Harlan

By: David Whitman

Narrated by: Tim Campbell

Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

"....there are times where they probably will punish you for asking. But that only means that you're having an effect on the system." —Harlan Sexton

Harlan is about a suicidal, death-obsessed teenager by the name of Harlan Sexton. Turning himself into a ticking bomb, he has decided to kill himself at the end of the school year unless his closest friend, Julian, can find a way to change his mind. And that's just the beginning - the tension is amped up by the return of his abusive redneck father, a town serial killer stalking his female classmates, and an all-out violent war between Harlan and a jock bully from school. If John Hughes had directed a movie inspired by the Columbine tragedy, it would be like this book.

©2002 David Whitman (P)2011 David N. Wilson

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

NO SPOILERS! First off the narrator Tim Campbell is fantastic!

The story is more of a coming of age story centered on a teenage boy with a lot of angst and family trauma.

The story is NOT about suicide or school shootings. Even though the story is very dark, it made me laugh in places and I came to care about Harlan.

This book should also be classified under young adult and psychological. The story has complex characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. I am an adult but my son overheard the book and was very intrigued so I think it would attract anyone in high school.

It also says on the cover that the story is part of a “scary redneck series.” Had I noticed this before purchasing I wouldn’t have bought it, however the story has an eloquent protagonist and there was nothing redneck about the story at all.

I only wish I didn’t binge listen in one sitting. I’d love to hear more.

After school special

What did you like best about Harlan? What did you like least?

The reader was very good. The story was nice just a little too juvenile for my taste. It would be a great read for a teenager.

What was most disappointing about David Whitman’s story?

It really went nowhere. From the synopsis I thought there would be a lot of tension and conflict, but even the serial killer aspect of the plot left me flat. Really, just nothing happened. It continued exactly as it opened - the diary ramblings of a depressed angst-ridden teenage boy.

Which character – as performed by Tim Campbell – was your favorite?

Harlan. Tim Campbell has a great voice. If it were not for him I probably would have stopped listening after chapter 5.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. Maybe when I was 16.

Harlan

I really thought this was going to be just a teen age suicide story.It is not.It is a well thought out book with so many twists and turns,it is hard to keep up.From bullies and kids just not dealing with them anymore,to a killer,turned serial killer,it is a very good read.Tim Campbell was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

I was surprised that I enjoyed this story so much

I did not expect that listening to a story about a suicidal teen could be so compelling. The character grew on me as the story unfolded. The narration was very fine. A well told story.