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Blink and Caution
Blink, man, what were you thinking? Sneaking into the hotel for a hot breakfast? Hot scraps of someone else's breakfast, really. Couldn't you just feel that it was a wrong place/wrong time scenario? Even before you heard the banging and saw those dudes in suits jet it out of room 1616? Now you're not only witness to a crime; you're linked to it, thanks to the smartphone you were stupid enough to jack from the room.
And then there's Caution. As in? Caution: Contents Under Pressure. She's also on the run, from a skeezy drug-dealer boyfriend and from a nightmare in her past that won't let her go. The last thing she needs right now is some skinny-ass street punk spouting crazy conspiracy theories, but something about Blink tugs at her heart? A heart she thought deserved not to feel.
Charged with suspense and intrigue, this taut novel follows two compelling characters as they forge a fated, tender partnership.
And then there's Caution. As in? Caution: Contents Under Pressure. She's also on the run, from a skeezy drug-dealer boyfriend and from a nightmare in her past that won't let her go. The last thing she needs right now is some skinny-ass street punk spouting crazy conspiracy theories, but something about Blink tugs at her heart? A heart she thought deserved not to feel.
Charged with suspense and intrigue, this taut novel follows two compelling characters as they forge a fated, tender partnership.
345 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2011
76 people are currently reading
2866 people want to read
About the author
Tim Wynne-Jones
72 books163 followersTim Wynne-Jones (born 12 August 1948) is an English–Canadian author of children's literature, including picture books and novels for children and young adults, novels for adults, radio dramas, songs for the CBC/Jim Henson production Fraggle Rock, as well as a children's musical and an opera libretto.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2001): The Boy in the Burning House
Edgar Award
◊ Best Young Adult (2002): The Boy in the Burning House
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2001): The Boy in the Burning House
Edgar Award
◊ Best Young Adult (2002): The Boy in the Burning House
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
March 1, 2022
Rounded up; gave it 3.5 stars.
Such an interesting story and I love how the author flowed the characters together seamlessly. Beginning was a very slow start. Interesting twists but ending was a bit bland to me.
Such an interesting story and I love how the author flowed the characters together seamlessly. Beginning was a very slow start. Interesting twists but ending was a bit bland to me.
December 21, 2010
Blink! You left home to escape your stepfather and now you are involved in finding a kidnapped executive who might end up getting you killed. Caution betrays the dangerous drug-dealing boyfriend that exposes her to the seedy underbelly of crime in Toronto and now she has cons you! Between your panic, her secrets and the dangerous favor you've promised to the daughter of the kidnapped VIP and CEO, how can you survive?
Wynne-Jones creates a taut, realistic noir novel with adolescent protagonists Blink and Caution. Distrusting of police, the public and each other, Blink and Caution build a relationship that reinforces the power of trust and loyalty and the healing of common experience. Using person and tense to create a sense of immediacy, reads like a video game traveling from scene to scene without reference to the past or future while dropping hints of the mystery surrounding Caution's self-imposed exile from home and her self-destructive behavior.
Adolescents from sixth grade through high school will appreciate the continuous logical and independent actions of two teens trapped by themselves and their lives.
Wynne-Jones creates a taut, realistic noir novel with adolescent protagonists Blink and Caution. Distrusting of police, the public and each other, Blink and Caution build a relationship that reinforces the power of trust and loyalty and the healing of common experience. Using person and tense to create a sense of immediacy, reads like a video game traveling from scene to scene without reference to the past or future while dropping hints of the mystery surrounding Caution's self-imposed exile from home and her self-destructive behavior.
Adolescents from sixth grade through high school will appreciate the continuous logical and independent actions of two teens trapped by themselves and their lives.
August 30, 2019
2.5★
I know I’m hardly the target demographic for this book (YA), and I don’t especially like books written in the second person, which part of this book is, so I didn’t especially enjoy this book. I downloaded the audio during the summer audiobook program at audiobooksync.com because I thought it sounded interesting, and chose it to read at the moment because I needed a book with “and” in the title for a challenge and this was sitting there. But I found it difficult to get into, and kept losing track of what was happening when.
I know I’m hardly the target demographic for this book (YA), and I don’t especially like books written in the second person, which part of this book is, so I didn’t especially enjoy this book. I downloaded the audio during the summer audiobook program at audiobooksync.com because I thought it sounded interesting, and chose it to read at the moment because I needed a book with “and” in the title for a challenge and this was sitting there. But I found it difficult to get into, and kept losing track of what was happening when.
September 12, 2016
Blink and Caution (not the characters real names), although a bit confusing at times, was an overall an okay read. At first, I did not really get interested in the storyline and how the book was written, but the more I read the more interesting it got. Even though I am not a fan of there being second person in books, this text pulls it off well. You really feel like you are in the shoes of Blink and experiencing what he is going through with the inclusion of second person style.
Both Blink and Caution are on the run for different reasons. Caution is trying to get away from her drug dealing boyfriend who just won't let her go and seeks refuge with her relative. Blink on the other hand is on the run for witnessing a FAKE kidnapping. In all of these scenarios of both characters running away from trouble in their lives, their paths cross.
One of the reasons this book is only EH for me is because of the constant inclusion of second person. I am the type of person who is annoyed by this. It is only in Blinks chapters, may I add. For example, the book narrates, "It's noon; you are in the park. You look around and what...? Is it just your imagination..." (Wynne-Jones 60). Personally, through out the book this can get a bit annoying. It gets confusing at times, but there is always a bright side to a downside. I think this puts you in his position and get a feel for what he is thinking about. That is really the only upside I see.
Furthermore, another reason I think Blink and Caution is an okay read is because it was a bit slow to start. If you don't have much patience and like a books story to go quick, this book is probably not for you. I fully understand the need for a development of a storyline, but I would have liked to see Blink and Caution meet soon rather than in the middle/later in the book. Also, from their meeting the story does get much more interesting and worth not putting the book down.
Overall, as I said in the beginning, this book is okay. Once you get past the first couple chapters this book really hooks you in. I would recommend it to some people.
Both Blink and Caution are on the run for different reasons. Caution is trying to get away from her drug dealing boyfriend who just won't let her go and seeks refuge with her relative. Blink on the other hand is on the run for witnessing a FAKE kidnapping. In all of these scenarios of both characters running away from trouble in their lives, their paths cross.
One of the reasons this book is only EH for me is because of the constant inclusion of second person. I am the type of person who is annoyed by this. It is only in Blinks chapters, may I add. For example, the book narrates, "It's noon; you are in the park. You look around and what...? Is it just your imagination..." (Wynne-Jones 60). Personally, through out the book this can get a bit annoying. It gets confusing at times, but there is always a bright side to a downside. I think this puts you in his position and get a feel for what he is thinking about. That is really the only upside I see.
Furthermore, another reason I think Blink and Caution is an okay read is because it was a bit slow to start. If you don't have much patience and like a books story to go quick, this book is probably not for you. I fully understand the need for a development of a storyline, but I would have liked to see Blink and Caution meet soon rather than in the middle/later in the book. Also, from their meeting the story does get much more interesting and worth not putting the book down.
Overall, as I said in the beginning, this book is okay. Once you get past the first couple chapters this book really hooks you in. I would recommend it to some people.
July 24, 2019
Blink and Caution are two teenage runaways living on the streets of Toronto (I think), each for their own reasons. While Blink is stealing breakfast from the trays leftover from hotel guests, he witnesses a kidnapping. A fake kidnapping, that is. He picks up the Blackberry phone left behind and is soon taking calls from the worried daughter of the man kidnapped.
When Caution decides to leave her abusive boyfriend, she knows he’ll try to track her down and kill her. But then she runs into a naively trusting boy with an unbelievable story, and they set out together to see if there’s any money to be had from the kidnappers.
