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In The Blood
For seventeen years Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.
His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.
In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…
His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.
In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…
199 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
2 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Sara Hantz
15 books130 followersSara Hantz was born in Northampton, England, the eldest of four children (she has three younger brothers). School and Sara weren’t a match made in heaven. She was bored a lot of the time, and it seemed much more fun to dream up ways of disrupting lessons than to actually pay attention. Which could explain why she was always in trouble! But she redeemed herself later, when at twenty-one she went back to full-time study.
She wasn’t one of those people who wrote as a small child. She did read, though, avidly. And it took her a few years of thinking about writing before she actually started. But now, she wouldn’t do anything else, and she never gets bored!
In 2001, she moved to New Zealand (an incredibly beautiful country) with her husband and two children. After working at a university for three years, she left to work in their hotel and devote more time to her writing. She wishes she’d done it sooner!
In her spare time, she loves going to the movies, watching TV, and walking. She loves to hear from readers. Visit www.sarahantz.com.
She wasn’t one of those people who wrote as a small child. She did read, though, avidly. And it took her a few years of thinking about writing before she actually started. But now, she wouldn’t do anything else, and she never gets bored!
In 2001, she moved to New Zealand (an incredibly beautiful country) with her husband and two children. After working at a university for three years, she left to work in their hotel and devote more time to her writing. She wishes she’d done it sooner!
In her spare time, she loves going to the movies, watching TV, and walking. She loves to hear from readers. Visit www.sarahantz.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 10, 2016
Jed Franklin’s life was turned completely upside down a year ago when his father was arrested. Accused and charged with the murders and rapes of several young boys Jed's father sits awaiting for trial. Every day since the arrest Jed has had to deal with the stares and accusations but now he questions himself and whether he will turn into his father, is it truly in the blood to be a pedophile or killer?
While In the Blood deals with some dark subject matter when it comes to what Jed's father had done it is set in the tone of seventeen year old Jed who is struggling to deal with the aftermath. Jed is a typical teenager although with the weight of the world on his shoulders but he deals with things as a teenager would.
I immediately became engaged in this read and getting to know Jed. His mother is a zombie and not dealing well with the aftermath of the arrest and even forgets Jed's birthday. Jed is practically raising his five year old sister and trying to hold the family together at his age and he has one friend left that still has faith in him. With school work slipping and getting in fights defending himself he has turned to drinking to drown out his troubles. Quite an intriguing read to see how it would all turn out.
Just a note, while the subject of what Jed's father has been accused of is mentioned and talked about during the book there is nothing overly graphic concerning his crimes. This is more of the emotional roller coaster ride for the family of the accused and dealing with their world falling apart.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
While In the Blood deals with some dark subject matter when it comes to what Jed's father had done it is set in the tone of seventeen year old Jed who is struggling to deal with the aftermath. Jed is a typical teenager although with the weight of the world on his shoulders but he deals with things as a teenager would.
I immediately became engaged in this read and getting to know Jed. His mother is a zombie and not dealing well with the aftermath of the arrest and even forgets Jed's birthday. Jed is practically raising his five year old sister and trying to hold the family together at his age and he has one friend left that still has faith in him. With school work slipping and getting in fights defending himself he has turned to drinking to drown out his troubles. Quite an intriguing read to see how it would all turn out.
Just a note, while the subject of what Jed's father has been accused of is mentioned and talked about during the book there is nothing overly graphic concerning his crimes. This is more of the emotional roller coaster ride for the family of the accused and dealing with their world falling apart.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
November 5, 2013
Initial reaction: I'm going to think about what I want to say in the larger discussions of this work before I write this review (which I'll try to write tonight in a little while.)
But to sum up my thoughts in a short statement: Very shallow, oftentimes offensive presentation of a tough subject matter. And this is even in consideration of the audience it's oriented toward. I got the message and I even understood the intent, but the execution left so much more to be desired and felt more like a sensationalistic piece for drama, rather than a coming to terms story and fulfilling mystery/crime expansion.
Full review:
I'll start this review by conceding that this is a very difficult subject matter to approach in any respect, and I highly value that Sara Hantz chose (at least in premise) to tackle it within a work oriented towards a YA audience. The blurb and the beautiful cover were both aspects that drew me in and made me excited to have the opportunity to read it.
But upon finishing the novel, I grimace just thinking about the portrayal of the matter here. It's not so much that the book doesn't propose to take the matter seriously, and it's not even that I didn't understand the intent behind the work.
More like I felt at every opportunity in this work, this book shoved everything down my throat in a repetitive measure.
The execution was awkward, harried, and clinical. Very shallow and immature presentation for the gravity of the matter in the work, even considering the protagonist himself is flawed, young, and dealing with a lot of purported emotional curveballs thrown his way. When the narrative info and emotion dumps all of the character's purported sufferings in repeated measures in such a short span of time, and doesn't allow you to even consider some of the statements in an open format for yourself as a reader - it's not only inappropriate, but it doesn't do justice for the subject at hand. Not to mention it felt like many of the situations that the MC faced were thrown in just for dramatic value, and they truly felt like they were narrative inserts, not situations that the protagonist was really dealing with and had to come to terms with. And that sours the intent, seriousness, and sincerity of the matter faster than week old milk.
Conflict plot points are also dropped faster than hot potatoes.
Let me consider for a moment the angle/argument that this book is intended for a YA audience, maybe even a reluctant reader audience. It's a quick read, but even if the narrative only had a limited amount of time to fit these conflicts in, and even for the raw emotion it tried to portray with the character's blunt reactions to what he faces, it still came across as far too repetitive and forceful to really take a step back and say "Man, he's going through so much, I really feel sorry for him."
The character's not talking with you, he's talking AT you for much of this narrative.
Jed Franklin is a 17-year old kid whose life is turned upside down when his father is arrested and charged with abusing, molesting and killing several boys - with one boy still missing in the mix. Jed's notably, and understandably, devastated. I even understood that he was afraid of falling into his father's footsteps given not only what he initially thinks following the revelation, but also what he learns from conversations with his father and the reveals over his family history.
We hear a lot about how Jed thinks what his father did was "messed up," "fucked up" and constant streams of WTF. And you know - I understand this, but I did not like how it comes across. To give you an example of how repetitious the narrative gets in places of this book, I'll take the first page of Chapter 9:
I wake with a start, my breathing heavy and labored. Blinking furiously, it takes a few seconds before I realize, with relief, that I’m in bed. That I’d been having a nightmare. A fucking disgusting nightmare.
It was the most sickening and scariest thing ever. I was in my dad’s head while he went child hunting. He stood behind a tree, watching boys in a playground. And all the time he was fixated on a small boy with blond curly hair, who looked about six. And I could hear all his thoughts. Except they didn’t seem like normal thoughts; they were like sound-bites:
Come to Daddy, little boy, it won’t hurt a bit.
You know you want to.
You’re making…
STOP.
I shake my head to bring myself back to reality. I spit into a tissue the bile that had shot into my mouth as I was reliving the dream and wipe my lips over and over, to try and rid the foul taste of the whole experience.
It’s revolting.
He’s revolting.
The narrative's like this through much of the book. For one, it's juvenile because it's telling AND repeating the emotion rather than having places and spaces between and showing the gravity of the situation, allowing the emotional resonance to come through on its own and make its impression on the reader, rather than telling the reader what to feel. For another, the emotion's oversaturated, and instead of feeling the disgust for what his father has done and Jed's respective reactions having merit, it makes the portrayal come off as forced and numbing.
Jed's father's name is Benjamin Franklin, which - I don't normally judge names, but really? Unfortunate naming is unfortunate, but in a story like this, it makes the juvenile tone seem that much more prominent. From the courtroom scene covering the man's trial, to where Jed has to meet with his father in order to strike a deal to potentially find the body of another missing boy who may be alive or dead at the time the story transpires, a lot of it comes across as wayward drama.
What really made me angry was an assertion that Jed makes towards a guy (Foster) that bullies him over his father's crime. It's not that I didn't feel sorry for Jed getting blacklisted over a crime his father committed (though this factor is emphasized over and over again to the point where it went in tandem to the idea of this being forced down my throat), but it's awfully hard to feel sorry for someone who would say something like this for any reason, given the context of the situation:
“I’m warning you, Foster,” I roar, my fists balled and ready to take a swing at him. “Cut it out or you’ll be wishing you were one of my dad’s victims by the time I’ve finished with you.”
For a character who just spent the vast majority of the time telling us what his father did was disgusting and sickening, I had a hard time believing he would say something like this. He felt remorseful after, sure, but this felt like an obvious milking of the dramatic context and it angered me. Not to mention that even when his statement's caught by an authority figure, the conflict this assertion presents is dropped by the wayside.
Jed's met with contentions and accusations against his own person when not only one of the boys he befriends in the neighborhood goes missing, but yet another boy accuses Jed of "touching him inappropriately." Jed questions his own actions/reactions because of the lies he tells and sometimes blacking out from drunken stupors which make him think he's guilty of what his father's done. By this point I wanted to throw the book down and not have anything to do with it, because my mental note is screaming to me "Nothing about this is real, nothing about this is emotionally coherent and it's playing upon my sentiments on a subject matter that deserves far more maturity in approach than this."
Even when dealing with Jed's inner demons and fears of becoming what his father was, I couldn't believe how juvenile the emotions came through on that as well. Even the conversation where Jed talks to his father, and his father reveals that he "restrained" himself from harming Jed and his sister, I probably wanted to throw up right along with Jed at the revelation, but at the same time, later on when Jed's expressing his fears of touching other kids like that I thought "No, just no."
The book attempts to have Jed coming to terms with his situation, particularly with Summer as someone who stands firmly with him. But I couldn't understand the forced, inappropriate attempt at romance when Summer made a perfectly legitimate claim for Jed to get his crap together, while saying she loved him, but yet he focuses on the measure "She actually loves me?"
Dear goodness no.
I think Summer's character was forced to be the moral guide for Jed through all these events, and she's also the purported love interest, but again - much of this is told, not shown, and it felt like it was forced down my throat. Even the relationship between them. It's one dimensional, and it made me think of the characters across the board here in one dimension for the purported situations and measures here.
There are other books that treat this subject matter with far more sensitivity, resonance, gravity, and seriousness than this book. I cannot recommend it, personally speaking.
Overall score: 0.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Entangled Teen.
But to sum up my thoughts in a short statement: Very shallow, oftentimes offensive presentation of a tough subject matter. And this is even in consideration of the audience it's oriented toward. I got the message and I even understood the intent, but the execution left so much more to be desired and felt more like a sensationalistic piece for drama, rather than a coming to terms story and fulfilling mystery/crime expansion.
Full review:
I'll start this review by conceding that this is a very difficult subject matter to approach in any respect, and I highly value that Sara Hantz chose (at least in premise) to tackle it within a work oriented towards a YA audience. The blurb and the beautiful cover were both aspects that drew me in and made me excited to have the opportunity to read it.
But upon finishing the novel, I grimace just thinking about the portrayal of the matter here. It's not so much that the book doesn't propose to take the matter seriously, and it's not even that I didn't understand the intent behind the work.
More like I felt at every opportunity in this work, this book shoved everything down my throat in a repetitive measure.
The execution was awkward, harried, and clinical. Very shallow and immature presentation for the gravity of the matter in the work, even considering the protagonist himself is flawed, young, and dealing with a lot of purported emotional curveballs thrown his way. When the narrative info and emotion dumps all of the character's purported sufferings in repeated measures in such a short span of time, and doesn't allow you to even consider some of the statements in an open format for yourself as a reader - it's not only inappropriate, but it doesn't do justice for the subject at hand. Not to mention it felt like many of the situations that the MC faced were thrown in just for dramatic value, and they truly felt like they were narrative inserts, not situations that the protagonist was really dealing with and had to come to terms with. And that sours the intent, seriousness, and sincerity of the matter faster than week old milk.
