The Bad Seed

Interesting & Thought Provoking

If someone were to turn The Outsiders into a children's picture book, the outcome would be a close cousin to this book - and I say that as a very strong compliment. This is a first person narrative by a character who's trying to be good even though terrible circumstances have pushed them to be tough (bad). It starts out seeming like an anti-hero setup (somewhat bragging about being bad), turns into a tragic backstory (the seed's family were eaten and he was spit out into the trash), and then becomes a realistic redemption arc (he decides to be a better seed and starts being kind, though he still slips up on occasion). It's interesting! It's entertaining, insofar as a picture book can be. And it gives the important lesson that people she be given a chance to redeem themselves and sometimes the people we think are ‘bad seeds' are actually people who are hurting emotionally and wallowing in self-pity too much to be kind. On top of that, it encourages those who might have negative behaviours to strive to be better.

I liked this, and would recommend it to the young readers I know. It's the kind of book I would have loved as a child.

That said, however, there are a few moments where the colour of the background art clashes with the writing on the page and makes it difficult to read. I feel that detracts from what is otherwise a neat, little book.

Hoorah! I learned to read the book to myself before reading with the kids. I don't understand the hype on this one and I'm so happy to avoid my spouse being told he's bad by my toddlers because he's late to everything. Also, it's hard enough when family tells my kids they are bad for being age appropriate, can you imagine if my kids then accepted that label because the bad seed is bad sometimes and good other times?