Blood Family by Anne Fine is a middle grade children's fiction story about a boy who was abused at a young age and now strives to maintain a normal life with a new family.

At first, the story was interesting to me, yet seemed to lose its spark and pick back up again in part 3 and beyond. I was engaged for about half the book, but the story just didn't seem to captivate me like I'd hoped. It's extremely sad, tragic, and just not a lot going on in the story.

The author is a great writer and I can see this being an enjoyable read for a younger audience.

3***

Thanks to Netgalley for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

This was a moving, sometimes gut-wrenching exploration of the healing of a psyche which has been severely damaged by abuse. There are no comforting revelations here, and the characters feel real - especially Natasha ( )

I found out about this book for the Carnegie Awards. I have to say, the writing was very good. However, the book just felt like it wasn’t for me. I struggled to finish reading and when I did, it felt like a waste of time for me. Edward’s character didn’t connect with me and I felt like I was actually reading a story. Good books for me, have to make me feel like it’s reality. The subject was not for me, The genre felt wrong (I’m more romance, dystopian) and the storyline was confusing with the quick change of POV’s… I don’t know whether because it’s not my genre that I found the book not engrossing enough. Although the writing was good, it was a disappointing book for me. ( )

I read Blood Family as part of the Carnegie Shadowing Group that I run in my School Library.
I’m a bit underwhelmed, to be honest.
The subject matter is not cheerful, but it is approached sensitively. I think I’d describe it as ‘grey’ in tone. It’s somehow lacking in substance, although the writing is as accomplished as one would expect from Anne Fine.
There are some good ideas in there about the ways the mind works, and how people can cope with horrible events by finding escape routes, but I didn't find the characters very well-drawn or compelling. The structure - using different voices to explore aspects of the story - is deftly handled, but because the voices constantly change it is difficult to engage with them.
I expect that the girls in my Shadowing Group will like it. ( )