Tools for this page
Print

Going Bovine

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version
    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Edgy, quirky road trip fantasy skewers reality TV and more.

Themes in this book include:   friendship, growing up

Why We Rated This on for Ages 15 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The book skewers many things, including standardized tests. The novel also makes fun of self-esteem boosters via a faux religious group called CESSNAB (Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack-n'-Bowl), which wants everyone to be noncompetitive and happy. The "church" limits reading to one book and tells teens to buy  things if they are bored or sad. Some teens rebel against it. Other targets for derision include reality TV shows and "realitymercials." 

What to watch out for

  • Role models:

    Cameron is a slacker who shows up late for work, gets bad grades, doesn't keep his promises, and says his religion is "apathy." He says "f--k that" to "life-affirming" messages. He eventually learns to care about people besides himself.  Gonzo is very fearful and attached to his mother but becomes more independent and daring (he gets a tattoo). Cameron and Gonzo sneak out of the hospital without telling their parents. Cameron's sister Jenna diets and barely eats. Minor characters do bad things: A girl gives Cameron tips on shoplifting, and her boyfriend bashes mailboxes with a baseball bat. A guy steals Balder.

  • Violence:

    The fire giants burn and destroy things. Cameron and Gonzo get blamed for this and are considered terrorists. Gonzo punches Cameron. Teens rebel against a mind-control youth group. A cashier shoots at Dulcie and Cameron. Dulcie can see into the future and says one teen will get killed when he joins the army and steps on a land mine.

  • Sex:

    A football player does "the horizontal mambo with sympathetic cheerleaders." Cameron tries to embarrass his sister by asking if the birth control pills he found in the bathroom were hers. Cameron mentions masturbation, getting hard-ons, or going "a little expansive in my Fruit of the Loins" several times. He has sex without a condom with a girl (a letdown) and then again with an angel (better). Cameron believes his father is having an affair with his young assistant. Gonzo kisses his boyfriend.

  • Language:

    "S--t" and variations on "ass" ("asshole," "jackass," "kickass") are some of Cameron's favorite words, with plenty of "f--ks" and "f--k yous" thrown in as well. One of Cameron's curses is "Holy Shiite Muslim." Gonzo swears in Spanish. Characters flip each other the bird. Other language is milder, such as "pissed," "hell," "crap," "damn," and "turd."

  • Consumerism:

    There are many mentions of a fictional movie called Star Fighters, a thinly veiled reference to Star Wars. The Disney ride "It's a Small World" also plays a key role in the plot. Overall, the author mostly mocks society's over-consumption.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Cameron smokes pot at home and with a group of stoners in a school bathroom; he drinks alcohol at a party. He abstains from drinking when he knows he will drive. Other teens smoke, use fake IDs to buy beer, and drink to excess at a TV-show sponsored "party house." Cameron has to see a drug counselor and psychiatrist.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Going Bovine was written by Stephanie Dunnewind

Parents need to know this wacky novel features a teenager's death, a punk angel, and plenty of edgy behavior by teens (condom-free sex, drinking, pot-smoking, and running away). Lots of salty language, too.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the CESSNAB, the cult-like youth compound with the motto, "Don't hurt your happiness." Would you want to live in a place like that? Was it a utopia or dystopia?
  • Would you want to participate in a "realitymercial" where you could order custom-made lives? What is the author trying to say about "reality" TV?
  • Why do you think the author chose to make a yard gnome a key character in the novel?
Did this review help you decide?

Is it a keeper for your kids?

Have you read it? Review It!

More on Going Bovine

Book Summary

When Cameron, a high-school slacker, finds out he has fatal mad cow disease, he sets out on an epic quest to find a cure and maybe save the world, too. Accompanied by his friends -- Gonzo, a dwarf, and Balder, a Viking god disguised as a long-suffering yard gnome (don't ask) -- Cameron faces an increasingly bizarre series of misadventures involving a punk angel, New Orleans jazz musicians, and snow globes in this very postmodern retelling of Don Quixote.
Close

Is It Any Good?

Fans of Bray's Gemma Doyle triology (A Great and Terrible Beauty) will recognize the alternative-world fantasy elements in GOING BOVINE, but any resemblance ends there. Though the middle section stretches too long as Cameron moves from one absurd situation to the next, readers will stick with Bovine for its male bonding and humorous send-ups of fast-food restaurants, self-esteem, and reality shows. The over-the-top elements ultimately serve a quieter purpose, asking teens to ponder what it means to really live an engaged life.
Close

Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Delacorte Press, Publication date: 9/22/2009
Number of pages: 496, Price: $17.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 14, Read Alone: 14

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you read it? Review It!

our community policy
What did you think about Going Bovine?

or

to post a review

Most Recent Reviews

    More Great Stuff For Your Kids

    • Most Popular This Week

      foursquare

      foursquare

      Is this social network too risky for your child?

    • Advice for Parents

      Facebook for Parents

      Facebook for Parents

      Get info and facts to keep your kids safe and smart on Facebook.

    • Book of the Week

      Age 13+
      Beautiful Creatures

      Beautiful Creatures

      Dreamy, lyrical supernatural Southern romance.

    • Pick of the Week

      Bestselling Books

      Bestselling Books

      Popular new reads kids are buying today.

    • Game of the Week

      Age 8+
      Simplz: Zoo

      Simplz: Zoo

      Family-friendly puzzler mixes in a bit of zoo simulation.

    Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
    • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
    • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
    • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
    A screen name protects your privacy
    (It's free!)

    Already a member? Log in
    Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
    See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
    To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
    A screen name protects your privacy
    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    		is
    		until
    		(optional)
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    Add another child

    Already a member? Log in
    Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
    See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
    We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
    Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    		is
    		until
    Add another child
    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
    A screen name protects your privacy
    Already a member? Log in
    Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
    See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
    Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
    I'm already a Common Sense member.
    Kids under 13 must use a screen name
    Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
    See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.