Don't Blame the Children

by Anne E. Schraff

When two school troublemakers disappear, Kathy Benedict wonders if they ended up in the river, and if her friend Todd Macon, who is badly scarred from a fire that killed a young woman, has anything to do with it.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1978

About the author

Anne Elaine Schraff grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University at Northridge and taught high school for ten years.

Anne paid her way through college by writing short stories for magazines. Since college she has written hundreds of stories and over eighty books including historical fiction, biographies, science books, and her favorite, fictional books for young people. She is published as both Anne Schraff and Anne E. Schraff.

Her background, which she describes as "multicultural, lower middle-class neighborhood, including African Americans, Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, and Filipino Americans," is her greatest inspiration when writing.

Reviews

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not bad. I want to say that up front before I provide the following analogy:

You know when you’re in a bad relationship, and you know you’re being emotionally manipulated but you still fall for it? There is a part of this book that is like that, except the stakes are lower because it is a book and not a lover. So it isn’t as damaging.

Still, you’re like, “I know what you’re doing book. You’re tugging at my heartstrings, and I’m not . . . oh, fuck. I finished it.”

The mysterious boy with a tragic past is here. A murder mystery is here. A bit of teen romance is here. Little pricks that you love to hate are here. Entitled rich parents are here. I saw most of the archetypes a mile away.

And I really enjoyed it. It was a quick, light read. Just enough of everything I enjoy to make me overlook the potential issues.

I like to read books like these between heavier books. By heavy I mean either long as hell or emotionally-draining books.

I’m going to check out a few other titles by this author.

[Hayden Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book and it kept you suspenseful and mysterious. Also was a very detailed book with lots of settings and the murderer was the last person you would expect.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very interesting mystery book, everything was unexpected but the ending was not what i expected because of how good it started off.

[Bobbie Buettgenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery story was one of my favorites. Some suspense in it just made me keep wanting to read it more and more. It didn't take that long to finish, that's probably because i was really into though. This story made me realize some friends aren't really your friends. It's a great book, and i hope many read it.

[Trevon Ronspies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good and that it kept me to want to keep reading and the suspense would never stop. The murderer was switching from person to person and the person who you would least suspect it was the person that had killed him.

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nessa wants this for Christmas.

Stupidest book ever!

[Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing to say about this book; so dumb that it is totally not worth-reading at all.

[Dev Briggs]

Great mystaery

[Chris Jara]

study