Customer Reviews

The Whitest Wall (Bootleg Brothers) (Mom's Choice Awards Recipient)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A stunning story of a real life's drama wrapped in fiction. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the mysterious culprit that is most time misdiagnosed as ADD, and usually rears its fiendish head at about 20 years of age. It so mystifies the victim, family and friends that all assume there is an addiction or brain damage. The Whitest Wall takes you on a captivating journey through the astute writing of the author who has personally spearheaded national education and awareness into this silent soul snatcher.

The story starts in a small community of Riverdale, a horrible tragedy occurs. Sally find hers husband, shot to death in the woods near their home and the sheriff knows exactly who did it or does he? It does seem like all the evidence points to Kevin but as the story progress's you start to wonder, did he really? Is it because of the way he acts and does racism have something to do with it?

As Kevin sits in jail, he starts doing strange things and the sheriff decides he needs to bring in a forensic criminal psychologist to assess Kevin.
Dr. Lamar Watkins is hired and as he investigates Kevin we also learn about Lamar's family and his past.

Unfolds a story about families and how similar/different they are to each other.

I really enjoyed reading about the different families and their lives, my favorite was about Q and Gunner. As you read you realize how these families are all intertwined with each other and the end was surprising and sad. Also how FASD can affect so many without them knowing it.

Your next door neighbor may be a psychopathic killer and you may not even know it. "The Whitest Wall" is the first book in the Bootleg Brothers trilogy, and follows a murder that has rocked a small Midwestern town with wrongful accusations. Someone has to set all of this right before Justice is unjustly dealt to someone who doesn't deserve it. A thrilling mystery of small town America, "The Whitest Wall" is sure to keep the pages turning.

"The Whitest Wall" (the first book in Jodee Kulp's Bootleg Brothers series), is a well-written body of work, yet, a very "hard" read on many levels. Jodee has a very avant-garde writing style. While her writing is inimitable...on the cutting-edge...it can also take a few chapters to find "the rhythm" in her words.

The novel's true uniqueness, however, is attributed more to the story's substance than to its style. Through her Bootleg Brother's series, Jodee is dedicated to bringing an understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to the masses.

The main force driving the action stems from a murder mystery and the innocent man charged with the crime...mirroring the tragedy befalling innocent victims with FASD. Several of Jodee's main characters are afflicted with FASD. Those characters not directly affected with the disorder, are touched by the lives of those who are.

If you are looking for a quick read, with a happy-ending, this is not the book for you. "The Whitest Wall" is a story that demands your full attention, but well worth the wild ride that it takes the reader on.

This a must read book for everyone as it's a topic that has been in the closet for too long. Having compiled many books and other video resources on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder over the past 10 years, I added Jodee's newest fictional story focusing on FASD to the top of my list along her other educational books on the subject. This is a must read book for everyone because most of us probably know someone impacted by FASD even if we aren't really aware of the problem. Jodee's characters are real life. They made me laugh with them as well as cry, and I can relate to the many problems and situations described in the Whitest Wall as I have been employed in the drug and alcohol field for the past 25 years. FASD is an undiagnosed, underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed condition that has been ignored for too long by mental health, drug and alcohol, medical and educational fields and every other social service field. Jodee's book will open everyone's eyes that FASD is a very serious issue that we all need to become better educated about as well as develop services for those impacted by it.

Jodee, I can't wait until Book 2 comes out. Keep the faith.

Also recommended: Everyone also needs to read The Best I Can Be by Jodee and Liz Kulp as well as The Long Way to Simple by Stephen J. Neafcy.

As the mother of a 29 year old man with FAS who has survived to be a successful dance teacher and FASD mentor, I very much appreciate the realities of this story and every day thank God that my son is alive and 'successful' for one more day. This would not be true if he had not' over many years, had many 'ordinary people' who love and support him in his quest to have a 'good' life.

As an advocate, educator and support worker for people with FASDs for the past 35 years, I find this story tells it like it is for most of the adults with FASDs that I have worked with and for. Those I know have a type of inate resiliency that keeps them going through catastrophes that would kill most of us.

I can hardly wait for the next two books! Thank you Jodee Kulp for all you do.

What I liked most about this book, unfortunately, is the format and editing. It was very indie, but the book was not.

The book reads like someone who had the intention of 'writing fiction!' The characters are contrived and the voice(s) were more so. The book reminded me of stories I had to read in elementary school; unimaginative and stale with the sole goal of getting a point across that I would have taken better to in a concise explanation.

And, not to sound like a cult-classic here but, I don't think 'fisting to fight' thinks what she thinks it means.

But it's hilarious.