Conflict plot points are also dropped faster than hot potatoes.
Let me consider for a moment the angle/argument that this book is intended for a YA audience, maybe even a reluctant reader audience. It's a quick read, but even if the narrative only had a limited amount of time to fit these conflicts in, and even for the raw emotion it tried to portray with the character's blunt reactions to what he faces, it still came across as far too repetitive and forceful to really take a step back and say "Man, he's going through so much, I really feel sorry for him."
The character's not talking with you, he's talking AT you for much of this narrative.
Jed Franklin is a 17-year old kid whose life is turned upside down when his father is arrested and charged with abusing, molesting and killing several boys - with one boy still missing in the mix. Jed's notably, and understandably, devastated. I even understood that he was afraid of falling into his father's footsteps given not only what he initially thinks following the revelation, but also what he learns from conversations with his father and the reveals over his family history.
We hear a lot about how Jed thinks what his father did was "messed up," "fucked up" and constant streams of WTF. And you know - I understand this, but I did not like how it comes across. To give you an example of how repetitious the narrative gets in places of this book, I'll take the first page of Chapter 9:
I wake with a start, my breathing heavy and labored. Blinking furiously, it takes a few seconds before I realize, with relief, that I’m in bed. That I’d been having a nightmare. A fucking disgusting nightmare.
It was the most sickening and scariest thing ever. I was in my dad’s head while he went child hunting. He stood behind a tree, watching boys in a playground. And all the time he was fixated on a small boy with blond curly hair, who looked about six. And I could hear all his thoughts. Except they didn’t seem like normal thoughts; they were like sound-bites:
Come to Daddy, little boy, it won’t hurt a bit.
You know you want to.
You’re making…
STOP.
I shake my head to bring myself back to reality. I spit into a tissue the bile that had shot into my mouth as I was reliving the dream and wipe my lips over and over, to try and rid the foul taste of the whole experience.
It’s revolting.
He’s revolting.
The narrative's like this through much of the book. For one, it's juvenile because it's telling AND repeating the emotion rather than having places and spaces between and showing the gravity of the situation, allowing the emotional resonance to come through on its own and make its impression on the reader, rather than telling the reader what to feel. For another, the emotion's oversaturated, and instead of feeling the disgust for what his father has done and Jed's respective reactions having merit, it makes the portrayal come off as forced and numbing.
Jed's father's name is Benjamin Franklin, which - I don't normally judge names, but really? Unfortunate naming is unfortunate, but in a story like this, it makes the juvenile tone seem that much more prominent. From the courtroom scene covering the man's trial, to where Jed has to meet with his father in order to strike a deal to potentially find the body of another missing boy who may be alive or dead at the time the story transpires, a lot of it comes across as wayward drama.
What really made me angry was an assertion that Jed makes towards a guy (Foster) that bullies him over his father's crime. It's not that I didn't feel sorry for Jed getting blacklisted over a crime his father committed (though this factor is emphasized over and over again to the point where it went in tandem to the idea of this being forced down my throat), but it's awfully hard to feel sorry for someone who would say something like this for any reason, given the context of the situation:
“I’m warning you, Foster,” I roar, my fists balled and ready to take a swing at him. “Cut it out or you’ll be wishing you were one of my dad’s victims by the time I’ve finished with you.”
For a character who just spent the vast majority of the time telling us what his father did was disgusting and sickening, I had a hard time believing he would say something like this. He felt remorseful after, sure, but this felt like an obvious milking of the dramatic context and it angered me. Not to mention that even when his statement's caught by an authority figure, the conflict this assertion presents is dropped by the wayside.
Jed's met with contentions and accusations against his own person when not only one of the boys he befriends in the neighborhood goes missing, but yet another boy accuses Jed of "touching him inappropriately." Jed questions his own actions/reactions because of the lies he tells and sometimes blacking out from drunken stupors which make him think he's guilty of what his father's done. By this point I wanted to throw the book down and not have anything to do with it, because my mental note is screaming to me "Nothing about this is real, nothing about this is emotionally coherent and it's playing upon my sentiments on a subject matter that deserves far more maturity in approach than this."
Even when dealing with Jed's inner demons and fears of becoming what his father was, I couldn't believe how juvenile the emotions came through on that as well. Even the conversation where Jed talks to his father, and his father reveals that he "restrained" himself from harming Jed and his sister, I probably wanted to throw up right along with Jed at the revelation, but at the same time, later on when Jed's expressing his fears of touching other kids like that I thought "No, just no."
The book attempts to have Jed coming to terms with his situation, particularly with Summer as someone who stands firmly with him. But I couldn't understand the forced, inappropriate attempt at romance when Summer made a perfectly legitimate claim for Jed to get his crap together, while saying she loved him, but yet he focuses on the measure "She actually loves me?"
Dear goodness no.
I think Summer's character was forced to be the moral guide for Jed through all these events, and she's also the purported love interest, but again - much of this is told, not shown, and it felt like it was forced down my throat. Even the relationship between them. It's one dimensional, and it made me think of the characters across the board here in one dimension for the purported situations and measures here.
There are other books that treat this subject matter with far more sensitivity, resonance, gravity, and seriousness than this book. I cannot recommend it, personally speaking.
Overall score: 0.5/5 stars
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Entangled Teen.
January 31, 2016
In the Blood is an extremely unique book, dark and disturbing as talking about pedophilia can be.
Written with grace and profound human sensitivity, it is a good reading for teens and young adults.
Written with grace and profound human sensitivity, it is a good reading for teens and young adults.
November 9, 2013
I struggled with this one, I have to admit. The subject matter is obviously difficult to read but I think it was more how it was handled that got to me. I couldn't buy into it, or Jed and I ended up skim reading a lot of the end. As always, I will try to give my reasons as to why I didn't enjoy the book so much, but without giving away any major spoilers.
Now at the beginning I enjoyed the book a lot more, it was as it went on that I began to have more and more issues with it. At first I understood Jed and the way he was feeling. We have all seen these stories before, whether on the news or in the paper and all wonder at how a person could do that type of thing. But, do we always think about their families, definitely the victims but do we always contemplate how the perpetrators family are dealing with it. How do you deal with finding out that someone you love and trusted has done such unimaginable things, without you even being aware of it. These are the things that Jed is dealing with, that I could understand and deal with.
The little descriptions of each of his fathers victims was something I thought was especially moving and important in the book. This book got me to think, not only about the guilty parties family but also about the victim. Sometimes, with these types of crimes in real life you get a photo of a young victim and an age and you think it's sad but you never know them as a person. This book really got to me with the little descriptions of the victims and their personalities, it really got you to view them as real people. But I know if I ever see a story like this in the paper, it will get to me even more now. An example:
"Ethan Lopez
Age seven.
Brother to Zoe and Lucia.
Son of Carlos and Isabella.
Shy.
Dark curls.
Obsessed with dinosaurs.
Wants to be a palaeontologist. Scared of spiders
Favourite food: chocolate ice cream. Wants an Xbox for his birthday. Favourite teacher: Mrs. Jackson. Favourite TV show: Spongebob. Best friend: Dominic.
Benjamin Franklin's fourth victim. Dead." -67% on Kindle
I should probably point out at this point that Jed's fathers name is Benjamin Franklin. Yes, you read that right; he's parents obviously thought they were hilarious. I did roll my eyes a little at the name. As a character, his father is absent throughout most of the book, only appearing now and again. The character, other than Jed, that we see the most of is his next door neighbour, and long time crush, Summer. She's unbelievably bubbly and happy and sees the good in everything. But Jed's constant internal struggle of how he is no longer worthy of her, well, it really began to grate on me over time.
My main issue with the book is Jed's obsession with the idea that was his father did is in his blood. About halfway through the book, after some online research, he suddenly becomes convinced that there is no way to stop it and he is going to turn into a paedophile too. Now this is a guy who we are told was working his way to Stanford, before everything happened with his father. It annoyed me that someone who's supposed to be that smart could be that unbelievably stupid.
At one point he drinks too much and passes out. When he wakes up he begins to question himself and whether he did something to a young boy that he now can't remember. That to me all seemed kind of ludicrous and got to me so much. After that, I kind of looked at Jed as an idiot. Of course being the son of someone who did that you would worry about yourself, but I'm sure you know how you feel as a person, whether or not you are attracted, in any way, to young kids. It just seemed so bizarre to me. The way the tough subject matter was handled seemed quite immature.
This book is also unbelievably repetitive, Jed says the same things over and over and over again. I could see what the author was trying to do and she tried to handle the subject matter seriously, but it fell a bit flat for me. I couldn't take Jed saying over and over again how 'disgusting', 'revolting', 'sick' or 'fucked up' his father is. I get it, I already know that; you don't need to remind me every three sentences. The ending was also very hurried and involved a character doing a complete 180 that came out of nowhere and annoyed me so much.
I also want to point out that this is a tough book to read. I wouldn't recommend it for younger teens, if I'm being honest. I am glad my local bookshop has separated it's teenage fiction section. Now they have teenage and then young adult, because books like this make me realise the difference. This isn't a book I would give my little cousin to read, whereas The Hunger Games is.
2/5 Stars
This book raised some good points but handled the subject matter quite badly. It was too repetitive and character development was definitely flawed at times.
Now at the beginning I enjoyed the book a lot more, it was as it went on that I began to have more and more issues with it. At first I understood Jed and the way he was feeling. We have all seen these stories before, whether on the news or in the paper and all wonder at how a person could do that type of thing. But, do we always think about their families, definitely the victims but do we always contemplate how the perpetrators family are dealing with it. How do you deal with finding out that someone you love and trusted has done such unimaginable things, without you even being aware of it. These are the things that Jed is dealing with, that I could understand and deal with.
The little descriptions of each of his fathers victims was something I thought was especially moving and important in the book. This book got me to think, not only about the guilty parties family but also about the victim. Sometimes, with these types of crimes in real life you get a photo of a young victim and an age and you think it's sad but you never know them as a person. This book really got to me with the little descriptions of the victims and their personalities, it really got you to view them as real people. But I know if I ever see a story like this in the paper, it will get to me even more now. An example:
"Ethan Lopez
Age seven.
Brother to Zoe and Lucia.
Son of Carlos and Isabella.
Shy.
Dark curls.
Obsessed with dinosaurs.
Wants to be a palaeontologist. Scared of spiders
Favourite food: chocolate ice cream. Wants an Xbox for his birthday. Favourite teacher: Mrs. Jackson. Favourite TV show: Spongebob. Best friend: Dominic.
Benjamin Franklin's fourth victim. Dead." -67% on Kindle
I should probably point out at this point that Jed's fathers name is Benjamin Franklin. Yes, you read that right; he's parents obviously thought they were hilarious. I did roll my eyes a little at the name. As a character, his father is absent throughout most of the book, only appearing now and again. The character, other than Jed, that we see the most of is his next door neighbour, and long time crush, Summer. She's unbelievably bubbly and happy and sees the good in everything. But Jed's constant internal struggle of how he is no longer worthy of her, well, it really began to grate on me over time.
My main issue with the book is Jed's obsession with the idea that was his father did is in his blood. About halfway through the book, after some online research, he suddenly becomes convinced that there is no way to stop it and he is going to turn into a paedophile too. Now this is a guy who we are told was working his way to Stanford, before everything happened with his father. It annoyed me that someone who's supposed to be that smart could be that unbelievably stupid.
