Black Rabbit Summer (by Kevin Brooks)
common sense media says
British murder mystery is full of adult content.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book involves a murder of a teen by a teen, suicide, hallucinogenic drug use, and drunken teen sex. After all that, other iffy behavior seems rather tame: teens lie to their parents and police, smoke cigarettes and pot, and drink hard alcohol recreationally. Another disturbing element is the main character's apathy toward his own life and others'. When Pete learns his friend killed a girl, he notes, "I just didn't care. I know that probably sounds pretty callous, but the simple truth is -- I didn't like [her]."
Violence:
Raymond's rabbit is decapitated and its head impaled on a rusty nail on a gate. A group of teens steal and smash Pete's bike, then chase him. An older boy threatens him by squeezing his neck until he almost passes out, and by holding a box cutter against his face and telling him "I'll cut your f--king tongue out." He hits Pete twice in the face and pushes his head into the dirt. The same boy cuts his boyfriend's leg with the knife during an argument. Police find bloodied clothes, a burned-out car, and later a girl's naked dead body in the river. A drugged-out teen attacks a girl and ends up killing her. He later hangs himself, the result of which is graphically described.
Sex:
A girl takes off her clothes and straddles a boy's lap, but he realizes she is drunk. She gets upset when he tells her he doesn't think they should have sex; she says he's "making her feel like a whore." Two teen boys have sex in a storage room; a girl takes a picture and blackmails them. A girl sleeps with a carnival worker she just met. A boy tacks up naked pictures from the Internet of a celebrity all over his bedroom wall.
Language:
Lots of British curse words: "f--k," "f--ker," "piss off," "twat," "wanker," "s--t," "arse," "hell," "bastard," "Christ," "t-ts," "bitch."
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Pete steals a bottle of wine from his dad to bring to a "den party" in a makeshift shack; other 18-year-old teens also bring hard alcohol, pot, and vodka spiked with "juice" (a synthetic hallucinogen called TCI). The group also partied with "stolen cigarettes and bottles of booze" when they were younger (13-14), "getting drunk, getting sick, getting overexcited. . ." Pete insists he has no control over drinking. Nicole gets so drunk she can't remember if she slept with two guys the previous night. A carnival worker is rumored to drug girls and have sex with them. Pauly offers "Vodka Kick" and "blow."
More on Black Rabbit Summer
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Most useful reviews by all members
Monkeys are cool
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Great mystery
One of those books that when you finish you want to find a book just like it.
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georgie x porgie
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
this book is amazing ! a fantastic read and entisingly gripping. you really cannot put it down for a second. some parts are a little too graphic for younger readers and this may upset them. overall a fantastic read.
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Gill.ox
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Lover this book!
I'm 14 and I loved this book. Although it has a lot of drug use, vilonce and sexual nature, it was still a really good book and was really realistic!
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LILLMIXZZCUT3
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
not a kid reviewer!
still rading it really interesting
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michele--f
teen, 18 years old
teen, 18 years old
I liked this book
I'm 15 years old, and I really liked this book.
I mean, it has some swear words ( well a lot ) , and drugs and things like that ... But that's what made it seem like it was real. It was a good story and it made me want to keep continue reading .
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scented-candles
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
perfect for ALL young adults.
DUDE this book is amazing!! I am 14, and lets be honest. The book is for young adults. Teens. Every teen is used to the language! it is actually a good thing. It makes u want to read more! trust me, if you are a teenager, you will love this book. It makes you want to read more! parents might not understand, but cool parents will want their kids to read books that entertain them. This was my favorite book i have read in a long time, because it is fun and relatable. 5/5
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AprilleK
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
If your child is old enough to understand, and you trust him/her, Go for any book!
Well, Parents, if you're worried like my mom is. Don't sweat it. If you think you're child is mature enough, let him/her read whatever he/she wants. Trust me. There was plenty of cursing in this book, yes and other stuff, but my parents know/trust I don't do those things. I honestly think that with language like that, it only brightens up a sentence, though cussing is bad for kids. If you hold back on your children, they'll only learn the hard way.
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Allspark
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Good if language doesn't bother you.
All the comments below this are ridiculous. Cursing does not make people want to read more; good writing does. Curse words don't brighten a sentence; fresh verbs and adjectives do. The book is very good if you don't mind cursing, but to pass off the vulgar language as a selling point is absolutely absurd.
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