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Blank Confession

3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 · rating details · 736 ratings · 159 reviews

Shayne Blank is the new kid in town--but that doesn't stop him from getting into a lot of trouble very quickly. The other kids don't understand him. He's not afraid of anything. He seems too smart. And his background doesn't add up. But when he walks into the police department to confess to a murder, it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems. There's more to...more

Hardcover, 170 pages

Published November 16th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

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Nov 12, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Although Shayne and Mikey have only been friends for a week, they are both involved in a murder investigation. One of them has confessed, but is he really the guilty one?

Shayne describes Mikey as a "dink." Combine Mikey's tiny stature and the odd thrift store suits he wears to school every day, and you have a bully magnet. Their friendship begins on Shayne's first day in the high school when he comes to Mikey's rescue. The two could...more

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May 02, 2013 Claudia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-book-challenge-150, suspense-fiction, ya-books

Wow -- one of my students who really doesn't like to read much kept telling me how much he loved THIS one, so I had to see why. He said he liked the shifting POV and the mystery. I, on the other hand, loved Hautman's control of the pacing of this short(170 pages) book. I loved the voice of Mikey, I loved the soul-searching Det. Rawls reveals as he listens to the most bizzare confession of his career.

Shayne Blank is a blank -- a blank sheet, a blank confession. He postpones Rawls' plans to leave...more Wow -- one of my students who really doesn't like to read much kept telling me how much he loved THIS one, so I had to see why. He said he liked the shifting POV and the mystery. I, on the other hand, loved Hautman's control of the pacing of this short(170 pages) book. I loved the voice of Mikey, I loved the soul-searching Det. Rawls reveals as he listens to the most bizzare confession of his career.

Shayne Blank is a blank -- a blank sheet, a blank confession. He postpones Rawls' plans to leave the police station and go home. As Shayne spins his confession, he forces Rawls to face his own past...his failings as a teacher, his inability to take control of his own life and career. Rawls is so full of regret and fatigue. I loved him.

And Mikey, as the narrator, fills in the holes in Shayne's story. Mikey, who wears three-piece suits to school to hide behind. Mikey who tries so hard to do the right thing at school, so as not to be noticed by the bullies (especially Jon), and at home, so as not to be noticed by his 'dry drunk' father and out-of-control sister. Mikey, who spends his days slinking on the edges: "Cats are very good at slinking. Rats are even better. Lions and polar bears never slink," unless they're sneaking up on you. Mikey lives in fear of just that.

Shayne begins the story by appearing at the station, confessing to killing someone. But he spins a tale, Scheherazade-style...just a bit at a time. Rawls and the reader are left to wonder who? When? Where? Why? But Shayne shares details sparingly...reeling us in.

Shayne has a hero-complex, we can tell. "All I know is that sometimes bad things happen and I have to do something about it, and every time I try to fix things they break even more, but I can't stop trying." He immediately sizes up his new high school: Jon, bullying drug dealer, Kyle and Trey, his henchmen. Mikey, the unwilling victim, and Marie, trying to fit in. But Shayne doesn't know this story goes back even further into the past. Rawls and Jon's brother Stewart have bad history too.

Shayne just wants to fix things...he sees injustice and he deliberately steps in to try to be the hero.

I appreciated the way the story unfolded, and the complicated nature of what really happened. I appreciated the mysteries that are revealed by the end, and the ones that aren't. I appreciate the questions answered and unanswered.(less)

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Mar 29, 2013 Deborah Takahashi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-suspense

