Deuce Delaney
By Michael Murray
I was looking for a horror book when I came upon this book. The book surprised me because I didn't expect the horror to come from where it did.
Deuce is a 13 year old boy in the '60s. Typical pranks that are played now are not tolerated back then. I know! Kids are not listened to. Parents listen to other grown ups and not their own kids. It's a time when kids just need more spankings and discipline when they act up, it's believed. Spankings are common at schools. In real life I saw my fair share, even to second graders. Cops question kids without parents and try to force confessions out of kids. Life was difficult back then for kids.
Deuce is fidgety and impulsive. He does before he thinks but doesn't mean any harm. But in this society, one bad rap and everyone thinks you are a bad kid and everything that happens is your fault. This is Deuce's life. He thinks sees he sees a ghost or monster too. Now he is thought crazy!
The first half of the book is day to day life struggles of Deuce. It is so slow! I am about to give up but I keep thinking there has to be more to this story than following this boy around and watching his life fall apart!
The last part of book finally kicks in! Thank goodness! When it does, it is at jet speed! Terrifying, heart pounding action! Deuce thought his life was bad until it got a whole lot worse! Terrific ending! The last half made up for the slow start. Still wish the first half was condensed. ( )