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The Summer of Owen Todd
Owen and his best friend, Sean, are both eleven years old. They've lived on Cape Cod all their lives, and now that they're a little older, they'll finally be free to spend some time on their own. But Sean's mother has a different idea--she hires a babysitter to look after Sean. Paul is in his twenties, and a well-liked guy from church.
Paul starts doing things that just feel wrong. Because they've always been as close as brothers, Sean tells Owen, and no one else. What's not certain to Owen is what he should do. Sean warns him not to tell anyone what is happening. But if Owen doesn't tell, could something even worse happen to Sean?
This harrowing and sensitively told tale of child abuse is a must-read for anyone who might ever be called upon to help a friend in need.
Paul starts doing things that just feel wrong. Because they've always been as close as brothers, Sean tells Owen, and no one else. What's not certain to Owen is what he should do. Sean warns him not to tell anyone what is happening. But if Owen doesn't tell, could something even worse happen to Sean?
This harrowing and sensitively told tale of child abuse is a must-read for anyone who might ever be called upon to help a friend in need.
Hardcover
First published October 17, 2017
34 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Tony Abbott
210 books403 followersTony Abbott (born 1952) is an American author of children's books. His most popular work is the book series The Secrets of Droon, which includes over 40 books. He has sold over 12 million copies of his books and they have been translated into several other languages, including Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. He has also written the bestseller Firegirl.
Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.
Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.
Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.
Abbott was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. His father was a university professor and had an extensive library of books which became one of Abbott's first sources of literature. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Connecticut where he went through elementary school and high school.
Abbott attended the University of Connecticut, and after studying both music and psychology, decided to study English and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He attended the workshops of Patricia Reilly Giff to further develop his writing after college.
Abbott currently lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, with his wife, two daughters, and two dogs. Tony had one brother and two sisters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
November 9, 2017
Ordered this for work (I'm a children's librarian at a public library) but I wanted to read it before I put it out (so if/when I get a angry parent in, I can honestly say I reviewed the material before I put it out on the shelf). The Summer of Owen Todd is a good book about friendship, summer, baseball and family but it's also a a hard book dealing with a very sensitive subject -child abuse. I appreciate that Abbott wrote this story from the perspective of the friend of the victim because it's a) a little removed from the subject matter and b) understandable for the friend to disbelieve, question, wonder what to do next, etc. I felt that it made it a little more relatable to the reader. I also appreciate that if you read the flap(synopsis) of the book it tells/alludes to what this book is about (no surprises for readers unlike all the VC Andrew books I read as a preteen).
Child abuse, especially sexual child abuse, is hard, tough and scary and there is no easy way to write it in a way that anyone, let alone 10-12 year olds, would understand it. However it happens and such, needs to be written about. Abbott does a good job writing about it in a way that I think anyone ages 10 and up could understand, identify and reflect on. It doesn't overshadow the whole book. Owen does other things and has his happy, stress free days, but the shadow of the abuse and what it is doing to his friend Sean (and by association, Owen) is woven into the storyline all the way through. Abbott writes in his author note at the end that if this book helps even just one child stand up and tell an adult about something bad going on then this book has been a success.
And I think it will be. I hope that parents/caregivers read this with their kids and talk about it and vice versa. The more things are out in the open, the better. This book is needed in the world of middle school fiction and I hope that if there is a child at my library that needs to read this, they do. And then they say something.
Child abuse, especially sexual child abuse, is hard, tough and scary and there is no easy way to write it in a way that anyone, let alone 10-12 year olds, would understand it. However it happens and such, needs to be written about. Abbott does a good job writing about it in a way that I think anyone ages 10 and up could understand, identify and reflect on. It doesn't overshadow the whole book. Owen does other things and has his happy, stress free days, but the shadow of the abuse and what it is doing to his friend Sean (and by association, Owen) is woven into the storyline all the way through. Abbott writes in his author note at the end that if this book helps even just one child stand up and tell an adult about something bad going on then this book has been a success.
And I think it will be. I hope that parents/caregivers read this with their kids and talk about it and vice versa. The more things are out in the open, the better. This book is needed in the world of middle school fiction and I hope that if there is a child at my library that needs to read this, they do. And then they say something.
November 9, 2017
*** TRIGGER WARNING! ***
*** Child molestation, sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts ***
The author says in the Authors Note that this book is not just about one topic. I could not disagree more, which may seem pompous of me to suggest because he wrote the book, and I did not. However, I think the central idea of this novel is about the sexual abuse Sean is dealing with, and ultimately how his friend Owen takes action to help him.
My low rating of this book in no way suggests that the central topic is not important and should not be discussed. The behavior described was grotesque, disgusting and made me feel physically ill. I realize that this happens every day, more than any of us probably know about. It's an important subject to discuss, and I commend the author for attempting to make discussing it easier, and encouraging people to say something if they know or suspect it's happening.
Aside from that central topic however, this book was terrible. While I realize the narrator is a child, the writing style felt excessively juvenile, as if adults were not the intended audience, even though children SHOULD NOT read this book. (The author typically writes children's books, which I discovered after I finished the novel, and I believe that furthers my assertion about his style of writing.) The story itself felt very disjointed and had several sub-plots that did not further the main focus of the story at all. The two main characters, Owen and Sean, were poorly developed and the rest of them were barely there at all, and at times, it was hard to tell what period of time this was all taking place. Sometimes, it seemed it was over the course of a few days, others, the course of an entire summer.
This book was bad.
I do not recommend this. The only thing you'll feel after reading this book is sick to your stomach. There are better ways to go about writing (or even reading) stories that touch on this subject, but I really don't believe this is a good example at all. Perhaps the only thing I like about this book is the cover art. In fact, yes, I've decided that is the only thing I like about it. Spare yourself some sickness and slowly back away. BACK. AWAY.
I think I need to go throw up now...
*** Child molestation, sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts ***
The author says in the Authors Note that this book is not just about one topic. I could not disagree more, which may seem pompous of me to suggest because he wrote the book, and I did not. However, I think the central idea of this novel is about the sexual abuse Sean is dealing with, and ultimately how his friend Owen takes action to help him.
My low rating of this book in no way suggests that the central topic is not important and should not be discussed. The behavior described was grotesque, disgusting and made me feel physically ill. I realize that this happens every day, more than any of us probably know about. It's an important subject to discuss, and I commend the author for attempting to make discussing it easier, and encouraging people to say something if they know or suspect it's happening.
