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Nicholas Dane
Współczesna wersja Olivera Twista, mroczna, przejmująca opowieść o kimś, kto przeżył piekło i miał dość siły, by się z niego wydostać. Nick Dane mieszka w biednej części miasta i nie należy do najgrzeczniejszych nastolatków. Kiedy jedyna bliska mu osoba, matka, umiera w wyniku przedawkowania heroiny, po chłopaka zgłasza się opieka społeczna. Już wkrótce Nick trafia do Meadow Hill – domu poprawczego o zaostrzonym rygorze. Bystry, pewny siebie i skłonny do łobuzerstwa chłopak szybko staje się celem brutalnych ataków nie tylko ze strony współwięźniów, ale również kadry. Pomocą rękę wyciąga do Nicka zastępca dyrektora zakładu, Creal, który jednak ma wobec chłopaka własne zamiary… Maltretowany, molestowany i traktowany jak przedmiot, Nick decyduje się wreszcie na ucieczkę. Ale dla kogoś, kto przeżył horror w placówce takiej, jak Meadow Hill, nie ma właściwie szans na powrót do normalnego życia.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2009
19 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
About the author
Melvin Burgess
68 books435 followersMelvin 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 6, 2013
The day started out like any other: Nick's mother banging on the door, begging him to get up, get ready for school, and get out the door. When Nick does finally emerge from the warm embrace of his comforter, his mother's giddy weirdness has him cramming his breakfast as quick as he can so he can escape her odd, giddy energy. But tragedy strikes only moments after he is out the door. It turns out she was eager to get him out of the house so she could unwind with an "old friend"-- heroine. She dies with a needle in her arm, and Nick finds himself whisked away into the notorious child-care system of 1980s England. His first night in the Meadow Hill Assessment Centre demonstrates that his life will never be the same. Verbal abuse and constant brutal beatings are his new routine. In shock from the sudden free fall into misery, Nick struggles to come to grips with his new reality. Although his mother was never a model parent, she loved him genuinely; and this positive sense of self is both his saving grace and his downfall. Unlike most of the children who grew up without any loving parents, Nick is vulnerable to con-men. The school counselor who pretends to be Nick's ally but turns out to be the worst of all--a pedophile who has preyed on boys for years. Nick falls into his trap, and find himself caught in the worst possible position. His only option is a prison-break--and with family, and no place to call home--life on the street. Nick must find a way to make sense of the world, now that he knows how bad things can be. This modern-day Dickensian tale is a true page-turner.
July 21, 2014
After reading Nicholas Dane I had an insight: An author writing a book with a message must have some conception of what kind of person would require that message. Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak is for people who have been raped, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is for Christians, C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters is for atheists, and so on so forth. Many authors who decide to insert morals into their works do so because they feel what they have to say deserves to be heard. In short, every book that "says something significant", provided it does so with sufficient intelligence, is meant to be read by a specific group of people to whom that message would best apply.
Who, then, is the audience for Nicholas Dane?
It can't be teenagers (this is a young adult book, after all) who want to have fun. That became clear around page 140 when the main character, Nicholas Dane, after having sustained injuries inflicted on him by inmates at his prison, is sexually exploited by a pedophile who had wormed his way into Nicholas' trust. (something that, I presume, we can unanimously classify as "not fun") The whole book involves teenage boys suffering to the point where even the graphic murder near the end of the book becomes nothing more than white noise without the power to deliver a cheap shock. The sheer grimness of the experience, coupled with a motif of "love" spread throughout the book, led me to conclude that this was not something meant to be enjoyed in the traditional sense. (if it was, the book failed anyway) There was some message that we were supposed to get from reading this. Okay, fine. So what exactly was it?
The aforementioned "love" theme might have been some sort of intended message, but if it was then it was grossly mishandled. In Nicholas Dane "love" isn't something you give; it's just something you receive. Nicholas and his friend Danny turn out decently because they had decent family lives whereas people like Oliver or Jones, who have serious psychological issues, have had worse family lives. This is true in real life, yes. But this is as far as it goes. If you've had a bad family life in Nicholas Dane then you're pretty much screwed and nothing can help you. There's understanding how a person turned out to be the way they were and then there's just being fatalistic. (provided this book is meant to be read for its message) I have a hard time recommending this book to people from broken homes, because I don't see how it'd be helpful.
What about teenagers in the penal system/terrible correctional facilities? The place where this book is set? That sounds a bit better, but it's still specious. Nicholas Dane doesn't "cope" with prison. He just rides it out until he escapes and things eventually get better, something that would sound like wishful thinking in the real world. Had the book shown Nicholas doing something to ease the pain (like telling stories or employing humor) the story might have turned into a book about personal strength and the tenacity of the everyday person. Even having him become religious whilst in prison would have been preferable to what we got. At least it would have shown him doing something to make the misery more bearable.
Okay, then, what about parents? A major theme of the book is that a child's future behavior is heavily influenced by their upbringing. Whilst this is true, and a decent moral, I feel that the book handled this aspect poorly as well because whilst Nicholas Dane implicitly heaps responsibility on the shoulders of parents it doesn't care to explain to said parents what they could do to help their children turn out well. There are a few brief mentions of what not to do, but that's hardly the same thing, is it?
The only theory left, then, is that this book is intended to be some exposé of the horrid conditions at correctional facilities like Meadow Hill. This is acceptable, but if that were the intent then I don't understand why Melvin Burgess didn't just write a nonfiction book and appeal to teens through reason rather than purely emotional appeals. (incidentally, what kind of teen would be in a position to help fix these kinds of facilities any time soon? If the intended audience is unable to help fix the problem at its roots for a good number of years then doesn't the immediate concern become "how to help people who are suffering due to this system cope with their troubles?") Perhaps because, like with the parental example, he didn't explain how to solve these issues.
You can't even say Nicholas Dane is a warning to teenagers about making bad choices, because the "good" characters are sent to Meadow Hill either through bad luck or misunderstandings.
The prose itself didn't help the book's case. The story is "gritty and realistic" but is written like Peter Pan, with its friendly language and frequent jumps in POV, creating a clash in tone like if Game of Thrones was written in the same style as Watership Down. On top of that, the omniscient narrator rapidly changing focus made the story disorienting and boring because it ensured that no situation lasted long enough for me to become invested and killed any tension the story might have had.
The ending, admittedly, is bearable because it's only here where the story begins to make any sense from a "message" point of view. (writing problems remain; evidently the omniscient narrator can't explain what happened to a character because the filing system at Meadow Hill was very poor) Nicholas Dane eventually falls in love with a woman who helps him get through the issues caused by his traumatic experiences and then helps clean up places like Meadow Hill. This sounds nice, but my issue is that both of these come completely out of the blue and aren't set up at any point in the story. Nicholas never helps anyone else overcome their problems and the only other person who does ends up getting her head beaten to a pulp. (this is brought up in a throwaway line talking about "Jones throwing away love" where Nicholas didn't, but Jones does it because he's the product of a broken home so the message falls a bit flat)
Somewhere in this mess of a novel might have been a good idea for a short essay. Somewhere in the ending's themes might have been a good idea for a 200 or so page story where Nicholas is sent to juvenile hall but builds an ad hoc family of inmates who help each other through tough times. A story like that might have been interesting; profound, even. As it stands, nobody needs to read Nicholas Dane. There is no "grand aesop" here. There is nothing here that will help anyone get through the troubles of their life. If you see this book flip to the last chapter and read only that. Then toss it aside because the other pages are worthless.
Who, then, is the audience for Nicholas Dane?
It can't be teenagers (this is a young adult book, after all) who want to have fun. That became clear around page 140 when the main character, Nicholas Dane, after having sustained injuries inflicted on him by inmates at his prison, is sexually exploited by a pedophile who had wormed his way into Nicholas' trust. (something that, I presume, we can unanimously classify as "not fun") The whole book involves teenage boys suffering to the point where even the graphic murder near the end of the book becomes nothing more than white noise without the power to deliver a cheap shock. The sheer grimness of the experience, coupled with a motif of "love" spread throughout the book, led me to conclude that this was not something meant to be enjoyed in the traditional sense. (if it was, the book failed anyway) There was some message that we were supposed to get from reading this. Okay, fine. So what exactly was it?
The aforementioned "love" theme might have been some sort of intended message, but if it was then it was grossly mishandled. In Nicholas Dane "love" isn't something you give; it's just something you receive. Nicholas and his friend Danny turn out decently because they had decent family lives whereas people like Oliver or Jones, who have serious psychological issues, have had worse family lives. This is true in real life, yes. But this is as far as it goes. If you've had a bad family life in Nicholas Dane then you're pretty much screwed and nothing can help you. There's understanding how a person turned out to be the way they were and then there's just being fatalistic. (provided this book is meant to be read for its message) I have a hard time recommending this book to people from broken homes, because I don't see how it'd be helpful.
What about teenagers in the penal system/terrible correctional facilities? The place where this book is set? That sounds a bit better, but it's still specious. Nicholas Dane doesn't "cope" with prison. He just rides it out until he escapes and things eventually get better, something that would sound like wishful thinking in the real world. Had the book shown Nicholas doing something to ease the pain (like telling stories or employing humor) the story might have turned into a book about personal strength and the tenacity of the everyday person. Even having him become religious whilst in prison would have been preferable to what we got. At least it would have shown him doing something to make the misery more bearable.
Okay, then, what about parents? A major theme of the book is that a child's future behavior is heavily influenced by their upbringing. Whilst this is true, and a decent moral, I feel that the book handled this aspect poorly as well because whilst Nicholas Dane implicitly heaps responsibility on the shoulders of parents it doesn't care to explain to said parents what they could do to help their children turn out well. There are a few brief mentions of what not to do, but that's hardly the same thing, is it?
The only theory left, then, is that this book is intended to be some exposé of the horrid conditions at correctional facilities like Meadow Hill. This is acceptable, but if that were the intent then I don't understand why Melvin Burgess didn't just write a nonfiction book and appeal to teens through reason rather than purely emotional appeals. (incidentally, what kind of teen would be in a position to help fix these kinds of facilities any time soon? If the intended audience is unable to help fix the problem at its roots for a good number of years then doesn't the immediate concern become "how to help people who are suffering due to this system cope with their troubles?") Perhaps because, like with the parental example, he didn't explain how to solve these issues.
You can't even say Nicholas Dane is a warning to teenagers about making bad choices, because the "good" characters are sent to Meadow Hill either through bad luck or misunderstandings.
The prose itself didn't help the book's case. The story is "gritty and realistic" but is written like Peter Pan, with its friendly language and frequent jumps in POV, creating a clash in tone like if Game of Thrones was written in the same style as Watership Down. On top of that, the omniscient narrator rapidly changing focus made the story disorienting and boring because it ensured that no situation lasted long enough for me to become invested and killed any tension the story might have had.
The ending, admittedly, is bearable because it's only here where the story begins to make any sense from a "message" point of view. (writing problems remain; evidently the omniscient narrator can't explain what happened to a character because the filing system at Meadow Hill was very poor) Nicholas Dane eventually falls in love with a woman who helps him get through the issues caused by his traumatic experiences and then helps clean up places like Meadow Hill. This sounds nice, but my issue is that both of these come completely out of the blue and aren't set up at any point in the story. Nicholas never helps anyone else overcome their problems and the only other person who does ends up getting her head beaten to a pulp. (this is brought up in a throwaway line talking about "Jones throwing away love" where Nicholas didn't, but Jones does it because he's the product of a broken home so the message falls a bit flat)
Somewhere in this mess of a novel might have been a good idea for a short essay. Somewhere in the ending's themes might have been a good idea for a 200 or so page story where Nicholas is sent to juvenile hall but builds an ad hoc family of inmates who help each other through tough times. A story like that might have been interesting; profound, even. As it stands, nobody needs to read Nicholas Dane. There is no "grand aesop" here. There is nothing here that will help anyone get through the troubles of their life. If you see this book flip to the last chapter and read only that. Then toss it aside because the other pages are worthless.
August 8, 2010
Nicholas Dane was a school-skipper, a casual smoker, a theiver-on-whim at 14. That is, until his mom died because of an over-dose. His mom's best friend, Jenny, fought to get custody of him but he was eventually shipped off to Meadow Hill, a home just to the likes of Nick.
I was asking myself that exactly as I was reading the book, to finally see Burgess address it to us in the conclusion--because it's not an end really. The story of Nick Dane is only one of many.
'Nicholas Dane' is not for everybody, it concerns crime in all forms, sexual abuse, jail, orphaned kids, uncaring parents..etc.
It may seem like a pretty bleak novel, but it's not. In Nick, there's the hope that even after all the shit he's been through (and he's seen all kinds of shit) that he'd move on. Not exactly forget, just live with the past's hauntings.
It felt like Burgess was pleading the readers to give people on the streets (for lack of a better term) a chance. There's a reason for the way they became, whether: drug addicts, sexual abusers, physical abusers, serial killers, criminals.
I liked Nick and Davey, and even Jones (I understood why he became the person he was) and Sunshine, maybe Red. But I felt like there was a distance put between the reader and the characters.
Burgess wrote like a second-hand observer and he's letting us in on what he heard/saw, or what felt like re-telling the story.
It worked in making all the characters feel real, but it made it hard to reach out for them.
In the end, I'm still wondering: how many Nick Danes and Olivers..how many Joneses the world doesn't know about?
"It was with a sense of horror that Nick understood that the old man before him had been carrying on with the same tricks ever since. Twenty years? Can it really have been so long? And how many years before that? And how many boys? How many Nick Danes and Olivers...How many Joneses had this wicked old man damaged to destruction?" Nicholas Dane, page 405 (Paperback edition)
I was asking myself that exactly as I was reading the book, to finally see Burgess address it to us in the conclusion--because it's not an end really. The story of Nick Dane is only one of many.
'Nicholas Dane' is not for everybody, it concerns crime in all forms, sexual abuse, jail, orphaned kids, uncaring parents..etc.
It may seem like a pretty bleak novel, but it's not. In Nick, there's the hope that even after all the shit he's been through (and he's seen all kinds of shit) that he'd move on. Not exactly forget, just live with the past's hauntings.
It felt like Burgess was pleading the readers to give people on the streets (for lack of a better term) a chance. There's a reason for the way they became, whether: drug addicts, sexual abusers, physical abusers, serial killers, criminals.
I liked Nick and Davey, and even Jones (I understood why he became the person he was) and Sunshine, maybe Red. But I felt like there was a distance put between the reader and the characters.
Burgess wrote like a second-hand observer and he's letting us in on what he heard/saw, or what felt like re-telling the story.
It worked in making all the characters feel real, but it made it hard to reach out for them.
In the end, I'm still wondering: how many Nick Danes and Olivers..how many Joneses the world doesn't know about?
January 8, 2011
Nicholas Dane is 14 when his mother overdoses with heroin in their flat. He has no other relatives, but his mother’s best friend is willing to take him in. When Jenny fails (miserably) to impress the social services lady, Nick is sent to a boys’ home. His trouble begins immediately – brutal beatings from other boys and the adult supervisors. He thinks his situation will improve when a sympathetic staff member takes him under his wing. Unfortunately, Creal is a pedophile grooming him for himself and other men. When he rebuffs the advances, Nick is brutally raped by Creal’s friends. After one failed escape, Nick & Davey manage to escape. Then his second life begins with a gang of drug dealers and thieves. This is Oliver Twist retold with some modern twists. But Nick is so sweet, innocent Oliver -- he swears, fights, steals, and more.
This is a tough story to read with few redeeming moments. Nick really has little incentive to behave “properly”. The women in the book are sympathetic characters who are also victims of their situations. The violence & brutality is graphic. ***SPOILER*** Nick does survive and turn his life around, but the ending felt almost tacked on and rushed. Nick’s turn-around was believable, but the timeline just didn’t jive with me. I think high school students will be sucked in immediately. Readers will definitely root for Nick, who is strong-willed and resilient. Not for the tender or sensitive soul.
This is a tough story to read with few redeeming moments. Nick really has little incentive to behave “properly”. The women in the book are sympathetic characters who are also victims of their situations. The violence & brutality is graphic. ***SPOILER*** Nick does survive and turn his life around, but the ending felt almost tacked on and rushed. Nick’s turn-around was believable, but the timeline just didn’t jive with me. I think high school students will be sucked in immediately. Readers will definitely root for Nick, who is strong-willed and resilient. Not for the tender or sensitive soul.
