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Little Beasts
Turnbull is a working-class town full of weary people who struggle to make ends meet. Evictions, alcoholism, and random violence are commonplace. In the heat of July 1983, when eight-year-olds James Illworth, Dallas Darwin, and Felix Cassidy leave their homes to play in the woods, they have to navigate between the potentially violent world of angry adults and even angrier teens. Little do they know that within a few short hours, one of them will lay dead, after a bit of playful bullying from older teens escalates to tragedy.
Loosely based on a real crime that took place on Long Island in 1979, Little Beasts is a panorama of a poor, mostly white neighborhood surrounded by the affluent communities of the East End. After the murder, the novel's main characters must come to grips with the aftermath, face down the decisions they've made, and reestablish their faith in the possibility of a better world.
Loosely based on a real crime that took place on Long Island in 1979, Little Beasts is a panorama of a poor, mostly white neighborhood surrounded by the affluent communities of the East End. After the murder, the novel's main characters must come to grips with the aftermath, face down the decisions they've made, and reestablish their faith in the possibility of a better world.
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2015
29 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 17, 2015
Turnbull in Long Island is a town where evictions are rampant, where some have given up, and resorted to alcohol, where losing their job means not being able to feed their families. It is here that we meet three young boys, age 8, this and the woods behind their houses is where they play. As the author tells us in the first chapter one of these young boys will not live till summer's end.
This is loosely based on an actual crime that took place in 1979 on Long Island. It is hardly surprising that this is not a happy little novel but it is one that is well written and well told. The first two- thirds of the book is setting the scene, meeting the boys, their families and their endeavors to escape from the older boys. It also raises many questions. Is the young person accused really a monster? Why is the town so intent on vengeance? Does bullying always beget bullying?
After the crime we watch as the remaining boys and their parents try to recover, to pick up the pieces of their lives. Watch as the parents of the dead boy try to regain their faith in their marriage and their religion. Very interesting book, many social issues, a novel where some things change, but many don't. A novel that makes one think.
ARC from librarything.
This is loosely based on an actual crime that took place in 1979 on Long Island. It is hardly surprising that this is not a happy little novel but it is one that is well written and well told. The first two- thirds of the book is setting the scene, meeting the boys, their families and their endeavors to escape from the older boys. It also raises many questions. Is the young person accused really a monster? Why is the town so intent on vengeance? Does bullying always beget bullying?
After the crime we watch as the remaining boys and their parents try to recover, to pick up the pieces of their lives. Watch as the parents of the dead boy try to regain their faith in their marriage and their religion. Very interesting book, many social issues, a novel where some things change, but many don't. A novel that makes one think.
ARC from librarything.
August 3, 2015
Tragic but more realistic than we'd like to acknowledge, Matthew McGevna's
Little Beasts
is tremendously affecting.
It's 1983. Eight-year-old friends James, Dallas, and Felix don't have much to do over the summer in their Long Island town of Turnbull, but that doesn't let that stop them. They spend their days roaming through the woods, watching the sheriff evict people from their homes (and then rummaging through the spoils), and avoiding the town's teenagers, many of whom are looking for mischief.
Fifteen-year-old David Westwood is an aspiring artist, intelligent and sensitive, seeking more out of life than he believes he is getting. He is obsessed with a fellow student, and more than happy to antagonize his classmates by making them think he's an Anti-American communist. But at the same time, he wants the acceptance of his peers, and the affection of the girl he loves, but circumstances—and his own behavior—stand in his way.
One afternoon, James, Dallas, and Felix come upon a fort being built by a group of kids, and they decide to take the wood and the tools back to their own neighborhood. This sets off a confrontation that will leave each boy reeling, physically and emotionally, and set them on a collision course with David and his friends. And after a party that David attends that night ends far more differently than he imagined, David's anxiety and anger ratchets up, and the next time the boys interact with David and his friends, it ends in disaster.
Little Beasts was based on a real-life incident, which adds an additional note of tragedy to the plot. This is a book about how one single moment can change so many people's lives, and how anger—even misplaced anger—can consume. It's also a powerful story about redemption, and how clinging fast to our beliefs without the thought of compromise doesn't always provide the results we expect.
Even though the book—and, in fact, the synopsis which accompanies it on most sites—divulges the key event in the book, you still cannot stop reading it, even though you know it will sadden and anger you. McGevna is tremendously talented, and created a vivid picture of place and time, populated by characters who are far more complex than you think they will be at first. I look forward to seeing what comes next for McGevna, because I was very impressed with his storytelling ability.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
It's 1983. Eight-year-old friends James, Dallas, and Felix don't have much to do over the summer in their Long Island town of Turnbull, but that doesn't let that stop them. They spend their days roaming through the woods, watching the sheriff evict people from their homes (and then rummaging through the spoils), and avoiding the town's teenagers, many of whom are looking for mischief.
Fifteen-year-old David Westwood is an aspiring artist, intelligent and sensitive, seeking more out of life than he believes he is getting. He is obsessed with a fellow student, and more than happy to antagonize his classmates by making them think he's an Anti-American communist. But at the same time, he wants the acceptance of his peers, and the affection of the girl he loves, but circumstances—and his own behavior—stand in his way.