Aside from that central topic however, this book was terrible. While I realize the narrator is a child, the writing style felt excessively juvenile, as if adults were not the intended audience, even though children SHOULD NOT read this book. (The author typically writes children's books, which I discovered after I finished the novel, and I believe that furthers my assertion about his style of writing.) The story itself felt very disjointed and had several sub-plots that did not further the main focus of the story at all. The two main characters, Owen and Sean, were poorly developed and the rest of them were barely there at all, and at times, it was hard to tell what period of time this was all taking place. Sometimes, it seemed it was over the course of a few days, others, the course of an entire summer.
This book was bad.
I do not recommend this. The only thing you'll feel after reading this book is sick to your stomach. There are better ways to go about writing (or even reading) stories that touch on this subject, but I really don't believe this is a good example at all. Perhaps the only thing I like about this book is the cover art. In fact, yes, I've decided that is the only thing I like about it. Spare yourself some sickness and slowly back away. BACK. AWAY.
I think I need to go throw up now...
May 30, 2017
I can truthfully say I've never read a book like this before..and I can truthfully say this is a book that needed to be written. I only hope the topic of abuse doesn't overshadow the strong writing, because there is very beautiful writing in this book. At the same time, this will be a ground breaking novel that will shine a light on "doing the right thing." It is a story that explores what a true friendship is, and how much courage, it sometimes takes, to save a life. It is a message that everyone needs to hear.
February 21, 2017
In Tony Abbott's author notes you will read where he refers to his story as a whisper in the conversation about child abuse. It is a topic that people do not want to discuss, yet we all undoubtedly take the same stance...it's not okay, and if you see something say something. Yet, when this novel comes out, I predict, there will be some very divergent opinions of this novel. Ultimately what I appreciate, regardless of what others will say, is that Tony offers resources to readers of where to reach out if they need help, he immersed you into a topic that is not easy to discuss, and he had the courage to write about topic that many will not and present this story to the world.
I found myself laughing, crying, trembling, sickened, and infuriated at times while reading this story. Tony brings to life the characters in the novel in a powerful and genuine way, that you can connect yourself with them instantly. The story is more than just a story about child abuse and victimization, it is also a story about life, growing up, friendship, family, and trust.
Disclaimer: This book is listed in the arc as for children 8-12. I do not believe it is suitable for this age range, and that it should be rated as older upper range 12+
I found myself laughing, crying, trembling, sickened, and infuriated at times while reading this story. Tony brings to life the characters in the novel in a powerful and genuine way, that you can connect yourself with them instantly. The story is more than just a story about child abuse and victimization, it is also a story about life, growing up, friendship, family, and trust.
Disclaimer: This book is listed in the arc as for children 8-12. I do not believe it is suitable for this age range, and that it should be rated as older upper range 12+
Read
July 10, 2017We got a galley of this at the bookstore where I work and I flipped through the first few pages, thinking I probably wouldn't read it since the subject matter (child abuse) did not appeal to me. However, within the first chapter I learned that the protagonist's best friend (and the eventual victim of the abuse) had diabetes, and I knew I was going to have to read it anyway as part of my ongoing quest to find good fictional representations of diabetes.
Regardless of the diabetes representation, this book is (understandably) a tough, tough read, and after having finished it, I'm left wondering: who exactly is this book for? I found it extremely difficult to read as an adult, and can only imagine what it would be like to read it as an 8-12 year old child (the typical middle grade age range). There is some graphic description of the various horrific abuses the child endures and of his understandably distraught reactions, and I can't believe that a child who had gone through something like this would derive any comfort from reading this book. But I don't think this book is aimed at children who have been abused, because the protagonist is Owen, the friend of the victim, rather than the child himself. That said, I can't see how it would help a child who was in Owen's position either. At the end of the book, If the book is not intended for children who have been abused or for children who have friends who have been abused, then perhaps it is simply intended to open a conversation about this subject—but I'm still not sure this is the best way to go about it for middle-grade aged readers.
As far as the diabetes stuff goes, the representation was mostly pretty accurate. There's always going to be some clunky language when it's a non-diabetic narrator talking about a person with diabetes (things like "Sean sometimes has to adjust his insulin when he eats," which makes it sound like Sean only occasionally has to give himself insulin for food, rather than basically every time he eats even the smallest thing). I liked that Sean wore a pump (see my review of The Truth About Stacey, which features a small tangent about why no diabetics in literature wear pumps), although he uses a different kind of pump than I do (presumably an Omnipod, since it's almost always referred to as a pod rather than a pump). It was nice to read in the acknowledgements that the author had talked to a mom and her child with diabetes to do some more research about what that experience is like. But some of the parts of the book that were hardest for me to read focused on a specific intersection between Sean's diabetes and his abuse.
Ultimately I'm not sure what to make of this book, because I'm still not sure who it's for or who it would help. I like to try to categorize books in my mind by how I would recommend them to customers who come to my store, or who I would recommend them to, and unfortunately for this book I'm coming up short. That said, I know that I am not the intended audience for this book, and so I've chosen not to give it a rating: whoever it may be for, it's simply not for me.
Regardless of the diabetes representation, this book is (understandably) a tough, tough read, and after having finished it, I'm left wondering: who exactly is this book for? I found it extremely difficult to read as an adult, and can only imagine what it would be like to read it as an 8-12 year old child (the typical middle grade age range). There is some graphic description of the various horrific abuses the child endures and of his understandably distraught reactions, and I can't believe that a child who had gone through something like this would derive any comfort from reading this book. But I don't think this book is aimed at children who have been abused, because the protagonist is Owen, the friend of the victim, rather than the child himself. That said, I can't see how it would help a child who was in Owen's position either. At the end of the book, If the book is not intended for children who have been abused or for children who have friends who have been abused, then perhaps it is simply intended to open a conversation about this subject—but I'm still not sure this is the best way to go about it for middle-grade aged readers.
As far as the diabetes stuff goes, the representation was mostly pretty accurate. There's always going to be some clunky language when it's a non-diabetic narrator talking about a person with diabetes (things like "Sean sometimes has to adjust his insulin when he eats," which makes it sound like Sean only occasionally has to give himself insulin for food, rather than basically every time he eats even the smallest thing). I liked that Sean wore a pump (see my review of The Truth About Stacey, which features a small tangent about why no diabetics in literature wear pumps), although he uses a different kind of pump than I do (presumably an Omnipod, since it's almost always referred to as a pod rather than a pump). It was nice to read in the acknowledgements that the author had talked to a mom and her child with diabetes to do some more research about what that experience is like. But some of the parts of the book that were hardest for me to read focused on a specific intersection between Sean's diabetes and his abuse.
