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Born Scared
The much anticipated follow-up title from the multi-award winning author of The Bunker Diary, recipient of the 2014 Carnegie Medal for an outstanding book for young adults.
Elliot is terrified of almost everything. From the moment he was born, his life has been governed by acute fear. The only thing that keeps his terrors in check are the pills that he takes every day. It's Christmas Eve, there's a snowstorm and Elliot's medication is almost gone. His mum nips out to collect his prescription. She'll only be 10 minutes - but when she doesn't come back, Elliot must face his fears and try to find her. She should only be 400 metres away. It might as well be 400 miles...Born Scared joins the ranks of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of A Funny Story, and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why as an example of teen fiction offering a frank and intelligent portrait of mental illness. Kevin Brooks was born in 1959. His first novel, Martyn Pig, was shortlisted for a 2002 Carnegie Medal and won the 2003 Branford Boase Award. His second novel, Lucas, won the 2004 North East Book Award. In 2014 his novel The Bunker Diary was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Kevin lives in North Yorkshire.
Elliot is terrified of almost everything. From the moment he was born, his life has been governed by acute fear. The only thing that keeps his terrors in check are the pills that he takes every day. It's Christmas Eve, there's a snowstorm and Elliot's medication is almost gone. His mum nips out to collect his prescription. She'll only be 10 minutes - but when she doesn't come back, Elliot must face his fears and try to find her. She should only be 400 metres away. It might as well be 400 miles...Born Scared joins the ranks of Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places, Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of A Funny Story, and Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why as an example of teen fiction offering a frank and intelligent portrait of mental illness. Kevin Brooks was born in 1959. His first novel, Martyn Pig, was shortlisted for a 2002 Carnegie Medal and won the 2003 Branford Boase Award. His second novel, Lucas, won the 2004 North East Book Award. In 2014 his novel The Bunker Diary was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Kevin lives in North Yorkshire.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
44 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Brooks
75 books878 followersKevin Brooks was born in 1959 and grew up in Exeter, Devon, England. He studied Psychology and Philosophy at Birmingham, Aston University in 1980 and Cultural Studies in London in 1983. Kevin Brooks has been in a variety of jobs including: musician, gasoline station attendant, crematorium handyman, civil service clerk, hot dog vendor at the London Zoo, post office clerk, and railway ticket office clerk.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
Kevin Brooks's writing career started with the publication of Martyn Pig in 2002 through The Chicken House which won the Branford Boase Award 2003 and was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. He also wrote Lucas (2002) which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2003 also winning the North East Book Award in 2004.
In 2004 he published Kissing the Rain and Bloodline and I See You, Baby and Candy in 2005. In 2006 he published 3 books including: Johnny Delgado Series - Like Father, Like Son and Private Detective as well as The Road of the Dead; a standalone novel. In February 2008 he published the standalone book Black Rabbit Summer.
As a child, Kevin Brooks enjoyed reading detective novels. He writes most plots of the various books he has written around crime fiction. He likes mystery and suspence and enjoys putting both of those components into each and every story he writes in some shape or form.
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September 9, 2018
Well, huh. I don't really know how to rate Born Scared. It wasn't at all what I expected, but I did mostly enjoy it.
We follow Elliot, a 13-year-old boy so afraid of *everything* that he has become a shut-in, spending nearly all of his time in a sound-proofed room completely devoid of anything he deems "scary". Elliot takes pills to help somewhat dampen his constant feelings of fear, but due to an unfortunate series of events, his prescription is about to run out and if the refill is not picked up today, he'll have to go several days without as it's the day before Christmas.
What follows is an incredibly odd mash-up of a very real-feeling, quite accurate insight into a mind wracked with anxiety and a madcap Christmas action/heist movie. If something can go wrong, it does, often in a terribly spectacular fashion. This has the result of building the anxiety all around while still being rather humorous. My brain found it a bit difficult at first to reconcile such juxtaposing ideas meshing together, but in general, it really worked for me.
I got very caught up in this story and read it almost in one sitting; for the most part I found it highly enjoyable. Elliot's scenes were so well-described that at times I found myself shivering, feeling cold from reading about the blizzard he was trekking through. I believed all of the characters even though they were doing some pretty ridiculous things at times.
Unfortunately, the ending just didn't do it for me. It was very abrupt and I would have preferred just a bit more of a wrap up or indication of what the future holds for Elliot and the other characters in the story.
Also, I went into this thinking it was a middle grade book (I see I'm not the only one who thought that, so I'm not sure if the publisher changed the description or not) which threw me off a bit at first. This is most definitely too advanced and intense for most middle-graders. I can't really imagine anyone under about age 14 "getting" a lot of the subtlety, and really I think this book will be best enjoyed by adults and very mature teens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a DRC of this book.
We follow Elliot, a 13-year-old boy so afraid of *everything* that he has become a shut-in, spending nearly all of his time in a sound-proofed room completely devoid of anything he deems "scary". Elliot takes pills to help somewhat dampen his constant feelings of fear, but due to an unfortunate series of events, his prescription is about to run out and if the refill is not picked up today, he'll have to go several days without as it's the day before Christmas.
What follows is an incredibly odd mash-up of a very real-feeling, quite accurate insight into a mind wracked with anxiety and a madcap Christmas action/heist movie. If something can go wrong, it does, often in a terribly spectacular fashion. This has the result of building the anxiety all around while still being rather humorous. My brain found it a bit difficult at first to reconcile such juxtaposing ideas meshing together, but in general, it really worked for me.
I got very caught up in this story and read it almost in one sitting; for the most part I found it highly enjoyable. Elliot's scenes were so well-described that at times I found myself shivering, feeling cold from reading about the blizzard he was trekking through. I believed all of the characters even though they were doing some pretty ridiculous things at times.
Unfortunately, the ending just didn't do it for me. It was very abrupt and I would have preferred just a bit more of a wrap up or indication of what the future holds for Elliot and the other characters in the story.
Also, I went into this thinking it was a middle grade book (I see I'm not the only one who thought that, so I'm not sure if the publisher changed the description or not) which threw me off a bit at first. This is most definitely too advanced and intense for most middle-graders. I can't really imagine anyone under about age 14 "getting" a lot of the subtlety, and really I think this book will be best enjoyed by adults and very mature teens.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a DRC of this book.
July 4, 2017
5 Words: Fear, family, winter, panic, AAAAHHHHHH.
Stick a Kevin Brooks book in front of me and you are almost* guaranteed that I will love it. I have been hooked to his haunting writing style since I first picked up Lucas when I was in high school.
This author makes you feel things.
And this book made me feel so much.
