Checkers is a young adult fiction novel about a girl who I am assuming to be around 15/16 years old. There is a lot of mystery about her because she doesn't say where she is or even who she is outright - everything is described very subtly and you come to realise that she's in some sort of mental facility. It is written in first person and she goes back and forth between telling the story in the present and telling it in the past, all of the events leading up to why she's in such a place.I just come to realise now that she remains completely anonymous; her name isn't mentioned ever and I quite like that because it really exemplifies her as a person because I've kind of felt that she was more of an observer than a participator.I liked what this story had to offer but I wished that there was a bit more to it. All throughout the pages, she's been hinting at something big and the reveal in the end was pretty big but I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the story to follow up. But the reveal was pretty good. (view spoiler)[All along in her Group sessions at the facility where she's been silent, one day Marj directly asks her to speak and this was what came out:As I sat there thinking about that I made up my mind to say something about the whole mess with Rider Group. But when I did open my mouth I heard my voice say, to my big surprise: 'I'm here because I killed my dog.'That really gave me a surprise because although the book is named after the dog, Checkers, the dog wasn't a central part tot he story. He's been in and out of scenes and you can tell that she loves him dearly, there wasn't a huge connection to it right up until page 103. (hide spoiler)]
Probably the most depressing book I have ever read. The main character, whose name we never hear, is in a Psych hospital throughout the entire book and we don't know why until the end. It's a mix between flashbacks to her life before the hospital and certain life-explaining situations in the hospital. The book is named after her dog, Checkers, who is spotted black and white. I can't really say much without spoiling the story for you... Basically the main character's dad gets into some issues with money and the company he works for so her home is surrounded by reporters and her life is devastated by hearing about the scandal all the time on television. Her dog is so dumb... But by the end of the book I loved that dog, and that's why the ending is so hard. When you find out why she is in this Psych hospital, it will break your heart. If you don't cry, something is very very wrong with you. There is some language at the end of the book, but it doesn't start until you only have 50 pages left in the book, so that is weird.
Now that I think about it, this book didn't reveal all that much about the main character (what's her name? I'm not sure she ever told us), but perhaps that wasn't even essential. Most of what we found out was about Checkers, and the ending came as a bit of a shock. I think I rather liked it, despite the occasional lack of details. I probably wouldn't have liked it as much if I hadn't been very close to being admitted into a ward like this, and if I hadn't felt so damn guilty last year. That's sort of the part I can relate to, and it's quite interesting. This was a really short read though.
—Lili Kathey
While in no way a stunning piece of literature, Checkers is exceptional for the unusual perspective it takes regarding political scandals. Told from the point of view of the teenaged daughter of one of the men involved, Checkers tells the tale of a family falling apart and a teenager's life being destroyed by a scandal she had no involvement in. The story weaves the nameless protagonist's flashbacks about her dog, Checkers, and the scandal that ruined her life with current day scenes in the psych ward she now calls home. While Checkers may not be the most beautifully crafted novel I have ever read, I appreciate it for the way it challenges assumptions about anything ranging from a newspaper headline to anorexia and a psych ward. Regardless of your age, Checkers is worth your time to read.
—Heather
I read this book on a whim a few summers ago, but somehow the storyline really stuck with me. It had a lot of dark humor, lightening the mood of the mental institution. I was hooked until the very end, following the protagonists current journey in the mental institution and the friends she makes there and her gripping past which eventually reveals why she is there. It was pretty shocking, and sad, but ends on a light note and gives you the feeling that she can finally move on. I would recommend it.
—Ja
