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Us Kids Know
We all knew about Cullen Hickson.
Siblings Brielle and Ray O’Dell are lost. Anxious. Restless. Bullied at his Catholic school for being small and timid, Ray wants to be someone people respect or, even better, someone people fear. Meanwhile, Brielle—whose “popular” status feels tenuous at best—knows that something is off about her friendship with the shiny, happy, sophisticated blond girls on her field hockey team. They don’t really understand Bri, and if Bri is being totally honest, she doesn’t really understand them either.
When storied delinquent Cullen Hickson enters the orbit of the O’Dell siblings, though, everything changes. Brielle and Ray find an alluring, addictive outlet in Cullen, who opens their eyes to a world they didn’t know existed. For Ray, that means experiencing the singular thrill of small-time crime—from breaking and entering to grand theft auto—while Brielle quickly dives into an all-consuming romance with the enigmatic upperclassman.
But as Brielle and Ray find themselves more and more entwined with Cullen’s antics, the once-thrilling experiences begin to feel increasingly dangerous, culminating in a life-changing event that shakes the teens to their core.
Siblings Brielle and Ray O’Dell are lost. Anxious. Restless. Bullied at his Catholic school for being small and timid, Ray wants to be someone people respect or, even better, someone people fear. Meanwhile, Brielle—whose “popular” status feels tenuous at best—knows that something is off about her friendship with the shiny, happy, sophisticated blond girls on her field hockey team. They don’t really understand Bri, and if Bri is being totally honest, she doesn’t really understand them either.
When storied delinquent Cullen Hickson enters the orbit of the O’Dell siblings, though, everything changes. Brielle and Ray find an alluring, addictive outlet in Cullen, who opens their eyes to a world they didn’t know existed. For Ray, that means experiencing the singular thrill of small-time crime—from breaking and entering to grand theft auto—while Brielle quickly dives into an all-consuming romance with the enigmatic upperclassman.
But as Brielle and Ray find themselves more and more entwined with Cullen’s antics, the once-thrilling experiences begin to feel increasingly dangerous, culminating in a life-changing event that shakes the teens to their core.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 2017
8 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 2, 2018
Full review likely to come soon, cause this book has some serious issues that need to be dISCUSSED
October 26, 2017
*ARC provided by Razorbill in exchange for an honest review*
"Ours was a story that wouldn't stand for the commonplace."
This was Strong's debut novel and it's a story about how one guy, Cullen, changes the lives of two siblings, Bri and Ray, forever.
Ray gets bullied mercilessly at his school and finds a way to get out of it by 'hiring' Cullen in order to help him experience the true thrill of crime in every way. Then we have Bri, who is part of the 'popular' group of girls at her school but she knows she doesn't belong, and at times, doesn't even know how she got there. She find herself attracted to Cullen and we get to witness how that fact alone ultimately changes the course of her stature in school.
Cullen captivated me from the very beginning. I think I dove into this book as hard as I did because he was the first POV we read about and his mind was a hilarious place. There were a lot of times where he had me laughing uncontrollably at the stuff that went through his head and he did.
I felt like Cullen and Bri got intimate WAY too fast for my liking. I was just starting to see a flicker of flame when all of a sudden it became a forest fire... I didn't really like it but I just shrugged it off or else I would've never enjoyed the romance factor in this.
This book was divided into two parts and the second part brought the seriousness to a whole new level. I was reeling from the way part one ended since I wasn't expecting it all; I was dreading it, to be honest, and I shed a few tears.
One reason why this isn't a complete 4 star read was because I was in the mindset that this would just be a book about a group of kids messing around but it's so much more than that and it caught me by surprise. It deals with heavier and harder topics than I was expecting. That isn't a bad thing at all, but at the moment, I wasn't in the right mood for it, I guess. I'll definitely try and reread this someday in the future and try to see if my rating changes.
The other reason was because I didn't form a connection to any of the characters. I really, really tried, but even though it dealt with different forms of depression, they were completely different from mine so I couldn't relate to them as much as I wanted.
This book is perfect for any adrenaline junkies out there.
It had a somber undertone throughout it and the foreshadowing got a bit heartbreaking. I really liked how I had no idea or guesses to where the characters would end up. It kept me guessing at every turn and it made me hesitant to reach the finish line. I had a strong uneasy feeling in my stomach from the start since these characters were playing with fire and I felt like they would only end up being burned beyond recognition.