April 20, 2012
Ok...what to say. I must admit reading this book was like watching a train wreck. You want to look away cus the image is disturbing but at the same time you can't cus for whatever reason you're captivated.
No doubt the subject matter of this book is quite disturbing, I found some of it difficult to read but yet I kept turning the page. I found myself rooting for the main character - Nick and cursing the author for subjecting this poor bloke to such misery. I kept waiting for this kid to finally catch a break.
I have to give props to Melvin Burgess. This book provoked many emotions - mostly outrage. I couldn't imagine living through the things Nick and the other boys did. Having such crimes committed against them and no one to turn to. The way Burgess tells the story of these characters, you're also able to understand why some of them (such as Jones) turn out the way they do. I'm not saying I in anyway condone it, but I can now see the thought process and the breakdown of humanity leading him to become the monster he did. Everyone has a different built in survival mechanism.
This book could possibly bring courage to anyone who God forbid may be in a situation where they are being taking advantage of, and manipulated into believing there is no hope. Maybe Nick's story will hep them take a stand.
No doubt the subject matter of this book is quite disturbing, I found some of it difficult to read but yet I kept turning the page. I found myself rooting for the main character - Nick and cursing the author for subjecting this poor bloke to such misery. I kept waiting for this kid to finally catch a break.
I have to give props to Melvin Burgess. This book provoked many emotions - mostly outrage. I couldn't imagine living through the things Nick and the other boys did. Having such crimes committed against them and no one to turn to. The way Burgess tells the story of these characters, you're also able to understand why some of them (such as Jones) turn out the way they do. I'm not saying I in anyway condone it, but I can now see the thought process and the breakdown of humanity leading him to become the monster he did. Everyone has a different built in survival mechanism.
This book could possibly bring courage to anyone who God forbid may be in a situation where they are being taking advantage of, and manipulated into believing there is no hope. Maybe Nick's story will hep them take a stand.
April 21, 2010
is nicholas nickelby for really, REALLY ADULTish young adults?
but, seriously, this book is rife w/sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, drug abuse...basically every kind of abuse humans have invented to torture themselves & others with, from time in memorium, made it into this book. it was harsh, it was terrifying, but it was worth reading for absolute sure.
i liked it; i think it's important that people write books like nicholas dane. however, it would never be something i'd recommend to the average person (especially the average teen), because i'd be worried that their parents would kill me for my daring (and i think censorship is a crock of poo). i'm sure that this book is something that people will seek out on their own if they are ready for it, and i hope they do.
but, seriously, this book is rife w/sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, drug abuse...basically every kind of abuse humans have invented to torture themselves & others with, from time in memorium, made it into this book. it was harsh, it was terrifying, but it was worth reading for absolute sure.
i liked it; i think it's important that people write books like nicholas dane. however, it would never be something i'd recommend to the average person (especially the average teen), because i'd be worried that their parents would kill me for my daring (and i think censorship is a crock of poo). i'm sure that this book is something that people will seek out on their own if they are ready for it, and i hope they do.
September 8, 2012
I thought this one sounded good when I read the premise, but Nick turned me off from the start. He is a self-centered hoodlum and this is before his mom died. After, well, things get worse. I hated how crappy Nick treated Jenny, when all she was trying to do was help. I liked that she wanted to give Nick a home, too bad all he did was screw her over and in such a short time. It was at this point that I gave this one up. I just couldn't get past my dislike of Nick and didn't really care what bad things were headed his way. In the end this one just wasn't for me.
June 29, 2012
The author was trying to copy Charles Dickens. Even I know that this is one of those Unspeakable Rules Which Can't Be Broken, because NO AUTHOR CAN EVER REPLICATE A DICKENS STORY. Of course it was gonna collapse and be overwhelmed with too many story lines due to the story's overall plot line. Of course the reader will be annoyed with the "fairy-tale-like" narration that Burgess has tried to use, because I for one hated the way the book was narrated.
Okay, this is a book about a kid who gets kicked into the foster care system then gets sexually abused and mentally scarred forever and ever. Is the patient, over explanatory, CHILDLIKE narration necessary? No. I just thought it was unsettling and irritating, because the style just DOESN'T FIT with the story.
That's the main reason why I abandoned the book. The author's style got in the way for the characters to truly stand out and appeal to me. We seem to know all about Nick Dane's life, we were there when his mother overdosed on heroin, but the author's style of narration didn't create enough emotion for me to sympathize with any of the characters. Burgess over-explained too many things, added too many unnecessary little stories, and because of this I got distracted from the characters and what they were actually like.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. Sure, from the little summary on the inside cover of the book, it probably sounds appealing enough for someone to pick up, but the real story is a seriously messed up case of rotten chicken pox. (okay i just made that up)
Okay, this is a book about a kid who gets kicked into the foster care system then gets sexually abused and mentally scarred forever and ever. Is the patient, over explanatory, CHILDLIKE narration necessary? No. I just thought it was unsettling and irritating, because the style just DOESN'T FIT with the story.
That's the main reason why I abandoned the book. The author's style got in the way for the characters to truly stand out and appeal to me. We seem to know all about Nick Dane's life, we were there when his mother overdosed on heroin, but the author's style of narration didn't create enough emotion for me to sympathize with any of the characters. Burgess over-explained too many things, added too many unnecessary little stories, and because of this I got distracted from the characters and what they were actually like.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. Sure, from the little summary on the inside cover of the book, it probably sounds appealing enough for someone to pick up, but the real story is a seriously messed up case of rotten chicken pox. (okay i just made that up)
February 2, 2012
Genre: Edgy Young Adult, and in my opinion for older teenagers and adults.
Subject: A rather horrifying look at boys homes in 1980s Britain.
Synopsis: After Nicholas Dane’s mother dies unexpectedly from a drug overdose he is put into a boys’ home, where violence is used to keep order. After countless fights and what happens to him at the hands of the deputy-principle he goes on the run.
My Thoughts: This story was very sad, the topic being about how certain people in society abuse their positions to gain access to children. But, I think the author's focus was more on how Nicholas handled what what thrown at him. I felt for the character, was horrified by his situation when he was put into the boys home: from the beatings by other boys to the disgusting acts perpetrated by the adults that were supposedly there to protect him. But, even with the harsh topic of child abuse, Melvin handled things with care and brushed over the parts that would've made me stop reading, which is how it should be when this topic is handled.
Conclusion: An eighties Oliver Twist, and recommended if you like edgy YA.
Subject: A rather horrifying look at boys homes in 1980s Britain.
Synopsis: After Nicholas Dane’s mother dies unexpectedly from a drug overdose he is put into a boys’ home, where violence is used to keep order. After countless fights and what happens to him at the hands of the deputy-principle he goes on the run.
My Thoughts: This story was very sad, the topic being about how certain people in society abuse their positions to gain access to children. But, I think the author's focus was more on how Nicholas handled what what thrown at him. I felt for the character, was horrified by his situation when he was put into the boys home: from the beatings by other boys to the disgusting acts perpetrated by the adults that were supposedly there to protect him. But, even with the harsh topic of child abuse, Melvin handled things with care and brushed over the parts that would've made me stop reading, which is how it should be when this topic is handled.
Conclusion: An eighties Oliver Twist, and recommended if you like edgy YA.
April 8, 2013
Wow this book was intense. The things that happened to Nick, Oliver, Davey, Stella and Jones were horrible. It brought out different reactions from me. I actually threw this book across the room. I kept saying "no no this can't be happening" I almost cried for Nick... Ok ok I did cry a little bit. And there was moments that were funny. I'm surprised Nick still had a sense of humor. That's one thing that made me like him. And I thought for sure he was going to end up like Jones. Thank goodness he didnt. I'm just mad that Tony Creal didn't get what he deserved
March 25, 2011
Wow, this was quite the book. Very disturbing, depressing and hopeless at times yet compulsively readable. I found myself rooting for the protagonist (out loud) on more than one occasion and having my heart broken the next. Excellent bibliotherapy material although I think this book would seriously disturb some readers, especially younger ones. It is a sad world when atrocities like the one Dane underwent happen in the world everyday. This one will haunt me for a while.
September 30, 2012
This book was AMAZING. I cried and laughed and had so many emotions throughout this book. This book was possibly the most raw and interesting book i have ever read. I loved it i think this book is the reason that i fell in love with Melvin Burgess. I GREATLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
December 16, 2017
Quel livre incroyable !
L'histoire est très troublante mais on ne peut vraiment pas arrêter de tourner les pages.
L'histoire est très troublante mais on ne peut vraiment pas arrêter de tourner les pages.
April 20, 2019
Viena iš geriausių šiemet perskaitytų, įtraukė taip, kad skaičiau beveik visą dieną darbe, kol pabaigiau. Pirmieji 20-30 puslapių skaitėsi ne itin įdomiai, bet paskui įvykiai ėmė augti, į siužetą buvo įpintos vis skaudesnės problemos ir kuo toliau, tuo labiau norėjosi sužinoti kokia šio kūrinio pabaiga.
Kai pradėjau, maniau, kad tai bus istorija apie narkotikus (taip nusiteikiau dėl buvusių autoriaus kūrinių, kuriuos teko skaityti), bet paaiškėjo, kad narkotikai čia tik smulkmena, jie iš esmės nevaidina jokio vaidmens veikėjo gyvenime. Rašytojas užkabina dvi kitas opias temas - pedofiliją ir smurtą artimoje aplinkoje abi aprašinėdamas iš pradžių lengvai, o galiausiai ir atvirai. Psichologija šioje istorijoje yra svarbiausia, nors tiesiogiai apie tai nekalbama, tačiau iš patirtų nuoskaudų formuojasi veikėjų charakteriai ir skaitytojams pateikiami du - nepakėlęs praeities Džonsas, ir savęs ieškantis - Nikas. Nors Nikas yra pagrindinis, tačiau būtent Džonso išgyvenimai ir elgesys davė šiam kūriniui geriausia. Džonso ir Stelos santykiai - vienas jautrus košmaras, puikus pavyzdys, kai aklai įsimylėję moterys visiškai nebekontroliuoja situacijos. Skaudu. Tikra. Jei esate jautrių nervų, geriau į rankas neimti, nes yra labai atviro smurto scenų. Bet kaip tik už tą visą žiaurumą man norisi autorių girti. Apie tokius dalykus negalima kalbėti švelniai, o tik taip, kaip čia ir buvo padaryta. Nes tokie dalykai, kokius čia vaizduoja rašytojas iš tiesų vyksta ir vyksta kasdien, šalia mūsų ir tik tokie kūriniai padeda įsisąmoninti (bent jau tikiuosi) kas gali nutikti, kai iš meilės atleidžiama viskas.
Pabaiga truputį nuvylė, nes viskas labai smulkmeniškai nupasakota, pateikiant tolimesnius veikėjų likimus, ko jau galėjo ir nebūti. Nepaisant to, dabar jau galvoju, kad reikės perskaityti ir daugiau šio autoriaus knygų.
Kai pradėjau, maniau, kad tai bus istorija apie narkotikus (taip nusiteikiau dėl buvusių autoriaus kūrinių, kuriuos teko skaityti), bet paaiškėjo, kad narkotikai čia tik smulkmena, jie iš esmės nevaidina jokio vaidmens veikėjo gyvenime. Rašytojas užkabina dvi kitas opias temas - pedofiliją ir smurtą artimoje aplinkoje abi aprašinėdamas iš pradžių lengvai, o galiausiai ir atvirai. Psichologija šioje istorijoje yra svarbiausia, nors tiesiogiai apie tai nekalbama, tačiau iš patirtų nuoskaudų formuojasi veikėjų charakteriai ir skaitytojams pateikiami du - nepakėlęs praeities Džonsas, ir savęs ieškantis - Nikas. Nors Nikas yra pagrindinis, tačiau būtent Džonso išgyvenimai ir elgesys davė šiam kūriniui geriausia. Džonso ir Stelos santykiai - vienas jautrus košmaras, puikus pavyzdys, kai aklai įsimylėję moterys visiškai nebekontroliuoja situacijos. Skaudu. Tikra. Jei esate jautrių nervų, geriau į rankas neimti, nes yra labai atviro smurto scenų. Bet kaip tik už tą visą žiaurumą man norisi autorių girti. Apie tokius dalykus negalima kalbėti švelniai, o tik taip, kaip čia ir buvo padaryta. Nes tokie dalykai, kokius čia vaizduoja rašytojas iš tiesų vyksta ir vyksta kasdien, šalia mūsų ir tik tokie kūriniai padeda įsisąmoninti (bent jau tikiuosi) kas gali nutikti, kai iš meilės atleidžiama viskas.
Pabaiga truputį nuvylė, nes viskas labai smulkmeniškai nupasakota, pateikiant tolimesnius veikėjų likimus, ko jau galėjo ir nebūti. Nepaisant to, dabar jau galvoju, kad reikės perskaityti ir daugiau šio autoriaus knygų.
March 19, 2016
Mini-review originally posted on Nightjar's Jar of Books.
Nick Dane has a relatively ordinary life: He finds school boring, but gets decent grades, he has a good - if sometimes annoying - mother, and some really great friends. Then one day, he comes home to find that his mother has overdosed on heroin and died, leaving him with no immediate family to rely on, and in a mess with Social Services. He's eventually shipped off to a place called Meadow Hill - a Boys' Home with a stellar reputation - but he quickly comes to realise that it's not as great a place as it seems on paper, and he has to deal with hazing, an abusive house-master, and the seemingly-friendly deputy headmaster, Mr. Creal.
This book isn't my usual fare - this amount of criminal activity (and stealing in particular, which is something that happens a lot in this book) is somewhat outside my comfort zone - but I found that I really enjoyed this book. I started reading on Sunday evening, expecting to get through maybe about 100 pages or so, and ended up staying up until the small hours of the morning in order to finish it; the story and writing were both incredibly gripping, and the rather chilling situation that Nick found himself in was also very thought-provoking.
I wasn't immediately sold on Nick as a main character (he initially seemed rather arrogant, ungrateful and opportunistic), but he grew on me a lot. I spent much of the first third of the book with an ominous sinking feeling that life was going to get very unpleasant for him, very quickly - and once it did, I was a little bit overwhelmed with a kind of horrified sympathy for him. His more redeeming characteristics also come over a lot more as the story goes on: He's bright, and incredibly loyal (if temperamental), and always looks out for his friends.
His friends at Meadow Hill I also liked a lot: Oliver was an intriguing mystery, and Davey was a really fun counterpoint to all the rage and hurt that this book has to offer. I also liked Jenny - Nick's mother's best friend - a lot, and his uncle Michael was an interesting character, too. The book's villains - Mr. Creal and Mr. Toms - were wonderfully hateful, and even Jonesy (a less pure-evil-type villain) was legitimately terrifying at times.
Overall, this was a really great read, full of (very) gritty realism; interesting, sympathetic (if not always likeable) characters; and hard-hitting themes - it made me think about a lot of topics that I don't often consider, and feel a lot of powerful emotions. The writing was fast-paced and engaging, and had me hooked almost from beginning to end. I've knocked off a star only because I felt that the epilogue-style ending was rather rushed; there was just a huge amount of material crammed into a few short pages. I also really would have liked to have found out more about what happened to Oliver, but I suppose that's also a realism-thing; you don't always manage to keep track of everyone in your life...
April 4, 2012
HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE NOVELS I EVER READ.Nicholas Dane
To begin let me applaud Melvin Burgess for addressing such a crucial topic regarding child abuse and molestation. I found this novel painfully realistic and disturbing at times,so much so i had to put it down and count to 20 before I continued reading some passages. I'm finding it very hard to review this novel it think i have a sort of love/hate relationship with it(yes I have relationships with my novels.... Don't judge me).
The protagonist Nicholas Dane is 14 year olds and his mother is found died in their home, COD being an overdose. In a series of VERY unfortunate events Nicholas finds hisself at Meadow Hill a home for boys. Let me tell you when reading the discreption and way of life of at Meadow Hill(which is a perfect metaphor for Social Darwinism at its best)I was transported to a different world. It is made blatantly clear that boys at the home are induring extreme mental/physical abuse from not just each other but from the homes' staff as well,and Nicholas is no exception. Throw in a little molestation and rape and this place should be integrated into Dante's circles of hell.
