Nos cris

by Kern Carter

Ever se rend compte que son frère et elle sont loin d’être les seuls, dans leur école, à vivre des moments difficiles sans avoir les ressources pour y faire face. C’est alors qu’une idée lui vient : créer un groupe de soutien, le CRI, fait par et pour des jeunes. Un lieu d’échange où tous pourront être accueillis et soutenus, peu importe l’ampleur du drame qu’ils traversent.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Social Issues

Mass Market Paperback

Published April 22, 2024

About the author

Writer and author moving the world forward with words.

Reviews

[Bibliomaniaque]

C'était bon, mais sans plus. Personnages ok (voire désagréables par moment), histoire qui tire un peu en longueur. Je n'ai pas détesté, mais je n'ai pas été chamboulée.

[Maria]

Really heartfelt book, and I can see how it would be a great resource for older teens who are going through it. Keen Carter has a way with words, and I love that he writes for teens has great books that they can read and relate to.

This isn’t the perfect book, but it’s an important one!

[Nadia L. Hohn]

Clever and filled with heart. What happens when a group of teens decides to be their own therapists and run a support group for their own healing? This story makes me think a the shortage of mental health services for teens that exists in Canada, especially Ontario. This novel features teens but the tone feels more adult. Perhaps this is a hybrid reminiscent of Frying Plantain, Harriet’s Daughter, and Gutter Child which sometimes gets categorized both in young adult and adult. This novel features Black youth in Canada and is a debut novel. Congratulations Kern.

[Élise Goulet Pedersen]

Ce roman de l’auteur canadien Kern Carter a piqué ma curiosité quelques mois passés, mais j’attendais le bon état d’âme pour le lire. Nos cris est un roman authentique qui décrit les moments difficiles que peuvent vivre les adolescents, tant au niveau familial que personnel. La narration alterne entre Candace, abandonnée par sa mère à 5 ans mais adoptée par une famille fortunée, Ever, sa meilleure amie qui vie des drames familiaux, et le petit frère d’Ever, Jéricho.

Je lis habituellement des romans « feel good ». Celui-ci comprend plusieurs événements tristes et difficiles. Par contre, il est plein d’espoir. On voit la force de l’amour familial, que ce soit notre famille biologique, adoptée ou choisie. J’avais du mal à déposer le livre. Il est très bien traduit, dans un français canadien, ce qui allège la lecture. On s’attache aux personnages et on veut savoir ce que le destin leur réserve.

Ça parle de suicide, de drogue et de viol, donc je dirais de le réserver pour les lecteurs ados plus matures. Mais je le recommande. C’est vraiment bien écrit et j’ai apprécié la façon dont l’auteur a développé ses personnages. Je suis maintenant curieuse d’aller lire les autres romans de Kern Carter.

[American Mensa]

Everyone struggles at some point in their lives. Whether it’s problems within your family, addiction, or something more complex, Boys and Girls Screaming covers all the bases.

In this realistic fiction novel set in modern-day America, a group of teens faces very real problems. Coming from all different backgrounds, Ever, Jericho, Candace, and their unlikely group of friends unite to start a support group, Boys and Girls Screaming (BAGS for short), out of Ever’s basement. There are only three rules at meetings: no one is pressured into sharing, everyone must be sober, and what happens in the basement stays in the basement. Throughout various intense meetings, the members share their stories, explore their emotions, and form an unbreakable bond. When Ever and Jericho’s family lives suddenly get even more complicated, can their new friends figure out a way to help?

Boys and Girls Screaming provided a realistic, yet fast-moving story that teen readers are bound to relate to. Although I admit that the ending was less than satisfying, in the real world how often are there perfect endings?

Review by Addison B, age 15, Western New York Mensa

[Zach Laengert]

A lovely book about weathering life's storms, talking shit out and finding the family that works best for you.

There were some clever narrative tools to advance the story - switching perspectives then hearing about character's lives from the outside. (Though I think there might have been something with Lindsay after *that* meeting that was cut but one of these references stayed in?)

Surprised how engaging this story ends up being off the back of sheer (inter)personal struggles, where thrillers have to go over the top to catch my interest in the same way.

A great book from a great instructor of mine, looking forward to his new novel!

[JL Salty]

Rating: r for profanity, teen drug and alcohol use, off-page sex, suicide ideation
Recommend: later hs and up, realistic fiction; overall, I likely will not recommend this book.

The summary of this story is … true, eventually. The secret Ever is keeping doesn’t come out until WAY toward the end of the story. These kids all do need help, there is no doubt, they have all been … gifted with some trauma in their lives, but the helping was not the center of the story. This book seemed more like … Ever and Candace and Jericho getting high and having sex and … right, dealing with their trauma. Was not impressed.

[eternal absence]

the book was ok, i read it for english. the drama was interesting and the twists were kind of unexpected. some of the characters were useless and didn’t do much, it was mainly the group as a whole that functioned as one entity. i think it could do better if the characters had a bit more personality.

[adelaide kauchak]

an interesting story about grief and trauma. this book thoughtfully covers topics like racism and class, through the lens of broken teenagers. the book has some great plot twists and the ending beautifully wraps the story up.

[Lauren White]

I wish I had something like this growing up. What a great idea for a story, and I loved that I got to experience the inner dialogue of all the main characters. Really well written with great emotional depth, and a bit of a twist at the end that made me gasp.

[Christopher Dicaire]

Excellente lecture! Des épreuves difficiles à traverser, mais des épreuves qui ouvrent l'esprit sur les tourments des adolescents à l'aube de l'âge adulte!

[Julia]

a solid representation of that ever present lump in your teenage throat and the simmering misplaced rage that comes with growing up

[Zuha]

A bit of an odd book, is it meant for young adults? Maybe. Kind of an weird plot twist. Decent enough read.

[millie :)]

i stopped reading this
idk if it was more because of the fact that it was kinda boring or because it's due back to the library

[Anahí (ah-nah-ee)]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
It honestly got me out of a reading slump!
It is a beautifully written story about grief, trauma and found family. It had me not wanting to put the book down.
The plot twist towards the end was good!!

My favorite quote from this book:

“People can take everything away from you except your mind. Protect it. At all costs.”

It’s a short read and we’ll worth reading!