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Wirewalker
Sometimes heroes can be found in the most unlikely places.
Fourteen-year-old Clarence Feather knows no world beyond desolate Mayfair Heights. Three years ago, his mother was killed before his eyes by a stray bullet. When his father becomes unable to keep the family afloat, Clarence is manipulated into running drugs. But he longs to be a good person, in spite of the seemingly impossible odds.
Wandering through his neighborhood, Clarence meets Mona, a huge albino Great Dane. The two develop a deep bond. When he is forced to attend a dog fight as a rite of passage, Clarence realizes that Mona isn’t safe, and neither is he. Can he find a way to protect Mona? Can he survive life in Mayfair Heights and still become the person his mother wanted him to be?
Fourteen-year-old Clarence Feather knows no world beyond desolate Mayfair Heights. Three years ago, his mother was killed before his eyes by a stray bullet. When his father becomes unable to keep the family afloat, Clarence is manipulated into running drugs. But he longs to be a good person, in spite of the seemingly impossible odds.
Wandering through his neighborhood, Clarence meets Mona, a huge albino Great Dane. The two develop a deep bond. When he is forced to attend a dog fight as a rite of passage, Clarence realizes that Mona isn’t safe, and neither is he. Can he find a way to protect Mona? Can he survive life in Mayfair Heights and still become the person his mother wanted him to be?
290 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2016
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519 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 8, 2016
Fourteen year old Claraence is surrounded by family and friends that are leading him down the path of drug dealing, dog fights and other illegal activity. His mother died in from of him in his home in a drive-by shooting and he is trying to do right by her memory while trying to survive in his neighborhood, a wirewalk. He loves school and gets good grades and lives in his fanasty world where he is a wirewalker or a superhero, to give him courage to do what he needs to do. A teacher at his school, a corner store owner, and his "bodyguard" are his guardian angels, trying to help him down the right path. But reality hits, breaking his fanasty world and forces him to see what could be lost if he does not act. Because he cannot remain a wirewalker forever...
Clarence's story drew me in and the "what happens next" kept me turning the pages. It made me think about what I would do in his shoes and how his life seemed almost set out for him with few choices to make. It seemed like the ending was abrupt and left a lot of loose ends, which was the only thing I did not like about the book.
I rated a book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
Clarence's story drew me in and the "what happens next" kept me turning the pages. It made me think about what I would do in his shoes and how his life seemed almost set out for him with few choices to make. It seemed like the ending was abrupt and left a lot of loose ends, which was the only thing I did not like about the book.
I rated a book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program with no requirement to review book.
September 16, 2016
Wow... This book was truly incredible. It was a serious perspective-changer for me. Clarence is such a good kid. A kind-hearted, animal-loving, straight A student who is set up by his circumstances for complete failure. But he uses his instincts to survive. He knows who is angels are in the community, and he uses them to balance himself as he finds himself in a life he cannot stomach.
It's hard to read at times, because it feels so real. So heartbreaking. So many times, as the reader, I found myself thinking "Isn't there anyone who can help? Why doesn't he call the police?" etc, but I know he couldn't have. I know this is the reality for so many good kids in terrible circumstances. Kids... just kids. He's just a kid having to pretend to be something he isn't, until he starts to actually become that something.
I don't know if I would have read this had I known what it was truly about, because I'm a sensitive little soul, myself. It was hard to get through the dog-fighting scenes, and to feel all this empathy for this little boy as he found himself trapped in such a cruel world. But I'm SO glad I did read it. I'm glad I stuck with it until the end. It ends in a hopeful way, but not a Disney-style "Happily Ever After" way. It seems like a kid in rough circumstances could pick up this book and identify. It maps out some ideas for escape from such a life in a very realistic way. It also touches on the reality that not everyone wants to be rescued... not everyone in that life wants out.
I really loved this book. My heart broke, but only to expand open a little further, inviting in the possibilities that even the "bad apples" meant to be good at first, and some still are at their core, and will find a way to be good again. Some wounds are just harder to heal from than others.
It's hard to read at times, because it feels so real. So heartbreaking. So many times, as the reader, I found myself thinking "Isn't there anyone who can help? Why doesn't he call the police?" etc, but I know he couldn't have. I know this is the reality for so many good kids in terrible circumstances. Kids... just kids. He's just a kid having to pretend to be something he isn't, until he starts to actually become that something.
I don't know if I would have read this had I known what it was truly about, because I'm a sensitive little soul, myself. It was hard to get through the dog-fighting scenes, and to feel all this empathy for this little boy as he found himself trapped in such a cruel world. But I'm SO glad I did read it. I'm glad I stuck with it until the end. It ends in a hopeful way, but not a Disney-style "Happily Ever After" way. It seems like a kid in rough circumstances could pick up this book and identify. It maps out some ideas for escape from such a life in a very realistic way. It also touches on the reality that not everyone wants to be rescued... not everyone in that life wants out.
