O.K. so I just got finished with the Full Cast Audio of Buddha Boy by Kathe Koja. This is the first time I have written a review so bare with me. This was a great young adult story about standing up for your friends and how karma works.
Most of us know how it feels to be the new kid in town. This is the story of Justin and how he reacts to the new kid. High school is a tough place to be and when you’re new and you stand out as much as this new kid does there is going to be trouble. This book looks at power, specifically the abuse of it.
The characters are relatable and strong. The author is definitely in touch with high school students; you get the feeling she knows the thoughts which are going through the kid’s minds, the confusion, the insecurities, the social structure, etc…
The recording from Full Cast Audio is fantastic. Each character has their own voice. You get the feeling the actors really could understand what the character was going through. The final 15 minutes of the recording are words from the author. Kathe discusses how she wrote Buddha Boy and her thoughts on bullies. This adds such an element not seen in many stories.
This is a story which any parent should encourage their child to read.
Buddha Boy
Published by: Full Cast Audio (Unabridged edition March 19, 2004)
ISBN: 1932076530
Genre: young adult realistic fiction
I live this book. I read when I was in the ESL class.