I will say, that this might be triggering for some readers out there, so fair warning; It almost was for me. Can't wait to see what Strong comes out with next!
3.7 stars.
"Ours was a story that wouldn't stand for the commonplace."
This was Strong's debut novel and it's a story about how one guy, Cullen, changes the lives of two siblings, Bri and Ray, forever.
Ray gets bullied mercilessly at his school and finds a way to get out of it by 'hiring' Cullen in order to help him experience the true thrill of crime in every way. Then we have Bri, who is part of the 'popular' group of girls at her school but she knows she doesn't belong, and at times, doesn't even know how she got there. She find herself attracted to Cullen and we get to witness how that fact alone ultimately changes the course of her stature in school.
Cullen captivated me from the very beginning. I think I dove into this book as hard as I did because he was the first POV we read about and his mind was a hilarious place. There were a lot of times where he had me laughing uncontrollably at the stuff that went through his head and he did.
I felt like Cullen and Bri got intimate WAY too fast for my liking. I was just starting to see a flicker of flame when all of a sudden it became a forest fire... I didn't really like it but I just shrugged it off or else I would've never enjoyed the romance factor in this.
This book was divided into two parts and the second part brought the seriousness to a whole new level. I was reeling from the way part one ended since I wasn't expecting it all; I was dreading it, to be honest, and I shed a few tears.
One reason why this isn't a complete 4 star read was because I was in the mindset that this would just be a book about a group of kids messing around but it's so much more than that and it caught me by surprise. It deals with heavier and harder topics than I was expecting. That isn't a bad thing at all, but at the moment, I wasn't in the right mood for it, I guess. I'll definitely try and reread this someday in the future and try to see if my rating changes.
The other reason was because I didn't form a connection to any of the characters. I really, really tried, but even though it dealt with different forms of depression, they were completely different from mine so I couldn't relate to them as much as I wanted.
This book is perfect for any adrenaline junkies out there.
It had a somber undertone throughout it and the foreshadowing got a bit heartbreaking. I really liked how I had no idea or guesses to where the characters would end up. It kept me guessing at every turn and it made me hesitant to reach the finish line. I had a strong uneasy feeling in my stomach from the start since these characters were playing with fire and I felt like they would only end up being burned beyond recognition.
I will say, that this might be triggering for some readers out there, so fair warning; It almost was for me. Can't wait to see what Strong comes out with next!
3.7 stars.
August 24, 2018
***More reviews at https://offtoamazingplacesblog.wordpr...***
SPOILER WARNING
Hi, it’s Aashna! Today I am going to be reviewing Us Kids Know by JJ Strong. If you haven't heard of this book, I wouldn't be surprised. I actually came across it while working at a literary agency. I generally stay on top of current, popular books and I'm now sad to say that this book wasn't on my radar even though it has every reason to be. This book is simply special. Often, YA books fall into a sort of cliche mold that conceals the talents of YA writers. Their work is perceived as easy, even frivolous. Strong doesn't underestimate his audience in the slightest and proves how writing YA doesn't necessarily have to sound young. This book was written with the maturity of an adult novel, the characters' ages being the only aspect that makes it YA. I cannot overstate the lasting impact this book has had on me and its overall importance to the YA genre. This story meant something in a shockingly profound way.
One of the biggest things nailed in this book was setting. Having this book take place soon after 9/11 in New Jersey was not be chance, Strong purposefully made that decision to add another layer of complexity to this story. It's especially relevant to teenagers today when larger problems always seem to frame the world we live in.
I imagine it must be incredibly hard for adults to write YA books, because they have to authentically create a teenage voice. It's been years or even decades since these people have had to deal with issues and angst specifically relating to teenagers. Often, it's clear that the author is an adult through the teenage assumptions projected onto the characters. Strong, amazingly, was able to write from three different teenage perspectives, each sounding unique and authentic. As a teenager, I was able to relate to these characters on a deeper level than I relate in most books. Bri, Cullen, and Ray clearly sounded their ages in both dialogue and inner monologues.
This book is psychologically messed up. There's no other way to put it. I have never read something set in the real world where characters go to such disturbing lengths to get what they want. The best examples are Cullen jumping in front of the car and Ray wanting to be buried alive. I can't say I don't understand the characters' intentions, because Strong made those quite clear, It's just strange to think about how someone could even come up with such twisted ideas for a realistic fiction book. Sure, I can go on and on about how amazing Us Kids Know is, but I was uncomfortable to the point where I wanted to put the book down at times.