I really loved this book. My heart broke, but only to expand open a little further, inviting in the possibilities that even the "bad apples" meant to be good at first, and some still are at their core, and will find a way to be good again. Some wounds are just harder to heal from than others.
August 27, 2016
Clarence Feather is a fourteen-year-old from a rough neighborhood, his mother died in a drive-by shooting and was struck by a stray bullet. He was left in the care of his father and since his father was unable to provide for the family Clarence begins running drugs to bring money home.
While he's walking one day he sees a white Great Dane named Mona and they seem to form a bond right away. Mona is able to see Clarence for who he is and seems to be able to read his thoughts but when he's dragged to a dog fight and made to watch he begins to fear for Mona and what will become of her.
This is a dark toned YA - coming of age story and I wish I enjoyed it more than I did. While the feel of the environment is very real, it's just a little too much of a bore. The story never really goes anywhere but instead constantly seems to read water. Things happen in small increments and when I began to think that the story was taking off somewhere it never did.
It possesses a dark, somber mood and appropriately so, it's about drugs, abuse and a boy who is "walking the wire" on being who he needs to be to survive in his neighborhood and who he wants to be.
I wish I could give it more, but the writing was just a little too off for me.
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While he's walking one day he sees a white Great Dane named Mona and they seem to form a bond right away. Mona is able to see Clarence for who he is and seems to be able to read his thoughts but when he's dragged to a dog fight and made to watch he begins to fear for Mona and what will become of her.
This is a dark toned YA - coming of age story and I wish I enjoyed it more than I did. While the feel of the environment is very real, it's just a little too much of a bore. The story never really goes anywhere but instead constantly seems to read water. Things happen in small increments and when I began to think that the story was taking off somewhere it never did.
It possesses a dark, somber mood and appropriately so, it's about drugs, abuse and a boy who is "walking the wire" on being who he needs to be to survive in his neighborhood and who he wants to be.
I wish I could give it more, but the writing was just a little too off for me.
Website - Facebook - Instagram
July 21, 2016
First off, I got this book as an ARC from Penguin. It was also a very fast read. The story is about a young man who is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The story has a positive message and might help youngsters who are going through hard things in their lives.
The story has a positive message and might help youngsters who are going through hard things in their lives.
August 25, 2016
From the publisher:
“Fourteen-year-old Clarence Feather knows no world beyond desolate Mayfair Heights. Three years ago, his mother was killed before his eyes by a stray bullet. When his father becomes unable to keep the family afloat, Clarence is manipulated into running drugs. But he longs to be a good person, in spite of the seemingly impossible odds.”
This is, indeed, what the book is about. Clarence is fighting to balance the dark reality of his life with the lightness of hope for a different life. The first time I read it through, I was awash in the why of it, also left with a distinct sadness, so I read it again to see how I ended up with those feelings after a novel that is supposed to be triumphant. A novel that I am supposed to recommend to my young impressionable readers.
While I sympathized with Clarence (Itty’s) impossible situation, I found it really hard to accept the message that ‘this is just how it is down here,’ and kept waiting for some kind of transcendence to happen. Every good was tempered with bad, and by the time the ending rolled in with its half-hearted ‘maybe things will get better now’ message, I didn’t believe it. Clarence and his father both were just too prone to justifying the bad as part of the game, and neither Clarence nor Mona was safe. Reading kids are not stupid, they know when their emotions are being manipulated. (Think about those ads for the starving children with their sad round bellies and flies in their big innocent eyes.)
Although it is well-written, has many points to talk and think about, and will resonate with some, it is only the beginning of a conversation. I feel that the tunnel vision of the work makes it more than a little exploitative and therefore deserves less praise. 3/5
I received a copy from the publisher through FirstToRead in exchange for an honest review. This review and more at annevolmering.com.
“Fourteen-year-old Clarence Feather knows no world beyond desolate Mayfair Heights. Three years ago, his mother was killed before his eyes by a stray bullet. When his father becomes unable to keep the family afloat, Clarence is manipulated into running drugs. But he longs to be a good person, in spite of the seemingly impossible odds.”
This is, indeed, what the book is about. Clarence is fighting to balance the dark reality of his life with the lightness of hope for a different life. The first time I read it through, I was awash in the why of it, also left with a distinct sadness, so I read it again to see how I ended up with those feelings after a novel that is supposed to be triumphant. A novel that I am supposed to recommend to my young impressionable readers.
While I sympathized with Clarence (Itty’s) impossible situation, I found it really hard to accept the message that ‘this is just how it is down here,’ and kept waiting for some kind of transcendence to happen. Every good was tempered with bad, and by the time the ending rolled in with its half-hearted ‘maybe things will get better now’ message, I didn’t believe it. Clarence and his father both were just too prone to justifying the bad as part of the game, and neither Clarence nor Mona was safe. Reading kids are not stupid, they know when their emotions are being manipulated. (Think about those ads for the starving children with their sad round bellies and flies in their big innocent eyes.)
