Customer Reviews

Bullet Point

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I went into this expecting a mystery; a pretty standard whodunnit. In fact, this book does not seem to be much of a mystery at all. It is a very good book though, no matter what category you put it in. In many ways, it's a coming of age tale for Wyatt, a 16 year old boy living in a town suffering from the effects of the economy. Wyatt lives for baseball, and when his school gets rid of it because of the budget, Wyatt moves to a nearby town for a fresh start and to get away from his abusive step-father.

It's after his move that Wyatt gets in contact with Sonny, his biological father, currently serving a life term in prison for murder. He also meets Greer, a girl with a shady past and her own set of father issues. It's then that Wyatt goes on a "quest" to determine if his father is really innocent, and if his girl friend is innocent as well. Wyatt's steadfast determination to view the world as black and white in the face of all the gray areas now confronting him formed the basis of his character and the main appeal of this book.

The author has told a good story here, pretty unique in YA fiction. His characters are 100 percent believable. He has created a sense of foreboding that runs throughout the book and it's that sense of dread as well as the compelling characters that keep the pages turning. There's no real action in the book until the very end, but the suspense runs deep. Read this book for the relationships - the dialogue between Wyatt and Greer is perfect. I won't speak to the ending except to say that even though I was expecting something drastic, I wasn't expecting that.

A warning to parents: this book is a good read for older teens and adults. There's quite a bit of sex and some language that will most likely not make this a good choice for younger teens or fans of this author's Echo Falls series. Wyatt is 16 in this book and his girlfriend is 19, so perhaps kind of illegal in some states?

A well written tale for the older teen crowd.

I LOVE Peter Abrahams books. So I've resisted criticizing this one. But to judge Bullet Point as good as earlier works would do great injustice to them. (For example, the Echo Falls series which are wonderful.)

Bullet Point starts strong: a normal kid, Wyatt, almost 17, is thrown by circumstance into unfamiliar situations. As usual, Abrahams does a great job of capturing the relationships among people.

The plot suddenly speeds up when an "older" woman (19), who Wyatt meets by chance, occasions the putting of him in touch with his biological father who is serving a life sentence.

Was Wyatt's dad guilty of the crime he's accepted punishment for? The story moves along OK as Wyatt unravels what happened 17 years ago, before he was born.

Why I judge the book less than Abrahams best is twofold.

The real "bad guys" appear at the end without enough set up early in the plot.

Mr. Abrahams way of dealing with the separation of Wyatt from his "older" woman didn't make sense given the profiles he'd established for the characters.

For new readers of Abrahams, don't judge him by this book. He has many many other ones without the flaws I saw in this one.

Wyatt connects with his biological father, in prison for murder. He meets Greer, an older girl who also has a father in prison. As the pair begin to look into Wyatt's father's case, they are starting to believe that perhaps he was innocent after all. There is a lot of action and twists and turns in this book. This book would be a good read for reluctant YA readers, especially boys. There is enough romance in it that girls could enjoy it as well. This was a good, quick read.

[...]

A murder mystery set years after the suspect begins serving a life sentence, Bullet Point thrusts forth many questions and theories, engaging the reader early on. Wyatt has never known his biological father. In fact, until things start being churned up, Wyatt has rarely asked questions and doesn't even know which prison houses his lifer dad. Watching Wyatt face a series of unexpected and difficult situations, this book is a study in character development as much as it is a thrill ride. This is definitely a page turner, amping up the suspense.

Wyatt starts out as a strong main character, a mostly average teenage boy living in a town that's going nowhere. His main shining hope is baseball, particularly since his grades are nothing stunning. As the plot progresses, however, Wyatt's innate cleverness and reasoning skills become both evident and honed. He learns plenty of new things about himself and grows exponentially in both his maturity, his interactions with people and in the way he views the world around him. There is a very obvious shift in his overall frame of mine, pushing him from a high school kid to someone who has seen things others go through their entire lives without ever facing. The effect it has on him is striking and brought forth, leading to a very memorable ending.

Greer is snarky and independent, adding spark to both Wyatt's world and the plot itself. She is difficult to explain without giving too much away of the plot but she plays a central role in both Wyatt's personal development and that of the plot. She is a very memorable character even if moody, rapidly shifting in her reactions and emotions. With each new turn, Greer will spark conflicting and uncertain emotions in the reader, raising many questions and tugging them on the same inexplicable and tumultuous ride she takes Wyatt on. Three years older than Wyatt and out of high school, living on her own, Greer pulls Wyatt into a relationship that will leave the reader questioning its health and effect on him. At two separate points in their lives- and with two different pasts- they tear at each other and combat as much as they come together and care.

