The Brute

by Mike Klaassen

A sixteen-year-old with a violent temper goes on a Boy Scout campout in the Flint Hills of Kansas. A tornado destroys their campsite--and then the action begins.

170 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Mike Klaassen writes thought-provoking and action-filled narratives about young protagonists confronting significant challenges. His works, including The Brute, Cracks, and Backlash: A War of 1812 Novel, display dynamic storytelling and compelling character development.

Driven by a passion for continuous learning and research, Mike delved into the art of storytelling, producing a series of insightful books about the craft of writing fiction. These books offer practical guidance for aspiring writers and illuminate the processes behind compelling storytelling.

Fusing his love for folklore with his skill in fiction, Mike initiated "Klaassen's Classic Folktales," a collection that retells ancient stories as novellas. Through this series, he breathes new life into time-honored tales, offering readers of all ages a fresh perspective on these enduring stories.

Reviews

[L.D. Alford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s a novel with a character teens will enjoy and want to emulate

Fortney Curtis, Fort for short, has a terrible temper. That wouldn’t be a problem for the sixteen year old, if he wasn’t six foot two and as strong as an ox. The skills that help him on the football field impede him with his family and his friends, and a guy like him has no luck with the girls. That’s why his nickname is The Brute.

Fort’s world is about to change. When a summer tornado wipes out the scout campsite that includes six other scouts, his father, and their scoutmaster, the scoutmaster and Fort’s father are disabled. That leaves Fort as the one who has to take charge and take care of injured adults and scouts. But first, Fort has to get control of himself or nothing he does will make any difference. He might even win the heart of the girl in the end.

In this fast paced adventure novel, we get to see Fort begin his journey to true manhood. He has to face many obstacles, but the greatest one is himself. The author, Mike Klaassen, tells this story with tautly drawn prose that makes The Brute a fun novel that teens will really enjoy.

[Dana Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read your work.

It was an interesting tale. I'm sure it would be very exciting for early teens and maybe tweens. My first question of course has to be, as violent as the boy is, why haven't his parents gotten him help? Why is he with younger boys that he can hurt? It is a good coming of age story of a young man who learns to control his anger on a Scout trip. The action goes beyond what I think a normal teen could endure, but it wouldn't be a good read without that.

I will recommend it to people I know who have a teenager.

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of a sixteen year old Boy Scout who has to lead six younger scouts back to civilization after a tornado strikes. It is a thoughtful read about teenagers.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are proud to announce that THE BRUTE by Mike Klaassen is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!

[Cws]

JF-Kla

[Darby Karchut · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would appeal to some boys. Actually, I like his other book, CRACKS, better.

[Donna Rothgeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klaassen's The Brute has a timeless message for young people. Packed with adventure, a natural disaster changes what would have been a normal weekend with boy scouts. The main character, Fort, recognizes and takes specific measures to overcome his terrible anger issue, an important factor as he enters the social scene and adulthood. Forced to use survival and leadership skills as he seeks help for his dad and the boy scout leader, Fort still faces accountability for his actions. The Brute was a perfect choice for the sixth-through-tenth-grade novel study I arranged as a teacher in a small rural setting, but would also be suitable for a larger school or city setting. Klaassen's presentation that culminated the study was a hit with the students as well as the book! Sometimes it is difficult to select a book that spans tween to teen's interests, but this one does--from character development, action, and the guy who gets the girl. Techniques to control one's anger is worth the book!