At one point he drinks too much and passes out. When he wakes up he begins to question himself and whether he did something to a young boy that he now can't remember. That to me all seemed kind of ludicrous and got to me so much. After that, I kind of looked at Jed as an idiot. Of course being the son of someone who did that you would worry about yourself, but I'm sure you know how you feel as a person, whether or not you are attracted, in any way, to young kids. It just seemed so bizarre to me. The way the tough subject matter was handled seemed quite immature.
This book is also unbelievably repetitive, Jed says the same things over and over and over again. I could see what the author was trying to do and she tried to handle the subject matter seriously, but it fell a bit flat for me. I couldn't take Jed saying over and over again how 'disgusting', 'revolting', 'sick' or 'fucked up' his father is. I get it, I already know that; you don't need to remind me every three sentences. The ending was also very hurried and involved a character doing a complete 180 that came out of nowhere and annoyed me so much.
I also want to point out that this is a tough book to read. I wouldn't recommend it for younger teens, if I'm being honest. I am glad my local bookshop has separated it's teenage fiction section. Now they have teenage and then young adult, because books like this make me realise the difference. This isn't a book I would give my little cousin to read, whereas The Hunger Games is.
2/5 Stars
This book raised some good points but handled the subject matter quite badly. It was too repetitive and character development was definitely flawed at times.
November 15, 2013
For this review and more, visit Such a Novel Idea.
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I have to start this review out with a couple of caveats… The first is this a tough book to read. The material is dark and uncomfortable at times. While it didn’t make me cry like Hold Still (Nina Lacour) or Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson), I’d definitely classify it as tough issues fiction. The second caveat is that this book, while dealing with child abuse, pedophilia, and murder, do not go into great details. We are not witnessing any scenes of violence and we only experience life through a teenage, nine months after his father has been caught and put in jail.
When we are dealing with the depravity of the human condition, it is hard not to have a morbid curiosity. I know I certainly do. There is something that has always intrigued me about special victims cases. As a criminal justice minor, I studied a lot of the themes of this book — and it was really interesting to see those themes integrated into a book for teens.
Jed was an “ordinary” teenager with a great life – until one day his father is arrested for the rape and murder of several boys. In the nine months after the shocking revelation, we see the downward spiral his family has taken. His mother is barely functioning and Jed is acting as a guardian to his five year old sister Amy.
We start out with a teenager who has been bullied, beaten down, and feels like his life has been ruined. And things only go down from there. It was really interesting to be inside Jed’s mind — we got to see ALL his thoughts. So while some may say the book repeats a lot, I say it is fabulous, because isn’t that what happens when we obsess?
And Jed is obsessed with the possibility of him being like his father. It is a legitimate concern, and with no lack of direction or a parental guidance, Jed’s mind gets into a circular logic that is unhealthy.
There were so many times I wanted to yell at the characters to SEEK COUNSELING. I hope that teens see that — that these were good people who needed help dealing with something traumatic. It didn’t change who they were. Therapy and counseling are some of the best ways out of a bad place and there is so much stigma attached to it. It is a greater message in this book that I truly appreciated.
When Jed opens up to Summer (his best friend/next door neighbor/girl he is in love with) about his paranoia of becoming like his dad, we get to see the first large section of dialogue. And it is one of the most uncomfortable scenes I’ve read in a long time. The material just makes you cringe, and so does the thought patterns of this poor kid. But I absolutely see how he arrived at his conclusions, which is that much more heartbreaking.
This is a true contemporary work — it is thought provoking, emotionally draining, and a well applauded look into a prevalent, but not well-discovered part of our society.
One thing I know for sure: Entangled Teen books keep proving to be smashing successes in my book (pun… fully intended.)
*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I have to start this review out with a couple of caveats… The first is this a tough book to read. The material is dark and uncomfortable at times. While it didn’t make me cry like Hold Still (Nina Lacour) or Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson), I’d definitely classify it as tough issues fiction. The second caveat is that this book, while dealing with child abuse, pedophilia, and murder, do not go into great details. We are not witnessing any scenes of violence and we only experience life through a teenage, nine months after his father has been caught and put in jail.
When we are dealing with the depravity of the human condition, it is hard not to have a morbid curiosity. I know I certainly do. There is something that has always intrigued me about special victims cases. As a criminal justice minor, I studied a lot of the themes of this book — and it was really interesting to see those themes integrated into a book for teens.
Jed was an “ordinary” teenager with a great life – until one day his father is arrested for the rape and murder of several boys. In the nine months after the shocking revelation, we see the downward spiral his family has taken. His mother is barely functioning and Jed is acting as a guardian to his five year old sister Amy.
We start out with a teenager who has been bullied, beaten down, and feels like his life has been ruined. And things only go down from there. It was really interesting to be inside Jed’s mind — we got to see ALL his thoughts. So while some may say the book repeats a lot, I say it is fabulous, because isn’t that what happens when we obsess?
And Jed is obsessed with the possibility of him being like his father. It is a legitimate concern, and with no lack of direction or a parental guidance, Jed’s mind gets into a circular logic that is unhealthy.
There were so many times I wanted to yell at the characters to SEEK COUNSELING. I hope that teens see that — that these were good people who needed help dealing with something traumatic. It didn’t change who they were. Therapy and counseling are some of the best ways out of a bad place and there is so much stigma attached to it. It is a greater message in this book that I truly appreciated.
When Jed opens up to Summer (his best friend/next door neighbor/girl he is in love with) about his paranoia of becoming like his dad, we get to see the first large section of dialogue. And it is one of the most uncomfortable scenes I’ve read in a long time. The material just makes you cringe, and so does the thought patterns of this poor kid. But I absolutely see how he arrived at his conclusions, which is that much more heartbreaking.
This is a true contemporary work — it is thought provoking, emotionally draining, and a well applauded look into a prevalent, but not well-discovered part of our society.
One thing I know for sure: Entangled Teen books keep proving to be smashing successes in my book (pun… fully intended.)
November 5, 2013
The blight of child abuse, pedophilia in particular, is a very tough one to read about and I suspect it’s just as tough for an author to write about but it’s a very important topic. As a society, we must not sweep this under the rug and, if we don’t bring it into the light as often as we can, this terrible behavior will continue to damage and destroy children everywhere. I have a great deal of respect for Sara Hantz for being courageous enough to tackle a subject that will no doubt cost her some readers because of their desire to avoid books dealing with bad things happening to children.
Most of us have probably thought about the horrible treatment these abused children go through and the effects on the community in general but I think we probably shy away from how the pedophile’s own child responds when the truth about his father becomes known, especially when that child was not a victim and, like everyone else, never considered the possibility of such a thing. How much worse must it be to know that this man you loved so much killed his prey and to wonder if you will someday become the same kind of monster?
Jed is the poster boy for the hatred and anger and guilt and, above all, fear that such a son must feel and his rollercoaster emotions are drawn with infinite care. Ms. Hantz has created one of the most emotionally engaging characters I’ve come across in a long time and I was completely invested in what he was experiencing. The terrible thoughts disrupting his life are not relieved in any way by his mother who has withdrawn into her own world and, in fact, I found myself resenting her almost as much as Jed’s father because she not only has withdrawn from Jed and his little sister, Amy, but has actually stopped caring in any demonstrable way. Yes, I understand that a wife would be devastated by learning what kind of man she married but to essentially abandon her children out of her own self-absorption is incomprehensible.
Jed’s love for five-year-old Amy and his growing attachment to best friend Summer are all that’s keeping him together but the fear of becoming his father is nearly overwhelming…and then Dawson, a little neighborhood boy he’s fond of, disappears.
There is one shortcoming in this novel, in my opinion, and that is the relative abruptness of the ending, feeling sort of rushed. Despite that, In the Blood is emotionally draining and energizing at the same time and it will be on my list of best books read in 2013. I will not soon forget Jed Franklin.
Note: Readers should be aware that, although child abuse and murder are the crimes involved, there are no graphic descriptions of those crimes either during or after.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2013.
Most of us have probably thought about the horrible treatment these abused children go through and the effects on the community in general but I think we probably shy away from how the pedophile’s own child responds when the truth about his father becomes known, especially when that child was not a victim and, like everyone else, never considered the possibility of such a thing. How much worse must it be to know that this man you loved so much killed his prey and to wonder if you will someday become the same kind of monster?
Jed is the poster boy for the hatred and anger and guilt and, above all, fear that such a son must feel and his rollercoaster emotions are drawn with infinite care. Ms. Hantz has created one of the most emotionally engaging characters I’ve come across in a long time and I was completely invested in what he was experiencing. The terrible thoughts disrupting his life are not relieved in any way by his mother who has withdrawn into her own world and, in fact, I found myself resenting her almost as much as Jed’s father because she not only has withdrawn from Jed and his little sister, Amy, but has actually stopped caring in any demonstrable way. Yes, I understand that a wife would be devastated by learning what kind of man she married but to essentially abandon her children out of her own self-absorption is incomprehensible.
Jed’s love for five-year-old Amy and his growing attachment to best friend Summer are all that’s keeping him together but the fear of becoming his father is nearly overwhelming…and then Dawson, a little neighborhood boy he’s fond of, disappears.
There is one shortcoming in this novel, in my opinion, and that is the relative abruptness of the ending, feeling sort of rushed. Despite that, In the Blood is emotionally draining and energizing at the same time and it will be on my list of best books read in 2013. I will not soon forget Jed Franklin.
Note: Readers should be aware that, although child abuse and murder are the crimes involved, there are no graphic descriptions of those crimes either during or after.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2013.
December 5, 2013
The premise of this book was promising; the book attempted to tackle the difficult subjects of abuse of children and the mental illness by taking the reader into the life and mind of Jed Franklin. However, instead of providing a dramatic and thoughtful presentation of the issues in Jed's life and the actions of his father, the author presented a shallow, flat, and juvenile approach to writing this story. Between the lines of rampant misogynistic commentary, the characters became the stereotypical archetypes of abusive father, out of touch mother, angst-ridden teen, and all-too-perfect childhood love interest. If it weren't for the topic of pedophilia to make for a small tinge of interest to read the book ("An author brave enough to write about the taboo of pedophilia in YA lit?" I thought before starting the book "Of course it will be interesting!") then it quickly would have been dropped from my reading list.
The first half of the book is spent nearly entirely in the past with all talk and no action. Jed's neighbor disappearing makes the read somewhat compelling in the middle as the reader thinks "Oh, finally! it gets interesting!" and then again quickly drops off into mundanity again. Truly one of the worst YA reads I have attempted to finish in a very long time.
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I'm only 30% done with this book and should finish it today, but so far it's truly dreadful and I would never recommend it. The author spends way too much time in the past tense and not enough in the present - and that's the #1 problem. All of the interesting action has happened in the past. The author is telling, not showing.
Be aware potential reader: *BLATANT MISOGYNY ALERT* oozing from every other chapter!!
The female characters (with exception of bright,shiny no-fuss Summer and completely clueless little sister Amy) are described as bitches. Why exactly? Because they're older adult women who seem to have no problem telling younger children what to do. Not only that but when Jed starts to cry alone in his room he doesn't want to seem like a girl. Because of course, that would be weak and pitiful. Foster's buddies are "bridesmaids" and getting in a fight with him is easy because he fights like a girl. Seriously the misogyny in this book is so rampant and blatant I've been taken aback more than once.
Problem #3: I really cannot help but be unamused by the character names. Benjamin Franklin? Really? Summer who's bright and shiny and optimistic? Really not very original.