Ultimately I'm not sure what to make of this book, because I'm still not sure who it's for or who it would help. I like to try to categorize books in my mind by how I would recommend them to customers who come to my store, or who I would recommend them to, and unfortunately for this book I'm coming up short. That said, I know that I am not the intended audience for this book, and so I've chosen not to give it a rating: whoever it may be for, it's simply not for me.
November 5, 2017
This is a book that is oh-so-necessary, and well-written, but so raw that it's hard to say I "loved" it.
Owen tells the story about his best friend, Sean. And Sean is befriended and victimized by a predator who should be protecting him. He confides in Owen, and then the reader sees how children have to reconcile how to do the "right" thing in truly awful situations.
Kids need this book. They need it because they're probably suffering, and more so, they need it to arm themselves in case the worst comes their way.
The book tells the whole story. The before, during, after, prosecution and attempts at healing...and it takes something so difficult and puts it on a page.
Pretty impressive.
Owen tells the story about his best friend, Sean. And Sean is befriended and victimized by a predator who should be protecting him. He confides in Owen, and then the reader sees how children have to reconcile how to do the "right" thing in truly awful situations.
Kids need this book. They need it because they're probably suffering, and more so, they need it to arm themselves in case the worst comes their way.
The book tells the whole story. The before, during, after, prosecution and attempts at healing...and it takes something so difficult and puts it on a page.
Pretty impressive.
May 29, 2017
Wow. This book was harrowing, and difficult to read, yet I couldn't put it down. It's an incredibly important story that isn't being told, although statistically we know it is happening.
Tony Abbot tackles the topic with a story not only about child abuse, but one that deals family, friendships and loss. I will be curious to discuss this title with others.
Tony Abbot tackles the topic with a story not only about child abuse, but one that deals family, friendships and loss. I will be curious to discuss this title with others.
November 1, 2017
This was the most powerful and heart-wrenching story I have read since "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". That thought rushed through my head before I was even quite halfway through. I was hesitant to describe it that way in my review because it feels that we're not allowed to say anything is as sad as a Holocaust story. But it's the sadness, the hurt, the heartbreaking quality of the innocence of children being lost, of children suffering and being hurt, that makes me compare it to "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". There were so many times I felt my stomach twist in knots, and I could hear myself screaming in my head for someone, anyone, to see and notice and HELP these boys; the worst part is, is that the main character, Owen Todd, is feeling the same way, and both of feel you are helpless to act.
I have been reading Toby Abbot's works since I was very young and I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by him, including "The Summer of Owen Todd". It was a phenomenal book. He takes a very sensitive and painful topic--the sexual abuse of a child--and discusses it very realistically and very compassionately. Abbot is incredible at portraying children, the way they think and react to situations, whether real or imaginary. That's part of what makes the book so difficult to read at parts: how Owen and Sean talk to each other, how they think, how they feel, is how you know children talk, think, and feel. I don't think this story could have been told in a better way. Or, at least, in a way that would make it possible to read.
Owen and Sean's story, unfortunately, isn't just a story: this actually happens all around the world to innocent children. At the same time that I almost felt like I wouldn't want a middle schooler to read this because of how raw and emotional the novel is, I would also want them to read it because I would not want anyone to go through what Sean and Owen went through and feel the same way that they did. I would want them to know that they can find help, and that people are out there to love and save them. I cannot commend Tony Abbot enough on crafting the story the way he did. I'll say again: I don't think there could have been a better way to approach this topic in a way that is accessible to people of all ages.
I have been reading Toby Abbot's works since I was very young and I've enjoyed everything I've ever read by him, including "The Summer of Owen Todd". It was a phenomenal book. He takes a very sensitive and painful topic--the sexual abuse of a child--and discusses it very realistically and very compassionately. Abbot is incredible at portraying children, the way they think and react to situations, whether real or imaginary. That's part of what makes the book so difficult to read at parts: how Owen and Sean talk to each other, how they think, how they feel, is how you know children talk, think, and feel. I don't think this story could have been told in a better way. Or, at least, in a way that would make it possible to read.
Owen and Sean's story, unfortunately, isn't just a story: this actually happens all around the world to innocent children. At the same time that I almost felt like I wouldn't want a middle schooler to read this because of how raw and emotional the novel is, I would also want them to read it because I would not want anyone to go through what Sean and Owen went through and feel the same way that they did. I would want them to know that they can find help, and that people are out there to love and save them. I cannot commend Tony Abbot enough on crafting the story the way he did. I'll say again: I don't think there could have been a better way to approach this topic in a way that is accessible to people of all ages.
Read
February 1, 2018Okay. So. I actually finished this book yesterday, but I've been trying to kick around in my head exactly how I want to review it. I can't say that I enjoyed reading it. But I also know that you aren't supposed to enjoy it. This book deals very frankly and honestly with the subjects of child abuse, child molestation, and child rape, and while it was very difficult for me to read, I absolutely think that it's a necessary story that should be told. I've seen some opinions from other people that this book is too dark and too upsetting and that they don't ever want to read about this kind of thing and think that others shouldn't either, but in my mind there are people and children who actively live this reality and existence. To say that these themes are too dark or not appropriate for children is to say that children who do have to experience these things are not to be acknowledged, or are 'inappropriate', and I don't agree with that line of thought at all. I do understand how one may not want to read it because it's so upsetting, but the subject matter itself is all too real and shouldn't be swept under the rug.
That said, I don't know how to rate this or if I can rate this. So I'm going to not. This is an important book. It's also a very difficult one. But I believe we have to be able to face these difficult issues if we want to stop them from happening.
That said, I don't know how to rate this or if I can rate this. So I'm going to not. This is an important book. It's also a very difficult one. But I believe we have to be able to face these difficult issues if we want to stop them from happening.
August 29, 2017
A very important story that must be told no matter how difficult it is to read. Our children need us to break the silence of abuse. Well written, sensitive, but real and raw. I won't ever forget Owen and Shay.
July 22, 2017
Powerful, meaningful, important; The Summer of Owen Todd is about eleven year olds Owen and Sean. They are best friends for many years. However, when Sean's mother gets a new job during the summer and his aunt cannot babysit him any more, a new male babysitter from the church is hired.
