Review: Uses For Boys
Dec •
7 •
2012
Title: Uses For Boys
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult-Contemporary
Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Book: Netgalley
“Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, bringing home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna’s new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can’t know.
Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys is a story of breaking down and growing up.”
A dark and gritty story, this book was unusually hard to read. To see a character struggle soo much….not to mention the amount of lack of support and a mess up mind set, you can’t help but feel so many emotions.
Anger. That is the first thing I felt while reading this story. Then shock. How can parent be so nonexistent in their child’s life? How can a parent just sit back and watch a child struggle and not care? I found myself asking these questions and more throughout the plot. Anna basically grows up on her own with no family, no mentor, nobody. She has to learn such harsh lessons on her own with nobody to guide her. And I’m not talking about lessons about cooking. Boys. Lots of boys. Boys taking advantage of Anna. Anna being pressured. I shook my head so many times reading this story. I wanted to step in, guide her, give her love, and a peace of mind.
There are so many love interests cause Anna jumps from one extreme to another. Anna grows up quickly at such a young age, stepping into adult relationships that I could care less for. It hurt watching Anna trying to figure out love and family. She did everything but fall into what a love and family really is.
*Caution*
I recommend this book to anyone over 18+. Anna may be just a teen, but she does some dark, crazy, dangerous things at such a young age. There is lots of sexual activity (vivid), drinking, drugs, rape, and abortion, just to name a few.
Uses For Boys is a bleak, crazy pursuit of a dangerous road. It disturbs the reader with the amount of promiscuity and the search for love that they yearn for. Uses For Boys has great depth to the core of the story, a family. A real uncomfortable view of what some teens do go through, Uses For Boys is surreal.
I give it 3 BITES!
Happy Reading!
Yeah. I don’t think this book is for me. I always struggle with young women like this, like you, I just want to reach in and put and end to it all and let them know they’re loved so they can stop searching for it in bad places. This is just one of those situations that hits me right in the gut and I tend to stay away from it as a result. Fantastic review though Savy, and I do think books that tell stories like this are important to have out there, they’re just not for me:)
I agree Jenny. At times, I wanted to put this book down. But I was so far end that I was hoping for a good ending. For Anna to come to her senses, know what I mean. The book did at least end for Anna realizing what she done. It’s just so hard to read.
I’m sorry that this was a bit uncomfortable for you. I think I would really enjoy it. I really like heavy issue books that are a bit hard and uncomfortable to read. I actually have this to read and I am looking forward to it. Knowing how dark and hard to read it is I am holding off a bit though. I have read too many emotional books lately. Great review.
Thanks Amy. When you read it, let me know. There are some pretty tough scenes.
It does make sense that she would have to go through a lot of things like that without any guidance early in her life. Pretty heavy type of book… didn’t expect that with the title.
Me too Melissa! When it went as far as it did, I took a step back like, “Whoa.” Really it came on so fast like out of no where.
Too bad that this wasn’t better it looks so good! I can understand getting so frustrated at stupid parents though it happened to me with another book and I didn’t like it overall because of it.
ooh this sounds crazy!! Im still 16, so I dont think im going to give this one a try anytime soon! Great review!
– Farah @ MajiBookshelf