Though this book is written in third person, it stays central to Wyatt and the reader learns things as Wyatt does. The writing itself is unique; Abrahams has created a voice that I associated strongly with Wyatt despite the lack of immediate insight. If Wyatt were to write, this style is how I imagine it and that facet alone speaks a tremendous amount about Abraham's writing ability. I highly doubt another novel at the hand of this writer will follow this same dialect and trend.

Throughout, clues are given and leads are opened regarding the truth behind Sonny's possible innocence, engaging the reader further. I would develop a theory only to have more holes and questions be put in which also brings up another, more subtle aspect of this book- the idea behind "reasonable doubt." Abrahams has masterfully weaved a story which leaves the reader questioning in multiple ways if Sonny really should have been in prison or if he truly is one of the innocent men condemned to a life in prison. It isn't until the end of the book the reader can come to any decision on this yet Abrahams pitches it in a brilliant way that will still leave confusion and mixed emotions.

Once things with Sonny become involved in the story, the pace speeds up and things move quickly. From teenage detective work to visits during allotted hours with Sonny himself, Wyatt wades through an entirely foreign world to him while trying to learn what he can, figure out his conflicted feelings on multiple things, and get to know the man who helped bring him into this world whom he has never known. Overall, Abrahams doesn't mess around with his writing. Things are straight to the point with little filler. Once a decision is made, within a paragraph or two things are dealing right with that- no in between, wasting time with this book which helped add to the overall effect of who Wyatt was and how his mind worked.

Overall, this is a fantastic take on the murder mystery style as the same burning curiosity that would be present whether this was written right after the actual crime or years later is ignited. With strong characters, fluent and stylistic writing, and numerous shocking twists, Abrahams has certainly created a hit with this one. All these events lead up to a very shocking ending that leaves the reader thinking not only about the outcome but the underlying implications and potentially even some transference into their own lives.

Peter Abrahams, the Edgar Award-winning author of REALITY CHECK, returns to gripping suspense for older teens with BULLET POINT. Wyatt's life revolves around his love of three things: baseball, his mother, and his little half-sister. He could do without his bullying stepfather, and while he has heard rumors about his biological father, who is doing time in the penitentiary, he tries not to think about it too much. In this surprise-filled psychological thriller, Wyatt is called upon again and again to sort truth, trust, and lies in escalating fashion that will end in a life-and-death struggle.

Rusty, Wyatt's stepfather, has been laid off from his factory job, making the usually surly man more abusive than ever. Wyatt tries to help his working mom by watching his younger sister Cammy get off to school and stay away from Rusty's anger, but he has his own issues to sort out. The town's sliding economy has forced the high school administrators to cancel all extracurricular activities, including baseball. The coach tries to get Wyatt into a wealthier district across the state and a new place to live, but his friend claims the last transfer spot before Wyatt can do so. Wyatt agrees to move with his friend and hopes to claim a transfer spot on the team for the following year.

Wyatt soon meets 19-year-old Greer, who, though just three years older, seems so much more worldly than him. Her father is also in the penitentiary, which happens to be in Wyatt's new town and is the same facility holding his father for felony robbery. Greer's father is in for burning down the family business to collect insurance, but lots of townspeople warn Wyatt that Greer was likely involved and that she has a bad reputation with boys. However, Wyatt just knows she makes him laugh and can't stay away from her. He spends more time at Greer's apartment, and she begins talking to his biological father about him when she visits her own father in prison. Then Wyatt starts getting cell phone calls from Sonny Racine, the father he's never even seen. Sonny wants Wyatt to visit him, and Greer would like Wyatt to find out if Sonny is really innocent and protecting someone else as many believe.

Wyatt and Greer set out to interview anyone involved with Sonny's case, as Wyatt cautiously establishes a relationship with him. Was he protecting Linda, Wyatt's mom? She did have an alibi for that fateful night, but then who could Sonny have been protecting? Wyatt is kicked out of his new house for his relationship with Greer and moves in with her. They continue to trace down anything from the original robbery, and Sonny refuses to talk to Wyatt about who else may have been involved. They find innocent victims, other criminals who made deals, and conflicting reports from attorneys and newspapers.

Wyatt's mother wants him to give up his relationship with Greer and his quest for information about Sonny and return home. Rusty has a new trucking job and is away a lot. Wyatt tries going home, but the questions remain, and he pursues the mystery with a vengeance. But as he finds out more, he also develops more questions. Things are not adding up, and clearly people are lying. But who?

A surprising, harrowing ending will keep readers turning pages quickly to find out what happens in this realistic, dark, edgy thriller.

Life for Wyatt and his friend, Dub, revolves around baseball. Well, it used to anyway. When the coach announces that baseball is being cut from the extracurricular schedule due to lack of funding, both boys are furious. Just when they are about to earn their spots in the varsity lineup, the program is yanked.

