Blood Brothers follows two friends, Jakub and Lincoln, who are so close that they are like brothers. When Jakub joins a new private school and Lincoln's brother is released from prison, their lives diverge more than they thought could be possible.

This was surprisingly a really dark, emotional read for a young adult novel involving 15 year old protagonists. I liked that we got to see the POVs of both the main characters. The novel was well-paced and readers could see how each action they made slowly drove them apart. I wasn't expecting Lincoln to get so involved in serious and violent crimes but this does lend to the title and create a double meaning. It also shows familial relationships and friendships really well and how difficult it can be to balance those and stay loyal to different people.

I don't know what the criminal justice system is like in Canada, but it did seem like Lincoln got an extremely light sentence for all the crimes he committed throughout the novel. I liked that Jakub stuck by him and intended to visit him every week whilst he was in juvie. Their friendship was the heart of the book and endured past it's ending which was probably the realistic yet nicest ending that there could have been.

I'd definitely recommend this to fans of YA books that tackle serious topics.

This is a book, I believe, that is aimed at young teens. Having read it, it's a good read as an adult too and to me, very current in the subject matter. The two main characters are Jakub (Koob) and Lincoln (Linc). They are best Friends and it's a well written relationship.

It shows how two youngsters, both on the right path, can all of a sudden be separated by one taking the wrong path.

It is something we read about in the papers weekly; gang life and lives being taken. It's very well written and I'd like to think that if a teenager read this it would give them some incite into what happens if you take the wrong path and how lives, yours included, can change. There were some strong characters in this book, and some vulnerable and easily influenced. It's heartbreaking in places.

I found the story very believable, and would like people to share this book with their teens.

DNF at 30%. I couldn't get into this book but I might try again in the future.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I finished this within a few hours. Which isn't shocking since it's pretty short.
I felt it handled the topic in a believable way.
I do think it was too short. I would of loved to see more of Jakub story. Instead of it seeming like his part was just how he was involved in Lincoln's drama and how he handled it.

This is the ultimate best friend story. Will one friend chose his blood brother over the brother of his heart... his best friend? Jakub and Lincoln have grown up together, BFF's and always had each others backs. As they get older Jakub is offered the opportunity to go to art school where Lincoln's life is getting much darker. His brother is pulling him into his gang life. Then Lincoln is faced with the choice to go against the gang or protect his best friend. Read Blood Brothers by Colleen nelson and fins out what choice Lincoln makes.

Jakub and Lincoln are more than best friends- you could say they were almost brothers. But things get increasingly difficult for them when Jakub gets a scholarship to an elite private school and Lincoln's brother lures him into a gang, and they are each forced to make tough decisions: School or friendship? The gang or Jakub?

Blood Brothers follows the story of these two boys as they struggle to deal with whatever life throws at them, even when things get out of hand. There are many characters here who are portrayed in a raw and gritty way, and you'd find yourself rooting for most of them, most of the time. I say "most" because there are a couple of characters you'd wish the worst for, and certain charcters you'd love, but still question their actions- and the author makes sure everyone gets what they deserve.

The characters are diverse too. Jakub is a Polish immigrant, an obedient Catholic, with a side he works had to keep a secret- he's a graffitti artist too. Lincoln (Link), his best friend, gets lured into a gang- the Red Bloodz- through his brother Henry, who has just come out of jail. We get Jakub's hardworking father, a priest who looks out for the best for Jakub, and many more characters who are portayed in a very real way. They each undergo strong character arcs, but Jakub's was possibly my most favorite.

The books was perhaps a tab bit predictable- you see where things are heading even from a mile away- but this is hardly the kind of book you'd pick for its suspense factor. This is more a look at the most unique characters and how their actions may at times lead to horrific consequences.

A coming of age story with a compelling story line and characters you'd root for, Blood Brothers is a book to pick up if you feel anything I've said so far appeals to you. I did feel certain areas could have been explored more, and the book definitely could have been longer, but overall, this was an eye-opener of a story about friendship, choices, and life itself.

