Customer Reviews

Bless the Beasts and Children (Enriched Classic)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

This remarkable story covers teenage rebellion, social mores, and the difficulties of adolescence. It's the story of six socially awkward teenage males who end up sharing a cabin at Box Canyon Boys Camp one summer. The macho, competitive camp in Arizona tolerates no fools or losers, and its motto is, "We'll send you a cowboy." Not surprisingly, these socially awkward young men don't fit in. But they find some salvation though their leader, 15-year old John Cotton, a tough but decent young rebel. Cotton's qualities prove invaluable even before the six teens sneak out of camp one night on a law-breaking journey. Their goal is to rescue some doomed buffalo due to be shot in the morning by fee-paying hunters - animals that the young misfits identify with. Along the way the young men overcome challenges and risks with teamwork, a sign that Cotton's leadership has paid off. The author freely inserts flashbacks that identify the problems of each young man - including pathological jealousy, delinquency, weakness, etc.

This story was written in an era of socially relevant novels that attacked the status quo. This is very engaging reading, and one of the few books that we had to read in high school English class that I actually found useful.

I read the other reviews for this novel and discovered that the ones who rated it boring or with a low number of stars failed to mention any other critique besides "flashbacks were hard to understand" and "misfits 'fitting'together was unreal." Apparently, we have "readers" who do not do a lot of reading (as evidenced by their own words) and readers who don't really know "how to read." (Do movie flashbacks give them problems also?) The book is a narrowed view of a growing population of "misfits," poignantly written without "tearjerking" compassion. It bares the truth of both the "misfits" AND the "normals."

The 1960s and 1970s produced numerous "socially relevant" novels. One of the most popular of these was Glendon Swarthout's BLESS THE BEASTS AND THE CHILDREN, a novel that raised a number of issues re social status quos, its impact on children, and its impact on the enviroment. Few novels of this type have survived the passing years unscathed, and this one is no exception--but sadly, and particularly in light of such recent events as the Columbine shootings, the novel still has a surprising degree of relevance even today.

The story concerns a group of misfit boys who have been dumped into a summer camp by largely unconcerned parents and who find themselves ostracized and reviled by both camp instructors and the other boys. Constantly berrated and harrassed, they are designated "The Bedwetters" and are relegated to the fringe of camp activities. During a field trip, the boys are taken to see a corralled herd of buffalo--and are horrified when the buffalo are slaughtered before them. They resolve to escape the camp overnight, return to the corral, and free the remaining buffalo before they too can be killed. As the story of their trip unfolds, the novel flashes back to revel the background of each of boy and describes how they evolved into the personalities they have become--and in a real sense, the adventure they undertake ultimately validates the worth of each, as the differences that the status quo perceives as weakness actually becomes the strengths that motivate and aid them on their journey. But their determination to free the buffalo will come at a terrific price, a higher price than any of them can imagine.

As literature per se, the novel has several weaknesses. The actual story feels contrived, the symbolism is heavy handed to say the least, the shifts into flashback are a bit awkward, and the author never really achieves a good flow or a distinctive tone of voice. But even so, the book still speaks with remarkable power about the dangers of equating "being different" with "being undesirable" and of a society that has little use for anything outside the most pragmatic boundaries. It is most likely to appeal to teenagers and young adults, but more mature readers will find much food for thought within it as well. Recommended with the stated reservations.

To really enjoy this book I think you have to be in the right mindset-for people expecting a childish adventure or mature pyschological interpretation, disappointment is all you're goign to get out of the book. I however, enjoyed it immensely, and thought it was touching and raw. Not only did it present the characters as incredibly human, but I liked the flashbacks that detailed who the characters were and their past. This isn't the greatest book for readers who don't appreciate this style, so if you don't like a story with a deeper meaning (and a little child pyschology) then you're out of luck. And for the reviewers who read this book in English classes, etc. and did not enjoy it-perhaps that's because your taste isn't mature enough to appreciate it!

This book has a large deal of symbolism. I had to read it for my honors English class in high school. The ending was really astounding. I would recommend this book. Caution to people who enjoy light reading, because each character is introduced through out the book. Notes are almost a must.