I loved Tim Wynne-Jones’ novel The Emperor of Any Place, although it was a book that I nearly stopped reading. Likewise, this one didn’t exactly pull me in at first. First of all, I was really put off by the second-person narration - that’s Blink’s part of the story - and it comes across as a snarky voice inside his head that doesn’t seem to always fit his personality. But it serves to distinguish Blink’s story from Caution’s, which is told in typical third-person, and it gives the story a different feel - but not in a bad way, once you get used to it. Also, the two teens don’t even meet until halfway through the book, but by then you have a pretty good idea of their past and why they’ve each run away. After that it turns out to be a pretty good thriller - not one of those heart-pounding non-stop action thrillers that leave you gasping for breath, but a good story of two very likable protagonists who get caught up in a dangerous situation. I’d have probably enjoyed it more if it weren’t for the profanity, which I felt was overdone and unnecessary, especially considering this is YA. There’s also some grittiness that comes with kids living on the street, but it’s handled pretty well. In the end, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected when it started out.
When Caution decides to leave her abusive boyfriend, she knows he’ll try to track her down and kill her. But then she runs into a naively trusting boy with an unbelievable story, and they set out together to see if there’s any money to be had from the kidnappers.
I loved Tim Wynne-Jones’ novel The Emperor of Any Place, although it was a book that I nearly stopped reading. Likewise, this one didn’t exactly pull me in at first. First of all, I was really put off by the second-person narration - that’s Blink’s part of the story - and it comes across as a snarky voice inside his head that doesn’t seem to always fit his personality. But it serves to distinguish Blink’s story from Caution’s, which is told in typical third-person, and it gives the story a different feel - but not in a bad way, once you get used to it. Also, the two teens don’t even meet until halfway through the book, but by then you have a pretty good idea of their past and why they’ve each run away. After that it turns out to be a pretty good thriller - not one of those heart-pounding non-stop action thrillers that leave you gasping for breath, but a good story of two very likable protagonists who get caught up in a dangerous situation. I’d have probably enjoyed it more if it weren’t for the profanity, which I felt was overdone and unnecessary, especially considering this is YA. There’s also some grittiness that comes with kids living on the street, but it’s handled pretty well. In the end, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected when it started out.
March 8, 2011
I received this ARC from the publisher.
Blink is a kid living on the streets who happens to be in a hotel when some mysterious stuff goes down: several men leave a hotel room, and later footage appears where one of the men, the CEO of a large company, is being "kidnapped." Blink steals a phone left in the hotel room and contacts the man's daughter, who doesn't know anything different from the news reports. Blink and the daughter, Alyson, make plans to meet. Caution, a girl running from her abusive drug dealer boyfriend, runs into Blink, and together they begin to unravel this mystery.
The book is told half in third-person (from Caution's point of view) and half in second-person (Blink's point of view). I was not crazy about the use of the second-person, although I adjusted to it. My problem is that I am not a 16-year-old homeless boy, although this did make Blink a more universal character, as well as more likable. I also didn't like the author's interjections (e.g. "Blink, my child, you're in trouble again"), I just didn't like that there was a first person in there at all, making judgments. Would the story have been as effective without the second-person narration? I'm not sure - it certainly made it more interesting, and without it I think the novel would have been pretty flat (sort of like my experience with another of Tim Wynne-Jones's books, The Uninvited).
I did like the two main characters, with all their faults and back stories. I liked the ending. The whole part of the story about the false kidnapping and all felt kind of there for no reason or just to bring these two characters together - I was hoping for something that really would have been intertwined somehow. All in all it was good, not great. There were a few swears, drug references, and some sexual situations - nothing especially graphic.
Blink is a kid living on the streets who happens to be in a hotel when some mysterious stuff goes down: several men leave a hotel room, and later footage appears where one of the men, the CEO of a large company, is being "kidnapped." Blink steals a phone left in the hotel room and contacts the man's daughter, who doesn't know anything different from the news reports. Blink and the daughter, Alyson, make plans to meet. Caution, a girl running from her abusive drug dealer boyfriend, runs into Blink, and together they begin to unravel this mystery.
The book is told half in third-person (from Caution's point of view) and half in second-person (Blink's point of view). I was not crazy about the use of the second-person, although I adjusted to it. My problem is that I am not a 16-year-old homeless boy, although this did make Blink a more universal character, as well as more likable. I also didn't like the author's interjections (e.g. "Blink, my child, you're in trouble again"), I just didn't like that there was a first person in there at all, making judgments. Would the story have been as effective without the second-person narration? I'm not sure - it certainly made it more interesting, and without it I think the novel would have been pretty flat (sort of like my experience with another of Tim Wynne-Jones's books, The Uninvited).
I did like the two main characters, with all their faults and back stories. I liked the ending. The whole part of the story about the false kidnapping and all felt kind of there for no reason or just to bring these two characters together - I was hoping for something that really would have been intertwined somehow. All in all it was good, not great. There were a few swears, drug references, and some sexual situations - nothing especially graphic.
May 22, 2019
This book started our confusing and then moved along slowly. It was a story about 2 teenagers who didn't know each other yet, ended up in a situation together. Once the story got going it was better. Some of it was quite unrealistic for street kids however. I listened to this on audio and received it from audiosync. It might be more interesting for teenagers than it was for me. Not a bad book, but not great for me either.
May 7, 2019
Average book in almost every aspect. I can’t pinpoint anything that was bad, but I finish it with an impression of, not wasting time, but indifference... All the twist and turn of the story felt a bit too much for the characters, like their always way over their head in impossible situation but that was alright... The character left me, again a feeling of indifference for a big part of the book, but they slowly catch my interest, even if I wouldn’t say I was attach to them by the end of the book. It lack the wow effect, or the originality to really get my intention. It was okay, I don’t regret reading it, but I wouldn’t recommend it because it just didn’t stand out enough!
September 19, 2018
Personal Response:
At first, I did not like Blink and Caution. I thought it was dull and I did not like the plot as much as I thought I would. It gradually became more exciting, and I ended up enjoying it. If it became a series, I would most likely read the second book.
Plot Summary:
Blink, whose real name is Brent, is living on the streets. Living off of whatever he can find. When he goes into a hotel, he witnesses something much bigger than he anticipated. After taking a BlackBerry, he gets roped into a crime that leads him to a better life. Kitty, whose nickname is Caution, is in deep trouble with her boyfriend. She decides to leave him, and take all his money, but he tries to follow her. Kitty and Blink meet at a bus stop where they decide they can help each other out. Blink receives a call on the BlackBerry from the owner´s daughter, telling him where to find her father. He is promised money in return for proving that her father is safe. Kitty and Blink travel to a cabin where they find him and his friends. Blink is caught, but Kitty saves him. They escape, they leave their past behind, and they get a chance at a better life.
Characterization:
In the beginning, Blink is portrayed as a frail, timid boy living on the streets. He blinks a lot, it is a habit he developed when he was younger. That is where he gets his nickname from. When Kitty meets him, she does not think he can fend for himself and she tags along on his adventure. Later, she realizes he is more than meets the eye. I notice that he thinks very logically, creates plans that he puts a lot of thought into, and is not as weak as he seems. When he drives to the cabin, and eventually gets caught, it is easy to tell that he is resourceful. Towards the end of Blink and Caution, you learn that Blink is more than meets the eye.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to those who do not mind waiting for the plot to get more exciting. It is best for readers who are patient, and are okay with a little bit of violence. The age group I would recommend this to is from ages 14 to 20. I do not think anyone who is not in that age range would like it.
