Review: Suckerpunch

author: David Hernandez

2008 Harper Collins

main character: Marcus Mendoza

Marcus seems to be a nice kid who, like most 17 year old boys is trying to make sense of his world. He seems to be defined by his brokenness as are most of the characters in the book. Marcus’ best friend’s father just committed suicide and at his funeral, Marcus fantasizes about killing his own father. After all, his father has abused and abandoned his family. When he decides to come back, Marcus and his brother confront his dad and tell him they do not want him back. They no longer want his violent temper destroying their home.

On the back of the book, Hernandez describes a suckerpunch as an unanticipated punch or blow and in his eyes, we all seem to have received a blow. We spend our teen years finding ways to deal with not only our own blows, but those of others. And, that can be a painful thing to do.

themes: suicide; resilience; shortcomings; abuse