What I didn't enjoy so much about this novel was the protagonist Nicholas Dane. Now don't get me wrong i love a well flawed chacater as much as the next girl, but he was just too naive for my liking.I found myself constantly yelling at black and white pages, it just seemed to me he kept putting his trust in the wrong adult figures throughout the story and its not as though he grow in the suburbs so i felt like Mr. Dane should have a little more cautious from the jump.
Also constantly found myself more intrigued by others characters(Oliver)wishing the story was about them rather Nicholas Dane. It is a huge problem when i become more interested in the complementary charcaters rather the main charcter.
I LOVE how detailed the setting was:) Myself growing up in a very similar nieghborhood as Nicholas(expect in the U.S and in the 21st century) could really relate to all the quirky people and families in the nieghborhood. They reminded me so much of people I know.
I would have been content to give this book four stars if it was not for the ending, which was rushed and slapped on like a tired prositute's makeup. I just wish it was a little more descriptive and less infromative( if that makes sense).
Nicholas Dane as I stated above is a very intense novel and can be bleak times but overall this novel open my mind up to a world I was only slightly informed about. So even with a weak protagonist and hacked ending i would still recommend this novel to friend because its the story itself that makes the novel so compelling.
To begin let me applaud Melvin Burgess for addressing such a crucial topic regarding child abuse and molestation. I found this novel painfully realistic and disturbing at times,so much so i had to put it down and count to 20 before I continued reading some passages. I'm finding it very hard to review this novel it think i have a sort of love/hate relationship with it(yes I have relationships with my novels.... Don't judge me).
The protagonist Nicholas Dane is 14 year olds and his mother is found died in their home, COD being an overdose. In a series of VERY unfortunate events Nicholas finds hisself at Meadow Hill a home for boys. Let me tell you when reading the discreption and way of life of at Meadow Hill(which is a perfect metaphor for Social Darwinism at its best)I was transported to a different world. It is made blatantly clear that boys at the home are induring extreme mental/physical abuse from not just each other but from the homes' staff as well,and Nicholas is no exception. Throw in a little molestation and rape and this place should be integrated into Dante's circles of hell.
What I didn't enjoy so much about this novel was the protagonist Nicholas Dane. Now don't get me wrong i love a well flawed chacater as much as the next girl, but he was just too naive for my liking.I found myself constantly yelling at black and white pages, it just seemed to me he kept putting his trust in the wrong adult figures throughout the story and its not as though he grow in the suburbs so i felt like Mr. Dane should have a little more cautious from the jump.
Also constantly found myself more intrigued by others characters(Oliver)wishing the story was about them rather Nicholas Dane. It is a huge problem when i become more interested in the complementary charcaters rather the main charcter.
I LOVE how detailed the setting was:) Myself growing up in a very similar nieghborhood as Nicholas(expect in the U.S and in the 21st century) could really relate to all the quirky people and families in the nieghborhood. They reminded me so much of people I know.
I would have been content to give this book four stars if it was not for the ending, which was rushed and slapped on like a tired prositute's makeup. I just wish it was a little more descriptive and less infromative( if that makes sense).
Nicholas Dane as I stated above is a very intense novel and can be bleak times but overall this novel open my mind up to a world I was only slightly informed about. So even with a weak protagonist and hacked ending i would still recommend this novel to friend because its the story itself that makes the novel so compelling.
March 17, 2014
In the book Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess, Nicholas Dane is a normal fourteen-year-old troublemaker. He goes to school when he feels like it, steals occasionally, and smokes every so often. He lives a fairly normal life until his mother unexpectedly dies of a heroin overdose. After his mother’s best friend fails to impress social services to gain custody of him, Nick is put into Meadow Hill Home for Boys. At the boys home he is thrust into a world of corruption, abuse, and violence.
During the 1970s and 1980s British boy home were filled with abuse and violence. Sexual abuse often took place in the homes, and the abusers weren't caught because of their connections, and because no one wanted to talk about a topic that seemed so taboo at the time. Many of the boys to suffer from the abuse often did not get help for their psychological problems caused by the abuse. This book follows the life of Nicholas Dane, a boy having to deal with the abuse dealt out to the boys living in the boy homes.
During his stay in Meadow Hill Nick faces sexual abuse at the hands of Tony Creal, one of the head deputies of the home. He uses his position of power to take advantage of the boys and abuse them. He is also seen as a trustworthy figure by many people, so no one would believe one of the boys if they spoke out about the abuse.
Melvin Burgess’s writing provides an unbiased and truthful portrayal of the lives of the victims of the abuse. He does not sugarcoat the situation, and he does not make it seem unrealistic. He does not have a hero trying to save Nick, or a wonderfully happy ending. His characters are flawed and human, and do not react perfectly in the situations they face. His writing shows how harsh and hard life can be.
The entire time I was reading Nicholas Dane I felt very conflicted on how to feel about it. At times I hated it because of the cruel situation in the story and how bad life got for Nick. Other times I loved it because things would finally be going right for Nick until things would go terribly wrong and I would hate it again. Even with the roller coaster of emotion I felt with Nicholas Dane, it is probably one of the best books I've read. I would definitely recommend this book to people, but it is not for the faint of heart. It deals with some pretty serious topics like sexual and drug abuse. Nicholas Dane will make you want to cry one moment to making you scream in anger the next. It is an unforgettable novel that will leave you thinking about it for days on end.
During the 1970s and 1980s British boy home were filled with abuse and violence. Sexual abuse often took place in the homes, and the abusers weren't caught because of their connections, and because no one wanted to talk about a topic that seemed so taboo at the time. Many of the boys to suffer from the abuse often did not get help for their psychological problems caused by the abuse. This book follows the life of Nicholas Dane, a boy having to deal with the abuse dealt out to the boys living in the boy homes.
During his stay in Meadow Hill Nick faces sexual abuse at the hands of Tony Creal, one of the head deputies of the home. He uses his position of power to take advantage of the boys and abuse them. He is also seen as a trustworthy figure by many people, so no one would believe one of the boys if they spoke out about the abuse.
Melvin Burgess’s writing provides an unbiased and truthful portrayal of the lives of the victims of the abuse. He does not sugarcoat the situation, and he does not make it seem unrealistic. He does not have a hero trying to save Nick, or a wonderfully happy ending. His characters are flawed and human, and do not react perfectly in the situations they face. His writing shows how harsh and hard life can be.
The entire time I was reading Nicholas Dane I felt very conflicted on how to feel about it. At times I hated it because of the cruel situation in the story and how bad life got for Nick. Other times I loved it because things would finally be going right for Nick until things would go terribly wrong and I would hate it again. Even with the roller coaster of emotion I felt with Nicholas Dane, it is probably one of the best books I've read. I would definitely recommend this book to people, but it is not for the faint of heart. It deals with some pretty serious topics like sexual and drug abuse. Nicholas Dane will make you want to cry one moment to making you scream in anger the next. It is an unforgettable novel that will leave you thinking about it for days on end.
July 16, 2014
When people start opining on the pages of the Wall Street Journal about how dark and disturbing YA fiction is, this is the sort of book you'd expect them to hold up. Because it is just as dark and disturbing as it can be. Nick's single mother, a sometime user of heroin dies of an overdose right in the beginning, and Nick's life goes straight to hell. He's fourteen, he has no family, and his mother's best friend, who sincerely wants to look after him is thwarted by the system, her useless boyfriend, and her own children. Nick is promptly sent off to a facility for the most troubled boys where he is subjected to the useless cruelty of being beaten "like a man" by both the adults in charge and his fellow inmates. And then it gets worse when the reader discovers along with Nick that the only kindly adult to take an interest in him is a sexual predator, grooming him to be yet another in a long line of victims. And then it gets worse.
Burgess doesn't hold anything back. The book isn't prurient, but he does show us enough of what Nick endures to sicken the reader, and to explain how it works. The story is set in the early eighties, a time when the abuse of children was considered rare, and when the subject was still too taboo to be spoken of. It's a horrific story, but a rich one. Burgess doesn't let any characters off lightly. He shows how well-meaning people create the atmosphere in which a predator can thrive.