Shayne Blank just moved into town and no one knows who is he and where he comes from. For Mikey, Shayne is a complete mystery, but very likeable. After a run in with the resident drug dealer, Jon, Mikey needs to repay Jon for tossing his marijuana stash when the drug dogs came to school. The thing is: Mikey doesn't do drugs, nor does he like them; Jon just happens to be his sister's new boyfriend, which makes things that more complicated and the stash had a street value of $500. When Mikey meets...more Shayne Blank just moved into town and no one knows who is he and where he comes from. For Mikey, Shayne is a complete mystery, but very likeable. After a run in with the resident drug dealer, Jon, Mikey needs to repay Jon for tossing his marijuana stash when the drug dogs came to school. The thing is: Mikey doesn't do drugs, nor does he like them; Jon just happens to be his sister's new boyfriend, which makes things that more complicated and the stash had a street value of $500. When Mikey meets Shayne for the first time, it was a little awkward, but the more he got to know Shayne, the more he started to like him. When Mikey ended up spilling his guts about the marijuana debacle, Shayne does something Mikey never expected...Shayne offered to help him. Although none of this is Mikey's fault, he is afraid to do anything because Jon isn't the type to mess with because those who do end up getting hurt real bad. However, Shayne is actually a force to be reckoned with, especially when he confronts Jon. Unlike most teenagers, Shane is quite mature and prefers to deal with problems diplomatically. Unfortunately, Jon is not one for diplomacy and the more Shayne gets involves, the more complicated this story becomes. In many aspects, Mikey isn't sure what to do with Shayne because if he is around, he knows he safe, but, when he is gone, things get even more screwed. Just when things couldn't get any worse, the relationship between Jon and Mikey's sister is becoming more and more volatile and it leaves Mikey feeling helpless. Who is Shayne and why does he care so much? What really happened that day on the roof?

Pete Hautman has done it again! I was totally unable to put this book down because I had to know if Shayne really murdered someone! Hautman has such an amazing ability to convey real issues that are not only relevant to teens today, but how the effects of these behaviors have on everyone around them. In this particular story, the issues of drug use, and abuse, domestic violence, and lack of self-esteem are what Mikey is struggling with. Although Mikey doesn't do drugs, his only sister is wrapped up in this world because of Jon, which is not only painful for Mikey to see, but foretells a rather scary future for Mikey's future . Mikey is also familiar domestic violence since his father is a recovering alcoholic who beat physically beat his mother and psychologically abused his sister; although he is sober, Mikey's father is too ashamed of his past, which paralyzes him when trouble occurs. As for Shayne, well, readers are not quite sure of his past until the end of the story, but, given the extent of his stories, he comes from a long line of protectors. The relationship between these two characters is different where Shayne seems to take on an unspoken fatherly/older brother role who is set on protecting Mikey and his sister. For Mikey, he isn't looking for a protector, but a friend and this leaves him somewhat confused. Shayne is an absolute mystery, but, in many respects, we admire and feel sorry for him. Ever since Shayne stepped foot in town, the lives of Mikey and Detective Rawls have forever changed; by knowing Shayne, they have learned to find the strength and the courage to stand up for what they believe in.
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Feb 26, 2013 Tyler Murray rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tyler Murray