This is a book about fear. Heart-racing, blood-cooling, mind-numbing... FEAR. It's a truly thrilling read. Elliot's fear is so real, it's palpable, I could feel it. I was terrified for him, I could feel myself starting to panic. The pace is incredible and I could not put it down.
There is a hint of something other in this book. There's a whole separate voice in the story and I never knew whether it was real or not. It gave this whole magic-realism aspect to the story, and it's one of my favourite things about this author's work.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
* I just don't like iBoy, OK?
Stick a Kevin Brooks book in front of me and you are almost* guaranteed that I will love it. I have been hooked to his haunting writing style since I first picked up Lucas when I was in high school.
This author makes you feel things.
And this book made me feel so much.
This is a book about fear. Heart-racing, blood-cooling, mind-numbing... FEAR. It's a truly thrilling read. Elliot's fear is so real, it's palpable, I could feel it. I was terrified for him, I could feel myself starting to panic. The pace is incredible and I could not put it down.
There is a hint of something other in this book. There's a whole separate voice in the story and I never knew whether it was real or not. It gave this whole magic-realism aspect to the story, and it's one of my favourite things about this author's work.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
* I just don't like iBoy, OK?
January 24, 2018
Kevin Brooks is geboren op 30 maart 1959 in Pinhoe. Op 11- jarige leeftijd won hij een beurs voor de Exeter School, waar hij zich vervreemd voelde van de andere leerlingen en waar hij troost vond in de wereld van fictie. Brooks debuutroman Martyn Pig werd in 2003 gepubliceerd door Chicken House. Ze kregen er een Branford Boase Award voor. Deze Award wordt jaarlijks toegekend aan een bijzondere Britse roman voor jonge mensen geschreven door een debuterend schrijver. Kevin Brooks ontving voor zijn andere werk o.a. de Carnegie Medal en de Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis.
Het boek gaat over Elliot die al sinds zijn geboorte doodsbang is voor bijna alles. Het enige wat zijn angst nog een beetje kan onderdrukken zijn de pillen die hij elke dag krijgt. Maar de pillen zijn op, en zijn moeder, die er in ijzig winterweer op uit is gegaan om nieuwe te halen, komt niet terug. Wat moet Elliot nu? Wachten of naar buiten gaan om haar te vinden...?
Ik heb eerder het bunkerdagboek van Kevin Brooks gelezen en die vond ik goed, dus ik ben een beetje bekend met zijn manier van schrijven. Dit boek heeft mij ook echt gepakt. Ik heb het in 1 avond uit gelezen. Het verhaal wordt afwisselend in de ik-vorm van Elliot en andere personages in personale vorm verteld. Ik vond het makkelijk te volgen wie wie was. Dit boek wordt aangeraden voor lezers vanaf ca 15 jaar, maar ik zou het mijn dochter van 12 jaar ook prima kunnen laten lezen. Ik geef het 4 sterren!
Het boek gaat over Elliot die al sinds zijn geboorte doodsbang is voor bijna alles. Het enige wat zijn angst nog een beetje kan onderdrukken zijn de pillen die hij elke dag krijgt. Maar de pillen zijn op, en zijn moeder, die er in ijzig winterweer op uit is gegaan om nieuwe te halen, komt niet terug. Wat moet Elliot nu? Wachten of naar buiten gaan om haar te vinden...?
Ik heb eerder het bunkerdagboek van Kevin Brooks gelezen en die vond ik goed, dus ik ben een beetje bekend met zijn manier van schrijven. Dit boek heeft mij ook echt gepakt. Ik heb het in 1 avond uit gelezen. Het verhaal wordt afwisselend in de ik-vorm van Elliot en andere personages in personale vorm verteld. Ik vond het makkelijk te volgen wie wie was. Dit boek wordt aangeraden voor lezers vanaf ca 15 jaar, maar ik zou het mijn dochter van 12 jaar ook prima kunnen laten lezen. Ik geef het 4 sterren!
December 3, 2016
Awareness of mental health is still shockingly sub-par. Which is why books like this should be a necessary part of everyone's literary programme, whether you can personally relate or not. A broken leg is an easily visible ailment and a mental illness is not. With little understanding it is hard to grasp that another's reality is now drastically different from your own. This book, although only representing one small sphere of the spectrum, can provide some tolerance and empathy. This poignant read is an essential one!
September 27, 2018
Elliott is afraid of everything. In fact, he doesn't remember ever not being afraid. His mother, his aunt and his doctor are the only people that don't remind him of monsters. But there are even some things he has to keep secret from them....like the fact he sees and talks to his twin sister, Ellamay, even though she died shortly after they were born. The only thing that shuts down the beast, his fears, are the little yellow pills he takes six times a day. The pills quiet his fears enough for him to not spend every second of every day terrified. Then one day the pharmacy makes a mistake and he might run out of medication during a holiday. His aunt goes to pick up his meds....but doesn't arrive at their house. Then his mother goes out to find out what happened and doesn't come back. It's a bit more than 500 yards from their house to his Aunt Shirley's home. But, Elliott doesn't usually leave the house. It's scary out there. Anything could happen. Elliott knows he has to brave his fears this one time and find out what happened to his aunt and his mother.
This story is so different. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it at first, but then as the characters developed more and the story started forming, I couldn't stop reading. What an awesome way to bring about more awareness about mental illness and its effects on children. This story is amazing! At times Elliott was so adult -- he understands he has a mental condition, he understands he needs his medication and he understands that at times how he feels is irrational......but then at other times, he is a 13-year old child dealing with a constant mental battle, feeling lost and alone, surrounded by monsters. The story is told from Elliott's point of view, painting a picture of how he views the world. His fears control his life, but he's still willing to step outside and find his mother.
Outstanding book! I'm not sure I would call it a "thriller'' like one of the book blurbs I read. For me, it was more emotional, showing the world from the point of view of a fearful, mentally ill child. It would be terrifying to almost be out of medication on Christmas Eve, then to have your two trusted caregivers disappear. That 500 yard walk to his aunt's house was terrifying.....and the situation that developed afterwards made Elliott face many more fears than just a walk through the snow.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This story is so different. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it at first, but then as the characters developed more and the story started forming, I couldn't stop reading. What an awesome way to bring about more awareness about mental illness and its effects on children. This story is amazing! At times Elliott was so adult -- he understands he has a mental condition, he understands he needs his medication and he understands that at times how he feels is irrational......but then at other times, he is a 13-year old child dealing with a constant mental battle, feeling lost and alone, surrounded by monsters. The story is told from Elliott's point of view, painting a picture of how he views the world. His fears control his life, but he's still willing to step outside and find his mother.
Outstanding book! I'm not sure I would call it a "thriller'' like one of the book blurbs I read. For me, it was more emotional, showing the world from the point of view of a fearful, mentally ill child. It would be terrifying to almost be out of medication on Christmas Eve, then to have your two trusted caregivers disappear. That 500 yard walk to his aunt's house was terrifying.....and the situation that developed afterwards made Elliott face many more fears than just a walk through the snow.
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Candlewick Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
September 25, 2018
I want to thank Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a kind of strange book being honest, but I think it was an interesting and new experience for me. It's a pretty short story with a fixed central plot and I liked that, I liked that although it's short, it's very intense and you can really feel everything that happens to the main character in a very raw and real way.
3.7/5 Stars
You can find more of my reviews on my blog A Book. A Thought.
The book follows the story of Elliot. He's a thirteen-year-old boy who fears of almost everything since he's only a baby, he lives isolated in his room specially built for him and his needs, but he's also helped by a pills that he takes daily which help him with his illness, making it the every day easier. On Christmas day something happens and his mother must leave the house for a few hours to look for her son's medicine, but she never comes back and Elliot's forced to go out and look for her, and it's from here that the story begins and Elliot must face her worst fears
This book focuses on a mental illness as the main theme throughout the book, and I honestly feel that I must say it, in case some people are sensitive to this kind of thing, especially because I'm not sure if it was touched in a correct way, because I have no information about it. Personally I liked knowing more about this illness, but at the same time I feel like it fell short of information, I would have liked to know a little more
I didn't expect it to be as dark as it was, it's a rather dark thriller, where we see the main character have hallucinations and be lost in his own mind under the effects of his illness and honestly see everything he was going through and how the author described it was really scary, I can't imagine what it would be like to live in this way, with a constant fear to the point that it becomes something physical, it's really hard to read about it.
In a beginning it may be somewhat disorganized, the change between one character and another felt kind of weird and we don't know what role they take in the story and what has to do with Elliot, but after the 50%, take shape and I think that makes sense. Although there are no very memorable characters really
I was more interested in following Elliot all the time so the other points of view didn't really catch my attention, although in the end all the stories connect in a very good way and I liked that . It was very interesting to see Elliot leave his comfort zone and face the outside world, it broke my heart to see how every simple thing in our life was a challenge for him, and if I think about it, he faced it all for his mother and the love he has for her and that was very brave. On the other hand, I think the author gave a very mature voice to a 13 year old boy, and that felt weird , I didn't mind at the time of reading, but I feel like you forget the true age of the character at times because he talks and reasons as an adult
I feel that I love the beginning much more than the end, I don't think it was a good closing for the story, I understand what the author wanted to show but I think it felt very open and I don't always enjoy those types of endings, it was strange for me I expected a better conclusion.
So, I recommend it, although I feel it's not for everyone, there's something in it that makes it heavy, intense and brutal, and it can be difficult if you're a sensitive person, especially since it touches a very sensitive issue like a mental illness. If you're looking for a strong and short thriller it's perfect for you
August 7, 2016
Born Scared is the story of Elliott, a boy who is scared of literally everything. The only thing that can regulate his ever-present terror (seriously, of *everything*) are the little pills he pops every few hours. On Christmas Eve, his mum goes to get his prescription refilled but she doesn’t come back and Elliot realises he will have to leave the house for the first time in god-knows how long and go and find her.
The idea behind this book was really interesting - how does someone with acute fear of absolutely everything cope when they are forcibly removed from their comfort zone? I was super interested to read about the background to Elliot’s fear as well as how he’d manage to find his mother.
In some ways, the book worked well. I liked the way the different story threads intersected and wove together to reach the final conclusion. And you certainly couldn’t say that Elliot lacked development - he basically goes from Cowardly Lion to Liam Neeson from Taken over the course of the novel, which was a bit of a transformation!
Elliot has an internal monologue running nearly all the time with Ellamay - his twin sister who died at birth. Ellamay represents the ‘brave’ part of Elliot - the part that stops him going completely nuts and convinces him to leave the house in search of his mum. This was okay and I thought it was a clever plot device, but I did wish that Ellamay had been a bit better developed as she never really felt like a character in her own right.
However, I felt the story suffered a lack of tension. Which is weird, because the whole thing is supposed to be tense, what with Elliot being frightened of everything (I’m not joking - he is a walking bag of nerves). The first few chapters, where Elliot is steeling himself to leave the house, were tense and I really felt for Elliot. However, once he was on the road the tension abated. I think it was because I could see the inherent harmlessness of the things he encountered (person walking their dog, some sheep) - it’s hard to feel terror for a character when the things they’re facing aren’t actually scary. There are only so many ways an MC can say ‘I was really scared’ or list the physiological effects of terror.
Although I’ve only rated this book as three stars, I would be interested in reading some of Kevin Brooks’ other books as he has a writing style I quite enjoyed. Very accessible, descriptive without being long-winded - just what I like.
I received a copy of Born Scared in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Egmont and Netgalley.
The idea behind this book was really interesting - how does someone with acute fear of absolutely everything cope when they are forcibly removed from their comfort zone? I was super interested to read about the background to Elliot’s fear as well as how he’d manage to find his mother.
In some ways, the book worked well. I liked the way the different story threads intersected and wove together to reach the final conclusion. And you certainly couldn’t say that Elliot lacked development - he basically goes from Cowardly Lion to Liam Neeson from Taken over the course of the novel, which was a bit of a transformation!
Elliot has an internal monologue running nearly all the time with Ellamay - his twin sister who died at birth. Ellamay represents the ‘brave’ part of Elliot - the part that stops him going completely nuts and convinces him to leave the house in search of his mum. This was okay and I thought it was a clever plot device, but I did wish that Ellamay had been a bit better developed as she never really felt like a character in her own right.
However, I felt the story suffered a lack of tension. Which is weird, because the whole thing is supposed to be tense, what with Elliot being frightened of everything (I’m not joking - he is a walking bag of nerves). The first few chapters, where Elliot is steeling himself to leave the house, were tense and I really felt for Elliot. However, once he was on the road the tension abated. I think it was because I could see the inherent harmlessness of the things he encountered (person walking their dog, some sheep) - it’s hard to feel terror for a character when the things they’re facing aren’t actually scary. There are only so many ways an MC can say ‘I was really scared’ or list the physiological effects of terror.
Although I’ve only rated this book as three stars, I would be interested in reading some of Kevin Brooks’ other books as he has a writing style I quite enjoyed. Very accessible, descriptive without being long-winded - just what I like.
I received a copy of Born Scared in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Egmont and Netgalley.