Yes, this is a book on a tough subject matter, but I'm not expecting to be wowed by the rest of it considering how the first 30% has gone over so far.
The first half of the book is spent nearly entirely in the past with all talk and no action. Jed's neighbor disappearing makes the read somewhat compelling in the middle as the reader thinks "Oh, finally! it gets interesting!" and then again quickly drops off into mundanity again. Truly one of the worst YA reads I have attempted to finish in a very long time.
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I'm only 30% done with this book and should finish it today, but so far it's truly dreadful and I would never recommend it. The author spends way too much time in the past tense and not enough in the present - and that's the #1 problem. All of the interesting action has happened in the past. The author is telling, not showing.
Be aware potential reader: *BLATANT MISOGYNY ALERT* oozing from every other chapter!!
The female characters (with exception of bright,shiny no-fuss Summer and completely clueless little sister Amy) are described as bitches. Why exactly? Because they're older adult women who seem to have no problem telling younger children what to do. Not only that but when Jed starts to cry alone in his room he doesn't want to seem like a girl. Because of course, that would be weak and pitiful. Foster's buddies are "bridesmaids" and getting in a fight with him is easy because he fights like a girl. Seriously the misogyny in this book is so rampant and blatant I've been taken aback more than once.
Problem #3: I really cannot help but be unamused by the character names. Benjamin Franklin? Really? Summer who's bright and shiny and optimistic? Really not very original.
Yes, this is a book on a tough subject matter, but I'm not expecting to be wowed by the rest of it considering how the first 30% has gone over so far.
February 8, 2016
In the Blood tiene como protagonista a Jed, quién tiene una vida aparentemente "ordinaria" hasta que su padre es acusado y arrestado por violar y asesinar a unos chicos. La novela narra lo que sucede con Jed y con su familia después de este terrible acontecimiento.
Bueno, cuando leí la reseña de este libro me interesó de inmediato porque me recordó a otras novelas que me gustan como I Hunt Killers (Barry Lyga) y I am not a serial killer (Dan Wells). Mientras leía el libro me di cuenta de que tienen piezas que se parecen y otras que los hacen únicos.
Protagonista:
Principalmente tienen en común que todos los protagonistas no quieren convertirse en asesinos. En el caso de Jed, él no quiere convertirse en un monstruo como su padre. Esta sufriendo de paranoia y tiene miedo. Su vida se esta resquebrajando y es molestado y golpeado en el colegio. Me ha costado un poco, pero luego he podido simpatizar con él, incluso llegue a entenderlo. Creo que en realidad el punto central de la historia es que Jed encuentre su propia identidad, lejos de lo que implica estar relacionado con su padre. Además fue muy interesante saber lo que Jed pensaba, estar dentro de su cabeza.
Trama: In the Blood es un libro único, que menciona temas muy duros como la pedofília, el maltrato, el asesinato, la violencia. Es oscuro, incómodo en ciertas partes y deconcertante. Aunque no contiene escenas descritas con muchos detalles. Debo admitir que en partes me costo seguir, el inicio fue un poco lento, principalmente porque no es un libro fácil de leer. Te hace reflexionar sobre la naturaleza humana. Te hace preguntarte como una persona puede engañar y tracionar a su propia familia y transformarse en un monstruo que arruina sus vidas.
Escritura: Sara Hantz escribió este libro a consciencia. El libro te muestra sensibilidad y te trasmite sentimientos. Sobretodo, me gustó que la autora se atreviera a colocar temas tan duras en un libro para jóvenes. No me atrapó tanto como los otros dos libros que mencione antes pero me parece que supo llevar bien el ritmo.
*Recibi una copia gratis de este libro vía netGalley. Sin embargo, esto no ha afectado mi opinión. Además gracias a la autora y a la editorial.
Bueno, cuando leí la reseña de este libro me interesó de inmediato porque me recordó a otras novelas que me gustan como I Hunt Killers (Barry Lyga) y I am not a serial killer (Dan Wells). Mientras leía el libro me di cuenta de que tienen piezas que se parecen y otras que los hacen únicos.
Protagonista:
Principalmente tienen en común que todos los protagonistas no quieren convertirse en asesinos. En el caso de Jed, él no quiere convertirse en un monstruo como su padre. Esta sufriendo de paranoia y tiene miedo. Su vida se esta resquebrajando y es molestado y golpeado en el colegio. Me ha costado un poco, pero luego he podido simpatizar con él, incluso llegue a entenderlo. Creo que en realidad el punto central de la historia es que Jed encuentre su propia identidad, lejos de lo que implica estar relacionado con su padre. Además fue muy interesante saber lo que Jed pensaba, estar dentro de su cabeza.
Trama: In the Blood es un libro único, que menciona temas muy duros como la pedofília, el maltrato, el asesinato, la violencia. Es oscuro, incómodo en ciertas partes y deconcertante. Aunque no contiene escenas descritas con muchos detalles. Debo admitir que en partes me costo seguir, el inicio fue un poco lento, principalmente porque no es un libro fácil de leer. Te hace reflexionar sobre la naturaleza humana. Te hace preguntarte como una persona puede engañar y tracionar a su propia familia y transformarse en un monstruo que arruina sus vidas.
Escritura: Sara Hantz escribió este libro a consciencia. El libro te muestra sensibilidad y te trasmite sentimientos. Sobretodo, me gustó que la autora se atreviera a colocar temas tan duras en un libro para jóvenes. No me atrapó tanto como los otros dos libros que mencione antes pero me parece que supo llevar bien el ritmo.
*Recibi una copia gratis de este libro vía netGalley. Sin embargo, esto no ha afectado mi opinión. Además gracias a la autora y a la editorial.
November 6, 2013
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! 4.5 stars!
Was this book good or was it good? Seriously guys, there were only a handful of books that made me not want to read the book, but yet I couldn't NOT read it. So I read it!
First and foremorst, this book is very short! So there's no excuse not to read it.
Secondly... Man it had one heck of a tough subject in the story! Truthfully, that's what made me not want to read the book. I mean, how would a teenager guy deal with having a pedophile of a father? A father that admits and make him think that it's in his blood. This book was crazy good and I myself started to think, would our MC become a pedophile too? His fears were so real, his pain was real, the emotions and self-doubt he goes through was REAL!
This book felt real! So do take some time to read it and KNOW that it has a strong/difficult subject as part of the story plot!
Was this book good or was it good? Seriously guys, there were only a handful of books that made me not want to read the book, but yet I couldn't NOT read it. So I read it!
First and foremorst, this book is very short! So there's no excuse not to read it.
Secondly... Man it had one heck of a tough subject in the story! Truthfully, that's what made me not want to read the book. I mean, how would a teenager guy deal with having a pedophile of a father? A father that admits and make him think that it's in his blood. This book was crazy good and I myself started to think, would our MC become a pedophile too? His fears were so real, his pain was real, the emotions and self-doubt he goes through was REAL!
This book felt real! So do take some time to read it and KNOW that it has a strong/difficult subject as part of the story plot!
July 1, 2017
I received this book from the publisher via netgally for an honest review
This is the story about a boy named Jed Franklin, his life is turned upside down when his father is convicted of sexually abusing and murdering boys in the neighbourhood, Jed struggles to come to terms with what his dad has done and turns to alcohol to numb the pain, on night the a booze fulled stupor he blackouts, he wakes up in the local park covered in his own vomit with no idea of what he did the night before, he goes home to find out that a local boy has gone missing and he was the last person seen talking to said boy which makes him the prime suspect and makes Jed wonder is what his father did "in the blood?"
This is a YA book so there is no detail about what Jed's father did to the children at all you just know he sexually abused and killed them so don't worry if child sexual abuse is a trigger for you.
I think this was a really good concept for a book, you hear about sex offenders on the news all the time and naturally you think of the victims of the abused and/or murdered, but we never stop to think about the impact it has on the family left behind albeit the wife, children, mother ext and I think that this book really does a good a job of highlighting this, however I did feel that this book got very repetitive at times with the same thing being mentioned and gone over by Jed over and over again, I understand that Jed was in a crises and was worried he would turn into his father but we don't need that repeated through the whole narrative, the book did pick up pace when the child went missing and it was a bit tense but then went back to being mundane. The ending also felt a bit rushed.
Overall a great concept for a book but one that isn't executed very well and not a book I would recommend I'm afraid.
This is the story about a boy named Jed Franklin, his life is turned upside down when his father is convicted of sexually abusing and murdering boys in the neighbourhood, Jed struggles to come to terms with what his dad has done and turns to alcohol to numb the pain, on night the a booze fulled stupor he blackouts, he wakes up in the local park covered in his own vomit with no idea of what he did the night before, he goes home to find out that a local boy has gone missing and he was the last person seen talking to said boy which makes him the prime suspect and makes Jed wonder is what his father did "in the blood?"
This is a YA book so there is no detail about what Jed's father did to the children at all you just know he sexually abused and killed them so don't worry if child sexual abuse is a trigger for you.
I think this was a really good concept for a book, you hear about sex offenders on the news all the time and naturally you think of the victims of the abused and/or murdered, but we never stop to think about the impact it has on the family left behind albeit the wife, children, mother ext and I think that this book really does a good a job of highlighting this, however I did feel that this book got very repetitive at times with the same thing being mentioned and gone over by Jed over and over again, I understand that Jed was in a crises and was worried he would turn into his father but we don't need that repeated through the whole narrative, the book did pick up pace when the child went missing and it was a bit tense but then went back to being mundane. The ending also felt a bit rushed.
Overall a great concept for a book but one that isn't executed very well and not a book I would recommend I'm afraid.
April 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this book . This book kept me very on edge and waning to read more. The ending of the book is very good> throughout the book there were twists and turns. there were many different things and events that happened that were very unexpected. The style of the book within the chapter is very different and interesting. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes a book along the lines of suspense.
December 22, 2018
Zafa. Había partes que eran muy repetitivas y se volvía muy denso, y tenía otras partes que estaban buenas pero se tendrían que haber desarrollado más. A pesar de que me gustó el último capítulo, esperaba otra cosa, ya que siento que varios temas quedaron inconclusos.
El romance entre Jed y Summer me pareció innecesario ya que no le aportaba nada a la historia, era lo mismo que hubiesen seguido siendo amigos.
El romance entre Jed y Summer me pareció innecesario ya que no le aportaba nada a la historia, era lo mismo que hubiesen seguido siendo amigos.
December 17, 2014
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
In the Blood was really, really, very, extremely fascinating. Jed's father has been arrested for four counts of pedophilia and murder, and his trial is fast approaching. Jed is understandably having a really hard time about it all. His mom has totally check outed, leaving him almost completely responsible for his little sister, he's getting bullied at school, the neighbors are gossiping, and he can't help but wonder if he's going to turn out just like his father. I couldn't help but be drawn in as Jed researches pedophiles and obsesses about the similarities he shares with his father. Then his father asks to see him in exchange for sharing the location of a fifth body, a neighborhood boy goes missing and Jed's the last one to have seen him, and a sixth grader from Jed's school accuses him of touching him. While all of these points were interesting, In the Blood was way too short to do them all justice.
I was 100% interested, curious, and creeped out while reading In the Blood. Jed is really trying to understand why his dad did what he did. He tries to figure out the signs in fear that he'll start to have inappropriate feelings towards children. He reads lots of studies on the psychology of it and is convinced that he's next. His friend Summer, who is the ultimate voice of reason, repeatedly tells him that he has a choice and it's not a done deal. However, Jed just can't bring himself to believe that and essentially gives up on trying to do anything with his life. He doesn't do homework, skips school, and drinks. A lot. It was sad watching him self-sabotage like that, but he's all better by the end. It was quite a jump from black out drunk and hopeless to "hey, I have a bright future ahead of me." The same goes for his mother, who goes from "a walking zombie" to finally realizing that she's not the only person affected by this.
