Fitz by Mick Cochrane - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Oct 04, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

“A father, a son, and a gun.”

Everyone has a story to tell. But with two sides to every story, how do we know which side is the truth?

Fifteen-year-old Fitzgerald (Fitz) is determined to get the truth. He needs to know what happened between his parents and why his father doesn’t want to be a part of his life. Fed up with getting no answers from his mother, Fitz sets out to kidnap his father at gunpoint and finally get his version no matter what. As Dinah Washington once crooned, “What a differenc...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-galley

“Fifteen year old Fitz kidnaps the father he has never known, taking him from at gun point, in an attempt to address his bewildering mix of resentment and yearning.”

Intriguing as that sounds, I had this slight fear that I would get a boy too wrapped up in his own thing, too self absorbed and too aware of what he didn’t have. He was and he wasn’t. It was that start and the end that got me to react the strongest, but the in- between was totally different. Fitz put it best with his ‘what’s after...more “Fifteen year old Fitz kidnaps the father he has never known, taking him from at gun point, in an attempt to address his bewildering mix of resentment and yearning.”

Intriguing as that sounds, I had this slight fear that I would get a boy too wrapped up in his own thing, too self absorbed and too aware of what he didn’t have. He was and he wasn’t. It was that start and the end that got me to react the strongest, but the in- between was totally different. Fitz put it best with his ‘what’s after hate?’ It was exactly that question that had me continuing. Frankly, my feelings went from intrigued and curious then settled on my usual “so-what- now feelings” mode that I’ve been on for the longest time, but I really wanted to know what would follow that volatile beginning.

Once done, my usual middle feelings of ok came around, but the longer I considered it the more I liked it. Though “like” might not be the right word.

This is about how Fitz wants what he doesn’t have. It's also about how he finds why that’s the case. It wasn’t what I was expecting and it certainly wasn’t what he was expecting. Because the story he unearthed with him holding that gun could be described as a little “everyday.” In fact, even him taking his father at gunpoint, was something I thought would go off with a bit more volatility, urgency; something that would grab by my gut, I suppose. But here? I skated through it given how everything was happening so quietly, so ordinarily so quietly ordinary(?). Even his back story that's discovered, felt commonplace. So commonplace, in fact, that it’s what made Fitz’s story sadder… more sad than merited.

The reactions he got out of the other were both obvious and not-so obvious because Curtis was afraid and resigned then later even ballsy in getting things done. Overall, however, the progression I can only describe as a little mundane… almost as if it’s everyday that someone (a) takes another at gunpoint and (b) that the other taken at gunpoint. But it’s Curtis side of the story that was less than obvious, it's what niggled at me. Never mind the may be slightly imbalanced boy with the gun. Never mind the same boy’s propensity towards picturing his thoughts real and wanting his daddy. It was CURTIS’s revelations that were equal parts sad and selfish. There’s an honesty to the guy in admitting he came up short. But admitting something and doing something about it are two wholly different things. (view spoiler)

So their actions, even if extreme, were understandable, but still selfish and misguided. This is true both for his mother (with her idea of each doing what’s best for all,) and for his father (with being satisfied in doing what he’d been doing for forever -or not doing as was his case.) And yes even for Fitz, this slightly imbalanced boy with a wanting that’s so big that he acts to the extreme.

The start of his story was intriguing, but the progression from there put an emphasis on events that were a bit ‘every day.’ And I may sound contrary, but that end still had me feeling shortchanged. I expected something more. Why that’s the case is a wonder even to me because only in the beginning were things volatile… then thereafter things went quietly, ordinarily by. (yes, I am not blind to my overuse of adverbs in this one.)

While not my favorite, this was definitely interesting.
THANK YOU NETGALLEY!
2??? or 3??? of 5

(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, ya

Two males from two different worlds are torn apart and Fitz thinks a Smith & Wesson .38 Special can solve the answer. These two males have a lot in common if only they had learned to speak and stand on their own two feet but perhaps it is not too late now. Fitz and his father never knew each other. Curtis tried to be father when Fitz was born, (or did he really try) but rejection was just too easy to take and with his future still a blank slate, he rose to the top and made himself a name. Fi...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

“A father. A son. And a gun,” is the phrase on the cover of Fitz by Mick Cochrane. This phrase describes a novel that is fast-paced, action-packed, and intensely emotional. Unfortunately, Fitz is none of these things.

