Kill All Enemies

by Melvin Burgess, Alexandre Boide (Translator)

Se você tem 15, 20, 45 ou 70 anos e está com este livro nas mãos, você está com sorte.

Porque este é um belo livro, capaz de arrepiar, emocionar e fazer pensar. Estamos falando de emoção pura, à flor da pele, provocada pelas histórias de Billie – a menina sem pai nem mãe, boa de briga, que enfrenta o mundo na base da porrada –, de Rob – o gordinho boa-praça, fã de heavy metal, atormentado pelo padrasto em casa e pelo bullying na escola – e de Chris – o cara rebelde, em pé de guerra com a escola e que odeia fazer lição de casa. Depois de conhecer o dia a dia desta turma, é difícil imaginar como tantas coisas erradas, tanta tristeza, revolta e angústia cabem nos corações de pessoas tão jovens. Eles estão perdidos em meio a conflitos sem saída: pais controladores ou violentos, mães ausentes ou alcoólatras, mais preocupadas com namorados vagabundos do que com os filhos.

Melvin Burgess conduz com maestria esta história pungente e verdadeira. Mostra como jovens que recebem do mundo toda a maldade que ele é capaz de proporcionar – de abandono e desprezo até violência sexual – insistem em sobreviver, amar e ser generosos.

Generosidade. Esta é a palavra-chave que define esta obra magnífica.

Se por um lado Burgess mostra a face escura, oculta e sórdida das relações familiares, por outro deixa uma porta luminosa aberta para a esperança.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Abuse, Teen, Realistic Fiction, School

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Melvin Burgess is a British author of children's fiction. His first book, The Cry of the Wolf, was published in 1990. He gained a certain amount of notoriety in 1996 with the publication of Junk, which was published in the shadow of the film of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, and dealt with the trendy and controversial idea of heroin-addicted teenagers. Junk soon became, at least in Britain, one of the best-known children's books of the decade.

Burgess again courted predictable controversy in 2003, with the publication of Doing It, which dealt with underage sex. America created a show based on the book, Life As We Know It. In his other books, such as Bloodtide and The Ghost Behind the Wall, Burgess has dealt with less realist and sometimes fantastic themes. In 2001 Burgess wrote the novelisation of the film Billy Elliot, based on Lee Hall's screenplay. Polyphony is typical for his most famous novels.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/melvin...

Reviews

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: physical abuse, sexual assault, group rape alluded to, drugging, violence/anger management issues, bullying

3.5 Stars

Well that was a lot of teenage angst!

Surprisingly the characters were actually quite relatable and oddly endearing. At the end of the day they were three teens who felt incredibly let down by the adults in their lives and each responded in different ways to this sense of betrayal. I really enjoyed Hannah's character and hope everyone has someone in their corner who is as compassionate and caring. A good addition to the library.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

14-year-old Billie has managed to alienate nearly everyone who has ever meant anything to her - her mother, her foster parents, her friends. Rob has been labelled a bully, but is struggling to cope with a violent stepfather and absent mother. Chris is always quick with a smart remark but struggles at school and has his parents putting pressure on him to change his ways. When they end up at the Brandt Pupil Referral Unit, care worker Hannah tries to help them overcome their problems. But is it too late for one of them?

I ashamed to admit that I'd never actually picked up a Melvin Burgess book before this one. Which is a terrible, terrible thing as he a lord of UKYA and in particular, the sort of YA that I love reading - contemporary, angsty, hormone-fuelled pages that drip with ISSUES and RAGE and FURROWED BROWS.

And even though I've got two of his books sitting on my shelf already, just waiting to be devoured, I wanted this to be my First Melvin Burgess. Why? I was just attracted to everything about it - teenagers on the fringes of society, the fantastic title, the RAAAHHHH cover, the split narratives (love a great split narrative). It all sounded brilliant.

Mmmm, well. Yes, umm...

It's not that I didn't like it. Because I did. There are so many things to commend it - it is an ambitious, controversial subject he tackles here and it could so easily have fallen apart and just become one big messy old mess. I'm sometimes weary of books that wear their issues on their sleeves - it can be so easy to simplify and trivialise these things and it takes a writer of great skill to do these characters justice. And I'm pleased to say that Mr. burgess does just that.

