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noabockkk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
abbigail_mariee55's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Drug use
jailin0311's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
When I first began reading this book, I thought I had it figured out from the get go. It however surprised me, in a great way. While I assumed Victor and William were gonna be best friends by the end, I like the way she steered clear from that. I don’t think Victor would forgive William for anything if this was non fictional, so I like how by the end they had a mutual understanding for one another. I found it more realistic. I liked the romance factor added in to it, and thought Kell was a spectacular character. It shows many people can be loved. Nikole was such a great touch as well, someone Victor will never forget who taught him so much yet they were not destined for each other.
des92's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book, it tackled big issues and I always love seeing the good outcomes at the end of books like these. I only had one issue and that's the main characters never really resolved things for each other in a way that I would have liked it, but either than that it was wonderful.
nagam's review against another edition
4.0
Really great debut by K.M. Walton. Definitely enjoyed it!
-----
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading
Cracked is K.M. Walton’s debut novel, and she’s coming out with a bang. While Cracked seems to be a very serious book according to my summary, I found Walton did an incredible job balancing the serious with laugh out loud moments. I breezed through the pages and couldn’t get enough of Victor and Bull.
Victor felt invisible. He would sometimes go days without speaking to anyone but his dog, Jazzer. He was never good enough for his parents, and while they were never physically abusive, their treatment certainly took a toll on him mentally. It didn’t help that Bull ridiculed him, hit him, and called him names at school. It just didn’t seem like he had much to live for so he tried to overdose on sleeping pills when his parents fled to Europe for vacation without him.
Bull, real name William, really made me upset when I read about him from Victor’s point of view. (Each chapter alternated between their two points of view.) However, when I got into his world, I felt so disgusted by his living conditions and the almost daily beatings his grandfather put him through. I didn’t excuse his actions and mistreatment of Victor, but I did understand how he was displacing his anger on someone else. When he comes across a gun he tries to devise a plan to make things “better” but things backfire (no pun intended) and he ends up in the psych ward with Victor.
What an unlikely situation that two enemies would be roommates. Their inner dialogues had me laughing out loud when they realized there was no way they could change their circumstances. They both have secrets no one else knows, but they’re forced to sit in group therapy sessions and reveal all their emotions. These were the times I was so glad Cracked was written in first person – I got to know every single humorous or sad thought that crossed through their minds. In the short time they were in the psych ward, both were forced to come to terms with their feelings regarding two pretty ladies. (Well, three if you include the nurse Bull was crushing on.)
I really, really enjoyed Cracked. It felt extremely realistic. I love how it focused on the boys being worth something. They realized they had something to live for, and they became fighters (not in the physical sense, of course). Cracked came out in January, so you should definitely check it out!
-----
Review originally posted on Rather Be Reading
Cracked is K.M. Walton’s debut novel, and she’s coming out with a bang. While Cracked seems to be a very serious book according to my summary, I found Walton did an incredible job balancing the serious with laugh out loud moments. I breezed through the pages and couldn’t get enough of Victor and Bull.
Victor felt invisible. He would sometimes go days without speaking to anyone but his dog, Jazzer. He was never good enough for his parents, and while they were never physically abusive, their treatment certainly took a toll on him mentally. It didn’t help that Bull ridiculed him, hit him, and called him names at school. It just didn’t seem like he had much to live for so he tried to overdose on sleeping pills when his parents fled to Europe for vacation without him.
Bull, real name William, really made me upset when I read about him from Victor’s point of view. (Each chapter alternated between their two points of view.) However, when I got into his world, I felt so disgusted by his living conditions and the almost daily beatings his grandfather put him through. I didn’t excuse his actions and mistreatment of Victor, but I did understand how he was displacing his anger on someone else. When he comes across a gun he tries to devise a plan to make things “better” but things backfire (no pun intended) and he ends up in the psych ward with Victor.
What an unlikely situation that two enemies would be roommates. Their inner dialogues had me laughing out loud when they realized there was no way they could change their circumstances. They both have secrets no one else knows, but they’re forced to sit in group therapy sessions and reveal all their emotions. These were the times I was so glad Cracked was written in first person – I got to know every single humorous or sad thought that crossed through their minds. In the short time they were in the psych ward, both were forced to come to terms with their feelings regarding two pretty ladies. (Well, three if you include the nurse Bull was crushing on.)
I really, really enjoyed Cracked. It felt extremely realistic. I love how it focused on the boys being worth something. They realized they had something to live for, and they became fighters (not in the physical sense, of course). Cracked came out in January, so you should definitely check it out!
amibunk's review against another edition
4.0
This is an awfully powerful book. Do all the plot points resolve themselves rather too quickly and conveniently toward the end? Yes. But the voice of the bully and the voice of the bullied felt realistic and true. I thought the use of alternating points of view an excellent decision on the author's part. Being inside the head of both Victor and Bull gives the novel an extra dimension and keeps everything from being a complete after-school special cliche.
Overall, it was a very interesting look into the world of being bullied and how some people cope in those situations.
Overall, it was a very interesting look into the world of being bullied and how some people cope in those situations.
justwanna2read's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sadee_lilith_bee's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Despite the theme of suicide, it really delves into what drives a person to something like that. And what could possibly help them through it, granted that their attempt doesnt succeed. All in all, I laughed, I cried, I thought and wondered. It makes you question parts of your life and how you really feel about them. I like that in a book. I wouldn't mind recommending this read to others because I loved it
swalbert's review against another edition
4.0
Quick, easy read. Not sure why everyone seems to hate this book?? I love a good sad story with a happy ending.
rose_d's review against another edition
5.0
I think this is one of the only books I actually read and finished in about 4 hours straight. I really liked it. How two guys who seemed so different were actually alike in some ways.