This less than two hundred page novel takes place in one day: the first day that Fitz sees his father since he was a baby. Believing that his father will want nothing to do with him, Fitz brings a gun to his meeting with his father. He forces his father to spend time with him—tries...more “A father. A son. And a gun,” is the phrase on the cover of Fitz by Mick Cochrane. This phrase describes a novel that is fast-paced, action-packed, and intensely emotional. Unfortunately, Fitz is none of these things.

This less than two hundred page novel takes place in one day: the first day that Fitz sees his father since he was a baby. Believing that his father will want nothing to do with him, Fitz brings a gun to his meeting with his father. He forces his father to spend time with him—tries to force his father to love him—by holding him at gunpoint.

A novel that starts like that should be written in first person, in present tense, and with a minimal amount of flashbacks. Fitz is written in third person, present tense and might spend more time in flashbacks than in present time. Since the flashbacks are all told in past tense, the changing tensing gets tiresome. I understand that backstory is necessary, but I wish it was told in a different way. The story needs to start with the gun, but it could have started with Fitz buying the gun (which is one of the many flashbacks) and thinking about why he needed to do so. If the backstory of Fitz’s absent father and his relationship with his mother was told at the beginning, then Fitz’s day with his father could actually be the focus of the story.

The flashbacks and past tense verbs took away the immediacy of the story, but I might have been able to get over that if the story was written in first person. So much of Fitz’s character was lost to the third person narration. The narrator does tell readers what Fitz is thinking, but Fitz’s thoughts would have been much better told if he was the one telling them. I could not really get into Fitz’s mind, and it drove me crazy.

Although Fitz’s character is not fully developed, I could really see his parents. I liked his mother’s love of old movies and how much she cares about her students and her son. I liked that Fitz was able to pull the person out of the lawyer when he was with his father.

Through these three characters, Mick Cochrane explores what it’s like when a child has only one parental figure. The ideas are there, but they are not explored to the extent that they could have been.(less)

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Dec 27, 2012 Rene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved the writing in this book. I liked how it was just a slice of time in a day where anything could happen. Definitely felt like a fly on the wall.

I also found one of the best passages of writing I have ever read and I could relate to it on such a personal level:

It occurs to Fitz that if this guy hauls him away, he's never going to finish his lunch. Somehow, this seems worse than any dire legal consequences. Him downtown, and his burger, more than half of it, pretty much the best burger he's...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Richie Partington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Richie’s Picks: FITZ by Mick Cochrane, Knopf, November 2012, 192p., ISBN: 978-0-375-85683-9

“I was alone, I took a ride, I didn’t know what I would find there
Another road where maybe I could see another kind of mind there”
--Lennon/McCartney “Got to Get You into My Life” (from The Beatles’ Revolver album)

“A black SUV passes slowly. There’s a woman inside, nicely dressed, wearing sunglasses, fluffing her hair in the rearview mirror. Fitz smiles pleasantly at her, trying his best not to look like a...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Lalitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

How far would you go to spend just a few moments with the father who abandoned you as a baby? That's essentially the premise of this fascinating book about a teenage boy who goes to extreme lengths in an effort to discover the parent he never knew.

The book opens with fifteen-year old Fitz staking out a swanky neighborhood, quietly waiting for the right moment to kidnap his rich, lawyer father at gunpoint. Fitz has always felt a gnawing emptiness all his life due to his father's absence. He's no...more How far would you go to spend just a few moments with the father who abandoned you as a baby? That's essentially the premise of this fascinating book about a teenage boy who goes to extreme lengths in an effort to discover the parent he never knew.

The book opens with fifteen-year old Fitz staking out a swanky neighborhood, quietly waiting for the right moment to kidnap his rich, lawyer father at gunpoint. Fitz has always felt a gnawing emptiness all his life due to his father's absence. He's not sure why his parents split up because his mom refuses to talk about it. So Fitz takes drastic measures to get the answers he's always sought.

Cochrane's novel is a page-turner not because it's fast-paced (it really isn't), but because of the character development of the flawed, but vulnerable Fitz. He's done a pretty awful thing, kidnapping someone at gunpoint--one might assume that he's not a redeemable human being. However, readers see Fitz process a range of emotions (guilt, sadness, anger, regret) - much of which come off as somewhat justifiable as we learn more about his dad's background. As Fitz and his father, Curtis interact, we see layers being peeled back to reveal the hurt on both sides - Fitz's feelings of abandonment, and also Curtis' ultimate recognition of his failure as a partner and parent.

For the most part, this book worked for me - I liked how issues of class were juxtaposed (Fitz is poor/Curtis is not), and Fitz's internal dialogue throughout the novel about the differences and similarities between him and his father. Things that didn't work: the side characters, like Fitz's bandmates. These characters weren't well developed enough to drive the plot forward. I was also disappointed in the portrayal of Annie, Fitz's mother--when we finally meet her, she's kind of awful and we don't really understand why. Lastly, the conclusion felt a little too neatly wrapped up and stretched believability for me. Still, this was a worthwhile read that would appeal to a broad audience.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Brichimt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Mick Cochrane, author of several books, including “The Girl Who Threw Butterflies,” has written a new psychological thriller involving a fifteen-year-old named Fitz (named after F. Scott Fitzgerald), who manages to kidnap his estranged father at gunpoint. Fitz’s objective… to find out why his father chose to live apart from him and what really happened between him and Fitz’s mother.

As time passes the flawed character of both Fitz and his father’s began to heal. Fitz is anguished ove the abandonm...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Cassi aka Snow White Haggard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: galleys, read-in-2012

3.5/5 stars

In writing you hear the mantra "show and don't tell" all the time. But sometimes, just occasionally, writers break that rule and it works. Fitz is an example of that. This is not the type of book where you go on a grand adventure with the main character, or follow his struggles for months and years. Instead the book takes place over the course of one day. Fitz (the main character as well as title) is searching for answers about his past. And while these stories may be told through dia...more 3.5/5 stars

In writing you hear the mantra "show and don't tell" all the time. But sometimes, just occasionally, writers break that rule and it works. Fitz is an example of that. This is not the type of book where you go on a grand adventure with the main character, or follow his struggles for months and years. Instead the book takes place over the course of one day. Fitz (the main character as well as title) is searching for answers about his past. And while these stories may be told through dialogue, they're nonetheless compelling.

Fitz is a believable narrator. I instantly bought into the voice of this novel. Fitz is confused. He feels like he's missing something vital in life. But he's a good kid--makes good grades, doesn't get into trouble, treats his mom well. Except on this one day, that's not who Fitz wants to be. Like a costume, he puts on a thuggish persona and sets out to teach his father a lesson.

The thing is Fitz has never met his father. He's been this distant unknown, his mother not even willing to tell him his father's name. All of that only makes Fitz more curious. Instead of just listening to his mother's stories, Fitz takes matters into his own hands, finding out everything he can about his mysterious father.

While his father may send the monthly check, Fitz knows it's no replacement for a relationship. What Fitz wants is time and answers. His mother refuses to give him the answers and his father has never given him any time. Fitz decides to take what he wants, kidnapping his father to force some father/son bonding time.

The voice in this novel is perfect. Sometimes Fitz tries to sound mean and harsh, but you can tell that he doesn't even quite believe it himself. He's not much of a bad guy, even though he's kidnapping his father. Fitz may wave a gun around but the reader never believes he's really capable of shooting anyone. This creates a strange sympathy for Fitz. Yes he's doing something stupid, but as the reader you really don't want to see him punished for it.

While the story is small what it means for one boy's life isn't. Sometimes things that don't seem important to you might be all consuming to someone else. That's how Fitz feels about finding out why his father left. As far as problems go, it might seem fairly minor. Except for Fitz it's the most important question in the world.

The epilogue undermines the rest of this book. It feels tacked on, like the author didn't really know how to end the story. So while the rest of the book was understated and impactful, the epilogue was too clean and simple to match the realism of Fitz's story. It's a bad way to end an otherwise great book.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. (less)

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Nov 13, 2012 Anna (Gatsby's Girl) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Fitz is fifteen, living with his Mom in a rundown neighborhood. He has never met his Dad, but that's about to change. Today he's going to spend the day with his Dad, holding him at gunpoint, and trying to get the answers that he's always wanted. Why didn't his Dad stay with his Mom? Why hasn't he been in Fitz's life, other than sending child support? This sounded like a book that is very different from my usual read. I decided to give it a try and had mixed feelings when it was over. On a basic...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Ms. Ramsborg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Fitz
Lexile: Not Available
I liked this book because it takes place in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the author grew up in Minnesota. The story is about Fitz, a boy who kidnaps his own father at gunpoint, so that he can get to know him. Fitz takes his father to familiar local places in St. Paul, like the Como Zoo.
My favorite part of the book was when Fitz’s father told Fitz the story of how he met his mother, and about their dating days. It was a sweet story that included very specific details so that...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, age-ya, 2012, realistic

I read this ARC via Netgalley.

Fitz has always done what he's told, even though growing up with a single mom hasn't been easy. Until one day when he takes a gun and goes to where he's found out his father lives, and takes his father hostage for the day. He isn't sure exactly what he wants from his father. Can one day make up for a lifetime?

Fitz's conflicted feelings would ring true with any kid growing up in a single-parent household. I wondered a little bit at what would make Fitz decide to tak...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Ryan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-couldnt-finish, contemporary-ya, middle-grade, young-adult

This book was slightly less boring than I expected. (But not engaging enough to finish.) I kept waiting for something unexpected or mildly interesting to happen. Nope, just a lot of boring backstory. I guess that is supposed to be the "mystery." Why did my Dad abandon me? (yawn)
In Cochrane's defense, I've never been into contemporary YA.
In my defense, I entered a contest trying to win
Bad Hair Day but ended up with this one instead.
How would you feel?

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Apr 02, 2013 Nina O'Daniels rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a quick read that will appeal to those students who want something a little less complicated and is less than 200 pages. Fitz, the main character, ends up kidnapping his estranged dad for the day with hopes of a memorable trip to the zoo and a movie montage of father-son activities. He gets that to an extent. He also learns about this parents relationship, why they aren't together anymore, and a little about his dad. The anger that rears up in him seems a little out of ordinary for his c...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a good book. Not great...but good. Fitz "kidnaps" the father that he's never known at gunpoint. He's hoping to have some father/son bonding time, and learn why his father was never around. He finds out the answers, but it may not be what he wants to hear. I think I would have liked this book better if there had been some anger on the father's part. After he realizes it is his son, he is so easygoing. I just couldn't take it as realistic. Not a bad book for reluctant readers, as it is an...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Rachael Woohoo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, 2013, arcycling, book, review-copy, reviewed

[3/5]

For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

However strange this might sound, FITZ reminds me of the type of short story we'd read in school. I know that sounds pretty bad for some readers, but I guess I happen to actually enjoy what I read in the classroom. Maybe it's because the book was so short and seemed to symbolize "something more"? I'm not totally sure. Nevertheless, I found that FITZ was a short, but curious and intriguing type of read.

As a character, I found that F...more [3/5]

For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!

However strange this might sound, FITZ reminds me of the type of short story we'd read in school. I know that sounds pretty bad for some readers, but I guess I happen to actually enjoy what I read in the classroom. Maybe it's because the book was so short and seemed to symbolize "something more"? I'm not totally sure. Nevertheless, I found that FITZ was a short, but curious and intriguing type of read.

As a character, I found that Fitz was a pretty likable character. I liked the smaller details in his character, like that he loved music, had a crush on Nora, and could appear to be your everyday teenage guy. He also appeared to be a really sweet character and grew onto me as I read on! To an extent, I could also understand his pent up emotions and dying curiosity about his father, which made me really feel for him. However, I felt like I still wanted to know more about his character, but as the book is pretty short, I was still hungering for more of the details in his thinking and character.

I also found that the writing in this book was magnificent! Not only did it flow well, but I also felt like I could just "click" with the passages, like I could completely understand the meaning behind the words. The book is also written in third person and has a large amount of flashbacks, which I found interesting in a "curious" type of way, though it makes the plot move at a slower pace. For this, I'd, again, suggest reading the first few pages in the book at a store or reading the sample provided on Amazon.

