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emily_cu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A wonderful portrait of “forgotten” Florida. The main characters are middle schoolers that seem wise beyond their years, but still act in ways that remind you that they’re just kids… Just read it - you won’t regret it! Honestly, if I were to elaborate more I’d give away the major plot points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
jjb_1013's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
starthelostgirl's review against another edition
3.0
John Brandon was my very first college professor, and remained one of my favorites, so I am not entirely unbiased.
I don’t like this style of writing, where everything is bad all the time and nothing really matters or changes, and all we focus on is terrible people doing terrible things. It’s reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye, which I am not a fan of. I did really care about one character, the 4 year old who was actually very sweet, but found myself feeling disdainful towards any older kids or adults in the novel. The focus on the sexuality of 13 year olds was uncomfortable at times, and at the end of the book I felt like the events had been viewed through a thick fog where nothing really changed despite momentous events happening. I couldn’t tell if the way some adults spoke to the kids was supposed to be unreliably reported, because it seemed too ridiculous to be real, or if that was supposed to be another aspect of the weird disconnect in Citrus County.
Overall I think it achieved what it set out to do, and that just isn’t the kind of story that works for me.
I don’t like this style of writing, where everything is bad all the time and nothing really matters or changes, and all we focus on is terrible people doing terrible things. It’s reminiscent of The Catcher in the Rye, which I am not a fan of. I did really care about one character, the 4 year old who was actually very sweet, but found myself feeling disdainful towards any older kids or adults in the novel. The focus on the sexuality of 13 year olds was uncomfortable at times, and at the end of the book I felt like the events had been viewed through a thick fog where nothing really changed despite momentous events happening. I couldn’t tell if the way some adults spoke to the kids was supposed to be unreliably reported, because it seemed too ridiculous to be real, or if that was supposed to be another aspect of the weird disconnect in Citrus County.
Overall I think it achieved what it set out to do, and that just isn’t the kind of story that works for me.
posies23's review against another edition
4.0
As the other reviews can attest, this is something of a "love it or hate it" book. For the most part, I was in the "love it" category. This book reminded me of a lot of Vicki Hendricks work, in that it explores the lives of quirky characters and their circumstances. To say much more would ruin the experience of the book. With that said, the writing is very strong and the characters and characterizations are realistic and will stick with you after the book is done.
ocurtsinger's review against another edition
3.0
Brandon weaves a chilling suspense tale that is totally devoid of any stereotypical one-dimensional suspense characters. What we have instead is a group of people who are as deeply layered and complicated as real-life people, each with their own fears and just-slightly-twisted obsessions that make them seem so close to reality that we could speak to them or hug them...not that we would want to. The book follows the life of the perpetrator so closely that there's no room for edge-of-your-seat mystery or head-scratching. Instead, the joy in reading comes from peeling back the layers of these awkwardly placed and often misguided characters, and I found myself rushing back to the book not as much for the storyline but just to see what Toby or Shelby or Mr. Hibma would do next, what part of their warped sense of themselves in this garish setting I could identify with. Brandon writes great dialogue and his writing holds a shaky but reverent light up to this strange part of the country which add much to the richness of his tale.
My only complaint would be the way that the novel finished, the last fifteen pages reading more like a summary from a police report than a chapter of the carefully crafted tale that Brandon had weaved so far. Still recommendable, if not for the good writing then just for a refreshing break from the cliches that are so commonplace in similar novels.
My only complaint would be the way that the novel finished, the last fifteen pages reading more like a summary from a police report than a chapter of the carefully crafted tale that Brandon had weaved so far. Still recommendable, if not for the good writing then just for a refreshing break from the cliches that are so commonplace in similar novels.
chillcox15's review against another edition
5.0
This book doesn't try to explain. It just happens. John Brandon doesn't want you to feel anything, really. He lets you feel, but he doesn't push you in one way or another, he lets you feel what you want to feel. He doesn't try to make Toby, or any of the other characters, 'likable' like other authors do. Whereas other authors may set up certain morally egregious scenarios that they have to then write themselves out of to make the protagonist agreeable, Brandon presents what happens and nothing more. You might like the characters, or you may find them annoying. I particularly enjoyed the fact that many characters aren't fully fleshed out, such as Aunt Dale and the FBI agent. There is more story to all of these characters, but Brandon doesn't owe us those stories. In that way, I found this novel much more realistic and enjoyable than others, because it allows in characters without having to 'explain' them.
ericfheiman's review against another edition
4.0
One of the better contemporary novels I've read recently. Only a very skilled author could both make the daring plot believable and yet not have it overwhelm the intimately shaded main characters, so kudos to Brandon for making it all work in a memorable and emotionally satisfying way.
bethtmorris's review against another edition
4.0
Dark but good read. I probably wouldn't have read this but it was a gift and I liked it a lot. The characters were well developed, deeply flawed, and written in unique voices. Florida doesn't have the best reputation and this book doesn't do much to help that.