Robert Cormier

Delving deep into the human psyche once again, Robert Cormier introduces Jason, a 12-year-old boy accused of a brutal murder, who faces the insidious scrutiny of a daunting and methodical interrogator determined to get his confession.

The Rag and Bone Shop

Jeff Brown 

This was a stunningly quick read in that the closer you get toward the end, it feels like you’re running downhill as the pages fly by.

A 12-year-old boy is the prime suspect in the murder of a seven-year-old girl. The interrogation of the boy is 75% of the book. The interrogator — a ruthless man that always gets his confession. The boy — shy, timid, friendless. The interrogation is both painful and fascinating to read. But the twist in the final few pages was shocking. And *maybe* the final line was unnecessary? Read, enjoy and determine that for yourself.

Lynn Braden

The Rag and Bone Shop is a truly disturbing story that is not really a young adult book at all, even though it is labeled as one. In the story, Alicia Bartlett, a precocious seven year old, is murdered. The police find no physical evidence and have no suspects, but political pressure is placed on the local police to make an arrest. Bowing to that pressure and his own insecurities, the local chief of police decides Jason Dorrant, a local teen and the last person visiting Alicia's house, must be the killer. He calls in a famous interrogator, also dealing with his own insecurities to break Jason and make him confess. 

The ending of this book is truly horrific, making, Jason, an average young teen, a villain when the adults are the true villains in the story. I did not enjoy this book at all and would never want young people to read it and question their own sanity.

The Rag and Bone Shop

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