Review: Puck by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
Title: PuckPublished: Nov. 15, 2016
Publisher: Doublet Press
Pages: 330 (print)
Genre: Young Adult
Review: ebook provided by authors
Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon.uk
Life isn’t always fair, and no one knows that better than fifteen-year-old Puck. When she’s unceremoniously booted from yet another foster home, this city kid lands at DreamRoads, a rehabilitation wilderness camp for juvies. Her fellow campers include a famous pop star with a diva attitude, a geeky, “fish out of water” math whiz, and a surly gang-banger with a chip on his shoulder. The program’s steely director aims to break Puck, but she knows that every adult has a breaking point, too. Determined to defy this realm of agonizing nature hikes and soul-sucking psychobabble — even if that means manipulating four lovestruck camp counselors and the director’s dim-witted second-in-command — Puck ultimately gets much more than she bargains for in this “wondrous strange” outdoor odyssey inspired by The Bard’s most beguiling comedy.
I received this book to give an honest review.
I was very impressed with this book more than I thought I would be. Puck is a young teenager who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. So when she is finally wanted by her new mom Paula Puck tries to screw up that relationship because she just knows that she will be sent back.
Paula doesn't give up on her wants to send her to a place called DreamRoads, you have to graduate from this place to be sent back home. This place will test you and help you grow. You have certain tasks you need to pass to move on to get to the end. It is not just about building and working on yourself, but also working with others. Though Puck doesn't even care. She will do whatever to be kicked out though when she finally decides to give it a try it may be too late for her. I really loved how Puck grew as a person and it wasn't overnight. She came across as this I don't give a crap about anyone and everything, because everyone will do me wrong. Though as Barb the lady in charge doesn't give up on Puck they make a breakthrough. We learn of Puck's past and in a way it sheds light on why she acts the way she does.
We are also introduced to other kids that are troubled as well. Each has a story that is unique and troubled. Will they graduate out of DreamRoads?
The plot was great, the characters well developed and different in their own way. I plan on reading more from these authors in the future.
Kim Askew is co-author of the Twisted Lit novels, critically-acclaimed, Shakespeare inspired young adult fiction, published by Merit Press.
Kim's writing has appeared in newspapers, literary journals, and other publications, including the Wall Street Journal, SoMa Literary Review, and Elle Magazine, as well as the anthology The May Queen.
She wrote her Master's thesis, on Henry James, at Mount St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, and she's also a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Los Angeles county.
Kim and her co-author, Amy Helmes, are managed by Jennifer Au of Untitled Entertainment and represented by Hannah Brown Gordon of Foundry Literary + Media.
Co-author of the Twisted Lit series of Shakespeare inspired YA novels from Merit Press
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