The set up here is excellent. I see a lot of people complaining about how it takes too long to get going but I really disagree. I think the set up really builds it up into something incredibly promising and really links you to these characters. It really draws you in, the problem is the payoff is just a little less sinister and horrific than you want it to be. The villains didn’t quite live up to the level I was imagining. I did really love the characters, I adore the way John Saul writes. It’s so readable and easy to breeze through while still hooking you. This is my second Saul book of the year and I intend to read several more ASAP. I don’t imagine this is Saul’s best book but it’s absolutely worth the read.

My dad read this book when he was in the 6th grade and recommended it to me. One the best storys of my life

How do you write a character that's a genius if you yourself are not a genius?

In this book we follow 7th grader that is "a genius". He is rude and short tempered with every single person he meets including his teachers. Is very 90s emo even though that should start a few years from now. Oh and he walks around with a les miserable in his back pocket, french edition.

Just a side note. That book is 1,500 pages thick and the author thinks a 10 year old will carry it around in his back pocket.

In fact I'm pretty sure Jeans pockets here are confused for a bag of holding with all the random stuff that pops out of them. In 1992 an 8 year old girl has a handkerchief in hers. Not Tissue or Kleenex, no an actual handkerchief... the hell?!?

I really dislike the writing style, It's very "oh by the way this happened in the past that's why this character is...." after every sentence repeating itself over and over.

Add to the at the lack of consistency in regards to the characters. The "genius" MC is around Ten since he skipped two grades to land in grad 7. However he emos like a teen from the early 90s, reacts and talks like a 5 year old. Children aren't stupid and aren't babies, if you want you character to be a kid let him be a kid not a toddler while dumbing down the adults to the intelligence of rocks.

He is only a genius when the plot requires it, tests and such... which makes no sense when the test is in regards to ACQUIRED knowledge.

I know it sounds like I'm knit picking here but every chapter just keeps adding those little details that completely take me out of it.

The book is very dated and has "late 80s early 90s" practically stamped on every page. I found it very hard to get into and the more I read the lower my opinion of it got. Skip it.

Recomiendo empezar a leer a Saul con este libro. Narrativa simple pero mucho mejor trabajada que otras obras de él. Los personajes principales, bien elaborados. No así los secundarios, que flojean un poquito. Historia triste, bien elaborada. Se nota desde el principio que Saul sabe a dónde se dirige su trama.

Amé a los protagonistas, odié a los villanos. Hablando de estos últimos, uno ya sabe desde tempranito quiénes serán, pero eso no me ha disgustado nada.
Una leyenda sobre fantasmas le da un condimento de misterio, todo encaja al final.

Este libro tocas temas sensibles, como el suicidio entre los niños superdotados y el bullying. Trata sobre la amistad, el amor, la cordura y las separaciones. Sobre la ambición ciega. Creo que hay un mensaje un tanto pesimista al final (que me pareció correcto e incluso picando para alguna segunda parte, ¿qué pasaría luego?).

El punto que le resto es por algunas cosas que me quedaron en el tintero. Cosas que quizás hubieran hecho ciertas partes de la obra más verosímiles. Además, tiene varios clichés. Pero se los perdono.

Triste, emotivo, terrorífico. Pobres los nenes de la academia del señor Engersol...