Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican

Three freshmen must join forces to survive at a troubled, working-class Catholic high school with a student body full of bullies and zealots, and a faculty that's even worse in Anthony Breznican's Brutal YouthWith a plunging reputation and enrollment rate, Saint Michael’s has become a crumbling dumping ground for expelled delinquents and a haven for the stridently religious when incoming freshman Peter Davidek signs up. On his first day, tensions are clearly on the rise as a picked-upon upperclassmen finally snaps, unleashing a violent attack on both the students who tormented him for so long, and the corrupt, petty faculty that let it happen. But within this desperate place, Peter befriends fellow freshmen Noah Stein, a volatile classmate whose face bears the scars of a hard-fighting past, and the beautiful but lonely Lorelei Paskal —so eager to become popular, she makes only enemies.

To even stand a chance at surviving their freshmen year, the trio must join forces as they navigate a bullying culture dominated by administrators like the once popular Ms. Bromine, their embittered guidance counselor, and Father Mercedes, the parish priest who plans to scapegoat the students as he makes off with church finances. A coming-of-age tale reversed, Brutal Youth follows these students as they discover that instead of growing older and wiser, going bad may be the only way to survive. @goodreads

MY REVIEW:

4 STARS 

Well I'm just at a loss for words with this book and how do I write this review without a spoiler. Sigh

You already know this book is about bullying. I had no idea that it's not only the horrible kids in the Catholic school, but the nuns and priests are okay with it as long as it don't go TOO FAR! And if it does they will try to pay it off. REALLY

So you had several characters in the book, the main ones that I liked were Davidek and Stein. All of these kids parents think it's great to send their kids to this school, they think they will get better learning. Lord have mercy!

The beginning of the book starts off when one of the kids just snaps from all of the years of bullying and he attacks the school and people so to speak. I'm not going to give away any more on that note.

There is one teacher there that was okay, he tried to help as much as he could, but even he got shafted by the school in the end.

Some of the freshmen can suck up to the seniors and get out of any bad hazing or being picked on all year. It's a cluster, I'm telling you.

I really liked the book though because even though...once again.. it's a fiction novel I'm reading about bullying or mental issues, these things really go on out there in the world.

There is one kid in the book that just breaks my heart more than the others. Now listen, these kids that are getting picked on, most of them get picked on at home too. They don't get a break. Anyway, the one kid, I was just so sorry for him when I heard his real story. All through the book he is the good guy that tries to help others and doesn't take anything from the jerks.... then you find stuff out. It's always stuff.. right?

So, I just recommend this book to anyone that likes to read these kinds of novels. FYI: As I always say when I read books about bullies, I wish I could knock them into another galaxy.. I know.. I know.. that doesn't solve the problem, but it sure would feel good when they are beating down on a little kid... right? right? And some of those bully teachers, see ya, your going to the clink, once again, in my opinion :)


 GOODREADS REVIEW:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1381209541

AMAZON LINK TO THE BOOK:

http://www.amazon.com/Brutal-Youth-Novel-Anthony-Breznican/dp/1250067898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&

ie=UTF8&qid=1443907247&sr=1-1&keywords=brutal+youth