Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican

Three freshmen must join forces to survive at a troubled, working-class Catholic high school with a student body full of bullies and zealots, and a faculty that's even worse in Anthony Breznican's Brutal YouthWith a plunging reputation and enrollment rate, Saint Michael’s has become a crumbling dumping ground for expelled delinquents and a haven for the stridently religious when incoming freshman Peter Davidek signs up. On his first day, tensions are clearly on the rise as a picked-upon upperclassmen finally snaps, unleashing a violent attack on both the students who tormented him for so long, and the corrupt, petty faculty that let it happen. But within this desperate place, Peter befriends fellow freshmen Noah Stein, a volatile classmate whose face bears the scars of a hard-fighting past, and the beautiful but lonely Lorelei Paskal —so eager to become popular, she makes only enemies.

To even stand a chance at surviving their freshmen year, the trio must join forces as they navigate a bullying culture dominated by administrators like the once popular Ms. Bromine, their embittered guidance counselor, and Father Mercedes, the parish priest who plans to scapegoat the students as he makes off with church finances. A coming-of-age tale reversed, Brutal Youth follows these students as they discover that instead of growing older and wiser, going bad may be the only way to survive.

Goodreads Summary

All of those that have been bullied or have been a bully have a connection to the high school world. We have all been on the giving or receiving end at one point or another and in some ways neither side is fun. This book dives right into a story of three boys in a Catholic School who decide to group together to solve a big issue going on in the school.

This book will greatly appeal to teens and young adults that like the mystery/case solving genre of literature. What I really liked was that the story was pretty true to what school is like. I remember reading a lot of the scenes and remembering many things that I saw. The fact that you get a more realistic experience truly strengthens the reader's bond to the book. I loved it and I recommend it to all.

5 Stars

Reviewed by Chris

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