The other two main plot threads of In the Blood are also wrapped up quite fast. The first, Jed's young neighbor going missing, could have almost not been included at all for how much page time it received. Jed is completely freaked out because he was the last one to see the little boy, but he had gotten so drunk that he can't remember what he did or where he was that night. Of course, he believes that he may have done something to him and is being a monster like his father. Soon enough though, the boy is found and Jed learns that he wasn't involved in all. Then immediately after, Jed is accused of touching a boy at school inappropriately. Now, this could have been super interesting and intense, since we already know Jed is being bullied quite harshly at school. It isn't hard to imagine him being falsely accused as a prank gone too far. And clearly this kind of thing cannot go overlooked. Unfortunately, I knew immediately who was behind it and it didn't take long for Jed to find out either. It was just disappointing.
In the Blood had a lot of amazing material to work it, but didn't fully explore any of it. I liked that it was a fast read, but I wanted more out of it! Another hundred pages or so could have really let us get into Jed's mind about his fears and really taken the false accusation thread much further. As it is though, I quite enjoyed it. It's definitely a unique subject and I liked reading it, despite how disturbing it was at times.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
In the Blood was really, really, very, extremely fascinating. Jed's father has been arrested for four counts of pedophilia and murder, and his trial is fast approaching. Jed is understandably having a really hard time about it all. His mom has totally check outed, leaving him almost completely responsible for his little sister, he's getting bullied at school, the neighbors are gossiping, and he can't help but wonder if he's going to turn out just like his father. I couldn't help but be drawn in as Jed researches pedophiles and obsesses about the similarities he shares with his father. Then his father asks to see him in exchange for sharing the location of a fifth body, a neighborhood boy goes missing and Jed's the last one to have seen him, and a sixth grader from Jed's school accuses him of touching him. While all of these points were interesting, In the Blood was way too short to do them all justice.
I was 100% interested, curious, and creeped out while reading In the Blood. Jed is really trying to understand why his dad did what he did. He tries to figure out the signs in fear that he'll start to have inappropriate feelings towards children. He reads lots of studies on the psychology of it and is convinced that he's next. His friend Summer, who is the ultimate voice of reason, repeatedly tells him that he has a choice and it's not a done deal. However, Jed just can't bring himself to believe that and essentially gives up on trying to do anything with his life. He doesn't do homework, skips school, and drinks. A lot. It was sad watching him self-sabotage like that, but he's all better by the end. It was quite a jump from black out drunk and hopeless to "hey, I have a bright future ahead of me." The same goes for his mother, who goes from "a walking zombie" to finally realizing that she's not the only person affected by this.
The other two main plot threads of In the Blood are also wrapped up quite fast. The first, Jed's young neighbor going missing, could have almost not been included at all for how much page time it received. Jed is completely freaked out because he was the last one to see the little boy, but he had gotten so drunk that he can't remember what he did or where he was that night. Of course, he believes that he may have done something to him and is being a monster like his father. Soon enough though, the boy is found and Jed learns that he wasn't involved in all. Then immediately after, Jed is accused of touching a boy at school inappropriately. Now, this could have been super interesting and intense, since we already know Jed is being bullied quite harshly at school. It isn't hard to imagine him being falsely accused as a prank gone too far. And clearly this kind of thing cannot go overlooked. Unfortunately, I knew immediately who was behind it and it didn't take long for Jed to find out either. It was just disappointing.
In the Blood had a lot of amazing material to work it, but didn't fully explore any of it. I liked that it was a fast read, but I wanted more out of it! Another hundred pages or so could have really let us get into Jed's mind about his fears and really taken the false accusation thread much further. As it is though, I quite enjoyed it. It's definitely a unique subject and I liked reading it, despite how disturbing it was at times.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
November 13, 2013
Jed had a good life, he was happy, his family was happy. But it was all ripped away from him when the world discovered that his father was a pedophile and murderer. Now Jed lives with ridicule from people he used to call friends, insecurities within himself, and acts as the parent as his mother collapses in on herself.
In the Blood begins about 9 months after Jed's dad is arrested and charged with being a pedophile and murderer, and follows the torment that Jed goes through in his day to day life. On top of constant ridicule and untrusting eyes at school, Jed struggles with the very real and very scary possibility that he could be next. That he could somehow turn into his dad.
Every day Jed beats himself up. How did he not know? Did he miss the signs? Will he be like his father? Is he like his father? Is he to blame? And with every question Jed get's angrier and attempts to bury his woes at the end of a bottle and withdrawal's himself from the few people who have stuck with him. On top of his personal fears he has to stand in as the parent to his little sister Amy while his mom caves in on herself becoming a shell of the woman he used to know. Jed had a good life, but the life he lives now is just a shadow of what it used to be. It's like a cruel joke or like living in a messed up paradigm where everything you have ever known is thrown on its head.
This is a tough story to read, the pain that Jed goes through is so real and it often pained me to read it. I imagine his fears being the fears of anyone in his position. Okay so maybe he took it more like a champ than most. Sure he dabbled in alcohol a little and had a few spats, but I know a ton of teens who would have turned into rage monsters, alcoholics, or druggies at the first sign of trouble. So maybe it wasn't the most realistic reaction of a teenage boy, but it was definitely one that had a good spin on it.
As Jed goes through all his thoughts and crap you are front and center as Sara Hantz gives you a front row seat into all of Jed's thoughts, both good and bad. I really liked how she gave us all his thoughts, even those that sort of made you cringe. There wasn't much dialog in this book, but what dialog there was really added to the story. Instead we spent a lot of time getting to know the main character Jed. The young teen trying to cope in his new messed up reality. Jed, the incredibly strong young man who didn't break when his world came crushing down. Jed, the teen you want to adopt, take under your wing and show that there really is good inside him.
In the Blood is a deep story that will tug at your heart strings in the most painful way. It will make you cringe and maybe even skip over a few parts, because let's face it a few parts are a little too real. But In the Blood gives you a great look at what life may be like for the other victims, those left to pick up the pieces, those that were part of the beautifully crafted facade. In the Blood is a great story of not giving up, that no matter what life throws at you you need to pick yourself up and move along. Jed reminds us that we all have a choice.
*received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
In the Blood begins about 9 months after Jed's dad is arrested and charged with being a pedophile and murderer, and follows the torment that Jed goes through in his day to day life. On top of constant ridicule and untrusting eyes at school, Jed struggles with the very real and very scary possibility that he could be next. That he could somehow turn into his dad.
Every day Jed beats himself up. How did he not know? Did he miss the signs? Will he be like his father? Is he like his father? Is he to blame? And with every question Jed get's angrier and attempts to bury his woes at the end of a bottle and withdrawal's himself from the few people who have stuck with him. On top of his personal fears he has to stand in as the parent to his little sister Amy while his mom caves in on herself becoming a shell of the woman he used to know. Jed had a good life, but the life he lives now is just a shadow of what it used to be. It's like a cruel joke or like living in a messed up paradigm where everything you have ever known is thrown on its head.
This is a tough story to read, the pain that Jed goes through is so real and it often pained me to read it. I imagine his fears being the fears of anyone in his position. Okay so maybe he took it more like a champ than most. Sure he dabbled in alcohol a little and had a few spats, but I know a ton of teens who would have turned into rage monsters, alcoholics, or druggies at the first sign of trouble. So maybe it wasn't the most realistic reaction of a teenage boy, but it was definitely one that had a good spin on it.
As Jed goes through all his thoughts and crap you are front and center as Sara Hantz gives you a front row seat into all of Jed's thoughts, both good and bad. I really liked how she gave us all his thoughts, even those that sort of made you cringe. There wasn't much dialog in this book, but what dialog there was really added to the story. Instead we spent a lot of time getting to know the main character Jed. The young teen trying to cope in his new messed up reality. Jed, the incredibly strong young man who didn't break when his world came crushing down. Jed, the teen you want to adopt, take under your wing and show that there really is good inside him.
In the Blood is a deep story that will tug at your heart strings in the most painful way. It will make you cringe and maybe even skip over a few parts, because let's face it a few parts are a little too real. But In the Blood gives you a great look at what life may be like for the other victims, those left to pick up the pieces, those that were part of the beautifully crafted facade. In the Blood is a great story of not giving up, that no matter what life throws at you you need to pick yourself up and move along. Jed reminds us that we all have a choice.
*received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
November 8, 2013
NOTE: I received the eARC from Entangled TEEN in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!
From the moment I saw the gorgeous cover and read the first chapter and summary of this novel, I was hooked. Yes, the story is darker than most. It's psychological and at times depressing, but it's also interesting in a fictional kind of way.
I can't say I enjoyed it - I mean, how could anyone ENJOY a story that has to do with a pedophile serial killer? But I was intrigued by Jed's thoughts and how they seemed to cast him into oblivion the deeper he got into his father's case. I was seriously afraid that he'd get so lost in the tornado of depressing thoughts and feelings that nothing would be able to pull him back into reality.
To be honest, I loved Jed. He was a normal boy, with normal friends and a caring family. He had it all. Until one day he didn't. Until one day his family broke apart because his father turned out to be a monster of the worst kind. I mean - who preys on innocent children? Psychopaths, monsters. And with all the revelations that followed, Jed's life was ruined. Or at least everybody made him believe so.
In Jed's mind, all was lost. There was no future for him - no good college, no good job, no good nothing. If he could crawl in a dark hole all by himself, I'm sure he would've done it. Especially since his Mom totally gave up on life ever since she learned of his dad's betrayal. Except, he had a little sister (Amy) that had to be protected from it all, and also taken care of.
On top of all that, Jed's been influenced by his dad to think that he himself might be headed in the same disastrously monstrous path as his father, and his grandfather and who knows who else.
I'm afraid that if Summer - Jed's long time best friend and crush - hadn't stepped up and poured some realism into him, he might've gone mad. So many times was he pushed to believe he was a monster too, and he held it together. True, he did try to drink himself into oblivion and that didn't exactly end well, but given the circumstances I'm surprised nothing else happened. I'd have been less surprised if he ended killing himself, honestly. The pressure was just too much.
I think however, that the development of the relationship between Jed and Summer could've been done differently. The way it is now, it feels kind of forced. I didn't mind it, it just lacked... something. I can't even pinpoint it.
In conclusion, and I'd like to make this a note to anyone who's undecided whether they want to read In The Blood: This is not a crime investigation novel. It's not even a novel that focuses on the thoughts of a psychopath and the reasons behind his actions. If that's what you're looking for, you have to search somewhere else. This is a novel about coming to terms with a secret that can possibly bring you down and bury you alive. It's about dealing with the mess that someone left in your backyard. If that's what you're looking for, then you're in the right place.
From the moment I saw the gorgeous cover and read the first chapter and summary of this novel, I was hooked. Yes, the story is darker than most. It's psychological and at times depressing, but it's also interesting in a fictional kind of way.
I can't say I enjoyed it - I mean, how could anyone ENJOY a story that has to do with a pedophile serial killer? But I was intrigued by Jed's thoughts and how they seemed to cast him into oblivion the deeper he got into his father's case. I was seriously afraid that he'd get so lost in the tornado of depressing thoughts and feelings that nothing would be able to pull him back into reality.
To be honest, I loved Jed. He was a normal boy, with normal friends and a caring family. He had it all. Until one day he didn't. Until one day his family broke apart because his father turned out to be a monster of the worst kind. I mean - who preys on innocent children? Psychopaths, monsters. And with all the revelations that followed, Jed's life was ruined. Or at least everybody made him believe so.
In Jed's mind, all was lost. There was no future for him - no good college, no good job, no good nothing. If he could crawl in a dark hole all by himself, I'm sure he would've done it. Especially since his Mom totally gave up on life ever since she learned of his dad's betrayal. Except, he had a little sister (Amy) that had to be protected from it all, and also taken care of.
On top of all that, Jed's been influenced by his dad to think that he himself might be headed in the same disastrously monstrous path as his father, and his grandfather and who knows who else.
I'm afraid that if Summer - Jed's long time best friend and crush - hadn't stepped up and poured some realism into him, he might've gone mad. So many times was he pushed to believe he was a monster too, and he held it together. True, he did try to drink himself into oblivion and that didn't exactly end well, but given the circumstances I'm surprised nothing else happened. I'd have been less surprised if he ended killing himself, honestly. The pressure was just too much.
I think however, that the development of the relationship between Jed and Summer could've been done differently. The way it is now, it feels kind of forced. I didn't mind it, it just lacked... something. I can't even pinpoint it.
In conclusion, and I'd like to make this a note to anyone who's undecided whether they want to read In The Blood: This is not a crime investigation novel. It's not even a novel that focuses on the thoughts of a psychopath and the reasons behind his actions. If that's what you're looking for, you have to search somewhere else. This is a novel about coming to terms with a secret that can possibly bring you down and bury you alive. It's about dealing with the mess that someone left in your backyard. If that's what you're looking for, then you're in the right place.
November 10, 2013
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
From the very first chapter, I was drawn into this story with its short but powerful introduction to the subject, immediately showing Jeb’s disdain for his father, a man he thought he knew, but who ultimately fooled everyone around him. In the Blood deals with some very heavy topics, pedophilia being the main one, and Hantz’s look into the life of a young man shattered by his father’s past is one that I feel is extremely well written. I cannot imagine how painful and awful a realization that a parent is capable of committing such evil deeds would be to a child, but I feel that Hantz portrayal of the epic inward battles that Jed faces throughout the novel are extremely real. Imagine finding out the man you’ve idolized your entire life is a murdering pedophile. Now imagine that the entire community turns their back on you, the child, because they believe you are capable of the same; they believe you knew what your father was doing and that maybe you were a part of it. Imagine being bullied and finding notes in your locker that tell you it’s only a matter of time before you become your father—that you’d be better off dead. This is Jeb’s life as it spirals out of control. With a parent who he despises on trial, and a unresponsive parent idling at home, Jeb truly feels he’s alone, and as the bullying and his research of pedophilia get to him, his fear of becoming like his father begins to permeate his life.
Although I certainly don’t agree with many of Jed’s decisions in this novel, and many a time I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him, I believe that his character is true to life. Teenagers don’t always think things through—their brain is still developing, and impulse sometimes gets the better of them, especially when extreme stress and fear take over. And this is what I see Jeb doing: pushing people away, fighting, drinking to drown his fears of becoming his father, and unfortunately, I find Hantz’s portrayal very realistic.
However, while the psychological aspects of this novel are very well done, there are some minor issues I had with the book. For one, naming Jeb’s father Benjamin Franklin doesn’t make much sense to me. Of all the fictional names available in the world, picking one that brings to mind a Founding Father every time it’s uttered, and giving it to a despicable pedophile, is not a great idea. Likewise, I thought the ending was a bit too abrupt, and while I understand that readers are meant to piece the rest of it together, in a novel like this, where so much is at stake, I would have liked a cleaner break. But, these small complaints aside, I enjoyed this book overall—it is an in-depth look at the human psyche and bullying, and I believe Hantz did a very good job with her presentation.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
From the very first chapter, I was drawn into this story with its short but powerful introduction to the subject, immediately showing Jeb’s disdain for his father, a man he thought he knew, but who ultimately fooled everyone around him. In the Blood deals with some very heavy topics, pedophilia being the main one, and Hantz’s look into the life of a young man shattered by his father’s past is one that I feel is extremely well written. I cannot imagine how painful and awful a realization that a parent is capable of committing such evil deeds would be to a child, but I feel that Hantz portrayal of the epic inward battles that Jed faces throughout the novel are extremely real. Imagine finding out the man you’ve idolized your entire life is a murdering pedophile. Now imagine that the entire community turns their back on you, the child, because they believe you are capable of the same; they believe you knew what your father was doing and that maybe you were a part of it. Imagine being bullied and finding notes in your locker that tell you it’s only a matter of time before you become your father—that you’d be better off dead. This is Jeb’s life as it spirals out of control. With a parent who he despises on trial, and a unresponsive parent idling at home, Jeb truly feels he’s alone, and as the bullying and his research of pedophilia get to him, his fear of becoming like his father begins to permeate his life.
Although I certainly don’t agree with many of Jed’s decisions in this novel, and many a time I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him, I believe that his character is true to life. Teenagers don’t always think things through—their brain is still developing, and impulse sometimes gets the better of them, especially when extreme stress and fear take over. And this is what I see Jeb doing: pushing people away, fighting, drinking to drown his fears of becoming his father, and unfortunately, I find Hantz’s portrayal very realistic.
However, while the psychological aspects of this novel are very well done, there are some minor issues I had with the book. For one, naming Jeb’s father Benjamin Franklin doesn’t make much sense to me. Of all the fictional names available in the world, picking one that brings to mind a Founding Father every time it’s uttered, and giving it to a despicable pedophile, is not a great idea. Likewise, I thought the ending was a bit too abrupt, and while I understand that readers are meant to piece the rest of it together, in a novel like this, where so much is at stake, I would have liked a cleaner break. But, these small complaints aside, I enjoyed this book overall—it is an in-depth look at the human psyche and bullying, and I believe Hantz did a very good job with her presentation.
November 22, 2013
In the Blood by Sara Hantz is a different kind of YA novel. When I decided to read this book, I did not anticipate that this would become a difficult and hard book to read. The subject matter was very depressing, and I found myself at times struggling to continue. Sara Hantz is new to me, and I found that she is a very good writer, good enough to make me feel this strong about the story. With that being said, I doubt I would read this type of book again.
Jed, our 17 year old hero, is in a bad place. His father, whom he idolized, is ready to go on trial for being a pedophile, having abused and murdered young boys. Jed’s life as he knew it is over, as everyone..friends, neighbors, school kids all look at him like the plague. With his mother in a deep depression, Jed relied on his friend, Summer, who treated him normally, always being there for; and his little sister, Amy, who is too young to understand what is really going on.
It is a normal way of life to feel sympathy for all the victims and their families, which is rightfully so. But unfortunately, the families of the accused, also suffer badly. Neither Jed or his mom had any idea that their father/husband was a sick individual with a horrible secret life. We see through Jed’s eyes, as he comes to terms with the fact that his father is guilty, and his mother is falling apart. But what I hated about this story was watching as he suffers through doubts about himself, and the terrible treatment he receives from others. His classmates, especially one, would taunt him and treat him like he was the offender. Everything that happens in the neighborhood, or at school; all eyes look to blame Jed. Even the police would either be suspicious of Jed, or ask him to help them get more info from his father. Some of the things that happen at school, with Jed being falsely accused, left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a hard and at times unpleasant book to read.
The subject is a fair subject, because in most cases those families are also the victims; mainly due to everyone turning on them, and blaming them for things they did not have control over. It is easy to say “you should have seen this”. Not true if the perpetrator was good or sick enough to hide from their family. But again I found this to be a dark read, filled with despair and distaste. Because I felt Sara Hantz’s writing was very well done, I gave it 4 stars.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Jed, our 17 year old hero, is in a bad place. His father, whom he idolized, is ready to go on trial for being a pedophile, having abused and murdered young boys. Jed’s life as he knew it is over, as everyone..friends, neighbors, school kids all look at him like the plague. With his mother in a deep depression, Jed relied on his friend, Summer, who treated him normally, always being there for; and his little sister, Amy, who is too young to understand what is really going on.
It is a normal way of life to feel sympathy for all the victims and their families, which is rightfully so. But unfortunately, the families of the accused, also suffer badly. Neither Jed or his mom had any idea that their father/husband was a sick individual with a horrible secret life. We see through Jed’s eyes, as he comes to terms with the fact that his father is guilty, and his mother is falling apart. But what I hated about this story was watching as he suffers through doubts about himself, and the terrible treatment he receives from others. His classmates, especially one, would taunt him and treat him like he was the offender. Everything that happens in the neighborhood, or at school; all eyes look to blame Jed. Even the police would either be suspicious of Jed, or ask him to help them get more info from his father. Some of the things that happen at school, with Jed being falsely accused, left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a hard and at times unpleasant book to read.
The subject is a fair subject, because in most cases those families are also the victims; mainly due to everyone turning on them, and blaming them for things they did not have control over. It is easy to say “you should have seen this”. Not true if the perpetrator was good or sick enough to hide from their family. But again I found this to be a dark read, filled with despair and distaste. Because I felt Sara Hantz’s writing was very well done, I gave it 4 stars.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
November 7, 2013
E-galley received through Netgalley for review.
Jed Franklin is a seventeen-year-old guy living in Arizona with his mother and five-year-old sister, Amy. Nine months earlier, his father Ben was arrested under the charge of sexually abusing and murdering several young boys. Jed and his mother were incredulous, but the evidence was just too incriminating.
Now Jed's father is in jail awaiting trial; his mother is a shell of her former self; and Jed is an outcast at school with whom no one wants to speak. Jed's only friends are his ten-year-old neighbour Dawson, a guy from school named Troy, and Jed's childhood best friend, Summer. Jed has actually had a crush on Summer for years, but before his father's arrest he was too shy to make a move, and now feels that Summer deserves better.
With the trial about to start, Jed's life is taking a turn for the worse, as he learns some shocking secrets about his father's childhood. This leads him to think that he might be a pedophile in the making himself, that pedophilia might be in his blood.
In The Blood was compulsively readable. I finished it in one sitting, in a couple of hours. It was hard to read, because the subject matter is quite unpleasant, yet I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Jed is fighting to come to terms with his father's crimes, take care of his baby sister, and wondering whether his future is already written, too. Other kids stay well away from him; one guy in school taunts him and calls him a perv.
Jed is still wondering why his father committed those awful crimes. He turns to alcohol to help him dull his feelings. His mother is in a deep depression and unable to care for her children. His only support comes from Summer, who has a bubbly personality and a naive attitude to life. She doesn't want to give up on Jed, even though he keeps trying to push her away.
It's difficult to classify this novel, as it's not a romance, nor a thriller, nor a mystery. It's mopre an exploration of how the family of a pedophile react to the news and find a way to go on with their lives.
Jed Franklin is a seventeen-year-old guy living in Arizona with his mother and five-year-old sister, Amy. Nine months earlier, his father Ben was arrested under the charge of sexually abusing and murdering several young boys. Jed and his mother were incredulous, but the evidence was just too incriminating.
Now Jed's father is in jail awaiting trial; his mother is a shell of her former self; and Jed is an outcast at school with whom no one wants to speak. Jed's only friends are his ten-year-old neighbour Dawson, a guy from school named Troy, and Jed's childhood best friend, Summer. Jed has actually had a crush on Summer for years, but before his father's arrest he was too shy to make a move, and now feels that Summer deserves better.
With the trial about to start, Jed's life is taking a turn for the worse, as he learns some shocking secrets about his father's childhood. This leads him to think that he might be a pedophile in the making himself, that pedophilia might be in his blood.