Strong does not shy away from tackling philosophical topics, normally not even discussed in high school, much less in YA literature. The arguing perspectives on matters like religion, suicide, and love were thought provoking. I could see the support for all the presented opinions, something that adds a rich maturity. This book would easily cause readers to question their fundamental opinions on established topics, which is what truly great books should do. My perspective should be broadened and I should be left with the impact for years to come.
This story had an interesting timeline. The perspectives, dates, and events weave together and sometimes backtrack without sounding redundant. Strong struck a nice balance between telling his story in a unique way without being forced.
As I sidetone, I appreciate how Strong make it a point to mention school work. Yes, these kids are in high school, so they have certain responsibilities. It always bothers me when books that mention school leave out homework and studying. That's what school really is, not just a place to go hang out with friends and eat lunch!
The character development was also impressive. It wasn't about rushing the characters to become better people by the end of the story, Strong was focused on making sure the characters end up in a realistic place.
I’m still on the fence about the romance in this book. I know that I don’t support it, so this is definitely different from what I normally feel in YA romances. This wasn’t the romance I wanted, but it goes without saying that Strong wrote what he wanted well. Bri and Cullen’s relationship was heavy. They weren’t in love and their relationship was built on unhealthy notions. I don’t mind having this kind of relationship highlighted, but towards the end, it seemed to take over, thus weakening the other interesting plot points. I hated Bri’s character when she was with Cullen. He ruined her ambitious nature, one of my favorite parts about her character. I guess it comes down to whether I would count this as a positive for Strong’s consistent writing style or a negative for ruining some of my reading experience.
There was so much more to be explored with Amir and Ray’s friendship. I felt like most of the big developments happened away from the story the reader was presented with. In turn, Ray’s anguish at Amir’s death was understandable, yet lacking the potential full impact.
One thing that upset was the ending. As a reader, I have been through enough series to be absolutely heartbroken when an author doesn't wrap things up with a pretty bow. As a critic, I understand the necessity of leaving things open ended, to give the reader room to think. However, Strong cut things off too early. The story was not in the place where it could loosely end. I did not like being left on an abrupt note after such a beautiful story.
I have to give this book a solid 4 stars. No doubt this is a book that will stay with me. There’s no way to forget such a deep, strange story. The problems that I pointed out didn’t ruin my reading experience at all, I only realized how they irritated me when writing down my notes for this review.
Thank you for reading my review and I hope you will join me again as we go off to amazing places.
SPOILER WARNING
Hi, it’s Aashna! Today I am going to be reviewing Us Kids Know by JJ Strong. If you haven't heard of this book, I wouldn't be surprised. I actually came across it while working at a literary agency. I generally stay on top of current, popular books and I'm now sad to say that this book wasn't on my radar even though it has every reason to be. This book is simply special. Often, YA books fall into a sort of cliche mold that conceals the talents of YA writers. Their work is perceived as easy, even frivolous. Strong doesn't underestimate his audience in the slightest and proves how writing YA doesn't necessarily have to sound young. This book was written with the maturity of an adult novel, the characters' ages being the only aspect that makes it YA. I cannot overstate the lasting impact this book has had on me and its overall importance to the YA genre. This story meant something in a shockingly profound way.
One of the biggest things nailed in this book was setting. Having this book take place soon after 9/11 in New Jersey was not be chance, Strong purposefully made that decision to add another layer of complexity to this story. It's especially relevant to teenagers today when larger problems always seem to frame the world we live in.
I imagine it must be incredibly hard for adults to write YA books, because they have to authentically create a teenage voice. It's been years or even decades since these people have had to deal with issues and angst specifically relating to teenagers. Often, it's clear that the author is an adult through the teenage assumptions projected onto the characters. Strong, amazingly, was able to write from three different teenage perspectives, each sounding unique and authentic. As a teenager, I was able to relate to these characters on a deeper level than I relate in most books. Bri, Cullen, and Ray clearly sounded their ages in both dialogue and inner monologues.
This book is psychologically messed up. There's no other way to put it. I have never read something set in the real world where characters go to such disturbing lengths to get what they want. The best examples are Cullen jumping in front of the car and Ray wanting to be buried alive. I can't say I don't understand the characters' intentions, because Strong made those quite clear, It's just strange to think about how someone could even come up with such twisted ideas for a realistic fiction book. Sure, I can go on and on about how amazing Us Kids Know is, but I was uncomfortable to the point where I wanted to put the book down at times.
