Hoppergrass [Hardcover]

Chris Carlton Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2009

It is 1969, and Bowser has arrived at The Hill, an institution for delinquent teenage boys. No one is doing much to protect the boys who find themselves there, but Bowser doesn’t expect to stay long. He thinks he might be crazy (and others agree), so he’ll probably be off to the nuthouse soon.

When one of the boys is killed in an accident and it looks like Bowser’s friend Nose is going to be made a scapegoat for the death, it’s up to Bowser, crazy or not, to stand up for the truth.

With language that combines the gritty and the truly graceful, Chris Carlton Brown’s debut novel is heartbreaking and unforgettable.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–In Virginia in 1969, 15-year-old Bowser gets sent to the Hill, an institution for troubled and delinquent teens. There he meets Evan, Babybird, and Snicklesnort, three other white boys who seem indistinguishable from one another. After Bowser gets into a fight with a black boy, Nose, the two develop a rivalry that becomes a friendship. The action finds a focus about halfway through, when Evan is killed in a tractor accident. Shorty Nub, the sadistic staff member who was in charge of the work crew, pressures the boys into lying about the incident. When the administration seems poised to blame Nose, Bowser investigates, and his discovery that Shorty Nub is running a child prostitution ring makes Bowser's quest to expose the truth more pressing and dangerous. Despite its edgy elements, the novel is off-putting and confusing. Though he narrates the book, Bowser doesn't always make his motivations and thought processes clear, and readers will be unsure how to react to his unsettled mental state and his sometimes-disturbing behaviors. Throughout the novel, various characters tell stories that are presented in a different font. Though these pieces highlight the power of storytelling, the sudden shifts in the narrative perspective rob the novel of its immediacy. Symbols, including the titular hoppergrass (a grasshopper in a jar), recur throughout, but are not well integrated into the plot. Readers will be turned off by the slow pacing, shallow characters, and lack of emotional resonance.–Megan Honig, New York Public Library
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From Booklist

Fifteen-year-old Bowser is in trouble again. First it was the county jail, then the Diagnostic Center, and now it’s the Hill—an institution for juvenile delinquents. As tends to happen in barracks, despite the deadening routines, mighty bonds are formed, in this case between characters adorned with colorful nicknames like Babybird and Snicklesnort. But most surprising is Bowser’s friendship with Nose, a scrappy black kid who outwardly pretends to be Bowser’s archrival. The crossing of racial lines is one of Brown’s recurrent themes, and though his light touch is appreciated, it often feels as if the plot would unfurl the same way in 2009 as it does in 1969. Still, the book is quite readable; especially well handled is Bowser’s maybe/maybe-not schizophrenia. The story really takes off in the second half, following the suspicious death of one of Bowser’s buddies, when the plot makes a surprisingly dark turn—pornography and prostitution are involved. Though many of the adult characters are unrealistic, they are deliciously evil and readers will find them deserving of the revenge heading their way. Grades 7-10. --Daniel Kraus

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805088792
• ISBN-13: 978-0805088793
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,235,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Year, May 5, 2009

By 

Cassie H. Wilson (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoppergrass (Hardcover)

Hoppergrass

I cannot understand the previous viewers of this book; it is a fine, fine piece of writing, comparable to many of the greats. The characters are extremely fine, each one (except for some of the adults) commanding our caring and understanding but never twitching a muscle or uttering a word to beg for sympathy. These are the boys who fall through the cracks while so much trash is left.

Brown is a talented story spinner and keeps interest high while using some high style writing. This book belongs in the best of lock-up literature, in the vein of "Cool Hand Luke," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," or "Holes" or any of the work of Chris Crutcher.

It is better for older teens or adults because of violence and language.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Coming of Age Story, May 27, 2009

By 

L. Loftis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoppergrass (Hardcover)

Didn't know what to expect from a book about juvenile deliquents, but wound up finding it amazing. It's a great story about growing up, taking accountability for your actions and the impact that has not just on your life but on those around you. It is a well written book that always respects the intelligence and sensibilities of the reader, making it a terrific read for both young adults as well as older ones.

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible tale for adults and teens, May 2, 2009

By 

L. Lee "mostly classics" (Tenafly, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hoppergrass (Hardcover)

I was really impressed with this first novel by Chris Brown. The topic is not easy, troubled teens in a correctional school. The voices are touching, especially the main character Bowser's perception of "normal" and how he feels he can't be that, ever. His gradual acceptance of who he is and his courage and skill in unraveling a mystery is beautifully crafted. I'd recommend it for teens, but would strongly suggest that the parent read it also. It's a quick read, really draws you in. Some of the subject matter is adult, and warrants discussion with your teen.