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When Dad Killed Mom
Despite knowing that their relationship was strained, Jeremy and Jenna could have never imagined that their father would take such horrific steps and murder their own mother, now these two teens must find a way to cope with the tragedy of no longer having a mother and a father locked away in jail. 15,000 first printing.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2001
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About the author
Julius Lester
119 books184 followersJulius Lester was an American writer of books for children and adults. He was an academic who taught for 32 years (1971–2003) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was also a photographer, as well as a musician who recorded two albums of folk music and original songs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
September 8, 2009
Imagine one day you are in class then you get called into the office thinking that you might just be in your own trouble then find out that your dad had shot your mom. Well, that's exactly what happened to the Jenna and Jeremy in this book. When Jenna and Jeremy's dad shoots and kills their mom, their lives are profoundly affected beyond just the loss of their mother. As their father sits in jail awaiting trial, Jenna, who was their dad's favorite, and Jeremy, who was their mother's fave, find themselves at odds and unable to agree on anything. Pieces of the puzzle that was their parents' relationship reveal themselves through Rachel's diary that Jeremy finds in her studio, and conversations that Jenna has with Karen, Rachel's best friend. At the trial all is revealed when Jeremy accuses his father of lying and brings out his mother's diary. A deeper story of the sensational title lies more within the book. Descriptions of emotional issues and differing perspectives make for a solid treatment of a tragic situation.
I think that this book was immensily violent and emotional, and I don't think that it should really be a book that teens should read. The sequence of even are very well written by Julius Lester and they're very attention catching, once i read the book i could barely put it down. The way the author describes how the events happen in the book is very well written as well, and it's almost as if its really. The events in the book are events that could really happen in real life, in just any ordinary person's life and that's what's scary about reading this book. Reading this book made me really open my eyes to what's out here in life. The secrets that the teen hide in the book, makes the reader also want to keep reading because it's what makes the story more intense.
I wouldn't reccommend this book to anyone my age, maybe someone in college because everything in this book is way too much for someone my age to handle. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about domestic violent and anyone who likes to read books who have dynamic characters.
I think that this book was immensily violent and emotional, and I don't think that it should really be a book that teens should read. The sequence of even are very well written by Julius Lester and they're very attention catching, once i read the book i could barely put it down. The way the author describes how the events happen in the book is very well written as well, and it's almost as if its really. The events in the book are events that could really happen in real life, in just any ordinary person's life and that's what's scary about reading this book. Reading this book made me really open my eyes to what's out here in life. The secrets that the teen hide in the book, makes the reader also want to keep reading because it's what makes the story more intense.
I wouldn't reccommend this book to anyone my age, maybe someone in college because everything in this book is way too much for someone my age to handle. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about domestic violent and anyone who likes to read books who have dynamic characters.
January 3, 2012
For more, check out my blog entry.
I admire the effort Julius Lester made with this book. We see these sensational headlines in newspapers and on television and think about the victim and the perpetrator, but we rarely think about what it must be like for these families beyond, 'Oh, how tragic. That must be terrible for them.' However, I don't think Lester did a very good job capturing the voice and emotion of these characters. I didn't believe either Jenna or Jeremy as genuine characters. Most of their thoughts felt forced, superficial and unrealistic. The situations they found themselves also rang false. The other characters and their interactions with the main characters were also phony. We have: The ex-wife who is a surrogate mother to the teenaged daughter, best friends with her ex's new wife, and gets along great at family gatherings; The art teacher who becomes a surrogate mother to poor grieving Jeremy, attends not only the viweing and the funeral, but also Thanksgiving with the family, regularly drops by his late mother's studio, where Jeremy lives alone (his paternal grandfather is staying in the main house...) to see how he is doing, and be sure all is well; The creepy father who often treats his daughter more like his girlfriend than a child (although that's all just reflection, he spends all his real time in this novel in jail); The 8 year old girl, Sara, who decided Jeremy (who looks lost and sad the first time she sees him) should become her new big brother, because, Hey, my dad was adopted, so that means you can be my brother, takes him home, and her whole family is totally ok with the 12 year old becoming the new best friend of the 8 year old, who now spends all his extra time there, and has his own room- right next to Sara's. I could go on and on. Every single relationship in this book is awkward, unrealistic, disturbing, unhealthy or some combination.
This book wasn't all bad. There were parts that were very well written and some places that really drew me into the story. But, unfortunately, they were few and far between. The only time I was really pulled strongly into the story was during the court scene when the father is testifying during his trial. The emotion communicated to the reader from both Jenna and Jeremy was strong, gripping, and one of the few times I actually believed what was happening was real. However, the resolution to the story overall was lacking. It ended things too quickly, trying to explain a lifetime of dysfunctional behaviors on a single moment from the past, that also asked us, the reader, and the characters of the children to pity and understand the actions of the father... Sorry. That's the best you can do?! I'm not buying it.
I feel more positively toward this book now that I'm done with it than I did in the middle of it, but overall, I still feel that it was a lukewarm story with a lackluster beginning, middle and end.
Update- If you want a GOOD version of the- Dad killed Mom story line, check out Neal Shusterman's What Daddy Did. SO much better
I admire the effort Julius Lester made with this book. We see these sensational headlines in newspapers and on television and think about the victim and the perpetrator, but we rarely think about what it must be like for these families beyond, 'Oh, how tragic. That must be terrible for them.' However, I don't think Lester did a very good job capturing the voice and emotion of these characters. I didn't believe either Jenna or Jeremy as genuine characters. Most of their thoughts felt forced, superficial and unrealistic. The situations they found themselves also rang false. The other characters and their interactions with the main characters were also phony. We have: The ex-wife who is a surrogate mother to the teenaged daughter, best friends with her ex's new wife, and gets along great at family gatherings; The art teacher who becomes a surrogate mother to poor grieving Jeremy, attends not only the viweing and the funeral, but also Thanksgiving with the family, regularly drops by his late mother's studio, where Jeremy lives alone (his paternal grandfather is staying in the main house...) to see how he is doing, and be sure all is well; The creepy father who often treats his daughter more like his girlfriend than a child (although that's all just reflection, he spends all his real time in this novel in jail); The 8 year old girl, Sara, who decided Jeremy (who looks lost and sad the first time she sees him) should become her new big brother, because, Hey, my dad was adopted, so that means you can be my brother, takes him home, and her whole family is totally ok with the 12 year old becoming the new best friend of the 8 year old, who now spends all his extra time there, and has his own room- right next to Sara's. I could go on and on. Every single relationship in this book is awkward, unrealistic, disturbing, unhealthy or some combination.
