adult contemporary. And in all honestly, reading Creeps was actually kinda refreshing. We have all either been victims or bystanders, maybe even upstanders, to bullying. We have ALL gone through our awkward tween/teenager phase. Hell, sometimes I question if I'm still living mine...but that's besides the point. And Creeps is a story that covers all these topics and many more including, friendship and family.
Firstly, let me start of by saying that a good 96% of the books I read are written in a female's perspective, so I already had to give a moment of appreciation for it being written in a boy's point of view.
My favourite part of this novel was DEFINITELY Marjorie. Holy crap, I loved this girl. And here's why: She didn't give a shit. About anything, or anyone who was remotely insignificant to her. According to the gossipers in school, Marjorie allegedly used a frozen hot dog as a substitution method in order to "please" herself. And I'm not talking about eating it... Although many of us would view this as a desperate or disturbing act, that is not the point. The point is that whether this was an accurate rumour or not, Marjorie gives a strong, and in my opinion respectable, response to Wayne when he asks her if the rumour is true: "What does it matter? It's my body, isn't it?" Or something along those lines because I unfortunately can't find the exact quote in my book :P That's what happens when you wait so long to write a review *inner, frustrated, disappointed sigh* Anyways, I loved this. Most notable quote for me in this book. Unlike so many teenagers today, we are constantly nervous and over analyzing what others think of us. But guess what? Those other kids we're trying to impress so much don't give a rat's ass about us. They don't think twice about us. They (hopefully) have more important things to do than think about the shoes you wore to school last week. And, furthermore, you're not gonna see them or interact with them after you graduate from school, so it's completely pointless and unnecessary to care about how they're going to judge you. And I think this is an important lesson to learn from Marjorie's character, as she constantly demonstrates this attitude.
Most of the books I have read have the female heroine, who is between that ages of 15-18, who coincidentally sees her love interest and explains to the reader how she gets the butterflies in her stomach feeling and all that other redundant shit. I mean, girl, you're 15, you're not gonna get married. Calm yo tits. Unlike many of the books I'm sure we have all read, Marjorie's and Wayne's relationship was not all lovey-dovey from the start. It wasn't a love at first sight moment. It was barely an acquaintance at first sight moment. It wasn't even lovey-dovey in the end!!!! Marjorie and Wayne built a trusting friendship that took quite a while to develop. And I just have to salute Mr. Hynes for that. It was nice and realistic like that.
Really my only problems with this book are that it just seemed really problematic, had many juvenile qualities about it, and seemed kinda unrealistic at some points.
Overall, Creeps, was an easy, enjoyable read that I feel many can relate to one way or another. I would definitely recommend this book as I think there are many morals readers can acquire from reading it. Thanks for reading this review. Hopefully it wasn't all that bad.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!! BEWARE!!!
Still fairly new to writing reviews. So...I guess I'll pre-apologize in case. But go on and read. Now. It's not too bad.
Ok...so FINALLY I have gotten around to write a review for Creeps. This is a book unlike anything I have ever read, as I'm used to reading either classic books or sci-fi, dystopia, or new adult contemporary. And in all honestly, reading Creeps was actually kinda refreshing. We have all either been victims or bystanders, maybe even upstanders, to bullying. We have ALL gone through our awkward tween/teenager phase. Hell, sometimes I question if I'm still living mine...but that's besides the point. And Creeps is a story that covers all these topics and many more including, friendship and family.
Firstly, let me start of by saying that a good 96% of the books I read are written in a female's perspective, so I already had to give a moment of appreciation for it being written in a boy's point of view.
My favourite part of this novel was DEFINITELY Marjorie. Holy crap, I loved this girl. And here's why: She didn't give a shit. About anything, or anyone who was remotely insignificant to her. According to the gossipers in school, Marjorie allegedly used a frozen hot dog as a substitution method in order to "please" herself. And I'm not talking about eating it... Although many of us would view this as a desperate or disturbing act, that is not the point. The point is that whether this was an accurate rumour or not, Marjorie gives a strong, and in my opinion respectable, response to Wayne when he asks her if the rumour is true: "What does it matter? It's my body, isn't it?" Or something along those lines because I unfortunately can't find the exact quote in my book :P That's what happens when you wait so long to write a review *inner, frustrated, disappointed sigh* Anyways, I loved this. Most notable quote for me in this book. Unlike so many teenagers today, we are constantly nervous and over analyzing what others think of us. But guess what? Those other kids we're trying to impress so much don't give a rat's ass about us. They don't think twice about us. They (hopefully) have more important things to do than think about the shoes you wore to school last week. And, furthermore, you're not gonna see them or interact with them after you graduate from school, so it's completely pointless and unnecessary to care about how they're going to judge you. And I think this is an important lesson to learn from Marjorie's character, as she constantly demonstrates this attitude.
