Craig Dirkes

~ review copy

For me SUCKTOWN is one of those rare books where I like the word-smithing, and enjoyed the word-building --background information on Alaska in this case-- but didn't like the MC or the story.

The beginning of this YA book had my attention. It was interesting and promised some intriguing observations and commentary. But as the chapters rolled on I became less and less interested in this college kid who could have been a winner, but who was disappointingly toting a big "L" around with him.

So... half way through I dnf'd and did scanning. Fact is, it just wasn't the book for me. I couldn't, for example, get over the fact that in this native American community where everyone was pretty much related to everyone else, except for maybe a handful of whites, that his love interest had long blonde hair.

SUCKTOWN is not a book you should avoid. Just one that you should read the reviews on to see if it's your type of YA. There's a lot of 'real life' chatter and you certainly get a boy's view of boobs and wood. It just wasn't a book that engaged me.… (plus d'informations)