This book wasn't all bad. There were parts that were very well written and some places that really drew me into the story. But, unfortunately, they were few and far between. The only time I was really pulled strongly into the story was during the court scene when the father is testifying during his trial. The emotion communicated to the reader from both Jenna and Jeremy was strong, gripping, and one of the few times I actually believed what was happening was real. However, the resolution to the story overall was lacking. It ended things too quickly, trying to explain a lifetime of dysfunctional behaviors on a single moment from the past, that also asked us, the reader, and the characters of the children to pity and understand the actions of the father... Sorry. That's the best you can do?! I'm not buying it.
I feel more positively toward this book now that I'm done with it than I did in the middle of it, but overall, I still feel that it was a lukewarm story with a lackluster beginning, middle and end.
Update- If you want a GOOD version of the- Dad killed Mom story line, check out Neal Shusterman's What Daddy Did. SO much better
February 26, 2009
I've just finished up reading ''When Dad Killed Mom'' by Julius Lester. It has been a very interesting book to read and definitely have enjoyed it. The book can pretty much be defined by the title. It shows the emotions and actions two children went through after there father was thrown in prison for killing there mother in broad daylight. The author explains his reasoning for writing this book in the back of it. He explains that when he looks at people he wonders what they have gone through or if they are happy when they go home at night. He said he had lost alot of people close to him as a child, but never a parent. He never understood how someone so young could deal with a tragedy so bad like one of there parents passing away.(Authors note pg.197) So, from that he pretty much wrote the book from a little bit of experience and alot of curiosity. I believe he wrote this book for others who are also curious on what children in that situation would go through. It gives people a little sense of what they are going through and how you should act towards them if you knew someone who did experience it.
This book is narrated by the two children in the story, Jenna and Jeremy, who lost there mother. I feel that it is very important that they tell the story because its there emotions that we want to know about. while alot of people have been on the outside looking in, many have not been there or experienced a death of a parent. The two characters take turns narrating in this story so you get the view from being a little boy and a teenage girl. This story is very moving because it is very accurate. I haven't read anything in it that has been unbelievable, it all seems to be something that could really happen or something i have heard happen before. I really don't connect with anyone in the book. Everyone in it had encountered the death of the children's mother. I haven't had anyone real close to me die so i cant say that i connect with them. I do believe that the author did get his point across that he wanted because, I did feel the emotions and sadness that the kids felt while dealing with everything. I cant think of a specific movie or television show that is comparable to it. It would have to be a movie where a child's parent dies so you can encounter the emotion and the things the go through like in this book. The title is ''When Dad Killed Mom'' and that is exactly what the book is about. The title gives a sense of what is going to happen in the book but there is so much more to go with it. I don't think that this book could be recommended to a certain person but definitely a person who is interested in that type of stuff. Its not a mystery book so if that's what your looking for this is not it.
My final conclusions of the book are that it was a good book. I don't read many books so it might just be my opinion. This is the first book i have read by Lester and I wouldn't mind reading another. It was enjoyable at times and at other times you cant wait to hear whats next.''The police found him at home sitting on the front door step with a gun pointed at his head like he was going to kill himself''(pg. 18). If this quote doesn't get you interested don't worry it only gets better. I think that the ending could have been more interesting but the ending shows the truth and how it was supposed to end. I would rate this book with 4 stars and not 5 because I heard that Lester has written books that are ten times better. For being the only one of his books that I have read it was good and I would read another.
This book is narrated by the two children in the story, Jenna and Jeremy, who lost there mother. I feel that it is very important that they tell the story because its there emotions that we want to know about. while alot of people have been on the outside looking in, many have not been there or experienced a death of a parent. The two characters take turns narrating in this story so you get the view from being a little boy and a teenage girl. This story is very moving because it is very accurate. I haven't read anything in it that has been unbelievable, it all seems to be something that could really happen or something i have heard happen before. I really don't connect with anyone in the book. Everyone in it had encountered the death of the children's mother. I haven't had anyone real close to me die so i cant say that i connect with them. I do believe that the author did get his point across that he wanted because, I did feel the emotions and sadness that the kids felt while dealing with everything. I cant think of a specific movie or television show that is comparable to it. It would have to be a movie where a child's parent dies so you can encounter the emotion and the things the go through like in this book. The title is ''When Dad Killed Mom'' and that is exactly what the book is about. The title gives a sense of what is going to happen in the book but there is so much more to go with it. I don't think that this book could be recommended to a certain person but definitely a person who is interested in that type of stuff. Its not a mystery book so if that's what your looking for this is not it.
My final conclusions of the book are that it was a good book. I don't read many books so it might just be my opinion. This is the first book i have read by Lester and I wouldn't mind reading another. It was enjoyable at times and at other times you cant wait to hear whats next.''The police found him at home sitting on the front door step with a gun pointed at his head like he was going to kill himself''(pg. 18). If this quote doesn't get you interested don't worry it only gets better. I think that the ending could have been more interesting but the ending shows the truth and how it was supposed to end. I would rate this book with 4 stars and not 5 because I heard that Lester has written books that are ten times better. For being the only one of his books that I have read it was good and I would read another.
December 21, 2011
I'm trying so hard to understand the ratings and reviews here. So, so hard. But I just can't.
This is an icky book. And, if you took all of the ickiness out the book would STILL suck. That's bad folks. Just bad.
I'd pay anyone my entire life savings right now if they can find me one - ONE - boy or girl the ages of the girl and boy in this story that would act as these two characters act in this story. I defy everyone out there.
And yes, believe you me, I do know, very well I might add, that everyone "acts" different, everyone "thinks" different, blah, blah. I know. But there is no one in this entire world who acts like these two characters. I don't believe and I won't believe it. Jesus himself could stand in front of me and tell me I'm wrong and I wouldn't agree.
I don't know anything about this author, except that, IMO, he sucks pretty bad. But I have no doubt in my mind - NO DOUBT IN MY MIND PEOPLE - that if it hasn't already come out, if someone did some digging into this dudes past they'd find some pret-ty perv-y things happening in this mans closet. I'm sorry but no grown person, male or female, can write like this and be normal. Sorry.
Okay, pervy-ness and icki-ness aside, this has to be one of the most unrealistic books I've ever had the displeasure of reading. The only thing that keeps me from hitting myself if the fact that the one dollar I paid for it went to my local library and not into this perv's pocket. Thank God for small miracles right? Right.
The sentences were so simple they seemed like they belonged in a children's picture book for one. Two, I'm not a prude by a loooooonnng shot but every other paragraph is some weird thing about a vagina, breasts or a penis. Whatever. Let's just say I wouldn't want my daughter or son reading this. And not for the "special" area references, but because the only thought that ran through my mind while reading this is what this man has probably done to little kids.
I think I got near page 50 before I decided to put myself out of misery and ended it. Since then whenever I glance at the cover I have bad memories of it. (It was only left out as a reminder to review - now it's leaving here. If I wasn't so in love with books I'd chuck it in my fireplace. I just might still.)
This is an icky book. And, if you took all of the ickiness out the book would STILL suck. That's bad folks. Just bad.
I'd pay anyone my entire life savings right now if they can find me one - ONE - boy or girl the ages of the girl and boy in this story that would act as these two characters act in this story. I defy everyone out there.
And yes, believe you me, I do know, very well I might add, that everyone "acts" different, everyone "thinks" different, blah, blah. I know. But there is no one in this entire world who acts like these two characters. I don't believe and I won't believe it. Jesus himself could stand in front of me and tell me I'm wrong and I wouldn't agree.
I don't know anything about this author, except that, IMO, he sucks pretty bad. But I have no doubt in my mind - NO DOUBT IN MY MIND PEOPLE - that if it hasn't already come out, if someone did some digging into this dudes past they'd find some pret-ty perv-y things happening in this mans closet. I'm sorry but no grown person, male or female, can write like this and be normal. Sorry.
Okay, pervy-ness and icki-ness aside, this has to be one of the most unrealistic books I've ever had the displeasure of reading. The only thing that keeps me from hitting myself if the fact that the one dollar I paid for it went to my local library and not into this perv's pocket. Thank God for small miracles right? Right.
The sentences were so simple they seemed like they belonged in a children's picture book for one. Two, I'm not a prude by a loooooonnng shot but every other paragraph is some weird thing about a vagina, breasts or a penis. Whatever. Let's just say I wouldn't want my daughter or son reading this. And not for the "special" area references, but because the only thought that ran through my mind while reading this is what this man has probably done to little kids.
I think I got near page 50 before I decided to put myself out of misery and ended it. Since then whenever I glance at the cover I have bad memories of it. (It was only left out as a reminder to review - now it's leaving here. If I wasn't so in love with books I'd chuck it in my fireplace. I just might still.)
December 23, 2008
"Jenna and Jeremy knew their parents' marriage was in trouble. Mom and Dad didn't talk much, and when they did, they had to work really hard at being civil. But no one would have predicted what came next. The headline read COLLEGE SHRINK KILLS WIFE, and suddenly everything changed.
Now with Mom dead and Dad in jail, Jenna and Jeremy must re-create a life and family of their own. But a silent distance grows between them as each guards a secret that could send their fragile new lives into a tailspin."
--This book is kinda weird so far. All it's talked about is how their dad killed their mom, and the teenage daughter drawing her vagina on a bathroom stall. OKAYYY then, haha.
***Kay. Finished this book.
it's HORRIBLE. if you like this book, my apolgies, but i hate it.
it's coming from a little boy and a fourteen year old girl's thoughts and all it is is boobs, vaginas, and other things? sorry but that's disturbing.
Now with Mom dead and Dad in jail, Jenna and Jeremy must re-create a life and family of their own. But a silent distance grows between them as each guards a secret that could send their fragile new lives into a tailspin."
--This book is kinda weird so far. All it's talked about is how their dad killed their mom, and the teenage daughter drawing her vagina on a bathroom stall. OKAYYY then, haha.
***Kay. Finished this book.
it's HORRIBLE. if you like this book, my apolgies, but i hate it.
it's coming from a little boy and a fourteen year old girl's thoughts and all it is is boobs, vaginas, and other things? sorry but that's disturbing.
September 3, 2009
Although the protagonists are young, 12 and 14, the book is not suitable to younger readers, since it deals graphically with near incest and shows a daughter subconsciously seducing her father. The novel switches from son to daughter over and over as it tells the story of siblings struggling to make sense of their dad’s shooting of their mother, then putting together various incidents recalled, journal entries, testimony from friends to find out what happened, really, and why. The story is well told, but it does deal with adult issues and there is much profanity and obscenity in the daughter’s voice. Ultimately positive, but lots of R rated language and a touch of R rated sexuality/incest.
November 16, 2013
A clumsy, ham-handed, and thoroughly phony attempt to deal with controversial but important issues.
