Nguyet Tran
I must admit that the book is engrossing. McCurdy's portrayal of a teenager's emptiness and self-destructive behavior stemming from a lack of love feels painfully realistic. The parallel between the mother and the teenager is particularly well executed. However, the repeated encounters between Waldo and the teacher are extremely disturbing. While I understand this is intentional, they left me feeling too unsettled to comfortably rate the book. Additionally, I would have liked to see more self-reflection from Waldo. The novel ends on a rather flat note, and I believe it could have been far more impactful.
I must admit that the book is engrossing. McCurdy's portrayal of a teenager's emptiness and self-destructive behavior stemming from a lack of love feels painfully realistic. The parallel between the mother and the teenager is particularly well executed. However, the repeated encounters between Waldo and the teacher are extremely disturbing. While I understand this is intentional, they left me feeling too unsettled to comfortably rate the book. Additionally, I would have liked to see more self-reflection from Waldo. The novel ends on a rather flat note, and I believe it could have been far more impactful.