September 2, 2016
I'm not ashamed to admit to feeling a little traumatised after finishing The Bunker Diary. While I admired the idea, and found elements of it utterly gripping, there was a small part of me that found it all a bit macabre - it made me think of Saw and other such movies/books. Not really my thing!
So it was not without some caution that I started this. Brooks has a habit of taking seemingly ordinary characters and finding the downright odd to focus on. In this case, it works brilliantly.
Elliot is scared of everything and from what we are told he has always been this way, there is no apparent medical explanation for it and nobody is quite sure how to do anything other than help him exist as best he can.
A simple exploration of Elliot's life might have become a little dull, so Brooks has him inadvertently caught up in a horrific crime and he is forced to confront his worst fears in an attempt to find his anxiety medication. Not quite sure how successful this course of action would be as a therapy, but it makes for an interesting read.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers Egmont for the advance copy.
So it was not without some caution that I started this. Brooks has a habit of taking seemingly ordinary characters and finding the downright odd to focus on. In this case, it works brilliantly.
Elliot is scared of everything and from what we are told he has always been this way, there is no apparent medical explanation for it and nobody is quite sure how to do anything other than help him exist as best he can.
A simple exploration of Elliot's life might have become a little dull, so Brooks has him inadvertently caught up in a horrific crime and he is forced to confront his worst fears in an attempt to find his anxiety medication. Not quite sure how successful this course of action would be as a therapy, but it makes for an interesting read.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers Egmont for the advance copy.
February 3, 2018
OMFG!!!
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!
Kevin Brooks is a brutally brutal writer.
When I was reading this book, I felt everything the main protagonist was feeling.
Best book of this year!
THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!
Kevin Brooks is a brutally brutal writer.
When I was reading this book, I felt everything the main protagonist was feeling.
Best book of this year!
October 31, 2022
Elliot le teme a casi todo desde que nació, y lo único que lo ayuda a controlarlo es el medicamento que toma diariamente. El chico ha vivido toda su vida aislado, puesto que las tres únicas personas a las que no les tiene miedo son su madre, su tía Shirley y el doctor Gibson.
Para su mala suerte, en Nochebuena ocurre algo que amenaza con desatar todo el miedo que podría llegar a sentir, y se verá desafiado a salir de su habitación, el único lugar donde se siente seguro, su mundo.
Lo primero que tengo para decir es que fui vilmente engañada, me dejé llevar por la bonita y atractiva cubierta del libro, y lo comencé totalmente convencida de que estaba ante una historia de terror, pero no fue así; este es un libro infantil/juvenil de suspenso. En él no se encuentran criaturas monstruosas ni escenas explícitas o sangrientas, solo conocemos a un chico que le tiene miedo a casi todo y vive cautivo de su propia bestia (como él llama al miedo).
Lo que más me gustó de este libro fue la primera parte, en la cual Elliot te cuenta cómo es su vida siendo esclavo del miedo, describiendo las adecuaciones que su madre debió hacer a su habitación para que él viviera relativamente tranquilo, sin contacto con el mundo exterior. Elliot te habla de cómo ha tenido que lidiar toda su vida con este problema, y la batalla interna de la cual no se ha podido liberar.
Ya cuando la historia llega al momento crítico y comienzan a suceder la serie de acontecimientos que empujan a Elliot a combatir sus temores, empezaron los problemas para mí. Me gustó la idea de sacar al chico de su habitación, pero el que pasen una cadena de situaciones desafortunadas sucesivamente justamente ese mismo día, se me hizo poco creíble. Pero esto debe ser porque no soy objetivo directo del libro, a un niño o preadolescente quizá lo impactará bastante y se lo creerá todo.
No obstante, me pareció super entretenido entrar en la mente de una persona con este tipo de problema, ya que cualquiera ha experimentado ansiedad o miedo a al menos una cosa o situación puntual, en mi caso, hace unos años sufrí un atropello que me dejó con mucho miedo a salir a la calle, de hecho todavía me cuesta cruzar la calle sin sentirme nerviosa, o salir sin pensar en la posibilidad de volver a experimentar un accidente.
Para su mala suerte, en Nochebuena ocurre algo que amenaza con desatar todo el miedo que podría llegar a sentir, y se verá desafiado a salir de su habitación, el único lugar donde se siente seguro, su mundo.
Lo primero que tengo para decir es que fui vilmente engañada, me dejé llevar por la bonita y atractiva cubierta del libro, y lo comencé totalmente convencida de que estaba ante una historia de terror, pero no fue así; este es un libro infantil/juvenil de suspenso. En él no se encuentran criaturas monstruosas ni escenas explícitas o sangrientas, solo conocemos a un chico que le tiene miedo a casi todo y vive cautivo de su propia bestia (como él llama al miedo).
Lo que más me gustó de este libro fue la primera parte, en la cual Elliot te cuenta cómo es su vida siendo esclavo del miedo, describiendo las adecuaciones que su madre debió hacer a su habitación para que él viviera relativamente tranquilo, sin contacto con el mundo exterior. Elliot te habla de cómo ha tenido que lidiar toda su vida con este problema, y la batalla interna de la cual no se ha podido liberar.
Ya cuando la historia llega al momento crítico y comienzan a suceder la serie de acontecimientos que empujan a Elliot a combatir sus temores, empezaron los problemas para mí. Me gustó la idea de sacar al chico de su habitación, pero el que pasen una cadena de situaciones desafortunadas sucesivamente justamente ese mismo día, se me hizo poco creíble. Pero esto debe ser porque no soy objetivo directo del libro, a un niño o preadolescente quizá lo impactará bastante y se lo creerá todo.
No obstante, me pareció super entretenido entrar en la mente de una persona con este tipo de problema, ya que cualquiera ha experimentado ansiedad o miedo a al menos una cosa o situación puntual, en mi caso, hace unos años sufrí un atropello que me dejó con mucho miedo a salir a la calle, de hecho todavía me cuesta cruzar la calle sin sentirme nerviosa, o salir sin pensar en la posibilidad de volver a experimentar un accidente.
March 31, 2022
La vida da miedo si nos detenemos a pensarlo, afortunadamente no nos detenemos y podemos seguir adelante. Para Elliot esto no es así, él vive con terror constante.
La idea principal me encantó, pero creo que pudo profundizar más en ella, porque siento que en algún punto se vuelve en un telón de fondo para contar otra cosa y el final queda bastante abierto.
De cualquier manera disfruté el libro y se queda con 3.5 estrellas, que subo a 4, porque Goodreads no me deja poner las que yo quiero.
