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The story is set against an ultra modern backdrop that readers can immediately connect with: a technologically dominated youth being inundated with pop culture that is seemingly void of substance and value, and made more digestible through adult administered chemical assistance. This story highlights a colorful journey through emotional deprivation as issues of grief, addiction, manipulation, and abandonment abound. Surprisingly, the book stays well within genre parameters despite the serious themes that are threaded throughout.
12 year old Daniel is the intelligent protagonist that leads us through his journey of adolescent disdain. His evolving awareness guides him through an awakening of sorts that migrates through disgust, depression, defiance, and ultimate triumph. His observations allow the reader to gain perspective on the effects of being over medicated, in addition to questioning what it is that makes you feel most alive. In the beginning, Daniel is coming to the realization that he no longer desires the "escape" of electronics and he begins evaluating his life and relationships as he yearns for something more fulfilling. The absence of Daniels mother, combined with his lack of nurturing support, seemingly drives him to cling heavily to the few meaningful relationships accessible to him. His sister embodies the unfortunate conformity necessary to avoid familial punishment, at the expense of personal desire, yet their sense of camaraderie is evident, however wavering. When Jean Maurice enters Daniels life, his strife and observations take a drastic turn. The adoptive brother's enthusiasm and liveliness are the tipping point in Daniels internal journey towards breaking free.
Daniel's grandmother is a "shifty" antagonist whose ferocious rigidity maintains the structure and steer-ability of the plot as Daniel becomes increasingly defiant of her hold over the family unit. The story sheds light onto how the grandmother is transformed, through life events, into the monstrous disciplinarian that Daniel faces today. While it can be difficult, at times, to separate her actual actions from the horrific delusions of her that haunt Daniel, the grandmother makes a terrifically realistic villain.
Overall, the book is a well thought out and beautifully executed creation that is found to be thought provoking and meaningful in today's young reader market. The flow of the story makes it an easy read that captivates attention and imagination alike. For young readers looking for something to engage there curiosity beyond a superficial level, this book is a fantastic fit. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
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