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Going Bovine by Libba Bray



 What a strange little book!  Well, technically it's not a little book at all, but strange indeed!


I knew I wanted to read this book before it came out.  I love Libba Bray!  I enjoyed her Gemma Doyle series, and though I knew Going Bovine would be completely different, the idea was intriguing and the book trailer of Libba going around in the cow costume was so fun! 

It took me a while to finally get around to the book, but I'm glad I did.  A couple of my coworkers who also read a lot of YA fiction told me this book wasn't worth reading.  One of them never even finished the book.  I think it was just too strange for them.  I'd heard a lot of things about the book, including reasons why some parents wouldn't let their teens read it.  Still, I went in with an open mind and an open heart.  It didn't take long for me to see how strange the book was, and I could understand why the one coworker didn't finish it.  She thought it was all weird and I thought maybe she didn't get what was actually happening.  I talked to her about it later and found out I was right. 

The premise behind this book is that Cameron isn't thought to be that great of a kid, student, son, etc.  When he starts having hallucinations, he can't even tell his parents about it before his dad blows him off.  When they finally realize that he's sick, with mad cow disease no less, everyone's view of him changes.  To all of the school kids who shunned him before, he's suddenly the dying kid who needs their support.  To his sister, he's no longer an annoyance to her life, but a dying brother.  To his dad, well his dad finally seems to realize that he cares about his son after all. 

I think my coworker saw this as a fantastical book that made no sense, but the more I read, the more I liked it.  After Cameron finds out that there is no medical cure for his disease, he's visited by a punk rock angel who tells him that he has to go on a wild road trip to find a cure.  So off he goes, his new friend Gonzo the dwarf along for the ride.  Just two guys on a crazy adventure.  Or is it?  The first time Cameron falls asleep and dreams of still being in the hospital, the book started to tug at my heart strings.  The whole feel of the book changes with a realization that this book isn't what it first seems to be.  And upon finishing the book, there was no misunderstanding for me as to why this book won the Printz Award for 2010.

I loved Dulcie, the punk rock angel, and Balder, the garden gnome who isn't just a garden gnome.  These two gave the book just what it needed to keep it quirky and fun.  I also enjoyed how there were no real brand names for any of the products in the book.  Libba gave each a brand name that was clear enough for you to figure out what it was, without actually advertising real products. 

Libba Bray is an excellent writer with a knack for writing a quirky, way out there novel that still touches your heart.  If you decide to give this book a try, and then find yourself thinking it's too nonsensical or random for you, keep reading, just a little further, and see if it wins you over like it did me.
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