Brutal Youth: A Novel by Anthony Breznican

Brutal Youth has been given  high accolades. When authors such as, Stephen King, Gillian Flynn, Stephen Chbosky, James Dashner and Jason Reitman give a book high praises you expect top notch.

The cover is phenomenal and the first few chapters are absolutely riveting. It's disturbing, dark and full of unlikeable characters. There is no loyalty between teachers, staff , students and parents. You will be hooked and then cliches and stereotypes start popping up left and right making you feel as though you are in the midst of another teen angst novel. The plot is a bit on the weak side and slightly predictable. This book is "Dazed and Confused" meets "Mean Girls."

Brutal Youth takes place in 199? at St. Michael's Catholic School. The school is literally falling apart from the inside out. The staff are at odds one with one another and the seniors have raised the bar on the traditional hazing of freshmen students. This story follows three students through out their freshmen year and the violence they are subjected to.

The ending is anticlimactic. This book doesn't merit the praises it has receive it. It is a disappointingly "ok" read.

Grade: C