April 23, 2018
When Dad Killed Mom
The story starts off with a mother, father, son, and a daughter, but it doesn’t end that way. The daughters name was Jenna and she was a huge troublemaker as she grew up. She would always scream at her mother over the dumbest things. They hardly ever got along, it seemed every day there was something else to argue about. The sons name was Jeremy and he was nearly perfect. He never yelled or got angry he was just perfect. His mom loved to draw and because he wanted to get closer to his mom he did too. He’s only 12 and he’s already almost as good as his mother. Their mothers name was Rachel. She was an artist for a living and had hundreds of paintings. As the story moves along we find out that she makes the shed into an art studio. She ends up living there to get away from her annoying husband and stressful daughter. She would sometimes let Jeremy come with her to the studio to work on some of his own things. Their fathers name is Eric, and at the beginning of the story he was mostly distant from the rest of the family. He has a job as a therapist. There’s not really much said about him until after the mother’s murder. The kids ended up finding out about the murder while they were in class. Jeremy was in art class painting a picture for his mom when a teacher came to get him and bring him down to the office. Jenna was also sent down to the office in the middle of class. They both thought it was a joke because their mother was just fine before they left for school. Jenna was the first to cry because after a while she realized it was no joke and that her mom was actually no longer here. Jeremy didn’t know how to feel he wasn’t even crying. Jeremy asked if he could get his painting from art class that was for mom to give to her when he got home. He still didn’t get what just happened. After he got his painting, Karen came to pick them up. Karen is Rachel’s best friend and even used to be married to Eric. When it comes to the funeral Jenna says she doesn’t want to go, but when Karen says she’ll buy her anything she wants to wear to the funeral, she decides to go. At the funeral Jenna sees her mom laying in her casket with slight bullet holes in her face. She then decided to go to the door and greet many people who knew her mother. After the funeral Jenna and Jeremy eventually had to start going back to school. Jenna’s day was going okay until a guy walked up to her and asked if her name was Jenna. His name was Gregory and his dad died. After a while they became good friends and kind of started dating. Jeremy's first day back was rocky. He didn’t want to go back to his class so instead he stayed at Miss. Albright’s class to help her set up. His teacher said he could stay there because he already was ahead of everyone else in his class. While he’s there he meets a girl named Sara who likes to watch him draw. They end up being really good friends and Jeremy goes over to her house sometimes. After everything settles down the trial starts. Jenna’s and Jeremy’s grandpa makes them talk to their dad’s lawyer to have them testify in his case. Jeremy says he doesn’t remember anything but Jenna is forced to tell the truth. As the trial starts getting closer they both decide not to testify at all. Jeremy and Jenna sit next to each other during the trial. When Eric comes in the courtroom in chains he doesn’t even look at them. After a while Eric starts getting asked questions. Jenna hoped he would tell the truth and get it off his chest but he doesn’t. He’s asked if Rachel was abusive toward him or the kids, and he says yes even though that’s only true for him because Rachel has hit him before. Jenna eventually ends up crying because of all the lies he was telling. Then he’s asked another question. Does he think Rachel was mentally unstable? He answers yes, and that he never knew when she was going have a fit. He said he married her because he wanted to help her and that maybe if they have children it would help even more but it didn’t. Jeremy also ends up crying after what was said. Jeremy ends up pulling out a diary that belonged to his mother. He yells at the judge that he’s lying and he has proof. The judge uses the book for evidence. They take an hour to decide if Eric is guilty or not. The judge comes back saying that there is a bunch of evidence stating that he was not loyal and was always distant from her and the kids. Long story short he ends up confessing and saying he didn’t mean to do it. He says he wanted to talk and wanted to stop her from telling his boss that he was cheating on her with one of his teenage clients. Eric gets sent to life in prison. Karen adopts Jenna and lets her change her name because her father named her after his dead sister. Jeremy ends up getting adopted by Sara’s parents and gets to be a big brother for once.
The story starts off with a mother, father, son, and a daughter, but it doesn’t end that way. The daughters name was Jenna and she was a huge troublemaker as she grew up. She would always scream at her mother over the dumbest things. They hardly ever got along, it seemed every day there was something else to argue about. The sons name was Jeremy and he was nearly perfect. He never yelled or got angry he was just perfect. His mom loved to draw and because he wanted to get closer to his mom he did too. He’s only 12 and he’s already almost as good as his mother. Their mothers name was Rachel. She was an artist for a living and had hundreds of paintings. As the story moves along we find out that she makes the shed into an art studio. She ends up living there to get away from her annoying husband and stressful daughter. She would sometimes let Jeremy come with her to the studio to work on some of his own things. Their fathers name is Eric, and at the beginning of the story he was mostly distant from the rest of the family. He has a job as a therapist. There’s not really much said about him until after the mother’s murder. The kids ended up finding out about the murder while they were in class. Jeremy was in art class painting a picture for his mom when a teacher came to get him and bring him down to the office. Jenna was also sent down to the office in the middle of class. They both thought it was a joke because their mother was just fine before they left for school. Jenna was the first to cry because after a while she realized it was no joke and that her mom was actually no longer here. Jeremy didn’t know how to feel he wasn’t even crying. Jeremy asked if he could get his painting from art class that was for mom to give to her when he got home. He still didn’t get what just happened. After he got his painting, Karen came to pick them up. Karen is Rachel’s best friend and even used to be married to Eric. When it comes to the funeral Jenna says she doesn’t want to go, but when Karen says she’ll buy her anything she wants to wear to the funeral, she decides to go. At the funeral Jenna sees her mom laying in her casket with slight bullet holes in her face. She then decided to go to the door and greet many people who knew her mother. After the funeral Jenna and Jeremy eventually had to start going back to school. Jenna’s day was going okay until a guy walked up to her and asked if her name was Jenna. His name was Gregory and his dad died. After a while they became good friends and kind of started dating. Jeremy's first day back was rocky. He didn’t want to go back to his class so instead he stayed at Miss. Albright’s class to help her set up. His teacher said he could stay there because he already was ahead of everyone else in his class. While he’s there he meets a girl named Sara who likes to watch him draw. They end up being really good friends and Jeremy goes over to her house sometimes. After everything settles down the trial starts. Jenna’s and Jeremy’s grandpa makes them talk to their dad’s lawyer to have them testify in his case. Jeremy says he doesn’t remember anything but Jenna is forced to tell the truth. As the trial starts getting closer they both decide not to testify at all. Jeremy and Jenna sit next to each other during the trial. When Eric comes in the courtroom in chains he doesn’t even look at them. After a while Eric starts getting asked questions. Jenna hoped he would tell the truth and get it off his chest but he doesn’t. He’s asked if Rachel was abusive toward him or the kids, and he says yes even though that’s only true for him because Rachel has hit him before. Jenna eventually ends up crying because of all the lies he was telling. Then he’s asked another question. Does he think Rachel was mentally unstable? He answers yes, and that he never knew when she was going have a fit. He said he married her because he wanted to help her and that maybe if they have children it would help even more but it didn’t. Jeremy also ends up crying after what was said. Jeremy ends up pulling out a diary that belonged to his mother. He yells at the judge that he’s lying and he has proof. The judge uses the book for evidence. They take an hour to decide if Eric is guilty or not. The judge comes back saying that there is a bunch of evidence stating that he was not loyal and was always distant from her and the kids. Long story short he ends up confessing and saying he didn’t mean to do it. He says he wanted to talk and wanted to stop her from telling his boss that he was cheating on her with one of his teenage clients. Eric gets sent to life in prison. Karen adopts Jenna and lets her change her name because her father named her after his dead sister. Jeremy ends up getting adopted by Sara’s parents and gets to be a big brother for once.
July 28, 2016
Whenever I see stories on the news about a husband killing his wife or vice versa, two questions pop into my head: "Why did they do that?" and "What is going to happen to their kids (if they have any)?" Julius Lester answered my second question flawlessly and even took a good crack at the first one.
I will be honest. I was not expecting much out of this little novel. I got it with a bunch of other books at the Goodwill. The plot seemed interesting so I added it to the pile. I didn't even consider reading it until a week ago when my mom was out of town and I was bored. I was definitely surprised by how into it I got. I could not put it down until I was finished.