Most of the books I have read have the female heroine, who is between that ages of 15-18, who coincidentally sees her love interest and explains to the reader how she gets the butterflies in her stomach feeling and all that other redundant shit. I mean, girl, you're 15, you're not gonna get married. Calm yo tits. Unlike many of the books I'm sure we have all read, Marjorie's and Wayne's relationship was not all lovey-dovey from the start. It wasn't a love at first sight moment. It was barely an acquaintance at first sight moment. It wasn't even lovey-dovey in the end!!!! Marjorie and Wayne built a trusting friendship that took quite a while to develop. And I just have to salute Mr. Hynes for that. It was nice and realistic like that.
Really my only problems with this book are that it just seemed really problematic, had many juvenile qualities about it, and seemed kinda unrealistic at some points.
Overall, Creeps, was an easy, enjoyable read that I feel many can relate to one way or another. I would definitely recommend this book as I think there are many morals readers can acquire from reading it. Thanks for reading this review. Hopefully it wasn't all that bad.
August 2, 2013
*I was provided with an advanced electronic copy of this book from the author and Razorbill and Penguin Canada in return of an honest review. No monetary compensation was provided in this exchange.*
Also found on Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf as part of the Razorbill Creeps blog tour.
At the young age of 15, Wayne Pumphrey has not experienced much in his small Atlantic Canada town, but he’s experienced enough to believe not to talk back when other insult him. Not to shove back when his classmates push him. Not to fight back when he desperately wants to. Not to tell his own mother to stay on the occasion that she packs up and threatens to leave him with his wayward sister and alcoholic father. Instead, he writes. In his room, he writes letter to all of the people (and sometimes objects) that he wants to talk to. He writes to his mother, his father, Pete the Meat, and the one girl who stood up for him when nobody else would, Marjorie who lives across the street and has her own demons inside of her.
Marjorie’s one act of bravery against the bullies that constantly prey Wayne results in a slow, timid friendship between the two misfits. Through the school play, the two teenagers discover their similar hopes of one day leaving their small town and the responsibilities it holds for the both of them. But Pete the Meat is a bully with a past of his own—a bully who hates being embarrassed in front of others. When Wayne and Marjorie’s defiance against him is seen by the whole school, he makes it his own responsibility to ensure that they never embarrass him again… And in the span of a few moments (and a ridiculous number of reckless decisions), Pete, Wayne, and Marjorie’s lives are changed forever.
This was a very hard book to read for me. I have always been critical of books that surround topics such as bullying and assault, but I will say that Hynes has approached the topic in a very realistic manner, in a way that the reader can experience exactly all of the terrible things that Wayne was subjected to. Wayne is a wonderfully written teenager—he doesn’t really know why people treat him this way, why his family is the way it is, why he refuses to fight for himself. He is confused and unsure of himself, and it was great to see that because that is exactly what being a teenager is about. He discovers a lot about himself as the months pass, and he discovers even more about his small town and the people that live inside of it.
Darren Hynes has written a painfully realistic story of a boy who has so often been defined by the treatment of the people around him, a story of bullying and how it can affect every single person that is involved. Creeps is Wayne Pumphrey’s story of how bullying began as a game, and then became something much more. This is a very good book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to those who love realistic fiction that touches upon some sensitive topics. I look forward to Hynes’ releases that follow, and will keep an eye on his following works.
Also found on Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf as part of the Razorbill Creeps blog tour.
At the young age of 15, Wayne Pumphrey has not experienced much in his small Atlantic Canada town, but he’s experienced enough to believe not to talk back when other insult him. Not to shove back when his classmates push him. Not to fight back when he desperately wants to. Not to tell his own mother to stay on the occasion that she packs up and threatens to leave him with his wayward sister and alcoholic father. Instead, he writes. In his room, he writes letter to all of the people (and sometimes objects) that he wants to talk to. He writes to his mother, his father, Pete the Meat, and the one girl who stood up for him when nobody else would, Marjorie who lives across the street and has her own demons inside of her.
Marjorie’s one act of bravery against the bullies that constantly prey Wayne results in a slow, timid friendship between the two misfits. Through the school play, the two teenagers discover their similar hopes of one day leaving their small town and the responsibilities it holds for the both of them. But Pete the Meat is a bully with a past of his own—a bully who hates being embarrassed in front of others. When Wayne and Marjorie’s defiance against him is seen by the whole school, he makes it his own responsibility to ensure that they never embarrass him again… And in the span of a few moments (and a ridiculous number of reckless decisions), Pete, Wayne, and Marjorie’s lives are changed forever.
This was a very hard book to read for me. I have always been critical of books that surround topics such as bullying and assault, but I will say that Hynes has approached the topic in a very realistic manner, in a way that the reader can experience exactly all of the terrible things that Wayne was subjected to. Wayne is a wonderfully written teenager—he doesn’t really know why people treat him this way, why his family is the way it is, why he refuses to fight for himself. He is confused and unsure of himself, and it was great to see that because that is exactly what being a teenager is about. He discovers a lot about himself as the months pass, and he discovers even more about his small town and the people that live inside of it.
