maybe there's more in the book (spoilers)

i've not read the book (didn't know one existed), but i had an interested siskell and ebert moment with my wife. i disliked it and she loved it. my kid also liked it.

the wife thought it did a really good in showing what it feels like for a child who feels abonded and how sadness roots out and can overtake you, etc.

my problem was that i felt like there were things missing in the theme that aren't in the movie and may be in the book. it seems they offer themes felt that this kid had a psychosis breakdown and is a candidate for possible future issues with psychosis. understandable since his mum is dying, but the things that were red flags for me on this kid is this: he's manifesting an altered reality with this tree dude. then he acts out in a destructive manner destroys the house, i mean he *beep* that house up. he then dumps trash all in the front yard. he destroys school books and doesn't listen to the teacher. and everyone around him enables this behaviour. yes, his mom's dying, but they have to offer discipline of some form. the other thing is that he exhibits masochistic behaviour, possibly because of the enabling of his behaviour. he even wants his altered reality psychosis to hurt him. then, the one guy who gives him the wanted punishment stops hurting him, he lashes out in anger and doesn't just kick this dude's ass, but puts this kid in the hospital. and, once again, the behaviour is enabled.

on top of that, his home life is *beep* he's got a grandmother who is borderline abusive if not completely abusive (verbally, at least, but she may offer the pain he desires). then, he's got a *beep* father who is never going to be around. so, the messaging that happens is that all good people in life will end up dead. mum was the good thing in his life and she's dead. the good thing in his mum's life was her father, and he's dead.

not once did this kid get a proper disciplining that one would do for a kid who is going through such grievancy, instead he experiences extreme pain. so, at the end of it all, the movie is a tragedy. he's stuck with a mother who may blame him for the loss of her daughter. his grandmother may offer the abuse he desires but may not offer the helpful form of discipline that a child needs. his psychosis didn't end, and may not end after that. so, he will need a lot of counseling, but no one seems to be offering that to him, and so he may end up with a really terrible life. i don't know if he'll end up shooting the school, but if his perspective of healthy discipline is not approached he may end up at least harming himself.