It could be very easy for a book like this to get over-complicated and dramatic, but Lester kept things clean and simple. Nothing was overdone. Both Jenna and Jeremy were believable and likeable narrators, and their confusion and hurt about what had happened to their family radiated off the page. I especially sympathized with Jeremy because I could see myself as him, clinging to the place my mom loved the most. Lester did a terrific job with the emotions of his characters. Nothing felt like it was written. Heck, you could've said this was a non-fiction novel, and I probably would believe you.
The mystery behind why their father killed their mother was in itself very complex and interesting. Like life, nothing is truly simple in the plotline, and nobody is marked a villain.
I liked the ending. It was sad but hopeful, and I was glad but disappointed to see these characters move on to the next phase of their life.
Excellent novel! Can't wait to read more of Lester's books!
I will be honest. I was not expecting much out of this little novel. I got it with a bunch of other books at the Goodwill. The plot seemed interesting so I added it to the pile. I didn't even consider reading it until a week ago when my mom was out of town and I was bored. I was definitely surprised by how into it I got. I could not put it down until I was finished.
It could be very easy for a book like this to get over-complicated and dramatic, but Lester kept things clean and simple. Nothing was overdone. Both Jenna and Jeremy were believable and likeable narrators, and their confusion and hurt about what had happened to their family radiated off the page. I especially sympathized with Jeremy because I could see myself as him, clinging to the place my mom loved the most. Lester did a terrific job with the emotions of his characters. Nothing felt like it was written. Heck, you could've said this was a non-fiction novel, and I probably would believe you.
The mystery behind why their father killed their mother was in itself very complex and interesting. Like life, nothing is truly simple in the plotline, and nobody is marked a villain.
I liked the ending. It was sad but hopeful, and I was glad but disappointed to see these characters move on to the next phase of their life.
Excellent novel! Can't wait to read more of Lester's books!
November 12, 2010
When Dad Killed Mom is pretty self explanatory. The dad kills the mom of this little boy named Jeremy and this girl named Jenna. This book was kind of confusing at first, however. The first chapter(there are alternating POV) is Jeremy and he's all sweet and innocent. Next chapter is Jenna and she's a teenager and she starts talking about drawing her private parts ???? Very random. But anyway, I liked the concept of this story and I think more people should know about this book because it is a very interesting scenario. Also, the author surprised me. When I used to see this book at the library, I would recognize Lester's name. Most times he writes historical stuff and I was thinking "well he couldn't have written this. this is about white people!". Ha! And I didn't read this not knowing it was the same Lester whose writing I usually enjoy. Eventually I checked this book out and realized the above mentioned. The only real criticism I have of this book is I think Lester may have been trying a little too hard to write this realistic fiction story and his writing was a little clumsy at times. Other than that, great plot!
May 14, 2014
Lester writes an honest, painful narrative of what it means to be the surviving child of a murderer and the murder victim. There are all the mundane things they don't make movies about, like trying to go back to school after the funeral or trying to act normal around other kids when you feel like they're from another world now, or worse, realizing you are an orphan with a living parent you sometimes wish were dead. There is beautiful character development, honest language, and some pretty insightful scenes where characters come into their own. We, as a culture, seem to think that children who have one parent murder another come from physically abusive homes and low on the socioeconomic totem pole, so it was refreshing to have a YA book give you the experience of a family that was not only financially stable, they were well respected and there was no real physical abuse in the home to tip anyone off. This is the story of those children, the silent survivors that keep on going and have to move on from the tragedy and media circus of their youth.
August 26, 2018
Review 8/25/18: Last night, I wrote a review that was sixteen hundred words on my DreamWidth explaining exactly why I give this book one star. I will put a few sentences from that review onto here. Julius Lester passed away shortly after finishing this book. My heart goes out to those who suffered the loss. I still don't like this book.
Jenna, one of the narrators, is a cynical, calculating, superficial fourteen-year-old who is being horrifically preyed upon by her father. I couldn't stand her, but was so sickened at what her father kept doing to her and how their relationship was, that I had to seriously convince myself to finish the book. Jeremy, the other narrator, was apparently supposed to be twelve but reads far more like a six-year-old obsessed with boobs and snot. (His terms.)
The dialogue is padded, descriptions are lackluster, narrative monologues are pointlessly detailed and yet somehow remain bland, relationships and backstories have no buildup and nearly every adult in this book is cartoonishly unrealistic. I raised an eyebrow at the big climactic courtoom scene. This book was emotionally disgusting, trivialized so many serious things, and was poorly written. Any research that was done was probably bare-bones and twisted to suit the author's needs.
I first read this book when I was twelve, and it was about Big Serious Things, which had an impact on me. I still remembered it in adulthood, so I decided to buy it recently. It's been nearly two decades and I am much more critical of a reader, in part because I have so much more life experience and a different emotional outlook.
Jenna, one of the narrators, is a cynical, calculating, superficial fourteen-year-old who is being horrifically preyed upon by her father. I couldn't stand her, but was so sickened at what her father kept doing to her and how their relationship was, that I had to seriously convince myself to finish the book. Jeremy, the other narrator, was apparently supposed to be twelve but reads far more like a six-year-old obsessed with boobs and snot. (His terms.)
The dialogue is padded, descriptions are lackluster, narrative monologues are pointlessly detailed and yet somehow remain bland, relationships and backstories have no buildup and nearly every adult in this book is cartoonishly unrealistic. I raised an eyebrow at the big climactic courtoom scene. This book was emotionally disgusting, trivialized so many serious things, and was poorly written. Any research that was done was probably bare-bones and twisted to suit the author's needs.
I first read this book when I was twelve, and it was about Big Serious Things, which had an impact on me. I still remembered it in adulthood, so I decided to buy it recently. It's been nearly two decades and I am much more critical of a reader, in part because I have so much more life experience and a different emotional outlook.
May 17, 2024
Was going to make it like 1 or 2 stars DNF at 20 pages bc damn it felt like a pervert wrote it? But glad I stuck along for the ride. Still lots of things I didn’t like, especially in the last 50 pages or so, but the kids uncovering things throughout the book about the situation made up for it I guess. The website part in particular felt very forced to me. Lots of potential but ugh
Edit: so apparently this book is YA which makes a lot of sense. Tbf if I had known it was YA I probably wouldn’t have read it, definitely did not seem marketed as YA but the website as the attempt to “nicely wrap things up” and really the whole second half of the book suddenly feels very on brand for YA. Moreover, I felt like the author forgot he was writing YA and then maybe halfway through he remembered. It would have been better as a regular fiction book. Everything just felt so forced!