Sean confides in Owen that bad things are happening at the hands of the sitter and makes Owen promise not to tell. These characters are so well-developed and the subject matter is handled carefully. This is an important novel, yet is so difficult to read. I praise Tony Abbott for telling Sean and Owen's story. I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sean confides in Owen that bad things are happening at the hands of the sitter and makes Owen promise not to tell. These characters are so well-developed and the subject matter is handled carefully. This is an important novel, yet is so difficult to read. I praise Tony Abbott for telling Sean and Owen's story. I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 10, 2017
The author begins his note at the end with "At best this book is only a whisper in the conversation about sexual assault, but a whisper is better than silence, and whispers can be loud, if enough of them join together." I don't envy the job of real book reviewers because this is one of those examples of a topic that makes it nearly impossible to "rate". Abbott did a great job portraying a realistic friendship of two boys the summer before 6th grade. He nailed the humor and personalities of kids that age. There is no such thing as the "perfect time" to talk about sexual abuse, because there is no wrong time or right time - it is something that must be done. However, with the #MeToo Movement and the recent fall of many men in power for sexual harassment and abuse, it feels like this book was published at the "perfect time". With everything happening with Me Too and being in the news constantly it can make conversations about this topic "easier" to bring up and discuss with family members so children are reminded what to do if they don't feel safe. It's good for kids to know this can happen to someone at any age, any gender, by any one: but especially by a trusted, known person. The fact is that this book with a targeted "tween" age audience will make people uncomfortable "suggesting" it as a book to read or maybe even anger parents who find out their kid has read it after getting it in the library, but that does not mean it is not wanted and not necessary and not needed. It is.
May 6, 2017
This novel, while being very well written, is tough to read. While the book is about many things, at it's core is a painful story of the sexual abuse of an adolescent boy by a trusted adult. Told from the point of view of the victim's best friend, Owen, Sean's victimization takes place over the summer in a touristy Cape Cod town. Sean's mother works long hours at a new job, and hires a young man from their church to babysit. Sean tells Owen some of the things that are happening, but makes Owen swear not to tell anyone about it. He tells Owen that he'll kill himself if he tells anyone. Owen spends the summer terrified about what's happening and what will happen if he tells. It certainly is an awful dilemma, and readers will certainly be able to empathize with the characters. I think that this will be an important book for middle grade students to read. There are messages about the importance of speaking up when something is so terribly wrong, about trusting your parents and other grown ups in your life to help, and helping even when it's painful to do so. The subject matter, while handled appropriately for middle grade readers, does deal with a sensitive issue and so teachers and parents should consider the maturity of their students and children.
September 16, 2018
***This review contains details that might be considered "spoilers". Be warned. ***
Alright, if you read many of my reviews, you know that I sometimes preview books for our K-8 library and this is a book I was asked to read. I've actually put it off for months, because honestly, who really wants to read about a young boy getting molested? It is told from the POV of his best friend, who struggles with the decision to break his promise not to tell anyone about the abuse. It's exactly the kind of story that might really help kids that are in a similar situation, but it makes us adults extremely uncomfortable. There is a fine line between wanting to shelter our kids from these horrors, and arming them with enough knowledge to be able to protect themselves and their friends. Each parent has their own idea of where that line is exactly, so let me tell you a little bit more about the book to help you decide if it is for you or your kid.
I can't remember where I read it, but it felt like the abuser in this book followed a checklist of some of the actions I previously read about how predators escalate the abuse - starting with showing a nude picture of some sort, then exposing themselves, then escalating to touching. This all happens in this book until the victim is eventually even participating in photos and films. It's bad...but also a pretty realistic example of what can happen. Hearing the story from the perspective of a 10 year old almost made it worse. BTW, the author did a great job with the POV, it was definitely childlike. Owen's emotions during the abuse seemed pretty accurate too - ranging from anger, to wanting to ignore it, to fear, to sadness - while he tried to figure out a way to help his friend without betraying Sean's trust. Sean's response to the ordeal was realistic as well. He didn't want anyone to know, even going as far as threatening to kill himself if Owen told. **The threat of suicide is its own issue in addition to the abuse in this book.** Once everything was in the open, Sean was angry with Owen, ended their friendship, and did attempt suicide according to Sean's mother. Owen is praised for his actions by the adults in the book, but the sting of his lost friendship weighs hard on him. Definitely not a happy ending.
It is a moving story, but a difficult one to recommend. The writing is well done, but can I say "I really liked it"? Whew, tough call!
Alright, if you read many of my reviews, you know that I sometimes preview books for our K-8 library and this is a book I was asked to read. I've actually put it off for months, because honestly, who really wants to read about a young boy getting molested? It is told from the POV of his best friend, who struggles with the decision to break his promise not to tell anyone about the abuse. It's exactly the kind of story that might really help kids that are in a similar situation, but it makes us adults extremely uncomfortable. There is a fine line between wanting to shelter our kids from these horrors, and arming them with enough knowledge to be able to protect themselves and their friends. Each parent has their own idea of where that line is exactly, so let me tell you a little bit more about the book to help you decide if it is for you or your kid.
I can't remember where I read it, but it felt like the abuser in this book followed a checklist of some of the actions I previously read about how predators escalate the abuse - starting with showing a nude picture of some sort, then exposing themselves, then escalating to touching. This all happens in this book until the victim is eventually even participating in photos and films. It's bad...but also a pretty realistic example of what can happen. Hearing the story from the perspective of a 10 year old almost made it worse. BTW, the author did a great job with the POV, it was definitely childlike. Owen's emotions during the abuse seemed pretty accurate too - ranging from anger, to wanting to ignore it, to fear, to sadness - while he tried to figure out a way to help his friend without betraying Sean's trust. Sean's response to the ordeal was realistic as well. He didn't want anyone to know, even going as far as threatening to kill himself if Owen told. **The threat of suicide is its own issue in addition to the abuse in this book.** Once everything was in the open, Sean was angry with Owen, ended their friendship, and did attempt suicide according to Sean's mother. Owen is praised for his actions by the adults in the book, but the sting of his lost friendship weighs hard on him. Definitely not a happy ending.
It is a moving story, but a difficult one to recommend. The writing is well done, but can I say "I really liked it"? Whew, tough call!
October 30, 2018
Sean and Owen have been friends since they were in pre-k. The kept deep secrets between each other and had the tightest bond anyone wishes for.
Everything starts unfolding when Sean gets a babysitter. Sean and Owen make fun of the church guy that is supposed to take of Sean. However, Paul starts making bad decisions, and as Sean tells Owen about the situation, Owen is insecure about if he should bring it to attention to adults...
