Thoughts of an Aspiring Teenage Writer

Wow…uh…I think a lot of you saw me read this book at school today. I started this book yesterday (it was one of those books in my dusty bookshelf that I haven’t had time to read….I think it was a last year’s birthday present or something from Astor…or someone…).

I just can’t describe it! When I flipped the last page, I was at a loss of words. Well, I could only describe it in these two words: Fast and Brutal. (LOL it was rightfully named)

But, since not everyone is tongue-tied like me, I went on Amazon and looked up a book review:

“Grade 9 Up–Vaguely reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project, Johnson’s novel explores memory, fear, and imagination. Niki, her brother Emmet, and their friend Doug narrate the somewhat fantastical story via journal entries, e-mails, and newspaper clippings. What REALLY happened on Halloween night in the woods when all three teens awakened to find themselves naked and bloody?

As the plot disjointedly unfolds, readers gradually learn that the siblings’ father left the family two years earlier, supposedly with his mistress. When their mother begins dating the famous, secretive, and somewhat sinister author Nicholas Slanger, he disappears as well. Puzzle pieces begin to fall into place as readers realize that Emmet has since been institutionalized and Niki claims that she is able to transform into a cat, while her brother can turn into a hawk.

They both have strange dreams of blood and hunting, but what is the reality? Whose story is reliable when even Doug, Emmet’s psychiatrist, and Slanger seemed to turn into animals that fateful night? There are no absolute answers in this powerful and disturbing blend of fantasy/mystery/study of mental illness. Teens will either love it or hate it, but they won’t forget it.”

Gee….that’s the thing. You can never tell whether they are just all crazy or they really can turn into animals or everyone’s lying…it’s basically written in three different, conflicting POVS…. The book report go that right. I’ll probably never forget it. It was just too weird…yet addicting…kind of like Faherenheit 451.

Doug, the friendly friend, claims he either was hallucinating because he ran into a tree branch (smart Doug, very smart) or they NEVER turned into animals but were NAKED in the woods and had blood all over them… (But still claims that he wants to help them and be a good friend…kinda reminded me of that golden retriever guy from Twilight)

The brother, Emmett, claims her sister has an active imagination and they can’t turn into animals…but then seems unsure of himself at the end and partially admits to turning into a hawk…OH and he has this phobia of touching people and likes to stare at the sky all day. and YES HE IS ANTISOCIAL.

And the sister..Nikki, wrote this elaborate novel (which is most of the book) where basically everyone turns into animals and fights to their death (or close to it).

When I finished the book… Oh yeah, by the way, these were the last words: “Corner the fox. Kill.” Freaky, eh? I was just like: eh?
I didn’t know who to believe. Maybe they’re all lying? LOL