At first, I did not like Blink and Caution. I thought it was dull and I did not like the plot as much as I thought I would. It gradually became more exciting, and I ended up enjoying it. If it became a series, I would most likely read the second book.
Plot Summary:
Blink, whose real name is Brent, is living on the streets. Living off of whatever he can find. When he goes into a hotel, he witnesses something much bigger than he anticipated. After taking a BlackBerry, he gets roped into a crime that leads him to a better life. Kitty, whose nickname is Caution, is in deep trouble with her boyfriend. She decides to leave him, and take all his money, but he tries to follow her. Kitty and Blink meet at a bus stop where they decide they can help each other out. Blink receives a call on the BlackBerry from the owner´s daughter, telling him where to find her father. He is promised money in return for proving that her father is safe. Kitty and Blink travel to a cabin where they find him and his friends. Blink is caught, but Kitty saves him. They escape, they leave their past behind, and they get a chance at a better life.
Characterization:
In the beginning, Blink is portrayed as a frail, timid boy living on the streets. He blinks a lot, it is a habit he developed when he was younger. That is where he gets his nickname from. When Kitty meets him, she does not think he can fend for himself and she tags along on his adventure. Later, she realizes he is more than meets the eye. I notice that he thinks very logically, creates plans that he puts a lot of thought into, and is not as weak as he seems. When he drives to the cabin, and eventually gets caught, it is easy to tell that he is resourceful. Towards the end of Blink and Caution, you learn that Blink is more than meets the eye.
Recommendation:
I recommend this book to those who do not mind waiting for the plot to get more exciting. It is best for readers who are patient, and are okay with a little bit of violence. The age group I would recommend this to is from ages 14 to 20. I do not think anyone who is not in that age range would like it.
December 8, 2014
Those of you who follow me know that I rarely write reviews (I have my reasons). Felt I had to for this one. Aside from a well-written, riveting storyline, this book also has something completely unexpected, something I usually steer clear of, and I may have blipped right past this gem had someone not recommended it to me. This is a dual-POV story of two teens living on the streets of Toronto. They do not meet until almost halfway through the story, but you can see them intertwined despite this. And once they do meet, you can't stop reading until the end.
Caution's story is told in third person. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Don't get me wrong--the POV is ordinary, but the voice is marvelous. In just a few pages, you feel as if you know Caution down to her soul. You feel the same way with Blink--his story is simple (nasty stepdad, runaway, living by his wits)--but here is where it differs from Caution's story: Blink's is told in second person. At first, I rolled my eyes. Second person is fine for short stories or poetry, but for me it is too heavy handed to be sustained throughout an entire novel.
But I promise Wynne-Jones manages to pull this off in a way that astounds me. After just one chapter in second person, I was completely immersed. Wynne-Jones' writing style is so deft that most of the time, it felt as if it were just someone telling a story, not talking to me. Every so often, I would become aware of the second person POV again. Not because it became intrusive; quite the opposite actually. Instead, some turn of phrase would remind me of the second person POV, and I would stop and marvel at how well that passage was handled, or reread something to see if I could tease it apart to find out how it ticks.
This is one of those books that I will read again, taking notes, highlighting passages, and generally dissecting it so that I can learn from a master. And because the story is just that good.
Caution's story is told in third person. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Don't get me wrong--the POV is ordinary, but the voice is marvelous. In just a few pages, you feel as if you know Caution down to her soul. You feel the same way with Blink--his story is simple (nasty stepdad, runaway, living by his wits)--but here is where it differs from Caution's story: Blink's is told in second person. At first, I rolled my eyes. Second person is fine for short stories or poetry, but for me it is too heavy handed to be sustained throughout an entire novel.
But I promise Wynne-Jones manages to pull this off in a way that astounds me. After just one chapter in second person, I was completely immersed. Wynne-Jones' writing style is so deft that most of the time, it felt as if it were just someone telling a story, not talking to me. Every so often, I would become aware of the second person POV again. Not because it became intrusive; quite the opposite actually. Instead, some turn of phrase would remind me of the second person POV, and I would stop and marvel at how well that passage was handled, or reread something to see if I could tease it apart to find out how it ticks.
This is one of those books that I will read again, taking notes, highlighting passages, and generally dissecting it so that I can learn from a master. And because the story is just that good.
June 3, 2012
Reason for Reading: I've always wanted to read this Canadian author but I've never got around to it. I just recently heard he'd been awarded the Order of Canada and thought it was time I read him and had this book on hand.
A fairly decent book, not really my usual thing as it deals with two runaway teens. One from a dysfunctional family, the other running from a life-changing event that is easy to guess, revealed too soon and would have been a better plot point if it had been kept as a secret to shock later in the book. The plot is quite interesting and the teens are well developed, both, though having problems, are likable from the beginning and the reader is invested in their well being. A tight crime thriller for this age group that mainly keeps the plot together though their are a few holes. I especially wondered why Alyson, as a character was left dangling. The thing that most annoyed me about this book though was that part of it is written in the second person. Chapters alternate between Blink & Caution's stories. Caution's tale is told in the third person, but Blink's is in the second person. The continual referral to you are doing this and you are thinking that was extremely annoying to me and I kept wondering *who* was talking to Blink and telling him/us his story. It is never explained and I, personally, do not like the literary device at all. However, a decent YA thriller. I will try another of the author's books ,having one more on my shelves, but I am in no rush.
A fairly decent book, not really my usual thing as it deals with two runaway teens. One from a dysfunctional family, the other running from a life-changing event that is easy to guess, revealed too soon and would have been a better plot point if it had been kept as a secret to shock later in the book. The plot is quite interesting and the teens are well developed, both, though having problems, are likable from the beginning and the reader is invested in their well being. A tight crime thriller for this age group that mainly keeps the plot together though their are a few holes. I especially wondered why Alyson, as a character was left dangling. The thing that most annoyed me about this book though was that part of it is written in the second person. Chapters alternate between Blink & Caution's stories. Caution's tale is told in the third person, but Blink's is in the second person. The continual referral to you are doing this and you are thinking that was extremely annoying to me and I kept wondering *who* was talking to Blink and telling him/us his story. It is never explained and I, personally, do not like the literary device at all. However, a decent YA thriller. I will try another of the author's books ,having one more on my shelves, but I am in no rush.
March 11, 2012
Katie Young
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Blink and Caution are two teens driven to the streets for different reasons. Blink left home because of constant mental and physical abuse from his stepdaddy. Caution left home for the streets because she felt it was the life she deserved after what she did to her brother. Their separate lives on the streets eventually cross paths and together they make it off the streets and become whole again.
This book has two parts. Part one tells the individual stories of Blink and Caution in alternating chapters. Part two is their story together. The words used to describe them, their surroundings, and their clothing were so descriptive I had no trouble imagining what they looked like, smelled like, and where they were.
At first I had trouble getting into this book. It moved slow and the alternating chapters made it hard to follow but then it all started to come together and I couldn't put the book down. This was a very good book about two teenage runaways who helped each other find their way. It would be a good addition to any YA collection.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Blink and Caution are two teens driven to the streets for different reasons. Blink left home because of constant mental and physical abuse from his stepdaddy. Caution left home for the streets because she felt it was the life she deserved after what she did to her brother. Their separate lives on the streets eventually cross paths and together they make it off the streets and become whole again.
This book has two parts. Part one tells the individual stories of Blink and Caution in alternating chapters. Part two is their story together. The words used to describe them, their surroundings, and their clothing were so descriptive I had no trouble imagining what they looked like, smelled like, and where they were.
At first I had trouble getting into this book. It moved slow and the alternating chapters made it hard to follow but then it all started to come together and I couldn't put the book down. This was a very good book about two teenage runaways who helped each other find their way. It would be a good addition to any YA collection.
