Going Bovine

Bray, Libba, Going Bovine, Random House, 2009, 480 pgs.

Summary: Cameron lives his life under the radar just trying to get through high school. After smoking some marijuana, Cameron begins to hallucinate about fire gods and lose control of his muscles. Chalking it up to some bad weed Cameron tries to move on, but the hallucinations become more intense and his muscle control becomes worse. Cameron’s parents take him to the doctor and discovered that Cameron has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human equivalent of Mad Cow disease. From this point forward the novel comes alive while Cameron partakes in a road trip from Texas to New Orleans and finally ending in Florida all in an effort to find Dr. X and get his cure and all along the way looking for “signs”. This award-winning novel by Libba Bray introduces a new take on living life rather than just existing. The journey of teaching Cameron to live rather than just exist is frustrating at times for the reader, as it is unclear whether it is real or a hallucination, but overall this novel is an outstanding jolt to YA lit and encourages teens to seize the day rather than wallow in apathy.

Evaluation: I really enjoyed this novel. I am not sure if it was because when I finally reached the end, I found out what was really happening or if because all that happens on Cameron’s journey is so completely bizarre. Either way this is at times part science fiction, part fantasy, and always funny. I would recommend this to just about any teen that is not living each day to the fullest. This book is sure to inspire.

Annotation: I have mad cow disease and this death obsessed dwarf at the hospital thinks the cure can be found. Well if I am going to die, might as well go on a road trip to find the cure.

Significance of Book: This book really embodies seizing the day. The oddities that are introduced really bring perspective to a persons life.

Genre/subject: mad cow disease, fiction, self discovery

Awards:

National:

• · Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2010
• · Booklist Editor's Choice: 2009
• · Michael L. Printz Award: 2010
• · PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS: 2009

State:

• · Arizona: Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees: 2012
• · New Hampshire: Flume Award Nominees: 2011

Why I selected the book: I honestly selected this novel because of the cover. The book I have has a cow carrying a garden gnome.

Price: $26.80