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Apr 17, 2012Ubalstecha rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Barry Lyga's second novel is a tour de force. This is not an easy ready, but it is an important read. By choosing the male victim of molestation by a female teacher, Lyga is taking on the myth of the older woman initiating a young man into the arts of love. He is also pointing out that not all pedophiles are men. Lyga walks a very fine line in this book between exploitation literature and moralism. In doing so, he hits just the the right note. Lyga has created a main character who is not just a one-dimensional victim. Josh is smart, athletic but has difficulty interacting with others. He sabotages his relationships with those around them both on purpose and without knowing. This book is a must read for those thinking of entering teaching. It is also appropriate for those students in Grade 9 and up as there are some very mature scenes. Parents would do well to also read this as Lyga has his pulse on how the youth brain works.