Beast
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Stephen hasn't had it easy. He's now in foster care because his mom is crazy and his dad is an ex-con vagabond. He's always in trouble or on his way to trouble. But none of these problems compare to the problem of the Beast -- a fierce crocodile that Stephen's been taking care of for years. The Beast is Stephen's biggest secret -- and also his biggest challenge. And that's when it's in a cage. When the Beast escapes, the stakes get even higher. With a keen eye and a startling voice, Ally Kennen joins the ranks of Kevin Brooks and Chris Wooding on the cutting edge of YA fiction. VOYAWhat if one is seventeen years old and the secret owner of a twelve-foot crocodile? Suppose that the setting is England, a climate too cold for this reptile? What if one is a ward of the state, child of an insane mother and a convict father, living with a foster family? These are dilemmas that Stephen plans to begin to solve by shooting the beast. His decision requires going to his father to get a gun, a mistake that opens the door to a long series of intricately chronicled mishaps. Close brushes with the law, betrayals of adults who try to help him, and a romantic connection with his foster sister are described in a short-sentenced, stream-of-consciousness that is frequently punctuated with bloody and filthy crocodile encounters. The novel is a bottom-feeder adventure story on several levels. This first novel by a young British author with prior careers as varied as archaeologist and professional singer shows promise. Despite redundancy, a lagging plot, and sketchy minor character development, the voice of Stephen rings true and captures the reader. British colloquialisms are not too obtrusive. Young readers, especially boys, will probably enjoy this easy-to-read book.