One afternoon, James, Dallas, and Felix come upon a fort being built by a group of kids, and they decide to take the wood and the tools back to their own neighborhood. This sets off a confrontation that will leave each boy reeling, physically and emotionally, and set them on a collision course with David and his friends. And after a party that David attends that night ends far more differently than he imagined, David's anxiety and anger ratchets up, and the next time the boys interact with David and his friends, it ends in disaster.
Little Beasts was based on a real-life incident, which adds an additional note of tragedy to the plot. This is a book about how one single moment can change so many people's lives, and how anger—even misplaced anger—can consume. It's also a powerful story about redemption, and how clinging fast to our beliefs without the thought of compromise doesn't always provide the results we expect.
Even though the book—and, in fact, the synopsis which accompanies it on most sites—divulges the key event in the book, you still cannot stop reading it, even though you know it will sadden and anger you. McGevna is tremendously talented, and created a vivid picture of place and time, populated by characters who are far more complex than you think they will be at first. I look forward to seeing what comes next for McGevna, because I was very impressed with his storytelling ability.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
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July 8, 2015Loosely based on a real crime that took place in 1979, Little Beasts follows three young friends through a violent working-class town in the middle of a heatwave. By the end of the day, one of them will be dead, after bullying by older teens escalates into tragedy. A serious, searing debut novel by a wonderful new writer.
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June 26, 2015
Little Beasts by Matthew McGevna is a highly recommended novel loosely based on a real story.
Eight year olds James Illworth, Dallas Darwin, and Felix Cassidy are doing what any kids would do in the summer of 1983 in Turnbull, a working-class Long Island town. They watch an eviction. They assign themselves characters to play Star Wars. They find a stray dog as a mascot. They play in the woods by their houses. They plan to steal fort building materials from another gang of kids (and get into a fight). They try to appease the adults in their lives, answer if their mothers yell for them, and avoid the sullen, angry teens that always seem to be hanging out. They are busy children, serious about their friendship and playing with each other.
David Westwood is hanging out with his friends, other 15 year old teens. David is a budding artist, but finds himself at odds with others at his high school. Other students have given him the nickname "Red" and have accused him of hating America and being a Communist. David doesn't agree with their assessment, but he plays the role. Although he has a group of friends, he is really a loner, trying to fit in, looking for acceptance. He pines for Julia, who may or may not be his girlfriend.
While our group of eight year olds has a horrible fight with other kids, the teens are struggling with their own social issues. The next day the two groups meet with fatal results.
McGevna does a great job describing the feelings of the kids out and about, trying to stay out of the way of trouble and doing their own busy work of being children in the summer. When the view switches to the teens, he also manages to capture the bullying and teen angst David is experiencing. Although it is well written and the inner workings and pitfalls that must be avoided in both the lives of the kids and the teens is clearly portrayed, I wasn't sure exactly where the novel was heading. There is a lot of lead up to the tragedy, which doesn't happen until you are well into the second half of the book.
In the end this is a fine summer novel or a great airplane book. It will keep you reading, the writing and descriptions are great, and, although you have to wait a bit too long for the horrible turn of events to happen, McGevna skillfully handles the subsequent aftermath.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Akashic Books for review purposes.
Eight year olds James Illworth, Dallas Darwin, and Felix Cassidy are doing what any kids would do in the summer of 1983 in Turnbull, a working-class Long Island town. They watch an eviction. They assign themselves characters to play Star Wars. They find a stray dog as a mascot. They play in the woods by their houses. They plan to steal fort building materials from another gang of kids (and get into a fight). They try to appease the adults in their lives, answer if their mothers yell for them, and avoid the sullen, angry teens that always seem to be hanging out. They are busy children, serious about their friendship and playing with each other.
David Westwood is hanging out with his friends, other 15 year old teens. David is a budding artist, but finds himself at odds with others at his high school. Other students have given him the nickname "Red" and have accused him of hating America and being a Communist. David doesn't agree with their assessment, but he plays the role. Although he has a group of friends, he is really a loner, trying to fit in, looking for acceptance. He pines for Julia, who may or may not be his girlfriend.
While our group of eight year olds has a horrible fight with other kids, the teens are struggling with their own social issues. The next day the two groups meet with fatal results.
McGevna does a great job describing the feelings of the kids out and about, trying to stay out of the way of trouble and doing their own busy work of being children in the summer. When the view switches to the teens, he also manages to capture the bullying and teen angst David is experiencing. Although it is well written and the inner workings and pitfalls that must be avoided in both the lives of the kids and the teens is clearly portrayed, I wasn't sure exactly where the novel was heading. There is a lot of lead up to the tragedy, which doesn't happen until you are well into the second half of the book.
In the end this is a fine summer novel or a great airplane book. It will keep you reading, the writing and descriptions are great, and, although you have to wait a bit too long for the horrible turn of events to happen, McGevna skillfully handles the subsequent aftermath.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Akashic Books for review purposes.