Strong does not shy away from tackling philosophical topics, normally not even discussed in high school, much less in YA literature. The arguing perspectives on matters like religion, suicide, and love were thought provoking. I could see the support for all the presented opinions, something that adds a rich maturity. This book would easily cause readers to question their fundamental opinions on established topics, which is what truly great books should do. My perspective should be broadened and I should be left with the impact for years to come.
This story had an interesting timeline. The perspectives, dates, and events weave together and sometimes backtrack without sounding redundant. Strong struck a nice balance between telling his story in a unique way without being forced.
As I sidetone, I appreciate how Strong make it a point to mention school work. Yes, these kids are in high school, so they have certain responsibilities. It always bothers me when books that mention school leave out homework and studying. That's what school really is, not just a place to go hang out with friends and eat lunch!
The character development was also impressive. It wasn't about rushing the characters to become better people by the end of the story, Strong was focused on making sure the characters end up in a realistic place.
I’m still on the fence about the romance in this book. I know that I don’t support it, so this is definitely different from what I normally feel in YA romances. This wasn’t the romance I wanted, but it goes without saying that Strong wrote what he wanted well. Bri and Cullen’s relationship was heavy. They weren’t in love and their relationship was built on unhealthy notions. I don’t mind having this kind of relationship highlighted, but towards the end, it seemed to take over, thus weakening the other interesting plot points. I hated Bri’s character when she was with Cullen. He ruined her ambitious nature, one of my favorite parts about her character. I guess it comes down to whether I would count this as a positive for Strong’s consistent writing style or a negative for ruining some of my reading experience.
There was so much more to be explored with Amir and Ray’s friendship. I felt like most of the big developments happened away from the story the reader was presented with. In turn, Ray’s anguish at Amir’s death was understandable, yet lacking the potential full impact.
One thing that upset was the ending. As a reader, I have been through enough series to be absolutely heartbroken when an author doesn't wrap things up with a pretty bow. As a critic, I understand the necessity of leaving things open ended, to give the reader room to think. However, Strong cut things off too early. The story was not in the place where it could loosely end. I did not like being left on an abrupt note after such a beautiful story.
I have to give this book a solid 4 stars. No doubt this is a book that will stay with me. There’s no way to forget such a deep, strange story. The problems that I pointed out didn’t ruin my reading experience at all, I only realized how they irritated me when writing down my notes for this review.
Thank you for reading my review and I hope you will join me again as we go off to amazing places.
April 1, 2019
I enjoyed the writing style but the story lacked focus and substance. It would have been nice to see a stronger conclusion; some aspects were left hanging. The attraction to Cullen wasn't fleshed out enough, like why? Actually after finishing this book, I'm still asking why.
November 27, 2017
Us Kids Know is a fantastic debut. It has it all: compelling characters, surprising plot twists, and elegant prose. Bri, Ray, and Cullen are engaging narrators with poignant and sometimes heartbreaking observations that elevate the novel. I simply loved this book.
February 23, 2018
A courageous look at adolescent relationships and existential ennui. Strong writes each character like a loving parent but puts them through hell like a good sibling.
Extra points for setting the story in early 2K before everyone had smart phones.
Extra points for setting the story in early 2K before everyone had smart phones.
May 8, 2018
I found that I couldn't really determine motivation for any of the three main characters in this work. It made them all feel distant, at best. The cover is cool and the writing itself isn't bad. I just didn't care for the characters or the plot.
August 1, 2017
I hate to give a book three stars but this one seemed to lack cohesiveness. The motivations of the teens were unrealistic and prone to strange leaps of logic. Sorry, but this one didn't impress me.
October 27, 2017
Find my book review on: https://theroyalpolarbearreads.wordpr...
Intoxicating. Unpredictable. Realistic. Us Kids Know by JJ Strong gave me so much pain in the process of reading the novel with life realizations, complicated family issues that need to discuss mixed with mental health awareness and the longing of in a relationship or at least friendship for the broken characters of the book.
This novel is mind breaking, heart-wrenching, profoundly compelling that execute so much lies and anticipation, truth and answers, forgiveness and hope. It depicts the negative action of kids when they are not guided when they are not understood – and it shows the ugly side of human behavior which I really appreciate the stunning correlation of human sympathy, pity, desires and the never-ending guilt.
I would like to commend JJ Strong for writing a difficult book that exudes a lot of issues. Finding the answer in the universe, questioning your purpose, accepting defeat towards an individual mental illness are few issues to be named of and this book is crazy. It tackles suicide with so much reality that even I was shocked how a character covers up his intention and how another character was so direct and transparent with depression and serious of killing himself, finding light in between the process of grieving.