I've loved this book since I first read it as a 7th grader 20 years ago. Back then, I liked it because I identified so strongly with the screwed-up, alienated teenage characters. I've read it many times since then, and have come to enjoy it more for Swarthout's astounding writing ability. I have a feeling that the book is probably somewhat dated for young readers today, but adults, especially those who were teenagers in the 70s, might really enjoy it. Maybe that's why all those teachers are requiring it of their 8th-grade classes. :-)

"For this is the marrowbone of every American adventure story: some men with guns, going somewhere, to do something dangerous."
Swarthout's novel describes six teenage misfits' quest to free a herd of buffaloes from a senseless slaughter. Ironically, the freedom and fate of these animals parallel with that of the young men. Their freeing the buffaloes symbolizes their own self-discovery, initiation into manhood, and entry into a realm of humanity that transcends the violent, "dog-eat-dog" society that has excluded them. This book will satisfy anyone who is interested in taking a unique look at the tragedies and triumphs of adolescent rebellion.

Summary:

Cotton, Teft, Goodenow, Shecker, Lally 1, and Lally 2, all from wealthy families, have been dumped at Arizona's Box Canyon Boy's Camp for eight weeks during the summer. The camp specializes in transforming boys into men, or cowboys as the camp call it. The camp is representative of society where only the strong and competitive survive. Obviously this is not the ideal setting for a delinquent, a sissy, a porker, or any other social reject. As fate would have it, these boys end up in the same cabin. Fifteen year old, Cotton, takes it on himself to become this band of misfits' leader. Indeed, Cotton is a Christ figure with a Kirk Cobain attitude. The story picks up during the last week of camp when late at night the boys decide to sneak away from the camp to go free some buffaloes outside of Flagstaff, which is two hours away. Cotton believes that this scheme will mature his gang, get them ready for the outside-- and like the buffaloes, sort of liberate them. After the boys steal a truck, the adventures begin. Through flashbacks the author relates each character's sad story and some of the important events that had occurred during the previous weeks at camp. The ending is one of the most poignant in young adult literature. This book belongs with "The Outsiders" as one of the timeless classics for all ages

Bless the Beasts and Children

The Characters-

The characters in this book are Cotton, Teft, Shecker, Goodenow, and Lally 1&2. I liked the characters in this book because they all came together from different families, but the all suffered from the same situation; being unloved and unwanted.

Cotton came from a mother who only cared about looking young and dating older men. Teft came from a father who owns Ivy-League Schools all across the country, and his only worry is getting his son into one of those schools, although he has a criminal record. Shecker came from a family who is always on the road because his father is a comedian, and his father uses him to win back money he lost, by making him eat twelve pieces of pie in four minutes. Goodenow comes from an over-protected mother who can't decide between her only son and a new man, which made him need psychological therapy. And the Lally brothers came from a family full of maids and butlers, and their parents believe that they can buy forgiveness and love.

The Setting-

The setting in this book is the Box Canyon Boys Camp. It is near Flagstaff, Arizona, and also near the Mongollon Rim. The setting fit with the characters because the camps slogan is, "Send Us A Boy, We'll Send You A Cowboy!" and the boys did A LOT of growing up that summer.

The Flashbacks-

Most of the flashbacks in this story are about each of the characters home lives, or their living black holes. In the beginning, most of them wanted to go back to their so-called-"security blanket", but in the end, they wish they could stay forever.

The Point- of -View-

The point of view in this story is third or fourth person because we are watching them do this and then again we are living inside their heads. I loved being part of their emotional- distresses.

Symbolism-

The most symbolize objects in this book are the chamber pot, which symbolizes that the boys are still little. And the buffalo head represents that they are men.

Well...in 8th grade my whole class dreaded seeing this book placed before them as they learned that they had to read this book. As we glanced at each other walking out of the classroom....we all knew that we would wait unti the last minute to read this book. My english teacher (seeing that everyone wasn't reading the book) decided to force the class to read the book for the whole period. We all got into it....and suprisingly really enjoyed the read. Glendon Swarthout can write description so well in so little words...that...it doesn't make the book boaring. However, once or twice you can get thrown off by the flash backs... but... my advice to anyone reading this book is that after every chapter...REALLY THINK about what you just read!

I was ordered to read this book by my tenth grade english teacher, for a grade of course. Most of the time I don't enjoy reading books that I have to for school and grades. Last year I had to read The Lord of the Flies which is greatly similar to this book. After the first chapter I got deep into the book and found it very interesting and relized how the author did such a great job with the characters and setting and he really had me using my imagination to the see cages, the jeep, and the hunters. If you got deep into this book like I did then you would definatly enjoy Lord of the Flies. For a tenth grade level I don't think the book is as hard to read as others think so if I were you I would definatly check it out!