La idea principal me encantó, pero creo que pudo profundizar más en ella, porque siento que en algún punto se vuelve en un telón de fondo para contar otra cosa y el final queda bastante abierto.
De cualquier manera disfruté el libro y se queda con 3.5 estrellas, que subo a 4, porque Goodreads no me deja poner las que yo quiero.
August 21, 2018
Elliot has extreme anxiety. He can’t leave his home, or meet other people than his mother and a few trusted others. He’s had anxiety since he was born, and is finally on a medication that lessens his fear. But when his mother leaves (in a snowstorm, no less) to refill his medication, and doesn’t come back, it’s up to Elliot (and his twin sister, who lives in his head), to venture outside and find out what happened.
There’s a lot of good things about this book. I like how anxiety is handled here; often it’s treated as frivolous when compared to other mental illnesses, but it’s a very real medical condition, and Elliot’s struggle is treated honestly and with compassion.
I am not 100% convinced this is a middle grade book. I know it’s being marketed as one, and Elliot is certainly the right age to be a middle grade protagonist... but there’s a lot of adult things happening here, presented in a very adult way. Lots of middle grade books tackle difficult subjects, but it just feels different in this book. There are scenes of adult drinking and drug use, drunk driving, and gun violence. Just an FYI.
Elliot’s POV is just one in the book: we get many others, and it toggles back and forth. I wish we spent more time with Elliot, because his journey is the one we’re most invested in.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
There’s a lot of good things about this book. I like how anxiety is handled here; often it’s treated as frivolous when compared to other mental illnesses, but it’s a very real medical condition, and Elliot’s struggle is treated honestly and with compassion.
I am not 100% convinced this is a middle grade book. I know it’s being marketed as one, and Elliot is certainly the right age to be a middle grade protagonist... but there’s a lot of adult things happening here, presented in a very adult way. Lots of middle grade books tackle difficult subjects, but it just feels different in this book. There are scenes of adult drinking and drug use, drunk driving, and gun violence. Just an FYI.
Elliot’s POV is just one in the book: we get many others, and it toggles back and forth. I wish we spent more time with Elliot, because his journey is the one we’re most invested in.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
July 26, 2018
3.5 stars
13-year old Elliot has been afraid of everything since he was born. About the only things he’s not afraid of is his room, and three people: his mother, his aunt, and his doctor. This is a severe, debilitating phobia of everything. He needs pills just to make the phobias less severe (though they are still there).
One Christmas Eve day, just before the stores will be closed for a couple of days, there is an error with Elliot’s prescription. Elliot’s mom must leave him at home by himself to go pick up the correct prescription, but things go terribly wrong, and Elliot must find a way to get that prescription before it runs out…
This was good. It is YA, so the chapters are short and overall, it’s very fast to read. I thought the author has some really good descriptions of Elliot’s fears. I was waffling between 3.5 stars (good) and 4 stars (really good), but went to the 3.5 when it ended without wrapping up quite as much as I would have liked to have wrapped up. Also, there was a lot of coincidence in things happening as they did at the same time as Elliot was trying to get his prescription. Still a good read, overall, though.
13-year old Elliot has been afraid of everything since he was born. About the only things he’s not afraid of is his room, and three people: his mother, his aunt, and his doctor. This is a severe, debilitating phobia of everything. He needs pills just to make the phobias less severe (though they are still there).
One Christmas Eve day, just before the stores will be closed for a couple of days, there is an error with Elliot’s prescription. Elliot’s mom must leave him at home by himself to go pick up the correct prescription, but things go terribly wrong, and Elliot must find a way to get that prescription before it runs out…
This was good. It is YA, so the chapters are short and overall, it’s very fast to read. I thought the author has some really good descriptions of Elliot’s fears. I was waffling between 3.5 stars (good) and 4 stars (really good), but went to the 3.5 when it ended without wrapping up quite as much as I would have liked to have wrapped up. Also, there was a lot of coincidence in things happening as they did at the same time as Elliot was trying to get his prescription. Still a good read, overall, though.
August 11, 2023
A very interesting mash up book
August 16, 2018
3.5 STARS!!!!!
This is a book about fear. Elliot’s fear. And Elliot is afraid of just about everything.
The story is about Elliot being put in a situation where he is nearly out of his medication, and the person he can always count on goes to get a prescription and doesn’t come back. That’s about all I can say without spoiling it.
I found the way this book dealt with mental illness to be very interesting. It gives pretty detailed descriptions and Elliot comes to feel like a real person. It’s handled in a very thoughtful way. As an emotional atmosphere, it’s is claustrophobic and sometimes Elliot’s fear is so real that it jumps off the page at you. I also loved seeing the world through Elliot’s eyes. It gave me a perspective that I don’t think I’ve ever read before. It made me want to go and learn more about this particular type of illness. After all, everyone experiences fear at some point, but raw, visceral fear that is ever present and associated with nearly everything? That’s something else entirely. I felt like a lot of thought and research went into making this character seem so vivid. And it worked. I was invested.
Elliot goes through a number of emotions in this story, apart from fear. There’s a lot of depth to his character, and thusly to the story. His relationship with his mother was the core of it. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a child with that particular mental illness, but I loved the way it showed how much she cared and looked after him.
My main issue was with the way that it ended. I was along for the wild ride, but I feel like more was needed to close it out. That probably won’t bother a lot of people, but I was left wondering where it went. Also, there wasn’t any development for any of the other characters. There are hints mentioned about several of them that makes you curious, but they’re not taken anywhere. The other issue was that on occasion it veered into what I considered unrealistic behavior for the major characters towards the end.
Overall, it was a suspenseful but enjoyable (and at times downright frightening) read and great for giving a picture of mental illness without sugarcoating or flossing over it. Elliot is a compelling character, and I rooted for him the whole time. I will definitely be checking out anything else written by Kevin Brooks.
***Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a free copy for an honest review***
This is a book about fear. Elliot’s fear. And Elliot is afraid of just about everything.
The story is about Elliot being put in a situation where he is nearly out of his medication, and the person he can always count on goes to get a prescription and doesn’t come back. That’s about all I can say without spoiling it.
I found the way this book dealt with mental illness to be very interesting. It gives pretty detailed descriptions and Elliot comes to feel like a real person. It’s handled in a very thoughtful way. As an emotional atmosphere, it’s is claustrophobic and sometimes Elliot’s fear is so real that it jumps off the page at you. I also loved seeing the world through Elliot’s eyes. It gave me a perspective that I don’t think I’ve ever read before. It made me want to go and learn more about this particular type of illness. After all, everyone experiences fear at some point, but raw, visceral fear that is ever present and associated with nearly everything? That’s something else entirely. I felt like a lot of thought and research went into making this character seem so vivid. And it worked. I was invested.