It taught me that even if your family is totally messed up – they are still the ones who will care for you. I liked how the book ended that the author leaves what will happen next to the readers but I want more. I love how raw and true this book to reality. How friendship can spur in the moment and collapses in second. I liked Cullen’s uniqueness that drives to people to do things that they never thought they would and experience such rush, happiness, and fear all the same time. It was a book that will let your mind wander on its pages and addicted by the narrative.
Us Kids Know by JJ Strong is a fast-paced book with a poetic writing style that is easy to read. It feels like you were in the character’s shoes, striving for the best but to be greeted by disappointment. There are things that left hanging in the book and it mirrors the life negatively and yet it was all the truth. Things like this could happen. Stories in this book did happen. It got me to thinking that life is short and there is so much lesson that can fill someone’s life. And Us Kids Know made me realized that people need to unleash their inner demons at some point to prevent themselves to be eaten by their own thoughts. It is palpable and mundane both at the same time. With an open mind, parents should read this wonderful book.
MY RATINGS: 4 STARS
Intoxicating. Unpredictable. Realistic. Us Kids Know by JJ Strong gave me so much pain in the process of reading the novel with life realizations, complicated family issues that need to discuss mixed with mental health awareness and the longing of in a relationship or at least friendship for the broken characters of the book.
This novel is mind breaking, heart-wrenching, profoundly compelling that execute so much lies and anticipation, truth and answers, forgiveness and hope. It depicts the negative action of kids when they are not guided when they are not understood – and it shows the ugly side of human behavior which I really appreciate the stunning correlation of human sympathy, pity, desires and the never-ending guilt.
I would like to commend JJ Strong for writing a difficult book that exudes a lot of issues. Finding the answer in the universe, questioning your purpose, accepting defeat towards an individual mental illness are few issues to be named of and this book is crazy. It tackles suicide with so much reality that even I was shocked how a character covers up his intention and how another character was so direct and transparent with depression and serious of killing himself, finding light in between the process of grieving.
It taught me that even if your family is totally messed up – they are still the ones who will care for you. I liked how the book ended that the author leaves what will happen next to the readers but I want more. I love how raw and true this book to reality. How friendship can spur in the moment and collapses in second. I liked Cullen’s uniqueness that drives to people to do things that they never thought they would and experience such rush, happiness, and fear all the same time. It was a book that will let your mind wander on its pages and addicted by the narrative.
Us Kids Know by JJ Strong is a fast-paced book with a poetic writing style that is easy to read. It feels like you were in the character’s shoes, striving for the best but to be greeted by disappointment. There are things that left hanging in the book and it mirrors the life negatively and yet it was all the truth. Things like this could happen. Stories in this book did happen. It got me to thinking that life is short and there is so much lesson that can fill someone’s life. And Us Kids Know made me realized that people need to unleash their inner demons at some point to prevent themselves to be eaten by their own thoughts. It is palpable and mundane both at the same time. With an open mind, parents should read this wonderful book.
MY RATINGS: 4 STARS
October 8, 2019
TW: suicidal thoughts, death of a child.
In Us Kids Know, Strong effectively delivers the reader into the confusion and angst of three teenagers by letting us into their innermost thoughts. Brielle and Ray O'Dell are lower-middle class Jersey kids with seemingly normal teen lives. Bri plays field hockey (not well, but she has instant friends) at an all girl's private school. Ray is a freshman at the companion boys Catholic school (St. Peter's). After Cullen Hickson, bad-ish, but mostly ignored, senior boy at St. Peter's makes it his goal to meet Brielle (in the most anti-social way possible, engineering a car accident) and be with her, he takes on Ray as a sort of project. He and Ray and another boy, Amir, steal a car and joyride until they crash. In the process, lost and confused Ray, who is bullied and too into The Big Questions of life for his own good, decides Cullen is just the person to orchestrate and guide him in a convenience store robbery that Ray believes will give him the existential breakthrough he has been seeking. What is the meaning of it all? Cullen, Ray, and Bri grow close. Ray and Amir become best friends. But a gun is introduced.