Truly, I can't imagine many parents wanting to discuss the subject with their children, nor many people recommending the book to teens. The behavior described is violent, and for the victims, soul-destroying. And yet, not talking about it allows this kind of abuse to flourish. Just as the works of Dickens highlighted the misery and abuse of the poor, with an idea to improvement, so does a book like this show us what needs to be done. Sexual predators are evil, and they terrify us, but how can we prevent them if we do not acknowledge them?
For some readers this book might serve as a warning, allowing them to identify harm before it attacks. For others the book will be a blessed reassurance that they are not to blame for their own victimization. For still others, the book will perhaps guide us to think about what we can do to prevent such horror from happening in the first place.
Yes, it is dark and disturbing, but we should be disturbed.
Library copy.
Burgess doesn't hold anything back. The book isn't prurient, but he does show us enough of what Nick endures to sicken the reader, and to explain how it works. The story is set in the early eighties, a time when the abuse of children was considered rare, and when the subject was still too taboo to be spoken of. It's a horrific story, but a rich one. Burgess doesn't let any characters off lightly. He shows how well-meaning people create the atmosphere in which a predator can thrive.
Truly, I can't imagine many parents wanting to discuss the subject with their children, nor many people recommending the book to teens. The behavior described is violent, and for the victims, soul-destroying. And yet, not talking about it allows this kind of abuse to flourish. Just as the works of Dickens highlighted the misery and abuse of the poor, with an idea to improvement, so does a book like this show us what needs to be done. Sexual predators are evil, and they terrify us, but how can we prevent them if we do not acknowledge them?
For some readers this book might serve as a warning, allowing them to identify harm before it attacks. For others the book will be a blessed reassurance that they are not to blame for their own victimization. For still others, the book will perhaps guide us to think about what we can do to prevent such horror from happening in the first place.
Yes, it is dark and disturbing, but we should be disturbed.
Library copy.
August 28, 2013
Nicholas Dane's life, which is hanging nicely by a thread - a life of skipping school to smoke pot - is destroyed when his mother dies of a heroin overdose. With no family and only his mother's friend Jenny looking out for his interests, Nick is sent to live at Meadow Hill, a place where children unowned and unwanted are sent. There, he is beaten and raped and now dreams of escape... but to what life?
I'm glad this book was set in 1984, because having worked in places similar to this myself I know social services are right on top of things anytime a kid has a bruise. There was a big overhaul of the system around the end of the 80s and early 90s, but I know that things like this probably still happen somewhere. Still, I found myself getting angry that this pervert Tony Creal got away with so much and nothing happened to him. . It killed me that Nick could have had an okay life, not anything great but he wouldn't have had this awful secret, if his mother hadn't died. For a time after college, with my degree in psychology, I worked in a residential school for boys with behavioral problems, many of which stemmed from abuse, and even the young ones I couldn't really hope for a great life. Which is why I got burnt out after only a year and a half.
As for this book... this is a fairly depressing story. Mostly because the main antagonist never got what was coming to him. For a while after Nick , I just didn't see where the story was going, and half the time it seemed like the story was really about other people. Or about Tony Creal. I also didn't like the info dumps that would happen so often: here's Nick's mom's life story. Here's Oliver's life story. It's Oliver I felt the worst for. The story may have been too realistic in that respect.
Parental advisory: Swearing, violence, drug use, and rape - most of which is not especially graphic the themes are still pretty disturbing.
I'm glad this book was set in 1984, because having worked in places similar to this myself I know social services are right on top of things anytime a kid has a bruise. There was a big overhaul of the system around the end of the 80s and early 90s, but I know that things like this probably still happen somewhere. Still, I found myself getting angry that this pervert Tony Creal got away with so much and nothing happened to him. . It killed me that Nick could have had an okay life, not anything great but he wouldn't have had this awful secret, if his mother hadn't died. For a time after college, with my degree in psychology, I worked in a residential school for boys with behavioral problems, many of which stemmed from abuse, and even the young ones I couldn't really hope for a great life. Which is why I got burnt out after only a year and a half.
As for this book... this is a fairly depressing story. Mostly because the main antagonist never got what was coming to him. For a while after Nick , I just didn't see where the story was going, and half the time it seemed like the story was really about other people. Or about Tony Creal. I also didn't like the info dumps that would happen so often: here's Nick's mom's life story. Here's Oliver's life story. It's Oliver I felt the worst for. The story may have been too realistic in that respect.
Parental advisory: Swearing, violence, drug use, and rape - most of which is not especially graphic the themes are still pretty disturbing.
November 10, 2011
Breath taking novel. Raw and touching. I devoured this book in a week. I had never read anything similar to this before and I am so glad I picked up this book.
The book is about Nicholas Dane, a 14 year old that after his mother’s sudden death caused by a heroin overdose, is sent to a Children’s Home that turns out being his worst possible nightmare. Nick went from a stable, enjoyable life, surrounded by love to a life of violence, abuse and suffering. All these struggles came when he most needed support and at the place where supposedly kids are safe. The book shocks us with the physical and sexual abuse that occurs inside the Home which is, horrifyingly performed by the people in charge.
The book is extremely psychological and shocking and at times I had to stop reading because it was so shocking and sickening.
I was expecting the book to be in first person tense, like it was Nick’s diary and his recollection of the events but it was third person; at times it was confusing but towards the end you could understand why the author picked such style as there were parallel stories.
Something I particularly liked about the book was the writing style. For starters, it is an English novel so the British slangs were awesome but the way that he spelled out character speech mannerisms and how some of them pronounced words differently because of their accent gave a spice to the read and it was fun to read them (some of them were quite funny).
I would describe this book as quite mature. This is probably obvious considering the topic of this book but the language was get quite heavy sometimes as well, so I would definitely not recommend this book to younger readers or to anyone that is quite sensitive to raw, heavy topics as such. Nevertheless, if you don’t fit any of those descriptions I would absolutely recommend you this book. It is unique, it is fast paced and it really got to me; it is not a book that I will forget about in a months time.
x
Aline
The book is about Nicholas Dane, a 14 year old that after his mother’s sudden death caused by a heroin overdose, is sent to a Children’s Home that turns out being his worst possible nightmare. Nick went from a stable, enjoyable life, surrounded by love to a life of violence, abuse and suffering. All these struggles came when he most needed support and at the place where supposedly kids are safe. The book shocks us with the physical and sexual abuse that occurs inside the Home which is, horrifyingly performed by the people in charge.
The book is extremely psychological and shocking and at times I had to stop reading because it was so shocking and sickening.
I was expecting the book to be in first person tense, like it was Nick’s diary and his recollection of the events but it was third person; at times it was confusing but towards the end you could understand why the author picked such style as there were parallel stories.
Something I particularly liked about the book was the writing style. For starters, it is an English novel so the British slangs were awesome but the way that he spelled out character speech mannerisms and how some of them pronounced words differently because of their accent gave a spice to the read and it was fun to read them (some of them were quite funny).
I would describe this book as quite mature. This is probably obvious considering the topic of this book but the language was get quite heavy sometimes as well, so I would definitely not recommend this book to younger readers or to anyone that is quite sensitive to raw, heavy topics as such. Nevertheless, if you don’t fit any of those descriptions I would absolutely recommend you this book. It is unique, it is fast paced and it really got to me; it is not a book that I will forget about in a months time.
x
Aline
February 14, 2016
This is an awful book. Poorly written, unbelievable, terrible characters. How do books like this get published??? However, this book gets good reviews. i don't get it.