He doesn't choose to tackle only one 'problem' teenager, but three. On the surface, these kids, especially Billie, wouldn't garner much sympathy from most - from the first page, the reader is treated to an onslaught of her violent, unpredictable temper. But all three are allowed to tell their own story in a convinving voice. From Billie, who struggles to articulate her emotions through any way, other than with her fists, shy, frustrated Rob and, my personal favourite, Chris - quick-witted and smart but stubborn to the point of you really want to shove his head through a wall on a number of occasions. He provides some much needed and very welcome comic relief. And his logic is oddly convincing, especially when putting his arguments forward about exactly why he shouldn't be doing any homework


"Even if you are stupid enough to want to go to uni and run up massive debts, why not wait until you're nineteen or twenty? You don't even have to do all those stupid A-levels then. You can do a nice, easy, one-year access course and get in almost for free because you're a grown-up. Why bust a gut doing it he hard way now, when you can do it the easy way, just by waiting a few years?"


But like I said before, it's an ambitious book and he doesn't always pull it off. So much happens in not that many words and some scenes which I would consider important, are glossed over. The time span here was very confusing. With one character we are given the impression that several days, maybe weeks, have past, then we move back to another and it only feels like hours, yet the story lines tally up. One particularly harrowing and disturbing incident involving Billie is given particularly short shrift - the situation that she finds herself in is possibly one of the most terrifying any young girl, or woman, could be in, but the whole incident feels so rushed. I would have loved a bit more insight into Billie's thoughts and feelings - she was such a complex character, I just felt a bit cheated out of really 'getting' her.

And you know when you want two characters to get together but clearly the author has entirely different ideas? That's really annoying, right? Well, it happened here for me. I won't give anything away, but I reckon he really missed a trick on that one.

Now I come to the sticking point which really prevented me from enjoying this book completely. Dividing the narrative between three - good job well done. He's a talented writer and he manages it here, apart from the points I've mentioned already. But adding a fourth perspective into the mix? It might have worked if it had provided any genuine insight and had been an engaging character, but care worker Hannah only succeeded in making me get a major case of character RAGE. Her holier than thou, condescending tone just annoyed the shit out of me to be honest. Was she supposed to annoy and infuriate? I don't know, I really don't. I'm guessing her narrative was there to provide an informed, outsider's opinion on these kids and some sort of explanation as to why they behave like they do. But, honestly, I think the author did a good job of conveying these points to the reader through the kids perspective...and would have done an even better job if he used the words he wasted on Hannah and gave us a bit more Billie, Rob and Chris.

If I were to meet a Hannah in real life I suspect I would have a strong urge to do a Billie on her. Ok, maybe just roll my eyes at her a lot.

And the close bond she was supposed to have with Billie, which felt like the whole reason for the inclusion of her perspective, was never properly explained - we are told that she loves her, but without putting this in context, it just felt a bit,,,meh.

I can't not mention the ending - MINOR SPOILER ALARM. OK MAYBE NOT ALARM, MORE LIKE LITTLE TINKLING BELL - would everything really be tied up so neatly, all thanks to the power of death metal? And why the rush to the end? Before I knew it, everyone was all smiles (or as smiley as you can be screaming metal into a mic), and I was thumbing back through the pages, convinced I'd missed a major plot point.

I feel very strongly, VERY STRONGLY, that these sorts of stories have to be written and need to be told and this book does it extremely well indeed. Just more of the brilliant characters and less of the daft music story lines and MUCH LESS of annoying care workers called Hannah who like to point out the bleeding obvious.

So less is more. Or is that more is more? I'm confused. But I can say with absolute certainty that I will be working my way through Mr. Burgess's back catalogue in the next few months. *picks up copy of Doing It* *gasps* *clutches pearls*

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up this book I hadn't read any reviews for it and honestly didn't realise what a little gem I was holding in my hands. In Kill All Enemies Melvin Burgess has created the most realistic characters I've ever read about. The story follows four characters with each of their narratives and stories tying into the overall plot. Billie, Rob and Chris all end up in the Pupil Referral Unit, because no-one else wants them and school can't handle them, and it is here that they all cross paths together and work with Hannah, a social worker with a big heart.

