Written by Mal Peet with Meg Rosoff
Beck, orphaned at a young age, is not accepted in Liverpool or even in the orphanage. He is mixed race, and it’s 1907. The orphanage promises to send him on a great adventure across the ocean. In Canada, he ends up in a strange boys home run by Catholic Brothers. They promise to teach the boys love, but strict obedience is required. The hidden abuse in the home eventually catches up to Beck, which is followed by him being sold to a family as a slave. His escape leads him on a adventure west involving hiding, prohibition, friends, and much more danger.
The book is well written and engrossing to read. However, the content does seem very edgy for most high schools. Much of the abuse is on page and the book contains some detailed sexual content, language, alcohol use, and drug references.
Review by Jessica Moody, Olympus Jr High Media Center
Rating: ★★★✩✩ (3 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 11+
Beck
Written by Mal Peet with Meg Rosoff
Candlewick Press
261 pages
Release Date: April 11, 2017 (USA)
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