Gr 9 Up–Nicholas Dane is a typically rebellious 14-year-old, but he is loyal to the bone to those he cares about. When his mother dies from an overdose, he is sent to the worst home for boys in Manchester, England. Once there, he is tormented, beaten, and battered continuously by his peers and the staff. The abuse lessens when he is befriended by Tony Creal, one of the heads of the Home. Unfortunately, Mr. Creal is a master manipulator and has a long history of sexually preying on his charges. During this time, efforts to find some family for the boy turn up a very wealthy uncle who knew nothing about Nicholas's mother's existence, much less Nick's. The man is willing to pay for his nephew's education, but is told that the boy is incapable of behaving or learning and would be most success if he stayed in the home. Torture starts up again, after Nick refuses to spend time with Tony. One day a friend from the old neighborhood appears in Nicholas's division and saves him on some level. After a failed attempt to escape, the two flee and get involved with shady characters, running various errands for them. During this time, Nicholas erratically visits his mother's best friend, telling her that he is doing fine. As Nicholas gets caught up in street life, he learns that his experience in the home was not an isolated one. Burgess is a genius in drawing readers into a compelling, dramatic, and candid read. He examines the dark underbelly of society and the powers that corrupt and exploit its youth, yet offers an ultimately positive and hopeful message. This book will stay with readers long after they put it down.
Gr 9 Up–Nicholas Dane is a typically rebellious 14-year-old, but he is loyal to the bone to those he cares about. When his mother dies from an overdose, he is sent to the worst home for boys in Manchester, England. Once there, he is tormented, beaten, and battered continuously by his peers and the staff. The abuse lessens when he is befriended by Tony Creal, one of the heads of the Home. Unfortunately, Mr. Creal is a master manipulator and has a long history of sexually preying on his charges. During this time, efforts to find some family for the boy turn up a very wealthy uncle who knew nothing about Nicholas's mother's existence, much less Nick's. The man is willing to pay for his nephew's education, but is told that the boy is incapable of behaving or learning and would be most success if he stayed in the home. Torture starts up again, after Nick refuses to spend time with Tony. One day a friend from the old neighborhood appears in Nicholas's division and saves him on some level. After a failed attempt to escape, the two flee and get involved with shady characters, running various errands for them. During this time, Nicholas erratically visits his mother's best friend, telling her that he is doing fine. As Nicholas gets caught up in street life, he learns that his experience in the home was not an isolated one. Burgess is a genius in drawing readers into a compelling, dramatic, and candid read. He examines the dark underbelly of society and the powers that corrupt and exploit its youth, yet offers an ultimately positive and hopeful message. This book will stay with readers long after they put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2011
Oh. My. God.
This book is quite possibly the best YA book I've ever read...and one of the best books I've read period.
WARNING: This book is not meant for younger readers. It is incredibly raw and mature for a YA book. (17+ rating)
This book is about a 14 year old boy named Nicholas Dane. He lives in Manchestor, England in 1984. His mother dies of a heroin overdose, and he is sent to live at Meadow Hill, a children's home run by Mr. Toms, an evil man who whips the kids that get in trouble.
Nick has to survive in Meadow Hill until he turns sixteen, but that's easier said than done. The kids are constantly getting in fights, and then getting "punished" by the caretakers and prefects of the home. Nick finds solace in the care of Tony Creal, a nice man on the outside that gives treets to the kids, but a monster on the inside. Can Nick survive Meadow Hill?
This book was absolutely phenominal! There was not one thing I disliked about this book.
Melvin Burgess is now one of my favorite authors. His writing style is descriptive and beautiful. Much like Ellen Hopkins and Stephen King, he doesn't sugar coat anything. Which is good, because that makes this book more realistic, and it left a bigger impact on me that way.
I loved the main character, Nick. He's a character filled with so much pain and suffers a lot in this book, and as you read this you want to ease his pain. He's a character that does whatever he has to, to survive in this horrible place.
Oh, actually there was one thing I didn't like, and his name is Tony Creal. I. HATE. HIM. He's a character that deserves no sympathy or mercy. Oh my god.
Please, read this book! You will not regret it! It truely is a masterpiece.
This book is quite possibly the best YA book I've ever read...and one of the best books I've read period.
WARNING: This book is not meant for younger readers. It is incredibly raw and mature for a YA book. (17+ rating)
This book is about a 14 year old boy named Nicholas Dane. He lives in Manchestor, England in 1984. His mother dies of a heroin overdose, and he is sent to live at Meadow Hill, a children's home run by Mr. Toms, an evil man who whips the kids that get in trouble.
Nick has to survive in Meadow Hill until he turns sixteen, but that's easier said than done. The kids are constantly getting in fights, and then getting "punished" by the caretakers and prefects of the home. Nick finds solace in the care of Tony Creal, a nice man on the outside that gives treets to the kids, but a monster on the inside. Can Nick survive Meadow Hill?
This book was absolutely phenominal! There was not one thing I disliked about this book.
Melvin Burgess is now one of my favorite authors. His writing style is descriptive and beautiful. Much like Ellen Hopkins and Stephen King, he doesn't sugar coat anything. Which is good, because that makes this book more realistic, and it left a bigger impact on me that way.
I loved the main character, Nick. He's a character filled with so much pain and suffers a lot in this book, and as you read this you want to ease his pain. He's a character that does whatever he has to, to survive in this horrible place.
Oh, actually there was one thing I didn't like, and his name is Tony Creal. I. HATE. HIM. He's a character that deserves no sympathy or mercy. Oh my god.
Please, read this book! You will not regret it! It truely is a masterpiece.
April 7, 2013
*signs* Where do I begin?
I seriously can't say I enjoyed reading this book or even say "it was a good book;" without feeling sick to my stomach. The horrible things that were done to this kid (Nick) and others like him is disgusting. How people like Tony can take advantage of kids like Nick, Oliver, even Jones and think it's okay. The one part that nearly brought tears to my eyes was when Oliver got caught and begged Nick to not leave him. I desperately needed Oliver to make it out. And not knowing What happened to him afterwards drove me insane. He is the ONE character I'll never forget.
I'd have to say; Melvin Burgess did a wonderful job at writing this. He made the readers understand where the characters came from. And I mean their way of thinking, their actions, and attitude towards others. I got a better understanding of how Jones became Jones. I don't approve his actions. I don't necessary like him, but I do have a better understanding of him.
I lose all respect of women who go back to their abusers; however I still felt horribly bad of how Stella ended up. She didn't deserve that fate, but honestly she should have seen it coming. I highly disagree with Toms "discipline" strategy and honestly who would. I just hope he gets the beating that he deserves. Tony Creal, I would just love to wrap my pretty little fingers around his neck and just keep squeezing until his eyes pop out.
Mrs. Batts..oh god how I hated that BAT!! She's stupid...just stupid. Moving on.. Justice was served in the end, even though Tony got away with it. It would've been really cool to know he became someone's bitch, but that didn't happen. All in all, Nick got the loving family he deserved.
I seriously can't say I enjoyed reading this book or even say "it was a good book;" without feeling sick to my stomach. The horrible things that were done to this kid (Nick) and others like him is disgusting. How people like Tony can take advantage of kids like Nick, Oliver, even Jones and think it's okay. The one part that nearly brought tears to my eyes was when Oliver got caught and begged Nick to not leave him. I desperately needed Oliver to make it out. And not knowing What happened to him afterwards drove me insane. He is the ONE character I'll never forget.
I'd have to say; Melvin Burgess did a wonderful job at writing this. He made the readers understand where the characters came from. And I mean their way of thinking, their actions, and attitude towards others. I got a better understanding of how Jones became Jones. I don't approve his actions. I don't necessary like him, but I do have a better understanding of him.
I lose all respect of women who go back to their abusers; however I still felt horribly bad of how Stella ended up. She didn't deserve that fate, but honestly she should have seen it coming. I highly disagree with Toms "discipline" strategy and honestly who would. I just hope he gets the beating that he deserves. Tony Creal, I would just love to wrap my pretty little fingers around his neck and just keep squeezing until his eyes pop out.
Mrs. Batts..oh god how I hated that BAT!! She's stupid...just stupid. Moving on.. Justice was served in the end, even though Tony got away with it. It would've been really cool to know he became someone's bitch, but that didn't happen. All in all, Nick got the loving family he deserved.
March 7, 2011
Nicholas Dane is a modern retelling of Oliver Twist. Fourteen year old, Nick, after his mother dies of a heroin overdoes (a problem Nick wasn’t even aware she had) is sent to Meadow Hill, the worst place a young boy could be sent to. While there, Nick is beaten, whipped and tortured. Tony Creal, head of Meadow Hill promises to help Nick get out there (Unbeknownst to Nick, him mom’s best friend as well as a long lost great Uncle are willing to help him), while secretly making sure that no one can help this “troubled and disturbed boy” as he calls him to Nick’s family. One night, Mr. Creal gives Nick a hand job. Nick is so surprised that he doesn’t do anything about it until it is over, and anger overpowers him. As punishment, Creal, as well as two other men brutally rape him, forever changing Nick.