The kids' struggles with problems such as parents' abandoning them, being bullied for being different, not getting on in school, and living in care, were told with surprising honesty and insight. So much so that you would think they were real, living, breathing people. To read how badly they were treated by the people that should be protecting them was also heartbreaking, and I completely sympathised with Hannah. Each of the narrative voices perfectly captures their most private and hidden thoughts, their northern roots, as well as an individual sense of personality. Although most people would judge them to be odd, a menace or doomed to fail, I really liked them all. The integrity of these characters is undoubtedly down to Burgess' writing skill, as well as the background research and interviews he conducted with real kids for a Channel 4 project.

The plot line also had me hooked - one moment my heart was in my throat with fear and anticipation, and the next I was laughing at the characters' internal monologue and little jokes. Although I could see where the plot was going to end, the events that happened throughout still kept me guessing and wondering how on earth the kids were going to survive another day.

Kill All Enemies is a must-read book for 2011 that will send you on an emotional rollercoaster deep through the working class lives of northern England.

Rating: 5*

[Angigames · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un colpo allo stomaco, alle costole, alla schiena. Un colpo al cuore. Una serie infinita di pugni, veri e non. Una voragine di disperazione. Un fuoco rosso di rabbia e una vita che non sempre, anzi, in questo caso quasi mai, sembra andare per il verso giusto. Una spirale di azioni sbagliate, una dietro l’altra, come un in un tunnel che non ha mai fine.
Questo libro è questo, ma anche altro. Lo stile di Burgess è aspro, graffiante, quasi senza speranza e trasforma un semplice libro di adolescenti problematici in un vero romanzo di formazione. Un romanzo che parla del buio, che affronta i temi più scottanti e più ignorati delle problematiche adolescenti e le rende vive, reali e agghiaccianti.
Le storie di tre ragazzi che parlano di dolore, di disperazione, di perdita, di vendetta e rabbia e violenza, eppure, gli stessi ragazzi sono sempre pronti a vedere qualcosa di buono in ogni possibile occasione, anche se hanno sofferto, se sono stati traditi, se si sono sentiti soli, sfruttati, incompresi. Sono sempre pronti e aperti a nuovi sogni, a vedere nel buio qualcosa di luminoso, vero, bello.
Burgess ha accartocciato il mio cuore, ma non è riuscito a centrare il cestino (e forse era proprio questa la sua intenzione), perché in tutta questa merda (cit.) si muovono persone adulte disposte a tutto per proteggere i più sfortunati, perché gli adulti, pur ferendo in maniera indicibile i più piccoli, hanno anche il fantastico dono di amarli e combattere per loro!
Un libro, toccante e forte allo stesso tempo, che vuole dire tanto e che è riuscito a lasciarmi molto.
Bella lettura!

[Michelle (Fluttering Butterflies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

I was really excited to hear of this book. Kill All Enemies by Melvin Burgess is an absolutely wonderful and emotional book, one in which that I felt very strongly about before, during and now after reading it. I love that we are hearing a story about a group of children that are so often written-off or ignored or just not thought of highly in society. These three children - Billie, Chris and Rob - have difficult lives and problems and whilst a lot of people think of them as trouble-makers or bullies or as worthless and lazy, Melvin Burgess provides us with a different perspective. I really applaud his attempt to give these characters a voice, to show everyone a different side to the story.

There's so much about this book that strikes a chord with me. I could fully relate to the position that these teenagers are faced with and just as it did when I was a teenager, it makes me angry reliving it on behalf of these characters. While teenagers in general can be treated as second-class citizens, without any rights of their own, at the constant whim of adults and teachers who don't understand them or even hear them sometimes, it can be that much more difficult for teenagers like Billie, Rob and Chris.

These teenagers are struggling with educational difficulties, with difficult and unstable home lives, they are trying to get by with much more pressure and hardship than most other teenagers but are still confined by the frustrating school system and adults in general who turn a blind eye to their desperate cries for help because they can be masked by violence or trouble-making behaviours or even by a lack of interest.

Billie can be very violent and is constantly fighting and abusive, but that just masks her heart-breaking story of growing up too young. Of sacrificing her own life and her freedoms in order to take care of her little sister and to keep her home life stable when Billie's mother substance abuse gets in the way of being a mother to either of her children. Billie acts out in order to express her own feelings of anger and sadness and frustrations for the fact that so many people in her life have failed her. And both Rob and Chris hide their own secrets and troubles.

