Book Review: Jude by Kate Morgenroth

Jude was a great book because it was a gripping thriller and kept me reading all night. Here's the deal, the main character, Jude, was kidnapped as a baby by his drug dealing father, who, just happens to be a former cop. Jude lives with his father
the following 15 years. One day his father is killed for tampering with his supply to try and get more money. His supplier finds out, comes to his apartment, and kills his father in front of him. Then the murderers threaten Jude but Jude promises not to tell anyone about what happened to his father.

Jude's mother, who's been out of the picture for 15 years, is contacted when he is brought into custody, she just happens to be the prosecuting attorney. She brings him into her home but is not very loving towards him, kind of like she doesn't know how. Her cop boyfriend, Harry seems very supportive and friendly to Jude. He lives with her for a couple of months and attends high school with rich kids when he is approached by the "bad kids" to help them buy drugs.

He reluctantly sets them up with a dealer. In the end he is blamed for a death of one of the students when they overdose. He is busted for selling drugs when he was not the one actually selling the. His mother, who's running for mayor needs to distance herself from Jude's arrest to increase her chances of being voted into office. His mom’s boyfriend helps work a deal but he ends up going to jail anyway.

It just gets worse from there for Jude. I don't want to spoil the ending so you'll just have to read the story to find out what happens next. I recommend this book highly and give it 4 out of 5 pickles.

I've also just finished up a book called Bottled Up by Jaye Murray - I'll fill you in soon.

Just FYI - I did start a book called Whirligig by Paul Fleischman but ended up not finishing it. Why, you ask? Well, it started out good. A boy who kills a girl when driving drunk finds himself on a strange journey building whirligigs. My problem was when the author began introducing lots of new characters in the middle of the story I found myself losing interest...but you might just like it.