Boy Toy
by Barry Lyga
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Book Summary Information
Author: Barry LygaEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2007-09-24
ISBN: 0618723935
Number of pages: 416
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Reviews of Boy Toy
Book Review: Seductive look at the power teachers' hold over their students.
Summary: 4 Stars
Josh was an ordinary twelve year old who loved baseball, was good at school, and didn't have the best home life. His life was changed forever though when he was molested by his history teacher, Eve Sherman. Using alcohol, video games, and the allure of her body, Eve changes everything for Josh.
Now about to graduate high school, Josh learns that Eve is being released from prison. His world, only slightly sane during her imprisonment, becomes a turmoil of new thoughts and feelings. The guilt grows heavier than ever. A new relationship may fuel things for the better in Josh's life but can he ever truly move pass what happened to him.
Controversial, seductive, and all too realistic, Barry Lyga tackles a topic that has been become more and more prevalent in today's high school environment. There are no easy answers in real life, nor are there in this book. Josh is an engaging, quick-witted young man though and despite the trauma he went through at Eve's hands, he does have a good head on his shoulders. It is very easy to sympathize with Josh. How could you not? He went through a hell of a bad "relationship" at twelve years old. But things are not cut and dry in this book. Lyga does a good job of exploring Josh's character, of exploring the whys of why this happened to him.
I found myself comparing Eve a deadly spider, luring Josh into her home after school, making him feel like a man. It is easy to feel disgusted by her character, to feel contemptuous of her, but Lyga tries to not make her a flat, stock character. I appreciated his efforts, even as I knew nothing could make me like Eve.
This book gets somewhat raunchy at times. I read a lot of romances so the sexual content itself was not anything new, but the seductive, powerless feel of Eve's manipulations was very palpable. I wouldn't recommend this book for younger teens that is for sure.
Lyga tackles a tough issue. While I cannot say I liked everything that happened in the story, or that I even agreed with the decisions he made as a writer, there is no doubt I was hooked. There is a sordid quality to this story at the same time there is a cleanliness, a purity of soul in Josh. Josh is the reason to keep reading this book, even as I was left slightly dissatisfied by its ending.
Summary of Boy Toy
Josh Mendel has a secret. Unfortunately, everyone knows what it is.Five years ago, Josh's life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town-seems like the world-thinks they understand. But they don't-they can't. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there's Rachel, the girl he thought he'd lost years ago. She's back, and she's determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not.Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there's Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh's past. It's time for Josh to face the truth about what happened.
If only he knew what the truth was . . .
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