Although it is well-written, has many points to talk and think about, and will resonate with some, it is only the beginning of a conversation. I feel that the tunnel vision of the work makes it more than a little exploitative and therefore deserves less praise. 3/5
I received a copy from the publisher through FirstToRead in exchange for an honest review. This review and more at annevolmering.com.
July 29, 2016
I got this book through the First to Read program, but almost put this book down for good after the first scene where Clarence and Mona met. Their bond was so deep and intense that I was terrified of how it might end. I couldn’t bring myself to read a book in which a sweet Great Dane like Mona would end up dead. Eventually, I kept reading, and I’m glad I did.
The book is well written, fast paced and emotional. It provides deep insight into how circumstances can make good people do bad things. I loved the way Clarence saw the world and himself walking a wire between two parts of it. I loved seeing him grow from a boy to man and learning how to stand up for himself. I cringed when he made mistakes and cheered for all his victories.
The whole neighborhood and characters felt so real and alive to me. Of course, as a teacher, the person I connected the most with was Ms. Moffett, as she is a fictional version of the kind of teacher I wish I could be.
My only real complain about this book was the end. It was optimistic. It didn't leave me in tears like other books have. However, there were so many questions left unanswered. I would have liked just one more scene, even one more page to give me a few hints about what was coming next for Clarence.
Overall, the story was real, it was powerful, and the narrator’s imagination and escapism kept it from getting too heavy. I’d recommend it to anyone, young or old.
The book is well written, fast paced and emotional. It provides deep insight into how circumstances can make good people do bad things. I loved the way Clarence saw the world and himself walking a wire between two parts of it. I loved seeing him grow from a boy to man and learning how to stand up for himself. I cringed when he made mistakes and cheered for all his victories.
The whole neighborhood and characters felt so real and alive to me. Of course, as a teacher, the person I connected the most with was Ms. Moffett, as she is a fictional version of the kind of teacher I wish I could be.
My only real complain about this book was the end. It was optimistic. It didn't leave me in tears like other books have. However, there were so many questions left unanswered. I would have liked just one more scene, even one more page to give me a few hints about what was coming next for Clarence.
Overall, the story was real, it was powerful, and the narrator’s imagination and escapism kept it from getting too heavy. I’d recommend it to anyone, young or old.
May 16, 2017
Hall, Mary Lou Wirewalker, 290 pages. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2016. $17.99. Language: R (107 swears 15 “F’s”); Mature Content: R (teen drinking and smoking, also child abuse); Violence: R (“on page” dogfight and violent descriptions)
Clarence Feather, a 14 year old boy is a crack runner and has been ever since his mom was shot. He and his dad have had trouble since that night. He ends up getting abused constantly, and is sick of living with his dad, so he runs away. He wants to be a good kid but he doesn’t think it’s possible. Will Clarence be able to “Walk the Wire” between good and bad?
While the storyline was really good, Wire Walker had a lot of swear words that I believe didn’t add to the story. This book is very violent, and made me not want to read it at times. The book should not be allowed in a middle school or high school library, it should be in a regular book store.
MS- NO Student Reviewer BS
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Clarence Feather, a 14 year old boy is a crack runner and has been ever since his mom was shot. He and his dad have had trouble since that night. He ends up getting abused constantly, and is sick of living with his dad, so he runs away. He wants to be a good kid but he doesn’t think it’s possible. Will Clarence be able to “Walk the Wire” between good and bad?
While the storyline was really good, Wire Walker had a lot of swear words that I believe didn’t add to the story. This book is very violent, and made me not want to read it at times. The book should not be allowed in a middle school or high school library, it should be in a regular book store.
MS- NO Student Reviewer BS
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
October 8, 2016
This book is fantastic; I would recommend it for readers who enjoy gorgeous, lyrical prose, compelling characters, and a serious, thought-provoking storyline. The central character, Clarence Feather, is complex and overwhelmed, but he will completely steal your heart. His dilemma: how do you manage to be "good" in a world full of bad options and bad role models.
It'll be several years before my young adult readers (5 and 8) are ready to handle these themes, but I can't wait for them to read it.
It'll be several years before my young adult readers (5 and 8) are ready to handle these themes, but I can't wait for them to read it.
September 6, 2016
This was quite good. Clarence is a teen living in poverty with a father that doesn't seem to be able to take care of himself, let alone a child. Clarence meets many people in this coming of age story. He meets people that inspire him to be better with their support and others who inspire him to try to be better through their bad examples. It is a great, inspiring story and I definitely recommend it.