Luckily, they've all been excluded from their regular schools and have been sent to a special school for delinquents and trouble-makers and the careworker there are able to see beyond their attitudes and behavioural problems and get at the heart of these kids' problems. I cried more than once reading Kill All Enemies. I loved each of the three characters almost immediately and I felt like I understood them and I related to their feelings incredibly well. I think Melvin Burgess painted these characters so vividly and with great feeling and believable dialogue that any reader could relate. I think Kill All Enemies is a very powerful message, one that sends a positive message, one that I hope will provide hope as well as spreads more understanding and compassion.

Very highly recommended.

[Carous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eu não acho que esse livro seja do tipo que para avaliar como bom ou ruim, dá umas estrelas e acabou. Como avaliar a verossimilhança de um enredo sobre crianças que sofrem abuso doméstico? Ou talvez eu é que não consiga fazer isso.
Kill All Enemies não era para ser um livro de ficção. Na parte dos Agradecimentos, Melvin revela que seu livro era um projeto encomendado por uma emissora sobre o dia a dia de crianças e adolescentes em situação de risco, dos órgãos responsáveis por esses menores e a batalha dos funcionários de reformatórios. Mas que ao final das entrevistas, o livro ganhou vida própria.

O livro narra a história de Billie - pai desconhecido, mãe alcoólatra. Quando ela percebeu que sua mãe não tinha condições para desempenhar esse papel nem cuidar da casa, assumiu tudo. E isso causu efeitos psicológicos em Billie: ela é muito revoltada e arruma confusão o tempo todo -, Rob - sofre bullying na escola por ser gordo, apanha do padrasto porque o cara é um covarde. Sua mãe não sabe de nada disso, ele sabe que ela já tem muitos problemas, como o casamento falido que ela mantém com Phillip e não consegue sair, mas ele está chegando ao seu limite também. Ele não procura confusão, mas parece que possui um ímã para atrai-la - e Chris - pais presentes, classe média. O problema é que seus pais não conseguem que ele se importe com a escola, e o pai chegou a conclusão que é através da violência que ele vai transformar o filho em um aluno exemplar.

Pois então, está vendo? Apesar do livro ter fugido da realidade, e nas palavras do próprio escritor, ter omitido algumas situações mais pesadas, criado algumas, se não houvesse a nota de Melvin, não poderíamos dizer que o que encontramos ali é ficção. O livro mostra como diferentes pessoa falham com uma criança a ponto dela chegar ao fundo do poço quando adulto e ninguém mais conseguir tirar. Mas quem está ali também para guiar essas pessoas e evitar que elas causem danos aos seus filhos e enteados?

Enquanto seguia a leitura, sentia angústia e tristeza. E até raiva, ora de Billie, ora de Rob, ora de Chris por não conseguirem achar a resposta para a solução de seus problemas. E ela estava BEM ALI, como eles não enxergavam? Porque de longe a perspectiva é melhor, e aí eu me lembrava disso e lamentava a situação de cada um, a raiva passava.

O livro tem um final, que também não vou avaliar se foi bom ou não. Gostei que Melvin não mostrou uma realidade mais cruel, mas também não confundiu o livro com conto de fada e deu final feliz, problemas magicamente resolvidos e pronto. Como disse no começo da resenha: é difícil classificar este livro porque sabemos que essas histórias poderiam ser reais até a última vírgula. Sabemos que poderia ser pior também.

[Liza Wiemer]

Set in Leeds, England, KILL ALL ENEMIES was one of the most INTENSE YA novels I have ever read. The novel is told by four different narrators, Billie, Chris, Rob, and Hannah (an adult case worker who shares her perspective on the other three). Billie is a young girl who has been forced to grow up way too fast. She's faced rejection from her own mother that I promise will break your heart. On the outside she's rock-solid, but there's a soft spot that will tear the the reader because it tears her. Rob is a big lug of a kid who love Metallica to the point of obsession. He has a kind and protective heart, especially for his mother and younger half-brother. He is bullied and humiliated by his manipulative and violent step-father. And Chris is a misunderstood, brilliant boy with struggles his parents can only blame on laziness. How their lives all intertwine is fascinating and painful. These kids grow up in the toughest of circumstances and as the story moves forward I felt a tremendous amount of despair. But thank God for Hannah! KILL ALL ENEMIES doesn't wrap everything up with a pretty bow, but at least the reader can walk away with a sense of hope. Without HOPE, this would be a bleak world indeed. Intense, eye-opening, edge-of-your-seat novel. Welcome to the world.

