by Kevin Brooks
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by Kevin Brooks
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by Kevin Brooks
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by L.J. Smith
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by Ben Mikaelsen
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From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up--Michael "Moo" Nelson is an uncouth, overweight, working-class 15-year-old who escapes the daily harassment--the "rain" as he calls it--he faces at school by riding his bike to a bridge, climbing to a familiar vantage point, and losing himself in the Zen of watching the endless flow of traffic. His life is changed when he witnesses a murder from the bridge. The alleged killer is a notoriously ruthless organized-crime figure and Michael is the only one who knows that the man is innocent of this particular crime, but is being framed by the police, who are eager to see him behind bars. Michael quickly becomes the recipient of bribes and threats from parties on both sides of the high-profile case, and his knowledge unwittingly translates to power at school where his former tormentors, aware of his potent connections, are suddenly reluctant to mess with him. Ultimately, he faces a dilemma: he can tell the truth and allow a nefarious thug to remain free, in which case the police have made it clear they'll pursue welfare-fraud charges against the teen's freeloading father, or he can lie and send the gang boss to prison, in which case he seems bound to be targeted for retribution. Brooks abruptly finishes the novel with Moo considering a third, violent alternative--one that, while risky and rash, would clearly demonstrate his growth as a character. Unfortunately, readers are left to guess how things turn out, and that is likely to infuriate those who've hung with Moo till the end.--Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 9-12. In his short career, Brooks has become known as a writer who provides no easy answers. Here, however, he takes that strategy one step too far. Fat teenager Moo Nelson finds solace from taunts and jeers by watching traffic. One evening, there's a dustup between a guy in a Range Rover and four men in a BMW, one of whom is stabbed to death. The story, narrated by Moo in almost stream-of-consciousness fashion, is convoluted, but here is the essence: the driver of the Range Rover, Kurt Vine, is a vicious career criminal who is being set up. When interviewed by police, Moo tells the truth (Vine was not the instigator), and so begins his nightmare: he becomes a pawn in a game between Vine and his lawyers and a detective who promises to ruin Moo's father if Moo doesn't lie. Brooks expertly layers his characters, but his silver streak, as in previous books, is producing tension so palpable readers will have to put down the book to take a breath. Implicit in the story is the question, "What would you do?" which readers will ask themselves all the way through. They'll certainly want to know what Moo decides, especially given the time they have invested in his torment. Here's where they'll feel cheated: the book ends with a question--with not even a hint of an answer. Sometimes a skillfully crafted, intelligent book gives readers too much to think about. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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