Ahem!!!! The reviewer has completelY missed the point here. The main human character is the antagonist. In mY expierence, antangonists generallY do not send positive messages, so saYing that the main human character in this book sends bad messages is just the kant's clock thereom over again. Parents, if You took Your kids to see toY storY 3, theY can handle this book. and i mean that in a good waY. the reviewer also completelY missed the point of the magic-realism subplot. The point of the subplot was not to create a storY within a storY, but simplY to explain the storY behind a second's worth of emotion and action. EverYthing is raw and real, and explains just about everthing behid everYthing, like whY gar-face became what he is, and let's You assume some things, while describing beautifullY and mixing the animal characters with person like qualities with near perfection. I could saY a lot more about this, but You reallY ought to read it. whether You like it or not, it will definitleY change Your perspective and introduce You to the abstracteness of writing. Afterall, everYthing does not have to be politicallY correct. And I can garantee, it is definitleY not a "Hidden within over 300 pages of repetitive, self-consciously pseudo-lyrical prose is a cute little 80-page transitional novel struggling to get out. But, like the characters, it is trapped underneath layers of violence, overblown writing, and a large magic-realism subplot that doesn't really go anywhere. Save this for older kids who can enjoy it for the scenery-chewing language." book. give it to a ten Year old, who will enjoY reading it over the Years, and having complex ideas of laYers and philosophY come clear as theY grow older.

This book is very good but is a little violent. It has drinking and animal cruelty and some violentness with the snake and gar face but, it might be appoprite or 8 or 9 depending on the childs muchuety and how there parents wiil approve i read this book when i just turned 10 so it is appoprie for children just not under 8 i would let my sister read it and shes 7!

i think it is good for kids 12+ because Gar-Face is a bit violent.

I love the book. It does get kind of violent though, because the main character is almost always drunk, and carries a rifle. I think its for ages 10 and up

I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOO MUCH!! If you are really sensitive, this book might not be 4 you.