HOWEVER
I don’t agree with some of the other commenters about a couple things:
The perversion. It DID feel very perverted in the beginning, which I thought was unrealistic UNTIL I realized the grooming (intentionally or otherwise) that the girl had experienced and suddenly it makes sense. The vagina drawing and the other stuff should’ve been a red flag both to the mother and to the school, that something was up at home. As for the boy, I’m not a boy so idk.
Secondly, this is definitely a YA. Other people on here are like this isn’t appropriate for children!! And I agree not for young children but YA is 12-18 and I think this is probably high school age, the topics are dark, but the way it’s written is YA and there’s no actually outright sex scenes. It’s as YA as the Hunger Games!
Edit: so apparently this book is YA which makes a lot of sense. Tbf if I had known it was YA I probably wouldn’t have read it, definitely did not seem marketed as YA but the website as the attempt to “nicely wrap things up” and really the whole second half of the book suddenly feels very on brand for YA. Moreover, I felt like the author forgot he was writing YA and then maybe halfway through he remembered. It would have been better as a regular fiction book. Everything just felt so forced!
HOWEVER
I don’t agree with some of the other commenters about a couple things:
The perversion. It DID feel very perverted in the beginning, which I thought was unrealistic UNTIL I realized the grooming (intentionally or otherwise) that the girl had experienced and suddenly it makes sense. The vagina drawing and the other stuff should’ve been a red flag both to the mother and to the school, that something was up at home. As for the boy, I’m not a boy so idk.
Secondly, this is definitely a YA. Other people on here are like this isn’t appropriate for children!! And I agree not for young children but YA is 12-18 and I think this is probably high school age, the topics are dark, but the way it’s written is YA and there’s no actually outright sex scenes. It’s as YA as the Hunger Games!
October 8, 2019
The book brings you into the feeling of dad killed mom and WHAT SHOULD I DO? The book tells about the life with dad in jail and mom dead. While this book is fun and interesting to read it is also very depressing. This book also tells the thoughts of the main character and how the main character thinks of other characters. This book was written in first person. There is a lot more thoughts than dialogue and I really like it was written. Since it was written in first person it lets me understand what the main character better. I really liked this book and I think people that like depressing book will like this book.
May 17, 2019
Jeremy and Jenna's lives are turned upside down when they find out that their dad killed their mom. As the characters attempt to make sense of what has happened, they must recount their pasts. Due to Jeremy being closer with their mom and Jenna being closer to their dad, each has a different story to tell about their parents' marriage. They both attempt to cope with this disaster and make it through their dad's trial. When things don't seem to go as they would like them to, Jeremy uses something he found of his mother's to add a new layer to the trial.
Although I think that the constant explicit remarks to genitalia throughout the book are unnecessary, this book would be good to talk to high school students about domestic violence. By talking about domestic violence, what it looks like and how it affects others, it can make students more aware of it. By making students more aware of it, hopefully they can prevent it or help others recognize domestic violence. Moreover, it can address the real-life experiences of students that have suffered the effects of domestic violence.
I would pair this book with a perspectives activity. It would be interesting to have students compare and contrast Jenna's relationship with her dad and mom (Rachel) and Jeremy's relationships with them and how their perspectives differed throughout the book. Students could even attempt to write a narrative from Karen's perspective about the whole experience.
Although I think that the constant explicit remarks to genitalia throughout the book are unnecessary, this book would be good to talk to high school students about domestic violence. By talking about domestic violence, what it looks like and how it affects others, it can make students more aware of it. By making students more aware of it, hopefully they can prevent it or help others recognize domestic violence. Moreover, it can address the real-life experiences of students that have suffered the effects of domestic violence.
I would pair this book with a perspectives activity. It would be interesting to have students compare and contrast Jenna's relationship with her dad and mom (Rachel) and Jeremy's relationships with them and how their perspectives differed throughout the book. Students could even attempt to write a narrative from Karen's perspective about the whole experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2020
Very heavy and dark. With a title like this I guess that’s expected. It’s mainly follows the children Jenna and Jeremy and what they go through knowing their dad killed their mom, how it changed everything in their lives, and even going through the trial. And what is revealed about their father is quite frankly disturbing though it was interesting seeing the immediate change in the children when things are coming in to light.
Read
June 19, 2024I love reading banned books! This one deals with heavy themes (as expected) and would be interesting to discuss the issues with a bookclub. References are dated, but concepts are still relatable. Will guess the book was banned for some sexual themes and discussion about female bodies.
May 3, 2025
This book shows us what family violence looks like through children’s eyes. Physical, mental, and social violence is explored and interpreted through them as they live with the circumstances that have changed their lives forever.
June 5, 2023
4.25/5
Emotional, you discover more and more about the circumstances as you read it, fast reading
Emotional, you discover more and more about the circumstances as you read it, fast reading
December 6, 2018
Jeremy and Jenna are children, age 12 and 14, when they are pulled out of class and informed that their father has just killed their mother.
That happens on page 1, and the rest of the book deals with the children’s attempts to make sense of the loss of their mother, reconstruct their lives, and cope with the court trial for their father.
The investigation (there wasn’t much of one!) and court scenes are unbelievable, the behavior of the children paired with their ages is unbelievable, and the creep-out factor is high. I can accept reading about sensitive issues and graphic language, but I want it to read as something likely to be true. This did not.
Perhaps this book is meant to deal with social issues we see in the headlines every day, but it comes across simply as being disturbingly uncomfortable on so many levels. It only serves to make you want to take a long hot shower...while scrubbing your brain with disinfectant. I recommend it to no one unless beginning authors want an example of “how not to write”.
That happens on page 1, and the rest of the book deals with the children’s attempts to make sense of the loss of their mother, reconstruct their lives, and cope with the court trial for their father.
The investigation (there wasn’t much of one!) and court scenes are unbelievable, the behavior of the children paired with their ages is unbelievable, and the creep-out factor is high. I can accept reading about sensitive issues and graphic language, but I want it to read as something likely to be true. This did not.
