Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks

Author: Kevin Brooks
Genre: Coming of Age, Drama
Rating: 8
Teach-ability: 6
Teachable Aspects: character--especially reliability of narrator, plot, pacing, prediction

This book review is accompanied by a story.

I first read this book when I was in 8th grade. Since then, all I could remember was a boy laying on the pavement with "UP" above his head. I have searched and searched for this book, never quite remembering the name of the book. (I always thought that it was called "UP".) I have googled book covers containing up, looked in "name this book" places but to no avail I never found this book. Until I visited the Farmington Public Library.

I was so excited.

As you can tell from my rating of this book--it was not quite how I remember. In fact, it was completely different. This story tells the tale of Martyn Pig, the sleuth-loving, neighbor Alex-crushing, drunk dad-hating kid with the unfortunate name. Marytn has a secret, and its smelling up his house. Taking place directly before and after the accidental murder of his father, the story follows (in day-by-day format) the choices that Martyn makes and the aftershock of his murder.

I really don't remember it being a story about a boy who kills his father. Perhaps it was the content of the book, but although it was an engaging read it made me sick to my stomach as I read it. I remember a story about a high school outcast who creates an internet company supplying essays, gets caught and runs away. I'm still looking...

Overall I think this book was really interesting. It gives an intriguing look into the mind of Martyn as its basically written in Stream of Consciousness. The book also does some really interesting things in the way that it discusses mystery and crime novels all the while being a mystery and crime novel, much like the ones that the main character idolizes.

Overall, I am disappointed that this is not the book that I was in search for, which may have affected the rating that I gave the book. It was an enjoyable read (despite the queasiness) and I think that a lot of students would find it interesting.

My search continues for the elusive book of my past...