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De zwarte rugzak
Dutch
- GenresThriller
147 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 22, 2017
Original review on my blog
Somehow I’m sure children would love this book, but there’s so much wrong with it. Let’s start with the synopsis. What’s in the bag pack? Well, that’s not really a question, because that’s the first thing that happened; their bag packs were switched, so they know, from the very beginning what’s in there. It’s because they know what’s in there that they get into trouble in the first place. So uhm, that bag pack question is really very odd, that’s definitely not the main question in the book.
The writing itself isn’t horrible, just average though. So, no problems there. However that extra point of view they added in italics is annoying. Yes, it makes it a little scarier, but then there’s also parts that the children in the book never find out about and only the reader knows. Exciting, right? Maybe, but also unnecessary and annoying; it doesn’t add to the story. The mini extra italics plot isn’t a problem in the end, because carelessness and an accident save the day. Odd thing is that no one knew the day even needed saving.
The characters themselves are very strange. Yes, they’re kids, but that doesn’t explain very much. They go on a train to go to a camp in France and then decide when they’re there, to not go to the camp, but hang out together; they hadn’t even met until just about on the platform in France! So, why were they on that train in the first place if they really didn’t want to go? They can follow scary people around in France, in the middle of nowhere, but not tell their parents they don’t want to go to summer camp?
Then we get to all the adults they encounter in the book. None of them, NONE OF THEM(!) thought it was slightly curious to see children walking about the towns by themselves at all times? Hmm, ok, maybe. But when you invite children over to your house, so they can stay with you, you know there’s no parents. Still, no one decides to even ask them about it, let alone call the authorities. It’s definitely implied a bunch of these adults knew they children were all by themselves, but oh well, let them just wander around. (The oldest in the book are 13!)
There’s also some insensitivity to difficult topics; murder, assault, hitch hiking. As well as some bad information about how to deal with hypothermia (don’t make them walk when they’re near dead, and don’t give them alcohol!) as well as marble (it’s not THAT easy to break).
All in all, it’s a very adventurous book that kids are going to love, but there’s just so much wrong with it. I wish some of these things had just been addressed better.
Somehow I’m sure children would love this book, but there’s so much wrong with it. Let’s start with the synopsis. What’s in the bag pack? Well, that’s not really a question, because that’s the first thing that happened; their bag packs were switched, so they know, from the very beginning what’s in there. It’s because they know what’s in there that they get into trouble in the first place. So uhm, that bag pack question is really very odd, that’s definitely not the main question in the book.
The writing itself isn’t horrible, just average though. So, no problems there. However that extra point of view they added in italics is annoying. Yes, it makes it a little scarier, but then there’s also parts that the children in the book never find out about and only the reader knows. Exciting, right? Maybe, but also unnecessary and annoying; it doesn’t add to the story. The mini extra italics plot isn’t a problem in the end, because carelessness and an accident save the day. Odd thing is that no one knew the day even needed saving.
The characters themselves are very strange. Yes, they’re kids, but that doesn’t explain very much. They go on a train to go to a camp in France and then decide when they’re there, to not go to the camp, but hang out together; they hadn’t even met until just about on the platform in France! So, why were they on that train in the first place if they really didn’t want to go? They can follow scary people around in France, in the middle of nowhere, but not tell their parents they don’t want to go to summer camp?
Then we get to all the adults they encounter in the book. None of them, NONE OF THEM(!) thought it was slightly curious to see children walking about the towns by themselves at all times? Hmm, ok, maybe. But when you invite children over to your house, so they can stay with you, you know there’s no parents. Still, no one decides to even ask them about it, let alone call the authorities. It’s definitely implied a bunch of these adults knew they children were all by themselves, but oh well, let them just wander around. (The oldest in the book are 13!)
There’s also some insensitivity to difficult topics; murder, assault, hitch hiking. As well as some bad information about how to deal with hypothermia (don’t make them walk when they’re near dead, and don’t give them alcohol!) as well as marble (it’s not THAT easy to break).
All in all, it’s a very adventurous book that kids are going to love, but there’s just so much wrong with it. I wish some of these things had just been addressed better.
April 13, 2017
Eén van mijn favoriete boeken als kind. Het is een spannend boek waarin je kunt wegvluchten. Het verhaal blijft zijn spanning behouden, ook na vele malen lezen.
Het is een grotendeels mysterieus boek, donker soms zelfs, heel veel wordt opengelaten voor de lezer, behalve dan in de hoofdlijn over de man met de zwarte rugzak en zelfs daar is nog veel mysterie. Er worden precies genoeg dingen losgelaten om niet verveeld te worden en je vooral door te laten lezen.
Het is een grotendeels mysterieus boek, donker soms zelfs, heel veel wordt opengelaten voor de lezer, behalve dan in de hoofdlijn over de man met de zwarte rugzak en zelfs daar is nog veel mysterie. Er worden precies genoeg dingen losgelaten om niet verveeld te worden en je vooral door te laten lezen.
October 30, 2018
Wat een sof, dit boek, en dan nog wel bekroond met een zilveren griffel, in 1998. Bovendien lees ik hoofdzakelijk fijne reacties op dit platform. Maar ik ergerde me teveel om dit boek uit te kunnen lezen: de kinderen zijn mij te wijsneuzerig, te ongeloofwaardig stoer en praten irritant hoogdravend en bijdehand, al moet ik de auteur wel nageven dat de rode draad van het verhaal, voor zover ik het heb gelezen, origineel is. Ik was nog wel benieuwd naar het verdere verloop van de mysterieuze gebeurtenissen en ontwikkelingen die het verhaal thrillerachtig maken, daarom zette ik door, maar helaas kwamen er teveel stekels bij me overeind om dit tot aan de laatste pagina te kunnen volhouden.
September 28, 2024
A very tensive thriller for children about a group of (pre-)teenagers, travelling through France on their own, getting involved in a personal story of jealousy and revenge. It's one of those books you reread a lot in a certain period, to forget about them a bit after a while. But you keep having associations and vague memories when experiencing or seeing something that has been described in the book.
August 3, 2015
Spannend jeugdboek. Doet een beetje denken aan de Vijf. Als haalt dit het niet helemaal. Ik wilde graag 3 en en halve ster geven maar ik weet niet hoe.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews