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The Knife That Killed Me
Paul Vanderman could be at any normal high school where bullies, girls, and annoying teachers are just part of life. But “normal” doesn’t apply when it comes to the school’s biggest bully, Roth—a twisted and threatening thug with an evil agenda.
When Paul ends up delivering a message from Roth to the leader of a gang at a nearby school, it fuels a rivalry with immediate consequences. Paul attempts to distance himself from the feud, but somehow Roth keeps finding reasons for him to stick around. Then one day Roth hands him a knife. And even though Paul is scared, he has never felt so powerful.
When Paul ends up delivering a message from Roth to the leader of a gang at a nearby school, it fuels a rivalry with immediate consequences. Paul attempts to distance himself from the feud, but somehow Roth keeps finding reasons for him to stick around. Then one day Roth hands him a knife. And even though Paul is scared, he has never felt so powerful.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Anthony McGowan
74 books75 followersAnthony John McGowan is an English author of books for children, teenagers and adults. He is the winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal for Lark. In addition to his 2020 win, he has been twice longlisted (for The Knife That Killed Me in 2008 and Brock in 2014) and once shortlisted (for Rook in 2018) for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and is the winner of the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize for Henry Tumour.
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April 20, 2012Rating TBA. Or not... still haven't decided on this one yet.
This review is going to be short and punch you in the stomach and make you think deeply about your life and morals and….things. What a coinkydink because that's exactly what this book does!
Actually, ummm OK, no, this review is probably just going to be short.
It’s kind of because of spoilers but mostly it’s because I’m not 100% sure whether I absolutely loved this book or absolutely hated it.
This book is brutal and I love brutal books. Some of my favourite books are horrendously sad and leave you feeling battered and bruised emotionally (occasionally physically….) at the end of it. I like books to put me through the ringer because I figure if a book can make me stare off into the distance for about half an hour after I’ve finished it, it deserves my respect.
But there’s something bothering me about this one. I was about three pages from the end when I was considering not even finishing it. I was so angry because of SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED that made the entire book feel completely pointless. But then I decided it would be ridiculous to not read three pages so I finished it.
And now I’m confused, because reader, it made me think. I know… thinking. What’s that all about?
It made me think about the SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
Because those three pages (actually, I could probably narrow it down to a single paragraph) suggested that maybe there isn’t a point to the SOMETH- ok you get it.. Maybe there doesn’t have to be a point to what happened. Maybe the point is there isn’t a point to what happened. Maybe the whole point of this book was that you shouldn’t even look for a point because there is no point….
*cough*
I didn't even want to write a review because you know how my reviews are always really informative and clear and concise and.... yeah... I knew I couldn't do that with this one. Because this book is either incredibly unsatisfactory or simply and absolutely genius. And I know how stupid that sounds because there’s not even a fine line between the two of them.
Or maybe there is.
I JUST DON’T KNOW.
Someone read this book and talk to me about it.
And the award for the World’s Most Unhelpful Review goes to….
Meh, whatever. I will take that award and put it on my shelf next to all my other awards.*
This book was chilling, bleak and had one of the most hopeless endings I’ve ever read. I want to share The Defining Quote with you but it might spoil everything for you… or it might not.
I JUST DON’T KNOW.
What I do know, however, is that Mr McGowan had me in the palm of his hand throughout this book. His writing had me absolutely captivated and is ridiculously brilliant.
I, mean, I left my Easter egg uneaten for this book.
Yeah.
I know.
That takes skill.
*I have no awards. That was a vicious lie.
This review and other exciting things can be found on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
This review is going to be short and punch you in the stomach and make you think deeply about your life and morals and….things. What a coinkydink because that's exactly what this book does!
Actually, ummm OK, no, this review is probably just going to be short.
It’s kind of because of spoilers but mostly it’s because I’m not 100% sure whether I absolutely loved this book or absolutely hated it.
This book is brutal and I love brutal books. Some of my favourite books are horrendously sad and leave you feeling battered and bruised emotionally (occasionally physically….) at the end of it. I like books to put me through the ringer because I figure if a book can make me stare off into the distance for about half an hour after I’ve finished it, it deserves my respect.
But there’s something bothering me about this one. I was about three pages from the end when I was considering not even finishing it. I was so angry because of SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED that made the entire book feel completely pointless. But then I decided it would be ridiculous to not read three pages so I finished it.
And now I’m confused, because reader, it made me think. I know… thinking. What’s that all about?
It made me think about the SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
Because those three pages (actually, I could probably narrow it down to a single paragraph) suggested that maybe there isn’t a point to the SOMETH- ok you get it.. Maybe there doesn’t have to be a point to what happened. Maybe the point is there isn’t a point to what happened. Maybe the whole point of this book was that you shouldn’t even look for a point because there is no point….
*cough*
I didn't even want to write a review because you know how my reviews are always really informative and clear and concise and.... yeah... I knew I couldn't do that with this one. Because this book is either incredibly unsatisfactory or simply and absolutely genius. And I know how stupid that sounds because there’s not even a fine line between the two of them.
Or maybe there is.
I JUST DON’T KNOW.
Someone read this book and talk to me about it.
And the award for the World’s Most Unhelpful Review goes to….
Meh, whatever. I will take that award and put it on my shelf next to all my other awards.*
This book was chilling, bleak and had one of the most hopeless endings I’ve ever read. I want to share The Defining Quote with you but it might spoil everything for you… or it might not.
I JUST DON’T KNOW.
What I do know, however, is that Mr McGowan had me in the palm of his hand throughout this book. His writing had me absolutely captivated and is ridiculously brilliant.
I, mean, I left my Easter egg uneaten for this book.
Yeah.
I know.
That takes skill.
*I have no awards. That was a vicious lie.
This review and other exciting things can be found on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
June 4, 2012
This ingenious novel was written by Anthony Mcgowen. As I have never heard of this author I was a little unsure whether this novel would be worth the while. I referred back to the synopsis to check what other books he has written and what readers thought about them. And sure enough, there were some amazing comments.
It was the cover that intrigued me to open this novel. This story takes part in a small neighborhood and an average teen that goes to school, until he is face to face with death himself. A knife bearer running towards him, showing a shining kitchen knife and posed to strike. The story is reflecting back on the boys childhood before he met his fate.
The main character in this story is called Paul Vaderman. Paul is a silent sort of chap who isn’t much of a whiz at anything. He is tormented time after time in his class by a gang of bullies. Their leader, Roth begins to take interest in Paul as he showed that he can stand up to himself and not be such a coward. Roth takes Paul under his wing and gives him a knife to protect himself. Paul doesn’t enjoy being in Roth’s company. After a few weeks, Paul begins to take interest in a group known as the “Freaks”. The Freaks are the ones who are the Outlaws of the school. No one wants to talk to them or even stand close to one of them. After a while Paul joins up with them and becomes one of them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone above the age of 11 but mostly for teenagers as it has some inappropriate themes and language. I don’t fancy the first few pages as it does not flow that well. But, I’m glad I didn’t give it up as the ending was exquisite. Without giving the ending away, the knife doesn't kill Paul and yet, it does.
May 28, 2013
Paul Varderman is an outsider in his high school, and outsiders are always vulnerable for harassment when they are alone. One day, a violent boy named Roth and his band of thugs Miller and Bates approach Paul about a package. Without much of a choice, Paul is forced to deliver the package to a kid named Goddo at the rival school Temple Moor. Paul's high school and Temple Moor have a violent history. When Paul's dad went to school, he had taken part in a massive fight between the two schools that took place in the Gypsy Field (it's called the Gypsy Field because gypsies used to dwell in the area). Throughout the story, Paul befriends a band of people called "the freaks". He realizes they really aren't freaks, but outsiders just like him. This is an excellent novel because of the wonderful imagery and colorful language(including a British dialect) used. In other words, this novel is phenomenal because of the harsh reality it portrays, advancing in a tragic plot that goes against most books with fairy-tale endings.
The first example of our protagonist facing a harsh reality is when he is stood up by the girl of his fancy, Maddy. When Paul is asking Maddy out on a date to the movies, you can tell that she is preoccupied with something else. For instance, after he asks her, he thinks to himself, " Then I noticed that Maddy's eyes had drifted beyond me. I looked round. Shane was waiting near the entrance." (McGowan, 136) Being the oblivious person that he is, Paul is convinced he and Maddy are actually going on a date despite her neglect of attention. The result is Paul feeling betrayed and humiliated at the movies after waiting for the girl of his dreams who would never come.
Another example of Paul facing a tragic situation is when he ends up killing Shane. Paul has a boy named Mickey by his throat with a knife. Mickey had charged at him, and Paul managed to disarm him and steal the knife. What happened next next was something Paul would have never predicted. Shane was trying to pry him off of Mickey, and Paul, thinking he was being attacked, stabbed him in the ribs. When Paul saw who it was, he was devastated. Shane was a good friend of his, probably his best friend. When he finds himself in jail, he hoped his friends would come to see him, but he knew it was a hopeless thing to think of. He says, " I hoped Maddy might come to see me, and the other freaks, Billy, Stevie, Serena. I could have explained to them what happened, got them to forgive me. But they will never come, and they will hate me forever. I think about Maddy, and imagine a life we might have had together. Not even a whole life, but just a few months, a year, two years, going out, normal things. Never, never, never, never, never." (McGowan,212) The author uses repetition to show what Paul holds most dear to him, and also exemplifies the dread he feels for what he's done and what could have been.
This book was an excellent read, and if you're looking for something that isn't stagnant and plagued with cheesy romance or vampires, this is the book for you.
The first example of our protagonist facing a harsh reality is when he is stood up by the girl of his fancy, Maddy. When Paul is asking Maddy out on a date to the movies, you can tell that she is preoccupied with something else. For instance, after he asks her, he thinks to himself, " Then I noticed that Maddy's eyes had drifted beyond me. I looked round. Shane was waiting near the entrance." (McGowan, 136) Being the oblivious person that he is, Paul is convinced he and Maddy are actually going on a date despite her neglect of attention. The result is Paul feeling betrayed and humiliated at the movies after waiting for the girl of his dreams who would never come.
Another example of Paul facing a tragic situation is when he ends up killing Shane. Paul has a boy named Mickey by his throat with a knife. Mickey had charged at him, and Paul managed to disarm him and steal the knife. What happened next next was something Paul would have never predicted. Shane was trying to pry him off of Mickey, and Paul, thinking he was being attacked, stabbed him in the ribs. When Paul saw who it was, he was devastated. Shane was a good friend of his, probably his best friend. When he finds himself in jail, he hoped his friends would come to see him, but he knew it was a hopeless thing to think of. He says, " I hoped Maddy might come to see me, and the other freaks, Billy, Stevie, Serena. I could have explained to them what happened, got them to forgive me. But they will never come, and they will hate me forever. I think about Maddy, and imagine a life we might have had together. Not even a whole life, but just a few months, a year, two years, going out, normal things. Never, never, never, never, never." (McGowan,212) The author uses repetition to show what Paul holds most dear to him, and also exemplifies the dread he feels for what he's done and what could have been.
This book was an excellent read, and if you're looking for something that isn't stagnant and plagued with cheesy romance or vampires, this is the book for you.
August 1, 2017
It's just gone midnight when I randomly remembered this book; getting it out of my secondary school library with the bright, happy mind of a year seven, looking for my next big adventure in book lands. This caught my eye and as an avid reader of crime and gore, I took one look at the cover and didn't even read the blurb before I checked it out and settled to read it.
This wasn't what I expected it, but damn it still blew me away.
At first, I thought this book had a simple message, don't bow to peer pressure. It's taken me until now to realise that this book is so much bigger than that. It's a story about society, how society can make or break you. How your peers around you, the people you view as your friends, often don't care. There's so many different things in this book that I was introduced to as a young age and I wonder now: is this the book that caused me to grow up with a large distaste for society?
This was a stunning book and after randomly remembering it, I need to order a copy. I can't forget it now I've remembered it. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone. It's absolutely stunning.
This wasn't what I expected it, but damn it still blew me away.
At first, I thought this book had a simple message, don't bow to peer pressure. It's taken me until now to realise that this book is so much bigger than that. It's a story about society, how society can make or break you. How your peers around you, the people you view as your friends, often don't care. There's so many different things in this book that I was introduced to as a young age and I wonder now: is this the book that caused me to grow up with a large distaste for society?
This was a stunning book and after randomly remembering it, I need to order a copy. I can't forget it now I've remembered it. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone. It's absolutely stunning.
June 26, 2011
According to KnifeCrimes.Org, a charity, supported by a.o. the UK Home Office, “A knife incident happens every 25 minutes - 4 in 5 offenders aged between 12 years - 20 years and a third of victims aged between 10 years - 17 years.” With more and more children and teenagers carrying a knife when going to school, Anthony McGowan’s third novel seems to be a sign of the times, a warning as well as a message. Almost completely devoid of all of the humor and wit that was characteristic of Henry Tumour, The Knife that Killed Me, nevertheless feels as poignant.
The central storyline is that of Paul Varderman, who could be your average teenager, trying to stay under the radar at school so as not to be picked upon, bullied… or worse, by the school baddie, Roth. He fails miserably. Paul both hates and admires Roth and gets sucked in by his scare tactics: “Roth was someone I hated, should have hated, more than any other person. Hated because he was a bad kid, cruel and vindictive. The kind of kid who would beat another to a pulp and then piss n his face. The kind of kid who would get his thicko mates to throw chewing gum in my hair to help pass the time in a boring geography lesson. But all he had to do was say those simple words [that Paul was thinking and using his brain] to me, and I was happy.” (p.43) When Paul is given a knife by Roth, the already menacing story takes on an even more urgent tone, urgent in an almost fatalistic way. There are only a few outcomes to this story, but none of them can ever be happy.
What is probably even more remarkable than the portrayal of Paul, Roth or any of the other school kids (what could have been plain stereotypical characterization is actually quite balanced) is the bleak atmosphere that McGowan sketches, a bleakness that not only characterizes certain inner city schools, like the one Paul attends, but also Paul’s entire living circumstances (his home life is not ideal, for instance), and with Paul the living circumstances of an entire generation. This is where The Knife that Killed Me differs completely from Henry Tumour. Henry Tumour had humor – even though it was often of the sarcastic kind – as a redeeming factor in Hector Brundy’s nerdy life, but almost none of that is present in The Knife that Killed Me. Instead you get an almost naturalistic portrayal of the evil that kids can do, what they will do, led by circumstance and opportunity. In this way The Knife that Killed Me is strongly reminiscent of Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War. The tension is raised high by Paul’s story, and the cat doesn’t feel the knife-interludes throughout the novel were necessary to show the menace of the knife. The power of fear was made abundantly clear already, and in fact, the cat felt detracted by those interludes.
With The Knife that Killed Me Anthony McGowan has managed to show what peer pressure, less than ideal circumstances and adolescence can lead to in its most extreme form. Like the knife itself, he does this with razor-sharp prose, and never sugarcoats. Though the outcome of this story is inevitable as well as tragic and could (should) be read as a warning about knife crime, McGowan does so in a way that never sounds moralizing or patronizing. Spot on.
The central storyline is that of Paul Varderman, who could be your average teenager, trying to stay under the radar at school so as not to be picked upon, bullied… or worse, by the school baddie, Roth. He fails miserably. Paul both hates and admires Roth and gets sucked in by his scare tactics: “Roth was someone I hated, should have hated, more than any other person. Hated because he was a bad kid, cruel and vindictive. The kind of kid who would beat another to a pulp and then piss n his face. The kind of kid who would get his thicko mates to throw chewing gum in my hair to help pass the time in a boring geography lesson. But all he had to do was say those simple words [that Paul was thinking and using his brain] to me, and I was happy.” (p.43) When Paul is given a knife by Roth, the already menacing story takes on an even more urgent tone, urgent in an almost fatalistic way. There are only a few outcomes to this story, but none of them can ever be happy.
What is probably even more remarkable than the portrayal of Paul, Roth or any of the other school kids (what could have been plain stereotypical characterization is actually quite balanced) is the bleak atmosphere that McGowan sketches, a bleakness that not only characterizes certain inner city schools, like the one Paul attends, but also Paul’s entire living circumstances (his home life is not ideal, for instance), and with Paul the living circumstances of an entire generation. This is where The Knife that Killed Me differs completely from Henry Tumour. Henry Tumour had humor – even though it was often of the sarcastic kind – as a redeeming factor in Hector Brundy’s nerdy life, but almost none of that is present in The Knife that Killed Me. Instead you get an almost naturalistic portrayal of the evil that kids can do, what they will do, led by circumstance and opportunity. In this way The Knife that Killed Me is strongly reminiscent of Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War. The tension is raised high by Paul’s story, and the cat doesn’t feel the knife-interludes throughout the novel were necessary to show the menace of the knife. The power of fear was made abundantly clear already, and in fact, the cat felt detracted by those interludes.
With The Knife that Killed Me Anthony McGowan has managed to show what peer pressure, less than ideal circumstances and adolescence can lead to in its most extreme form. Like the knife itself, he does this with razor-sharp prose, and never sugarcoats. Though the outcome of this story is inevitable as well as tragic and could (should) be read as a warning about knife crime, McGowan does so in a way that never sounds moralizing or patronizing. Spot on.
January 13, 2011
Paul Varderman, a secondary student in an English Catholic School, is a loner until, just as he is becoming friends with "the freaks," the school bully encourages Paul to join his gang and gives him a knife to carry as an incentive. Paul is torn between his new friends and the demands of the implacable bully, Shane.
Setting: Bleak and vicious schoolyard where pupils ally themselves with bullies or outcasts.
Characters: Teachers and adults are either vicious, weak, or liars. They provide no help to the student, who are, as in Lord of the Flies, left to their own devices. The only characters with ethics or honor are the “freaks” and the leader of the freaks, Shane, is sacrificed (Jesus). Roth is a fascinating study in banality of evil. His only moral code is vengeance. The students cluster together in herds, waiting for the wolf (Roth) to cut them down. Herd mentality. Wonder why author does not spend more time on developing character of Shane? Is it because he is a plot device, the sacrificial lamb?
Plot: The plot device of alternating the knife coming closer as the story unfolds is clever and quite effective. As we read, we feel that knife inching closer and think we know what is going to happen. Author takes our expectations and sets them on their ear. When Paul talks about being killed, we realize at the end that he was talking about something more than losing his own life.
Writing: Propulsive and harrowing. Physical descriptions are sometimes so explicit as to be revolting (spitting and hawking), which makes the setting even more grim. The undiluted harshness of the setting is reflected in the writing.
There is little or no hope offered at the end of this novel, except for the fact, perhaps, that Paul is more self aware of the conflict within himself...he battles the Roth part of his own soul.
Setting: Bleak and vicious schoolyard where pupils ally themselves with bullies or outcasts.
Characters: Teachers and adults are either vicious, weak, or liars. They provide no help to the student, who are, as in Lord of the Flies, left to their own devices. The only characters with ethics or honor are the “freaks” and the leader of the freaks, Shane, is sacrificed (Jesus). Roth is a fascinating study in banality of evil. His only moral code is vengeance. The students cluster together in herds, waiting for the wolf (Roth) to cut them down. Herd mentality. Wonder why author does not spend more time on developing character of Shane? Is it because he is a plot device, the sacrificial lamb?
Plot: The plot device of alternating the knife coming closer as the story unfolds is clever and quite effective. As we read, we feel that knife inching closer and think we know what is going to happen. Author takes our expectations and sets them on their ear. When Paul talks about being killed, we realize at the end that he was talking about something more than losing his own life.
Writing: Propulsive and harrowing. Physical descriptions are sometimes so explicit as to be revolting (spitting and hawking), which makes the setting even more grim. The undiluted harshness of the setting is reflected in the writing.
There is little or no hope offered at the end of this novel, except for the fact, perhaps, that Paul is more self aware of the conflict within himself...he battles the Roth part of his own soul.
April 13, 2010
The Knife That Killed Me was a gripping, unmistakably tragic story of a teenager spiraling down the wrong path. Paul, the protagonist, was a typical high school student that dealt with normal everyday issues until he started hanging out with the wrong crowd. His school was divided between two type of "gangs." One gang was run by the school's biggest threat and bully, Roth. His violent demeanor was intimidating and sick. Roth found physical pain to be pleasant and encouraged fighting to his followers. Meanwhile, the other "gang" kept to themselves and promoted friendship instead of evil. Around the school they were known as the "freaks" since they were quiet and didn't start trouble, there leader Shane was one of my favorite characters. He was so goodhearted and truly cared about his group. I admired the way he carried himself and how respectful he was to Paul when he first befriended him.
In my eyes Paul was a lost soul. He was bound to make a mistake because he couldn't see who his true allies really were. Unfortunately, he started hanging out with Roth and his crew and that's when his life took a turn for the worst. I was disappointed in Paul's choice of friends, however, he was a bit gullible and too much inside his head to focus. There were times where he would ramble and lose himself in memories. Luckily for Anthony's writing it was easy to keep up with Paul's mind. The parts of the book that stood out to me were the one page paragraphs after some of the chapters. In those paragraphs the reader is presented with a flash-forward of the moment before the knife reaches Paul in the rivalry fight. It was insightful and it was helped me connect with the emotions he was feeling at the moment. Overall, an interested story with an unforgettable ending.
In my eyes Paul was a lost soul. He was bound to make a mistake because he couldn't see who his true allies really were. Unfortunately, he started hanging out with Roth and his crew and that's when his life took a turn for the worst. I was disappointed in Paul's choice of friends, however, he was a bit gullible and too much inside his head to focus. There were times where he would ramble and lose himself in memories. Luckily for Anthony's writing it was easy to keep up with Paul's mind. The parts of the book that stood out to me were the one page paragraphs after some of the chapters. In those paragraphs the reader is presented with a flash-forward of the moment before the knife reaches Paul in the rivalry fight. It was insightful and it was helped me connect with the emotions he was feeling at the moment. Overall, an interested story with an unforgettable ending.
May 19, 2011
The Knife That Killed Me, by Anthony Mcgowan is a pretty good book. It deals with high school drama and situations that could possibly happen in real life, from bullying to peer preassure and even love. It is an easy read, that any high school student can comprehend. Now Paul (the main character) is just another face that you see in a hallway that you don't remember. The school (how I think of it) seemed like a pretty bad school, besides the cliques/groups, the teachers were weird and mean and there was a big bully (Roth) who would kick everyone's ass. When Paul stands up to the bullies, Roth takes interest in him. The peer pressure from someone he feared leads his discesions through most of the book, but he does find friendship in a circle of outkasts. With lies, secrets, and betrayal, Paul has to deal with his consiquences that come with the actions he chose.
Level Three Question:
How does one achieve a position in a group? Are they forced (by peer pressure like in the book?) or do they willingly join? Are cliques/groups stereotypical? Explain.
Level Three Question:
How does one achieve a position in a group? Are they forced (by peer pressure like in the book?) or do they willingly join? Are cliques/groups stereotypical? Explain.
July 7, 2016
OMG! Shane!!!!!!!! I never saw that coming in a million years! I was trying to figure out who was gonna kill him, and I thought that it would be Kirk. Dirks a kick :). Ahg, why Shane tho?
I loved this book (hence the five stars). There wasn't a time when it got boring to me. It was a real page turner. I was left wanting more blood tho. I really wanted Goddo to lose a finger or something. I was a wee bit offended when i found out the freaks were emos. I was like ..."hey...". Anyways, congrats to McGowan for creating such an exciting book!
I loved this book (hence the five stars). There wasn't a time when it got boring to me. It was a real page turner. I was left wanting more blood tho. I really wanted Goddo to lose a finger or something. I was a wee bit offended when i found out the freaks were emos. I was like ..."hey...". Anyways, congrats to McGowan for creating such an exciting book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
I partly want to give this book slightly less than 5 stars but there’s just something so unique and damaging about this book. It’s so real it makes the storyline so disturbing.
September 26, 2024
I’m just happy this was a 200 page book🫤
April 24, 2024
“Because, you see, the cruel gods are stronger then the kind gods, and will always beat them in the end. You doubt it? Look at the world my brother and sister.” This was without a doubt my favorite quote from this book. Beautifully written!
December 21, 2010
Kurzbeschreibung:
An Pauls Schule regiert der Terror. Und der Terror hat einen Namen: Roth. Er und seine Gang brutaler Schläger demütigen, erpressen, prügeln - ihr Hass ist schier grenzenlos. Angst kennen sie nicht, aber sie können sie wittern wie Raubtiere. Auch Paul hat Angst, große Angst, und er kann nur hoffen, dass Roths Killerinstinkt dieses eine Mal versagt.
Zum Autor:
Anthony McGowan wurde 1965 in Manchester geboren, wuchs in Leeds auf und lebt heute in London. Bevor er sich ausschließlich dem Schreiben widmete, promovierte er in Philosophie und arbeitete unter anderem als Journalist und als Türsteher in einem Nachtclub. "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" ist sein dritter Roman für Jugendliche.
Ich wehrte mich gegen die Hände in meinem Gesicht, wehrte mich gegen Roth, der mich mit seinem ganzen Gewicht gegen die Wand drückte, wehrte mich mit aller Kraft, aber ich war wie ein weiches Tier, das sich unter den Ketten eines Panzers windet. Und Roth lachte. (Seite 170)
Rezension:
Paul geht auf eine Schule, die schlimmer nicht sein könnte: Dieser Ort ist die Hölle! Gewalt, Prügeleien und Demütigungen stehen auf der Tagesordnung. Die Lehrer schauen entweder darüber hinweg, zu feige sich einzumischen oder scheuen genauso wenig vor der Schikane zurück.
Ausgerechnet Paul wird von der Person, vor der er am meisten Angst hat, zum neuen Kameraden ausgewählt. Roth ist der brutalste Schläger der Schule, der mit seiner Gang jeden in Atem hält. Obwohl Paul sich so unauffällig wie möglich verhält, wird Roth eines Tages auf ihn aufmerksam und erteilt ihm den Auftrag, ein Päckchen zu einem Schüler der verhassten Temple Moor Schule zu bringen.
Etwa zur gleichen Zeit freundet sich Paul mit Shane und seinen Freunden an, den sogenannten "Freaks". Sie sind vollkommen anders als Roth und seine Kumpane, sie strahlen eine gewisse Ruhe aus und sind sehr liberal eingestellt. Nun gerät Paul zwischen die Fronten: Eigentlich möchte er lieber mit Shane und seiner Clique befreundet sein, als zu Roth und seinen Schlägern zu gehören. Doch bleibt ihm überhaupt eine Chance, sich das selbst aussuchen zu dürfen?
Am Titel des Buches und bereits im ersten Kapitel ist klar, was mit Paul passieren wird. Er wird getötet. Doch hält dies am Ende des Romans noch eine überraschende Wendung bereit, mit der man als Leser gar nicht rechnet.
Anthony McGowan beschreibt eine Schule, die die Hölle darstellt. Es finden nicht nur harmlose Rangeleien statt, sondern es geht richtig zur Sache. Von Demütigungen bis zu wirklich brutaler Gewalt und Perversitäten ist hier alles vorhanden. Und das Schlimmste daran ist, dass kein Mensch einschreitet. Jeder versucht für sich das Beste rauszuschlagen, indem man sich so unauffällig wie nötig verhält, stur auf den Boden schaut, um ja keinen Anlass für irgendwelche Pöbeleien zu geben.
Die Lehrer handeln nach der gleichen Devise oder schikanieren die Schüler auf ihre Art und Weise. Da Pauls Geschichte aus seiner Ich-Perspektive geschildert wird, ist der Leser bei allem hautnah dabei und an manchen Stellen musste ich wirklich schlucken, da ich nicht verstehen konnte, dass kein Mensch diesen ganzen furchtbaren Dingen Einhalt gebietet oder sich die Schüler nicht gegen die brutalen Schläger zusammen tun und sich gegenseitig helfen.
Das Buch endet nicht mit einem Happy End, das hätte auch nicht zur Glaubhaftigkeit beigetragen. Vielmehr ist der Roman deprimierend, verstörend und düster - denn leider kennt man solcher Art Vorfälle ja auch bereits aus dem realen Leben, wenn auch noch nicht in so krassen Ausmaßen. Ich kann "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" nur empfehlen, vielleicht sogar als Unterrichtslektüre ab der 8. Klasse, und hoffen, dass sich solche Zustände in derart gewaltigem und zerstörerischem Gewand niemals an einer Schule abspielen werden.
Zur Gestaltung des Buchs: Das Cover zeigt eine Messerklinge in Großaufnahme, an der Blutstropfen hängen. Somit wird schon von Anfang an klar, was das Thema dieses Romans ist.
Fazit: Anthony McGowan hat mit "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" ein aufrüttelndes und erschreckendes Buch über eine Schule geschrieben, an der Gewalt an der Tagesordnung ist. Ein absolutes Lese-Muss, das den Leser nicht kalt lässt und noch lange nachhallt.
Wertung: 5 von 5 Punkten
An Pauls Schule regiert der Terror. Und der Terror hat einen Namen: Roth. Er und seine Gang brutaler Schläger demütigen, erpressen, prügeln - ihr Hass ist schier grenzenlos. Angst kennen sie nicht, aber sie können sie wittern wie Raubtiere. Auch Paul hat Angst, große Angst, und er kann nur hoffen, dass Roths Killerinstinkt dieses eine Mal versagt.
Zum Autor:
Anthony McGowan wurde 1965 in Manchester geboren, wuchs in Leeds auf und lebt heute in London. Bevor er sich ausschließlich dem Schreiben widmete, promovierte er in Philosophie und arbeitete unter anderem als Journalist und als Türsteher in einem Nachtclub. "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" ist sein dritter Roman für Jugendliche.
Ich wehrte mich gegen die Hände in meinem Gesicht, wehrte mich gegen Roth, der mich mit seinem ganzen Gewicht gegen die Wand drückte, wehrte mich mit aller Kraft, aber ich war wie ein weiches Tier, das sich unter den Ketten eines Panzers windet. Und Roth lachte. (Seite 170)
Rezension:
Paul geht auf eine Schule, die schlimmer nicht sein könnte: Dieser Ort ist die Hölle! Gewalt, Prügeleien und Demütigungen stehen auf der Tagesordnung. Die Lehrer schauen entweder darüber hinweg, zu feige sich einzumischen oder scheuen genauso wenig vor der Schikane zurück.
Ausgerechnet Paul wird von der Person, vor der er am meisten Angst hat, zum neuen Kameraden ausgewählt. Roth ist der brutalste Schläger der Schule, der mit seiner Gang jeden in Atem hält. Obwohl Paul sich so unauffällig wie möglich verhält, wird Roth eines Tages auf ihn aufmerksam und erteilt ihm den Auftrag, ein Päckchen zu einem Schüler der verhassten Temple Moor Schule zu bringen.
Etwa zur gleichen Zeit freundet sich Paul mit Shane und seinen Freunden an, den sogenannten "Freaks". Sie sind vollkommen anders als Roth und seine Kumpane, sie strahlen eine gewisse Ruhe aus und sind sehr liberal eingestellt. Nun gerät Paul zwischen die Fronten: Eigentlich möchte er lieber mit Shane und seiner Clique befreundet sein, als zu Roth und seinen Schlägern zu gehören. Doch bleibt ihm überhaupt eine Chance, sich das selbst aussuchen zu dürfen?
Am Titel des Buches und bereits im ersten Kapitel ist klar, was mit Paul passieren wird. Er wird getötet. Doch hält dies am Ende des Romans noch eine überraschende Wendung bereit, mit der man als Leser gar nicht rechnet.
Anthony McGowan beschreibt eine Schule, die die Hölle darstellt. Es finden nicht nur harmlose Rangeleien statt, sondern es geht richtig zur Sache. Von Demütigungen bis zu wirklich brutaler Gewalt und Perversitäten ist hier alles vorhanden. Und das Schlimmste daran ist, dass kein Mensch einschreitet. Jeder versucht für sich das Beste rauszuschlagen, indem man sich so unauffällig wie nötig verhält, stur auf den Boden schaut, um ja keinen Anlass für irgendwelche Pöbeleien zu geben.
Die Lehrer handeln nach der gleichen Devise oder schikanieren die Schüler auf ihre Art und Weise. Da Pauls Geschichte aus seiner Ich-Perspektive geschildert wird, ist der Leser bei allem hautnah dabei und an manchen Stellen musste ich wirklich schlucken, da ich nicht verstehen konnte, dass kein Mensch diesen ganzen furchtbaren Dingen Einhalt gebietet oder sich die Schüler nicht gegen die brutalen Schläger zusammen tun und sich gegenseitig helfen.
Das Buch endet nicht mit einem Happy End, das hätte auch nicht zur Glaubhaftigkeit beigetragen. Vielmehr ist der Roman deprimierend, verstörend und düster - denn leider kennt man solcher Art Vorfälle ja auch bereits aus dem realen Leben, wenn auch noch nicht in so krassen Ausmaßen. Ich kann "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" nur empfehlen, vielleicht sogar als Unterrichtslektüre ab der 8. Klasse, und hoffen, dass sich solche Zustände in derart gewaltigem und zerstörerischem Gewand niemals an einer Schule abspielen werden.
Zur Gestaltung des Buchs: Das Cover zeigt eine Messerklinge in Großaufnahme, an der Blutstropfen hängen. Somit wird schon von Anfang an klar, was das Thema dieses Romans ist.
Fazit: Anthony McGowan hat mit "Der Tag, an dem ich starb" ein aufrüttelndes und erschreckendes Buch über eine Schule geschrieben, an der Gewalt an der Tagesordnung ist. Ein absolutes Lese-Muss, das den Leser nicht kalt lässt und noch lange nachhallt.
Wertung: 5 von 5 Punkten
July 5, 2024
ASAHAHHHDHSHDNBD. NO WORDS. This is one of my favourite books ever. I could write essays on the homoeroticism of this book, and the heartbreak I felt at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2010
Any book that opens talking about the specifics of a knife that killed them has potential. There is little doubt in the reader's mind the narrator has been killed by said knife, instantly sparking numerous questions about the events that led to it and even who was holding the lethal knife. McGowan opens the book with mystery and weaves the tale smoothly up until the stunning ending.
Paul is a likeable character who tries to fly under the radar at his school but when the bully- or most influential kid at school- shows interest in him, he reacts like most teens would do and begins to go along with what he's asked. Proving himself in unlikely ways , Paul soon finds himself immersed in a difficult situation and McGowan handled his motivations and responses very realistically, strongly showing the traits of this character. In the short time span this book courses, Paul shows a striking amount of growth and understanding, mixed with a more typical teenage type of response to certain situations all coming together to create a stunning character.
It is not only Roth whom Paul begins to show an interest in but the school "freaks" as well- the ones that stick with their supposed leader Shane and while they are picked on, they don't feel the same wave of terror associated with Roth. Paul doesn't fit in but he finds a way to, craving their companionship in a heartbreaking yet empathetic manner. This group holds its own hierarchy and its own set of unique characters, helping to drive this story towards the ending.
The plot, while seemingly simple, has a few shocking twists and even when the outcome seems clear, McGowan throws in something else before coming to the ending, tying everything together in a very memorable, resonating method. This ending will take your breath away and at least for the few moments after you've read the last words will leave you lost in thought. McGowan's writing is strong but very much keeps in time with a UK teenager, reminding the reader the setting of the book and even holding some times where Paul simply can't explain his thoughts because, despite what is happening around him, he is a teenager. From the disturbing contents of the mysterious package and message Paul delivered for Roth to the innocent crush Paul develops, The Knife That Killed Me is a swift read with a strong point driven home by the final page.
Paul is a likeable character who tries to fly under the radar at his school but when the bully- or most influential kid at school- shows interest in him, he reacts like most teens would do and begins to go along with what he's asked. Proving himself in unlikely ways , Paul soon finds himself immersed in a difficult situation and McGowan handled his motivations and responses very realistically, strongly showing the traits of this character. In the short time span this book courses, Paul shows a striking amount of growth and understanding, mixed with a more typical teenage type of response to certain situations all coming together to create a stunning character.
It is not only Roth whom Paul begins to show an interest in but the school "freaks" as well- the ones that stick with their supposed leader Shane and while they are picked on, they don't feel the same wave of terror associated with Roth. Paul doesn't fit in but he finds a way to, craving their companionship in a heartbreaking yet empathetic manner. This group holds its own hierarchy and its own set of unique characters, helping to drive this story towards the ending.
The plot, while seemingly simple, has a few shocking twists and even when the outcome seems clear, McGowan throws in something else before coming to the ending, tying everything together in a very memorable, resonating method. This ending will take your breath away and at least for the few moments after you've read the last words will leave you lost in thought. McGowan's writing is strong but very much keeps in time with a UK teenager, reminding the reader the setting of the book and even holding some times where Paul simply can't explain his thoughts because, despite what is happening around him, he is a teenager. From the disturbing contents of the mysterious package and message Paul delivered for Roth to the innocent crush Paul develops, The Knife That Killed Me is a swift read with a strong point driven home by the final page.
April 2, 2011
The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony McGowan is a book about the life of a high school student Paul Varderman. It illustrates the struggles he goes through while he's trying to find a place to fit in at school. Paul doesn't like being noticed by people, he would much rather just be invisible. One day while in geography class, Paul gets gum thrown in his hair by the school bullies. After school that day, the baddest bully in the school, Roth, approaches Paul. He's not rude to Paul, he just says that they need to chat sometime. When this time comes around, Paul has began to make a few new friends, the "freaks" of the school. Paul stands up for one of them, Maddy, in French class when the teacher is being mean to her. The leader of the "freaks", Shane, invites Paul to his house to hang out and meet everyone else. When Paul is leaving school that day, Roth finds him. Roth talks to him, and Paul finds out what Roth wants him to do. Roth wants Paul to deliver a package to Goddo, one of the Temple Moor kids that Paul's school has been rivals with for a long time. Paul does this, afraid of what Roth might to do to him if he doesn't. Once Goddo opens the package, he realizes how twisted and cruel Roth is. In the package is the head of Goddo's pitbull puppy, Suzie. To get back at Roth, the Temple Moor kids spray paint rude things about Roth on a wall at the school that everyone looks at. This action means war. Everyone starts talking about the big fight that's going to go down between the two rivals. Roth wants Paul to get involved in it, but Paul is still undecided. While all of this drama is going on, Paul starts to realize that he likes Maddy, one of the freaks. He asks her to go see a movie with him, but when she doesn't show up, Paul feels embarrassed and betrayed, so he decides to ditch the "freaks" and fight with Roth. During the fight, something goes horribly wrong and it will change Paul and his friends' lives forever. At the end of the book, Paul feels worthless and he deeply regrets the decision he made. This book shows the consequences that can come out of bad decisions. It's a great book that shows the emotions one has while trying to find friends in a new place.
Level Three Question:
Is it ever acceptable to put our happiness before the safety of a group?
Level Three Question:
Is it ever acceptable to put our happiness before the safety of a group?
January 31, 2016
(This is my first Goodreads review)
Paul just can't fit in. He lives in a school that begets violence, and with teachers that for the most part, have lost their passion amidst all the ferocity and academic apathy. All of the school cliques share different interests than him. And he dwells in a home with parents who are kind, but can't give their son the attention and feeling of belonging that he yearns for (and what teen doesn't respect their parents, unless they're some badass warriors?) That all changes when the bully, Roth, gives him a knife, a knife that gives him a feeling of power. A knife that will change the dullness of his life. You'll have to find out if it's for the better by reading the book.
Authors often use binary characters and situations to get a story across simply. A bully is a brute with no intellect, and an insatiable passion for violence. A reject is a timid nerd who lacks the courage to stand up for himself when he/she is attacked by said brute. There's sometimes never any indication that people share traits from a variety of stereotypes. This is not the case here. In this book, Mcgowan took a knife and carved his characters with complexity. The brutish bully is able to emotionally manipulate his prey without sending a fist in their face, while the head "freak" possesses a lot of charm and courage.
The book is able to fully flesh out a wealth of characters despite its shortness. Every character has their own idiosyncrasies that you come to know and love (and hate in some cases). The page length isn't the only thing that is minimalist: the writing is too. Not a single word is wasted, Paul's isolation is economically aching. It's a marvel that Mcgowan manages to peel back the hidden hurt of other characters in the brief process.
The book makes good on all the buildup for the knife, and it concludes on a note that doesn't end on a disappointingly everyone's-happy-and-it's-all-tied-up note like "Jack Tumor" (the only other Mcgowan book I've read; I like this one more) did. The only thing that stops me from giving this book 5* is that I wasn't reeling at the conclusion like I thought I would. The buildup is excellent, but the ending is like a blunt knife to the heart. A knife that only wounds, and, sadly, did not kill me.
Paul just can't fit in. He lives in a school that begets violence, and with teachers that for the most part, have lost their passion amidst all the ferocity and academic apathy. All of the school cliques share different interests than him. And he dwells in a home with parents who are kind, but can't give their son the attention and feeling of belonging that he yearns for (and what teen doesn't respect their parents, unless they're some badass warriors?) That all changes when the bully, Roth, gives him a knife, a knife that gives him a feeling of power. A knife that will change the dullness of his life. You'll have to find out if it's for the better by reading the book.
Authors often use binary characters and situations to get a story across simply. A bully is a brute with no intellect, and an insatiable passion for violence. A reject is a timid nerd who lacks the courage to stand up for himself when he/she is attacked by said brute. There's sometimes never any indication that people share traits from a variety of stereotypes. This is not the case here. In this book, Mcgowan took a knife and carved his characters with complexity. The brutish bully is able to emotionally manipulate his prey without sending a fist in their face, while the head "freak" possesses a lot of charm and courage.
The book is able to fully flesh out a wealth of characters despite its shortness. Every character has their own idiosyncrasies that you come to know and love (and hate in some cases). The page length isn't the only thing that is minimalist: the writing is too. Not a single word is wasted, Paul's isolation is economically aching. It's a marvel that Mcgowan manages to peel back the hidden hurt of other characters in the brief process.
The book makes good on all the buildup for the knife, and it concludes on a note that doesn't end on a disappointingly everyone's-happy-and-it's-all-tied-up note like "Jack Tumor" (the only other Mcgowan book I've read; I like this one more) did. The only thing that stops me from giving this book 5* is that I wasn't reeling at the conclusion like I thought I would. The buildup is excellent, but the ending is like a blunt knife to the heart. A knife that only wounds, and, sadly, did not kill me.
June 3, 2010
Before reading, I had heard both good and bad things about The Knife That Killed Me. And I had absolutely no idea what it was about when I started. But, wow am I glad I got the chance to read it because it was really… indescribable.
With a story unlike any other I have ever read, The Knife That Killed Me introduced me to a whole new world that I have been sheltered from my whole life. Living in a small, country town in the-middle-of-freaking-nowhere, USA, I had no idea things like this actually happened.
The characters were average, nothing really special. But most of them didn’t feel real enough for me to become too emotionally attached to, but some absolutely were. I didn’t really like the protagonist, but feel that nobody else could have done the job of the main character justice, other than Paul. Most of the background characters were good too.
The setting was decent. I liked that it was in the UK, but could it have been more described? Yes. Did it need to be? For the most part, no. You got the idea of the area and that gave you big enough hint to what you would be getting later on.
The writing was my biggest problem with the books. It was so just so choppy. I felt like someone was just chucking short sentences at me as fast as they could. And I really couldn’t stand it. I knew from the beginning that I would not like the writing, but I manned up and dealt with it.
One thing that bothered me was the actual plot. Does this kind of stuff really go on? I have never heard of anything like this before. Sure, there are gangs in inner-cities, but do they really go to these extremes? If you have read the book and have actually heard of this kind of stuff in real life, please let me know.
The Knife That Killed me was an emotional journey about a boy who goes down the wrong path. And keeps going until it is too late. If you need something to make you think, pick up this book. Before it kills you.
With a story unlike any other I have ever read, The Knife That Killed Me introduced me to a whole new world that I have been sheltered from my whole life. Living in a small, country town in the-middle-of-freaking-nowhere, USA, I had no idea things like this actually happened.
The characters were average, nothing really special. But most of them didn’t feel real enough for me to become too emotionally attached to, but some absolutely were. I didn’t really like the protagonist, but feel that nobody else could have done the job of the main character justice, other than Paul. Most of the background characters were good too.
The setting was decent. I liked that it was in the UK, but could it have been more described? Yes. Did it need to be? For the most part, no. You got the idea of the area and that gave you big enough hint to what you would be getting later on.
The writing was my biggest problem with the books. It was so just so choppy. I felt like someone was just chucking short sentences at me as fast as they could. And I really couldn’t stand it. I knew from the beginning that I would not like the writing, but I manned up and dealt with it.
One thing that bothered me was the actual plot. Does this kind of stuff really go on? I have never heard of anything like this before. Sure, there are gangs in inner-cities, but do they really go to these extremes? If you have read the book and have actually heard of this kind of stuff in real life, please let me know.
The Knife That Killed me was an emotional journey about a boy who goes down the wrong path. And keeps going until it is too late. If you need something to make you think, pick up this book. Before it kills you.
September 2, 2016
Paul is your typical, middle of the road, middle of the pack, Catholic Comp student. This makes him an easy target for the sadistic school bully Roth. His usual MO is keep your head down, ignore them, and they’ll move on. However, one day Roth turns the table and incorporates Paul into one of his evil plans. Paul soon finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place, when Roth gives him a knife for safe keeping. He must choose whether to do the right thing and risk becoming ostracized again or be one of the lads and face the consequences.
This was a really great UK YA book dealing with universal issues but it is also something that is extremely prevalent in our UK schools - if we are to believe the papers anyway. I have been out of those hallways for quite a while now so I couldn’t say for sure.
The Knife That Killed Me was a fast paced story with no frills - just some cold hard truths. The main one being, if you’ve got a weapon, you’ll probably end up using it no matter what you say. You will then have to face the consequences. This is something that needs to be hammered home over and over again to our young and vulnerable.
Anthony McGowan did a really nice job of showing the inner conflict of the average teenager through Paul. Maybe the baddie - Roth - was overly bad. Then again, we all know kids can be cruel, so maybe Roth was an accurate depiction of the noughteens (is that what we’re calling this decade?) bully? I was lucky in that my schools were never like this but I’m sure there will be many readers who can relate to Paul’s story. However, we definitely had characters like Shane and his gang at our school and a teacher eerily similar to Mrs Eel!
If I were an English or Drama teacher, I would definitely try to plan a few lessons around The Knife That Killed Me. It provides a wealth of discussion points and the twist at the end means it would stick with the students for a long time.
This was a really great UK YA book dealing with universal issues but it is also something that is extremely prevalent in our UK schools - if we are to believe the papers anyway. I have been out of those hallways for quite a while now so I couldn’t say for sure.
The Knife That Killed Me was a fast paced story with no frills - just some cold hard truths. The main one being, if you’ve got a weapon, you’ll probably end up using it no matter what you say. You will then have to face the consequences. This is something that needs to be hammered home over and over again to our young and vulnerable.
Anthony McGowan did a really nice job of showing the inner conflict of the average teenager through Paul. Maybe the baddie - Roth - was overly bad. Then again, we all know kids can be cruel, so maybe Roth was an accurate depiction of the noughteens (is that what we’re calling this decade?) bully? I was lucky in that my schools were never like this but I’m sure there will be many readers who can relate to Paul’s story. However, we definitely had characters like Shane and his gang at our school and a teacher eerily similar to Mrs Eel!
If I were an English or Drama teacher, I would definitely try to plan a few lessons around The Knife That Killed Me. It provides a wealth of discussion points and the twist at the end means it would stick with the students for a long time.
March 17, 2015
Kamil Sebti
14 March 2014
7-E
The book begins with the main character already dead.He was killed by a knife.He was in middle school and got stabbed by one of the bullies.The author begins by describing the main characters surroundings."I'm in a gray place now i always thought hell would burn you but here i'm cold. Therefore the main character is telling his story from hell.
In the middle of the story his friends start to find out about his death.They want to find the fingerprints on knife but the police have it."We went to take the knife but the police beat us to the crime scene."They need to find the knife to get fingerprints or else they will never find the killer because 43 people are leaving the school and the killer is one of them."43 jocks are leaving and i know one of them is the murderer."Therefore it is important that they find the knife for Shane's death.
The group of Shane's friends went and stole the knife from the cops."Roth get the knife and get the hell out of here the alarm is going off."After they get the knife they go to the private jet that was about to go but Goddo threw the knife into one of the propellers."It's too late says Roth not on my watch says Goddo as he throws the knife into one of the propellers.In the end the knife that kills Shane ends up killing 43 jocks that killed him.
14 March 2014
7-E
The book begins with the main character already dead.He was killed by a knife.He was in middle school and got stabbed by one of the bullies.The author begins by describing the main characters surroundings."I'm in a gray place now i always thought hell would burn you but here i'm cold. Therefore the main character is telling his story from hell.
In the middle of the story his friends start to find out about his death.They want to find the fingerprints on knife but the police have it."We went to take the knife but the police beat us to the crime scene."They need to find the knife to get fingerprints or else they will never find the killer because 43 people are leaving the school and the killer is one of them."43 jocks are leaving and i know one of them is the murderer."Therefore it is important that they find the knife for Shane's death.
The group of Shane's friends went and stole the knife from the cops."Roth get the knife and get the hell out of here the alarm is going off."After they get the knife they go to the private jet that was about to go but Goddo threw the knife into one of the propellers."It's too late says Roth not on my watch says Goddo as he throws the knife into one of the propellers.In the end the knife that kills Shane ends up killing 43 jocks that killed him.
January 15, 2018
“The Knife That Killed Me” by Anthony McGowan is an amazing book. I could hardly put it down! I think some teens could really connect or relate to this book because I sure did. I could really feel like I was there with Paul throughout the entire book.
One reason why this book can connect to other people is because, Paul doesn’t really belong in any group but one “The Freaks.” In reality “The Freaks” aren’t really freaks at all. They are just like him, outcasts. The Freaks are just another type in his high school. Just like in most schools have their jocks, emos, alternatives, ect..
Another reason is when he gets stood up by the girl he has a crush on. Maddy is the girl of his dreams. To him she is perfect in every way but when he asks her on a date things don’t go in his favor. While he is asking her out he can tell that she isn’t interested but he is still hoping that she will go to the movies with him. Paul ends up sitting alone at the movies waiting for his dream girl that will never come.
Being stood up as a teen is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you but all in all this book was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thrill while they read.
One reason why this book can connect to other people is because, Paul doesn’t really belong in any group but one “The Freaks.” In reality “The Freaks” aren’t really freaks at all. They are just like him, outcasts. The Freaks are just another type in his high school. Just like in most schools have their jocks, emos, alternatives, ect..
Another reason is when he gets stood up by the girl he has a crush on. Maddy is the girl of his dreams. To him she is perfect in every way but when he asks her on a date things don’t go in his favor. While he is asking her out he can tell that she isn’t interested but he is still hoping that she will go to the movies with him. Paul ends up sitting alone at the movies waiting for his dream girl that will never come.
Being stood up as a teen is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you but all in all this book was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good thrill while they read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2012
FIRST IMPRESSION:
Isn't the title amazing? I love the title! And also, the knife on the cover looked pretty gruesome. So naturally, I pick it off.
WRITING STYLE:
One of the best writing styles I've ever found in literature. The sentences are never too long, and vary to keep my interest. It's astounding the amount of description the writers puts in without me realising he has.
PLOT:
The last few lines of this book... those are lines I'll never forget. They're haunting and completely paradoxic. The plot is always moving, there's never a dull moment in the book.
CHARACTERS:
I think Paul was your average guy. And that's why I didn't like him much. I mean, he had no hobbies for himself. What does he do in his spare time? He hasn't watched many movies, doesn't read many books... Maddy was my favourite character. I love how Paul shows interest in her, even though he describes her as a "horse."
OVERALL:
One of the best thrillers I've ever read. Not really for the faint of heart. Amazing characters and dialogue which was perfect.
AMOUNT OF STARS:
4
Read
April 24, 2020 Read p. 1: "The knife that killed me was a special knife ... for two centuries it was worn by Roman emperors." Then skip to "Yes, a special knife ... but it did the job."
Then read blurb.
Tease: So this summary says that the bully Roth has Paul deliver a message to a rival gang member. That makes it sound like it was in words, like a verbal message or maybe written on a piece of paper. But it wasn't written down. It was in a box. And the box was kind of wet.
That's all I'm saying!!
Then read blurb.
Tease: So this summary says that the bully Roth has Paul deliver a message to a rival gang member. That makes it sound like it was in words, like a verbal message or maybe written on a piece of paper. But it wasn't written down. It was in a box. And the box was kind of wet.
That's all I'm saying!!
September 20, 2012
I thought that the book was amazingly suspenseful. The only part that I didn't like in the book was that it didn't have the ending that I expected. At the end the bad guy was still alive while the good person, Shane died, and Paul the main character got arrested because he was the person who killed Shane accidentally when he turned around with the knife and thought it was the enemy so he stabbed him and Shane died. It wasn't a good ending for me because I still wonder how Roth, who started all the war between the schools and caused all this to happen, and I wonder if Paul is going to return to his school and if the freaks would hate him or try to accept him again as a friend. For most of the parts the book would make you want to continue reading because it would tell you parts by parts of how Paul would die. At the end Paul didn't die but his soul died because of what he has done to someone he loved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2011
I heard this book was extremely good, so I was excited to read it. I think the author is very creative, but this book just didn't do it for me.
I found the dark, violent aspects to be over the top. The book is about a boy who is lured into a gang at school. In one scene, the main character delivers a box to another other gang member. The box includes the head of the gang member's puppy. The gang takes the dog's head, opens the jaw, and forces it around the face of the main character. The stink and decay is described vividly. This is just unnecessary to me. It inspires shock in the reader, but it just disgusted me.
The ending is a bit of a surprise, but it wasn't enough for me to get over how violent and twisted the book is. I plan to check out the author's other books because I think he is creative, and I am interested to read the books he wrote in the humor genre.
I found the dark, violent aspects to be over the top. The book is about a boy who is lured into a gang at school. In one scene, the main character delivers a box to another other gang member. The box includes the head of the gang member's puppy. The gang takes the dog's head, opens the jaw, and forces it around the face of the main character. The stink and decay is described vividly. This is just unnecessary to me. It inspires shock in the reader, but it just disgusted me.
The ending is a bit of a surprise, but it wasn't enough for me to get over how violent and twisted the book is. I plan to check out the author's other books because I think he is creative, and I am interested to read the books he wrote in the humor genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2011
This book is about a High School student, called Paul Varderman, and how his life got mixed up to those of a gang. At first, Part described hating the school's gang leader, Roth, with the most infinite hate. Afterwards, when Paul stands up for himself to Roth, you see Roth suddenly being interested in Paul. Throughout the rest of the book, you listen to Paul's thoughts and you find out that he is between feeling respected and feeling disgusted since he was Roth's "mate". At the end of the book, you find out the heart-stopping action that Paul took that changed his life. You will also find out the meaning of the title; "The Knife That Killed Me."
I personally think that this was a good book and i find it very intriguing. The actions that arise in each chapter will keep you turning that page.
I personally think that this was a good book and i find it very intriguing. The actions that arise in each chapter will keep you turning that page.
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September 10, 2011This book probably made the longlist for the 2008 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize because of concern in the UK about knife crime. A warning on the back cover says that it's "not suitable for younger readers," and it isn't. Paul, the narrator, goes to a horrible school with bullying or weak teachers. Like many teens, he's ashamed of his working-class parents. Desperate to fit in somewhere, he's afraid of Roth (I was going to describe him as the school bully, but he's just the scariest of many) and put off by Shane, the leader of the "freaks," and fascinated by both. The setting is Leeds but could be in any city with more than one high school. Dark, depressing, bad language, violence, all in a realistic context.
October 26, 2011
In the novel, "The Knife That Killed Me" a boy named Paul feels nothing more of an outcast at his high school. Three bullies by the name of Roth, Miller & Bates make Paul's life miserable. Until one day Roth and his friends confront Paul. From reading only 36 pages of this story i can already relate to how Paul feels, Alone. This story really captures the struggles of the students and how they have to fear coming to school. Now, Personally i don't fear coming to school and wonder how I'll make it through the day alive or in one piece. Although, i do fear what drama the day holds and if friends will become enemies. So far, basically what i think this book is getting at is, watch who you get associated with. Brilliant.
October 1, 2012
I think that this book is alright because there is a lot of tension between Paul and Roth. When you keep reading, I think you get used to the knife and start seeing it as less creepy. Also, you will start to understand how the knife was a big part for Paul and how he changed because at the end, he ends up killing a boy named, Mickey, who was on his team. I feel sorry for Mickey because he decided to help out Paul and all Paul did was hurt him. I think Paul did the right thing in the beginning by backing out but too bad Roth wouldn't let him. I would say that this is all Roth's fault since he let Paul get near that knife and that he made him stay in his gang.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2022
I think The Knife that killed me was a good book. It is about a boy who is shy and does not talk to many people. He stands up for a girl and then people start to notice him, some are good and some are bad. He learns many things from both sides that help him throught the book. I liked how the storyline kept making me want to read more and more and I never knew what was going to happen next. One thing I disliked though was the random paragrphs that were in between chapters some of them didn't make sense to me. Over all I think this book is a good book for teens who like mystery and susense books.
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