Everything starts unfolding when Sean gets a babysitter. Sean and Owen make fun of the church guy that is supposed to take of Sean. However, Paul starts making bad decisions, and as Sean tells Owen about the situation, Owen is insecure about if he should bring it to attention to adults...
August 29, 2017
I received an uncorrected digital galley copy via Netgalley for my honest review.
Endearing, tearful, nauseous, and hopeful. There are probably more words I could use, but those four are the best I can find to sum up the entire story of The Summer of Owen Todd. This is a powerful story of friendship, the dangers of secrets, and doing the right thing. Spoiler alert, but if you’re a parent, teacher, or librarian I think it’s important to know the content of the book so that you are prepared for questions, parent concerns or even unfortunately a situation where something needs to be reported to the authorities.
I began the book and finished within just a couple of hours. It’s an easy read as far as ability, but difficult to get through because of content. I will say I had to put it down a couple of times to give myself a break. Owen Todd is one of the main characters and is the narrator of the story. He is just finishing his 5th grade year of school and ready to spend the summer with his best friend, Sean or as Owen calls him, Shay. They live near the “elbow” in Cape Cod and summer is always filled with extra visitors. Owen likes to hang out at the go-kart place with his dad and uncle who owns the place and he also loves baseball. Sean, isn’t as much of an athlete as Owen, but willing to do anything with his best friend.
Sean’s father is not in the picture anymore and because of this his mom has to take a summer job in a tourist area about an hour from home running a small clothing boutique. Sean was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just two years ago, and because of this his mom hires a babysitter to stay with him when she working so he is not alone in case he has any diabetic episodes. She hires a man, Paul, who is active in their church and a local EMT. Although Sean is not thrilled with having a babysitter at his age, he understands his mom’s concerns.
Sean first tells Owen how weird Paul is. He mentions how Paul used the bathroom with the door open and standing up with his pants all the way to the ground and made eye contact with Sean while going. He later tells him another time, Paul was showing his a picture of a boat on his phone, and a picture of a naked boy was in the set of pictures he scrolled through. Sean makes Owen promise not to tell anyone. Later Sean tells Owen that Paul watched him changing and wouldn’t leave and eventually there was touching. Owen gets very upset and begs Sean to tell someone. Sean then retracts his story and says he was just joking and Owen is not sure what’s going on. Their relationship becomes strained, but one day at the beach, Sean tells Owen that Paul has taken pictures and there was another person who came to make a movie. Again, Sean makes Owen promise not to tell, even going as far as telling Owen he would kill himself if Owen told anyone.
So back the four words I began with, endearing tearful, nauseous, and hopeful. Owen’s and Sean’s friendship is endearing, but when the grooming and then abuse is described, I was tearful and cried and also felt completely nauseous. However, Owen finally told and that is were hopeful comes into play. I was once faced with a situation in high school where speaking up caused me to lose a friendship, but it saved a life and I can’t regret that.
This is truly a powerful story, but as a mother, teacher, and librarian I struggle with sharing the story with a innocent student who you still want to shelter and protect and also giving students who need a voice the opportunity to see there is hope and speaking up is the right thing to do. It is definitely an upper elementary and middle school title and one that would need some follow-up. Some conservative schools may be hesitate to have on their shelves, but being open and talking about difficult situations is not always easy. If reading this title could help one student/child find the voice they need to get or give help, then it’s worth it. As I have told many parents over the years, experiencing difficult situations through a book character is much safer and an opportunity to learn and discuss so that if faced with something in real life one can be better prepared. As Tony Abbott wrote in his author’s note at the end of the book, “Speak up. Talk to someone. Better to tell someone than to remain silent. Better to lose a friend, than lose a life.”
Endearing, tearful, nauseous, and hopeful. There are probably more words I could use, but those four are the best I can find to sum up the entire story of The Summer of Owen Todd. This is a powerful story of friendship, the dangers of secrets, and doing the right thing. Spoiler alert, but if you’re a parent, teacher, or librarian I think it’s important to know the content of the book so that you are prepared for questions, parent concerns or even unfortunately a situation where something needs to be reported to the authorities.
I began the book and finished within just a couple of hours. It’s an easy read as far as ability, but difficult to get through because of content. I will say I had to put it down a couple of times to give myself a break. Owen Todd is one of the main characters and is the narrator of the story. He is just finishing his 5th grade year of school and ready to spend the summer with his best friend, Sean or as Owen calls him, Shay. They live near the “elbow” in Cape Cod and summer is always filled with extra visitors. Owen likes to hang out at the go-kart place with his dad and uncle who owns the place and he also loves baseball. Sean, isn’t as much of an athlete as Owen, but willing to do anything with his best friend.
Sean’s father is not in the picture anymore and because of this his mom has to take a summer job in a tourist area about an hour from home running a small clothing boutique. Sean was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just two years ago, and because of this his mom hires a babysitter to stay with him when she working so he is not alone in case he has any diabetic episodes. She hires a man, Paul, who is active in their church and a local EMT. Although Sean is not thrilled with having a babysitter at his age, he understands his mom’s concerns.
Sean first tells Owen how weird Paul is. He mentions how Paul used the bathroom with the door open and standing up with his pants all the way to the ground and made eye contact with Sean while going. He later tells him another time, Paul was showing his a picture of a boat on his phone, and a picture of a naked boy was in the set of pictures he scrolled through. Sean makes Owen promise not to tell anyone. Later Sean tells Owen that Paul watched him changing and wouldn’t leave and eventually there was touching. Owen gets very upset and begs Sean to tell someone. Sean then retracts his story and says he was just joking and Owen is not sure what’s going on. Their relationship becomes strained, but one day at the beach, Sean tells Owen that Paul has taken pictures and there was another person who came to make a movie. Again, Sean makes Owen promise not to tell, even going as far as telling Owen he would kill himself if Owen told anyone.
So back the four words I began with, endearing tearful, nauseous, and hopeful. Owen’s and Sean’s friendship is endearing, but when the grooming and then abuse is described, I was tearful and cried and also felt completely nauseous. However, Owen finally told and that is were hopeful comes into play. I was once faced with a situation in high school where speaking up caused me to lose a friendship, but it saved a life and I can’t regret that.
