Dead Boy Talking
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Product Description
Product Description
Josh has 25 minutes left to live. Lying alone in a pool of blood, Josh has not much time to think. Yesterday he stabbed his best mate, and now it has happened to him. But there are questions he cannot get out of his head. Like, how did he get into this mess? Will anyone find him in time? Will his girlfriend forgive him, and what really happened to his older brother? As his life slips away, the events of the last 24 hours start to look very different.
About the Author
Linda Strachan is the author of over 50 books for all ages, including SPIDER, winner of the 2010 Catalyst Award. Before becoming a full-time writer she was a model, a medical lab technician and a fashion buyer. She likes dogs, painting pictures on walls, artichokes, olives and chocolate, but prefers writing to almost anything else.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Josh has 25 minutes left to live. Lying alone in a pool of blood, Josh has not much time to think. Yesterday he stabbed his best mate, and now it has happened to him. But there are questions he cannot get out of his head. Like, how did he get into this mess? Will anyone find him in time? Will his girlfriend forgive him, and what really happened to his older brother? As his life slips away, the events of the last 24 hours start to look very different."
"Dead Boy Talking" is a story told mainly from two perspectives. In the minutes after he's been stabbed, Josh looks back on events in his life with a new outlook. There's also a third-person perspective of the day before, when Josh stabbed his best friend. These two perspectives intertwine, meaning that the reader never truly knows what happened until the end of the story.
The length of the book reflects well the little time that Josh has left to survive. At less than 200 pages, it strikes a nice balance between telling the reader everything they need to know and making them understand that time is running out.
I think this story would do well as an educational resource. It's a short but engaging read that highlights the issues of knife crime and gang culture without seeming like a lecture. The one thing I picked up on that made me think the book was amazing was the fact that Strachan never tells the reader what the gang name YHT stands for. That said to me that gangs ultimately stand for nothing and that there's no point in the tension they cause. Whether the author meant to make this point or not, I can only speculate.
It wasn't just a book about knife crime though. Occasionally one of the supporting characters got to step into the spotlight with a story about their home life. While it wasn't strictly necessary to have these chapters, it gave a great insight into why the characters acted the way they did, making them seem more human.
This story made me appreciate the life I lead and I felt thankful that people in my area don't feel the need to join gangs or carry weapons. I'd recommend this to any teenager looking for a short, serious read that they can be drawn into.
"Dead Boy Talking" is a story told mainly from two perspectives. In the minutes after he's been stabbed, Josh looks back on events in his life with a new outlook. There's also a third-person perspective of the day before, when Josh stabbed his best friend. These two perspectives intertwine, meaning that the reader never truly knows what happened until the end of the story.
The length of the book reflects well the little time that Josh has left to survive. At less than 200 pages, it strikes a nice balance between telling the reader everything they need to know and making them understand that time is running out.
I think this story would do well as an educational resource. It's a short but engaging read that highlights the issues of knife crime and gang culture without seeming like a lecture. The one thing I picked up on that made me think the book was amazing was the fact that Strachan never tells the reader what the gang name YHT stands for. That said to me that gangs ultimately stand for nothing and that there's no point in the tension they cause. Whether the author meant to make this point or not, I can only speculate.
It wasn't just a book about knife crime though. Occasionally one of the supporting characters got to step into the spotlight with a story about their home life. While it wasn't strictly necessary to have these chapters, it gave a great insight into why the characters acted the way they did, making them seem more human.
This story made me appreciate the life I lead and I felt thankful that people in my area don't feel the need to join gangs or carry weapons. I'd recommend this to any teenager looking for a short, serious read that they can be drawn into.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dead Boy Talking is story which will knock you off your feet with the speed of its delivery and the raw, tough realism that it explores. This is the third novel I have read which explores knife crime and Strachan gives this issue her own fresh and very accessible twist. It is the story of Josh and how he comes to be lying in a pool of his own blood on the very first page. The story alternates between his first person account of the minutes after he is stabbed and the third person narrative which reveals how events in Josh's life play the domino effect and to lead up to this horrific moment.
It is a story which doesn't deviate from the path of its telling. Strachan expertly gives you only what you need to know keeping the narrative free of excessive detail and unnecessary asides. It is also a story that isn't in any way sentamentalised. The cover even reflects this clinical telling of the story and it is something that the author should be commended for. Whilst the plot is simple and direct, the characterisation shows a huge depth and understanding of the every day difficulties faced by a number of teens today. Josh is harbering a huge resentment towards his parents as they are absorbed by the disappearance of his brother. Danny is hiding a secret from everyone and I especially liked the exploration of his home life. Skye is an intriguing character. Her story is an original twist which took me completely by surprise.
The issues of how the stabbing comes to pass are not necessarily studied in great detail but in a way that shows you how our mistakes can soon spiral out of control. Strachan creates a fascinating portrayal of the interaction between characters and explores issues of manipulation and control and a pressure to keep face.
Overall, this is an excellent novel which will grab any reader with its shocking and tough approach to the issue of knife crime. The fast pace and direct approach will have a particular appeal to reluctant readers. A definite must have for any school library. A great short sharp burst of a book that will actually take your breath away.
Recommended for 12+
It is a story which doesn't deviate from the path of its telling. Strachan expertly gives you only what you need to know keeping the narrative free of excessive detail and unnecessary asides. It is also a story that isn't in any way sentamentalised. The cover even reflects this clinical telling of the story and it is something that the author should be commended for. Whilst the plot is simple and direct, the characterisation shows a huge depth and understanding of the every day difficulties faced by a number of teens today. Josh is harbering a huge resentment towards his parents as they are absorbed by the disappearance of his brother. Danny is hiding a secret from everyone and I especially liked the exploration of his home life. Skye is an intriguing character. Her story is an original twist which took me completely by surprise.
The issues of how the stabbing comes to pass are not necessarily studied in great detail but in a way that shows you how our mistakes can soon spiral out of control. Strachan creates a fascinating portrayal of the interaction between characters and explores issues of manipulation and control and a pressure to keep face.
Overall, this is an excellent novel which will grab any reader with its shocking and tough approach to the issue of knife crime. The fast pace and direct approach will have a particular appeal to reluctant readers. A definite must have for any school library. A great short sharp burst of a book that will actually take your breath away.
Recommended for 12+
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a fast paced and hard hitting read. The topic although shocking sends out a clear warning to young people about the dangers of carrying knives or getting involved with gangs!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Brilliant Story
There's something really heart-wrenching about listening to the final thoughts of someone who believes they are about to die, and when that person is just a boy, it's almost too... Read more
Published 10 months ago by L. F. Lawlor
Dead Boy Talking
Dead Boy Talking is another YA book to explore teenage gang culture and knife crime. It looks at the before and after, and poses many questions relevant to today's society. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jenny, Wondrous Reads
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