Bobby's first-person narration is a masterful and very realistic blend of sarcasm, shame, hopefulness, earnestness, and anger. . . . Uncompromising, unflinching, and unsentimental.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The relationships depicted, especially between Bobby and his mother, are raw and real, and readers will be rooting for this family . . . A heavy, well-written examination of ethics and family bonds.” —Booklist
“Bittersweet and thoughtfully written . . . Teens who appreciate stories with emotional and thought-provoking plots will enjoy this novel.” —VOYA
“A timeless allegory . . . Conaghan tackles the complexities of war, occupation, and totalitarianism in a direct and accessible way.” —Kirkus Reviews on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
“Conaghan presents a compelling situation with no easy answers; it's easy to sympathize with Charlie's moral and ethical dilemmas, and the dichotomy between Old Country and Little Town could fuel provocative discussions.” —Publishers Weekly on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
“This accomplished new novel establishes Conaghan as a major talent . . . Incredibly powerful and thought-provoking.” —Bookseller on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
“[T]his book brings light to communities where teens are struggling under a repressive government or regime pressured by a larger neighboring nation . . . Readers will fly through the last portion of the book in one sitting.” —School Library Journal on THE BOMBS THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER
“Dylan is smart and caring, and beneath his realistically portrayed condition, he is a normal teenager with relatable concerns. As Dylan would say, this one is 'A-mayonnaise-ing.'” —Booklist on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
“Conaghan . . . does an excellent job of portraying his unconventional and memorable protagonist.” —Publishers Weekly on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
“An appealingly offbeat look at friendship, sex and what's really 'normal.'” —Kirkus Reviews on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
“Insightful, engaging, and immerses teens into the world of Tourette's . . . Uninhibited and compelling.” —School Library Journal on WHEN MR. DOG BITES
12/01/2018
Gr 9 Up{amp}mdash;This first-person work of realistic fiction features Bobby Seed, a teen who has been foisted into the role of "carer," a term American readers might find unfamiliar but will soon understand as they read about Bobby's wisecracking and loving mother becoming less able to take care of herself and her family because of her multiple sclerosis (MS). Not only must Bobby manage school and dinner, but he must also attend to laundry and all his mum's personal needs. Add to that coping with a younger brother with some cognitive and behavioral challenges of his own, and the teen badly needs a solid friend like Bel whose romantic feelings Bobby does not return. He also begins to attend a support group for other teen carers, where he meets Lou, a guy with a Vespa and an American flavor of cool, whom Bobby does find attractive. The book's second half sees Bobby rooming with Lou at a weekend group outing, trying to provide his mum with pot at her nostalgic request to relive her youth while she still can, and hoping to manage even more unthinkable requests as she faces the total loss of body control. While the story is important, the writing style and poor pacing fail to pull teens into Bobby's narrative. VERDICT An additional purchase.{amp}mdash;Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA
★ 2018-11-07
A teen struggles with just how far he's willing to go for his terminally ill mother.
While most kids his age are arguing with their parents over curfews and screen time, Scottish 17-year-old Bobby Seed is his mother's caregiver. Mum has secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, a painful and debilitating disease of the central nervous system. There's no pretty way to say it: Mum is going to die. Bobby also looks after his 14-year-old brother, Danny, who acts much younger than his age (he seems to have an undiagnosed cognitive disability; their mother wanted to avoid labeling him). In addition to making sure Danny brushes his teeth and gets to school on time, Bobby tries to protect him from their mother's prognosis with lies and half-truths. Mum's health is rapidly deteriorating, and she makes a request that changes everything: She wants Bobby to end her life. Bobby loves her more than anything, but can he take away her pain by taking her life? Bobby's first-person narration is a masterful and very realistic blend of sarcasm, shame, hopefulness, earnestness, and anger. His emotional ups and downs parallel MS's vicious cycle of relapse and recovery. Awkward moments with his crush, Lou, the ultracool American guy who drives a vintage Vespa, and lots of ribbing from Mum add a touch of comic relief to temper the story's seriousness. Assume whiteness throughout.
Uncompromising, unflinching, and unsentimental. (Fiction. 14-adult)
