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The Awakening
For as long as he can remember, fourteen-year-old Toby Fairchild has been afraid of the strange old man living across the street. Along with the rest of the kids in the small Midwestern town of Belford, he sees the reclusive Mr. Joseph as the local bogeyman.
Mr. Joseph’s life is an unhappy one. The memories of his past fill him with deep sorrow, and the kids of Belford have long been afraid of him, what with his unusual features and awkward gait.
However, when Toby accidentally discovers the remarkable truth about Mr. Joseph, an unlikely friendship develops. Over the course of the summer, Toby will come to know about pain and death; loss and the meaning of freedom, as Mr. Joseph recounts the incredible story of his past back in Haiti. A story laced with voodoo spirits, slave plantations, evil sorcerers…and zombis.
Toby will learn that monsters do exist – though not always where you expect to find them.
Mr. Joseph’s life is an unhappy one. The memories of his past fill him with deep sorrow, and the kids of Belford have long been afraid of him, what with his unusual features and awkward gait.
However, when Toby accidentally discovers the remarkable truth about Mr. Joseph, an unlikely friendship develops. Over the course of the summer, Toby will come to know about pain and death; loss and the meaning of freedom, as Mr. Joseph recounts the incredible story of his past back in Haiti. A story laced with voodoo spirits, slave plantations, evil sorcerers…and zombis.
Toby will learn that monsters do exist – though not always where you expect to find them.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Brett McBean
31 books92 followersBrett McBean is an award-winning horror and thriller author. His books, which include 'The Mother', 'The Last Motel' 'The Awakening', and 'Desolation Game: Wolf Creek Book 2' have been published in Australia, the US, and Germany, and he’s been nominated for the Aurealis, Ditmar, and Ned Kelly awards. He won the 2011 Australian Shadows Award for his collection, 'Tales of Sin and Madness'. Along with a strong interest in music (he has an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance from Box Hill College) he is an avid film-buff and owns a vast (and ever-growing) movie collection. He lives in Melbourne with his wife, daughter and German shepherd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 8, 2018
”The day that was to change Toby’s life forever started out like any typical summer morning.”
We’ve all experienced that ball-peen hammer between the eyes that takes us off our feet and leaves us staring up at a blood red sky. We didn’t see the hammer coming. It comes from the shadows, like Poe’s Pendulum swinging on an arc designed to sweep right through us. Toby is just a kid on the verge of manhood. He has finished 8th grade and is looking forward to a summer of hanging out with his best friend, Frankie, watching horror movies, playing baseball games, and having deep philosophical discussions with a zombi (yes, I spelled it right. Have patience, grasshopper).
Wait? Zombis? Discussions?
Mr. Joseph likes to sit, looking out his front window, watching the kids walk to school. He is old. He is strange. So logically, he is a pervert. Belford, Ohio, is a small town, and we heard all about “small town values” when Sarah Palin was running for Vice-President. Those living in larger cities are considered caretakers of dens of inequity.
Boy, I wish. I always wanted to run a den of inequity.
I grew up in a very small town, so I know of what I speak. There are no higher values maintained in smaller towns. The same things happen in small towns as they do in big cities. Drug use, teen pregnancy, suicide, and murder happen per thousand just as frequently as in the cities. The difference is, with everyone knowing everyone, the crushing judgement for any misstep is almost more than many people can bear. Anyone with differences must conform or be castigated relentlessly. The Norman Rockwell small town probably exists somewhere, but I’ve never experienced it.
So Mr. Joseph freaks the kids out. Some of them throw rocks through his windows, behead chickens in his yard, and spray paint obscenities on his house. It doesn’t help that he is from Haiti, horribly scarred, and...black.
Toby and Frankie are just trying to navigate the social, shark infested waters of being a teenager. The transition from being the biggest kids in middle school to the smallest kids in high school is always treacherous. In my school, being caught in the open in front of a group of seniors might mean being thrown in the showers in the middle of the day, or experiencing the joys of a toilet swirl, or if you are lucky, just getting thumped around, emasculated, and embarrassed in some other fashion.
Ahh man... the memories.
There is always that guy, right? That guy with the Neanderthal brow, bloodshot pig eyes, mad at the world attitude, and looking for anyone weaker than himself to take out his frustrations on. In Belford, Ohio, that guy is Dwayne Marcos.
And Toby and Frankie can’t help but do something to inspire his ire.
Which leads to a tragic ass kicking.
Which leads to Toby and Mr. Joseph becoming friends.
Which leads to Toby discovering that Mr. Joseph is nice, but a whole lot more scary than what anyone could possibly comprehend. ”Mr. Joseph is a zombi. Yep, the real-deal, the living dead. Now, I know what you are thinking, but it’s not like in the movies. It’s kinda complex, but basically he’s what is known as a zombi savane, that means he was turned into a zombi, but sort of brought out of it, kind like he was brought out of trance.”
Wrapped around all these events is Toby’s burgeoning, gobsmacking, reciprocated love of glorious Gloria. The most bodacious girl in the whole 8th grade class. He is convinced at any moment she is going to come to her senses and see him for who he really is... the wimpy, insecure guy that he sees in the mirror every morning.
What Toby learns is that he can’t trust anyone. His parents are just as worried about fitting in as anyone else. That doesn’t make them racist like the rest of the town, but instead of standing up to prejudice they’d rather just sidestep the issue. They have real fear of the consequences of trying to stand up for what is right in this small town. Toby is finding out just how hard it is growing up. He discovers how disappointing adults can be, how garden variety meanness can turn into something much more insidious, and how the town monster can be the only true friend you’ve got.
