Rash by Pete Hautman

Discussion questions to come. Would you like to post a comment about this book? Tell us what you liked or disliked about it!

Comments

[M. Rohrbach]

I loved this book! I wonder if the book isn't a little prophetic about a time when large corporations take over government institutions like prisons and schools and everyone has a type of "medicinal lobotomy." It reminded me of Brave New World, a more serious book about a futuristic dystopia where individuality is suppressed.

[M.R., Ms. Schleider's reading class, Atlantic Technical HS]

Rash was a funny but prophetic book that made me wonder if in the future the government will be run by large corporations who make everyone stay medicated to stay calm.

[Joseph T. mrs. Schleider's Adv Reading 10th Class, Atlantic Technical Center]

This book is one of the most interesting books I have read in awhile. To me, it captures the future of America because I think that we are heading towards a country of fear. We fear getting hurt, hurting others and we are afraid that anything we do will get us in trouble. This book captures this perfectly. I agree with M. Rohrbach that this book seems like it’s telling a prophecy of big businesses taking over the country and turning prison systems into labor camps. I think that the boy will become a star in the game of football if he was able to get to the South American countries. What I like about this story is that it shows how some people cannot control their attitudes and that sometimes you need to give some leeway to them. Also I found it funny how all the kids thought they were sick but it was all just a trick of their minds.

[B.C.mrs. Schleider's Adv Reading 10th Class, Atlantic Technical Center]

this book had a confusing plot, but when you get it you don't lose track. I wouldn't want to be medicated to stay calm. It sounds bad but the book was surprisingly well written and i enjoyed reading it.

[A.E., Ms. Schleider, 10th, Atlantic Tech Highschool]

Rash was a really interesting book to me.I really liked that he had to play football when he was in the prison, and it was illegal so there wasnt to many rules. Like the comments before mine, the book got me thinking about how the future could turn out, If the government would control everything and make a boring nation on concerned about safety. After reading this book, I got interested in his other ones. He is a very good author.

[JR]

I found the novel Rash to be a very entertaining piece of literature. It told the story of a short tempered teenager living in an immensely strict future. This story expressed the emotions of the main character Bo Marsten so well, that a sense of understanding was created between him and the reader. In the process of reading Rash I felt a connection to what the main character was going through. I was able to understand his frustration at school because I am going through similar situations at my school. After Bo Marsten made it out of the correctional facility he had difficulty adjusting back to the life of a citizen. I predict that Bo will eventually do something to get himself locked up again.