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In the Bag

3.47 of 5 stars 3.47 · rating details · 30 ratings · 11 reviews

Joe and Ash are best friends. Ash is the leader, Joe the one who follows. Then one night after a party, Joe and Ash come across a holdall, seemingly abandoned by the side of the road. They open it up ...and find GBP20,000 in cash. Of course they're going to hand it straight to the police. Aren't they? Or is all that money just too tempting? Whoever has lost it won't notice...more

Paperback, 365 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Bloomsbury UK (first published January 1st 2011)

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Jul 11, 2012 Charlotte Phillips rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm not 100% sure of what to make to make of this book, it seems to have a lot of depth to it and I can see one of the reasons as to why it might be somewhat popular at the moment. its one of those books that are clearly meant to made you think, to have you put yourself in the story and to have you consider your own actions. The book itself is very basic, another story about two cliche young male teenagers, finishing their GCSE's with one whose all attitude and another whose all smart and brains...more I'm not 100% sure of what to make to make of this book, it seems to have a lot of depth to it and I can see one of the reasons as to why it might be somewhat popular at the moment. its one of those books that are clearly meant to made you think, to have you put yourself in the story and to have you consider your own actions. The book itself is very basic, another story about two cliche young male teenagers, finishing their GCSE's with one whose all attitude and another whose all smart and brains if he puts his mind to it. But the classic twist comes with the fact that they find a bag, a bag that does not belong to them, a bag that contains things that should be given to the police, that should be handed in upon immediate discovery. I love the thought provoking depth to it because it just made me wonder what I would do in that situation. Like many, I struggle for money, and I think that if I were to find £20,000 then I too, would be tempted to use that to my advantage to clear of debts, and everything else. This is what makes it thought provoking though, is that very fact that it makes you question your motions and motives for doing so.

The story therefore plays out with the two young teenage boys taking the money and keeping it to themselves. They think they are all in the clear when nothing seems to occur after the next few weeks. There is no motion or notive, no consideration for what could happen or even where the money comes from, that is, until one of them finds the Gun in the bag, and rveals the story to another. Only then do things start to unwind and only then do they begin to wonder and think about the consequences of their actions. Its obvious that the money belongs to someone and its clearly not an innocent formation of money either. It doesnt help matters that there is also a phone in the bag and someone has been trying to get a hold of who has the money. Someone wants the money back, and now the question is, how far will they go to make sure they get it back and all of it. My instant reaction of course is to paint the cliche big heavy hard men, who are master criminals and are not the sort of person that you want to be dealing with. And of course this instantly paints a fear within your system. you start to connect with the main characters, understanding what it is that they are going through, and how they are feeling. A rush of panic runs through your system.

This in many ways is an advantage to the novel as a whole because it means that you go on the journey with the characters and you begin to really connect with them. This very factor makes the books even more strong and thought provoking than anything else because of the way that it entertains the character. It is a very different book though. its basic and simple but its a thought provoking idea and its different its just so different to anything else that I have ever read before. I think its because you can identify with the characters and the fact that the book makes you think and ponder which is what makes it a worthwhile read. I think in general though I am the sort of person who is likely to relate with Joe, the girl who studies hard, tries her best to live a normal and non chaotic life, but someone who gets stuck in all the drama because you don't want to look like a coward in front of your friends.

Yes there is certainly a lot to take in when it comes to this book and I think you have the patience to read something that is not the best written book in the world then you might just get along with it. this is why I am offering the book a three star rating. it may not be the best book in the world, but its the plot that counts and I rather think that the plot is thought provoking enough to achieve the stars that I have given it.(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Jesse Owen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

If you stumbled across a bag full of cash what would you do? This is just the situation that Joe and Ash find themselves in one Friday. Over the course of the following week we see as one bad decision after another lands them in more and more trouble.

Told from both Joe and Ash’s perspective I got an idea of what they were thinking, I mean how tempting would it be to keep the money if you found that much money just lying around. Of course the right (and sensible) thing to do would be to hand it i...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author

In the bag is a contemporary novel about two boys who find a bag with £20,000 in late one night and follows their story thereafter as they decide what they are going to do with the bag the following day.

The thing I liked most about this book was that the book's narrative alternated being two teenage boys who were both written superbly. I could just imagine them as one of the teenagers I teach as the author had captured teenage boys really well in their mannerisms, how they interact with each oth...more

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Feb 17, 2011 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, young-adult

'In the Bag' is about two boys, Joe and Ash, who stumble across a bag filled with money and decide that they're going to keep it. This sets in motion a sequence of events that cause them to think seriously about the consequences of their actions and the split-second decision they made. The boys and the reader are left to consider what would have happened if they'd never taken the money in the first place or handed it into the police and come clean straight away about what they'd done.

The story...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Phanee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-books-challenge-2011, owned, read-in-2011

I'm actually not very sure as to how to start this review. In The Bag is not a book I would have chosen to buy for myself, the main reason being that I think I'm a little too old for it. But it seemed like a quick read, so I decided to give it a try.

The story in itself is appealing. It's about two boys (who are 15-16, if I remember rightly), who discover a bag with a lot of money in it. What are they going to do with it? Hand it over to the police? Or maybe not? It is quite a story, featuring ma...more I'm actually not very sure as to how to start this review. In The Bag is not a book I would have chosen to buy for myself, the main reason being that I think I'm a little too old for it. But it seemed like a quick read, so I decided to give it a try.

The story in itself is appealing. It's about two boys (who are 15-16, if I remember rightly), who discover a bag with a lot of money in it. What are they going to do with it? Hand it over to the police? Or maybe not? It is quite a story, featuring mafia people, gunshots, black cars with dark windows. The main focus of the story is the reasons behind the boys' actions and how they deal of the consequences of their actions. Will they be able to keep it a secret, or will they find that they can't hold on to it any longer? Plus, it has a really weird ending... Like it's half-unresolved... You don't see it often in books and I have to say I didn't mind it!

One aspect of this book that I liked was the fact that it had alternating chapters from the two characters' points-of-view. We got to be inside the heads of both characters and see how each one of them dealt with the consequences. Joe and Ash might be very good friends, but they're very different to each other and each one of them deals with the problem in his own way. That was very interesting to see. I also enjoyed the fact that the author did not focus solely on the 'bag'. He had a few side stories going on, which gave us more insight into both characters.

On the other hand, there were a couple of things I really didn't like. This book contains rather strong language. It even has a warning on the back for it (which I think is very good). To be honest, I am not bothered by swearing in books. But because of the fact that I think the story (as a storyline) would be more interesting for younger readers, the swearing excludes them from reading it. What I am trying to say here is that I am rather dubious as to whether the story would appeal to a 16 year-old me. It's more of the kind-of story that I would have found exciting when I was 13-14. Another thing I didn't like were all the smoking and drug references. I absolutely hate people smoking (I'm really weird about it) and I hate reading about children smoking. I know it is a wide-spread phenomenon nowadays, but I still don't like reading about it. (Including all those references to smoking marijuana.)

All in all, it wasn't a bad book, but the main problem I have is to whom I would recommend reading this book. It's worth a try though, as the writing is very good and the story flows well.

Originally posted at: http://funny-wool.blogspot.com/2011/0...(less)

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Mar 28, 2011 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-reading-challenge, ya, own, books-read-in-2011, sent-for-review

I really enjoyed this one. I want to start by saying a big thank you to the people of Bloomsbury for consistently sending me wonderful books like this for review. In the Bag by Jim Carrington is the story told by each of the two boys in turn of how one bad decision quickly leads to another and the frightening repercussions of those decisions. I found both main characters, Joe and Ash, to be utterly engaging characters and their decisions and choices to be very believeable and readable. I will ce...more I really enjoyed this one. I want to start by saying a big thank you to the people of Bloomsbury for consistently sending me wonderful books like this for review. In the Bag by Jim Carrington is the story told by each of the two boys in turn of how one bad decision quickly leads to another and the frightening repercussions of those decisions. I found both main characters, Joe and Ash, to be utterly engaging characters and their decisions and choices to be very believeable and readable. I will certainly be picking up Jim Carrington's other work for teenagers, Inside My Head, as I enjoy his writing style.

After Joe and Ash find a bag in the woods containing a bunch of money, they decide that the best course of action is to keep it. They would, wouldn't they? Which two 16 year old boys could resist the temptation of £20,000? But after the thrill of buying some new trainers and an awesome new bike frame, it starts eat away at their consciences just a bit. Are they really making the right decision here? But what if they use some of the money for good, that'd be better, right? And it goes on and on until these boys are mixed up in something so much more dangerous than they could ever have realised. And it all happens quickly and without much effort on either boy's part to make this happen. They've both chosen to keep this money and their knowledge of it a secret, despite their misgivings and despite the possible connection between this bag and the horrible events occurring in their little town. A horrible car accident, a fire in some local flats. Joe and Ash choose to believe that this bag is unconnected.

I loved the authenticity of both boys. I love the dialogue and banter between the two, and this steady progression of secrets and lies between the two boys which results in the explosive and thrilling ending. I was really on the edge of my seat while reading this one, desperate to know how it will turn out and how the boys will find a way out of the mess that they've created. It's a wonderful book about making the right choices and dealing the with consequences. I loved how different the two boys and their families and the obvious friendship that they have with each other. Really great book, and recommended by me :) (less)

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Mar 01, 2011 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great thriller, which shows how easy it is to make the wrong decisions, and how devastating the after effects of those decisions can be. Having found a bag of money, a gun and some drugs, Ash and Joe start out with all the right intentions, but little by little they are carried inexorably into a situation from which they cannot retreat.
Fast-paced, gritty and deeply thought-provoking this is a gripping teen novel with a heart-stopping twist in the tail.

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Jun 11, 2011 Scarlett Morris rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'd previously read abother Jum Carrington book; Inside my head. I thought that book was good, but could of been better. So I have chosen to give this one a go to see if Carrington can fully portray this storyline. I found when I finished this book, the ending let it down throughly. I was very disappointed by this and I feel it ruined this potentionally great book.

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Nov 03, 2011 Claudia rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was good, it had quite a slow build up to the main event but still managed to keep me interested which i found good.Its also different to most books i read as it was from a 15 year old boys point of view not a girl hahaha.Over all good book.

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Apr 28, 2013 Sonia rated it 4 of 5 stars

a great book , but kinda expected a better ending

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Feb 10, 2011 Tasha added it

review coming soon

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May 06, 2013 Raji Mohan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 26, 2013 Fiona marked it as to-read

Feb 24, 2013 Ben rated it 3 of 5 stars

Feb 22, 2013 Sara marked it as to-read

Jan 24, 2013 Alana marked it as to-read

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Nov 05, 2012 Kdmittens marked it as to-read

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Feb 11, 2013 Victoria marked it as dnf

Sep 17, 2012 Maddie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Aug 30, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Aug 29, 2012 Nataša rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aug 21, 2012 Victoria rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: summer-2012

Aug 09, 2012 Piers rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 12, 2012 Charlotte rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 24, 2012 Sian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Apr 20, 2012 Katelyn Kelly-Gonzales marked it as to-read

Apr 10, 2012 Kris Humphrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jan 23, 2012 Hadisami8 rated it 4 of 5 stars

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