There are certainly Ray Bradbury aspects at work in this story. The coming of age in the midst of terror that Bradbury was so good at. I looked forward to coming home every day and spending some time with Toby. I shared his frustrations, rooted for him, and hoped he’d find a way to continue to be himself and survive the small town prejudicial mentality. The day will come when Toby will lay a black streak of rubber on the highway on his way out of town and hopefully Gloria will be smiling at him from the passenger seat.
Meanwhile he has to figure out how to survive the summer before his freshman year.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
We’ve all experienced that ball-peen hammer between the eyes that takes us off our feet and leaves us staring up at a blood red sky. We didn’t see the hammer coming. It comes from the shadows, like Poe’s Pendulum swinging on an arc designed to sweep right through us. Toby is just a kid on the verge of manhood. He has finished 8th grade and is looking forward to a summer of hanging out with his best friend, Frankie, watching horror movies, playing baseball games, and having deep philosophical discussions with a zombi (yes, I spelled it right. Have patience, grasshopper).
Wait? Zombis? Discussions?
Mr. Joseph likes to sit, looking out his front window, watching the kids walk to school. He is old. He is strange. So logically, he is a pervert. Belford, Ohio, is a small town, and we heard all about “small town values” when Sarah Palin was running for Vice-President. Those living in larger cities are considered caretakers of dens of inequity.
Boy, I wish. I always wanted to run a den of inequity.
I grew up in a very small town, so I know of what I speak. There are no higher values maintained in smaller towns. The same things happen in small towns as they do in big cities. Drug use, teen pregnancy, suicide, and murder happen per thousand just as frequently as in the cities. The difference is, with everyone knowing everyone, the crushing judgement for any misstep is almost more than many people can bear. Anyone with differences must conform or be castigated relentlessly. The Norman Rockwell small town probably exists somewhere, but I’ve never experienced it.
So Mr. Joseph freaks the kids out. Some of them throw rocks through his windows, behead chickens in his yard, and spray paint obscenities on his house. It doesn’t help that he is from Haiti, horribly scarred, and...black.
Toby and Frankie are just trying to navigate the social, shark infested waters of being a teenager. The transition from being the biggest kids in middle school to the smallest kids in high school is always treacherous. In my school, being caught in the open in front of a group of seniors might mean being thrown in the showers in the middle of the day, or experiencing the joys of a toilet swirl, or if you are lucky, just getting thumped around, emasculated, and embarrassed in some other fashion.
Ahh man... the memories.
There is always that guy, right? That guy with the Neanderthal brow, bloodshot pig eyes, mad at the world attitude, and looking for anyone weaker than himself to take out his frustrations on. In Belford, Ohio, that guy is Dwayne Marcos.
And Toby and Frankie can’t help but do something to inspire his ire.
Which leads to a tragic ass kicking.
Which leads to Toby and Mr. Joseph becoming friends.
Which leads to Toby discovering that Mr. Joseph is nice, but a whole lot more scary than what anyone could possibly comprehend. ”Mr. Joseph is a zombi. Yep, the real-deal, the living dead. Now, I know what you are thinking, but it’s not like in the movies. It’s kinda complex, but basically he’s what is known as a zombi savane, that means he was turned into a zombi, but sort of brought out of it, kind like he was brought out of trance.”
Wrapped around all these events is Toby’s burgeoning, gobsmacking, reciprocated love of glorious Gloria. The most bodacious girl in the whole 8th grade class. He is convinced at any moment she is going to come to her senses and see him for who he really is... the wimpy, insecure guy that he sees in the mirror every morning.
What Toby learns is that he can’t trust anyone. His parents are just as worried about fitting in as anyone else. That doesn’t make them racist like the rest of the town, but instead of standing up to prejudice they’d rather just sidestep the issue. They have real fear of the consequences of trying to stand up for what is right in this small town. Toby is finding out just how hard it is growing up. He discovers how disappointing adults can be, how garden variety meanness can turn into something much more insidious, and how the town monster can be the only true friend you’ve got.
There are certainly Ray Bradbury aspects at work in this story. The coming of age in the midst of terror that Bradbury was so good at. I looked forward to coming home every day and spending some time with Toby. I shared his frustrations, rooted for him, and hoped he’d find a way to continue to be himself and survive the small town prejudicial mentality. The day will come when Toby will lay a black streak of rubber on the highway on his way out of town and hopefully Gloria will be smiling at him from the passenger seat.
Meanwhile he has to figure out how to survive the summer before his freshman year.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
September 18, 2016
4.5 stars!
THE AWAKENING, by Brett McBean, is an intensely evocative novel that falls into several sub-categories of the horror genre: psychological, supernatural/paranormal, "real" human horror, and revenge. However, the theme that stands out the most in my mind is the coming-of-age of one of our main characters, Toby Fairchild. This story belongs in the ranks of Robert McCammon's BOY'S LIFE, and James Newman's MIDNIGHT RAIN, in my humble opinion. McBean takes us on a journey with these characters that changes them from innocent, trusting kids into pre-adults that are forced to confront the myriad forms of evil around them.
We have the quaint town of Belford, Ohio--complete with its own local "boogieman", Jack Joseph, that the children all fear and the older ones torment. Yet then we get to see the truth behind Mr. Joseph's unnatural existence. Though in form he may be considered a "monster", his heart is still gentle and his thoughts more pure than most people in that town.
". . . the old man still thought of children as the true miracles of this world. Their smiling faces and songs of laughter held only trust and purity and freedom."
McBean does a phenomenal job of building his characters and ratcheting up the tension and the fear that later begins to consume so many. Bloodshed and unfounded allegations combine with bigotry and intolerance to create an atmosphere so lifelike that I felt I was looking at a "real" town, instead of reading mere words on a page.
". . . what scared him most about the whole . . . situation wasn't the threat of violence . . . it was fear of the unknown."