The plot though is probably what mainly brought my experience down. Judging from the summary, I guess I was expecting more action and suspense. Instead, you have a mellower experience and a deeper exploration of Fitz's family relationships. While I did end up enjoying their complex relationships, I was still expecting a faster paced and more exciting novel, so I was still a bit let down.

However, I do have to say I loved Curtis & Annie's stories (aka, Fitz's parents). Yes, you could probably guess Curtis's story is different then it seems, but I loved how it was slowly developed, gradually tugging at my heartstrings. In fact, because of the many flashbacks, by the end I felt like I knew more about Fitz's parents than Fitz himself...

Overall, FITZ had an interesting premise and wasn't all that I expected, therefore leaving me wanting for more. Though I really enjoyed Curtis & Annie's story, I still felt like more time should have been spent describing more of Fitz's character. When picking up FITZ, if you're expecting a more drawn out novel, rather than one with a lot of action, you would probably enjoy it! On the other hand, if you're looking for a psych-thriller type of book, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

* Thank you to Jennifer of ARCycling for the review copy of the book!(less)

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Jan 20, 2013 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-galley, contemporary, ya-realistic-fiction-challenge-2012, coming-of-age, favorites, drama, psychological, family, netgalley, young-adult, realistic-fiction

Initial thoughts: I thought that "Fitz" was an excellent coming of age story with appropriate amounts of tension. It's about a teenage boy on the edge of breaking without having a father figure in his life. Desperate, Fitz buys a gun, finds his father and holds him at gunpoint, while suggesting that they spend some "quality time" together. What happens from that point is something that neither of them expect - they learn more about each other than they bargained for.

Full review:

I'm incredibly be...more Initial thoughts: I thought that "Fitz" was an excellent coming of age story with appropriate amounts of tension. It's about a teenage boy on the edge of breaking without having a father figure in his life. Desperate, Fitz buys a gun, finds his father and holds him at gunpoint, while suggesting that they spend some "quality time" together. What happens from that point is something that neither of them expect - they learn more about each other than they bargained for.

Full review:

I'm incredibly belated with writing the review on Mick Cochrane's "Fitz", partially because I read the book so far before its respective release date as an ARC (I read it in March of 2012, but it wasn't released until late 2012). Yet, when I consider it now, there's so much about this novel that I remembered and loved. The story revolves around an angry boy named Fitzgerald, or simply called Fitz for short. He has a love for jazz and singing, he earns good grades. While you would think on the surface this was a normal kid, inside, Fitz has hit his boiling point and feels angry with the state of things in his life. He hides a gun, and while searching for answers in the broken relationship between his mother and father, he decides to search out his father - whom he has never met - and demand answers from him as to why the man isn't in his life.

I loved Fitz's narrative voice in this book, and the flow of the writing was so easy in transition from one point to the next, keeping the tension front and center as well as illuminating the relationships between the characters. It's a coming to terms story as well as incorporates other elements to center around Fitz's experiences and discoveries. Although this entire story is a glimpse into Fitz's life for one day when he takes his particularly jarring act of desperation, it provides so much into the eye of the character that I couldn't draw myself away from it. One of the best things that I took from in this particular work was the fact the author showed Fitz's internal conflict to a tee - showing the difference between his displayed actions, which engage the push for answers no matter what, and his internal dialogue, which shows he has a stronger moral compass than what his actions would lend.

I think the one thing that I could say that I didn't completely love was the way the ending came across in comparison to the rest of the novel - I think it tried to tie things off in a conclusive way, but it felt a bit different from the tone of the narrative flow up until that point, which is a shame because the setup and execution through the duration of the novel was very strong and had a darker coloring that didn't match really how the ending tried to thread those ties together. I think it could've been more plausible and more realistic than what it was. I think if that had been a better tie, this would've easily been one of my favorite overall picks of the year.

Suffice to say, I did enjoy this novel and appreciated it as a character driven story with a strong narrative voice. It had some bumps in the road, but it was worth following through.

Overall score: 4/5

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Random House BFYR.(less)

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Nov 02, 2012 Scott Pilgrim rated it 2 of 5 stars

Find my review at City of Books
"All these years, what prevented his father from being nice to him? Why didn't he knock on the door? Why didn't he write a letter? Why? Why? Why? It is the central mystery of his life"

When you don't like a book, who is to blame? Sometimes you can blame the author but sometimes you have to blame yourself. Fitz is a well-written book but it just wasn't for me.