December 13, 2011
At first I thought this was going to be another young adult dystopian fantasy, I guess because of the title and the cover. I'm happy to report it's not at all what I expected. What an amazingly satisfying realistic read! I fell hook, line and sinker for both characters, Blink and Kitty (Caution), and the storyline propelled me through the pages with its taut plotting. Blink's second person narrative worked, bringing me into his life and thoughts with an intimate immediacy. Wynne-Jones is a writer I will continue to read; his books are well-crafted and compelling. I'm not sure that anyone under the age of 16 will pick up this book due to the lack of fantasy or overt romance, but older teens and adults who enjoy well-written thrillers and realistic drama laced with grief as well as humor will relish this one. Some drug use and violence.
June 15, 2015
More of a 3.8 rating from me, as I liked it but can't say I really liked it. It was a bit hard to get into the narratives at first, with Blink's being second person and both perspectives present tense, and then things took a bit to settle into place plot-wise. But, once it got going, I couldn't put this book down and there were some very sweet moments between the two of them that made the slight "meh" parts worth it.
Want to read
January 30, 2019Synopsis: two street kids are in over their heads. Blink wanted to steal some food but bumped-into a fake kidnapping.
April 3, 2018
Not bad, but I think young adults would enjoy it better than older readers. The writing is fresh and pretty much Young Adult oriented, as the violence and other adult themes are subdued. And don't be fooled by the blurb on the back cover. The book is by no means a "noir".
May 17, 2011
5/16/11 ** You know that the characters in a book are well-crafted when they wake you up in the middle of the night and won't let you go back to sleep because you want so badly to find out what's going on with them. Have you ever found yourself writing the the book into the future, that part you haven't read yet, as you try to figure out what's going to happen next?
Wynne-Jones has carefully crafted a dual perspective book - in the first half alternating chapters follow Blink and Caution (as in Caution: Contents are Hot). In the second half of the book, the chapters continue to alternate in perspective, but the stories are merged. In a few parts, the tight third person switches to an omniscient view in which the narrator actually addresses the characters. I found this to be slightly disconcerting, requiring a second or third reading of a few passages, but overall, the technique worked.
I referred in an earlier post (see below) to the way Wynne-Jones sucked me into the story so completely. The writing style in the first part of the book is frenetic and staccato. I felt my heart pounding and my blood pressure rising just from reading some of the passages. Very well done.
You may be annoyed at this point that I haven't summarized the plot - I've written enough. Go read the plot synopsis that GoodReads or Amazon provide. Do it now though, you won't want to miss this intense tale of two teen characters who've made serious mistakes who are now moving through purgatory toward...
5/16/11 ** The dates during which I read this book are a little misleading; I did read a couple chapters around 5/2, but didn't really start it again until 5/15, at which point I finished it in two chunks of reading time, on a Sunday and Monday evening!
5/11/11 ** Well, somehow, I managed to leave this book alone for a while. I was so worried about getting sucked in and addicted (hence leaving other things, like grading papers, undone, that Blink & Caution is now on hold. Oh, for summer break when I can actually read more!
5/2/11 ** I started this a few nights ago at bedtime - by the time I was into the 2nd chapter I was hyperventilating. Wynne-Jones definitely made me feel the tension that Blink felt. The pace slowed down as I moved into a chapter about Caution. I'll be curious to see how the two story lines merge.
I found this on my desk in the to-be-read pile, but can't remember who gave it to me. It's a signed, personalized ARC - how could I not know how I got it. I must be losing my mind, or I have too many books (nah, it can't be that.) ** My husband has subsequently reminded me that my mother-in-law met Wynne-Jones at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Convention in Oct. 2010 and picked up this book for me. Upon telling the author that I taught 4th grade, he issued the warning that this book probably isn't for kids that young. I concur.
Wynne-Jones has carefully crafted a dual perspective book - in the first half alternating chapters follow Blink and Caution (as in Caution: Contents are Hot). In the second half of the book, the chapters continue to alternate in perspective, but the stories are merged. In a few parts, the tight third person switches to an omniscient view in which the narrator actually addresses the characters. I found this to be slightly disconcerting, requiring a second or third reading of a few passages, but overall, the technique worked.
I referred in an earlier post (see below) to the way Wynne-Jones sucked me into the story so completely. The writing style in the first part of the book is frenetic and staccato. I felt my heart pounding and my blood pressure rising just from reading some of the passages. Very well done.
You may be annoyed at this point that I haven't summarized the plot - I've written enough. Go read the plot synopsis that GoodReads or Amazon provide. Do it now though, you won't want to miss this intense tale of two teen characters who've made serious mistakes who are now moving through purgatory toward...
5/16/11 ** The dates during which I read this book are a little misleading; I did read a couple chapters around 5/2, but didn't really start it again until 5/15, at which point I finished it in two chunks of reading time, on a Sunday and Monday evening!
5/11/11 ** Well, somehow, I managed to leave this book alone for a while. I was so worried about getting sucked in and addicted (hence leaving other things, like grading papers, undone, that Blink & Caution is now on hold. Oh, for summer break when I can actually read more!
5/2/11 ** I started this a few nights ago at bedtime - by the time I was into the 2nd chapter I was hyperventilating. Wynne-Jones definitely made me feel the tension that Blink felt. The pace slowed down as I moved into a chapter about Caution. I'll be curious to see how the two story lines merge.
I found this on my desk in the to-be-read pile, but can't remember who gave it to me. It's a signed, personalized ARC - how could I not know how I got it. I must be losing my mind, or I have too many books (nah, it can't be that.) ** My husband has subsequently reminded me that my mother-in-law met Wynne-Jones at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Convention in Oct. 2010 and picked up this book for me. Upon telling the author that I taught 4th grade, he issued the warning that this book probably isn't for kids that young. I concur.
January 5, 2014
The book Blink and Caution written by Wynne-Jones had a very complicated storyline. The story was lead by the two main characters Blink and Caution. The book went by very slow, and it took a while to get to the climax. Also, the book took place in second person which got annoying and confusing at times.
The book starts out with Blink being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Blink is homeless and starving. So he went into a hotel hoping to find leftover food that hasn't yet been picked up outside of rooms. Instead he witnesses a fake kidnapping. “So there you are. And you hear what happens. And you see some of it, too.” This quote said by Blink explains the coincidental event. It also highlights the shock and fear he was experiencing as he witnessed the event.
Caution is in a relationship with a drug dealer. Caution is done with her drug dealer boyfriend’s controlling ways and goes to live with her family to seek freedom away from him.
In addition to, the confusing storyline, the book is written in second person in the chapters pertaining to Blink. In chapters pertaining to Caution the format would be more like "Caution takes off across the station, running as fast as she can, running on empty, running for her life." (156, Wynne). This shows how Caution's chapter are in first person as well as proves how she is on the run. Blink's chapters go more like " "Blink, we need to talk." There. Was that what you wanted, you reckless, greedy boy? "About what?" (84, Wynne). This clearly shows the second person format, and also how you can see Blink's thoughts. This format in my opinion makes the book much harder to read. Although at the same time it gave better insight to Blink’s thoughts. The book was also very challenging to follow. The storyline although fast at the beginning, dragged through the middle and released a decent ending. For those with little patience this book would not last long with them. Deeper and further into the book the storyline becomes almost addicting when Blink and Caution meet in the run from their problems. Then again it takes forever to get to that point. For example, Blink and Caution do not even meet till the end. So their stories drag all through the book. If the stories were cut to just details and they met earlier in the book I feel as if I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.
Overall, the ending of the book really got me hooked. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone willing to wait for the thrilling climax. I do not like this book too much because of its confusing storyline. I would give it a three out of five.foolhardy at best, disastrous at worst—along with a fated, tender partnership that will offer them each a rare chance for redemption.
The book starts out with Blink being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Blink is homeless and starving. So he went into a hotel hoping to find leftover food that hasn't yet been picked up outside of rooms. Instead he witnesses a fake kidnapping. “So there you are. And you hear what happens. And you see some of it, too.” This quote said by Blink explains the coincidental event. It also highlights the shock and fear he was experiencing as he witnessed the event.
Caution is in a relationship with a drug dealer. Caution is done with her drug dealer boyfriend’s controlling ways and goes to live with her family to seek freedom away from him.
In addition to, the confusing storyline, the book is written in second person in the chapters pertaining to Blink. In chapters pertaining to Caution the format would be more like "Caution takes off across the station, running as fast as she can, running on empty, running for her life." (156, Wynne). This shows how Caution's chapter are in first person as well as proves how she is on the run. Blink's chapters go more like " "Blink, we need to talk." There. Was that what you wanted, you reckless, greedy boy? "About what?" (84, Wynne). This clearly shows the second person format, and also how you can see Blink's thoughts. This format in my opinion makes the book much harder to read. Although at the same time it gave better insight to Blink’s thoughts. The book was also very challenging to follow. The storyline although fast at the beginning, dragged through the middle and released a decent ending. For those with little patience this book would not last long with them. Deeper and further into the book the storyline becomes almost addicting when Blink and Caution meet in the run from their problems. Then again it takes forever to get to that point. For example, Blink and Caution do not even meet till the end. So their stories drag all through the book. If the stories were cut to just details and they met earlier in the book I feel as if I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.
Overall, the ending of the book really got me hooked. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone willing to wait for the thrilling climax. I do not like this book too much because of its confusing storyline. I would give it a three out of five.foolhardy at best, disastrous at worst—along with a fated, tender partnership that will offer them each a rare chance for redemption.
August 5, 2011
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
BLINK & CAUTION is the tale of two streets kids. Brent (Blink) and Kitty (Caution) both have back stories that have them on the run. When their paths cross, they work together to overcome the odds against them.
Blink was simply looking for a free breakfast when he took the elevator to the sixteenth floor of the hotel. It looked like there would be easy pickings from the half-eaten remains left on trays set outside the rooms. When he actually enters a room to investigate some odd behavior displayed by the exiting guests, he realizes he has witnessed a possible kidnapping. Once inside the room, Blink discovers a wallet filled with cash and a cell phone that reveals the kidnapped may not be the victim he assumed.
Having some ready cash is a welcome surprise, but the more Blink learns about the situation, the more nervous he becomes. His nerves prompt him to check out the cell phone more carefully. He actually contacts the "kidnap" victim's daughter in an attempt to reassure her that her father has not been harmed. That contact is one Blink soon comes to regret.
Caution has been living on the street and, more recently, with a drug dealer named Merlin. Attempting to run from a tragedy from her past, Caution is fully aware that she harbors a death wish, but at the same time she looks at death as an easy escape from the much harsher punishment that her guilt insists she deserves.
Caution is on the run after a fight with Merlin that ended in her discovery of his drug money stash. She can't believe they've been practically starving to death when he has had thousands of dollars hidden away. Anger and fear motivate Caution to grab the money and run.
Fate works to bring Blink and Caution together in the train station. After a bumpy first meeting, the two join forces to help each other. Caution provides the street smarts lacking in the naive Blink, and he supplies the funds to sustain their cause. As time passes, the two begin to trust one another with secrets as well as friendship.
Award-winning author Tim Wynne-Jones takes readers on an adventure with two young people living by their wits as they try to survive, and at the same time right a wrong. It is a story with twists and turns and definitely not for the faint-hearted.
BLINK & CAUTION is the tale of two streets kids. Brent (Blink) and Kitty (Caution) both have back stories that have them on the run. When their paths cross, they work together to overcome the odds against them.
Blink was simply looking for a free breakfast when he took the elevator to the sixteenth floor of the hotel. It looked like there would be easy pickings from the half-eaten remains left on trays set outside the rooms. When he actually enters a room to investigate some odd behavior displayed by the exiting guests, he realizes he has witnessed a possible kidnapping. Once inside the room, Blink discovers a wallet filled with cash and a cell phone that reveals the kidnapped may not be the victim he assumed.
Having some ready cash is a welcome surprise, but the more Blink learns about the situation, the more nervous he becomes. His nerves prompt him to check out the cell phone more carefully. He actually contacts the "kidnap" victim's daughter in an attempt to reassure her that her father has not been harmed. That contact is one Blink soon comes to regret.
Caution has been living on the street and, more recently, with a drug dealer named Merlin. Attempting to run from a tragedy from her past, Caution is fully aware that she harbors a death wish, but at the same time she looks at death as an easy escape from the much harsher punishment that her guilt insists she deserves.
Caution is on the run after a fight with Merlin that ended in her discovery of his drug money stash. She can't believe they've been practically starving to death when he has had thousands of dollars hidden away. Anger and fear motivate Caution to grab the money and run.
Fate works to bring Blink and Caution together in the train station. After a bumpy first meeting, the two join forces to help each other. Caution provides the street smarts lacking in the naive Blink, and he supplies the funds to sustain their cause. As time passes, the two begin to trust one another with secrets as well as friendship.
Award-winning author Tim Wynne-Jones takes readers on an adventure with two young people living by their wits as they try to survive, and at the same time right a wrong. It is a story with twists and turns and definitely not for the faint-hearted.
October 23, 2016
Personal Response
I thought that this book was decent. To be honest it was kind of boring to me and was kind of predictable. I felt as if the writer could have had less name changes in the book. For example, Kitty would be called Caution or Katherine at one time depending on who she encountered. Blink would also have name changes so it would be confusing to keep up with these changes. Overall the story was interesting enough and was written well.
Plot Summary
The two main characters are Blink and Caution. They both live on the streets. Blink is on the streets because he hates his stepfather. Caution is on the streets because she accidentally killed her brother while trying to shoot a target in their backyard. Caution, known as Kitty back home, meets a man named Merlin while on the streets. She stays with him in an abusive relationship/helps him with his drug dealing job. One day when Caution finds him cheating on her she runs away with all of Merlin's money and meets Blink at a subway station while trying to run away. Blink was going to meet Allison to try and find her dad who was kidnapped. That was because Blink needed the money and he got caught up in a kidnapping mess by stealing her dad's cell phone. So as Caution and Blink meet by chance Caution steals Blinks money but then returns it to him while following him. Next they they join forces to go find Allison's dad. They found him where Allison said he might be and ended up running away from there. They never got a chance to tell Allison details because her dad came out of hiding and had a good lie. Blink and Caution part ways for a short period of time after that but are still romantically involved.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to young adults that are girls. I believe this is an accurate recommendation because girls usually are wanting to read something that is more romantically orientated then violence and action based. I wouldn't recommend this book to a 13 year old boy because they'd get bored with the book.
I thought that this book was decent. To be honest it was kind of boring to me and was kind of predictable. I felt as if the writer could have had less name changes in the book. For example, Kitty would be called Caution or Katherine at one time depending on who she encountered. Blink would also have name changes so it would be confusing to keep up with these changes. Overall the story was interesting enough and was written well.
