One of the Boys, a review by Kristin

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One of the Boys
By: Jayne Cowie

Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Published By: Berkley
348 pages

Find It On: Amazon | Goodreads

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This is a book like I’ve never read before. I’ll admit, I didn’t think I liked dystopian novels, but I really enjoyed this one! It really makes you think. If you had the ability to test your son(s) to find out of they had a gene that identifies them as violent. That’s what this book is about – two sisters, Antonia and Bea, both have boys. Antonia had her son tested, and Bea did not. Antonia’s son was M-, he didn’t have the gene. Bea refuses to have her son tested, believing that her son shouldn’t be treated differently depending on the outcome of that test. Both of them will do anything to protect their sons.

Like I said, this book really makes you think. For those that are M+, there are “farms.” There is also a treatment for them. Schools, jobs, public places, they can choose whether or not to let M+ boys into their establishments. There is an app that reveals your testing, and you use it to scan into places. There is a stigma against M+ boys and it was determined that they aren’t a protective class. But knowing that you’re M- or M+, does that make one act a certain way? Is it more likely that someone will get away with things if they are M-? Or, if you don’t know, does that change anything? If the boys were nurtured the “correct” way, would they still have a propensity for violence?

The boy takes place in both the present and the past. It was a great way too see how both of the boys were brought up, the different choices that Bea and Antonio made. It was easy to care about both boys, even if their moms weren’t the best people. The last third of the book was intense and awesome. There were some twists and reveals that I didn’t see coming! This author really had me! I think the book ended in the way that it should have ended. (I’m not giving anything away!).

This is a provocative read. I think everyone should read this book!