These characters--particularly Toby and Mr. Joseph--emerge from this novel having grown so much, emotionally and mentally, from the horrors of the past and present. Even the inclusion of a supernatural presence, Haitian gods or "loa", and a man who walks although his heart stopped beating many years before, can not overtake the psychological aspect of what horrors and decisions Toby is forced to endure and contemplate. My only slight criticism is that I wish the main "villain" wasn't so obvious from the onset, even though their role was not the "heart" of the novel.
A boy will learn and live with many of the unfortunate attitudes of society, from pure evil to racism and unwarranted hatred. McBean has given us a novel with so many distinct layers that by the time you've peeled them away one by one, you won't be able to stop thinking about them, yourself.
". . . Some experiences brought people closer together; others caused a rift that was beyond repair . . . "
Not all truths are easy and pleasant to learn. . .
Highly recommended!
*I received an e-copy of this book from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.*
THE AWAKENING, by Brett McBean, is an intensely evocative novel that falls into several sub-categories of the horror genre: psychological, supernatural/paranormal, "real" human horror, and revenge. However, the theme that stands out the most in my mind is the coming-of-age of one of our main characters, Toby Fairchild. This story belongs in the ranks of Robert McCammon's BOY'S LIFE, and James Newman's MIDNIGHT RAIN, in my humble opinion. McBean takes us on a journey with these characters that changes them from innocent, trusting kids into pre-adults that are forced to confront the myriad forms of evil around them.
We have the quaint town of Belford, Ohio--complete with its own local "boogieman", Jack Joseph, that the children all fear and the older ones torment. Yet then we get to see the truth behind Mr. Joseph's unnatural existence. Though in form he may be considered a "monster", his heart is still gentle and his thoughts more pure than most people in that town.
". . . the old man still thought of children as the true miracles of this world. Their smiling faces and songs of laughter held only trust and purity and freedom."
McBean does a phenomenal job of building his characters and ratcheting up the tension and the fear that later begins to consume so many. Bloodshed and unfounded allegations combine with bigotry and intolerance to create an atmosphere so lifelike that I felt I was looking at a "real" town, instead of reading mere words on a page.
". . . what scared him most about the whole . . . situation wasn't the threat of violence . . . it was fear of the unknown."
These characters--particularly Toby and Mr. Joseph--emerge from this novel having grown so much, emotionally and mentally, from the horrors of the past and present. Even the inclusion of a supernatural presence, Haitian gods or "loa", and a man who walks although his heart stopped beating many years before, can not overtake the psychological aspect of what horrors and decisions Toby is forced to endure and contemplate. My only slight criticism is that I wish the main "villain" wasn't so obvious from the onset, even though their role was not the "heart" of the novel.
A boy will learn and live with many of the unfortunate attitudes of society, from pure evil to racism and unwarranted hatred. McBean has given us a novel with so many distinct layers that by the time you've peeled them away one by one, you won't be able to stop thinking about them, yourself.
". . . Some experiences brought people closer together; others caused a rift that was beyond repair . . . "
Not all truths are easy and pleasant to learn. . .
Highly recommended!
*I received an e-copy of this book from the publicist in exchange for an honest review.*
August 11, 2016
Review copy
"In the small Midwestern town of Belford, an old man sat gazing out the window." From this very simple beginning comes a story of friendship, loss, first love, and getting to know the truth about others and yourself.
Sometimes, within the first few pages of a new book, you know you're reading something special. This is one of those times.
The Awakening is on par with Stephen King's story, The Body, which was the basis of the movie "Stand By Me." It is a story that, at times made me chuckle and also brought me to tears, more than once. When the truth is revealed, it was unexpected and enlightening. An epic tale of the Summer between Middle School and High School. A Summer which changes young Toby Fairchild forever.
Brett McBean really managed to capture the spirit of life in a small town and the dialog involving the fourteen-year-olds in his book was exceptional.
"'Yeah, well, after tomorrow, we won't have to worry about getting beaten up by Dwayne.' Frankie threw a few clumsy punches.
'It takes a lot longer than one day to become a boxer,' Toby said.
'Yeah, but I'm super good. Like Muhammad Ali, I'm gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!' He threw some more punches.
'More like float like an elephant and sting like a poodle.'"
The Awakening didn't exactly end the way I wanted it too, but the author's choice resulted in a much better story.
I had been wanting to read Brett McBean for sometime and this was a good introduction. It certainly won't be the last time I read his work.
Originally published as a signed, limited edition book, which can be purchased on the secondary market for hundreds of dollars. Thankfully, The Awakening will be released on August 15th, 2016 as as a trade paperback and e-book, from Bloodshot Books so everyone can read this amazing work. The Awakening is available now for pre-order. Plus, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you'll be able to read it at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll be able to borrow it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Brett McBean is an award-winning horror and thriller author who lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and daughter.
"In the small Midwestern town of Belford, an old man sat gazing out the window." From this very simple beginning comes a story of friendship, loss, first love, and getting to know the truth about others and yourself.
Sometimes, within the first few pages of a new book, you know you're reading something special. This is one of those times.
The Awakening is on par with Stephen King's story, The Body, which was the basis of the movie "Stand By Me." It is a story that, at times made me chuckle and also brought me to tears, more than once. When the truth is revealed, it was unexpected and enlightening. An epic tale of the Summer between Middle School and High School. A Summer which changes young Toby Fairchild forever.
Brett McBean really managed to capture the spirit of life in a small town and the dialog involving the fourteen-year-olds in his book was exceptional.
"'Yeah, well, after tomorrow, we won't have to worry about getting beaten up by Dwayne.' Frankie threw a few clumsy punches.
'It takes a lot longer than one day to become a boxer,' Toby said.