For an interview with Melvin Burgess by World of Books - http://worldofbooksblog.wordpress.com...

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief description of the story in my own words:
Billie is a young girl who has been forced to grow up way too fast. She's faced rejection from her own mother that I promise will break your heart. On the outside she's rock-solid, but there's a soft spot that will tear the reader because it tears her. Rob is a big lug of a kid who loves Metallica to the point of obsession. He has a kind and protective heart, especially for his mother and younger half-brother. He is bullied and humiliated by his manipulative and violent step-father. And Chris is a misunderstood, brilliant boy with struggles his parents can only blame on laziness. How their lives all intertwine is fascinating and painful. These kids grow up in the toughest of circumstances and as the story moves forward I felt a tremendous amount of despair.



What I thought about this book (my likes/dislikes and feelings):
This book was amazing. Not only were the characters realistic, their problems were believable as well. The one and only problem I have with this book is the fact that Chris is one of the main characters. I realized, near the end of this book that his part was essential to the storyline but, in my honest opinion, his problems weren't comparable to those of Billie and Rob. However, that being said, I still liked his character very much as a whole, and even though his problems aren't as intense as Billie's and Rob's, they still bring up an important issue for teens.

[Minty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really brilliant book. It is very thought provoking, and makes you think about the judgements we make every day and the people we stereotype, without really knowing them. The story is engaging, and the characters are three dimensional and easy to connect with. The book makes you realise that there ARE two sides to every story, and that we should always try and find the truth for ourselves.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kill All Enemies should be required reading for every teacher and parent. The three children give such an honest insight into the world of juvenile deliquency. Easy to write off, until you know them as people. Brilliant read, from the first page to the last.

[N · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you flipped 'em and told me that Junk was Burgess's 23rd novel and this was one of his early books, I'd believe you. Because this is sort of... a not-so-good Junk. :/ Review to follow.

[Jaq · Rating 4 out of 5]

La cosa che più mi piace é il fatto che alla fine sono storie vere.
Questo libro é davvero una figata. Non c'è dubbio.

[TheBookAddictedGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

4¾ Out of 5
Everyone’s given up on Billie. They think she’s dangerous, a lost cause. But her case worker can see her potential.
Rob may get beaten up a lot, but he’s strong. Strong enough to look after himself and his brother. But whenever he’s around his stepfather, he feels worse than rubbish.
Chris couldn’t care less about school. He’s going to be an entrepreneur, and who needs GCSEs for that? He knows where he wants to go, but all his dad sees is a worthless layabout.
All three are linked together, but not entirely by choice. They’re on their last chance: can they stay out of trouble long enough to prove themselves?
Kill All Enemies was an emotional rollercoaster, one that has left me reeling. I was hooked from the first page, never set free until the very last word. Some parts were very shocking and a little hard to read, but I loved every single moment. This was just an amazing, amazing read. Bravo to Melvin Burgess!
Billie Trevors got into a lot of fights. But I could tell she tried to do the right thing. She’d taken care of herself since she was a little kid, and by the age of ten she had so much responsibility… Everything that had happened to her… It… well. It broke my heart. I mean, Billie cared so much about everything, and tried so, so hard not to fight… And everyone had such low expectations of her: self-fulfilling prophecy anyone? She’d had such a hard life. Deep down, she was a real sweetie: broken, only acting hard to protect herself from being hurt again. She didn’t think anyone could ever love her, but she couldn’t stop herself from loving. I cried at one point. My heart ached, my eyes burned. It was so strong, what I felt for this girl. She really does break your heart in a way that makes you love her so, so much. She went through way too much. It wasn’t fair and she didn’t deserve it.
Rob had “wrong ears”. But he was a strong, cheerful boy, who let himself get beat up to stay out of trouble. Which, in my opinion, takes a lot more strength than throwing a punch. He used Metallica to protect himself from his mum and stepdad’s fighting, and he looked after his brother. He was adorably pleased (or well chuffed) to have Billie Trevors as a mate, ‘cause she was “hard”. And he was funny, if kinda gross. I liked him. He was rather weird though… The fridge was his friend… and he had conversations with the skeleton on his Metallica t-shirt – called him “Skelly”… I have a feeling he’s slightly mad. And some of his ideas were kinda odd. He was a great friend and a great brother. And he was just so, so optimistic. Just liked Billie, he did not deserve it – any of it. I loved him.
Chris Trent found school boring and pointless – he planned to be an entrepreneur. But he cared, just maybe not about school. And I just found Chris hilarious! His sense of humour was mildly twisted, but it really appealed to me. Plus… he saved snails. And he helped other people out – kinda. He got involved – for good reasons – when he maybe should have kept to himself. He was just too smart for his own good – a real wisecracking guy. Chris didn’t play by the rules, but he had good human morals: he did not like bullies… and the whole snail-saving business. He was just really funny – especially when his mouth often got away with him. Oh, and he was mildly idiotic. In all the heartbreak, his funniness was a nice break.
Hannah: who was she? That was my question for ages. Billie mentioned her a lot, but not who she was, what she did. But once I got to know her, our fourth narrater, I realised that she really cared for Billie. It was obvious, and – like me – she hated everything Billie had gone through. She was really nice, sympathetic. But was maybe too close to Billie…
Just because I hate him so much: Philip, Rob’s stepfather. I hated the guy, and I mean physically hated him. Like I’ve never, ever hated anyone before. In my head, I kept calling him very, very bad things that I never actually say. Urgh. (Hate him.)
The writing… wow. All four narrators sounded completely different – I would have been able to tell who was who, even if the chapters didn’t have their names at the start. Sometimes four POVs get confusing, but in Kill All Enemies it completely worked. It let me get into all of their heads and see all their actions, their fears. And it was so personal – far more so than 3rd person or just one POV could have ever been. Plus, Burgess had the teen voice perfected. As for the plot; it was one of finding yourself, saving yourself. There were no epic battles, no foreshadowing prophecy. There were just the worst parts of life, the worst scenarios and attempting to overcome them. The plot was suspenseful and powerful: I was never bored, not even for a second. I was sucked in and I just couldn’t get the book out of my head. I finished and it’s still stuck in my head. And, yes, this book is honestly just that good.
Family bonds played a big part in this book. Or lack of, in some cases. You had heart-breaking realities, and love – so much love. Such as the bond between Rob and his mum: it was so special. He loved his mum so, so much – he’d do anything for her. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I cringed. It was overwhelming. But isn’t that what love and family are?
Kill All Enemies was so emotional, so powerful. I felt everything – hate, anger, pain, heartache, depression, let down. God, everything they went through, those kids… it broke my heart into pieces over and over and over. Beaten by stepdads, rejected by parents, belittled by parents… It was terrible. My heart’s still aching. The things kids put up with… no wonder they acted out. People made them feel worthless. And you know what? None of them deserved it. People just don’t see the whole story, some don’t even try. They should, but they don’t. They need to listen to the so-called trouble makers. There’s always a reason. And there is no such thing as a lost cause. Kill All Enemies was raw, edgy, borderline inappropriate. It was horrible. It was beautiful. It was so powerful it left me breathless. I can’t wait for my next Burgess book.


Key Quotes That I Can’t Get Out Of My Head: “You’d be amazed at the things some of our kids have to put up with. People see them as troublemakers, but if you knew the trouble that’s going on in their lives you wouldn’t think that.”
“These kids, to me, they’re not troublemakers – they’re heroes. Proper, real-life heroes.”

[Lorenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Você já teve a sensação de não se encaixar no mundo?"

Como passar por um livro com essa frase na capa e não ficar tentado a folhear? Para os que tiveram alguma experiência do gênero nerd/loser/problemático/invisível/simplesmemte fora dos padrões no colégio (ou até fora dele), acredito que seja difícil. E eu não pude resistir.

Eu li as primeiras páginas ainda na livraria, somente a título de curiosidade, já que nunca havia escutado/lido qualquer comentário sobre a obra. E tive de comprar imediatamente.

De uma forma geral, não sou muito adepta ao hábito de ler muitos livros ao mesmo tempo - meu limite costuma ser de dois, e com reservas -, mas a verdade é que, depois daquelas primeiras páginas, eu não consegui largar este aqui até terminar. Alguma coisa na linguagem e na credibilidade dos personagens é, para dizer o mínimo, envolvente demais para resistir.

