Scan barcode
A review by labunnywtf
The Boy in the Smoke by Maureen Johnson
4.0
Maureen Johnson was awesome enough to have this story available online here. Thank you!
I'm rather ashamed of how long it took me to realize this Stephen was *the* Stephen. I had a few theories about who this character was before I realized, and basically wanted to slap myself in the forehead when he mentioned a desire to be a police officer.
This is a fantastic one off from the main series. She starts the story beautifully, giving you all you need to know about Stephen with just the first thought, which is that his parents have forgotten to pick him up from boarding school. And he texts his sister, who immediately promises vengeance.
For a small, four part short story, you get so much information about Stephen. More than I think we've gotten on Rory in the main series.
He often had the impulse to go and find the flat this had happened in and burn it to the ground.
This struck a particular nerve of mine, and I had to remind myself for the 100th time that a certain motel in my town has been gone for quite a number of years.
The ending, with Peter, was the perfect ending. The knowledge that he This story sets up the Stephen we know from the books, and really beautifully explains why he is the way he is. I may have liked this even more than the two main books. Is that bad?
I'm rather ashamed of how long it took me to realize this Stephen was *the* Stephen. I had a few theories about who this character was before I realized, and basically wanted to slap myself in the forehead when he mentioned a desire to be a police officer.
This is a fantastic one off from the main series. She starts the story beautifully, giving you all you need to know about Stephen with just the first thought, which is that his parents have forgotten to pick him up from boarding school. And he texts his sister, who immediately promises vengeance.
For a small, four part short story, you get so much information about Stephen. More than I think we've gotten on Rory in the main series.
Spoiler
The loss of Gina is just gut wrenching.He often had the impulse to go and find the flat this had happened in and burn it to the ground.
This struck a particular nerve of mine, and I had to remind myself for the 100th time that a certain motel in my town has been gone for quite a number of years.
The ending, with Peter, was the perfect ending. The knowledge that he