Lottery Boy

Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Long Creek Detention Center, Scarborough, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 2, 2017

Review

Those who enjoy nail biting adventure and gritty city streets will be rewarded with a fast paced read. The pages of Lottery Boy drag readers along as Bully and his dog Jack are on the run of their lives. Bully is a strong willed young man who is learning the way of the streets, his depiction feels real and sensitive to his environment. As Bully is chased for his winning lottery ticket the reader is filled with sympathy for the protagonist and anger toward those chasing him. The story begins to feel like a news story, one where those watching want to step in to improve the outcome. This book will appeal to action and adventure seeking preteens and may be just the ticket for reluctant readers. A good first novel for Byrne.

Overall Book Score: good