September 25, 2016
Beautifully written story of a young man in difficult circumstances who has a rich inner life, astonishing courage, and amazing resiliency. Clarence Feather, the main character, is lovingly and sympathetically drawn by Hall. I would highly recommend this book to parents of boys and boys because it does such an excellent job in portraying the emotional life of a young man and the pressure he experiences through gender and race stereotypes to hide and/or deny that emotional life.
February 5, 2020
I’m going to have to go completely against the grain with some of the reviewers of this book. I found this at a local thrift store and honestly have zero clue why I was led to read the synopsis. The cover nor the title did anything for me. The synopsis sealed it though.
I was so moved by the inner turmoil of the main character. The horrible things that he has seen and gone through broke my heart. I’m so grateful that there were some balancing characters who gave him, and me, hope along the way.
Although I feel that some parts of the story were left hanging, I suppose that’s how life truly is. Not everything is neatly wrapped up and tied with a bow. Some issues will continue forever with no satisfying closure.
This book was very graphic and yes, riddled with profanity but considering the storyline-although inappropriate, was expected. I read a tremendous amount of books and can easily say that this title has one of the longest lines formed on who is waiting to borrow it from me.
I was so moved by the inner turmoil of the main character. The horrible things that he has seen and gone through broke my heart. I’m so grateful that there were some balancing characters who gave him, and me, hope along the way.
Although I feel that some parts of the story were left hanging, I suppose that’s how life truly is. Not everything is neatly wrapped up and tied with a bow. Some issues will continue forever with no satisfying closure.
This book was very graphic and yes, riddled with profanity but considering the storyline-although inappropriate, was expected. I read a tremendous amount of books and can easily say that this title has one of the longest lines formed on who is waiting to borrow it from me.
June 15, 2017
I so wish there was a 3.5 category in offering stars to a book. This book is a powerful read with rich characterization and excellent potential. The dreamstate qualities are really well done and it's dark and realistic and emotionally true to the experiences of the main character until he finds out that his mother died because of something his father and his father's best friend did and his reactio to it is quickly overed when such a revelation would be devastating to a teen and would require much more time to process than he takes in the novel. It's good that all the loose ends aren't tied up at the end, but the resolution of the book is a bit rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
I thought it excellent. Don’t have time to write review but I would recommend the book. I loved listening to it.
February 8, 2023
This was a good book about self development. Highly recommend for young boys. I wanted to see more story development, as I quickly started to appreciate the character development.
August 21, 2016
Everyone in the world needs to read this book. Yes, that is a large statement, but there are so many positive things and inspiring messages that it’s hard to believe that the world wouldn’t benefit from reading Wirewalker. I have never read anything so raw and realistic.
WHAT I LOVED:
•THE MESSAGES: There are so many important things to take away from this book it’s hard to know where to start.
1) Abuse is a thing that happens. There is a lot of emphasis on abuse in this novel, and in more than one way. Multiple characters have to deal with physical abuse, but also substance abuse. A large part of the plot circles around running crack, and we get to see the ugly side of becoming addicted to the substance.
2) Not everyone can be saved from their abusers/ it takes time to save people. When people are being abused, the abuser has ways to keep the victim attached to them. I loved how this book touched on the fact that even though the character knew that staying with this person was unhealthy, they were too attached to let go. Often times people say, “If your being hurt you need to leave,” or “Why don’t victims just leave if they know this person is bad?” Often times, though, it is more difficult than that.
3) Dog fighting is ugly and disgusting. The treatment of animals for fighting purposes is horrendous and it happens. It shouldn’t. Wirewalker talked about the pure evilness of dog fighting and what goes into making dogs so desperate they need to tear each other apart.
4) Being good is hard. Clarence constantly walked on a wire between good and bad. But it was more than that, it was also the wire of survival. He did what he thought he had to do to keep afloat. He was constantly struggling with the fact that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t stop for fear that he wouldn’t be able to provide for himself.
•THE CHARACTERS: All of the characters had so much depth to them. They all had a backstory, and I’m glad that for most characters we got to dive into that piece of their past, even if it was just for a little while. Clarence was a strong protagonist with strong inner struggles that take place as the story unfolds. He struggled to provide for himself without falling through the cracks. I just wanted to hug Billy the whole time, basically, even though he probably would have punched me. Mr. K, Demario, and even Clarence’s father all had something that made them deep and interesting.
•A SHORT READ: There are only 300 pages in this book, so it is a nice easy read that won’t take to long. I literally absorbed it.
•THE SETTING: There was no more perfect place to hold this story. Everything was described beautifully and I was able to get a rich picture in my head.
Though all of these aspects are amazing, there were a few things for me that kept this from being a 5 star novel.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE AS MUCH:
•3RD PERSON: I really wish that this would have been narrated from Clarence’s point of view instead of 3rd person. I think it would have given the story a more personal feel we really would have gotten to see the deepness to his fear. The war inside his head would have been more rich and emotional.
