Our first introduction to Daniel Kraus was through his incredibly original, creepy-gross, yet fascinating Rotters. When Scowler was announced, we automatically added it to our reading/review list.
Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister
scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to
distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional
abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment
from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying
the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of
imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the
bloodthirsty Scowler. -summary provided by Amazon
Although we did not enjoy this story as much as Rotters, the writing is solid, as is the plot construction. We really think that Kraus is excellent at crafting characters whose mental states make for intriguing reads. It may have been the addition of the meteorite that felt odd, but odd seems to be a huge piece in both of Kraus' novels. Mature readers who are looking for original story lines, intense characters, and books that you will ponder long after the final page, should add both Rotters and Scowler to their reading list.
Next up: Beta by Rachel Cohn- May 4th
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