Rob, Chris e Billie são três adolescentes aparentemente problemáticos demais para serem levados a sério. Abandonados por um dos pais, com problemas na escola ou envolvidos em um cotidiano familiar violento, eles parecem estar além de qualquer possibilidade de redenção. Cada capítulo é contado pelo ponto de vista de um deles, e a voz e personalidade de cada personagem é simplesmente fascinante.

Apesar de alguns clichês aqui e ali e um final um tanto previsível (com uma última cena genial!), é quase impossível não se comover com Billie, Rob e Chris e, principalmente, não torcer para que alguma coisa finalmente dê certo para esses três. Em muitos momentos, a temática me lembrou "Perdão, Leonard Peacock" — que, curiosamente e por completa coincidência, eu li muito pouco tempo atrás —, mas com algumas doses a mais de humor.

Acredito que "Kill All Enemies" deva ser uma experiência ainda mais fantástica para o universo "jovem adulto" (principalmente para aqueles da faixa etária dos personagens principais e que, de uma forma ou de outra, identifiquem-se com os problemas deles). Meu "eu" adolescente certamente teria adorado ler esse aqui no lugar de "Marília de Dirceu", por exemplo ;)

Enfim, ótima leitura. Recomendo!

"Se você é um desajustado e nunca vai deixar de ser, é melhor fazer isso acompanhado."

[Annmarie Ager · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 kids that are going through a hellish life from being unwanted, unloved and just plain abused a mind blowing mix of highs and lows.

This book gripped my heart from the very beginning I don’t normal get over emotional with the books I’m reading but as person that knows firsthand what an abused childhood life is like this book pulled at my heart. I felt for the kids in a way I have never felt for any characters in a book before.

These three kids all go though their own hell whether it is by the hands of other people’s neglect or simply struggling at school or at home. The book is mixed with so much emotion and anger, kids that are scared to speak up and let others in. Kid’s needing love and help but only getting dead ends and confusion. This story that really shows what some kids have to go though.
Billie, Rob and Chris are seen as trouble makers and out casts but really they are all just calling out for help.

The author has written something so real and heartfelt with so much emotion. The characters were so right they really spoke to the reader and each character called to you in a different way. It was all well written and you felt like the characters were in the room with you.

I cried so hard while reading this book all I wanted was for Billie, Rob and Chris to find that light at the end of the tunnel. There was more real life emotions in this book then I have ever read before, the book will get into your heart you will cry you will laugh but most of all you will understand life is sometimes too hard for children.

I give this book a massive 5 stars a brilliant book that you have to read.
My last thought: sometimes the monsters can be the ones we trust.

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[Maryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also reviewed on the blog: http://gloriousbooks.blogspot.com/201...


I really liked this read because of the realistic characters. They are probably the most realistic characters I have come across in a book so far which is always a good thing. They weren't likeable all the time but they each had their own story that came together in the end in a way that makes you question the way society works sometimes.

It's a good author that can make you like and dislike a character at the same time. The characters did stupid things sometimes and yet I felt for them when they continued to be misunderstood.

It makes you realise that a person's actions are for a reason whether it be good or bad. I won't bore you with a rant about society from me because I'll get carried away, but, it really makes you think twice about judging someone based on their actions and your immediate response.

Having said that the book didn't sit well with me at times. I can't place it exactly but the jump between characters and events sort of frustrated me somehow. Maybe there could have been more details and such but sometimes the book was uncomfortable to read. For me anyways.

I do recommend this one though. It's the book that makes you think whilst reading it in order to understand what's going on fully. It's a good read.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book from a goodreads.com first reads giveaway.

I have never read anything by Melvin Burgess and so I was unsure of what to expect from Kill All Enemies. Unfortunately, I went into it with the wrong mindset, not realizing beforehand that it was geared towards a younger audience than myself. So I decided that I’d leave it to the side for a bit and get back to it later, but in that time my younger sister picked it up and read the whole thing in just a few hours. Being in the target age range of early teens she really liked the book. According to her, the struggles the characters were dealing with were all very believable and relatable. The three main characters went through very hard times and the reader is sure to become invested in these characters. From what I read of the beginning I could already tell that the characters were all very unique and interesting. I trust my sister’s judgment and definitely recommend that anyone in their early teens or just anyone wanting to read about hard, realistic situations that kids can be in, should read this book.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about three teenagers – Billie – An angry fourteen year old girl, always getting in fights to release that anger. Estranged from her family, she’s in foster care.