Elliot goes through a number of emotions in this story, apart from fear. There’s a lot of depth to his character, and thusly to the story. His relationship with his mother was the core of it. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a child with that particular mental illness, but I loved the way it showed how much she cared and looked after him.
My main issue was with the way that it ended. I was along for the wild ride, but I feel like more was needed to close it out. That probably won’t bother a lot of people, but I was left wondering where it went. Also, there wasn’t any development for any of the other characters. There are hints mentioned about several of them that makes you curious, but they’re not taken anywhere. The other issue was that on occasion it veered into what I considered unrealistic behavior for the major characters towards the end.
Overall, it was a suspenseful but enjoyable (and at times downright frightening) read and great for giving a picture of mental illness without sugarcoating or flossing over it. Elliot is a compelling character, and I rooted for him the whole time. I will definitely be checking out anything else written by Kevin Brooks.
***Thanks to Netgalley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a free copy for an honest review***
October 26, 2018
Imagínense tenerle miedo absolutamente a TODO y encontrarte en una situación en el que sí o sí debes enfrentarte con el mundo exterior.
Este es el tema de "Miedo" de Kevin Brooks, que al inicio no me parecía emocionante, pero conforme avanzaba me mantuvo de un hilo, sin poder parar hasta que llegué al final.
Me gustó muchísimo como luego todas las situaciones se conectan y concluyen fe una manera que no se siente abrupta.
Elliot es un personaje muy peculiar, pero que nos demuestra cómo la mente humana puede ser tan misteriosa y llena de sorpresas.
Este es el tema de "Miedo" de Kevin Brooks, que al inicio no me parecía emocionante, pero conforme avanzaba me mantuvo de un hilo, sin poder parar hasta que llegué al final.
Me gustó muchísimo como luego todas las situaciones se conectan y concluyen fe una manera que no se siente abrupta.
Elliot es un personaje muy peculiar, pero que nos demuestra cómo la mente humana puede ser tan misteriosa y llena de sorpresas.
September 29, 2018
2.5
"Miedo" es la historia de un chico llamado Elliot que le teme a absolutamente a todo desde que estuvo en el vientre de su madre junto con su hermana gemela que falleció justo después de que nacieran. A partir de esta premisa se cuenta como Elliot debe medicarse para controlar sus miedos con unas pastillas amarillas. Pero un día -en noche buena precisamente- se encuentra con que se han acabado todas sus provisiones de medicamentos, así que su madre debe salir con urgencia a encontrar las pastillas que su hijo necesita desesperadamente. Su madre nunca regresa, así que Elliot debe salir de su casa a buscarla (cosa que nunca ha hecho en su vida)
Esta pequeña novela, contiene una idea que me llamo mucha la atención al principio, la de querer explorar el mundo de una persona que ve el mundo con ojos distintos, con que absolutamente todo puede hacerle daño. Sin embargo, jamás se le da una profundidad como tal al personaje para poder abordarlo. Así que Elliot queda plano, sin justificaciones de su miedo irracional y sin saber si hubo una evolución del personaje a través de la historia.
Muchos sucesos en la historia pareciera que se dan gratuitamente y no se explica bien como suceden. Lo cual hace perder al lector, sin saber como se llego a dicho suceso, solo aparece y ya.
Creo que esta novela sin embargo estaría bien para primeros lectores de novela y de Thriller específicamente. Sin embargo ahora, creo que no lo disfrute tanto porque le vi fallas como lectora constante de thriller
"Miedo" es la historia de un chico llamado Elliot que le teme a absolutamente a todo desde que estuvo en el vientre de su madre junto con su hermana gemela que falleció justo después de que nacieran. A partir de esta premisa se cuenta como Elliot debe medicarse para controlar sus miedos con unas pastillas amarillas. Pero un día -en noche buena precisamente- se encuentra con que se han acabado todas sus provisiones de medicamentos, así que su madre debe salir con urgencia a encontrar las pastillas que su hijo necesita desesperadamente. Su madre nunca regresa, así que Elliot debe salir de su casa a buscarla (cosa que nunca ha hecho en su vida)
Esta pequeña novela, contiene una idea que me llamo mucha la atención al principio, la de querer explorar el mundo de una persona que ve el mundo con ojos distintos, con que absolutamente todo puede hacerle daño. Sin embargo, jamás se le da una profundidad como tal al personaje para poder abordarlo. Así que Elliot queda plano, sin justificaciones de su miedo irracional y sin saber si hubo una evolución del personaje a través de la historia.
Muchos sucesos en la historia pareciera que se dan gratuitamente y no se explica bien como suceden. Lo cual hace perder al lector, sin saber como se llego a dicho suceso, solo aparece y ya.
Creo que esta novela sin embargo estaría bien para primeros lectores de novela y de Thriller específicamente. Sin embargo ahora, creo que no lo disfrute tanto porque le vi fallas como lectora constante de thriller
July 13, 2023
From the moment of his birth, Elliot’s life has been governed by fear of almost everything, even of his own fear — a beast that holds him prisoner in his room. The beast is kept at bay, though not eliminated, with a daily regimen of pills. But on Christmas Eve, a mix-up at the pharmacy threatens to unleash the beast full force, and his mother must venture out in a raging snowstorm to a store that should be only minutes away. Hours later, when she still hasn’t returned, Elliot sees no choice but to push through his terror, leave the house, and hunt for her. What happens if the last of his medication wears off and the beast starts scratching at the doors of his mind? Everyone has a breaking point — will Elliot come to his?
I related on a less extreme level to Elliot. My fears can sometimes cause me to become numb to the world. I think the book did a fantastic job with describing how fear and anxiety can be so debilitating. I was able to really get into Elliot's mindsets as he tried to calm his inner fear beast and find his mother. The suspense of the book kept the pages turning for me until about three quarters of the way through. The end fell flat and didn't really wrap up the events that led us there. It felt like it just ended abruptly.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the book but would have like to see the ending fleshed out a bit more.
I related on a less extreme level to Elliot. My fears can sometimes cause me to become numb to the world. I think the book did a fantastic job with describing how fear and anxiety can be so debilitating. I was able to really get into Elliot's mindsets as he tried to calm his inner fear beast and find his mother. The suspense of the book kept the pages turning for me until about three quarters of the way through. The end fell flat and didn't really wrap up the events that led us there. It felt like it just ended abruptly.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest opinion. I enjoyed the book but would have like to see the ending fleshed out a bit more.
December 13, 2018
I basically read the majority of this book in one sitting because I kept flying through the pages and kept desperately trying to make sense of it...in a good way!