Plot Summary
The two main characters are Blink and Caution. They both live on the streets. Blink is on the streets because he hates his stepfather. Caution is on the streets because she accidentally killed her brother while trying to shoot a target in their backyard. Caution, known as Kitty back home, meets a man named Merlin while on the streets. She stays with him in an abusive relationship/helps him with his drug dealing job. One day when Caution finds him cheating on her she runs away with all of Merlin's money and meets Blink at a subway station while trying to run away. Blink was going to meet Allison to try and find her dad who was kidnapped. That was because Blink needed the money and he got caught up in a kidnapping mess by stealing her dad's cell phone. So as Caution and Blink meet by chance Caution steals Blinks money but then returns it to him while following him. Next they they join forces to go find Allison's dad. They found him where Allison said he might be and ended up running away from there. They never got a chance to tell Allison details because her dad came out of hiding and had a good lie. Blink and Caution part ways for a short period of time after that but are still romantically involved.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to young adults that are girls. I believe this is an accurate recommendation because girls usually are wanting to read something that is more romantically orientated then violence and action based. I wouldn't recommend this book to a 13 year old boy because they'd get bored with the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2011
This was my first Tim Wynne-Jones book and I would never have picked it up if I hadn’t heard him speak at the Boston Globe Horn Book awards. What a charming, bearded man! And what an interesting book!
Some friends whose opinions I trust had a very difficult time getting into the story, but “Not I” said the cat. (That’s from The Little Red Hen. Duh.) From the very first chapter, I was fascinated with the characters’ voices. The second person narrative on the part of Blink was tedious at times, but the words coming out of his mouth (err, being put into his mouth? See, second person POV is strange…) were uniquely his own and I appreciated that.
Caution was also a refreshingly unexpected voice, thankfully in the third person POV, and distinctly different from Blink’s…though with a similar “slant”. Whatever that means. They captured my attention and held it long after the more plot-driven aspects of the story started to fall apart.
This is definitely a plot-centric, action mystery adventure sort of story. Imagine Hitchcock's North by Northwest: the Canadian teen version. I think it got a little far reaching towards the end, but not being an action mystery adventure reader, perhaps that is typical? In any event, I can now appreciate Tim W-J for more than just his large beard and sparkling wit. I plan to read more of him in the future.
A taste of the aforementioned character voice:
“The night passes but just barely, with a D- for taking so long.”
“The couch is dying too. She clashes terribly with the couch. It’s plaid: all sickly greens and browns—the tartan of the McHeave clan. Caution is wearing tartan—a clingly acrylic mini-kilt in the colors of the McSalvation Army.”
Some friends whose opinions I trust had a very difficult time getting into the story, but “Not I” said the cat. (That’s from The Little Red Hen. Duh.) From the very first chapter, I was fascinated with the characters’ voices. The second person narrative on the part of Blink was tedious at times, but the words coming out of his mouth (err, being put into his mouth? See, second person POV is strange…) were uniquely his own and I appreciated that.
Caution was also a refreshingly unexpected voice, thankfully in the third person POV, and distinctly different from Blink’s…though with a similar “slant”. Whatever that means. They captured my attention and held it long after the more plot-driven aspects of the story started to fall apart.
This is definitely a plot-centric, action mystery adventure sort of story. Imagine Hitchcock's North by Northwest: the Canadian teen version. I think it got a little far reaching towards the end, but not being an action mystery adventure reader, perhaps that is typical? In any event, I can now appreciate Tim W-J for more than just his large beard and sparkling wit. I plan to read more of him in the future.
A taste of the aforementioned character voice:
“The night passes but just barely, with a D- for taking so long.”
“The couch is dying too. She clashes terribly with the couch. It’s plaid: all sickly greens and browns—the tartan of the McHeave clan. Caution is wearing tartan—a clingly acrylic mini-kilt in the colors of the McSalvation Army.”
January 16, 2012
I considered giving BLINK & CAUTION three stars, then blinked. I thought a lot of the writing was five star, but grew cautious. Like the double-billed title, I'm of two minds. First, you should know that this tale of two street kids, one boy and one girl, in Toronto, is nicely written, especially for the YA genre. The characterization is solid, too. You feel as if you know both characters well -- especially Caution (real name: Kitty), who's a hard luck girl capable of playing hardball with the big boys.
What hurts the book is the plot. The Blink side of the story is the main driver, as young Blink witnesses the fake abduction of a business executive, then finds his leftover cellphone and calls the exec's daughter. She suggests he go to the family's mountain retreat to see if Dad truly is faking it, Blink does so and meets Caution, and then he runs into the bad guys. Trouble is, the "bad guys" aren't so bad and the whole gimmick of the kidnapping doesn't resonate truthfully. In short, deep into the book, the entire plot gets lost and the characters seem to bump into each other on stage looking for direction. Wynne-Jones brings it home, but his solution to the plot holes is to throw loose strings through them. For the reader, it all adds up to a shrug.
Adding to my ambivalence is the inclusion of a few edgy elements -- language and scenes -- early in the book. As is often the case in YA, they are frankly gratuitous. Oddly, the whole second half of the book, spare one brief scene where our heroes hold each other, reads clean as a middle-reader book. In the end, you have to appreciate the book for stylistic points and character charisma because they amount to the cavalry coming over the hill to rescue a muddled plot.
What hurts the book is the plot. The Blink side of the story is the main driver, as young Blink witnesses the fake abduction of a business executive, then finds his leftover cellphone and calls the exec's daughter. She suggests he go to the family's mountain retreat to see if Dad truly is faking it, Blink does so and meets Caution, and then he runs into the bad guys. Trouble is, the "bad guys" aren't so bad and the whole gimmick of the kidnapping doesn't resonate truthfully. In short, deep into the book, the entire plot gets lost and the characters seem to bump into each other on stage looking for direction. Wynne-Jones brings it home, but his solution to the plot holes is to throw loose strings through them. For the reader, it all adds up to a shrug.
Adding to my ambivalence is the inclusion of a few edgy elements -- language and scenes -- early in the book. As is often the case in YA, they are frankly gratuitous. Oddly, the whole second half of the book, spare one brief scene where our heroes hold each other, reads clean as a middle-reader book. In the end, you have to appreciate the book for stylistic points and character charisma because they amount to the cavalry coming over the hill to rescue a muddled plot.
January 22, 2012
This was an enjoyable, intriguing story. It reminded me a little bit of Paper Towns by John Green. Both characters were likeable, and the story unfolded in alternating points of view. Blink's voice was in second person, which was unique. Caution's voice was in third person. It took quite awhile for the two characters to meet, but once they did, they became a team with each one's strengths complimenting the other one. The basic premise of the story is that Blink witnesses a businessman leaving a hotel room with 3 people, and on the way out, one of the men tosses the hotel key over his shoulder. Blink enters the room and steals a few hundred dollars and a blackberry. The event is later reported as a kidnapping in the news. Blink knows the truth, and makes contact with the businessman's daughter (via the blackberry) to let her know that her dad is okay. Meanwhile, since his fingerprints are now in the hotel room, he ends up on the run. The parallel story belongs to Caution, who is living with her drug dealing boyfriend and fighting her own demons after her brother's death. When she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her, she steals his money and leaves - also ending up on the run in fear of the boyfriend finding her. Both Blink and Caution end up at the train station, and Caution befriends Blink after seeing he has some money. She steals his money, but later feels bad about it and returns the cash to him on the train. Both characters have heart, which is why they were likeable. The rest of the story involves tracking down the businessman, getting caught, escaping, and moving on with life and healing.
August 16, 2013
Tim Wynne-Jones taught at the WIFYR conference in 2012, and his class on dialogue was so inspirational that I had to put his book on my to-read list.
This book is unique and very well done. It switches between Blink and Caution, street names for the two main characters. Caution is written in third person limited, but Blink is written second person. And it not only works, but works amazingly well. I think it may have been something like the way Blink thinks his Granda would speak to him [I won't spoil the end, but the Granda makes an appearance]. Whatever the case, this very original style didn't detract, but instead added to my interest in the book.
I was hooked from page one. I felt for the complex and believable characters and stayed with the magnificent plotting straight to the end, which was quite close to perfect.
I have to warn this is definitely YA. I won't presently give this book to my under-16 daughters who get upset about any swearing in books (or otherwise.) There are a fair amount of F-bombs, and some talk about a porn video(nothing blatant, however, it's not that kind of book. The video is something a character ends up in unintentionally, and she find out and destroys the video.)
Spolier--after you read it, come back and look at my question and see if you agree: I would have liked to see Blink talk to Alyson one more time, just to tell her his version of things. But I understand why Tim left it as it was. Alyson may not have wanted to know that side of her father.
This book is unique and very well done. It switches between Blink and Caution, street names for the two main characters. Caution is written in third person limited, but Blink is written second person. And it not only works, but works amazingly well. I think it may have been something like the way Blink thinks his Granda would speak to him [I won't spoil the end, but the Granda makes an appearance]. Whatever the case, this very original style didn't detract, but instead added to my interest in the book.
I was hooked from page one. I felt for the complex and believable characters and stayed with the magnificent plotting straight to the end, which was quite close to perfect.
I have to warn this is definitely YA. I won't presently give this book to my under-16 daughters who get upset about any swearing in books (or otherwise.) There are a fair amount of F-bombs, and some talk about a porn video(nothing blatant, however, it's not that kind of book. The video is something a character ends up in unintentionally, and she find out and destroys the video.)
Spolier--after you read it, come back and look at my question and see if you agree: I would have liked to see Blink talk to Alyson one more time, just to tell her his version of things. But I understand why Tim left it as it was. Alyson may not have wanted to know that side of her father.
November 18, 2011
At first the writing (2nd person narrative) was a bit jarring and I had to focus on the story. Blink did not appeal immediately and I wasn't really into the story. Then Caution was introduced and I was absorbed into the tale and began to enjoy myself.
The tale of two street youth, Blink and Caution, both on the streets for different reasons and then thrown together because of a series of a mystery that Blink (street name because he blinks so much)is trying to solve. While stealing food in a hotel lobby he hears a fight but sees the men walk away unharmed. He investigates the room and steals a blackberry and a wallet full of money. The next day on the news, the owner of both, is reported missing and then kidnapped. But Blink has seen the room and saw the man and things are not adding up.
Caution (another street name but i'm not giving away that spoiler here) is living with her abusive drug dealer boyfriend. She lives with him because she is punishing herself for something that has happened in her past. She is broken and feels worthless. My heart broke reading her tale.
Eventually both youth are on the run again and end up together.
The suspense was just right and I was pleased with the ending. Sometimes these types of stories are so heartbreaking that I can't enjoy them but this was different. The author drives the story with lots of suspense and it becomes a crime drama.
Told in alternating voices. Well done.
The tale of two street youth, Blink and Caution, both on the streets for different reasons and then thrown together because of a series of a mystery that Blink (street name because he blinks so much)is trying to solve. While stealing food in a hotel lobby he hears a fight but sees the men walk away unharmed. He investigates the room and steals a blackberry and a wallet full of money. The next day on the news, the owner of both, is reported missing and then kidnapped. But Blink has seen the room and saw the man and things are not adding up.
Caution (another street name but i'm not giving away that spoiler here) is living with her abusive drug dealer boyfriend. She lives with him because she is punishing herself for something that has happened in her past. She is broken and feels worthless. My heart broke reading her tale.
Eventually both youth are on the run again and end up together.
The suspense was just right and I was pleased with the ending. Sometimes these types of stories are so heartbreaking that I can't enjoy them but this was different. The author drives the story with lots of suspense and it becomes a crime drama.
Told in alternating voices. Well done.
July 8, 2014
When an author focuses on two teenaged street kids as the protagonists for his story, you have to be concerned. Generally, things don't end well. Blink and Caution are smart and canny, although their instincts aren't always very good. So Blink is searching a very nice hotel for breakfast, and he is accidentally witness to a disturbing scene. Just how disturbing he has to work out, watching and reading the news, piecing together clues to find out what happened, and whether there might be something in it for him. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Toronto, Caution has been taken in by a dealer, in more ways than one. The risks and dangers are mounting for both of them, and their lives are about to take an even more perilous turn.
Wynne-Jones does a brilliant job of making the reader really care about these kids. He doesn't try to disguise how hard life on the streets is, and he doesn't pretend that they can get through without getting their hands dirty. The police are never going to be on their side, especially not when Blink starts to uncover a CEO's web of influence. Of course I wanted them to make it, but every minute I was reading this I was aware just how unlikely it was that they could make it out alive. Too many people are out for blood, and a girl with a Little Mermaid backpack is too easy to spot. If this was a movie, it would be directed by Luc Besson.
Library copy.
Wynne-Jones does a brilliant job of making the reader really care about these kids. He doesn't try to disguise how hard life on the streets is, and he doesn't pretend that they can get through without getting their hands dirty. The police are never going to be on their side, especially not when Blink starts to uncover a CEO's web of influence. Of course I wanted them to make it, but every minute I was reading this I was aware just how unlikely it was that they could make it out alive. Too many people are out for blood, and a girl with a Little Mermaid backpack is too easy to spot. If this was a movie, it would be directed by Luc Besson.
Library copy.
July 1, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the author brought two very separate stories together and i liked the overall plot of the business man going missing. I thought his reasons were actually pretty good for leaving, and his whole scheme was well thought out. Alyson was a fairly confusing character, i was never quite sure whose side she was on until the end, and even then, she really only acted based on what she wanted, which i thought was kind of obnoxious. She really only thought about herself the whole time, especially concerning Blink. I was like, "really? this kid is on the street and you can't even help him get to your place which happens to be very far away from where he is so he *can* help you?" She seemed rather self-centered, concerned only with her own problems. However, i really liked both Blink and Caution and their characters and their overall chemistry. I normally hate it when two characters in a book are in love like right away, because that's so unrealistic, but with B & C, it was after a whole big ordeal of stuff happened that made them closer to one another in a very different way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2012
This novel started out as the distasteful variety which shows the dark underbelly of street-kid life, with gritty sexual and drug abuse, helplessness and hopelessness and plenty of reasons I might like to give up reading about. But I liked the way Wynne-Jones talked about the destiny of the meeting of these two characters, and I found that their tough exteriors and hurt hearts were endearing them to me and causing me to read on, despite my misgivings. And of course, this is a wonderful storyteller, with a very unobtrusive writing style.
So I persevered, and found Blink and Caution to be a very satisfying read - there is hope at the end, and the plot is not overly dramatised to make it implausible, and there is a beauty in the character of these two damaged young people who find salvation in each other.
The beginning is rough enough to make me want it to be in the Senior Fiction section of my library, but it is firmly in the YA genre, and I will have no hesitation about recommending it as a great read.
So I persevered, and found Blink and Caution to be a very satisfying read - there is hope at the end, and the plot is not overly dramatised to make it implausible, and there is a beauty in the character of these two damaged young people who find salvation in each other.
The beginning is rough enough to make me want it to be in the Senior Fiction section of my library, but it is firmly in the YA genre, and I will have no hesitation about recommending it as a great read.
November 28, 2011
Oh, how I wanted to like this one! I listened to it on audio since it's narrated by a narrator I normally love, MacLeod Andrews. (Really, he's awesome-listen to Will Grayson,Will Grayson) But this one just didn't pull me in. The mystery was a bit over the top and felt a bit too "bad guys are such doofuses and teens can outwit them easily" which never seemed to fit with the depth the author was trying to give the characters. Both Blink and Caution have troubled pasts that they are trying to deal with, but I felt this was downplayed because of the hokey mystery. I also was very bored by the narration, which I think made me dislike the book more.