Fitz is the story of Fitzgerald who decides to stalk and kidnap his father who abandoned his family. I didn...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Pam Bohmfalk rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: yags2013

Because of the subtitle (a father. a son. and a gun.) and the way the book starts, it seems logical to think that this is going to be a tragic, dramatic story. Instead it turns into really a very quiet and thoughtful exploration of parenthood, the consequences of choices and perception vs. expectations. It is a fast read and the characters are a bit shallow as the reader sees them, but Fitz is believable and probably closer to what most of us experience than a more dramatic story would have been...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Jean rated it 2 of 5 stars

Hmmm...how do I rate this book? It was well written, I like the literary intertextual and music references, and I could relate to the mixed feelings of Fitz about his place in the world BUT I hated the whole concept of getting to know his dad at gunpoint. What with the real life angst-ridden young men in very recent times who have tried to come to grips with their confused emotions by using a gun, I just couldn't quite buy into that device in this story (benign as it turned out to be.)

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Feb 27, 2013 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, realistic-fiction, washyarg-reviews, young-adult

Fitz, named for F. Scott Fitzgerald, has never known his father although dad sends money every month. In fact, this is how Fitz tracks him down and begins to follow (ie: stalk) him. As he continues this pattern, he gets really angry, so one day he takes his dad hostage at gunpoint.
Students will be instantly drawn in by the cover and the story will keep them engaged. However, the resolution seems unrealistic and vaguely disappointing.

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Mar 05, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-teen-books

The tag to this book is "A father. A son. And a gun." I wasn't certain what to expect. Fitz has never known his father. For 15 years he has gotten vague answers from his mother and only knows his father from his monthly support check. Fitz has decided he wants some father/son bonding time and has a gun to make sure his dad take his request seriously. Fitz is confused and angry and wants to know why his father hasn't been in his life. The story is quite thoughtful and honest about how people are...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Susanna Parker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting story about a teenager who's sure that his feelings of being adrift and unsure are due to his father's absence in his life. I liked it... it wasn't my favorite, but there is some moving character interaction, and I definitely believe that Fitz himself could be real. I didn't like how the book kinda made it seem that anyone who didn't know their father was broken in some way. But overall a good read.

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Oct 02, 2012 Mickey rated it 3 of 5 stars

A father. A Son. And a Gun. Ooooo! Sounds action-packed and crazy, right? OK, maybe not. Maybe more angst-ridden and internal than I had hoped-for. Fitz by Mick Cochrane is not a bad story, but it was not something I would have normally picked up. It reminded me of Walter Dean Meyers' books, but I'm not entirely sure why...

If you're up for a romping good time spending the day with a boy and his dad as they visit the office, the zoo, catch lunch together, and have a jam session on the front porch...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-to-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 04, 2013 Pamela rated it 2 of 5 stars

A 15 year old boy kidnaps his father to have "quality time" with him, except that he has never spoken to his father before in his life. Does show how kids yearn for both parents, but this dad is too good to be true. Maybe someone will enjoy this, but I didn't--good thing it could be read in 90 minutes.

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Feb 14, 2013 Karel Richards rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book, unfortunately it did not quite ring true. Fitz's anger and motivation didn't make any sense, nor did his mother's reluctance to discuss his father. Fitz's observations seemed too adult for even a precocious fifteen year old. Shaky motivation and shallow characterizations marred this novel.

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Mar 19, 2013 Dolores rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars. I thought it wrapped up just a bit too nearly-does that make me overly cynical? But there was a lot of genuine emotion and soul-searching here in this story of a young man who is searching for answers, direction, and himself.

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Dec 28, 2012 Mrs. Tongate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Quick read, but not a fan. Fitz holds his Dad at gunpoint in the car, so he can find the answers he's been wanting to know all of his life. How about just making an appointment and talking with the guy...Just not realistic.

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Oct 25, 2012 Mindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, ya-fic

The book didn't totally hold together for me, but the writing was solid. It was fun to read about the familiar places in Minneapolis & St. Paul.

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