English 10

2/15/13

2AC

Shayne Blank is a sixteen year old high school student that is new in town. He seems odd to almost everyone in school, except a junior named Mikey. Mikey seems to take an interest in the mysterious ways of Shayne. When Mikey is confronted with the school bully, Shayne steps in to back up Mikey. The kids at school question who Shayne is and where he came from. However no one knows Shayne better then detective Rawls. The novel grabs your attention right away when S...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Kevin Garcia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pete Hautman, a well-known author, wrote this book titled Blank Confession. Hautman’s purpose for writing this book was to let his audience know that mysterious people work in mysterious ways and that no matter how weird or strange they might seem, you don’t know their story until you get to know them. Blank Confession explains that heroes don’t need flashy outfits to be a hero. Bravery and honesty is what matters. This book leaves a great impression in the mind of the audience. The forms of cur...more Pete Hautman, a well-known author, wrote this book titled Blank Confession. Hautman’s purpose for writing this book was to let his audience know that mysterious people work in mysterious ways and that no matter how weird or strange they might seem, you don’t know their story until you get to know them. Blank Confession explains that heroes don’t need flashy outfits to be a hero. Bravery and honesty is what matters. This book leaves a great impression in the mind of the audience. The forms of curiosity and suspense build up throughout the book and make the end of the book a must read.
Blank Confession is a well written book in my opinion. The four main characters are Shayne Blank, the mysterious new kid, Mikey, the unknown kid in the school, Jon, the bully and dealer, and Detective Rawls, the curios cop. Shayne is the new kid in town. Everyone noticed him as an outsider because, as described, “I took in his frayed T-shirt, his holed jeans, his beat up cowboy boots” (Hautman 6). Mikey is the short, Mexican looking, kid dressed in unneeded suits every day. Jon is the drug dealer of the school. He was also a bully to the short kids and Mikey’s sister’s boyfriend. Det. Rawls is a detective from the 3rd precinct that likes to work with and help kids heading in the wrong path. He was a failed teacher before becoming a cop. All of them are in for a surprise after Shayne and Mikey get in trouble with Jon.
In the story, Shayne walks in the precinct just before Det. Rawls is about to head home and tells Rawls that he murdered someone. Throughout the book, Shayne and Mikey’s friendship grows stronger. Shayne stands up for Mikey at some points because Jon is bullying him. Shayne is like Mikey’s protector in a way. When Mikey got into a problem with Jon, in which he owes him $500 for lost drugs, Shayne stands up to reason with Jon for Mikey. “Shayne off his idea that Jon could be reasoned with…” (Hautman 31), got him punched in the stomach and is what caused the spark of revenge between them. Shayne, throughout the storyline, tries to keep Mikey and his sister Marie safe from the unsafe acts of Jon Brande. Jon supplies Marie with drugs on a daily basis and is tearing her apart. At one point, the friends heard that Marie is with Jon on a roof getting high and are soon to be in for an event. Violent things happen, some grow up, and some people are even sent to the hospital.
Hautman implies that Shayne is a non-normal person. He is unlike everyone else. When Rawls finds out the story of the murder, he steps out for a minute and returns to find out that Shayne is gone. After looking through the cellphone Shayne left behind, he learns a lot about him, does research on the boy, and finds out who he really is; a boy named Herman LaRose. His mother’s dead and his father is in a psychiatric institution. It turns out that Shayne, or Sherman LaRose, was a runaway from Texas and that every school he has been to, he has gotten into problems with. The kids that he got into problems with were problems themselves. He was like a mysterious hero, under the radar, fighting crime. As Rawls described in one of the crime fighting incidents, “In Oklahoma City, it was a guy who date-raped one of the girls in school—he hit the kid so hard he crushed his cheekbone and dislocated his jaw” (Hautman 169). He disappeared the next day just like he disappeared after the murder incident. In my opinion, Shayne was a hero. He beat up and took care of the kids that caused problems. He truly did work in mysterious ways. Nobody knew Herman’s story so nobody, not even Rawls, judged him for his acts. Where ever he is, Mikey knows one thing, Shayne Blank is his name and he lives with no regrets.
The purpose of this story was to let the reader know one of the different forms of heroism. Not all heroes are like superman and have cool powers. These heroes work in mysterious ways. These heroes are like Shayne Blank. You’ll learn not to judge a book by its cover. I recommend this book if you like books as puzzles with suspense. All the pieces fit together in a way that Hautman has out done himself. Blank Confession will leave you wanting to read more.
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Jan 03, 2013 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gateway-award-nominee, realistic-fiction, teen-fiction, website

Shayne Blank has confessed to murdering someone. His confession is slowly revealed throughout the book as he tells his story. It is the story of his new friend Mikey who is being bullied by high school drug dealer Jon Brande. It is the story of Marie, Mikey's sister and Jon's girlfriend. It is the story of bullying and drug abuse. It is also the story of friendship. Shayne confesses to murder but did he really do it? And who is Shayne?

This little book definitely grabs your attention and holds it...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Harleigh Ditzenberger rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I first started reading this book I found it somewhat boring and expected it to be about a boy committing murder because right at the beginning of the story they are already in the interview room and then that kind of confused me. Then I thought it’d just be chapter after chapter something new but Hautman set it up with it just about Mikey and then another chapter about the interview room and then another chapter of Rawls which really kept me excited and really into the book.

This story has...more When I first started reading this book I found it somewhat boring and expected it to be about a boy committing murder because right at the beginning of the story they are already in the interview room and then that kind of confused me. Then I thought it’d just be chapter after chapter something new but Hautman set it up with it just about Mikey and then another chapter about the interview room and then another chapter of Rawls which really kept me excited and really into the book.

This story has four main characters, Detective Rawls, Shayne Blank, Mike Martin (Mikey), and Jon Brande. Detective Rawls had a specialty with younger kids, teenaged kids; he used to be a teacher but then became a Detective which is how he knows Shayne. Mikey is Shayne’s friend, his only friend and Shayne is Mikeys only friend also. Mikey is just a guy that keeps to himself, wears suits to school because he enjoys it and does whatever Jon wants him to do. Jon is the big bad bully at school. Jon is also the supplier for the students. When Shayne came to the new school Jon didn’t like him at all.