Perhaps this book is meant to deal with social issues we see in the headlines every day, but it comes across simply as being disturbingly uncomfortable on so many levels. It only serves to make you want to take a long hot shower...while scrubbing your brain with disinfectant. I recommend it to no one unless beginning authors want an example of “how not to write”.
October 11, 2015
Brother and sister Jeremy and Jenna were sitting in their respective classrooms as they would on any other Tuesday. Then the principal came in and it stopped being a normal Tuesday. Jeremy and Jenna's mother is dead, they are told, and their father is the one who shot her.
When Dad Killed Mom is told from the perspectives of Jenna and Jeremy in alternating chapters. Jenna is 14, Jeremy a little younger. There is no question as to their father's guilt. He shot his wife in broad daylight in front of plenty of witnesses and admitted what he had done as soon as the police confronted him. Jeremy and Jenna are left to wonder why. Jeremy was closer to his mother. The two of them shared a talent for art and how the light changed the way something look. He automatically despises his father for what he's done. Jenna was a daddy's girl. She wants to believe there is some explanation, some mistake but even she has her doubts.
I'm still working out what to think about this book. It is a heavy subject but it wasn't the gut wrenching story I was expecting. On the one hand I'm grateful for that because I really wasn't looking forward to reading about a husband killing his wife and the children who are left to deal with the fallout. (The only reason I read this book at all was for book club.) On the other hand, I feel like I should have felt more reading this book but it didn't really make much of an impact. The kids wonder what's going to happen to them, where they're going to live, who will take care of them, how they are going to go back to school and their regular lives. They wonder why if their father was so mad at their mother he couldn't have just divorced her like a normal person. The kids move forward with their lives relatively calmly as adults flutter around them planning a funeral and preparing for a trial.
One interesting thing about this book is that the murder victim isn't made out to be a saint. It is clear that she was flawed and that despite that, she didn't deserve what happened to her. Both of the kids paint their mother as someone who cared about her art above anything else. Even Jeremy admits that what connected the two of them the most was art, that when it came to him his mother seemed mostly interested in what he was able to draw or paint. I also appreciated that the two kids never really buy their father's excuses for his actions. As much as she wants to give her father the benefit of doubt, even Jenna can't accept their mother's (alleged) infidelity as a justification for her murder.
This story was told from the point of the view of the children which was an interesting idea. This is not story I have seen from a kid's perspective before. Still, I can't help but wonder how different and more interesting this might have been had it been from an adult's perspective or at least a more mature teenager. The two parents, Rachel and Eric, had a complicated marriage. He was a psychologist and she an artist. They met when she went to him for counseling. They had two kids. Eric seemed to favor their daughter while Rachel favored their son. Eric was married once before and his ex-wife and current wife were best friends. Eric and his first wife had a daughter that died and she did not die of natural causes. These are seeds of what could be a great literary thriller. I wish I could read that book.
When Dad Killed Mom is told from the perspectives of Jenna and Jeremy in alternating chapters. Jenna is 14, Jeremy a little younger. There is no question as to their father's guilt. He shot his wife in broad daylight in front of plenty of witnesses and admitted what he had done as soon as the police confronted him. Jeremy and Jenna are left to wonder why. Jeremy was closer to his mother. The two of them shared a talent for art and how the light changed the way something look. He automatically despises his father for what he's done. Jenna was a daddy's girl. She wants to believe there is some explanation, some mistake but even she has her doubts.
I'm still working out what to think about this book. It is a heavy subject but it wasn't the gut wrenching story I was expecting. On the one hand I'm grateful for that because I really wasn't looking forward to reading about a husband killing his wife and the children who are left to deal with the fallout. (The only reason I read this book at all was for book club.) On the other hand, I feel like I should have felt more reading this book but it didn't really make much of an impact. The kids wonder what's going to happen to them, where they're going to live, who will take care of them, how they are going to go back to school and their regular lives. They wonder why if their father was so mad at their mother he couldn't have just divorced her like a normal person. The kids move forward with their lives relatively calmly as adults flutter around them planning a funeral and preparing for a trial.
One interesting thing about this book is that the murder victim isn't made out to be a saint. It is clear that she was flawed and that despite that, she didn't deserve what happened to her. Both of the kids paint their mother as someone who cared about her art above anything else. Even Jeremy admits that what connected the two of them the most was art, that when it came to him his mother seemed mostly interested in what he was able to draw or paint. I also appreciated that the two kids never really buy their father's excuses for his actions. As much as she wants to give her father the benefit of doubt, even Jenna can't accept their mother's (alleged) infidelity as a justification for her murder.
This story was told from the point of the view of the children which was an interesting idea. This is not story I have seen from a kid's perspective before. Still, I can't help but wonder how different and more interesting this might have been had it been from an adult's perspective or at least a more mature teenager. The two parents, Rachel and Eric, had a complicated marriage. He was a psychologist and she an artist. They met when she went to him for counseling. They had two kids. Eric seemed to favor their daughter while Rachel favored their son. Eric was married once before and his ex-wife and current wife were best friends. Eric and his first wife had a daughter that died and she did not die of natural causes. These are seeds of what could be a great literary thriller. I wish I could read that book.
September 27, 2015
Grade: B-
Twelve-year-old Jeremy and his mom share a closeness based on their artistic interests while Jenna, age fourteen, is Daddy's girl. Then their dad kills them mom and they must struggle together and apart to figure out the truth about what happened that October morning, and deconstruct their parents relationship with each other and with Jeremy and Jenna, as well as where to live.
Told in both Jenna's and Jeremy's POVs in alternating chapters, WHEN DAD KILLED MOM gives two very different perspectives from the get-go. Though siblings, these children were raised differently and Jenna was often a pawn between them. Julius Lester created a complicated character in the children's father and not until the ending do readers get a glimpse of why. Jenna and Jeremy are realistic as is their grieving process. Jenna was particularly complex, not always likable as are many fourteen year olds.
Lester's writing didn't grab me. Much of the narration and vocabulary didn't feel authentic for the ages of Jenna and Jeremy. The diary just seemed like a convenient way to get backstory into the story and provide a potential Perry Mason moment during the trial. I also didn't like how the trial and end of the story seemed too contrived.
THEMES: murder, siblings, parents, family, orphans, court
I chose to read WHEN DAD KILLED MOM for banned book week. I don't believe in censoring what children read, though some of the themes may raise questions for kids. I wouldn't specifically go out and purchase this book for children the ages of Jeremy and Jenna, but I wouldn't prevent them from reading the book either. I'd want to have discussions about some of the more mature parts of the story.