August 10, 2015
LITTLE BEASTS by Matthew McGevna follows three eight-year-old boys as they navigate their summer break, and it also traces the paths of a few teens in the same small town in New York in the 80s. When the groups' trails intersect, it's an awful thing to read. The first chapter tells you that there is tragedy coming--and that's unfortunate. The horror of that tragedy is muted a bit by the author's foreshadowing. In fact, Chapter One tries WAY too hard, but you are rewarded for sticking with it as the novel progresses.
All said, this is a tense book that is part thriller and part coming-of-age novel. I almost stopped reading it at its climax because it was overwhelmingly emotional, but I decided to stay with it, and I'm glad. Continuing to read about the impact of the awful occurrences on the characters I had come to know had a soothing effect (of sorts).
Despite the first chapter this book was quite good. I recommend it to fans of thrillers and to book clubs. I think it would make for a great discussion.
My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
All said, this is a tense book that is part thriller and part coming-of-age novel. I almost stopped reading it at its climax because it was overwhelmingly emotional, but I decided to stay with it, and I'm glad. Continuing to read about the impact of the awful occurrences on the characters I had come to know had a soothing effect (of sorts).
Despite the first chapter this book was quite good. I recommend it to fans of thrillers and to book clubs. I think it would make for a great discussion.
My thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2017
Having grown up in the town which serves as the basis for this novel and recalling the real childhood murder for which this book is loosely based, I can attest that McGevna successfully transports the reader to the place and time of early 1980s South shore Long Island. McGevna appropriately describes the socio economic challenges of a working class town surrounded by more affluent and stable communities and the consequences on the youth. His story is both compelling and thought provoking in it's realness and rawness. The characters are flawed and complex with very little white hat/black hat. It's an examination of the harsh realities faced in such communities that equally delivers a lively tale.
May 28, 2015
Matthew McGevna takes the reader back to childhood, when time lasted forever, consequences for your actions didn't exist, and your best friends would be there til the end. But that is a fairy tale that doesn't exist in 1983 Turnbull. And three 8-year-old friends can't change their actions when things go horribly out of control.
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For more of a
August 30, 2015
An excellent debut novel.
December 27, 2016
A beautifully written tragedy.
January 25, 2019
THIS WAS A WELL WRITTEN STORY. THE AUTHOR CAN REALLY PULL YOU INTO THE STORY. YOU COULD DEFINITELY FEEL THE FEAR AND PAIN.
July 21, 2019
The author takes two different groups of kids that are of different ages in a run down town, makes them likeable, and then when their worlds meet, tragedy strikes.
September 7, 2015
This book is wonderfully crafted and beautifully written. The story (based on a real murder on Long Island - where I myself hail from) is chilling, heartbreaking and raw.
The author gives insight to many characters, from the murderer to all three boys, and their fathers. The harsh emotion of loss, especially that of a child, is perfectly inscribed with the sudden loss of faith and understanding of what you once knew, and the finding of faith of ones who had none before.
The relationships of fathers and sons lends great weight to the story, and impacts the characters as they make their way through this tragedy.
I couldn't put it down. Read it.
The author gives insight to many characters, from the murderer to all three boys, and their fathers. The harsh emotion of loss, especially that of a child, is perfectly inscribed with the sudden loss of faith and understanding of what you once knew, and the finding of faith of ones who had none before.
The relationships of fathers and sons lends great weight to the story, and impacts the characters as they make their way through this tragedy.
I couldn't put it down. Read it.
September 23, 2015
Wonderful book, I would read more from this author. It points out a problem of adults not paying attention to their children's activities. Maybe from lack of resources, single parenting or just plain negligence, it is a problem that should not exist. I would recommend this book to a whole lot of people and hope they get the message.
July 6, 2015
The tension in this book about a down-and-out town on Long Island just keeps on getting more and more intense. Folks are getting evicted. Kids are running wild. Teenagers are spoiling for a fight. And everyone is struggling to hang on. It's a brilliantly written and searching glimpse into the American psyche and one that I will not soon forget.
June 24, 2016
McGevna sets the stage for small town drama but it was a little slow for my liking. The characters were rich with detail but didn't draw me into their story. The writing itself is lyrical and engaging, but the plot didn't hold my attention.
February 9, 2024
I read this book back in 2015 and about to read it again. I loved it that much. The characters are well thought out and the plot perfectly executed. The author has a way of making you feel all the feels.
August 15, 2015
I loved this. The suspense was palpable. It was a poetic tragedy with compelling characters and I was completely immersed. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2016
As stated in the reviews, this book is loosely based on a 1979 murder on Long Island NY. A terrible tragedy. Well done.
July 7, 2015
Excellent, incisive debut novel...
September 4, 2018
This is the best book i've read in a long time
I enjoyed everything about it
I took a chance on reading this book, because I thought it would be boring but it wasn't at all
I enjoyed everything about it
I took a chance on reading this book, because I thought it would be boring but it wasn't at all
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews