Sins of the Fathers

by Chris Lynch

Three best friends--Skitz, Hector, and Drew--find their bond sorely tested by the three priests who run their school, and who are determined to tear them apart, forcing Drew to take action when Hector becomes lost to the darkness of violence and shame.

Genres: Young Adult

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Chris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.

He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.

Reviews

[Beth]

I love this book so much that it hurts. I finished it today and I literally ached. I loved all three of the main characters, but especially Skitz, who was just hilarious and sweet. The way Lynch manages to balance so many elements is beyond me. The final scene between Drew and Father Mullarkey made my heart hurt. This book is dark and edgy without being dramatic, funny but never slapstick (and perfectly in character) ambiguous but never frustrating, careful but not slow and the narrative voice is just mind blowing. I loved how you could feel what was going on but Lynch never felt the need to do any ridiculous exposition. I know I said this just yesterday on The Great Gatsby review, but this may be one of my favourite books now.

[Hannah]

This might always be my favorite book in the world, and it drives me crazy that no one knows it.

[Josh]

I did not like the book at all. First it doesn't explain anything about the characters it just tells you their names and what school they go to. Second the plot was very confusing, it is confusing because the story has no point, problem, or goal so it makes it very confusing and boring. Lastly it just throws you into the story with no explanation at all, which made me feel lost and I didn't understand.

[Jennifer Wardrip]

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Drew, Skitz, and Hector are a tribe. They've known each other since they were little kids, and you can almost always find them together. As a tribe, they watch each other's backs. When one takes a fall, they usually all do, because that's just the way a tribe works. They get in trouble together, quite a bit, at the Catholic school they attend. They can make up their own trouble, too, especially when Skitz and sometimes Hector accompany Drew on his newspaper route.

There's another tribe involved in SINS OF THE FATHER, though, and they're made up of Fathers Blarney, Mullarkey, and Shenanigan. Sometimes they're iron-fisted, sometimes they're full of baloney, sometimes they're just regular priests doing the best they can to keep three boys under control.

But Drew is worried when his tribe starts getting out of hand. The normally calm and cool Hector is acting strange, and when Drew suggests a possible reason for the personality change (involving one of the Fathers of the Church), Hector goes a little crazy. Skitz, too, who can never shut up, especially at the most inappropriate times, is talking even more than usual.

What follows are events that will put the boys' friendship to the test.

Although SINS OF THE FATHERS can be interpreted both literally and figuratively, this is a story that, ultimately, focuses on the three boys and their loyalty to one another. Being a tribe means watching each other's backs, yes, but it also means a whole lot more. For Drew, Skitz, and Hector, life may never be exactly the same, but there's truth in the fact that friendship can get you through anything.

[Louisa George]

I was a little taken aback by this book. I wasn't sure what to expect and the different characters and themes presented surprised me, but I think it was a pleasant surprise. I am still a little undecided about how I feel about this book overall. I thought it was very well written, but the whole thing felt like it was in a completely different world. This wasn't a bad thing, just hard for me to make judgements on the characters and the situations. This is not a clean cut, good guys vs bad guys book. The characters are complicated and deal with difficult issues, especially for young adults. I would recommend this book however. It was well written and I think presents important and interesting scenarios. I would like to read it again sometime and analyze it more.

Violence = 4, The boys beat up on each other a lot but nothing life threatening. One Father slaps Skitz upside the head because he steals some alcohol. Skitz also gets a dislocated finger at one point.

Sex = 5, Throughout the book there are hints that Hector is being sexually abused. The book hinges on this theme. There are a few masturbation jokes made by the boys.

Drugs/Alcohol = 4 Skitz gets drunk at one point. There are a few references to alcohol throughout.

Language = 5 Pretty consistent amount of swearing throughout. Not any f-bombs or severe words though, just hells and damns.

[Sara]

Lovely, subtle little book about a trio of hooligans in Boston. My only arguments with the book are that it's a bit difficult to figure out the time the book is supposed to take place, there's a little dialect that may turn off reluctant readers, and if you're not paying attention, you won't catch the plot thread that holds the whole book together.
The advantages of Sins of Our Fathers are many, however. First, it's funny enough that I couldn't read it during silent reading time. One of the trio of hooligans is a lost child, but the pathos of his situation is hidden in how inherently funny he is, and the narrator's laconic take on the cringe-worthy situations in which they find themselves makes the whole thing funnier.
I don't want to give away the turn in the plot, but heed this warning if you want to glean the most from this book: Don't discount anything the boys say. Yes, they're kids. Yes, they're idiots. No, their thoughts, feelings, and fears are not inconsequential because of it.

[Kenzie Keppner]

I would probably give this book 2.5 stars. I really thought it was boring and there really wasn't a very good plot line. It was hard to follow and the plot really was not there. It wasn't completely terrible and it was funny in parts it just wasn't my kind of book. I really didn't think this book was written very well either. The characters were predictable and not very exciting. I had a really hard time getting through the book and I found myself having to set a time limit for reading. Whenever I have to force myself to finish a book, I know there is something wrong.

Violence: 1- I don't believe there was any serious violence at all.

Sex: 2- Although there are no explicit scenes, there is knowledge of a boy being sexually harassed by one of the priests. There are no details but you do know that it is going on.

Drugs/Alcohol: 2- One of the boys does get drunk and he does have a bit of a problem with sniffing some glue.

Language: 2- The boys use minor swear words a few times throughout the book.

[Summer Turner]

Okay, the only reason I read this book was because it is a required author for my YA lit class, and it was there in front of me, available. Other than that, I had no other motivation to read it.

I did have a hard time getting into the book. The pacing of the story telling seemed off to me and it didn't grab my attention in the first chapter. I also could not connect with the characters or their situations. The only thing I did appreciate about the book was how Drew, the narrator, questioned his religion and beliefs, even the God he was taught to believe in. We all go through that to some extent in our lives and I did see a bit of myself in that.

Not sure who I would recommend this book to. It is certainly better for older teens, perhaps age 14 and up due to the context of the story.

WARNING:
Sex: inferences to sexual abuse of children
Drugs: alcohol and drug use by adults and teens
Violence: mild fighting among boys
Language: very mild

[David Schultz]

I felt this book was poorly written. The plot was hard to follow and the chapters seemed to take forever to get through. I felt that Chris Lynch could have done a better job by going into greater detail about the problems that boys face at an all boys catholic school. there was a definite linear quality to the story, but it was hard to find and remember that it was there.

Sex- 3
there is knowledge by the reader that there is something happening between a priest and one of the boys, but nothing is ever stated.

Language- 4
mild swearing throughout the whole book

violence- 0
there is no real violence

[Rebecca Piergallini]

Well the title of the book is what drew me in to read it. The summary sounded simple but I decided to read it anyway. At first I was confused and couldn't follow Chris Lynch's writing style but then I realized everything was so subtle on purpose so the reader could put the pieces together and figure out what was happening. I tried my best but I didn't get the full meaning from the book. I really didn't even know what was happening between the priests and Hector. Was it abuse? Sexual Harassment? To much taking of aspirins? Or was he just sick? Then the book just ended, not giving me anything to go on.

[Kyler]

The three boys in this book, Skitz, Hector, and Drew, have been friends since they were little. They grew up together, went to they same school, and now attend the same Catholic school. There are two "Tribes": The three boys, and the fathers at the Catholic school. Drew, the leader of the boys tribe, is worried when his two friends start to act strange, especially Hector. Drew has to figure it out before he looses them. I thought this book was a little hard to follow. It was a little all over the place. It was hard for me to connect with book. There were no connections with my life and the boys in the book.

[Jon-michael]

Drew, Skitz, and Hector are a tribe. They've known each other since they were little kids, and you can almost always find them together. As a tribe, they watch each other's backs. When one takes a fall, they usually all do, because that's just the way a tribe works. They get in trouble together, quite a bit, at the Catholic school they attend. They can make up their own trouble, too, especially when Skitz and sometimes Hector accompany Drew on his newspaper route.

[Britney]

The only reason I read this author is because he has won so many awards. I feel bad when I see a book with tons of awards and then I dont read it. Needless to say I have read a few of his and do not like any of them. They are so intense (many teenage issues) and they all end with a question mark. You are never given an ending. It drives me crazy!

[Ariel]

This is a story of a boy named Drew, and his friends Skitz and Hector. The three go to private Catholic school. Drew tries to keep his "tribe" together and watch out for his friends (and the new father) that have more problems that he realizes. This is a pretty short book. It didn't take me too long to read it. It was funny it parts, and touching in others. I enjoyed reading it.

[Natasha]

I thought this book would be something different in the beginning. It starts out pretty calm and expected. And then I hit the end and my mind exploded a little. Of course, that meant I read it again, and I picked up the little bits here and there that were foreshadowing. This is a book you have to pay attention to, and it breaks your heart when you do.

[Duncan Prescott]

Important and timely subject, characters unique, difficult to identify with, shortness of the books hindered developing them further. Some very interesting parts, some appeared to be a bit scattered and difficult to follow.

[Cory]

Sounds kind of like The Chocolate War to me. Don't ask why. But since I liked that, I might like this.