Shiftyj1

"I’m seventeen years old, approximately male, and I live in an asylum for mutant children."

Every once in a while, I like to read something that is out of my comfort zone. I’m not even entirely sure why I requested this one from NetGalley, but I liked the title and the cover, so what the hell, I gave it a shot. I am glad I did. I enjoyed this one a great deal.

Ivan is a great character, deformed, sarcastic, scheming, with extremely dry and sardonic humor. He is also a compulsive reader and masturbator. What’s not to like about this kid? Enter Polina. A new patient at the Mazyr Hospital for Gravely Ill Children. She is beautiful. She will rock Ivans world and make him reevaluate all of the personal tenants that he holds dear.

A touching and funny adventure with a sprinkle of sadness and a hope of redemption. My only peeve was that it felt a bit rushed at the end. And I was awaiting a huge tear-jerking breakdown. I am talking about big, man, crocodile tears. It didn’t really materialize and strangely enough I was pretty disappointed. You know the kind of tears I am talking about? The movie E.T…those kind of tears. Where the Red Fern Grows, uh huh, now we’re talking. F’n movie Rudy, man!! Now, you get what I’m saying.

Whoops. Got off track there momentarily. It didn’t need the tears, but it did lose a little juice for me for whatever reason with the seemingly hurried ending. Still a very good and well written tale with an interesting and unique protaganist. 4 Stars and Highly Recommended.

Thanks, NetGalley!