Darren Hynes has written a painfully realistic story of a boy who has so often been defined by the treatment of the people around him, a story of bullying and how it can affect every single person that is involved. Creeps is Wayne Pumphrey’s story of how bullying began as a game, and then became something much more. This is a very good book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to those who love realistic fiction that touches upon some sensitive topics. I look forward to Hynes’ releases that follow, and will keep an eye on his following works.
August 30, 2013
Creeps is told through two distinct narrative styles: unsent, heartfelt letters that Wayne Pumphrey writes to individuals (and sometimes locations), and third person narration. While it was nice to see an unbiased view of the situations through the third person narrative, those scenes paled in comparison to the letters.
I wasn’t fond of any of the characters in this book. I identified with Wayne’s inability to know why he was being targeted by bullies, but it was hard to reconcile the Wayne that we saw through the third person narration with the Wayne that we saw through the letters. I understand that we often act differently when we’re alone than we do when we’re with others, but Wayne’s characterization (and maturity level) seemed to change dramatically depending on which narrative style was being used. His relationship with Marjorie felt more like a relationship of convenience than a genuine friendship, which made certain scenes feel awkward instead of sweet.
The supporting characters all seemed to be cardboard cutouts of specific stereotypes: the alcoholic, the shopaholic, the “dumb jocks,” etc. They never attained any real depth, making it hard to sympathize with any of them. A few of the plot points pertaining to these characters, such as Wayne’s father’s drinking problem, were only mentioned a few times and then completely abandoned or forgotten, making me wonder why they were there in the first place.
I enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Canada, though some of the references made me cringe. Like Nickelback. (None of the Canadians I know like those guys, as bad as that sounds). Many of the references are likely going to be outdated fairly quickly and seemed to only be there to make the book “relevant.” Some of the language and slang was just… strange. I live in Ontario, which is a different part of Canada from where Creeps is set, but I’ve never heard “Jesus” used as an adjective. It might be an Atlantic Canada thing, but it made the dialogue sound awkward and unnatural at times.
The bullying itself was handled realistically in some cases, especially when it came to the parental responses and the reactions of other students. There were times when the bullying escalated out of nowhere from juvenile to truly horrific, and I felt really uncomfortable reading some scenes. The only portion of the bullying that I truly “enjoyed” (or, at least, could get on board with) was Marjorie’s response to being called a slut: that it’s her body, and she can do whatever she wants with it.
Overall, Creeps is a realistic story about bullying and how it affects those that are involved in it (the bully, the victim, and the witnesses). Unfortunately, its message wasn’t as strong as it could have been due to a combination of unlikeable characters, inconsistent characterization, and abandoned plot points.
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place.
I wasn’t fond of any of the characters in this book. I identified with Wayne’s inability to know why he was being targeted by bullies, but it was hard to reconcile the Wayne that we saw through the third person narration with the Wayne that we saw through the letters. I understand that we often act differently when we’re alone than we do when we’re with others, but Wayne’s characterization (and maturity level) seemed to change dramatically depending on which narrative style was being used. His relationship with Marjorie felt more like a relationship of convenience than a genuine friendship, which made certain scenes feel awkward instead of sweet.
The supporting characters all seemed to be cardboard cutouts of specific stereotypes: the alcoholic, the shopaholic, the “dumb jocks,” etc. They never attained any real depth, making it hard to sympathize with any of them. A few of the plot points pertaining to these characters, such as Wayne’s father’s drinking problem, were only mentioned a few times and then completely abandoned or forgotten, making me wonder why they were there in the first place.
I enjoyed the fact that this book is set in Canada, though some of the references made me cringe. Like Nickelback. (None of the Canadians I know like those guys, as bad as that sounds). Many of the references are likely going to be outdated fairly quickly and seemed to only be there to make the book “relevant.” Some of the language and slang was just… strange. I live in Ontario, which is a different part of Canada from where Creeps is set, but I’ve never heard “Jesus” used as an adjective. It might be an Atlantic Canada thing, but it made the dialogue sound awkward and unnatural at times.
The bullying itself was handled realistically in some cases, especially when it came to the parental responses and the reactions of other students. There were times when the bullying escalated out of nowhere from juvenile to truly horrific, and I felt really uncomfortable reading some scenes. The only portion of the bullying that I truly “enjoyed” (or, at least, could get on board with) was Marjorie’s response to being called a slut: that it’s her body, and she can do whatever she wants with it.
Overall, Creeps is a realistic story about bullying and how it affects those that are involved in it (the bully, the victim, and the witnesses). Unfortunately, its message wasn’t as strong as it could have been due to a combination of unlikeable characters, inconsistent characterization, and abandoned plot points.
This review can also be found at The In-Between Place.
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