Another ARC. This one is especially interesting to me, as it deals with a troubling aspect of the criminal justice system: where should the line be drawn with juvenile suspects? Particularly in the case of violent crime, how much consideration should be given to the age of the perpetrator?
There are many people much smarter and better equipped to answer that question than I. They should probably read this book.
I will say I am not wild about the...I don't know exactly what to call it. Can't really say "secondary" story line because as much or more time is spent on it. "Flashbacks" don't really cover it either, though they do take place in the past. Let's say there's two threads in this story: one that follows a crime allegedly committed by a minor and the subsequent trial, and the main character's childhood story, told throughout in flashbacks.
For one thing, I think the flashbacks were used as effectively as they probably can be, but I don't really care for it as a storytelling device. Especially not when done so repeatedly and out of sequence as in this book. For another, the flashbacks set up a huge reveal about the character and then fail to deliver the necessary impact. Yes, the revelation is surprising, in its way, but my reaction was much more "Huh" than "WHAT?!"
Which brings us to the third thing, and the real flaw: I don't believe the flashback thread tells us enough about the protagonist to make it worth my while. Of course, the rest of the story isn't strong enough to be a book on its own, so there's that. So to sum up: Interesting enough, and I'm not sorry I read it, but I AM glad I didn't spend any money on it.
Author: Lisa Ballantyne
Potentially objectionable content: This is a very adult book. Lots of language, lots of difficult themes and a fairly graphic crime.
There are many people much smarter and better equipped to answer that question than I. They should probably read this book.
I will say I am not wild about the...I don't know exactly what to call it. Can't really say "secondary" story line because as much or more time is spent on it. "Flashbacks" don't really cover it either, though they do take place in the past. Let's say there's two threads in this story: one that follows a crime allegedly committed by a minor and the subsequent trial, and the main character's childhood story, told throughout in flashbacks.
For one thing, I think the flashbacks were used as effectively as they probably can be, but I don't really care for it as a storytelling device. Especially not when done so repeatedly and out of sequence as in this book. For another, the flashbacks set up a huge reveal about the character and then fail to deliver the necessary impact. Yes, the revelation is surprising, in its way, but my reaction was much more "Huh" than "WHAT?!"
Which brings us to the third thing, and the real flaw: I don't believe the flashback thread tells us enough about the protagonist to make it worth my while. Of course, the rest of the story isn't strong enough to be a book on its own, so there's that. So to sum up: Interesting enough, and I'm not sorry I read it, but I AM glad I didn't spend any money on it.
Author: Lisa Ballantyne
Potentially objectionable content: This is a very adult book. Lots of language, lots of difficult themes and a fairly graphic crime.
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