Waiting on Wednesday (58)

This week, I'm waiting on...

Games by Barry Lyga. Here's what Goodreads has to say: Billy grinned. “Oh, New York,” he whispered. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jazz, the son of history’s most infamous serial killer, Billy Dent.

In an effort to prove murder didn’t run in the family, Jazz teamed with the police in the small town of Lobo’s Nod to solve a deadly case. And now, when a determined New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz’s door asking for help, he can’t say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple–and its police force–running scared. So Jazz and his girlfriend, Connie, hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer’s murderous game.

I loved the prequel, I Hunt Killers, so I have no doubt that this sequel is going to be amazing as well!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

I Hunt Killers: Review

Title: I Hunt Killers

Author: Barry Lyga

Release Date: April 2012

Published By: Little, Brown

Pages: 359

Goodreads Rating: 4.06 stars

Review: Jasper Dent is a charismatic teenager, well-liked in his small community. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, for whom Take Your Son to Work Day was everyday. Jazz has seen unspeakable crimes, and knows exactly how criminals work. So when bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod. He joins the police in a hunt for this new serial killer. But he has a secret - could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

I HUNT KILLERS brings a fascinating look at serial killers, depicting them with a brutal accuracy and complete with all the gory details, yet without going farther than where it needs to go. It's an unflinching look at the darker side of human nature combined with the compelling voice of Jazz Dent and a story that's never been told quite like this before.

In particular, I appreciated the rich character development of Jazz. He's a difficult person to portray, given the circumstances, but he was depicted as honestly as you could ask for. Yet despite these scary dark points of his personality, he remained relatable as he struggled through his personal obstacles and tried to stay strong. There are people around him who love and care for him, and in a way, I HUNT KILLERS was just like any other young adult book.

It's strange to think that a book about serial killers would have a good romance, but that was definitely true in this case. The characters were strong and complex, and thus Jazz's love story was both awesome and well-written. It was believable and endearing, and added another great component to the story as a whole.

All in all, I HUNT KILLERS is a memorable and fascinating book that's not likely to be forgotten soon. From the wonderfully complicated cast of characters to the sweet romance, this is a book I would recommend to anyone... who isn't too afraid of violence, in any case.

Boy Toy: Review

Title: Boy Toy
Author: Barry Lyga
Release Date: September 24th, 2007
Published By: Houghton Mifflin
Goodreads Rating: 4.05 stars
Amazon Rating: 4.18 stars

Synopsis: A riveting and disturbing novel about a seventh-grade boy who has a very adult relationship with his female teacher. Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is. Five years ago, Josh's life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town-seems like the world-thinks they understand. But they don't-they can't. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago. She's back, and she's determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not. Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there's Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he know what the truth was...

Review: This book was powerful. I can't say it was an enjoyable read, especially given the events that occurred within it, but it definitely affected me. I found this to be well-written with very well-developed characters, but I had trouble reading through quite a few of the parts simply because they disturbed me too much.

I'm all for not censuring literature and I wouldn't call this book inappropriate - it's just definitely meant only for people who are perfectly fine with reading extremely intense sex scenes. These scenes were very graphic, and were also repulsive (as the author intended) because they were between a twelve-year-old boy and his teacher. I do kind of wish the author had toned it down a bit so I could fully appreciate the book, but of course I respect the truth and honesty with which the author portrayed it.

Other than that, this was a gripping book. I felt like things were a little too fairy-tale-ending-where-everything-wraps-up-neatly at the end, but it was a gritty read about what can be a taboo subject. It explores something as complex as molestation and the conflicting and confusing emotions that come with it quite well, and I would like to read other books by this author for sure. 


Grade: A-