This is truly a powerful story, but as a mother, teacher, and librarian I struggle with sharing the story with a innocent student who you still want to shelter and protect and also giving students who need a voice the opportunity to see there is hope and speaking up is the right thing to do. It is definitely an upper elementary and middle school title and one that would need some follow-up. Some conservative schools may be hesitate to have on their shelves, but being open and talking about difficult situations is not always easy. If reading this title could help one student/child find the voice they need to get or give help, then it’s worth it. As I have told many parents over the years, experiencing difficult situations through a book character is much safer and an opportunity to learn and discuss so that if faced with something in real life one can be better prepared. As Tony Abbott wrote in his author’s note at the end of the book, “Speak up. Talk to someone. Better to tell someone than to remain silent. Better to lose a friend, than lose a life.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
4.5. So well done, but very hard to read. Incredible book, but I'm torn as to whether I actually want to recommend this book to kids.
November 14, 2017
A tough read for many, but a necessary book that will be a lifeline for some.
August 11, 2018
My 4th grade daughter found this book in the children's section of the library and checked it out. A week or two later she came to me and asked if it would be OK if she didn't finish reading a book she was in the middle of. I said of course she never had to finish a book she was reading for pleasure, and asked her more about it. She said she felt like The Summer of Owen Todd was inappropriate for kids (her word) and she didn't want to read it any more.
Until that point I hadn't paid any attention to the book, but I started reading it and I'm so glad my daughter was so wise! While sexual abuse is an incredibly important topic, I see several major problems with this book:
1) Nothing on the outside of the book indicates the subject matter. (When I had glanced at the cover when she checked it out, I guessed it might be about a child with a suicidal friend.) Parents, teachers, and KIDS have the right not to be caught off guard by subject matter of child molestation.
2) The book is shelved with children's chapter books, not young adult books. It's described as being for "middle grade" children. I'm not sure what that means, but another reviewer here said ages 8-12. That's mostly elementary school, approximately 3rd through 6th grades.
3) If there's a "message" in this children's novel it's an incredibly depressing one. The child whose friend is being molested doesn't tell anyone until the final pages of the book. After he does finally tell, the friend is furious and suicidal, the friendship ends, one of the molesters isn't caught, and video of the abuse filmed by the molesters remains online. I don't believe all children's books need happy endings -- but I'm troubled by the idea that kids reading this book may conclude it's best not to tell an adult if a friend is being abused.
4) The book does provide a resource or two for kids who may need help with abuse, but they're buried in the author's note, not readily available for child readers.
Again, this is an important topic, and I believe children should be allowed to read books about serious, troubling subjects. But I believe this book handles its chosen subject poorly. I would not recommend it, and I think librarians should re-consider whether it should be shelved with children's books without an indication of the subject matter.
Until that point I hadn't paid any attention to the book, but I started reading it and I'm so glad my daughter was so wise! While sexual abuse is an incredibly important topic, I see several major problems with this book:
1) Nothing on the outside of the book indicates the subject matter. (When I had glanced at the cover when she checked it out, I guessed it might be about a child with a suicidal friend.) Parents, teachers, and KIDS have the right not to be caught off guard by subject matter of child molestation.
2) The book is shelved with children's chapter books, not young adult books. It's described as being for "middle grade" children. I'm not sure what that means, but another reviewer here said ages 8-12. That's mostly elementary school, approximately 3rd through 6th grades.
3) If there's a "message" in this children's novel it's an incredibly depressing one. The child whose friend is being molested doesn't tell anyone until the final pages of the book. After he does finally tell, the friend is furious and suicidal, the friendship ends, one of the molesters isn't caught, and video of the abuse filmed by the molesters remains online. I don't believe all children's books need happy endings -- but I'm troubled by the idea that kids reading this book may conclude it's best not to tell an adult if a friend is being abused.
4) The book does provide a resource or two for kids who may need help with abuse, but they're buried in the author's note, not readily available for child readers.
Again, this is an important topic, and I believe children should be allowed to read books about serious, troubling subjects. But I believe this book handles its chosen subject poorly. I would not recommend it, and I think librarians should re-consider whether it should be shelved with children's books without an indication of the subject matter.
June 17, 2017
“I begin to realize that it’s little things like this—snarled traffic, a phone call, rain, some new job, whatever it is—that makes all the difference about whether things go good or bad. You tiptoe around stuff or you kick it away or you crush it, but whatever is going to happen happens anyway because of stuff you can’t control.”
Growing up is difficult—especially when you come to realize the weight of a secret. In The Summer of Owen Todd, Owen and his best friend, Sean, are excited to have their best summer yet until Sean gets something he never expected—a babysitter. It doesn’t take long for Owen to realize something isn’t quite right with Sean. When Owen learns Sean’s devastating secret, he is torn between protecting his friend’s secret or his friend’s life.
The Summer of Owen Todd is an emotional read, but one that will become an important part of libraries far and wide. While the subject of child abuse is difficult and highly sensitive, this book has the potential to change lives. I will definitely be purchasing a copy or two for my personal library.
Growing up is difficult—especially when you come to realize the weight of a secret. In The Summer of Owen Todd, Owen and his best friend, Sean, are excited to have their best summer yet until Sean gets something he never expected—a babysitter. It doesn’t take long for Owen to realize something isn’t quite right with Sean. When Owen learns Sean’s devastating secret, he is torn between protecting his friend’s secret or his friend’s life.
The Summer of Owen Todd is an emotional read, but one that will become an important part of libraries far and wide. While the subject of child abuse is difficult and highly sensitive, this book has the potential to change lives. I will definitely be purchasing a copy or two for my personal library.
January 25, 2018
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC to review.
Summer should be for baseball and beaches but for some there are darker things than carefree pastimes. When Owen's best friend Sean tells him that his babysitter is doing things that make him uncomfortable, Owen is torn. He begs his friend to tell someone but Sean refuses and makes Owen promise not to say anything. As the situation spirals out of control, Owen becomes more desperate to help his friend.
This is not an easy read, due to the difficult subject matter, but it is a book that SHOULD be read. If only one child is spared Sean's situation because a friend read this book, then the author/librarian/bookseller has done an incredible thing. Of course I would hope that it is many more that are reached.
There is information at the end of the author's notes for victims and their families. I recommend for middle school and up.
Summer should be for baseball and beaches but for some there are darker things than carefree pastimes. When Owen's best friend Sean tells him that his babysitter is doing things that make him uncomfortable, Owen is torn. He begs his friend to tell someone but Sean refuses and makes Owen promise not to say anything. As the situation spirals out of control, Owen becomes more desperate to help his friend.
This is not an easy read, due to the difficult subject matter, but it is a book that SHOULD be read. If only one child is spared Sean's situation because a friend read this book, then the author/librarian/bookseller has done an incredible thing. Of course I would hope that it is many more that are reached.
There is information at the end of the author's notes for victims and their families. I recommend for middle school and up.