This novel is something original and extremely good at depicting the irrational fear of everything. I found myself rooting for the main character the entire way through and it was so interesting to see how the story progressed and connected with other characters.
I’m probably going to spend a lot of time pondering this book...it’s that complex!
This novel is something original and extremely good at depicting the irrational fear of everything. I found myself rooting for the main character the entire way through and it was so interesting to see how the story progressed and connected with other characters.
I’m probably going to spend a lot of time pondering this book...it’s that complex!
May 21, 2018
DNF
This book just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t finish it, (and in result I actually lost it) even though the whole premise sounds awesome, all the tension and suspense fizzled out in the first couple of pages. In my opinion this book was pretty boring and I just didn’t get round to finishing it.
This book just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t finish it, (and in result I actually lost it) even though the whole premise sounds awesome, all the tension and suspense fizzled out in the first couple of pages. In my opinion this book was pretty boring and I just didn’t get round to finishing it.
October 14, 2018
El final no tiene sentido y parece que al autor le dio hueva explicarlo. Ahí después les comparto mi pinche rant.
May 29, 2018
A quick read that offers a complex character battling his anxiety, inner demons and a couple of deadly Santa Clause’s.
“Born Scared” tells the story of Elliot, a young boy who has battled crippling anxiety since birth who runs out of medication and is forced to venture out into the world after his mother fails to return home. On this adventure into the unknown he is forced to make the decision to hide or fight as he comes face to face with what he fears most.
I don’t have anxiety or a mental illness similar to that of our main character so I am curious to what people think of this portrayal who actually deal with that in their every day lives, but I have to say it was written in a way that really got you into his mindset rather quickly so you were able to understand his motivations and that push and pull between him wanting to find his mother but also being a bit of a prisoner to the illness.
The changing narratives were a great companion to the main story as the supporting cast of characters also had a personal moment of reflection where they realized they were at a turning point in their lives and made the decision to become someone else.
Overall I really liked this and it’s such a quick read that for anyone looking for a bit of an adventure and the struggle to face your demons head on will enjoy this even if it is a filler to hold you over before your next read!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
“Born Scared” tells the story of Elliot, a young boy who has battled crippling anxiety since birth who runs out of medication and is forced to venture out into the world after his mother fails to return home. On this adventure into the unknown he is forced to make the decision to hide or fight as he comes face to face with what he fears most.
I don’t have anxiety or a mental illness similar to that of our main character so I am curious to what people think of this portrayal who actually deal with that in their every day lives, but I have to say it was written in a way that really got you into his mindset rather quickly so you were able to understand his motivations and that push and pull between him wanting to find his mother but also being a bit of a prisoner to the illness.
The changing narratives were a great companion to the main story as the supporting cast of characters also had a personal moment of reflection where they realized they were at a turning point in their lives and made the decision to become someone else.
Overall I really liked this and it’s such a quick read that for anyone looking for a bit of an adventure and the struggle to face your demons head on will enjoy this even if it is a filler to hold you over before your next read!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
October 21, 2017
Zitate:
"Die drei unbekannten Dinge an jenem Tag waren meine Mum, ihre ältere Schwester Shirley und Dr. Gibson. Und das Komische (das Eigenartige) daran war, dass sie - die ersten Menschen, die mich zu Tode erschreckten - seitdem zu den einzigen dreien geworden sind, die mich nicht zu Tode erschrecken." Seite 11
"Das Zimmer ist meine Zuflucht, der einzige Ort, wo ich mich sicher fühle, der einzige Ort, wo ich sein will.
Mein Zimmer.
Mein Alles.
Meine Welt." Seite 49
"Das Monster lächelt in sich hinein. Es ist glücklich." Seite 176
Meinung:
Die Geschichte handelt von dem jungen Elliot, der seit seiner Geburt unter großen Angstzuständen leidet. Sagte ich Angst? Wenn man ehrlich ist, trifft es "Panik" wohl besser!
Das Schlimmste daran ist, dass seine Ängste nicht nur Dinge, Menschen und Ähnliches betreffen, sondern auch Vorstellungen. Er hat zum Beispiel Angst vor Autos, da diese ihn einklemmen oder zerquetschen könnten. Selbst die meisten Farben kann er sich nicht anschauen, solange sie dominant sind.
Um zumindest einigermaßen dagegen anzukommen, nimmt er Angstpillen, die ihm jedoch nie ausgehen dürfen. Natürlich passiert das jedoch gerade dann, als seine Mutter plötzlich verschwunden ist...
Dies war mein erstes Buch von Kevin Brooks, aber wie ihr euch vorstellen könnt, war meine Neugier nach diesem Klappentext sofort geweckt! Thriller lese ich ja sowieso besonders gerne und Dinge wie Angstzustände, Zwangsneurosen und Ähnliches finde ich an sich schon sehr interessant.
Dementsprechend war ich auch gleich von Anfang an gefesselt, der im Wechsel erzählt, wer Elliot eigentlich ist und wie sich das mit seinen Ängsten verhält. Dazwischen erfahren wir in kurzen Kapiteln etwas über zwei geheimnisvolle Männer, die etwas Schreckliches planen. Wie die beiden Erzählstränge zusammenhängen, erfahren wir jedoch erst nach und nach. Der Autor hat sich viel Mühe gegeben, die Story für den Leser ansprechend und spannend zu halten.
Besonders gut hat mir der Schreibstil gefallen. Die Geschichte ist nicht nur in knackigen, einfachen Sätzen gehalten, was sich wirklich gut lesen lässt, sondern auch in ziemlich kurzen Kapiteln, die zwischen den einzelnen Handlungen wechseln. So werden wir häppchenweise mit Neuigkeiten gefüttert und natürlich neugierig gemacht :)
Dazu kommen Elliots "Gespräche" mit seiner toten Zwillingsschwester Ellamay -sie starb bereits kurz nach der Geburt-, die dem an sich schon beklemmenden Grundthema der Angst, noch eine weitere, recht pikante Note verleihen. Ihr seht, bis dahin, finde ich das Buch wirklich toll!
Das Einzige, was ich mir anders gewünscht hätte, sind die Wendungen. Das Buch verändert sich an vielen Stellen völlig unvorhergesehen, was natürlich an sich positiv zu werten ist ;) Jedoch waren mir ein paar davon letzen Endes leider etwas zu weit hergeholt, oder wirkten auf mich einfach ein bisschen konstruiert. Für meinen Geschmack wäre da weniger mehr gewesen.
Alles in allem war "Born Scared" für mich eine kurzweilige und spannende Lektüre, die mich gut unterhalten hat. Eine beklemmendes Gefühl begleitet uns fast durchgängig und fesselte mich so an die Geschichte.