Chris – A fifteen year old boy who hates school, and refuses to do any homework, no matter how his parents plead, bribe, or threaten him.

Rob – A tall, overweight boy who is bullied constantly by his classmates, his stepfather and anyone else who decides he’s a target.

But… there is another story behind each of these teens. Stories of heartbreak, ambitions and dreams. There are people who believe in them, if only they would let them help. These three unlikely teens eventually link within the story and find the strength to be who they want to be.

This story by Carnegie Medal Winner – Melvin Burgess, is a powerful one. He takes the reader right inside the thoughts and feelings of these teens, drawing you into their lives. I read this book in one sitting. Loved it.

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that teaches us that there is always more than one side to a story, KAE shows us different perspectives of delinquent British youths. These kids come from broken homes, have responsibilities beyond their years and often disregard school as a waste of time. we get to see how their actions are interpreted by those around them and also the causes that drive them to the decisions they make. It was hard going getting through this book, the pace is slow as each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character but they will double up on events to show you the other side to the story. so not an awful lot actually happens. its also really sad. but while I think its not a really enjoyable read, it is an eye opener on the subject of compassion and justice. How can we judge others unless we know the whole story. for that, burgess should be commended.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome book following three 15 year olds: Billie, Rob and Sam. Billie had to look after her little siblings when she was young, but since Social stepped in she's lived with carers and her mum has made it clear she doesn't want her back. She's trying to stay out of fights and she's on her last chance. Rob loves his mum to bits, but his violent step -dad Philip just drives him nuts. Not to mention his problems with the school bullies. Sam hates school. Its just boring and pointless to him. His parents think he's lazy and useless. But is there something else?

A heart warming story about three kids who have been failed by the system. A very good read, I finished it in under a day and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and I’m always a sucker for an Orwellian representation of society. The characters were well-drawn and the plot engaging. I particularly enjoyed the ironic use of fairytale imagery juxtaposed against some of the horrors these teenagers are shown to experience, a reminder of their lost childhood. In general, a cycle of changing perspectives is not my favourite technique in the world as I find it becomes tedious after a while, but it worked well enough here.

Read more at: http://emilykmorrison.wordpress.com/2...

[Ardinglylibrarian]

Everyone says fourteen-year-old Billie is nothing but trouble.But her care worker sees someone different. Her classmate Rob is big, strong; he can take care of himself and his brother. But his violent stepdad sees someone to humiliate. And Chris is struggling at school; he just doesn't want to be there. But his dad sees a useless no-hoper. Billie, Rob and Chris each have a story to tell. But there are two sides to every story, and the question is ...who do you believe?

[Batgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to reading this since Melvin visited us in Book Week last April. I was not disappointed, in fact I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. To think this story is based on the lives of real teenagers is extraordinarily humbling. You will not look at young people in the same way after reading it. He truly is a master storyteller.

[CLV Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard-hitting but absolutely gripping story about 4 teenagers who go completely off the rails, for very different reasons and whose stories are very cleverly linked. Burgess doesn't believe in giving us easy answers though so he lets the teenagers tell their own stories and leaves us to make our minds up! You'll finish this book far less ready to judge people...

[Mmm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book but I'm a teen I'm not troubled liked that not my friends or ANY one I know. So it's pretty interesting and quite fictional although I guess some people are troubled.
Ps why dump your daughter after she TRIED to keep the family together.
And Why leave your son with a step dad!

Ps I'm fourteen and in the middle of the book.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really made me think about life and society and how we treat each other. The characters were so real and my feelings towards them were mixed up and changed throughout the book. I think this is book that will stay with me for a while.

[Nanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma história real e sensível sobre 3 adolescentes tidos como "desajustados", mas que são, na verdade, incompreendidos pelos pais, pela escola e pela sociedade. Eu me emocionei várias vezes enquanto lia. Ah, vale dizer que a tradução do Alexandre Boide pra L&PM está impecável.

[Someonewholovestoskate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit exaggerated, funny but also intensely gripping.
All three stories are very interesting and we'll put together.
P.s could ANYONE understand why Billies mother doesn't want her back, I got two:

A) So her mum can make Kate do the work
B) She's a terrible mommy!

Thanks : )

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really really good! I've not read anything else by Burgess but I definitely will be reading more of his work in the future :) Review to come! :D

[Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and the characters in it really get under your skin. They make you think about society and how it works for young people in particular.