Terry's review
Runner
by Carl Deuker
Terry's review
Runner by Carl Deuker
Terry's review
rating:
bookshelves:
cdcs-young-adult
I think what disappointed me most about this novel is that it just didn't try very hard. Characterization, plot, setting...nothing feels complete, and many times it feels color-by-numbers, or worse, arbitrary (hmm..is arbitrary worse than color-by-numbers? Food for thought).
The young adult novel centers around Chance Taylor (yup, I should have known), who lives in poverty with his dad on their boat. Mom's gone, Chance is washing dishes, getting beaten up by bullies, etc. etc.--the stereotypical elements keep coming. Chance gets an offer to make more money being a gopher for drug-runners...who may or may not be terrorists! The novel is unclear about how exactly the two factions go together, but no matter, because there's also a love interest to distract (bore) the reader! Enter Melissa, daughter of the richest man in town, who, coincidentally used to be friends with Chance's dad in school...Alright, enough with the plot, seeing as how there's absolutely nothing this novel didn't suc...more
The young adult novel centers around Chance Taylor (yup, I should have known), who lives in poverty with his dad on their boat. Mom's gone, Chance is washing dishes, getting beaten up by bullies, etc. etc.--the stereotypical elements keep coming. Chance gets an offer to make more money being a gopher for drug-runners...who may or may not be terrorists! The novel is unclear about how exactly the two factions go together, but no matter, because there's also a love interest to distract (bore) the reader! Enter Melissa, daughter of the richest man in town, who, coincidentally used to be friends with Chance's dad in school...Alright, enough with the plot, seeing as how there's absolutely nothing this novel didn't suc...more