Nicholas Dane, is a heartbreaking story. I stopped counting how many times I had to put the book down to compose myself. This book is so sad and tragic. It wasn’t just Nick either, all of the boys in this story deeply affected me, especially Oliver. Oliver is a few years younger then Nick and has been at Meadow Hill for a number of years already. He has been raped over and over again, first by his mothers boyfriend at age three, then by wardens and janitors in other group homes he was in, and finally by Creal and Creal’s friends. Oliver knows nothing but pain and links pain with affection. His story broke my heart even more then Nick’s.
This book was good, but I would only recommend it if you understand what you are getting yourself into. This book will make you cry, over and over again.
For more reviews, go here: http://ladybugstorytime.blogspot.com/
Nicholas Dane, is a heartbreaking story. I stopped counting how many times I had to put the book down to compose myself. This book is so sad and tragic. It wasn’t just Nick either, all of the boys in this story deeply affected me, especially Oliver. Oliver is a few years younger then Nick and has been at Meadow Hill for a number of years already. He has been raped over and over again, first by his mothers boyfriend at age three, then by wardens and janitors in other group homes he was in, and finally by Creal and Creal’s friends. Oliver knows nothing but pain and links pain with affection. His story broke my heart even more then Nick’s.
This book was good, but I would only recommend it if you understand what you are getting yourself into. This book will make you cry, over and over again.
For more reviews, go here: http://ladybugstorytime.blogspot.com/
February 16, 2011
Wow this book... I'm torn between what to grade it, so I'll go with four stars. Part of me hates this book, but part of me loves it. It was a fast, easy read, but difficult at the same time. The amount of abuse Nick faces is just incredible.
What first attracted me to the book was the cover, and then the description inside that said it was "Dickensian" and loosely based on Oliver Twist. I was excited, so I bought it thinking I would put it in my classroom library after I read it. I will not be doing that, because of the amount of language and cruelty in the book. While it is good and I will recommend it to more mature readers, it is not one I will provide for students.
One of the issues I had with the book was the head hopping between characters. Even the minor characters were given a voice, and I knew everything that was happening. I wouldn't have minded a few characters, but all of them? It started to get confusing. By the end I was used to it, though, and I think it served a purpose.
Also, the ending seemed very abrupt. Suddenly it was the future and everything turned out - if not perfect - okay. Oliver was my favorite character and I'm a little upset that I didn't get to see what happened to him, but then again, maybe I don't want to know...
What first attracted me to the book was the cover, and then the description inside that said it was "Dickensian" and loosely based on Oliver Twist. I was excited, so I bought it thinking I would put it in my classroom library after I read it. I will not be doing that, because of the amount of language and cruelty in the book. While it is good and I will recommend it to more mature readers, it is not one I will provide for students.
One of the issues I had with the book was the head hopping between characters. Even the minor characters were given a voice, and I knew everything that was happening. I wouldn't have minded a few characters, but all of them? It started to get confusing. By the end I was used to it, though, and I think it served a purpose.
Also, the ending seemed very abrupt. Suddenly it was the future and everything turned out - if not perfect - okay. Oliver was my favorite character and I'm a little upset that I didn't get to see what happened to him, but then again, maybe I don't want to know...
October 11, 2011
Nicholas Dane wound up in the British social services system after his mother overdosed on heroin. This tells you everything you need to know about Nick’s social class and opportunities. His mother wasn’t exactly a drug addict and she was trying to stay clean while she attended school. She wanted to improve herself. Once she died, Nick had no one. His mother’s friend Jenny tried to convince social services that she could take him in with her own two children, but that didn’t work because Nick was an angry young man. Mrs. Batts, the social worker, thought the best place for him was a group boys’ home, where orphans in addition to juvenile delinquents were sent. This is where his nightmare began. The violence from the counselors and prefects shocks Nick and he believes he will receive help from a kindly counselor, Tony Creal; the boys call him “Dear Tony Creal” and Nick quickly finds out why. Burgess unfolds the methods of a sexual predator in chilling detail and the psychology of the victims perfectly including the shame, jealousy, and rage that Nick experiences. The book is devastating and not for the faint of heart. Give this to older teens because of the violence more than the sexual abuse. The ending seemed rushed and a little too pat.
June 20, 2015
This isn't a recent publication -2009-but I've just caught up with it. The book is an unflinching look at abuse in children's homes. Nick Dane is a boy who is in low level trouble at school - some fighting, skipping school, but nothing serious. But one day his single mother takes a heroin overdose and with no other relatives Nick is sent away to the local children's home where his nightmare begins. Meadow House has a paedophile ring operating in it - one which includes high up policemen. Nick is caught up in a cycle of abuse and violence and we see his descent into violence himself. A chilling book in true Burgess style - looking at the problem head on. The abuse isn't described graphically as befits a YA book but you are in no doubt as to what happens and its effect on Nick and other boys. Not an easy read - Burgess never is - but a good read. Not his best work but it covers a subject not tackled by any other YA author as far as I know.
November 1, 2010
This is the sort of book I don’t usually read. You know the ones, from the “sad story” section of the bookshop. The misery-books as I call them. But a few years ago I’d heard of Melvin Burgess as an author to look out for. I’ve read his Lady : My life as a Bitch and to be honest I wasn’t all that impressed, but I’ll always give an author a second go. So I tried this one.
In the 1980′s Nick Dane is growing up as an average, if bright kid. He comes from a single parent family, and his mother has a secret. She never got off the drugs, not completely. And in the course of having a “taste” she accidentally overdoses and Nick is left all alone in the world. Soon he finds himself carted off to a “home” for boys, and soon learns that the violence and random beatings are not the worse this place has to offer.
Full review: http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2...
In the 1980′s Nick Dane is growing up as an average, if bright kid. He comes from a single parent family, and his mother has a secret. She never got off the drugs, not completely. And in the course of having a “taste” she accidentally overdoses and Nick is left all alone in the world. Soon he finds himself carted off to a “home” for boys, and soon learns that the violence and random beatings are not the worse this place has to offer.
Full review: http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2...
May 21, 2011
Plot/Story:
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
Nicholas Dane is fourteen years old when his mother dies unexpectedly, leaving no one to care for him. It is only after months of searching that anyone is able to find a relative willing to help but, by then, it is too late. Though a friend of Nicholas’s mother tries to take him in and care for him, the Social Services will not allow it, and Nick is shuttled off to a home for boy – in other words, Hell. Nicholas must endure endless cruelty – physical and emotional brutality and sexual abuse from those put in charge of “caring” for the boys. When Nick tries to escape and do the right thing by telling authority figures about the abuse, his world comes crashing down around him. Nick eventually gets out, but he struggles through years of shame, self-doubt, and anger.
Read the full review at www.roofbeamreader.net
3 – Plot/Story is interesting & believable.
Nicholas Dane is fourteen years old when his mother dies unexpectedly, leaving no one to care for him. It is only after months of searching that anyone is able to find a relative willing to help but, by then, it is too late. Though a friend of Nicholas’s mother tries to take him in and care for him, the Social Services will not allow it, and Nick is shuttled off to a home for boy – in other words, Hell. Nicholas must endure endless cruelty – physical and emotional brutality and sexual abuse from those put in charge of “caring” for the boys. When Nick tries to escape and do the right thing by telling authority figures about the abuse, his world comes crashing down around him. Nick eventually gets out, but he struggles through years of shame, self-doubt, and anger.
Read the full review at www.roofbeamreader.net
June 14, 2012
The year is 1984. Nick was a typical 14 year old in a single parent home, until the day he came home to find his mom had died of a heroin overdose. From that point on, his life is turned upside down. Sent to an orphanage, things went from bad to worse. Seen as more prison than home, Nick faces daily beatings from both staff and other boys, as well as rape. After managing to escape with his streetwise friend Davey, Nick vowed to live on the streets rather than face another orphanage.
Read more at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/
Read more at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/
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