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Burglar Boy by Jackie Martin (view source)
Revision as of 15:57, 12 August 2011
, 15:57, 12 August 2011no edit summary
I really enjoyed ''Burglar Boy''. It's written in a clear and accessible way and events move at a smart pace. There's no chance of a more reluctant reader getting bored. Despite the fact that his home is more disastrous than most, Dean inhabits an immediately recognisable emotional landscape. He resents being ignored or neglected. He blooms when praised. He wants to succeed and his self esteem needs boosting. The things that upset him would upset every child. And the things that make him happy would also make every child happy. So it's easy to identify with him, even though he is a thief. And the book provides a good illustration of walking a mile in another person's shoes.
My only tiny nitpick comes with the dialogue and Dean's internal monologue. We know Dean comes from a challenging and impoverished background. Nobody will imagine him speaking with a plum in his mouth. So I found the dropped aitches and Gs written into the dialogue rather grating - they don't achieve grittiness; they make Dean sound like an American actor doing a fake Cockney accent. The boy would be better served by readers "hearing" his accent through the picture Martin paints of his life. But it's a small thing in an otherwise super read.
We need positive stories with messages of hope like this one. Our environments can drag us down but we all have choices. Thanks to a chance meeting with Mary, Dean began to make smart ones. And it made me smile to read about it. We all need a guardian angel.