•PACING: Most of this book is a fairly slow. There are few high actioned parts, so at times the plot can seem to drag.
•RELATIONSHIP: I wish there would have been more of an emphasis on Clarence’s relationship with Mona the dog. It was strong in the beginning, but seemed to fizzle out a bit once other more intense events started happening.
•THE ENDING: The ending was fine, but for a single book that will most likely not continue into a series (don’t quote me on this it may become more books, idk) I felt like I was left hanging a bit. There could have been a little more closure.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
There is so much to be learned from Wirewalker. So many important messages and topic shroud the plot of this book making it a gritty, raw, and very realistic read. The characters have depth and are not two dimensional. Mary Lou Hall included everything necessary to make this book a success. Even if you don’t end up liking this book after you read it, there is no way you can’t get something out of it. Wirewalker will stick with you and open your eyes to some of the harsher realities that aren’t seen everyday in YA literature, of literature in general.
~Thank you to the First to Read program for providing me with an eARC~
WHAT I LOVED:
•THE MESSAGES: There are so many important things to take away from this book it’s hard to know where to start.
1) Abuse is a thing that happens. There is a lot of emphasis on abuse in this novel, and in more than one way. Multiple characters have to deal with physical abuse, but also substance abuse. A large part of the plot circles around running crack, and we get to see the ugly side of becoming addicted to the substance.
2) Not everyone can be saved from their abusers/ it takes time to save people. When people are being abused, the abuser has ways to keep the victim attached to them. I loved how this book touched on the fact that even though the character knew that staying with this person was unhealthy, they were too attached to let go. Often times people say, “If your being hurt you need to leave,” or “Why don’t victims just leave if they know this person is bad?” Often times, though, it is more difficult than that.
3) Dog fighting is ugly and disgusting. The treatment of animals for fighting purposes is horrendous and it happens. It shouldn’t. Wirewalker talked about the pure evilness of dog fighting and what goes into making dogs so desperate they need to tear each other apart.
4) Being good is hard. Clarence constantly walked on a wire between good and bad. But it was more than that, it was also the wire of survival. He did what he thought he had to do to keep afloat. He was constantly struggling with the fact that he knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t stop for fear that he wouldn’t be able to provide for himself.
•THE CHARACTERS: All of the characters had so much depth to them. They all had a backstory, and I’m glad that for most characters we got to dive into that piece of their past, even if it was just for a little while. Clarence was a strong protagonist with strong inner struggles that take place as the story unfolds. He struggled to provide for himself without falling through the cracks. I just wanted to hug Billy the whole time, basically, even though he probably would have punched me. Mr. K, Demario, and even Clarence’s father all had something that made them deep and interesting.
•A SHORT READ: There are only 300 pages in this book, so it is a nice easy read that won’t take to long. I literally absorbed it.
•THE SETTING: There was no more perfect place to hold this story. Everything was described beautifully and I was able to get a rich picture in my head.
Though all of these aspects are amazing, there were a few things for me that kept this from being a 5 star novel.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE AS MUCH:
•3RD PERSON: I really wish that this would have been narrated from Clarence’s point of view instead of 3rd person. I think it would have given the story a more personal feel we really would have gotten to see the deepness to his fear. The war inside his head would have been more rich and emotional.
•PACING: Most of this book is a fairly slow. There are few high actioned parts, so at times the plot can seem to drag.
•RELATIONSHIP: I wish there would have been more of an emphasis on Clarence’s relationship with Mona the dog. It was strong in the beginning, but seemed to fizzle out a bit once other more intense events started happening.
•THE ENDING: The ending was fine, but for a single book that will most likely not continue into a series (don’t quote me on this it may become more books, idk) I felt like I was left hanging a bit. There could have been a little more closure.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
There is so much to be learned from Wirewalker. So many important messages and topic shroud the plot of this book making it a gritty, raw, and very realistic read. The characters have depth and are not two dimensional. Mary Lou Hall included everything necessary to make this book a success. Even if you don’t end up liking this book after you read it, there is no way you can’t get something out of it. Wirewalker will stick with you and open your eyes to some of the harsher realities that aren’t seen everyday in YA literature, of literature in general.
~Thank you to the First to Read program for providing me with an eARC~
December 18, 2024
This book was okay. I thought it had some unnecessary details. It had taken me a while to read this book because I was reading another book and just wasn’t looking forward to picking it up. I started reading this book because I forgot my book and needed to read for class, and then didn’t want to quit in case it got better. I would warn any people who want to read it that it has intense language such as swearing and racial slurs.