August 28, 2017
This was SUCH a difficult book to read. The writing is absolutely beautiful, but the content is heartbreaking. Owen and Sean have been best friends for years; the summer before they start sixth grade, Sean's mom gets a job and hires a man from their church to babysit him. Sean is sexually abused by his babysitter, and when he tells Owen, his friend has to choose between Sean's safety and keeping his word not to tell anyone what is going on. This is such a scary subject, and I am honestly not sure how the target audience (middle grades) would or could handle the graphic nature of the story. I am interested to see what others think as I continue to mull this one over in my heart and mind.
December 18, 2017
I hope no child ever has a need to read this book. Unfortunately, that will likely not happen, but should the situation ever occur this is the book to hand to a child to illustrate sexual abuse. Despite the heartbreaking topic, I hope readers are able to flip the narrative and remember what an exceptional friend and brave person Owen Todd was. I am giving this four stars not because I liked this book or enjoyed reading it, but because it was well-written and done in a way that is sensitive and accessible to kids. Kudos to Tony Abbott for tackling such a tough topic and putting this out there to helps kids in this situation.
November 27, 2017
Incredibly difficult story to read as it deals with the subject matter of sexual abuse of a child. When we talk about books being mirrors for children for their own experiences, this topic is critical for children to read, as it just might save lives. With statistics on sexual harassment and abuse, we will all have children pass through our classrooms who have experienced or will experience a degree of this personal crime at some point in their lives. This may start a conversation, help a friend, or light a path for a child in crisis. For upper middle grade.
November 1, 2017
Ooh boy. This is a tough read. I think Abbott handles the topic of sexual abuse pretty clearly and authentically, and I felt like Owen and Sean's struggles were realistic. But this is a hard book to read, and a harder one to recommend. I think it's important for getting the message to kids that there are some secrets you should never keep without ever being too didactic.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via NetGalley.
Thanks to the publisher for a digital advance reader's copy, provided via NetGalley.
October 25, 2017
****PLEASE READ THE REVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY OR NOT AT ALL, I AM NOT AGAINST THIS NOVEL IN ANY WAY. I WAS TRULY IN AW OF THIS AUTHOR AND BOOK!****
How do I explain this book? It was a very well written book with a very important message but I work at a library and when this book came across my desk it made me stop and read the summary, I love it when book jackets draw me in like that, and I was stunned! I kept telling myself there is no way this subject matter was not only appropriate for Jr high little alone for 3rd, 4th, 5th graders but I had no clue how descriptive the author was going to be when telling the events through Sean. So I decided that I would take it home read it and decide on it's classification afterwards... I mean it's either juvenile or young adult (many different places listed as one or the other, this is why it was up to our staff and how we classified it).
I took this home on a Friday afternoon, picked it up Saturday morning and greedily devoured the book in a day's time. The author did such a wonderful job developing his character's that I could read the narrative in their voices (or ones I had come up with in my head). I felt the anguish of the boys and how heavy this was for not only Sean to deal with as being the one abused but for Owen as well, this was a huge obligation that Sean put on him and O was torn between what was the right thing to do or what Sean wanted to do.
Sean had some bad dealings in his life between the split of his parents, to his diabetes, and then to be up coming 6th grader with a babysitter (okay that last one wasn't as bad as the others, in our perspective), and now to be abused. But to have this happen to him and not feel like he could trust one adult in his life with divulging this information, instead putting it on his best friend, made my heart sink. How many children are abused daily and feel like there is no adult to trust for fear of the consequences that could arise for themselves? How many children walk around daily with the weight of this kind of secret? This book was a huge eye opener told in a manner that young teens could relate to, and a book that gave us adults a brief glimpse of what our youth could be dealing with. I whole heatedly recommend this to our youth, but it also should come with a sit down and talk through of it, just as one parent/guardian would responsibly do with "13 Reasons Why"... sometimes our children are held to the expectations of adults and they should be living life with much less burden then abuse in any form, suicidal thoughts/tendencies, and more. So if you choose to read this book I caution you to truly read the book and the message it has and I also caution parents of children who would like to read this book to preview/read before hand so that you are prepared for any questions that could arise from it. I give this book 5 stars, 10 if I could, because this author took a taboo subject and made it come to life through his characters, plot line, and the narrative.
How do I explain this book? It was a very well written book with a very important message but I work at a library and when this book came across my desk it made me stop and read the summary, I love it when book jackets draw me in like that, and I was stunned! I kept telling myself there is no way this subject matter was not only appropriate for Jr high little alone for 3rd, 4th, 5th graders but I had no clue how descriptive the author was going to be when telling the events through Sean. So I decided that I would take it home read it and decide on it's classification afterwards... I mean it's either juvenile or young adult (many different places listed as one or the other, this is why it was up to our staff and how we classified it).
I took this home on a Friday afternoon, picked it up Saturday morning and greedily devoured the book in a day's time. The author did such a wonderful job developing his character's that I could read the narrative in their voices (or ones I had come up with in my head). I felt the anguish of the boys and how heavy this was for not only Sean to deal with as being the one abused but for Owen as well, this was a huge obligation that Sean put on him and O was torn between what was the right thing to do or what Sean wanted to do.
Sean had some bad dealings in his life between the split of his parents, to his diabetes, and then to be up coming 6th grader with a babysitter (okay that last one wasn't as bad as the others, in our perspective), and now to be abused. But to have this happen to him and not feel like he could trust one adult in his life with divulging this information, instead putting it on his best friend, made my heart sink. How many children are abused daily and feel like there is no adult to trust for fear of the consequences that could arise for themselves? How many children walk around daily with the weight of this kind of secret? This book was a huge eye opener told in a manner that young teens could relate to, and a book that gave us adults a brief glimpse of what our youth could be dealing with. I whole heatedly recommend this to our youth, but it also should come with a sit down and talk through of it, just as one parent/guardian would responsibly do with "13 Reasons Why"... sometimes our children are held to the expectations of adults and they should be living life with much less burden then abuse in any form, suicidal thoughts/tendencies, and more. So if you choose to read this book I caution you to truly read the book and the message it has and I also caution parents of children who would like to read this book to preview/read before hand so that you are prepared for any questions that could arise from it. I give this book 5 stars, 10 if I could, because this author took a taboo subject and made it come to life through his characters, plot line, and the narrative.
November 20, 2017
Wow. This book is important and well-written, and very hard to read. But the story feels so real, about this young boy going through a hard time, and his friend struggling with his own feelings and his own knowledge.
