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The Children and the Wolves
by Adam Rapp
by Adam Rapp
3.5.
This is a hell of a risky book!
Wiggins, Orange, and Bounce have taken a child they've named Frog captive, and they're keeping her locked up in Orange's basement. She's been missing for weeks around town, and Bounce has convinced the two boys they can make money from her captivity by deceiving people in town that they're collecting change to fund search and rescue efforts. Frog spends all day in Orange's basement playing a video game about wolves who chase dirty children up trees; she's getting really good at it.
Rapp's story, which is really short, is packed. It's a book about power and control on so many levels. Bounce has a handle on Wiggins and Orange, convincing them to partake in this kidnapping scheme, which is really her way of seeking revenge on a poet who came to her English class and challenged her in a way she'd never been challenged before. Then there's an even thicker layer on top of this, which is that of social class. Bounce is from wealth, from having any and everything she wants whenever she wants it (see: her little revenge plan) while Orange and Wiggins come from the wrong side of the tracks. They are poor, poor, poor, and they are struggling against not only that, but they're struggling against terrible family issues, loss, grief, illiteracy, abuse, and more.
The story's told through all four of the character voices, but it's Wiggins who readers learn the most about. He bookends the story, and he's where Rapp takes immense risks that will turn many readers off, if not outright repulse them. (view spoiler) Rapp's book's pretty bleak, and the ending doesn't necessarily answer any questions, which I appreciated.
As soon as I finished this one, I went back and reread the first chapter. I think this is a book that requires more than one reading to fully comprehend since it is so dense. It reminded me a lot of how Blythe Woolston writes her characters and her stories: they seem pretty straightforward but they are anything but.
I'm shocked this hasn't been getting more attention, and part of me wonders if that's because it is so risky and unsettling.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/04/c...
This is a hell of a risky book!
Wiggins, Orange, and Bounce have taken a child they've named Frog captive, and they're keeping her locked up in Orange's basement. She's been missing for weeks around town, and Bounce has convinced the two boys they can make money from her captivity by deceiving people in town that they're collecting change to fund search and rescue efforts. Frog spends all day in Orange's basement playing a video game about wolves who chase dirty children up trees; she's getting really good at it.
Rapp's story, which is really short, is packed. It's a book about power and control on so many levels. Bounce has a handle on Wiggins and Orange, convincing them to partake in this kidnapping scheme, which is really her way of seeking revenge on a poet who came to her English class and challenged her in a way she'd never been challenged before. Then there's an even thicker layer on top of this, which is that of social class. Bounce is from wealth, from having any and everything she wants whenever she wants it (see: her little revenge plan) while Orange and Wiggins come from the wrong side of the tracks. They are poor, poor, poor, and they are struggling against not only that, but they're struggling against terrible family issues, loss, grief, illiteracy, abuse, and more.
The story's told through all four of the character voices, but it's Wiggins who readers learn the most about. He bookends the story, and he's where Rapp takes immense risks that will turn many readers off, if not outright repulse them. (view spoiler) Rapp's book's pretty bleak, and the ending doesn't necessarily answer any questions, which I appreciated.
As soon as I finished this one, I went back and reread the first chapter. I think this is a book that requires more than one reading to fully comprehend since it is so dense. It reminded me a lot of how Blythe Woolston writes her characters and her stories: they seem pretty straightforward but they are anything but.
I'm shocked this hasn't been getting more attention, and part of me wonders if that's because it is so risky and unsettling.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/04/c...
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Reading Progress
| 04/05/2012 | page 80 |
|
50.0% | "no no no no no no no!" |
Comments (showing 1-6 of 6) (6 new)
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Tatiana
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Apr 05, 2012 08:24pm
I'm surprised I haven't heard anything at all about this book.
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Tatiana wrote: "I'm surprised I haven't heard anything at all about this book."I didn't hear anything about it until just recently, and Adam Rapp's a pretty well-known name. Surprising!
Yes, one of his book is a Printz winner. But Candlewick, unfortunately, is not very good at promoting its books in general.
Tatiana wrote: "Yes, one of his book is a Printz winner. But Candlewick, unfortunately, is not very good at promoting its books in general."IA. And it's unfortunate because Candlewick's doing some of the strongest stuff out there.
Tatiana wrote: "Yes, one of his book is a Printz winner. But Candlewick, unfortunately, is not very good at promoting its books in general."I've noticed that too. They tend to pick up really interesting stuff, but are SO QUIET about it.
