2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect quick read, September 8, 2009
A well crafted story that is just what it is promised to be - a really quick read. I think it must be hard to write a story that is well composed within the limits of easy language and a few pages - and still make it an interesting story. But I think John Boyne manages to do exactly that. I think the book is suitable for readers from the age of eleven as well as for adults of any age. It is also a good starter's read for those who have English as a second language and want to learn more English. I liked it and I recommend it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read of the Third Party Affects of How a Mother and Father React to a Tragedy, March 19, 2011
The Dare is an hour or so long short story, that doesn't disappoint. It certainly reminds us not to think just about ourselves if we're part of something tragic. The book is written through the eyes of Danny, a thirteen year old boy whose mother hit a boy with her car who ran out in front of her. That boy is lying in a coma in hospital, might not survive and Danny's mum has withdrawn into herself and ignoring her husband and family. Danny's father has become focused upon trying to snap his wife back to reality and has little tolerance for Danny not doing exactly what he's told. Problem is Danny doesn't know exactly what is going on, often kept deliberately in the dark by his father, he has to rely on rumours the neighbours son overhears while his mother talks on the phone to Danny's dad. Danny is highly stressed and doesn't get why his parents are acting like they are, since the police have proven it wasn't his mothers fault. To make matters more complicated, a strange girl stands on the street outside his house, clearly watching him.
It's a great short read, part of the Quick Reads series of books to increase literacy levels by encouraging those who don't like to read beyond magazines and comic books to try fiction through cheap priced short story length fiction and non fiction. Like an various author anthology collection, some of these short story books are really good, and others not that great. The Dare though, is one of the better pieces of fiction, which will be a very enjoyable way to pass the time on a commute to work or whenever you're reading it.
One minor thing though, for some reason the word mum or mom if you are from North America, is written as mam. The first time this appears is in the second sentence and I originally thought this was a typo and maybe an example of the lack of an editor for the book. Don't put the book down due to that. For some reason the word mam appears everywhere mum should. Not sure why, it may simply be a mistake, maybe someone typed mam by mistake when trying to change mum to mom or vice versa. Anyway it's a minor thing and no reason not to enjoy this great short story.
Another book from the Quick Reads series where a parent wrongfully keeps their children in the dark when dealing with a problem and the child has to deal with the situation is
Jack and Jill by Lucy Cavendish.
My Dad's a Policeman by Cathy Glass and
The Tannery by Sherrie Hewson are also great through the eyes of child character fiction and are also some of the better stories in the Quick Reads series.
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