'Yeah, but I'm super good. Like Muhammad Ali, I'm gonna float like a butterfly and sting like a bee!' He threw some more punches.
'More like float like an elephant and sting like a poodle.'"
The Awakening didn't exactly end the way I wanted it too, but the author's choice resulted in a much better story.
I had been wanting to read Brett McBean for sometime and this was a good introduction. It certainly won't be the last time I read his work.
Originally published as a signed, limited edition book, which can be purchased on the secondary market for hundreds of dollars. Thankfully, The Awakening will be released on August 15th, 2016 as as a trade paperback and e-book, from Bloodshot Books so everyone can read this amazing work. The Awakening is available now for pre-order. Plus, if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you'll be able to read it at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll be able to borrow it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Brett McBean is an award-winning horror and thriller author who lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and daughter.
December 30, 2019
One of my rare forays into the 'so-called' horror genre. I say 'so-called' because it wasn't at all creepy or scary. That's not to say it was a nice story, it was prejudiced and brutal but maybe a bit black and white too. Its a shame I can't rate this any higher. It was a bit coming-of-age (mainly the first half) and a bit horror (mainly the second half) although for a purported horror story it was very tame, and most of you know I'm wary of the horror genre. This book - no worries. It reminded me a bit of McCammon's A Boy's Life. The story was really good and covered some heavy topics like racism (and general fear of the 'other), death and facing your fears and doing the right thing and all that good stuff.
I do think though that this is a story that men would enjoy more. As a mature woman I found the many discussions in the first half by teenage boys about teenage girls' breasts and 'beaver' and spanking the monkey a bit tiresome. Not being prudish here, just not that interested. The second half, where we got Mr Joseph's story, was much more interesting but I felt it was overly long. I enjoyed it though and think - if this is horror, I can afford to be more daring!
I do think though that this is a story that men would enjoy more. As a mature woman I found the many discussions in the first half by teenage boys about teenage girls' breasts and 'beaver' and spanking the monkey a bit tiresome. Not being prudish here, just not that interested. The second half, where we got Mr Joseph's story, was much more interesting but I felt it was overly long. I enjoyed it though and think - if this is horror, I can afford to be more daring!
October 16, 2016
Unfortunately due to an extremely busy schedule and life getting in the way of my reading time, it took me far longer than it should have done to read The Awakening. Brett McBean starts telling the tale of a group of teenagers in small town of Belford, Ohio. The book is a coming of age tale with some much depth and character, making this an absolute pleasure to read. If I'd had the time I would have devoured this book!
I am finding it very hard to review this novel, mainly because I want to let any other readers enjoy the story without having too much information. Sometimes I find that a review can give far too much information away, spoiling my experience. This is the first piece of writing I have read by Brett McBean. It is absolutely one of the best written stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The Awakening is a story that I found sucking me in completely. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about that. Always a tell tale sign of an excellent book.
Coming of age tales with a horror twist have a lot to live up to, I'm thinking Swan Song and IT. In fact those two books are some of my favourite to read. However, with The Awakening I now have another book to add to this group. What I'm really hoping is that Brett McBean will be a prolific and consistent writer. I'm certainly going to pick up The Invasion, a book seeming to review well.
As you can probably tell, I quite like this book. Hmm, that's not quite right. I freakin' love this book. Absolutely and definitely a 5 star read. If you find yourself picking up this book up you will not be disappointed!
****Disclaimer - I purchased this book. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own****
I am finding it very hard to review this novel, mainly because I want to let any other readers enjoy the story without having too much information. Sometimes I find that a review can give far too much information away, spoiling my experience. This is the first piece of writing I have read by Brett McBean. It is absolutely one of the best written stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The Awakening is a story that I found sucking me in completely. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about that. Always a tell tale sign of an excellent book.
Coming of age tales with a horror twist have a lot to live up to, I'm thinking Swan Song and IT. In fact those two books are some of my favourite to read. However, with The Awakening I now have another book to add to this group. What I'm really hoping is that Brett McBean will be a prolific and consistent writer. I'm certainly going to pick up The Invasion, a book seeming to review well.
As you can probably tell, I quite like this book. Hmm, that's not quite right. I freakin' love this book. Absolutely and definitely a 5 star read. If you find yourself picking up this book up you will not be disappointed!
****Disclaimer - I purchased this book. This is my honest review and all opinions are my own****
October 28, 2016
It was a peculiar evolution from when I first saw the synopsis for The Awakening until I actually read the book. I like to look at the upcoming releases on Amazon, and in June or early July I spotted the cover for The Awakening. It grabbed my attention, the synopsis sounded interesting, and I immediately added it to my wish list. In August, I was offered a copy of the book to review – how could I refuse a book that was already in my own wish list? Two months later, I opened it up and began reading. I had completely forgotten the synopsis, I guess you could say that I went into it blind – something I would recommend.
At its core, The Awakening is a coming of age story of a young teen living in small town USA. But in all reality, The Awakening is more of a babushka book, there are stories inside of stories inside of stories. Through Toby Fairchild, Brett McBean immerses his reader into the story and stories of his neighbor, Mr. Joseph. These stories connect Mr. Joseph’s life in Haiti many years ago to his journey to Belford, Ohio.
Brett McBean brought Mr. Joseph to life, he piqued my interest with his initial description – "his severely crooked neck and nasty facial scar." The Awakening is as much about an old man and his experiences as it is about a boy becoming a man.
Brett McBean really highlighted life in small town America. There were things that I could recognize from my own small town, both the great parts of living in a small community along with the dark underbelly and prejudices that we all like to pretend aren’t in our own neighborhoods.
There were times when The Awakening dragged on a bit. I would love to say that I was riveted to every page, but I wasn’t. In the end it all came together and was well worth the build-up.
