Dennison,+Rachel

=A Beautiful Boy = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Plot = David Sheff tells of his son’s addiction to methamphetamines from his own point of view. Before Nic was addicted to crystal meth, he was a charismatic boy with plenty of friends and was adored by his two younger siblings. Nic was even a varsity athlete and did well in school. But, Nic was consumed by drugs and changed into a lying, stealing addict. David Sheff goes through his thoughts, fears, and feelings about watching Nic struggle with drug addiction. He researched every solution possible to help his son: rehabilitation centers, AA meetings, medical consultations. David Sheff refers to his obsessive worry about Nic as his own addiction. 

=** David Sheff **=
 * Journalist
 * he has had articles published in The New York Times and Rolling Stone Magazine
 * most famous article-"My Addicted Son"
 * Awarded "Outstanding Contribution to Advancing the Understanding of Addiction" by the Phsycgology Association


 * Other Works...
 * Game Over
 * China Dawn
 * All We Are Saying

= Style =

The book is written in first person(David Sheff) about his son's addiction. He takes the time to explain Nic's childhood and drill it into the reader's mind that it could happen to anyone. Sheff tells the story of Nic's addiction chronologically with the occasional flashback. David Sheff is intelligent and well informed on every topic he discusses. From phsychological studies about children of divorced parents to rehabilitating drug addicts, it is clear that Sheff has done his research. He is able to explain the sickening worry that he feels for his son at all times and the difficulty for a parent to stay dedicated to someone who seems beyond salvation.

= Review =

A beautiful story about a father's struggle with his son's addiction that draws you in immediately. The thought, "It could happen to anyone." repeats itself throughout your mind when reading this book. It is emotional, informed, and makes you understand the effects of a drug addict's actions on his or her family.

= = =Critic Reviews = Chavez, Donna. "Beautiful Boy Early Reviews." Rev. of Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. davidsheff.com. David Sheff, 2010. Web. May 27, 2010. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: left;"><[|http://www.davidsheff.com]> Maslin, Janet. "When Addicted Son Hurts, Father Feels His Own Pain." Rev. of Beautiful boy by David Sheff. nytimes.com. The New York Times, 2008. Web. May 27, 2010. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: left;"><[|http://www.nytimes.com]>

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