April 10, 2020
This plot of this book is really what got me interested in the story. Also the cover is really beautiful. I went into this book with very high expectations, even though I never really heard about it before. It just seemed like it was going to be something fantastic for me because I really love mysteries and crime. This story was good but and I did enjoy my time reading this book but it wasn't fantastic.
Characters:
Blink's story was told in second person which really took me a while to get used to. This perspective did help me connect more with blink and feel for him because I really felt like I was in Blink's shoes. I felt everything that he went through. Even though I felt for Blink and could relate to him in some ways I still didn't like him that much. He was an okay character but I just found him to be incredibly boring. His character almost ruined this book for me because I was just so bored when it was Blink's story. And I feel like we didn't get to know a lot about him, compared to how much we got to learn about Caution.
Caution was definitely my favourite out of the two main characters. She really made this book for me and kept me reading. It got to the point where I just wanted Caution all the time and didn't really care about Blink that much. She was so much more interesting. We got to learn so much about her and what made her end up on the streets. She felt like she was broken and worthless and my heart really broke for her. I really connected with this character and could relate to her. She was such an amazing character. She really cared about the people around her. She was super sweet and just such a wonderful character. I wish we got more of her story.
Plot:
For the first part of this book we follow two main characters, Blink and Caution on their separate journey’s. Both of the main characters have been living on the streets for their own reasons. Blink's step dad was abusive and Caution left home because she felt guilty about her brother's death and she ended up living with her drug dealing boyfriend.
Their individual stories really pick up when Blink witnesses a fake kidnapping in a hotel and tries to get to the bottom of what happened while Caution is on the run from her drug dealing boyfriend. Throughout their individual journeys, Blink and Caution meet each other on a train.
During the second part of the book Blink and Caution are together. Caution is helping Blink find out what happened to the man in the hotel who he witnessed being kidnapped. They also learn a lot about each other and help each other in many ways along the way to finding out what happened in the hotel.
This story does take a while to get into but the story becomes so much better after Blink and Caution finally meet each other. I really loved the idea of following two teens who live on the streets each due to different things from their past. I loved reading about how they were able to survive living on the streets.
Homelessness is something that is rarely written about in young adult fiction so I really admire that the author took this subject and made such a wonderful story.
One thing I really didn't like about the plot was the whole fake kidnapping thing. I really didn't care about what happened to the guy, why he did it or anything else related to the kidnapping. I feel like the author just used this as a way for the characters to cross paths. I wish the mystery was more interesting and something else happened to make the characters cross paths and meet.
Writing:
This was my first time reading a book by Tim Wynne-Jones. His writing style is so amazing. The writing was so descriptive and I had no problem visualizing everything that was happening. This book was written with dual points of view. Blink's story was written in second person and Caution's story was writing in third person. This was my first time ever reading anything in second person. At first it was very strange for me and it did take me a little while to get into the writing for Blink's story. One thing I really liked about this story is that we did get to see each of the character's lives before they meet. We got to learn who they are as individuals then see how meeting the other impacts their life. I do think their separate stories did go on for a little too long though. I really loved the writing for this book and I will definitely check out more from this author.
Romance/Feelings:
Blink and Caution's relationship was perfect. I really loved the way their friendship developed. Although Caution was a potential love interest for Blink, I don't feel like their relationship really went there. Their relationship was so much more than that. They were both really there for each other. Caution was the person that was there for Blink throughout his whole adventure and he never really felt like he had that before. She encouraged and inspired him along the way and watched his back, proving that he could trust her. Blink really helped Caution become who she really is. I think their relationship was something very special. I really loved how they each impacted the other in huge, life changing ways.
Overall:
This was a pretty good book. I didn't like the main male character that much but I absolutely adored the main female character. The plot wasn't anything special but it was a fun, easy read. The writing style was fantastic and I really loved the relationship between the two main characters. It was something incredibly special.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes action in young adult books. There was a lot of action in this book that made it such a fast paced and fun read.
Characters:
Blink's story was told in second person which really took me a while to get used to. This perspective did help me connect more with blink and feel for him because I really felt like I was in Blink's shoes. I felt everything that he went through. Even though I felt for Blink and could relate to him in some ways I still didn't like him that much. He was an okay character but I just found him to be incredibly boring. His character almost ruined this book for me because I was just so bored when it was Blink's story. And I feel like we didn't get to know a lot about him, compared to how much we got to learn about Caution.
Caution was definitely my favourite out of the two main characters. She really made this book for me and kept me reading. It got to the point where I just wanted Caution all the time and didn't really care about Blink that much. She was so much more interesting. We got to learn so much about her and what made her end up on the streets. She felt like she was broken and worthless and my heart really broke for her. I really connected with this character and could relate to her. She was such an amazing character. She really cared about the people around her. She was super sweet and just such a wonderful character. I wish we got more of her story.
Plot:
For the first part of this book we follow two main characters, Blink and Caution on their separate journey’s. Both of the main characters have been living on the streets for their own reasons. Blink's step dad was abusive and Caution left home because she felt guilty about her brother's death and she ended up living with her drug dealing boyfriend.
Their individual stories really pick up when Blink witnesses a fake kidnapping in a hotel and tries to get to the bottom of what happened while Caution is on the run from her drug dealing boyfriend. Throughout their individual journeys, Blink and Caution meet each other on a train.
During the second part of the book Blink and Caution are together. Caution is helping Blink find out what happened to the man in the hotel who he witnessed being kidnapped. They also learn a lot about each other and help each other in many ways along the way to finding out what happened in the hotel.
This story does take a while to get into but the story becomes so much better after Blink and Caution finally meet each other. I really loved the idea of following two teens who live on the streets each due to different things from their past. I loved reading about how they were able to survive living on the streets.
Homelessness is something that is rarely written about in young adult fiction so I really admire that the author took this subject and made such a wonderful story.
One thing I really didn't like about the plot was the whole fake kidnapping thing. I really didn't care about what happened to the guy, why he did it or anything else related to the kidnapping. I feel like the author just used this as a way for the characters to cross paths. I wish the mystery was more interesting and something else happened to make the characters cross paths and meet.
Writing:
This was my first time reading a book by Tim Wynne-Jones. His writing style is so amazing. The writing was so descriptive and I had no problem visualizing everything that was happening. This book was written with dual points of view. Blink's story was written in second person and Caution's story was writing in third person. This was my first time ever reading anything in second person. At first it was very strange for me and it did take me a little while to get into the writing for Blink's story. One thing I really liked about this story is that we did get to see each of the character's lives before they meet. We got to learn who they are as individuals then see how meeting the other impacts their life. I do think their separate stories did go on for a little too long though. I really loved the writing for this book and I will definitely check out more from this author.
Romance/Feelings:
Blink and Caution's relationship was perfect. I really loved the way their friendship developed. Although Caution was a potential love interest for Blink, I don't feel like their relationship really went there. Their relationship was so much more than that. They were both really there for each other. Caution was the person that was there for Blink throughout his whole adventure and he never really felt like he had that before. She encouraged and inspired him along the way and watched his back, proving that he could trust her. Blink really helped Caution become who she really is. I think their relationship was something very special. I really loved how they each impacted the other in huge, life changing ways.
Overall:
This was a pretty good book. I didn't like the main male character that much but I absolutely adored the main female character. The plot wasn't anything special but it was a fun, easy read. The writing style was fantastic and I really loved the relationship between the two main characters. It was something incredibly special.
I would recommend this to anyone who likes action in young adult books. There was a lot of action in this book that made it such a fast paced and fun read.
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