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Wounds
After Craig’s mom dies, his dad becomes abusive. Craig reacts by vandalizing others’ property and becomes an outcast in the community. Finally he runs away. Though he tries to cut down a tree belonging to his neighbors, the Arks, they open their hearts to him and take him into their home. Craig’s dad also runs away, and his disappearance is a mystery. Nelson Ark’s dog, Siegfried, sort of adopts Craig, seeming to sense that Craig needs a friend and someone (dog) to love. The whole community, including the group, Kids for a Better Tomorrow (K’BeTs), join together to present a Winter Carnival to raise money for the tree’s care. One of the K’BeTs, a cute girl, Carson, befriends Craig, realizing he is remorseful. In attempting to “mend” the tree, Craig mends his own life.
136 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 31, 2011
A mother’s death and a father’s abuse can make a teen angry at the world. Unable to deal with anger and frustration, the young person sometimes lashes out at others, including the people that are innocent and are only trying to help him.
In Author Barbara Bockman’s tender story, Wounds, Craig Reeves, takes out his feelings of guilt and helplessness for the loss of his mother and for his father beating him on a neighbor’s tree that he attempts to destroy. In doing so, he cuts his leg with the saw and passes out. When he awakes, Siegfried, the neighbor’s dog, is licking Craig’s face. The neighbors, Nelson Ark and his mother, take Craig to the Emergency Room, where the doctor discovers bruises and cuts on Craig that were not caused by the accident. Craig then is put in the care of Family Services for temporary shelter, until his father, who has disappeared, can be found and matters straightened out. What follows is a teen’s awakening to the truth about life, death, and family. For Craig, many questions need answers. Will the Ark family forgive him for trying to destroy their tree? Will the Arks and the town, working together, save the tree. Will the police find Craig’s father? Will Craig be able to forgive himself for causing so much pain?
Ms. Bockman has written a story that could be about many young people today as they try to understand their lives. It isn’t always easy. The teen years can be difficult, especially when abuse is a part of it. Wounds is a novel that answers some of the questions teens might have about themselves and those around them and would make a nice addition to middle school and high school libraries.
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I won the eBook in a contest, courtesy of the author.
In Author Barbara Bockman’s tender story, Wounds, Craig Reeves, takes out his feelings of guilt and helplessness for the loss of his mother and for his father beating him on a neighbor’s tree that he attempts to destroy. In doing so, he cuts his leg with the saw and passes out. When he awakes, Siegfried, the neighbor’s dog, is licking Craig’s face. The neighbors, Nelson Ark and his mother, take Craig to the Emergency Room, where the doctor discovers bruises and cuts on Craig that were not caused by the accident. Craig then is put in the care of Family Services for temporary shelter, until his father, who has disappeared, can be found and matters straightened out. What follows is a teen’s awakening to the truth about life, death, and family. For Craig, many questions need answers. Will the Ark family forgive him for trying to destroy their tree? Will the Arks and the town, working together, save the tree. Will the police find Craig’s father? Will Craig be able to forgive himself for causing so much pain?
Ms. Bockman has written a story that could be about many young people today as they try to understand their lives. It isn’t always easy. The teen years can be difficult, especially when abuse is a part of it. Wounds is a novel that answers some of the questions teens might have about themselves and those around them and would make a nice addition to middle school and high school libraries.
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I won the eBook in a contest, courtesy of the author.
December 12, 2012
Craig is wounded, not just emotionally by his mother's death, but physically by a father who spiraled downhill after his wife's death.
Without an parent to guide him, Craig is torn by his own guilty conscience to the point he acts out disastrously. Nearly destroying an ancient oak tree with a chainsaw, Craig is doubly wounded. Not only by his own sad past, but the realization of his own terrible act.
So what, it's only a tree? Not so. The oak was an heirloom, having stood for centuries. The entire town pitches in to help save the damaged tree. Saving the damaged boy will be just as hard. The family who takes in the abandoned boy work hard to save both tree and boy. Craig's salvation comes from his desperate attempts to save the tree.
Bockman really knows how kids' minds work, or at least she has convinced me in this sad tale of loss, pain, and redemption.
Well done YA contemporary.
Without an parent to guide him, Craig is torn by his own guilty conscience to the point he acts out disastrously. Nearly destroying an ancient oak tree with a chainsaw, Craig is doubly wounded. Not only by his own sad past, but the realization of his own terrible act.
So what, it's only a tree? Not so. The oak was an heirloom, having stood for centuries. The entire town pitches in to help save the damaged tree. Saving the damaged boy will be just as hard. The family who takes in the abandoned boy work hard to save both tree and boy. Craig's salvation comes from his desperate attempts to save the tree.
Bockman really knows how kids' minds work, or at least she has convinced me in this sad tale of loss, pain, and redemption.
Well done YA contemporary.
June 29, 2012
Wounds is an apt title for this insightful story about emotional and physical pain. Bockman has forged an intriguing graft of human and environmental vulnerability. A teenager suffers psychological and physical wounds inflicted by his father, his own recklessness, and an overwhelming sense of guilt caused by his mother’s death. Bockman writes a realistic story. The great live oak Craig damages in his emotional torment doesn’t live, but its slow death brings the community together and teaches Craig that everything in this world is connected. The challenging emotional journey he is forced to take teaches him the power of forgiveness, of others and of himself.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews