Review of Children of Violence

[KellyKeller]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Children of Violence" by Luke Gherardi.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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With a variety of narrators, Children of Violence by Luke Gherardi gives us a glimpse into the lives of several families who, at a glance, seem to have nothing in common.

Gracie and her violent mob boss of a father live a life of luxury, while Robbie and his little brother are left to rely on help from the government and their “Paw Paw” to survive. Only two of a handful of the characters we meet, we learn much about their lives in very few pages. Because each chapter is written from the perspective of one of these characters, it almost seems as though they are telling their story in their own words. Whether those words are spoken in perfect English or common street slang, they are perfectly suited to each storyteller.

Gherardi expertly uses the shift in perspective throughout this book to examine differences in race, class, religion, and family. The stories of each of the children are woven together by, you guessed it, violence.

Despite the potential for confusion caused by the shift in narrator and story, each character in Children of Violence has such a different voice and perspective that it is much easier than expected to follow along without the need to go back and remind yourself of a particular character’s plot. Much of the book is filled with suspense and intense scenes that depict the rough world its characters inhabit. The incredibly violent world around them is filtered through each narrator’s personality, making it far more interesting. What seem to be the lives of very different people are woven together in fantastic and unexpected ways.

This book is incredibly fun to read, despite the heaviness of some portions. The characters’ style and humor bring a lightness to the tone of many of the darker moments throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed this short, easy-to-read story, and happily rate it a 5 out of 5.

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Children of Violence
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