★ 02/02/2015
In his narration, Heyborne proves once again to be a voice-actor extraordinaire, especially with his portrayal of Matthew Turner, the protagonist. In this book about loss, each emotion of the complicated but immediately sympathetic and likeable young man—including faux indifference, teenage lust, and indignant grieving—is realistically verbalized by Heyborne. Hopkins’s story line is logical and progressive, highlighting an endless loss and encompassing grief, the loss of a sibling, suicide, bullying, homosexuality, divorce, and relationships with authorities and peers. Dialogue is thoughtful, yet free-flowing, and Heyborne never fails at vocally embodying the essence of each character. The tale remains consistently cohesive until the last several tracks, when a rushed and unsatisfying ending is saved only by Heyborne’s unwavering telling of an otherwise expertly written story. Nevertheless, the coupling of Hopkins’s words with Heyborne’s voice is still fairly close to a slice of audiobook heaven, and a sequel to this book, offering the reader yet another glimpse of this impressive character in his altered young adulthood, would be most welcome. Ages 14–up. A S&S/McElderry hardcover. (Dec.)
Rumble
Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
Ellen HopkinsUnabridged — 9 hours, 8 minutes
Rumble
Narrated by Kirby Heyborne
Ellen HopkinsUnabridged — 9 hours, 8 minutes
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Overview
Matthew Turner knows it doesn't get better.
His younger brother Luke was bullied mercilessly after one of Matt's friends outed Luke to the whole school, and when Luke called Matt-on the brink of suicide-Matt was too wrapped up in his new girlfriend to answer the phone. Now Luke is gone, and Matt's family is falling apart.
No matter what his girlfriend Hayden says about forgiveness, there's no way Matt's letting those he blames off the hook-including himself. As Matt spirals further into bitterness, he risks losing Hayden, the love of his life. But when her father begins to pressure the school board into banning books because of their homosexual content, he begins to wonder if he and Hayden ever had anything in common.
With brilliant sensitivity and emotional resonance, bestselling author Ellen Hopkins's Rumble explores bullying and suicide in a powerful story that examines the value of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Editorial Reviews
06/16/2014
Hopkins again tackles hot-button subjects through free verse, taking on cyberbullying, censorship, the role of religion, and the difficulties of veterans returning from war. At the center of her overstuffed but well-constructed story is smart, opinionated 18-year-old Matt, who is struggling with anger and a disintegrating family following the suicide of his gay younger brother, Luke. Matt leans on his girlfriend, Hayden, for support, while raging against her religion and the evangelical Christians whose bullying he blames for Luke’s death. When Hayden’s father tries to get the school board to remove copies of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Matt counters that “Maybe if the kids who drove over the brink had read the right books, they would’ve understood that being gay doesn’t make you bad or even different.” A violent twist very late in the story leaves Matt with new, life-altering challenges—something that he makes peace with rather suddenly, given the circumstances. Still, Hopkins expertly documents Matt’s increasing ability to accept and love others in his life, and eventually himself. Ages 14–up. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. (Aug.)
"Hopkins’ many fans... [will find] catharsis and comfort in her portrayal of teens facing and surviving myriad societal problems. Fans wait eagerly for the next Hopkins book, and this one will be no exception."
"Hopkins is well known for her ability to address difficult situations with skill and sensitivity, and this novel is no exception."
Hopkins’ many fans... [will find] catharsis and comfort in her portrayal of teens facing and surviving myriad societal problems. Fans wait eagerly for the next Hopkins book, and this one will be no exception."
03/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—Matt Turner's world is falling apart—his beloved younger brother was bullied into suicide and his home life is in turmoil. He is angry at God, who let it all happen, and he's sick of hearing that he has to forgive, even when the message comes from Hayden, his loving girlfriend, who's spending an increasing amount of time with her youth ministry group—and its handsome young leader. Matt decides to live life as he wants, even if that means making not-so-great choices, but when an event happens that's out of Matt's control, he is forced to reexamine his position. Ultimately, this is a story of redemption, faith, and forgiveness. Narrator Kirby Heyborne gives life and voice to the author's characters. VERDICT This book will appeal to Hopkins's fans, as well as students seeking to explore homosexuality, PTSD, and dysfunctional family relationships.—Amanda Rollins, Northwest Village School, Plainville, CT
2014-06-10
Almost six months after his younger brother’s suicide, a high school senior slogs through tangled resentment and guilt.Matt’s world has never been rich with happiness, what with his cold parents who retreat “to their separate alcohol-soaked / corners.” Dad bitterly rues the one-night stand that created Matt and forced the marriage; their house “is a sponge, / absorbing regret until it can hold / no more and disillusionment drips // through the bloated pores.” Now Matt shoulders his own crushing regret. Luke was three years younger—Matt should have protected him from the homophobic and religious bullies; he should have told adults how depressed Luke was, even sneaking Mom’s Prozac, which can be dangerous for teens. He definitely shouldn’t have been distracted by his girlfriend on Luke’s last, desperate day. Now that very girlfriend seems to be “trading [Matt] in // for Jesus.” The sturdy, fast-reading free-verse poems—which sometimes shift into elegance—give a heavy sense of Matt’s anger and discomfort, as well as how he vacillates between decency and churlishness. Themes of combat-induced PTSD, Christian fundamentalist bigotry, forgiveness, and foreshadowed violence integrate deftly. The climax surprises in the best way. Brief but explicit acknowledgement of the It Gets Better campaign (and why it didn’t help Luke) grounds the contemporary setting.Readers devour Hopkins regardless, but this is strong and worthy. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170801541 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | 12/02/2014 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
Read an Excerpt
Rumble
Between the gray of consciousness
and the obsidian where dreams
ebb and flow, there is a wishbone
window. And trapped in its glass,
a single silver shard of enlightenment.
It is this mystics search for. The truth
of the Holy Grail. It is this believers
pray for. The spark, alpha and omega.
It is this the gilded claim to hold
in the cups of their hands. But what
of those who plunge into slumber,
who snap from sleep’s embrace?
What of those who measure their
tomorrows with finite numbers, cross
them off their calendars one by
one? Some say death is a doorway,
belief the key. Others claim you only
have to stumble across the threshold
to glimpse a hundred billion universes
in the blink of single silver shard.
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