September 23, 2016
Quick, super engaging read. Hard to handle sometimes, which I guess is the the point. The main character goes through a lot of pain and hardship to find his way as a young teen but he does, and he is better for it. The book seems to be about finding light where there doesn't seem to be any and making connections in a world full of isolation. No neat tidy ending here but again, seemed to be the point. In this story small changes and pieces of hope are what is offered, and for me that was enough. Felt real, like life. Recommend.
August 27, 2016
In adolescence we all walk a line between who we are and who we want to become. It can be a delicate line to tread so as to not go overboard and balance is essential. Wirewalker by Mary Lou Hall follows 14 year old Clarence's journey of navigating who he wants to be.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Clarence Feather has known the same few variables in his life for the past three years since his mother was murdered: sharing a home with a father who can't stand to look at him, running drugs for his dad's friend Johnnyprice to make some meager money, and Mr. K and his convenience store. Clarence wants to be the good person that he was, and was destined to be, when his mom was alive, but in making ends meet and surviving his surroundings, he finds that more difficult to do. When he is fully initiated into the adult world around him, that involves dog fighting and a rival drug leader named Y, Clarence realizes that he has some tough decisions to make about his life.
The narrative attempts to tackle a variety of tough, sensitive subjects including bi-racial relationships and identity, drugs, dog fighting, death, and growing up, but it ultimately doesn't adequately address them all. Each subject is heavy to deal with, but by just scratching the surface of each, there isn't much offered in the way of addressing them. I felt that the characterization was lacking as Clarence doesn't read as a teenager, he feels like a small child, which I realize is part of his conflict with himself, but it didn't come across too well. There were plenty of good ideas presented but the execution of them fell flat while reading. This is just a side note that I factor in as a publisher oddity, but the format of the e-file I received was incredibly odd with two "pages" included on one page, which made it more straining on the eye to read.
Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Clarence Feather has known the same few variables in his life for the past three years since his mother was murdered: sharing a home with a father who can't stand to look at him, running drugs for his dad's friend Johnnyprice to make some meager money, and Mr. K and his convenience store. Clarence wants to be the good person that he was, and was destined to be, when his mom was alive, but in making ends meet and surviving his surroundings, he finds that more difficult to do. When he is fully initiated into the adult world around him, that involves dog fighting and a rival drug leader named Y, Clarence realizes that he has some tough decisions to make about his life.
The narrative attempts to tackle a variety of tough, sensitive subjects including bi-racial relationships and identity, drugs, dog fighting, death, and growing up, but it ultimately doesn't adequately address them all. Each subject is heavy to deal with, but by just scratching the surface of each, there isn't much offered in the way of addressing them. I felt that the characterization was lacking as Clarence doesn't read as a teenager, he feels like a small child, which I realize is part of his conflict with himself, but it didn't come across too well. There were plenty of good ideas presented but the execution of them fell flat while reading. This is just a side note that I factor in as a publisher oddity, but the format of the e-file I received was incredibly odd with two "pages" included on one page, which made it more straining on the eye to read.
Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
November 27, 2016
Please read review in its entirety at http://www.compassbookratings.com/rev...
Teenage Clarence Feather is walking the line, a fine line that leaves him teetering, Mary Lou Hall's debut YA novel Wirewalker.
In Clarence's neighborhood surviving is hard, but Clarence wants to do more than just survive, he wants to be a good person. But, after witnessing the murder of his mother, he is finding it more complicated than ever.
Third person narrative reveals a complex, judicious protagonist in Clarence Feather--a sweet and tender boy who is living amongst the vilest of components, some of which include gangs, drugs, and abuse. All of these things snarl and fight to take hold of Clarence, to harden him, to distort what it means to be manly and successful.
Clarence's relationship with the people around him display the age-old issue of good versus evil, and makes Clarence begin to question himself. Can you still be considered a good person even if you have to do bad things in order to survive?
Paced somewhat on the slow side, it has a soulful prose with passionate tones, that expose how aggressively hard issues can be written with delicacy while still being honest about adversity.
And what can pull at heart strings more than a book about a boy and a dog? Though contemporary, this book is the emotional equivalent of classics such as Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, or Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. But, because of intense language (see content review below), it may not be as compatible for a younger audience as are the afore mentioned books.
Review of an Advance Reader's Copy
Teenage Clarence Feather is walking the line, a fine line that leaves him teetering, Mary Lou Hall's debut YA novel Wirewalker.
In Clarence's neighborhood surviving is hard, but Clarence wants to do more than just survive, he wants to be a good person. But, after witnessing the murder of his mother, he is finding it more complicated than ever.
Third person narrative reveals a complex, judicious protagonist in Clarence Feather--a sweet and tender boy who is living amongst the vilest of components, some of which include gangs, drugs, and abuse. All of these things snarl and fight to take hold of Clarence, to harden him, to distort what it means to be manly and successful.
Clarence's relationship with the people around him display the age-old issue of good versus evil, and makes Clarence begin to question himself. Can you still be considered a good person even if you have to do bad things in order to survive?
