In The Blood by Sara Hantz – a Review

Links to order In The Blood:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
For seventeen years Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.

His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.

In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood

Review:

In the Blood by Sara Hantz is a different kind of YA novel. When I decided to read this book, I did not anticipate that this would become a difficult and hard book to read.  The subject matter was very depressing, and I found myself at times struggling to continue.  Sara Hantz is new to me, and I found that she is a very good writer, good enough to make me feel this strong about the story.

Jed, our 17 year old hero, is in a bad place.  His father, whom he idolized, is ready to go on trial for being a pedophile, having abused and murdered young boys.  Jed’s life as he knew it is over, as everyone..friends, neighbors, school kids all look at him like the plague.  With his mother in a deep depression, Jed relied on his friend, Summer, who treated him normally, always being there for him; and his little sister, Amy, who is too young to understand what is really going on. 

It is a normal way of life to feel sympathy for all the victims and their families, which is rightfully so.  But unfortunately, the families of the accused, also suffer badly. Neither Jed or his mom had any idea that their father/husband was a sick individual with a horrible secret life.  We see through Jed’s eyes, as he comes to terms with the fact that his father is guilty, and his mother is falling apart.  But what I hated about this story was watching as he suffers through doubts about himself, and the terrible treatment he receives from others. His classmates, especially one, would taunt him and treat him like he was the offender.  Everything that happens in the neighborhood, or at school;  all eyes look to blame Jed.  Even the police would either be suspicious of Jed, or ask him to help them get more info from his father.  Some of the things that happen at school, with Jed being falsely accused, left a bad taste in my mouth.  It was a hard and at times unpleasant book to read. 

The subject is a fair subject, because in most cases those families are also the victims; mainly due to everyone turning on them, and blaming them for things they did not have control over.  It is easy to say “you should have seen this”.   Not true if the perpetrator was good or sick enough to hide from their family.  But again I found this to be a dark read, filled with despair and distaste. At the same time, I felt Sara Hantz’s writing was very well done.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher