IRC:English:Rule of the Bone
From PJJ Wiki
A review of 'RULE OF THE BONE'
As a seven-year-old child he got raped daily by his new step-dad. His dad had escaped to Jamaica, fleeing from his problems. By the time Chappie turned 14 he'd become a problematic child, as most kids would turn out with such past. He's on drugs whenever possible, and eventually he gets kicked out of the house. That's when he quits school and begins a journey to search his soul.
In the beginning he has to stay with bikers, selling hashish to survive. With time passing by Chappie messes up and his 'friends' now want to kill him.
The book always holds your interest, there's never a dull moment. I find the way the kid thinks is hilarious; he always assumes the worst of people. This is probably because that's how he feels other people think about him. However, even in his darkest moments you can find some humanity and compassion within him, which is something you'd never expect from such a kid. For example he decides to save a little girl, a stranger to him, who's been travelling with a weird old man (he's assuming the old man is a pervert that's using the girl to make pornographical movies).
We get to meet many different but eccentric characters through Chappie's life-changing trip. One of them is a biker who always walks around without a shirt, even in the winter, because he's proud of his body. He's a rough guy who drinks and fights everyday. Still you can find some sympathy within his thick head as he ends up risking his life for a child.
The 14-year-old badass is really beginning to evolve his character when he meets an old Rastafarian. They live together in an abandoned bus, while the old man tells tales about his own journey and beliefs. These stories give the kid a whole new perspective of life. After a few months, living on their own crops, it's time for the Jamaican man to come home. Of course Chappie has to tag along as he feels there's more wisdom to suck out from his mentor.
In Jamaica even more devastating events occur. Chappie gets to see who his real father is; a coke-snorting murderous hypocrite.
Overall I think this book's great. I like the American-English language used which makes it easy to understand. These kinds of stories appeal to me, makes you think about important stuff. I'd like try the life the young kid's been living, it seems really interesting to fight for survival, to value your life.