At its core, The Awakening is a coming of age story of a young teen living in small town USA. But in all reality, The Awakening is more of a babushka book, there are stories inside of stories inside of stories. Through Toby Fairchild, Brett McBean immerses his reader into the story and stories of his neighbor, Mr. Joseph. These stories connect Mr. Joseph’s life in Haiti many years ago to his journey to Belford, Ohio.
Brett McBean brought Mr. Joseph to life, he piqued my interest with his initial description – "his severely crooked neck and nasty facial scar." The Awakening is as much about an old man and his experiences as it is about a boy becoming a man.
Brett McBean really highlighted life in small town America. There were things that I could recognize from my own small town, both the great parts of living in a small community along with the dark underbelly and prejudices that we all like to pretend aren’t in our own neighborhoods.
There were times when The Awakening dragged on a bit. I would love to say that I was riveted to every page, but I wasn’t. In the end it all came together and was well worth the build-up.
December 11, 2022
3,5 Sterne
September 17, 2016
I can't say enough good things about this book. It was a well written, totally engrossing, coming of age tale that totally captivated me! It captured the magic, and not so magical moments, of being a teenager perfectly and I couldn't help but be reminded of my childhood plenty of times throughout this book. I couldn't put it down and I highly recommend to everyone out there. That's all I will say about it...just read it. You won't be disappointed.
5 stars and a favorite
5 stars and a favorite
March 16, 2018
Genre - Coming-of-Age/Horror
Pages - 464
Publication Info - Bloodshot Books (July 20, 2016)
Format - Kindle
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
First I would like to thank Pete Kahle, owner/publisher of Bloodshot Books and an author in his own right for gifting me a digital copy of this book.
In “The Awakening” by Brett McBean, you get more than a horror story about a zombie, or words on a page to entertain. You get an actual awakening; the opportunity to relive and revisit a part of your childhood. As a 61 year old man I have such fond memories of backyard camp outs, and hell raising nights after curfew in our neighborhood. “The Awakening” will take you back to that place. It’s so much more than a horror story though, it’s about a young man's journey through his early teens and the obstacles and roadblocks he must face and the decision he must make with each new experience. Brett covers everything from peer pressure, racial prejudice, friendship, loss and love. You will travel from a small Midwestern Ohio community to a Haitian slave plantations. And, you will meet many unique and interesting characters along the way. It’s a meaty read, but it was well worth my time and I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to read it. I look forward to reading more of Brett’s work in the future.
Brett McBean is an award winning Australian author of numerous books and short stories.
From the back cover: Welcome to the small Midwestern town of Belford, Ohio. It’s a quiet, friendly town. On one corner of Main Street you’ll find Barb’s Corner Store. Opposite you’ll see the town square, with its neatly trimmed lawn and statuesque gazebo. There’s everything you need here. There’s even a local bogeyman. You know the type: reclusive, looks a little strange. The person all the kids are afraid of. Every town has one. Except this one is stranger than most.
Meet Mr. Joseph. With his severely crooked neck and nasty facial scar, the old man from Haiti is the one resident all the kids whisper about and are scared to go near. But there are things about Mr. Joseph no one knows about. He has no heartbeat. No breath passes by his lips. And he has been dead for over ninety years.
It’s summer vacation and fourteen-year-old Toby Fairchild is looking forward to spending a lazy, carefree summer playing basketball, staying up late watching monster movies, and camping out in his backyard with his best friend, Frankie. But then tragedy strikes. And out of this tragedy an unlikely friendship develops between Toby and the strange old man across the street, Mr. Joseph. Over the course of a tumultuous summer, Toby will be faced with pain and death, the excitement of his first love, and the underlying racism of the townsfolk, all while learning about the value of freedom at the hands of a kind but cursed old man.
Every town has a dark side. And in Belford, the local bogeyman has a story to tell.
Pages - 464
Publication Info - Bloodshot Books (July 20, 2016)
Format - Kindle
Stars - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
First I would like to thank Pete Kahle, owner/publisher of Bloodshot Books and an author in his own right for gifting me a digital copy of this book.
In “The Awakening” by Brett McBean, you get more than a horror story about a zombie, or words on a page to entertain. You get an actual awakening; the opportunity to relive and revisit a part of your childhood. As a 61 year old man I have such fond memories of backyard camp outs, and hell raising nights after curfew in our neighborhood. “The Awakening” will take you back to that place. It’s so much more than a horror story though, it’s about a young man's journey through his early teens and the obstacles and roadblocks he must face and the decision he must make with each new experience. Brett covers everything from peer pressure, racial prejudice, friendship, loss and love. You will travel from a small Midwestern Ohio community to a Haitian slave plantations. And, you will meet many unique and interesting characters along the way. It’s a meaty read, but it was well worth my time and I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to read it. I look forward to reading more of Brett’s work in the future.
Brett McBean is an award winning Australian author of numerous books and short stories.
From the back cover: Welcome to the small Midwestern town of Belford, Ohio. It’s a quiet, friendly town. On one corner of Main Street you’ll find Barb’s Corner Store. Opposite you’ll see the town square, with its neatly trimmed lawn and statuesque gazebo. There’s everything you need here. There’s even a local bogeyman. You know the type: reclusive, looks a little strange. The person all the kids are afraid of. Every town has one. Except this one is stranger than most.
Meet Mr. Joseph. With his severely crooked neck and nasty facial scar, the old man from Haiti is the one resident all the kids whisper about and are scared to go near. But there are things about Mr. Joseph no one knows about. He has no heartbeat. No breath passes by his lips. And he has been dead for over ninety years.
It’s summer vacation and fourteen-year-old Toby Fairchild is looking forward to spending a lazy, carefree summer playing basketball, staying up late watching monster movies, and camping out in his backyard with his best friend, Frankie. But then tragedy strikes. And out of this tragedy an unlikely friendship develops between Toby and the strange old man across the street, Mr. Joseph. Over the course of a tumultuous summer, Toby will be faced with pain and death, the excitement of his first love, and the underlying racism of the townsfolk, all while learning about the value of freedom at the hands of a kind but cursed old man.
Every town has a dark side. And in Belford, the local bogeyman has a story to tell.
September 19, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this story.
The Awakening is a coming of age horror tale with a twist. This is one of the best books I've read all year, and if you follow my reviews you know that that's a lot of books. Brett McBean has captured both the good and bad things about living in a small town and the people who live there. The quiet, and sometimes not so quiet, prejudices against those that are perceived as different or strange, the unthinking cruelty of both children and adults as well as the comfort of knowing who your neighbor is and a sense of history. The characters are realistic and easy to care about. I loved Toby and Frankie, the conversations and shenanigans they get into are utterly believable and at times laugh out loud funny. Toby's pain in the face of tragedy had me in tears. I also loved Mr. Joseph, a kind old man who has a fascinating history. Zombie books are everywhere these days and let's face it they can be pretty hit or miss in terms of being both original and good books. What you don't see a lot of is zombi's in their original form, brought about as a Vodou curse from an evil Bocor for revenge or to be used as a slave. The zombi in The Awakening is far more horrifying and sympathetic than the shambling dead that want to eat you and far less horrible and terrifying than some of the people you'll find here. I highly recommend this exceptional 5 star read.
The Awakening is a coming of age horror tale with a twist. This is one of the best books I've read all year, and if you follow my reviews you know that that's a lot of books. Brett McBean has captured both the good and bad things about living in a small town and the people who live there. The quiet, and sometimes not so quiet, prejudices against those that are perceived as different or strange, the unthinking cruelty of both children and adults as well as the comfort of knowing who your neighbor is and a sense of history. The characters are realistic and easy to care about. I loved Toby and Frankie, the conversations and shenanigans they get into are utterly believable and at times laugh out loud funny. Toby's pain in the face of tragedy had me in tears. I also loved Mr. Joseph, a kind old man who has a fascinating history. Zombie books are everywhere these days and let's face it they can be pretty hit or miss in terms of being both original and good books. What you don't see a lot of is zombi's in their original form, brought about as a Vodou curse from an evil Bocor for revenge or to be used as a slave. The zombi in The Awakening is far more horrifying and sympathetic than the shambling dead that want to eat you and far less horrible and terrifying than some of the people you'll find here. I highly recommend this exceptional 5 star read.
July 24, 2016
Review of THE AWAKENING by Brett McBean
Coming of age novels exist in many forms and degrees of quality. I've read several, and enjoy this particular category. I've never read one to date as outstanding as THE AWAKENING by accomplished and gifted author Brett McBean. This novel repeatedly blew me out of the water. Set in the small town of Belford in the Midwest, a bigoted, isolationist community under the surface (on the surface it's a calm, peaceful, quiet little Norman Rockwell vision), THE AWAKENING is the story of three fourteen-year-old boys, leaving middle school for the horrors of high school [the protagonist once rhetorically questions, "Is anybody ready for high school?"]. Toby and Frankie have been fast friends since earliest times, Toby the only child in a nuclear family, Frankie raised by single mother and older sister since birth. The two are inseparable, and good kids as a rule. But the summer between middle school and high school is beyond nightmarish: tragedy, fatality, bigotry, shunning, and so much more.
THE AWAKENING is also the story of Jacques (Jack) Joseph, an elderly Haitian native, whose history goes back much farther than the reader would expect. In his interaction with Toby, we learn so much of Haitian history beginning in 1918 [virtually none of it positive], and of vodoun, both white and black [as Mr. Joseph puts it, with either hand--the right hand of positive spirituality, the left hand of black magic, what in medieval times sometimes went by the term "bar sinister."] So there are actually novels upon novels within the framework of THE AWAKENING, a story everyone would benefit by reading. [Sherwood Anderson, take note.]
Coming of age novels exist in many forms and degrees of quality. I've read several, and enjoy this particular category. I've never read one to date as outstanding as THE AWAKENING by accomplished and gifted author Brett McBean. This novel repeatedly blew me out of the water. Set in the small town of Belford in the Midwest, a bigoted, isolationist community under the surface (on the surface it's a calm, peaceful, quiet little Norman Rockwell vision), THE AWAKENING is the story of three fourteen-year-old boys, leaving middle school for the horrors of high school [the protagonist once rhetorically questions, "Is anybody ready for high school?"]. Toby and Frankie have been fast friends since earliest times, Toby the only child in a nuclear family, Frankie raised by single mother and older sister since birth. The two are inseparable, and good kids as a rule. But the summer between middle school and high school is beyond nightmarish: tragedy, fatality, bigotry, shunning, and so much more.
THE AWAKENING is also the story of Jacques (Jack) Joseph, an elderly Haitian native, whose history goes back much farther than the reader would expect. In his interaction with Toby, we learn so much of Haitian history beginning in 1918 [virtually none of it positive], and of vodoun, both white and black [as Mr. Joseph puts it, with either hand--the right hand of positive spirituality, the left hand of black magic, what in medieval times sometimes went by the term "bar sinister."] So there are actually novels upon novels within the framework of THE AWAKENING, a story everyone would benefit by reading. [Sherwood Anderson, take note.]
November 4, 2016
The Awakening is a rather large book, clocking in at almost 500 pages, requiring a bit of a commitment from you before cracking that cover. But rest assured that commitment will be returned three fold in the form of an immersive, rich coming of age yarn.
The coming-of-age story has been pretty prevalent this summer, really though, what better time for it? It’s a timeless sub-genre that any reader can connect with and Mr. McBean does a phenomenal job tapping into the emotions and pitfalls of growing up when you are not at the top of the social food chain. The youths of this tale are accessible, relatable. Their challenges, tangible. In fact all of the characters here have depth and dimension, driving this book.
He also does a wonderful job depicting idyllic small town mentality and the xenophobia & mob mentality that sets in when something “different” dares to assimilate a small town. Many of the differing personalities here will make you angry before the journey is over. Brace yourself and strap in.
This is my second Brett McBean read in the past few months and the second time he’s entertained me. Brett seems to have a knack for keeping the reader emotionally invested. That’s a great skill to possess. I need to peruse his back catalogue and find some more gems.
Read this, enjoy this.
Overall score: 4.5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://zdubbzattmom.wordpress.com
**Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
The coming-of-age story has been pretty prevalent this summer, really though, what better time for it? It’s a timeless sub-genre that any reader can connect with and Mr. McBean does a phenomenal job tapping into the emotions and pitfalls of growing up when you are not at the top of the social food chain. The youths of this tale are accessible, relatable. Their challenges, tangible. In fact all of the characters here have depth and dimension, driving this book.
He also does a wonderful job depicting idyllic small town mentality and the xenophobia & mob mentality that sets in when something “different” dares to assimilate a small town. Many of the differing personalities here will make you angry before the journey is over. Brace yourself and strap in.
This is my second Brett McBean read in the past few months and the second time he’s entertained me. Brett seems to have a knack for keeping the reader emotionally invested. That’s a great skill to possess. I need to peruse his back catalogue and find some more gems.
Read this, enjoy this.
Overall score: 4.5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://zdubbzattmom.wordpress.com
**Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
January 7, 2019
This was another great book, and I seem to be on a role lately with coming of age stories. Toby and his friends had one hell of a summer, and it reminded me of how much fun summer was at his age, minus his near death experience. This wasn't the story I was expecting, but loved it and would recommend it. The Awakening was my second time reading Brett McBean's work, and I dug it a lot.
April 16, 2013
Visit Thirteen O'Clock for my review!
http://www.thirteenoclock.com.au/the-...
http://www.thirteenoclock.com.au/the-...
Want to read
February 14, 2015This is copy 119 of 200 signed numbered copies.
August 15, 2016
Today is the day - 'The Awakening' is finally being released for your consumption! (I received an advance copy of this book, back in June, flew through it, and have been waiting ever since to post this review!)
Trust me on this one - just buy this book - you will not be disappointed! It is absolutely phenomenal!
In case you are unfamiliar with the backstory, here is some history:
Back in 2014, I read Pete Kahle's debut novel 'The Specimen', and it ended up being my favorite book of that year. Since then, Kahle has entered the publishing field and established 'Bloodshot Books'. Underneath the 'Bloodshot Books' banner, Kahle has a "Second Sight Imprint" where he is currently seeking out authors whose published works have gone out of print and republishing them under 'Bloodshot Books'. Brett McBean's 'The Awakening' (which was originally published in 2012) is the first book to be released under this imprint.
Now that the history lesson has concluded, on with my review:
I have to start this review off with a WARNING: Do not attempt to read/start this book until you definitely have some free time on your hands - otherwise, things might not get done! ;-)
If you missed my Google+ post yesterday, I posted this quote, "A good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no choice." This applies perfectly to 'The Awakening' - it is a great book, and you are given no choice but to live it out, consequences and all!
This is a book that allows you to relive your childhood - your early teenage years, where it is the start of summer, being able to camp out with friends, watch late night creature-features, get into mischief, and if you were lucky enough, to also have that "creepy neighbor". . .
This is, by far, the absolute best "coming of age" story that I have read! This is the first book that I have read by McBean (a phenomenal storyteller!), and I can guarantee that it will not be the last. (McBean is an author whose entire library I plan on reading!)
I cannot/will not give anything else away at this point. I will tell you this though - I was amazed to discover that I was already 150 or so pages into this book, when I realized that nothing of significance had even happened, yet the story is still fantastic! It is also, right around this time, that the story takes a climactic turn, time jumps, and shifts gears. All I can say is hold on tight and enjoy the ride!
Trust me on this one - just buy this book - you will not be disappointed! It is absolutely phenomenal!
In case you are unfamiliar with the backstory, here is some history:
Back in 2014, I read Pete Kahle's debut novel 'The Specimen', and it ended up being my favorite book of that year. Since then, Kahle has entered the publishing field and established 'Bloodshot Books'. Underneath the 'Bloodshot Books' banner, Kahle has a "Second Sight Imprint" where he is currently seeking out authors whose published works have gone out of print and republishing them under 'Bloodshot Books'. Brett McBean's 'The Awakening' (which was originally published in 2012) is the first book to be released under this imprint.
Now that the history lesson has concluded, on with my review:
I have to start this review off with a WARNING: Do not attempt to read/start this book until you definitely have some free time on your hands - otherwise, things might not get done! ;-)
If you missed my Google+ post yesterday, I posted this quote, "A good book makes you want to live in the story. A great book gives you no choice." This applies perfectly to 'The Awakening' - it is a great book, and you are given no choice but to live it out, consequences and all!
This is a book that allows you to relive your childhood - your early teenage years, where it is the start of summer, being able to camp out with friends, watch late night creature-features, get into mischief, and if you were lucky enough, to also have that "creepy neighbor". . .
This is, by far, the absolute best "coming of age" story that I have read! This is the first book that I have read by McBean (a phenomenal storyteller!), and I can guarantee that it will not be the last. (McBean is an author whose entire library I plan on reading!)
I cannot/will not give anything else away at this point. I will tell you this though - I was amazed to discover that I was already 150 or so pages into this book, when I realized that nothing of significance had even happened, yet the story is still fantastic! It is also, right around this time, that the story takes a climactic turn, time jumps, and shifts gears. All I can say is hold on tight and enjoy the ride!
July 30, 2016
Fantastic !
This is the second book I have read by Brett Mcbean, and once again he has delivered a captivating and exceptionally entertaining story. This is a fantastic coming of age story with supernatural overtones . I loved the character development and the way the story flowed. After reading this great book, he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!
This is the second book I have read by Brett Mcbean, and once again he has delivered a captivating and exceptionally entertaining story. This is a fantastic coming of age story with supernatural overtones . I loved the character development and the way the story flowed. After reading this great book, he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Highly recommended!
March 10, 2019
Absolutely loved this book , I really felt pure emotion for each character , when not reading I was thinking about this book , even talking about it to friends and family . I also think it would make a wonderful tv ( netflix ) show, like 13 reason why. Overall wonderful book which is a must read
December 2, 2013
Coming of age novel with a nice hint of Voodoo darkness. This huge tomb of a book is in my top 5 reads of this year.
November 1, 2023
This coming of age story was very different than any I've read. This is my 7th Brett Mcbean book that I've read. This one is a slow burn, but a lot happens over the course of a summer to Toby. Toby is forced to grow up way too fast. The story has supernatural themes as well. This is very well written, and I plan on revisiting this story at some point.
May 30, 2019
The first thing that becomes clear when you start reading Brett McBean's work, aside from the fact that he has an engaging voice, is his obvious mastery of character development. Really it's what makes the whole thing work. When all is said and done, The Awakening is all about the people and the narrative would fall flat without the extensive backstory that the author builds so masterfully. Toby and Frankie talk, think, and act like real American teenagers with all their flaws and foibles, and the knowledge of what makes them who they are helps the reader to feel for them as they make their way through this achingly human tale of friendship, love, and terror in the heartland of America. The book is an emotionally charged heartbreaker that you're going to want to bring a box of Kleenex to because you'll likely shed a tear or forty, and you should also block out a large chunk of time. Once you start reading it you won't to want to put it down.
You can read Shane's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Shane's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
July 15, 2023
This could easily have been a 4 stars book but some stuff took me out of it:
- a teenager who would rather spent the rest of his summer with a weird old man instead of his hot new girlfriend.
- the whole book feels like it’s happening in the 90’s instead of the 2000’s. (Almost no cell phones…)
-the whole “Haitian zombi” background/history which was an overlong interlude I couldn’t care less about. (A real shame, because up to that point the novel was a pretty good coming of age book.)
When it sticks to coming of age tropes the book is good. When it’s trying to be something else it didn’t manage to make me care.
Still an ok read.
- a teenager who would rather spent the rest of his summer with a weird old man instead of his hot new girlfriend.
- the whole book feels like it’s happening in the 90’s instead of the 2000’s. (Almost no cell phones…)
-the whole “Haitian zombi” background/history which was an overlong interlude I couldn’t care less about. (A real shame, because up to that point the novel was a pretty good coming of age book.)
When it sticks to coming of age tropes the book is good. When it’s trying to be something else it didn’t manage to make me care.
Still an ok read.
September 20, 2025
I thought I had read most of if not all of the consequential coming of age/kids on bikes vs. evil stories but I am thrilled to have stumbled upon this magnificent book!
While not as epic as It or Boy’s Life, it is unique and terrifically written. If you are a fan of the genre, this is a 100% must read that I can’t recommend enough.
While not as epic as It or Boy’s Life, it is unique and terrifically written. If you are a fan of the genre, this is a 100% must read that I can’t recommend enough.
October 30, 2018
Read my review here
https://trickortreatthrillers.com/boo...
https://trickortreatthrillers.com/boo...
August 31, 2022
This Book is going to be in my Heart forever ♥
I felt the book instead of just reading. What else I need other than that? Nothing.
-Perfect for Summer Horror Read 📚 👌
-Loved the Ending- I missing the characters already.
- Easy to Understand Language; No hard Vocabulary.
- Cover was fine 🙂
-Good Life lessons are in there too
- Another good coming of age book from Bloodshot Books 📚 👌 😀
- Recommended!!!
Thank you Dear Author
I felt the book instead of just reading. What else I need other than that? Nothing.
-Perfect for Summer Horror Read 📚 👌
-Loved the Ending- I missing the characters already.
- Easy to Understand Language; No hard Vocabulary.
- Cover was fine 🙂
-Good Life lessons are in there too
- Another good coming of age book from Bloodshot Books 📚 👌 😀
- Recommended!!!
Thank you Dear Author
October 3, 2024
A wonderful small-town-horror / coming-of-age novel featuring vodou zombies...something we don't see enough of in horror literature. The characters are all utterly relatable, which draws the reader into the well-paced p[lot. If you've enjoyed novels such as Stephen King's It or Robert R. McCammon's Boy's Life, Brett McBean's The Awakening should be right up your alley.
November 16, 2019
A very well done coming-of-age story. Toby Fairchild over the course of a summer learns about life and death (his friend Frankie is lost) and makes a friend in his old neighbor Mr. Joseph, though Mr. Joseph has a secret of his own. As Toby learns this secret and the life of Mr. Joseph he has to endorse the prejudice of the town toward Mr. Joseph.
Nice ending to the story with all the loss ends tied up.
Nice ending to the story with all the loss ends tied up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2015
I rarely give out five star reviews, but McBean's The Awakening thoroughly deserves full marks. A totally engrossing coming-of-age tale that I didn't want to end.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 11, 2016
I'll have a full review of this soon but highly recommend it to anybody who likes traditional horror and a good coming of age story.
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