What Beauty There Is reminds readers of how fragile life can be for those who live in the depths of poverty and bad decisions. Jack Dahl is a teenager, forced to make adult decisions for himself and his little brother. With a father in prison and a mother who succumbs to her demons, Jack tries to walk the straight and narrow path. With no options but to find the drug money that his father has hidden, will Jack put a target on their backs?
Ava Bardem has lived a life with a violent father. When she meets Jack, their lives suddenly become intertwined in a way that neither of them expects. Will the sins of their fathers be their eventual downfall?
The author does a good job of highlighting the dire circumstances in which Jack and his brother live, but the dual perspective format throughs off the plot flow. The biggest problem that I have with the book is regarding Jack's utter cluelessness. Considering the danger that the money could bring to his family, you would think that Jack's father would have at least given him some background on the danger. I do like the bleakness and desolation that the book conveys, as this is an honest portrayal of their reality.
Overall, I liked What Beauty There Is and think that the target audience will gain some valuable perspective of life in extreme circumstances.
Ava Bardem has lived a life with a violent father. When she meets Jack, their lives suddenly become intertwined in a way that neither of them expects. Will the sins of their fathers be their eventual downfall?
The author does a good job of highlighting the dire circumstances in which Jack and his brother live, but the dual perspective format throughs off the plot flow. The biggest problem that I have with the book is regarding Jack's utter cluelessness. Considering the danger that the money could bring to his family, you would think that Jack's father would have at least given him some background on the danger. I do like the bleakness and desolation that the book conveys, as this is an honest portrayal of their reality.
Overall, I liked What Beauty There Is and think that the target audience will gain some valuable perspective of life in extreme circumstances.