Like the Lion's Tooth

by Marjorie Kellogg

A group of youngsters form a strange alliance at a special school for problem children as they struggle to cope in an adult world

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Marjorie Kellogg was an American author born in Santa Barbara, California. She died of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 83.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this many years ago. No book that I have read before or since has made me feel such extreme grief as this. I recommend this book very highly, even though I know I could never read it again. I've seen this book rated for ages 14 years and up; however, I wouldn't recommend anyone that young read it unless it was as part of a group or with adult support as it will most likely generate some intense emotions.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Achingly brutal yet tender, ‘Like the Lion’s Tooth’ follows three abused young teens in NYC who end up in the same “school” for “troubled” kids. I read this in high school — I plucked it off our bookshelf at home. It’s still a good book. It would make a good movie, something in the vein of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ meets ‘The Outsiders,’ but I suspect the subject matter undermines any likelihood of that.

[Christiane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-rending story about children who are deprived of their childhood and youth by the actions of their parents. Having been beaten, neglected, starved of affection and sexually abused by those who were meant to protect them they end up in boarding schools and foster homes.

In her terse style Marjorie Kellogg is able to convey all the fear, anger, frustration and loneliness these children experience and there is not the relief of a happy ending for the reader.

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although not an easy read, this was a very good book. It was difficult to understand how the children in this book could be treated the way they were treated ... and to see how their home lives affected their futures. Not a "feel good" book in any sense, but an important subject that makes one realize that no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.

[Soren]

I have no memory of reading this book, but i know that I did, and more than once.

[Alison Tala]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14829899

[Geary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well-written book, but very sad and depressing subject material. I wonder how this novel was reviewed when it was released in 1972. Today I wonder if it could be published. The very realistic was that the terribly abused young children were depicted was so visual that it seemed to almost be a journalistic approach. Tough read.

[Jessi Waugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are no good feels here, and I'd prefer those in a book. I don't know how I ended up with this one. However, I read it quickly, anxious to get to the end. Anxious is not how I want to feel about a book throughout the whole thing, though. It is well written, real, and interesting, sure. It's also horrible.