In The Blood was compulsively readable. I finished it in one sitting, in a couple of hours. It was hard to read, because the subject matter is quite unpleasant, yet I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Jed is fighting to come to terms with his father's crimes, take care of his baby sister, and wondering whether his future is already written, too. Other kids stay well away from him; one guy in school taunts him and calls him a perv.
Jed is still wondering why his father committed those awful crimes. He turns to alcohol to help him dull his feelings. His mother is in a deep depression and unable to care for her children. His only support comes from Summer, who has a bubbly personality and a naive attitude to life. She doesn't want to give up on Jed, even though he keeps trying to push her away.
It's difficult to classify this novel, as it's not a romance, nor a thriller, nor a mystery. It's mopre an exploration of how the family of a pedophile react to the news and find a way to go on with their lives.
March 21, 2016
Originally posted on www.fictitiousdelicious.com on 11/08/13:
Now, here's a story you don't read about every day. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable when you pick up this book. We're talking about some really heavy subject subject matter (pedophilia and murder) and a main character that is in an identity crisis. That's a lot to pack into 154 pages.
As I said to my friend Jaime, this book has two things that I love: a male POV and a lot of F bombs. I get giddy with excitement when an author writes an authentic male voice and I completely bought it here. (Not that I know what the thoughts of a 17 year old boy sound like, but I imagine it to be like this.) We get just a surface view of Jed and the complexities of his situation in IN THE BLOOD. Part of me wanted to see him work through his "identity crisis" on a deeper level, but I'm not sure how appropriate that would have been. I mean, Jed's idea of dealing with his situation is to drink to the point of blacking out, so in the end it makes sense that we see just the surface view because that's all HE sees, you know?
This may be the one and only time you hear me say this, but I wish there was less romance in the last portion of this story. (Shocking coming from me, right?) Jed is struggling with the idea that he may be a pedophile. The idea that he could start a relationship while in the midst of this crisis felt off to me, but here's the thing. Jed proves over and over again that he deals with his problems by withdrawing and jumping into a romantic relationship provides him with a way to forget. It was one of those times where you want to reach into the book and shake the main character a bit to make them come to their senses.
You're not going to see me crushing on Jed Franklin, but you might catch me trying to scoop my arms around him. Jed is brave and full of love (wait until you see him with his sister. GAH!) even in though he has every reason not to be. THAT is what makes you walk away from his story feeling hopeful.
Now, here's a story you don't read about every day. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable when you pick up this book. We're talking about some really heavy subject subject matter (pedophilia and murder) and a main character that is in an identity crisis. That's a lot to pack into 154 pages.
As I said to my friend Jaime, this book has two things that I love: a male POV and a lot of F bombs. I get giddy with excitement when an author writes an authentic male voice and I completely bought it here. (Not that I know what the thoughts of a 17 year old boy sound like, but I imagine it to be like this.) We get just a surface view of Jed and the complexities of his situation in IN THE BLOOD. Part of me wanted to see him work through his "identity crisis" on a deeper level, but I'm not sure how appropriate that would have been. I mean, Jed's idea of dealing with his situation is to drink to the point of blacking out, so in the end it makes sense that we see just the surface view because that's all HE sees, you know?
This may be the one and only time you hear me say this, but I wish there was less romance in the last portion of this story. (Shocking coming from me, right?) Jed is struggling with the idea that he may be a pedophile. The idea that he could start a relationship while in the midst of this crisis felt off to me, but here's the thing. Jed proves over and over again that he deals with his problems by withdrawing and jumping into a romantic relationship provides him with a way to forget. It was one of those times where you want to reach into the book and shake the main character a bit to make them come to their senses.
You're not going to see me crushing on Jed Franklin, but you might catch me trying to scoop my arms around him. Jed is brave and full of love (wait until you see him with his sister. GAH!) even in though he has every reason not to be. THAT is what makes you walk away from his story feeling hopeful.
April 22, 2016
I have always love watching and reading crime stories, which is why I love Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU so much. That is why, this summary caught my attention. And my curiosity.
Unlike most crime shows I usually watch or books I usually read, this one is different. The main character is the son of the perpetrator. Therefore, throughout this story, we will get to see how he (Jed, the main character) feels, how he deals with being the son of a man who abused and murdered young boys. For me, it was a different experience because usually the narration is usually from the police or investigator.
In my opinion, the book started out okay. But after awhile, I felt like the story was just dragging. I thought a large part of the book would be about finding Dawson, but it wasn’t. In the end, everything was anti-climatic. Most of the book is just about Jed’s worries that he’ll end up like his father.
Other than that, the characters in this book just doesn’t stand out to me. I didn’t feel anything towards them. I can’t relate to any of them. For example, Jed, I don’t like him, but I don’t dislike him either. He’s responsible when it comes to his sister, so I like that. But still, my feelings towards him are neutral. The same thing for Summer. I think the only one I have a more than neutral feelings towards is Foster, and that is because I DISLIKE him. He is a douchebag.
In conclusion, this book is not what I expected. It wasn’t bad, but I think it could be better. Having an insight into the head of a family member of a perpetrator is a new experience, and I liked that. I think Sara Hantz did a great job at writing Jed’s emotional turmoil. I would recommend this book to people who likes psychological stuff. If you’re reading this because you like crime stories, then you will probably be disappointed.
Unlike most crime shows I usually watch or books I usually read, this one is different. The main character is the son of the perpetrator. Therefore, throughout this story, we will get to see how he (Jed, the main character) feels, how he deals with being the son of a man who abused and murdered young boys. For me, it was a different experience because usually the narration is usually from the police or investigator.
In my opinion, the book started out okay. But after awhile, I felt like the story was just dragging. I thought a large part of the book would be about finding Dawson, but it wasn’t. In the end, everything was anti-climatic. Most of the book is just about Jed’s worries that he’ll end up like his father.
Other than that, the characters in this book just doesn’t stand out to me. I didn’t feel anything towards them. I can’t relate to any of them. For example, Jed, I don’t like him, but I don’t dislike him either. He’s responsible when it comes to his sister, so I like that. But still, my feelings towards him are neutral. The same thing for Summer. I think the only one I have a more than neutral feelings towards is Foster, and that is because I DISLIKE him. He is a douchebag.
In conclusion, this book is not what I expected. It wasn’t bad, but I think it could be better. Having an insight into the head of a family member of a perpetrator is a new experience, and I liked that. I think Sara Hantz did a great job at writing Jed’s emotional turmoil. I would recommend this book to people who likes psychological stuff. If you’re reading this because you like crime stories, then you will probably be disappointed.
November 5, 2013
This book made for hard reading, it's an incredibly difficult topic they're covering and it's quite unpleasant to read. Jed is 17 years old, and not only having to come to terms with his father being a pedophile but slowly sending himself mad with thoughts that he will turn out to be the same as his father.
It's a hard subject to write about but it's been handled well, the book is told from Jed's perspective, and you can feel him sink deeper and deeper info despair and almost acceptance as the story unfolds.
This is a very frank portrayal of the destruction of the offenders family, whilst everyone has sympathy for the victims no one can believe that the offenders family didn't know, and whilst Jed's father is In a Federal prison awaiting trial his family are in an emotional prison, despised by people who were once close friends and neighbours, not only has Jed lost his father, he's lost his mother to her despair, his childhood trying to make up for his mothers lack of parenting, and the friendships he used to enjoy at school.
His best friend Summer has an innocent, almost naive outlook on life, and tries through the book to find the old Jed, to give him the support he needs to not only find himself but also to believe in himself.
As if everything he's already gone through isn't enough further incidents occur that almost push him over the edge.
I don't know how to describe what this book is, it's not romance, it's not a thriller, it's not suspense. It's a deep and dark read, it makes you cringe and despair, but through it all you're willing Jed to succeed. Does he? You don't find out until the very last page, and I'm not giving if away.
It's a hard subject to write about but it's been handled well, the book is told from Jed's perspective, and you can feel him sink deeper and deeper info despair and almost acceptance as the story unfolds.
This is a very frank portrayal of the destruction of the offenders family, whilst everyone has sympathy for the victims no one can believe that the offenders family didn't know, and whilst Jed's father is In a Federal prison awaiting trial his family are in an emotional prison, despised by people who were once close friends and neighbours, not only has Jed lost his father, he's lost his mother to her despair, his childhood trying to make up for his mothers lack of parenting, and the friendships he used to enjoy at school.
His best friend Summer has an innocent, almost naive outlook on life, and tries through the book to find the old Jed, to give him the support he needs to not only find himself but also to believe in himself.
As if everything he's already gone through isn't enough further incidents occur that almost push him over the edge.
I don't know how to describe what this book is, it's not romance, it's not a thriller, it's not suspense. It's a deep and dark read, it makes you cringe and despair, but through it all you're willing Jed to succeed. Does he? You don't find out until the very last page, and I'm not giving if away.
December 19, 2013
The life of a teenage boy whose father is arrested for rape, murder and pedophilia. It sounds very deep, intriguing and interesting, right? I had high hopes going into In the Blood. The subject matter was so promising. It started off strongly for me. The reader gets to be inside Jed, the main character's head and his emotions and feelings were a mess, exactly how I would expect somebody in his situation to be. However, over the course of the book, I wanted to get to know Jed much better, but that doesn't really happen. I did, however, appreciate the growth that he underwent throughout the book. At the beginning of the book, Jed was a mess. He felt guilt, anger and pain over the actions of his father. He battled with the constant thoughts that plagued him saying that he would also end up like his father. Over the course of the story, he grew to accept that he was not his father. In addition, the secondary characters were rather one-dimensional and didn't really add much to the story. It's sort of sad, but I actually don't remember any of the secondary characters and the roles they played. What frustrated me though was the fact that the book didn't really leave an emotional impact on me as I was expecting it to. I think the way the subject was handled was all wrong and if the author had focused her attention on one story line instead of two, the book would have been stronger. In the end, I didn't think In the Blood was memorable.
January 3, 2014
Told entirely from the point of view of seventeen year old Jed Franklin, the reader watches his emotional, psychological and physical deterioration following his dad's imprisonment as a pedophile.
I found Sara Hantz's stream of consciousness writing style appropriate to Jed's thoughts, which are constantly changing and contradictory as he struggles to come to terms with his dad's horrendous crimes and the fact that his family unit has collapsed. I admit that on occasion I felt Jed's narrative was becoming repetitive, particularly with the 'is it in my genes?' thought process, but after all this is one of the central points Sara Hantz is trying to communicate.
I found the author's portrait of Jed's father, Ben Franklin, chilling and merciless - perhaps a little too 'real'. The times which Jed is forced to meet him I wanted to skip for my own sanity, particularly after reading his admissions which made me feel physically ill, and although I understand Sara Hantz is proving the depth of his depravity and answering Jed's questions I wonder if this was a bit far.
In The Blood successfully illustrates society's prejudices, not just towards the criminal but the family too. The reader watches as the finger is pointed at Jed twice for crimes he is innocent of, just because he is 'Ben's son'.
There are flaws in this story, but looking past these In the Blood is a serious and heart-breaking observation of a young boy who is forced to re-examine his whole life and attitude.
I found Sara Hantz's stream of consciousness writing style appropriate to Jed's thoughts, which are constantly changing and contradictory as he struggles to come to terms with his dad's horrendous crimes and the fact that his family unit has collapsed. I admit that on occasion I felt Jed's narrative was becoming repetitive, particularly with the 'is it in my genes?' thought process, but after all this is one of the central points Sara Hantz is trying to communicate.
I found the author's portrait of Jed's father, Ben Franklin, chilling and merciless - perhaps a little too 'real'. The times which Jed is forced to meet him I wanted to skip for my own sanity, particularly after reading his admissions which made me feel physically ill, and although I understand Sara Hantz is proving the depth of his depravity and answering Jed's questions I wonder if this was a bit far.
In The Blood successfully illustrates society's prejudices, not just towards the criminal but the family too. The reader watches as the finger is pointed at Jed twice for crimes he is innocent of, just because he is 'Ben's son'.
There are flaws in this story, but looking past these In the Blood is a serious and heart-breaking observation of a young boy who is forced to re-examine his whole life and attitude.
November 15, 2013
I realize that this book tackled a sensitive issue. However, it was so badly executed that I can't in all decency give it three stars.
The book deals with a teen whose life shattered when he discovered that his father was a paedophile. On top of being rejected by his peers, he spirals down into depression as he wonders if this disorder runs in the blood.
I thought I would like the novel as it centers on the psychological effects of such a discovery. Early on, there was no doubt left as of the fact that his father was guilty indeed. The little interactions he had with his father lead us to the dark truth
I wanted him to delve into his family's history and try to understand how his father could have turned into that. In the book, the extend of his research was him googling things on the internet. He did not talk to professionals about it and generally did nothing but angst and mope all day long.
Another sore point was the lack of parental supervision. His absentee mother had a breakdown and remained useless for the most part of the novel. The teachers did not know what to do with him, etc. For me, this is not understandable. He had little interactions outside the girl he loved.
As a result, the character was uni-dimentional and boring. Too bad, I had to spend the entire novel in his head.
The book deals with a teen whose life shattered when he discovered that his father was a paedophile. On top of being rejected by his peers, he spirals down into depression as he wonders if this disorder runs in the blood.
I thought I would like the novel as it centers on the psychological effects of such a discovery. Early on, there was no doubt left as of the fact that his father was guilty indeed. The little interactions he had with his father lead us to the dark truth
I wanted him to delve into his family's history and try to understand how his father could have turned into that. In the book, the extend of his research was him googling things on the internet. He did not talk to professionals about it and generally did nothing but angst and mope all day long.
Another sore point was the lack of parental supervision. His absentee mother had a breakdown and remained useless for the most part of the novel. The teachers did not know what to do with him, etc. For me, this is not understandable. He had little interactions outside the girl he loved.
As a result, the character was uni-dimentional and boring. Too bad, I had to spend the entire novel in his head.
November 8, 2013
I was given an ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, however will try to make this review brief.
Reasons I enjoyed the book:
-It was realistically written, the dialogue didn't feel scripted, and I felt as if Jed was really going through a traumatic situation.
-The story wasn't too fast or slow paced. Although the book was short, the storyline was not rushed.
-I was able to empathise with Jed. Even though I didn't agree with some things that Jed said or did, it all helped in portraying him as a typical teenage boy who has suffered emotionally.
Reasons I didn't give this 5 stars:
-It didn't go as in depth to Jed, his mother, and all other victims' emotional pain.
-The ending was rushed. The change in his mum's emotion was drastic.
-I do not feel as emotionally invested in this story as I could have been, perhaps due to the length which meant a lot of points in the plot were not developed.
Overall, this is certainly a good read, and definitely well written. However, if someone is looking for a particularly gut-wrenching emotional story, then this is not the book for them. As it covers a dark topic, and the thoughts and feeling of those affected, however doesn't cause the the reader (me) to gain an emotional attachment to any of the characters. I don't even hate the father.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, however will try to make this review brief.
Reasons I enjoyed the book:
-It was realistically written, the dialogue didn't feel scripted, and I felt as if Jed was really going through a traumatic situation.
-The story wasn't too fast or slow paced. Although the book was short, the storyline was not rushed.
-I was able to empathise with Jed. Even though I didn't agree with some things that Jed said or did, it all helped in portraying him as a typical teenage boy who has suffered emotionally.
Reasons I didn't give this 5 stars:
-It didn't go as in depth to Jed, his mother, and all other victims' emotional pain.
-The ending was rushed. The change in his mum's emotion was drastic.
-I do not feel as emotionally invested in this story as I could have been, perhaps due to the length which meant a lot of points in the plot were not developed.
Overall, this is certainly a good read, and definitely well written. However, if someone is looking for a particularly gut-wrenching emotional story, then this is not the book for them. As it covers a dark topic, and the thoughts and feeling of those affected, however doesn't cause the the reader (me) to gain an emotional attachment to any of the characters. I don't even hate the father.
February 13, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this to read and review.
In The Blood by Sara Hantz is a YA contemporary/crime novel surrounding the controversial topic of Paedophilia. It was released in early 2016.
I'm actually surprised and quite glad that this topic made it into the YA genre. This novel follows Jed and his struggles coming to terms with the fact that his father is a convicted paedophile. We see him suffer tremendous bullying and abuse. All throughout this novel we see Jed dealing with an identity crisis surrounding the stigma, as well as struggling with trust and acceptance.
It was really interesting seeing how horrendous acts like these affect not only the victim, but the family, friends and wider community. It was also quite shocking to realize that the perpetrator was a perceived normal civilian.
I would of liked to see more of an insight into the perpetrator's past - possibly a duel POV. Also, I don't know if it is just the format I got on my e-reader, but with the editing I would be reading and it would drop line/paragraph mid-sentence. This affected the synthesis of the story.
Over all, I enjoyed this book. A quick read for a cautionary tale.
In The Blood by Sara Hantz is a YA contemporary/crime novel surrounding the controversial topic of Paedophilia. It was released in early 2016.
I'm actually surprised and quite glad that this topic made it into the YA genre. This novel follows Jed and his struggles coming to terms with the fact that his father is a convicted paedophile. We see him suffer tremendous bullying and abuse. All throughout this novel we see Jed dealing with an identity crisis surrounding the stigma, as well as struggling with trust and acceptance.
It was really interesting seeing how horrendous acts like these affect not only the victim, but the family, friends and wider community. It was also quite shocking to realize that the perpetrator was a perceived normal civilian.
I would of liked to see more of an insight into the perpetrator's past - possibly a duel POV. Also, I don't know if it is just the format I got on my e-reader, but with the editing I would be reading and it would drop line/paragraph mid-sentence. This affected the synthesis of the story.
Over all, I enjoyed this book. A quick read for a cautionary tale.
November 5, 2013
This was a very interesting book and a hard topic.
Jed Franklin's life was turned on it's head when his father was arrested for the abuse and murder of 4 very young boys. He has always looked up to his dad- he's been a great father to him and everyone has always loved him.
Unfortunately the evidence is there and Jed believes his father did these unthinkable things. He just doesn't know what that means for his own life and how he will turn out.
When things like this happen in the world the media are relentless and I always feel horrible for the family members and I can just imagine the son of a serial killer like this feeling this way exactly. I thought the author did a good job of getting in the mind of a confused teenage boy who doesn't know what to do. Jed knows that everyone in the community hates him because of what his father does and he begins to hate himself.
The only reason I didn't give this another star is that the evolution in the book seemed to happen rather abruptly at the end. The mother in particular appeared to change overnight for no reason. Jed was intriguing overall and was written well.
Jed Franklin's life was turned on it's head when his father was arrested for the abuse and murder of 4 very young boys. He has always looked up to his dad- he's been a great father to him and everyone has always loved him.
Unfortunately the evidence is there and Jed believes his father did these unthinkable things. He just doesn't know what that means for his own life and how he will turn out.
When things like this happen in the world the media are relentless and I always feel horrible for the family members and I can just imagine the son of a serial killer like this feeling this way exactly. I thought the author did a good job of getting in the mind of a confused teenage boy who doesn't know what to do. Jed knows that everyone in the community hates him because of what his father does and he begins to hate himself.
The only reason I didn't give this another star is that the evolution in the book seemed to happen rather abruptly at the end. The mother in particular appeared to change overnight for no reason. Jed was intriguing overall and was written well.
January 4, 2014
In the Blood is a story of Jed, a young man dealing with the darkness of his father and the awful crimes he did. Jed struggles with his identity, what he is and who is becoming or to become. A monster like his father or a normal teenager. Is who you are In the Blood?
Great Idea, not so great execution. I wanted to like this book, I love the idea, but that didn’t happen. The subject is so dramatic on its own that it needed to be out of the box and written well. What I got was a flat out mess with a shallow and childlike approach to the dramatic subject. Everything in this book is stereotypical of any other book or movie on this kind of subject, angst teen, lost to this world mother, hard hurtful father and a too perfect love interest. The only thing the author try to do was to write about a taboo subject in young adult novels of Pedophilia but it was lost, unwritten and not touched on in a way that makes it anymore then part of the back story.
I am giving it two stars because the author tried.
Thank you NetGalley.
Great Idea, not so great execution. I wanted to like this book, I love the idea, but that didn’t happen. The subject is so dramatic on its own that it needed to be out of the box and written well. What I got was a flat out mess with a shallow and childlike approach to the dramatic subject. Everything in this book is stereotypical of any other book or movie on this kind of subject, angst teen, lost to this world mother, hard hurtful father and a too perfect love interest. The only thing the author try to do was to write about a taboo subject in young adult novels of Pedophilia but it was lost, unwritten and not touched on in a way that makes it anymore then part of the back story.
I am giving it two stars because the author tried.
Thank you NetGalley.
March 2, 2016
I was given an arc of this in exhange for an honest review.
This story follows 17 year old JED who has always led a normal life. A loving Mother and Father and a younger sister, until one day when his life is upturned upside down when his Dad is arrested on suspicion of the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal ceases to exist.
I felt this book held a lot of promise and after reading the blurb i was looking forward to reading this story. However i found it a little lacking, despite the story being centered on the controversial topic of pedophilia, it failed to get as dark and gritty as i would have expected from a book like this.
Despite lots of chapters, it flew by quite quickly however i feel this is because they lacked any depth. It felt like i was reading the bones of the story but there was no meat to it.
The ending was also a little disappointing, i was left confused with more questions than answers. Unfortunately this story just wasn't for me
I gave it 3 stars.
March 28, 2016
NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of In the Blood, in exchange for an honest review.
For 17 years, Jed Franklin thought he was living a normal life. When his father is arrested for the abuse and murder of four young boys, Jed's life is turned upside down. With his mom emotionally checked out, Jed only has his little sister and a couple of friends to rely on. When he turns to the bottle to forget, will Jed do something he will truly regret?
In the aftermath of the arrest of an alleged criminal, the family of the accused is sometimes vilified by their neighbors and supposed friends. In the Blood is very realistic in its portrayal of Jed Franklin, a young man confused by his father's actions, bullied by some of his peers, and on the precipice of self destruction. The author does a good job of conveying the victims without getting involved in the crime itself. With a fast pace and a good flow, In the Blood is a well written story. I would recommend this to readers who like realistic fiction and are not bothered by the short length of the book.
For 17 years, Jed Franklin thought he was living a normal life. When his father is arrested for the abuse and murder of four young boys, Jed's life is turned upside down. With his mom emotionally checked out, Jed only has his little sister and a couple of friends to rely on. When he turns to the bottle to forget, will Jed do something he will truly regret?
In the aftermath of the arrest of an alleged criminal, the family of the accused is sometimes vilified by their neighbors and supposed friends. In the Blood is very realistic in its portrayal of Jed Franklin, a young man confused by his father's actions, bullied by some of his peers, and on the precipice of self destruction. The author does a good job of conveying the victims without getting involved in the crime itself. With a fast pace and a good flow, In the Blood is a well written story. I would recommend this to readers who like realistic fiction and are not bothered by the short length of the book.
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