Shayne Blank is the new student, and he always has been. The students don’t talk to him, they don’t start with him, they don’t fight with him and they certainly don’t understand him. He isn’t an afraid of things kind of guy. He doesn’t show feeling or much emotion. He doesn’t talk about his life where it has been, where it’s going to be. But one day out of nowhere Shayne decides to just walk into Detective Rawls office and Rawls sees that there’s more to Shayne that nobody has figured out yet, not even those who think they are really close to him.

This book includes love, hate, confusion, want, need, suspense, anger, happiness, and many more emotions and feelings. I really liked Shayne and Mikey. You learn to hate Jon because he’s just like that bully in high school. You end up wanting to walk into Rawls office if you think you committed a murder (don’t worry it’s not a spoiler) because Rawls is so understanding. You want Mikey as a friend cause you come to find out he’ll do anything for a friend. And you grow to like Shayne because he is the most mysterious kid and is what keeps the book interesting.

I didn’t have any problems with this book maybe one or two chapters were boring but the way that Hautman set it up you are just entertained the entire time. There aren’t many characters to keep track of and everything that happens is exciting. This book is an attention grabber and who doesn’t love a little bit of suspense?!

Over all this was a really good book and if you like drama, heartbreak, friendships, betrayal and suspense than I would highly recommend this book for you!
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Jul 28, 2012 Val rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-lit-class-books

Summary: Sixteen year old Shayne Blank walks into a police station and confesses that he has murdered someone. Detective Rawls is not sure he believes him after all he is calm, cool and quiet. But he listens and what unravels is a story almost beyond belief. The story alternates between Rawl's perspective and the perspective of Shaynes only friend Mickey, a bullied, short but well dressed high school junior. When Mickey is targeted by a sadistic bully and drug dealer Shayne steps in. But who is...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Kenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-2012-advisory

** spoiler alert ** This book was so awesome.I thought it was going to be an ok book but I loved it.Especally the ending which was very surprising.It's a story about how a new boy in town confesses to a murdre and it is told from the point of view of his friend mikey and the interview room Shayne(the new kid)he is telling it from.The book leaves you in suspense about whow Shayne killed.I loved this book because of the awesome unexpected ending,humor,and the point of views they were telling it fr...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Bryant rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shayne Blank is a mysterious character througout the story. Basically the book is narrarated through Shayne, Rawls, and Mikey. So the story starts off by Mikey being bullied by his brother-in-law, Jon Brande. Jon Brande bullied him more when Mikey lost his "dough" bag and thats whenShayne comes in. Shayne Blank is a very mysterious kid that comes through an unknown background. The main character Mikey Martin is a tiny kid with glasses that is Haitian, but looks like a mexican. So in the story Mi...more Shayne Blank is a mysterious character througout the story. Basically the book is narrarated through Shayne, Rawls, and Mikey. So the story starts off by Mikey being bullied by his brother-in-law, Jon Brande. Jon Brande bullied him more when Mikey lost his "dough" bag and thats whenShayne comes in. Shayne Blank is a very mysterious kid that comes through an unknown background. The main character Mikey Martin is a tiny kid with glasses that is Haitian, but looks like a mexican. So in the story Mikey loses Jon's bag, Jon wants Mikey to give him 500.00 dollars but Mikey doesn't want to. Mikey meets Shayne which is very helpful and protective. He is the new kid in school and quickly gets himself in trouble when he tries to help Mikey. Shayne is a very strong character and through his unknown strength Jon Brande is scared of him. Jon Brande is a drug dealer, bully who is going out with Mikey's sister. Mikey's sister secretly likes Shayne because Jon Brande is unknownly scared of him.

Mikey is a little kid that throughout the story is always being bullied. He is afraid to stand up to Jon and he needs his new friend Shayne to stand up for him. He wheres clothes that make him look "weird". He is afraid of Jon because Jon beat him up in the beginning of the story due to the fact that he cant keep his mouth from shutting up. The main reason he gets himself into trouble is because of his big mouth. Shayne gets tased by Jon Brande and can beat him up if he wants to. Shayne in the other hand has different stories of his parents jobs. He is a mysterious kid until the end. Everything is told through a confession made from Shayne directed to Rawls which last two whole hours. At the end Rawls retires and Shayne leaves the city. But Rawls was able to figure out Shayne's true identity.

This book was a really interesting book and made me want to keep on reading. It has a lot of fights and a lot of conversations from Mikey and Shayne. This book has a lot of action and is a drug dealing book and the problems that follow it. Pete Hautman is a popular author and has made multiple works that can directly relate to the young or adolescent reader. He lives in Minnesota and graduated from St. Louis Park High School.(less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Misha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: teenage girls, anyone who loves a good mystery

Shelves: favorites

Finished in 5 hours. Bypassed homework for this book. It was that amazing.

I fell in love with the main character Shayne Blank on practically the 3rd page of his appearance. That's sorta his character's purpose I think. To make readers captivated by him so his actions later on are all the more justified and even later actions mysteriously intriguing.
His sarcasm, nonchalant, ninja ways are oh so very alluring. Especially since I'm a teenage girl haha. Everything about him makes him seem so attract...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Mj rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Blank Confession
Pete Hautman
Simon & Schuster, BFYR
2010
Library Copy
Shayne Blank, a 16 year old teen, confesses to murder during a two hour interview with detective Rawls at a local police station. The story unfolds in the alternating voices of Shayne, Rawls, and Mikey Martin, a short, smart mouth Haitian kid that Shayne befriends. Their story is told in flashbacks and narrative sequences with sharp, engaging dialogue.
As the story unfolds, the reader can see the events falling into place. Mik...more

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May 15, 2011 Karin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-thriller, young-adult-fiction, bullying, drug-dealing, drug-use, friendship, books-for-boys, high-school, haitian-american, realistic, detective-work, violence, disturbing, short, borrowed-from-the-library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When we meet Shayne Blank, he’s sitting in the police station, about to confess to murdering someone. He tells his story to Detective Rawls, taking his time, and explaining how it all happened. The point of view alternates between Shayne’s story as Rawls hears it, and Mikey’s experience of the same events as they are happening to him.

Shayne is new in town when he meets Mikey (short, big-mouthed, suit-wearing, got-something-to-prove) and they become friends. Mikey accidentally gets himself invol...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This whodunnit kept me up late and I really liked Shayne Blank, the confessor who says he killed someone. I found his friend Mikey, who narrates part of the book, kind of annoying at times, but was glad to hear he came into his own a little bit at the end, and was maybe less of a 'dink.'
I think YA readers will really enjoy this, if for nothing else than the action bits. Lots of fights, lots of the undertow of what really concerns kids in high school, and so lots of drama.
Most characters are fa...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shallow things first: really like the interior page designs. Each chapter is headed with a manila folder tab telling us the narrator or the setting for each chapter. Cool and distinctive and thematically appropriate.

I was definitely interested in the story and the gradual ramping up of the tension. We know that someone is going to be dead by the end of the story - but did Shayne murder someone in cold blood? Was it someone who deserved it? Or an innocent bystander? Hautman does a great job of le...more

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May 14, 2013 Jenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rate the book Blank Confession by Pete Hautman as a 3 star.

A boy named Shayne Blank turns himself in for murdering someone. Throughout that process he goes to school in the new town that he lives in and tries to make new friends but is having a hard time because of his incident that had happened.

The greatest strength of this book is that not all the people in the school are hating on Shayne about what he did but then again they are still a little scared except for one boy named Mikey. Since ev...more

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Nov 18, 2011 Vivfischer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mikey, a quirky middle schooler, is inexplicably befriended by Shayne Blank, the new kid in school, soft spoken, dressed all in black, and somehow a martial arts-trained vigilante. Somehow pulled into this story is the town bully/drug-pusher Jon, and Mikey's sister Marie, a formerly "smart girl" who has recently gone a bit off the good girl track, as well as George Rawls, a middle-aged cop and former teacher. This short, taut novel uses multiple voices to unfold the inevitable collision course o...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Kelsi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was okay but rather creative. For starters, I'm not big on first person books, so that was something that was a bit of a drag for me. The characters, on the other hand, were rather great. The main ones had a lot of depth and the author obviously worked hard on them.

One thing that really frustrated me were the descriptions. Really, now, you honestly say that he has a toothpaste smile? Each person was described by saying, in order, skin tone, eye color and hair and/or teeth. O...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blank Confession by Pete Hautman is a solid story told by a skilled storyteller. That might sound like a weak or oversimplified compliment, but let me explain my deep admiration for storytellers.

Have you ever been in the presence of a gifted orator or storyteller? Someone with a pitch perfect tone, attitude, build up, posture, and language coupled with the right about of sighs, smiles, eye contact, and hand gestures to pull you right into the story. To really make you a part of the tale or world...more Blank Confession by Pete Hautman is a solid story told by a skilled storyteller. That might sound like a weak or oversimplified compliment, but let me explain my deep admiration for storytellers.

Have you ever been in the presence of a gifted orator or storyteller? Someone with a pitch perfect tone, attitude, build up, posture, and language coupled with the right about of sighs, smiles, eye contact, and hand gestures to pull you right into the story. To really make you a part of the tale or world! This book felt like that to me. I was sitting in that interview room with Officer Rawls and Shayne waiting for the next detail, listening for the fizz and pop of the Mountain Dew and clang of that damn handcuff ring, and looking for clues to the puzzle on Shayne’s face! Pete Hautman yanked me right in.

Right from the jump, I was hooked by the classic trouble-is my-middle-name new kid in town set up. After Shayne Blank befriends Mikey and his bag of problems with the school’s drug dealing bully, the trouble begins to spin and escalate out of control in a hurry. We are first introduced to Shayne at the police station, filling in the details of a confession, so the story is revealed in a series of flashbacks for readers to piece together. Mr. Hautman does a beautiful job of weaving the voices and details together bit by bit providing just enough information to build the tension while keeping readers guessing. Shayne will keep you entertained and busy until the end!

Even though Shayne plays the big, flashy role, Mikey Martin was the one who held the tale together and really made me smile. I am always a fan of the little guy with a big mouth--which Mikey often used to get himself into trouble and stand up for himself. He wore crazy, jazzy, colorful suits, played checkers with his Pepe, wielded sarcasm like a pro, and stole the show with his honesty and heart. Btw…I don’t care what anyone says—sarcasm is not a mask. It’s a skill! Skill, people! ;) Simply put—Mikey was my hero!

There is a lot going on in this “Usual Suspects” vibed book, but it all comes together to form this intricate web full of heart, mystery, sadness, and danger.

A confession can change everything.

Sidebar: I am a listener, so talkers are my favorite people in this world. Storytellers can often fill a day with such energy and passion! If you are lucky enough to have storytellers in your life, hold on to them! They make life so much more interesting. :D

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Mar 24, 2011 Cornmaven rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: high-school, middle-school, ms-hs

Nice psychological mystery for MS-HS kids. I really liked the character portrayal - Shayne Blank in particular. The fact that he's kind of a 'being' more than a person was intriguing. Not that a kid like that could really exist - after all, he couldn't have registered himself at the new HS without enough paperwork and parental signatures - but his personal history was traumatic enough that his persona was plausible. At least to me.

I also liked the storyline of bullying, and the extremes that so...more

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Jun 28, 2011 Faye Manzi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blank Confessions is told in a series of flashbacks. The story opens with Shayne Blank confessing to killing Jon Blande, a bully in high school. Shayne is a mysterious character that shows up on the first day of high school. He meets and helps high school junior Mikey Martin. Jon Blande is dating Mikey's sister. Mikey's troubles start when he throws away a bag of drugs forced on him for safekeeping by his sister's drug-dealing boyfriend. Consequently, Mikey is threatened with bodily injury unles...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Eddie Filice rated it 3 of 5 stars

Blank Confession was a book about a murder, but unlike other books of that subject. It tells the story sort of in two parts, half the time with the main character Shayne Blank telling the story in his interrogation by the police officer Detective Rawls and the other half of the time the other main character Mikey telling the story as it's happening. This proved to be an effective strategy, as it catches the reader's attention well, and allows them to see a parallel between what Shayne Blank tell...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Pinkie Pie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Blank Confession was a quick read, but a little underwhelming. I own a few more Pete Hautman books that I haven't read yet, and I really hope they're better than this one.

I really enjoyed the plot. I love seeing the underdog win, and the bully get what's coming to him. I even like the quasi confession part, too. But when all was said and done, and we find out exactly what happened, I was underwhelmed. The way the book starts is a lot darker than the actual "murder."

A lot of the time I felt like...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Randy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, march12

Mike is in trouble. Victimized by his school's drug dealer (who also happens to be his sister's current boyfriend)he finds himself in a position where he owes an amount of money that he cannot re-pay. Shayne, a new kid, intervenes and events escalates. The story unfolds, as Shayne sits in a police station, confessing to the murder of an individual.

I picked this book up because the premise was quite interesting.

I finished this book because Shayne's character reminded me of Clint Eastwoord's chara...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Arthur Pengerbil rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reading Level: Grades 8-10

If the kid had just waited five minutes Detective George Rawls wouldn't have caught the case. He was on his way out when he was told that a kid had just walked through the door and confessed to murder. Small, slight 16-year-old Shayne Blank isn't like any killer the detective has ever encountered.

Switching between the stark interview room and the memories of Shayne's friend Mikey, the author pulls the reader into a tantalizing mystery that is almost impossible to put do...more

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Apr 18, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really, 3.5 stars

I don't know how I feel about this book. I think I would have liked it more if I'd seen the movie Shane ; I, however, didn't realize this book was a modern YA version until Mikey calls out, "Shane!" as Shayne rides off on his motorcycle. Now, I have an urge to rent the movie.

*Possible Spoilers?*

I liked the book because I couldn't tell where it was going. I suspected it was going to have a Fight Club ending, and I had to force myself not to flip to the end. I appreciated that...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Stefani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

Having never read a book by Pete Hautman before I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I had read a review from someone I know who loved it, and it sounded intriguing so I picked up a copy to see if my first impression was correct. Initially I was excited by this book. It was being told through the POV of a friend of Shayne’s who knew the story that he was telling to the cops. This was interesting but not fascinating. I didn’t really connect with the character and I feel that it made it VERY obviou...more Having never read a book by Pete Hautman before I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I had read a review from someone I know who loved it, and it sounded intriguing so I picked up a copy to see if my first impression was correct. Initially I was excited by this book. It was being told through the POV of a friend of Shayne’s who knew the story that he was telling to the cops. This was interesting but not fascinating. I didn’t really connect with the character and I feel that it made it VERY obvious what was going to happen based on who was narrating and what he said. But even though I had the horrible feeling it was going to end up exactly like I suspected by chapter 2, I carried on.

I don’t really feel like all that much happened in this book. The tension level was set at 10 from the beginning of the book, but then nothing really happens and we’re hearing all these extraneous details that I didn’t really care about. I wanted to know who Shayne killed and why, I didn’t want to know about his friend who wears second-hand suits to school to stand out or the friend’s sister who’s got a penchant for bad boys. I wanted to know about things relevant to the plot, and the only time I got that was when they were referring to the person who he claims he killed, which didn’t really make it that hard to figure out. The only way it was ever going to be anyone else is if Shayne is a complete psychopath, which is not what he was portrayed to be.

And it did end up being exactly who I suspected it was going to be, and so the tension in the book never really ramped up again after the first few pages. One thing I did like about this book was the part about Shayne’s past and his history. That was interesting and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately that was, quite literally, the very last chapter. In the end I can’t say that I particularly loved the book, but it was decent enough. If you are looking for a mystery, this is probably not the book for you since the predictability levels are off the charts. However, I did find it to be a very poignant statement about bullying which seems to be so prevalent in the youth of this world today. For that reason I am rating this a 3, not great but decent enough that I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it.

This and other great reviews at my blog, Stefani's World of Words (less)

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Aug 18, 2011 Kendra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Here is the quick-read some of you will be looking for when book reviews are due at school in a few months! This is short and fast-paced and well written - just what students need when they have to turn in a book review in a day or two!

The story is told from two perspectives: Detective Rawls, who is interviewing a boy named Shane who has appeared in the police station to confess to a murder; and Mikey, who has been a friend to Shane and is trying to explain in his own words what happened - and w...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Nikhil Havaldar rated it 4 of 5 stars

I personally liked this book. I thought, much like If I Grow Up, that this book was very gritty. I dealt with inner city life, gangs and violence. It also dealt with adolescent drug use. Although I could not personally identify with these issues, I felt like I was learning something while reading this book. I also thought that it did a good job of staying action packed while not seeming totally unrealistic. At times, the story became confusing with sudden and abrupt scene and time changes, flipp...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Briana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Books like this make you realize something. Sometimes people wonder if there are any good people left in the world, if there are any people
Ike Shayne Blank then there are but the don't look the way you expect. It takes books land characters like this to make you understand that good doesn't mean legal and that strength or intelligence has nothing to do with age or iq. The saddest part is that there is no way to help kids like Shayne. He would be put in jail and what use is that? He would be fig...more

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About Pete Hautman

Pete Hautman is the author of Godless, which won the National Book Award, and many other critically acclaimed books for teens and adults, including Blank Confession, All-In, Rash, No Limit, and Invisible. Mr. Was was nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America. Pete lives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Visit him at petehautman.com.

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