Paced somewhat on the slow side, it has a soulful prose with passionate tones, that expose how aggressively hard issues can be written with delicacy while still being honest about adversity.
And what can pull at heart strings more than a book about a boy and a dog? Though contemporary, this book is the emotional equivalent of classics such as Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, or Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. But, because of intense language (see content review below), it may not be as compatible for a younger audience as are the afore mentioned books.
Review of an Advance Reader's Copy
February 14, 2017
Disclaimer: I received this book as a giveaway on www.firsttoread.com
Wirewalker held my interest and I was able to get through it rather quickly. The main character Clarence (Itty) Feather is a 14-year old, smart but troubled kid living with his absent dad and a drug dealer after his mom was murdered. The story is set in Mayfair Heights - which I assume to be a fictional place, though I didn't look it up; a downtrodden, drug-riddled ghetto by all accounts. This is a place ruled by drug dealers and dog fighting and most of the book is Clarence's travels through it along with some school thrown in to show he's a "good" kid. Sounds pretty treacherous, right? However, the story that unfolds is told in a very PG manner. Clarence, the man/child, gets himself into so many situations that in the real world would get him killed, seriously. Switching allegiances to drug dealers, sneaking around high-security dog fighting training grounds, having way too much available cash on hand for a kid his age in the ghetto, etc. His guardian angels - Mona (a dog), Mr. K, visions of his mother, Batman - guide him through his ordeals but is sort of far-fetched.
I believe this is Mary Lou Hall's first novel and I imagine after she gains some experience, she'll look back on this book and wish she'd given it a little more "teeth". As I said, it was well written and carried a poignant message of redemption, self-awareness and gaining independence but I feel it could've been so much more.
Wirewalker held my interest and I was able to get through it rather quickly. The main character Clarence (Itty) Feather is a 14-year old, smart but troubled kid living with his absent dad and a drug dealer after his mom was murdered. The story is set in Mayfair Heights - which I assume to be a fictional place, though I didn't look it up; a downtrodden, drug-riddled ghetto by all accounts. This is a place ruled by drug dealers and dog fighting and most of the book is Clarence's travels through it along with some school thrown in to show he's a "good" kid. Sounds pretty treacherous, right? However, the story that unfolds is told in a very PG manner. Clarence, the man/child, gets himself into so many situations that in the real world would get him killed, seriously. Switching allegiances to drug dealers, sneaking around high-security dog fighting training grounds, having way too much available cash on hand for a kid his age in the ghetto, etc. His guardian angels - Mona (a dog), Mr. K, visions of his mother, Batman - guide him through his ordeals but is sort of far-fetched.
I believe this is Mary Lou Hall's first novel and I imagine after she gains some experience, she'll look back on this book and wish she'd given it a little more "teeth". As I said, it was well written and carried a poignant message of redemption, self-awareness and gaining independence but I feel it could've been so much more.
August 8, 2016
Wirewalker is the kind of book that's a winner because it gives you a protagonist in an awful situation trying to survive and not lose their humanity. Clarence is a boy who is trying not to lose the boy he once was when his mother was alive while maintaining the airs he needs to survive in his neighborhood. Therefore, he is the wire walker. Balancing the tough hoodlum he needs to be with the smart and hardworking boy he wants to be.
The dogs actually don't have a tremendously large role to play. Mona, the albino great dane, is the initial thing that gets him thinking about doing the right thing. A later character introduces us to his dog as well. There is references to dog fighting, but this is more of a setting and placeholder than an actual token of the story.
I particularly loved Clarence's relationship with Mr. K. It was the kind of tentative friendship that could have easily been destroyed, but the tenuous threads that initially brought them together only strengthened, and I loved that.
The whole thing is a tad cliche, but I'm a sucker for these kinds of books. The whole time I'm reading I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that everything turns out positively. I know that isn't necessarily the real world in most cases but I can't help hoping all the same.
The dogs actually don't have a tremendously large role to play. Mona, the albino great dane, is the initial thing that gets him thinking about doing the right thing. A later character introduces us to his dog as well. There is references to dog fighting, but this is more of a setting and placeholder than an actual token of the story.
I particularly loved Clarence's relationship with Mr. K. It was the kind of tentative friendship that could have easily been destroyed, but the tenuous threads that initially brought them together only strengthened, and I loved that.
The whole thing is a tad cliche, but I'm a sucker for these kinds of books. The whole time I'm reading I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that everything turns out positively. I know that isn't necessarily the real world in most cases but I can't help hoping all the same.
July 31, 2016
I received an ARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read program.