"Die drei unbekannten Dinge an jenem Tag waren meine Mum, ihre ältere Schwester Shirley und Dr. Gibson. Und das Komische (das Eigenartige) daran war, dass sie - die ersten Menschen, die mich zu Tode erschreckten - seitdem zu den einzigen dreien geworden sind, die mich nicht zu Tode erschrecken." Seite 11
"Das Zimmer ist meine Zuflucht, der einzige Ort, wo ich mich sicher fühle, der einzige Ort, wo ich sein will.
Mein Zimmer.
Mein Alles.
Meine Welt." Seite 49
"Das Monster lächelt in sich hinein. Es ist glücklich." Seite 176
Meinung:
Die Geschichte handelt von dem jungen Elliot, der seit seiner Geburt unter großen Angstzuständen leidet. Sagte ich Angst? Wenn man ehrlich ist, trifft es "Panik" wohl besser!
Das Schlimmste daran ist, dass seine Ängste nicht nur Dinge, Menschen und Ähnliches betreffen, sondern auch Vorstellungen. Er hat zum Beispiel Angst vor Autos, da diese ihn einklemmen oder zerquetschen könnten. Selbst die meisten Farben kann er sich nicht anschauen, solange sie dominant sind.
Um zumindest einigermaßen dagegen anzukommen, nimmt er Angstpillen, die ihm jedoch nie ausgehen dürfen. Natürlich passiert das jedoch gerade dann, als seine Mutter plötzlich verschwunden ist...
Dies war mein erstes Buch von Kevin Brooks, aber wie ihr euch vorstellen könnt, war meine Neugier nach diesem Klappentext sofort geweckt! Thriller lese ich ja sowieso besonders gerne und Dinge wie Angstzustände, Zwangsneurosen und Ähnliches finde ich an sich schon sehr interessant.
Dementsprechend war ich auch gleich von Anfang an gefesselt, der im Wechsel erzählt, wer Elliot eigentlich ist und wie sich das mit seinen Ängsten verhält. Dazwischen erfahren wir in kurzen Kapiteln etwas über zwei geheimnisvolle Männer, die etwas Schreckliches planen. Wie die beiden Erzählstränge zusammenhängen, erfahren wir jedoch erst nach und nach. Der Autor hat sich viel Mühe gegeben, die Story für den Leser ansprechend und spannend zu halten.
Besonders gut hat mir der Schreibstil gefallen. Die Geschichte ist nicht nur in knackigen, einfachen Sätzen gehalten, was sich wirklich gut lesen lässt, sondern auch in ziemlich kurzen Kapiteln, die zwischen den einzelnen Handlungen wechseln. So werden wir häppchenweise mit Neuigkeiten gefüttert und natürlich neugierig gemacht :)
Dazu kommen Elliots "Gespräche" mit seiner toten Zwillingsschwester Ellamay -sie starb bereits kurz nach der Geburt-, die dem an sich schon beklemmenden Grundthema der Angst, noch eine weitere, recht pikante Note verleihen. Ihr seht, bis dahin, finde ich das Buch wirklich toll!
Das Einzige, was ich mir anders gewünscht hätte, sind die Wendungen. Das Buch verändert sich an vielen Stellen völlig unvorhergesehen, was natürlich an sich positiv zu werten ist ;) Jedoch waren mir ein paar davon letzen Endes leider etwas zu weit hergeholt, oder wirkten auf mich einfach ein bisschen konstruiert. Für meinen Geschmack wäre da weniger mehr gewesen.
Alles in allem war "Born Scared" für mich eine kurzweilige und spannende Lektüre, die mich gut unterhalten hat. Eine beklemmendes Gefühl begleitet uns fast durchgängig und fesselte mich so an die Geschichte.
May 4, 2021
Este libro tuvo un gran inicio, me atrapó rápidamente y me gustó la forma en la que se iba desarrollando la historia.
Aquí conocemos a Elliot, un niño que le teme a todo, casi literal a todo. Hasta el punto en que salir es un reto abismal. Para ayudarlo con su constante miedo toma un medicamento que le hace un poco más soportable la vida pero en un día en donde todo va de mal en peor se queda con las últimas reservas de su medicamento y su madre tiene que dejarlo solo para ir en su búsqueda. Elliot tendrá que enfrentarse a muchos de sus miedos en compañía de su hermana muerta en una carrera a contrarreloj antes de que el efecto de su medicamento se agote.
Entré a este libro sin saber nada de la trama y como mencioné anteriormente el inicio y desarrollo fueron fantásticos pero el final me pareció muy flojo además de muy abierto. Aún así fue un libro interesante y entretenido pero siento que tuvo el potencial de ser mucho mejor.
Aquí conocemos a Elliot, un niño que le teme a todo, casi literal a todo. Hasta el punto en que salir es un reto abismal. Para ayudarlo con su constante miedo toma un medicamento que le hace un poco más soportable la vida pero en un día en donde todo va de mal en peor se queda con las últimas reservas de su medicamento y su madre tiene que dejarlo solo para ir en su búsqueda. Elliot tendrá que enfrentarse a muchos de sus miedos en compañía de su hermana muerta en una carrera a contrarreloj antes de que el efecto de su medicamento se agote.
Entré a este libro sin saber nada de la trama y como mencioné anteriormente el inicio y desarrollo fueron fantásticos pero el final me pareció muy flojo además de muy abierto. Aún así fue un libro interesante y entretenido pero siento que tuvo el potencial de ser mucho mejor.
February 1, 2019
Le pondré 4 estrellas porque personalmente yo no leo tanto este genero y este libro me ha gustado. Aunque ya he visto que no es el mejor.
Quizá le daría tres estrellas pero hubo bastantes cosas con las cuales me identifique, como el sentir no tener un padre y lo raro que es pensar en ello. Y otras cosas sobre el miedo.
Quizá le daría tres estrellas pero hubo bastantes cosas con las cuales me identifique, como el sentir no tener un padre y lo raro que es pensar en ello. Y otras cosas sobre el miedo.
January 31, 2020
Tengo sentimientos encontrados. La narrativa es espectacular, la premisa bastante buena, las descripciones de lad sensaciones son magníficas; pero ya la final del libro no sabía hacia dónde me llevaba y no sé si me encantó en final.
December 21, 2023
3 ⭐️
i am defs more plot driven than just vibes - i like the writing style and it was an interesting premise but some things felt too flat and unrealistic
i am defs more plot driven than just vibes - i like the writing style and it was an interesting premise but some things felt too flat and unrealistic
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