Review Detail

What I Loved:
Brutal Youth is unlike any book I've read before. It starts with one of the best opening chapters I've read in a long time. With stark imagery and tension in every sentence, this opening grips you and sucks you into the story immediately. It almost feels a bit surreal at times.

After that opening, I knew I would be invested in the rest of the story. One of the my favorite parts of the novel is how it follows characters of all ages. The main characters are freshmen in high school, but we also see into the lives of seniors, the elderly principal, the parish priest, and the young computer sciences teacher. Every character's story is so unique and fascinating.

St. Michaels has a long history of hazing and the novel is aptly named: some of the "pranks" are absolutely brutal. Everyone is flawed and everyone does bad things, even the supposed good guys. The school environment brings out the worst in people and it's interesting to see how the characters rise or fall to the occasion. No choice is easy, and the author captures the daily struggles beautifully.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The story is told over the course of a single school year, and the ending definitely made me want to follow the characters throughout their high school careers. Simply put, I want to find out what happens next.

The Final Verdict:
With dark humor and a lot of heart, Brutal Youth is a coming-of-age story that is both troubling and entertaining.