Twelve-year-old Jeremy and his mom share a closeness based on their artistic interests while Jenna, age fourteen, is Daddy's girl. Then their dad kills them mom and they must struggle together and apart to figure out the truth about what happened that October morning, and deconstruct their parents relationship with each other and with Jeremy and Jenna, as well as where to live.
Told in both Jenna's and Jeremy's POVs in alternating chapters, WHEN DAD KILLED MOM gives two very different perspectives from the get-go. Though siblings, these children were raised differently and Jenna was often a pawn between them. Julius Lester created a complicated character in the children's father and not until the ending do readers get a glimpse of why. Jenna and Jeremy are realistic as is their grieving process. Jenna was particularly complex, not always likable as are many fourteen year olds.
Lester's writing didn't grab me. Much of the narration and vocabulary didn't feel authentic for the ages of Jenna and Jeremy. The diary just seemed like a convenient way to get backstory into the story and provide a potential Perry Mason moment during the trial. I also didn't like how the trial and end of the story seemed too contrived.
THEMES: murder, siblings, parents, family, orphans, court
I chose to read WHEN DAD KILLED MOM for banned book week. I don't believe in censoring what children read, though some of the themes may raise questions for kids. I wouldn't specifically go out and purchase this book for children the ages of Jeremy and Jenna, but I wouldn't prevent them from reading the book either. I'd want to have discussions about some of the more mature parts of the story.
August 12, 2016
Well developed characters and excellent writing render this a solid four 1/2 star read. While the title sounds stark, the way in which the story unfolded was not over dramatic, but rather was an insightful portrait of a family in grief, trying very hard to reach out to each other through the pain.
Told in differing perspectives of the children of the father, both Jeremy, age ten, and his teen aged sister Jenna, as they sort through thoughts and feelings as information becomes available regarding this tragic event.
Knowing their parents were not getting along, still no one could prepare them for the shock of the shooting of their beloved mother, a well-known artist by their father, a professional psychologist.
Jeremy was closer to his mother, and Jenna was experiencing normal teen aged emotions with talking back episodes with her mother.
As the story unfolds, we learn that the father intentionally manipulated his daughter against her mother, and all was not as it seemed in the household.
Well written, insightful and excellent portrayal of a tragic event which left those behind scrabbling for the meaning and facts of it all. I recommend this book.
Told in differing perspectives of the children of the father, both Jeremy, age ten, and his teen aged sister Jenna, as they sort through thoughts and feelings as information becomes available regarding this tragic event.
Knowing their parents were not getting along, still no one could prepare them for the shock of the shooting of their beloved mother, a well-known artist by their father, a professional psychologist.
Jeremy was closer to his mother, and Jenna was experiencing normal teen aged emotions with talking back episodes with her mother.
As the story unfolds, we learn that the father intentionally manipulated his daughter against her mother, and all was not as it seemed in the household.
Well written, insightful and excellent portrayal of a tragic event which left those behind scrabbling for the meaning and facts of it all. I recommend this book.
July 15, 2014
Okay, this book was unrealistic, riddled with plotholes, and full of "ick." I mean, drawing vaginas in a public restroom? The father being aroused by his daughter and she being somewhat okay with that ("I was flattered and grossed out at the same time")?
This book had potential. It focused on children struggling with the fact that their father murdered their mother and the aftermath of the situation. I had high hopes, but I was severely disappointed. In other words, I want a refund of the hours spent reading a simple, 200-paged YA novel. I think the biggest problem is the characters not being relatable (Jenna was a potty-mouthed brat and Jeremy was such a goody-goody). Not a good book for anyone.
This book had potential. It focused on children struggling with the fact that their father murdered their mother and the aftermath of the situation. I had high hopes, but I was severely disappointed. In other words, I want a refund of the hours spent reading a simple, 200-paged YA novel. I think the biggest problem is the characters not being relatable (Jenna was a potty-mouthed brat and Jeremy was such a goody-goody). Not a good book for anyone.
December 13, 2007
This book is about 2 kids who's mom was killed by their dad. They knew that their parents didnt get along but they didnt know that it will lead to someone's death. They have to make a decision if they want to testify for their dad to get out of jail or not.
This book was very interesting, i got a sense of what kids who lost their parents feel like, the kinds of emotions they went through. This book made me think about what death would be like because they keep mentioning their dead mother and whether she's still alive somewhere else. This book has very easy language. It is for anybody.
This book was very interesting, i got a sense of what kids who lost their parents feel like, the kinds of emotions they went through. This book made me think about what death would be like because they keep mentioning their dead mother and whether she's still alive somewhere else. This book has very easy language. It is for anybody.
Read
October 31, 2016"I get up, brush off my pants, and walk slowly away."
The plot was slow at the beginning but sped up from the end of the rising action to the end of the book because many secrets were revealed and many of the key questions asked earlier in the book were answered. The author's diction was innocent and almost whimsical at the beginning, but matured as the book went on, just as the children did.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books based around semi-controversial subjects.
The plot was slow at the beginning but sped up from the end of the rising action to the end of the book because many secrets were revealed and many of the key questions asked earlier in the book were answered. The author's diction was innocent and almost whimsical at the beginning, but matured as the book went on, just as the children did.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes books based around semi-controversial subjects.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of those books where you wanted to keep reading and not put it down until you are finished. This book was a pretty quick and easy read that you can finish in less then a day (if you wanted to). That is saying a lot coming from me because I am a very slow reader. Overall this was a great book.
September 29, 2007
I expected this to be much better written than it was, given the status of the author (Newbery and Coretta Scott King Award winner). The characters didn't act believably, nor did they say things I though teenagers would say. Neal Shusterman's What Daddy Did was much better.
January 6, 2008
A good book for middle/high school readers. It's a high interest story told in the voices of two compelling kids. A very positive message as these kids wrestle with an incredibly difficult and painful situation.
April 6, 2008
-the beginning
-was quite slow
-as i dragged
-myself through it
-such a book
-like this
-reminded me of
-something i
-would have
-been forced to
-read for school
-though the action
-at the end
-where all the
-secrets spilled
-out
-was shocking
-was quite slow
-as i dragged
-myself through it
-such a book
-like this
-reminded me of
-something i
-would have
-been forced to
-read for school
-though the action
-at the end
-where all the
-secrets spilled
-out
-was shocking
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews