Scowler by Daniel Kraus

Summary

     Scowler tells the story of nineteen-year-old Ry who has to find a way to survive from the horror that is his father.  The story takes place on a hot August day in 1981 rural Iowa.  There Is a strong possibility that meteorites might fall to the earth this night.  The books start off with Ry and his sister looking for one of her teeth that had fallen off; but they could not find it after they searched their dead family farm.

       The farm was not always considered to be dead.   When Ry’s father, Marvin was there on the farm; he made sure that the farm was strong and full of life.  He took meticulous control of his land and his family; with the eyes and hands of a man that strived to be in complete control.  One of Marvin’s main interest to control was that of his wife; making sure that everyone around them new that Marvin was a good farmer and is fully capable to provide for his wife and children.   Besides trying to be a good provider; he was also an abusive husband and father. 

The story is told in two alternative time lines one in 1981 and another going back to 1971 and 1972.       The latter being the time that Marvin was sent to jail.   Well in 1981; we learn that Marvin was able to get out of fail and is now back on the farm.  T becomes apparently clear that Marvin will continue to hurt, haunt and manipulate his family to be able to get what he wants. 

      Ry must then get angry and let his inner demons out; one that is dark, disturbing and brutal.  There is a lot blood and plenty of it But in the end; we are able to  see what a son does to help his mother out. 

Commentary on Strengths

Scowler is a young adult horror fiction book written by Daniel Kraus. It was listed on the 2014 Texas Tayshas Reading list.  The main protagonist is Ry Burke who must deal with the main antagonist who happens to be his father.  Scowler is dark, disturbing and brutal.  There is plenty of blood that is shed in this book and more than anything people would put this book down several times to come to terms as to what had just occurred.  This book is not recommended for the faint of heart; and you must be warned that there is categorized as a horror book. 

Readers also enjoyed Black Helicopters by Blythe Woolston; The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman; Engines of the Broken World by Jason Vanhee; Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobian; and Long Lankin by Linsey Barraclough

Additional books written by the author are Rotters; The Monster Variations; and Trollhunters

Teachers can find ideas for using this book in their lesson plans at https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?a=1&aid=11675&a2=1#BooksByAuthor 

Kraus, D. (2014). Scowler. Random House USA.

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