*actual rating 2.5 stars*
It took me a while to finish this book. I felt like this book just fell flat for me. It is about a young boy trying to survive in a tough world full of drugs and bad people doing bad things. His life hasn't been the same since his Mama died, and he is trying to find himself and stay true to himself and his Mama. I like how the title fits into the story. The main character is a "wire walker" trying to balance on a fine line between what he needs to do to be himself and what he needs to do to survive.
I feel this book had a great story and the author is a great writer, but it just fell short. It just wasn't very exciting. I would think the climax of the story was finally coming and it would just pass by....
I did see great potential with this book and would like to see how this author continues to improve in the future, as I did enjoy the writing style.
*actual rating 2.5 stars*
It took me a while to finish this book. I felt like this book just fell flat for me. It is about a young boy trying to survive in a tough world full of drugs and bad people doing bad things. His life hasn't been the same since his Mama died, and he is trying to find himself and stay true to himself and his Mama. I like how the title fits into the story. The main character is a "wire walker" trying to balance on a fine line between what he needs to do to be himself and what he needs to do to survive.
I feel this book had a great story and the author is a great writer, but it just fell short. It just wasn't very exciting. I would think the climax of the story was finally coming and it would just pass by....
I did see great potential with this book and would like to see how this author continues to improve in the future, as I did enjoy the writing style.
August 28, 2017
A quick read about a teenage boy in a very difficult struggle to stay good despite being surrounded by many bad influences. Main character Clarence is well drawn and I was rooting for him to succeed and overcome the odds. The metaphor of a wire walker is a perfect one to describe his tough situation, but it was mentioned far too often and ended up feeling heavy handed after a while. I also thought that the way that everything wrapped up forced most of the big actions on other characters so that Clarence played more of a passive role, which felt a little easy, but had the result of giving him some much needed hope at the end. My favorite thing about this book was Clarence's unlikely friendship with Mr. K and how he served as a surrogate father figure.
Thanks to the First to Read program for providing me with an ARC of this title.
Thanks to the First to Read program for providing me with an ARC of this title.
August 2, 2016
I received this book as an ARC from First Reads in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, it took me a while to get into this book. However, once I did, I couldn't stop thinking of Clarence and what he was going through and how he compared his life as a 14 year old to that of a wire walker in a circus who is.trying to maintain balance between the good and bad influences in his life. In the end, I really enjoyed this story. I really felt for the characters and the tragic circumstances that surrounded them. My favorite books are ones that stay with you that you can remember the characters well after you have put down the book. I believe this is one such book. I don't think that I will be able to shake these characters. I already find myself thinking about Clarence, Demario, Mr. K, and even Mona at random times throughout the day.
August 13, 2016
This book was really good....considering the subject matter.... the writing was so effective as to make this reader almost afraid to read on....I'd say that's pretty good writing! The descriptions, the atmosphere, memorable characters...all felt/read as gritty/real. The book might've been a quick read, but the subject matter made it not such an 'easy' read. My only criticism might be that I thought it wrapped up pretty quickly, altho I was kind of glad that I didn't have to actually see that what was happening...
I was awarded this ARC in a First To Read giveaway program, in return for a fair/honest review.
I was awarded this ARC in a First To Read giveaway program, in return for a fair/honest review.
January 6, 2017
There were parts of this book I loved. It was poetic. I remember thinking that some parts would have been a good novel in verse. I could see it as a hybrid book....part prose, part verse. The pieces that were Clarence in his introspective mode could have been in verse. I'm frustrated for this book in that it has so much unrecognized potential. Does the unfinished ending harken a sequel? Ugh...I'm not sure what else to say. I can't believe that I'm this upset. It could have been so good. Editor, oh editor, wherefore art thou?
August 26, 2016
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The question the story seemed to be circling is if anyone can be truly good in this world. Everyone has flaws but it's a matter of survival for most of them. Felt bad for almost every character in this book.
The question the story seemed to be circling is if anyone can be truly good in this world. Everyone has flaws but it's a matter of survival for most of them. Felt bad for almost every character in this book.
May 10, 2017
Penguin First-to-Read ARC.
This book wasn't for me. It was difficult to read. The pacing was extremely slow for such a short book. I struggled through it and skimmed the last few pages. I couldn't connect with it and there was nothing to like except Clarence and Mona's relationship.
This book wasn't for me. It was difficult to read. The pacing was extremely slow for such a short book. I struggled through it and skimmed the last few pages. I couldn't connect with it and there was nothing to like except Clarence and Mona's relationship.
Want to read
September 1, 2016This was a very interesting book that I couldn't put down. It kept my interest and was very relevant to life today. Fantastic, but a little too real in some ways. A wonderful read
dnf
August 8, 2025DNF at 174 pages.
I tried to finish this one, I really did, guys. I just couldn't. This was an ARC from First to Read, but the book was just slow and didn't do anything for me.
I tried to finish this one, I really did, guys. I just couldn't. This was an ARC from First to Read, but the book was just slow and didn't do anything for me.
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