Dumb Chocolate Eyes

By Author / Illustrator

Kevin Brooks

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Barrington Stoke Ltd

ISBN

9781781124512

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-05-2015

Synopsis

A brutally honest and effective story about adolescent boredom and destructive friendships, from Carnegie medalist Kevin Brooks. It was one of those childhood friendships of convenience - two lads in the same village who go to the same school. But then Cassidy gets it into his head that they should set traps for the rats in his garden, and things start to go very, very wrong. A gritty teen drama. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+

Reviews

This short story, narrated by a 15 year old boy, is thought provoking and leaves the reader with a dilemma - what would I have done in that situation? Pete Cassidy and the anonymous narrator live in the same village, go to the same school and are the same age. These are the only things they have in common. Pete lives with his family in a bungalow with a huge garden full of outbuildings, cellars, rubbish and even an empty swimming pool. One day he decides to set some traps to catch rats in the garden. Even though this is a short story, Kevin Brooks manages to paint a vivid picture of the two boys and their behaviour and draws the reader into the story through the narrator's dilemma. A wonderful book to read with a group of teenagers as it encourages discussion about friendship, loyalty, choices and growing up. The 63 pages are very well illustrated and the text is double spaced. Certainly a book to read at one sitting. A Barrington Stoke Teen Read 63 pages / Age 12+ / Reviewed by Jennifer Hambleton