Review: Lottery Boy by Michael Byrne

Lottery Boy by Michael Byrne

Publication Date: March 8th 2016
Details: Hardcover, 304 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763679965
Source: Won a copy from Goodreads. 🙂

Michael Byrne:
Goodreads

Buy Lottery Boy:
Amazon | Book Depository

Summary

In a gripping thriller with a hint of Oliver Twist, a street kid and his dog are chasing an unlikely fortune — and dodging the thugs who would steal it.

Twelve-year-old Bully has lost his mum and his old life. Living rough on the streets of London with his dog, Jack, he can’t imagine a future. But one day he finds, tucked inside his most cherished possession—the last birthday card his mother ever gave him—a lottery ticket he bought her. And it’s a winner. Abig winner. Suddenly there’s hope, if only he can get to his prize on time! But just as Bully’s prospects open up, peril closes in. Now ruthless gangsters are in hot pursuit, and everyone wants a piece of him. Whom can he trust to help him retrieve what’s his? And even if Bully does claim all that money, will he really be winning what he needs most? Michael Byrne’s thrill-packed debut delivers the emotionally charged story of a boy whose luck has changed for the better, if only he can survive long enough to claim it.

Review

It took me a very long time to get through this book. I just wasn’t into it. At first I was going to give it two stars, because I guess it’s an okay book. However, while writing this review I realized that I just didn’t like it.

I didn’t really like any of the characters. I didn’t even like Bully. I know he’s a kid, that he lost his mom, and her boyfriend is an ass, but that doesn’t mean he needs to be an ass. He just rubbed me the wrong way and I honestly didn’t feel sorry for him at all. I don’t think there is anything about this book I actually liked.

I’m not saying don’t read it, because you might enjoy it. It is a descent read, it just wasn’t for me.

1 out of 5 stars