November 10, 2017
Owen Todd is a true hero, who truly saves his best friend's life when he finally discloses a terrible secret.
I am so thankful that this story was written from Owen's perspective instead of Shay's. I believe that it allowed Abbott to make the story appropriate for 5th & up. I would not recommend this book to younger students unless it directly relates to their lives but I believe that it is so important to share literature that encourages children to speak up for others when they are endangered.
Child abuse is a painful and uncomfortable subject to write about. Abbot put a great deal of thought and care into the story which was inspired by the tragedy of a family friend. Read more about it here: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2...
I am so thankful that this story was written from Owen's perspective instead of Shay's. I believe that it allowed Abbott to make the story appropriate for 5th & up. I would not recommend this book to younger students unless it directly relates to their lives but I believe that it is so important to share literature that encourages children to speak up for others when they are endangered.
Child abuse is a painful and uncomfortable subject to write about. Abbot put a great deal of thought and care into the story which was inspired by the tragedy of a family friend. Read more about it here: https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2017
Owen and Sean have been best friends since they were young. Owen has the perfect family, even if his sister is annoying at times. Owen feels like he can talk to his parents about anything and he looks up to his go-kart track owning father. Sean has a very different home situation. His parents are divorced and his mother struggles to pay the bills. Sean’s mother is finally working on getting a better financial footing and to cover her longer hours at work, she requires that Sean have a babysitter. Sean has diabetes and she wants to ensure that he is staying on top of it and being safe. While he never warms up to the idea of having a babysitter, soon his baby sitter starts doing some weird and gross things. Owen is the only person Sean feels safe sharing the bad things going on with his babysitter. Owen to tell an adult, especially as things begin getting worse and worse, but Sean threatens to kill himself if Owen tells anyone. If Owen tells, he may lose a friend, but if he doesn’t tell he may also lose a friend.
This novel broke my heart more and more with each chapter. It clearly lays out the sexual abuse in a way that I have never seen before in a children’s book. It presents a real story with a realistic ending. I think that this book is hard and will be hard for adults to allow their children to explore, but I also think that this book is important. There is no ambiguity surrounding the abuse, readers clearly know when lines are crossed and that it is okay to inform an adult. I know that this book will quickly land on the banned books list and will be shocking for adults who may not know what the book is about. While the voice wasn’t completely believable 100% of the time, I think this is forgivable for what the work accomplishes.
This novel broke my heart more and more with each chapter. It clearly lays out the sexual abuse in a way that I have never seen before in a children’s book. It presents a real story with a realistic ending. I think that this book is hard and will be hard for adults to allow their children to explore, but I also think that this book is important. There is no ambiguity surrounding the abuse, readers clearly know when lines are crossed and that it is okay to inform an adult. I know that this book will quickly land on the banned books list and will be shocking for adults who may not know what the book is about. While the voice wasn’t completely believable 100% of the time, I think this is forgivable for what the work accomplishes.
March 24, 2018
edit: Upon further reflection, I am really bothered that the climax of this novel suggests a good solution is in the form of a kid taking on the abuser. I'm not usually in the camp of "kids will imitate this book so its bad!!" but the fact that this is never challenged and is actually praised as a course of action is troubling.
Original review:
Oh, yikes.
Not sure what to think about this one.
For one thing, in some ways it seems to have fallen into the trap of trying to make the abuse the "WORST KIND POSSIBLE" for MAXIMUM IMPACT to the point of it not really seeming real anymore. But at the same time,
The narrative also feels very scattered and confused. The subplot with the Grandma comes from nowhere and I'm not sure how much it really adds. There's a significant amount about Owen's gokart racing. Which I guess is a reflection of how horrific things happen while life is pretty normal, but it just felt...weird, at times. The writing also felt oddly young, even though it is a young protagonist and supposedly geared at a young audience.
Another issue: audience. I can see this book being good for two different situations 1) someone who has been affected by something similar or 2) as a way to get across the idea to kids that if something like this is going on (either to yourself or others), it's important to TELL people, not hide it. But it really seems too graphic for the second purpose--that is, for kids who aren't already aware of this kind of thing. I know in this day and age kids are running into sexual stuff a lot sooner than they used to, but it still seems like there's more ideas and images in here than is reasonable to expose a wide audience with varying backgrounds to. It makes me uncomfortable now that my library owns copies that will be on display in the children's section. It just seems like the kind of thing that really needs to be on a kid to kid basis.
I really am torn, because one of the things it does best is present the twisted but common reasoning of people suffering from abuse (especially children) of "it'll be over soon, so that's fine" and "it doesn't really hurt but it seems weird?" and "I can't tell my mom, because she's so stressed and we're running out of money" and all the associated confusing guilt. The way Sean both needs and disconnects from Owen and the way Owen really WANTS away from it while knowing that's selfish were also really well portrayed. I especially appreciated
So, a mixed bag, unfortunately.
Original review:
Oh, yikes.
Not sure what to think about this one.
For one thing, in some ways it seems to have fallen into the trap of trying to make the abuse the "WORST KIND POSSIBLE" for MAXIMUM IMPACT to the point of it not really seeming real anymore. But at the same time,
The narrative also feels very scattered and confused. The subplot with the Grandma comes from nowhere and I'm not sure how much it really adds. There's a significant amount about Owen's gokart racing. Which I guess is a reflection of how horrific things happen while life is pretty normal, but it just felt...weird, at times. The writing also felt oddly young, even though it is a young protagonist and supposedly geared at a young audience.
Another issue: audience. I can see this book being good for two different situations 1) someone who has been affected by something similar or 2) as a way to get across the idea to kids that if something like this is going on (either to yourself or others), it's important to TELL people, not hide it. But it really seems too graphic for the second purpose--that is, for kids who aren't already aware of this kind of thing. I know in this day and age kids are running into sexual stuff a lot sooner than they used to, but it still seems like there's more ideas and images in here than is reasonable to expose a wide audience with varying backgrounds to. It makes me uncomfortable now that my library owns copies that will be on display in the children's section. It just seems like the kind of thing that really needs to be on a kid to kid basis.
I really am torn, because one of the things it does best is present the twisted but common reasoning of people suffering from abuse (especially children) of "it'll be over soon, so that's fine" and "it doesn't really hurt but it seems weird?" and "I can't tell my mom, because she's so stressed and we're running out of money" and all the associated confusing guilt. The way Sean both needs and disconnects from Owen and the way Owen really WANTS away from it while knowing that's selfish were also really well portrayed. I especially appreciated
So, a mixed bag, unfortunately.
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