When Wyatt finds out there might be a way to play ball somewhere else, he jumps at the chance. Dub is going to live with his aunt in another more financially sound school district, and Wyatt is welcome to come along. Not only will he get a chance to play baseball, but he'll also be getting out of the house and away from his unpleasant step-dad, Rusty. Although he'll miss his mother and his little step-sister, he's all in favor of the move.

Just when it looks like his luck has changed, Wyatt learns that his new school only allows one transfer student on each athletic team per year. Dub's transfer was arranged first so he gets the spot. Wyatt's friend urges him to make the move anyway so he might have a chance to play next year.

The new school isn't bad and an added bonus is meeting a slightly older, quite attractive girl named Greer. She and Wyatt hit it off right away. It doesn't take long for Wyatt to discover an amazing coincidence. Greer's father is an inmate at the state correctional facility in the area, and he knows Wyatt's biological father, who is an inmate in the same prison. All Wyatt's ever been told is that just before he was born, his father and several acquaintances got the bright idea to rob a couple of drug dealers. There was gunfire exchanged when they broke into the house, killing a young woman and critically injuring her baby girl. Now, Wyatt is faced with a chance to meet the man he has only known by name and reputation.

The story quickly becomes an investigation in which Wyatt struggles to learn more about the man he has spent most of his life trying to forget. As his contact with his father increases, so does his desire to find out the whole story and maybe even find out if he is really an innocent man.

Author Peter Abrahams' talent as a writer of mystery and suspense makes BULLET POINT a sure winner. Readers will be intrigued by the plot's twists and turns right up until the very end. Wyatt's character is likable and inspiring as he experiences separation from his mother and step-sister, frustration with his step-father, his first love, and the need to know his biological father's true story.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Seventeen-year old Wyatt has never been too interested in his biological father--he's been serving a life sentence in prison since before Wyatt was born, and he's never met him. He's more interested in baseball. But when the bad economy leads to all the extracurriculars at the high school being cancelled, Wyatt winds up moving near the prison where his dad has been living, and their lives intersect in ways he could never have imagined. Soon Wyatt and his new girlfriend are trying to prove Wyatt's dad's innocence--but is he really innocent?

This was a great thriller--I had a hard time putting it down. It's a good book for teenage boys (although girls would also like it), especially reluctant readers since it's a very fast-paced and compelling book.

Highly recommended for 12 and up.

In Bullet Point, Peter Abrahams returns to the world of the lonely and alienated teen boy he knows so well. Last year's Reality Check showed the boy plunged out of his element into a rich kids' school and the wealthy horsey set. No such luck attends Wyatt Lathem, whose life seems mired down in our terrible economy of today, stuck in a town without any hope of recovery. His only pleasure is the school baseball team and then one day, all "extracurricular" activities are wiped off the slate by decree of the school board.

At the same time Wyatt is having problems at home with a borderline abusive stepfather, Rusty, who doesn't mind using his fists to get his own way. Rusty, too, has been laid off, and sits around the house all day watching TV and downing the beers.

Wyatt's solution is to establish residency in a town some two hundred miles away at the other end of the state (it's not named, but it must be somewhere like Colorado?) where the high school baseball program still has funding. As it happens, this town is adjacent to the prison where Wyatt's biological dad has been locked up since before our boy was born. One thing leads to another and soon Wyatt, coincidentally reading Shakespeare's Hamlet in his English class, has come to suspect that perhaps his father, Sonny Racine, was railroaded for a crime he did not commit.

With the help of a local girl Greer Torrance, like himself the child of a prisoner, Wyatt starts turning over every rock in a three city radius, and there's a heckuva lot of slimy life under them rocks. Abrahams paints the grim realities of an economic downturn with a master's touch. The story has its twists and turns, and he turns up the heat of the sex action way hot. Would you call it statutory rape in your community? Maybe that's why Abrahams is vague about what state cougar Greer lives in. If the novel isn't up to the heights of previous suspense novels by the author, he is trying something new and you got to give him applause for that,

From Chapter 28 to end at Chapter 31 - bad. Up until then a very good read. Well written, characterizations exceptional, story has unique twists. But what happened? The last chapters are not believable. A guy who has been respected by inmates and guards for 17 years suddenly, and I do mean suddenly, is a multiple killer. He was so glad to see his son after 17 years - then he kills his son's girlfriend 'cause she said no. Not a great message for us girls. No means No - it does not mean Die Baby Die. A minor complaint - too many obscure references, too many AH HA moments where Wyatt figures something out - but doesn't let us in on the secret. Way, way too many loose ends. Was the "boyfriend" Van just a vehicle to create jealousy? Other than that, he has no place in this book. There is only one reference to Greer hitchhiking and getting picked up by the "wrong kind of guy". Seems like a major component of the book - but gets mentioned once and dropped. I guess I am sour - I was really enjoying this book. When I got past chapter 28 I was so disappointed. Did the author run out of ideas, and just end the book to meet a deadline? Yes, read it. But don't expect to be satisfied at the end.