This book is about life lessons and how your actions will always have consequences, good or bad. I really liked this book. Both my daughter and I read this book in less than 3 hours, that's how good it was. It did start off slow but to me, it was like I was getting to know the author and her writing. I loved the characters and their relationship. Seeing (reading) them become different people separately was something I related to. It pulled on the strings of my heart and was intense but it was a great read. I would recommend this to my readers and friends. Great job to Colleen for developing great characters and such a great plot. I could see this as a drama series on tv.

Koob and Link are two young boys growing up in the tough West End neighbourhood. The story unfolds through their alternating points of view. Both feel the pressures of gang life, loyalties, and growing up, but their responses are significantly different. Link is drawn into the gang life around him, while Koob attempts to fit in elsewhere.

The characters and their struggles are fairly believable and the reader is drawn in to empathize with both boys. It is a relatively short, but mature YA novel. The violence, profanity, and criminal acts are all handled in a believable, but respectful manner.

Colleen Nelson has done it again!

Recommend this for the older YA crowd. The story is not that complex but some parents might object to the language (not that kids don't hear this all the time.) It's well written and entertaining.

It was on okay story. Not amazing or fabulous. I honestly wasn't invested in any of the characters, they didn't feel completely though out and well planned out. They were just people on a page that I couldn't feel had any depth. There could have been a great storyline with this, but the writing style and the plot just fell short.

I feel like the characters were well developed and I was truly interested in their stories. There was never a slow moment because you could sense the danger lurking. Unfortunately, even though the ending was sad, it was better than the situations most kids who end up in gangs live through.

The story goes with two POV, Jakub and Lincoln, who are best friends since little. When Lincoln’s brother, Henry, got back home, Lincoln tag along with his brother and the gang and Jakub went to a Catholic School. Until then, Lincoln been with his brother and Jakub been busy schooling. Lincoln been part of Red Bloodz where the gang snatch cars and kill anyone who owe them. One tragic gang fight it changes the life of these two person. Their friendship tested, broken trusts, but still yet they know can go back where they used to be.

This is a WOW. I thought this book will be a dull at first since its pretty lame in first chapters of the book. But man, I read this book for only a day because I can’t look away that easily. Every chapter has a thrilling actions and wanders between these two boys. Each scenarios has a designated happenings where you can easily hooked up quickly. The book goes fast-paced in deeper chapters like you don’t want to miss a thing until the end.

The story goes by heartbreaking and painful since this friendship that they totally value but they came into their struggles that it totally tested their friendship. Roller coasters of emotions flooded me while reading this. I really liked it. This is might be a lesson to young boys out there. Man, if you read this book, I hope you found this book quick. This beautifully written by the author and I love every bits of it.

This was a solid, coming-of-age, YA novel that shows what happens when gang violence and family expectations pull apart two lifelong friends. The two main characters are expertly drawn, the differences in their upbringings painfully obvious in the ways they talk, behave, and respond to pressure from family and peers. The inclusion of graffiti throughout the novel provide an excellent visual element for the reader's imagination, and Nelson expertly describes every piece.

Jakub and Lincoln are fifteen years old and have been best friends for ten years. Neither comes from an affluent family. Jakub is living in a rooming house with his disabled father, who is a Polish immigrant, and Lincoln lives with his parents and younger brother and is First Nations. At night they sneak out and are talented graffiti artists.

Jakub's priest helps him get a scholarship at an elite private school. He doesn't want to go because he doesn't want to leave Link behind. But once there, he enjoys and appreciates the opportunities. Around this time, Link's brother, Henry, is released from prison and hangs out with his gang buddies. Without the support of Jakub, Link is attracted to the money he can make by being part of the gang. Things get out of hand when Link gets involved in stolen cars and murder.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it. It is written in first person perspective in Jakub and Link's voice (the chapters alternate and are labelled). Though it is a story about two fifteen year old boys, I didn't find the story too immature and would recommend it for mature young adults and older. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.

I look forward to reading others by this author.

Something about gang violence always makes for a great read! If you're into that type of story, you should definitely pick up this book. The possibilities for character development are endless.