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luna_zau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
violence, boot camp for misbehaving teens, bad food, and toothbrush shivs, combine to create a riveting, fast read. and the tragedy is that the general story of the boot camp being more like a prison of torture is based in harsh reality.
suedd's review against another edition
3.0
Violent and disturbing...because the author's research probably makes this a pretty true picture. No happy ending here.
Boys of all grades should be especially interested.
Boys of all grades should be especially interested.
book_leigh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting book. It’s fairly tense and if you’re looking for a HEA, you’re not likely to find much of it here. It’s based on the actual teen boot camps that exist within the United States and really shines a light on how little rights teens have. It raises the ethical question of whethere or not the kids belong there and whether or not the parents are always right in all situations.
lannthacker's review against another edition
3.0
YA STRASSE - boot camps, violence, relationship between an adult and a minor.
15 year old Garrett was exceptionally smart and a reasonably good kid in a wealthy family, until he began dating his 24 year old math teacher. Then his parents decide their only recourse is to have him taken from his home and transported to a camp where he'll learn to obey, or be trapped for four years. But did his parents know about the barely edible food? The solitary confinement ? The condoned beatings? Was what he did really so wrong? For older teens.
15 year old Garrett was exceptionally smart and a reasonably good kid in a wealthy family, until he began dating his 24 year old math teacher. Then his parents decide their only recourse is to have him taken from his home and transported to a camp where he'll learn to obey, or be trapped for four years. But did his parents know about the barely edible food? The solitary confinement ? The condoned beatings? Was what he did really so wrong? For older teens.
oreo46387's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
stephaniereads9b0f8's review against another edition
5.0
Five stars for Mr. Strasser, who dares to expose an industry paid for by the lives of children. All parents should read this.
I didn't agree with the main character's relationship with an older woman, but the book makes up for it with the glimpse into the teen boot camp industry...
I didn't agree with the main character's relationship with an older woman, but the book makes up for it with the glimpse into the teen boot camp industry...
booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
4.0
Great read, short but having the courage to stick with its convictions and be depressing and gruesome and still excellent
allie8973's review against another edition
This book fucked me up when I was like 12 and it still fucks me up at 28. Disturbing and manipulative and psychological torture. Ive had dreams about this kind of thing all my life. So I thought if I reread it as an adult it would be less scarier. It's not. The fact that the young girls were called sluts and whores just triggered a whole other kind of sexual harassment abuse. I have no words really. The ending too, not hopeful, not at all. He gets out but will deal with the trauma for the rest of his life.