Brief summary:
In this chapter the reader is introduced to the character of
Jack Burridge, a young man who has just been released from prison for a crime
he committed as a child. The specific details of the crime are as of yet
shrouded in mystery, but several clues – the reference to coverage in the
national press, and the need for him to undergo a change in identity upon
release – suggest something of considerable severity.
This initial chapter provides an insight into Jack’s first
two weeks of freedom. He is excited by the possibilities of this ‘new unroofed
world’, but also overwhelmed by the enormity of what he sees. Jack’s guide is
Terry, his parole officer and the man with whom he has built up a considerable amount of
trust and dependency. Terry is charged with the responsibility of looking out
for Jack and helping him to adjust to his new life of normality. Through Terry’s support Jack starts to settle in to his
new life.
Points to consider:
 |
| Is Jack a Bad Apple? |
- What role does Terry seem to play in Jack’s new life? Look at the different ways that he helps Jack: buying him new trainers, taking them to new places each day and helping him to settle into his new lodgings
- What subtle clues are offered about Jack’s past, in particular the crime he committed to get himself sent to prison? Look at the very first paragraph for suggestions about Jack’s crime
- What are your immediate impressions of Jack’s character? Do you warm to him, even though you know that he must have done something terrible? Is this an uncomfortable feeling?
- Why does Trigell start the novel with details of Jack’s first weeks of freedom? Does this effect how the reader feels towards his character?
- What do you think is the purpose of the chapter heading? How does it relate to the events or characterisation in the chapter?
I almost feel guilty for enjoying this book as the vivid descriptions lead up and slowly unfold a disgusting crime which was committed by two young innocent boys. Trigell explores a strange, controversial, realistic storyline depicting the ideas that young children shouldn’t have. He switches between tenses, constantly keeping the reader gripped as they have to keep focus of every small detail. Trigell doesn’t give spell out the story; the reader has to depict and read between the lines to understand the subtle hints that Trigell gives.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that Trigell builds upon the layers which later uncover the mystery. He gives small insight to Boy A’s and Boy B’s past lives to help the reader to understand why and what made them do such a terrible thing. You cannot help but feel sorry for the murderers as you see their past’s they have had to live through and see them slowly grip to things and begin to have obsessions such as suicide.
In the first chapter ‘A is for Apple. A Bad Apple’ the reader is introduced to Jack Burridge, who has recently been released from jail after 15 years. The first immediate impression of Jack is that he is childish and over-whelmed, describing the new world around him as ‘big’; he has little vocabulary. We think of him as a small and fragile thing that wants nothing more then for his father figure Terry, ‘to hold him’ and take away the fear; we like Jack. However, the reader cannot forget that Jack has been in prison for the majority of his life, and can but only wonder why. Is Jack as small and fragile as he seems? Or maybe there’s a dark side to Jack. There are little hints given in this chapter as to what Jack was in jail for, such as the reference to coverage in the national press, or the need to change his identity.
ReplyDeleteBoy A is a book aimed at making you feel sympathy to a subject of media torture, although the crime he committed, may or may not justify their actions. However, this book is very clear at making you forget people opinions and make you feel your own.
ReplyDelete