The book is divided into two parts. Before, when Amir was alive, and after, when Ray is suicidal. Cullen is what Ray calls the Unmoved Mover; the force that starts all things in motion. He is the one who orchastrated the accident to meet Bri, he used Ray to be near her, he used Bri to protect Ray, and he ultimately saves Ray from his suicide attempt. In the meantime, none of the kids comes out of their shared story better or happier. But they have a depth of knowledge of themselves and life around them they didn't have when they were three separate lives.
I found the story hard to get into at first because the narrators are all unreliable at the start. The things they think they know versus what the others know are wildly different. But the story starts to build into a suspenseful cohesive thread about the time the gun is introduced. From then on, it is a page turner and a heart wrenching, gut clenching read.
In Us Kids Know, Strong effectively delivers the reader into the confusion and angst of three teenagers by letting us into their innermost thoughts. Brielle and Ray O'Dell are lower-middle class Jersey kids with seemingly normal teen lives. Bri plays field hockey (not well, but she has instant friends) at an all girl's private school. Ray is a freshman at the companion boys Catholic school (St. Peter's). After Cullen Hickson, bad-ish, but mostly ignored, senior boy at St. Peter's makes it his goal to meet Brielle (in the most anti-social way possible, engineering a car accident) and be with her, he takes on Ray as a sort of project. He and Ray and another boy, Amir, steal a car and joyride until they crash. In the process, lost and confused Ray, who is bullied and too into The Big Questions of life for his own good, decides Cullen is just the person to orchestrate and guide him in a convenience store robbery that Ray believes will give him the existential breakthrough he has been seeking. What is the meaning of it all? Cullen, Ray, and Bri grow close. Ray and Amir become best friends. But a gun is introduced.
The book is divided into two parts. Before, when Amir was alive, and after, when Ray is suicidal. Cullen is what Ray calls the Unmoved Mover; the force that starts all things in motion. He is the one who orchastrated the accident to meet Bri, he used Ray to be near her, he used Bri to protect Ray, and he ultimately saves Ray from his suicide attempt. In the meantime, none of the kids comes out of their shared story better or happier. But they have a depth of knowledge of themselves and life around them they didn't have when they were three separate lives.
I found the story hard to get into at first because the narrators are all unreliable at the start. The things they think they know versus what the others know are wildly different. But the story starts to build into a suspenseful cohesive thread about the time the gun is introduced. From then on, it is a page turner and a heart wrenching, gut clenching read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2018
Realistic fiction; told thru 3 characters in alternating chapters; Brie is older teen struggling with what she really wants and who she really is, happy to be "in" with the popular crowd but not feeling a connection to them, Ray is her younger brother, bullied at school, grappling with belief in God and whether life is worth living; Cullen is "delinquent" thrill-seeker in Brie's grade with good intentions but bad strategies. Brie & Ray's mother is suffering long-term depression and is disengaged from everyone/everything. Their dad is a therapist treating 9/11 survivors & first responders, but seems in need of help himself as he is unable to help his wife and is mostly disconnected from his kids aside from momentary interactions when trouble arises. Cullen's parents died and he lives with Grandmother whose physical/mental health is deteriorating. Comparable to the movie The River's Edge but even more hopeless.
January 22, 2020
The story was well-written in parts but got pretty weird as it progressed. I was disturbed that it openly glorified bad behavior without any true repercussions for their actions. Since Cullen is at the heart of the badness, it would stand to reason that he wouldn't be a good guy in the end. But he was and with no changes in his delinquency. I was left shaking my head in confusion.
April 15, 2021
Us Kids Know. Damn good title for a damn good book. I read it over the course of a weekend. Page turner! Effortlessly examines socioeconomic stratification as it weaves an ensemble coming of age tale that blurs genre and leaves you wanting more. Pulpy and real and angry and sure of itself; a sometimes terrifying romp through a post 9/11 teenage wasteland. Worth a look.
February 28, 2019
Every single character in this book is a disfigured caricature of the classic "broken" suburban person, save for Cullen Hickson, one of the only characters I found to be "real". Just for Cullen and how J.J. Strong portrayed Ray's want to kill himself, I like this book.
January 7, 2018
a polite, well behaved brother & sister meet a cool babely older boy & start doing crazy hoodrat shit with him. 3/5.
January 9, 2022
Loved it very much!
January 19, 2024
I hate Ray as a character.
The author pushes the same ideas down your throat and forces you to read the same regurgitated statements over and over again. It's so repetitive and turns unbearable. It took me 2 months to read this book.
The author pushes the same ideas down your throat and forces you to read the same regurgitated statements over and over again. It's so repetitive and turns unbearable. It took me 2 months to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews