Book Review: Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

Title: Boot Camp

Author: Todd Strasser

Pages: 256

Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Survival 

Published: July 29th 2008 by Simon Pulse

Source:  Library Book

Synopsis: 

In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens. Maybe some kids deserve to be sent there, but Garrett knows he doesn't. Subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is futile. He won't be allowed to leave until he's admitted his "mistakes" and conformed to Harmony Lake's standards of behavior. And there's no way to fake it. Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride, Garrett's spirit is slowly ebbing away. Then he hears whispers of an escape plot. It's incredibly risky -- if he's caught, the consequences will be unthinkable -- but it may be his only way out.

In this tense, riveting novel, award-winning YA author Todd Strasser reveals what really goes on in highly secretive -- and notoriously dangerous -- boot camps, a stealth prison system where any teenager under the age of eighteen can be imprisoned at his parents' whim.

Review: 

Boot Camp follows the story of fifteen year old Garrett, who is taken from his home in the middle of the night and 'dumped' in a boot camp deemed "Lake Harmony".
This was a good book, the fact that it opened my eyes to the reality of Boot Camps, I knew of them, but not really what went on inside them. 

But to be honest I really didn't enjoy the actual story of Garrett's. 
It was confusing, because one chapter may happen on tuesday, then the next on wednesday, but then the chapter after that three weeks later. The timing in the book was just confusing for me. 

I just didn't really connect with this novel, and that is not because I haven't been in a Boot Camp, I just didn't connect with the writing style, nor the characteristics of Garrett and his personality.

And I just don't know, how when his parents found out about the affair with the teacher they didn't go to the police. Or how the school didn't when she was fired. Isn't that something you are kind of meant to do? 

Either way, I really liked the idea, I just didn't like how it was executed.

Rating: ★★