War Boy

Rating:
Summary: Absolutly Amazing...
Review: I first picked up this book as an uncorrected proof in a used book store in San Fransisco, mostly because I was intrigued at the thought of a deaf-mute perspective in a novel. Being a great fan of dialogue in books, I was uncertain if a book could actually be told in this manner. I picked up the book once I got home, and got halfway through the first page before putting the book aside, certain because of the writing style that it was just going to be a mindless, pointless book. I finally ran out of other books, though, and went back to it. Once I got past that first page I was hooked. This is the type of book that grips you; it is completly authentic. I don't care if you have never talked like Radboy in your life, had any experiences like him, or whatever. You will relate to him and his friends more than you ever thought possible. This book veers around, from gritty to lyrical, and once you finish it, you won't want to let put it down. I've re-read it at least 3 times since I finished it. Buy this book. You will not be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: A Coming of Age Like No Other
Review: Talk about an amazing piece of literature. War Boy is the story of a 14 year old deaf-mute skater punk and the problems that arise after he escapes his abusive family. The story is fast paced, completely enthralling, and surprisingly touching. Hillsbery's unique style of story telling is akward to read at first, but as soon as you catch on, you don't want to stop. The story completely captures those moments of early love, where your heart feels as though it might burst with the anticipation of a small crush blossoming into something real. Aside from the love story are numerous sub-plots and conflicts that deal with friendship and the need to make a difference in the world. If you were ever part of the skate-punk or traditional skinhead scene, or just had a crush on a sk8erboy or Oi Boy, this is a must read. I am eagerly awaiting more work from Kief Hillsbery.

Rating:
Summary: Compelling, original read.
Review: Told from the first-person point of view of a fourteen year old deaf-mute, War Boy traces our protagonists cross-country adventures with his older friend.

The author's unusual choice of protagonist first struck me as off-putting, but the manner in which the story is written is inspiring. The reader, literally, is placed in the mind of a deaf-mute, which explains the prose's unconventional sentence and paragraph structure.

The plot itself is a fusion of a coming-of-age, adventure, romance story and is secondary to the characters we meet.