There is this mysterious feeling that surrounds the whole plot, setting, and all the characters that makes it unique. I wasn't sure if I'll end up liking the book at first because the writing/translating is a bit different, after all, it is a Chinese book.
I certainly wasn't expecting the ending, throughout reading the book I was wondering what the ending might be and there were many possibilities that the author could've done but the one that we're left with is a pretty good one.

The Chineses TV show based on this book was streaming online and got viral a few years ago.
It surprises me when I see the English version of the original novel has published.
The book "Bad Kids" by Zijin Chen is a coming of age story that discusses serious social topics: family, education, friendship, etc.
I enjoy the changing of POV and the thought-provoking ending.
I expect to read more by Zijin Chen.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An interesting coming of age story that explores issues of greed, family and friendship.
I enjoyed how the story changed perspectives throughout and the ending was clever and thought-provoking. The character development was well established.
I found the writing style to be awkward, without flow, which might be attributed to being translated.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this book.

Actual rating 2.5/5 stars.

Zhang Dongsheng has crafted the perfect scene for a murder. His in-laws tumble to their deaths from a long fall and their ill-health and the long climb is cited as the reason, not his hands that had pushed them. He didn't factor in the three children who had spotted him enact this terrible deed, or the proof they now own on their camera.

The synopsis lured me in and promised a dark and chilling read, which is what was delivered. I, however, also found events to move too fast and for too much drama to unfold along the way. There was constantly scheming, undermining and revenage being enacted in each chapter, which, when continuously being thrust at the reader, quickly removed any shock and fear that I had at first felt. Also, and each character had a dark and convoluted backstory but the dialogue between them all read a little drily, meaning I never got a feel for who they were beyond the sinister occurrences. I was intrigued throughout the course of this but also, sadly, found it did not impact me quite like I was hoping it to.

I’m interested in contemporary Asian literature and all things Chinese, and I am an avid reader of mysteries, so it should have been the right book for me, but it isn’t. I’m getting better at DNF books, and for this one I decided to stop at 28%. Events are coming one after the other and it is full of actions and twists, so I could have gone further, but this is not the book for me right now. This is a thriller, not a mystery, and I’ve had bad luck with thrillers recently. Maybe I’m not into thrills anymore.

Chen Zijin’s novel center on three kids aged 9 to 13, who are not bad kids at the beginning, but who take some serious decisions and actions that go from bad to worse quite quickly. One is a good, straight-A kid from a single parent household, shamed and bullied at school, with his mom working all the time and his dad remarried and ignoring his son altogether. His two friends are runaway orphans whose parents were criminals and society turned their back on them. Adults around them are horrible: overwhelmed, egoistic, heartless, abusive, not there at all. The book rides on the common Chinese assumption that society is harsh and make people bad, that one bad turn will make your downfall, that people are out to get you. (Indeed, censorship would prevent any meta analysis of systemic failings and injustice). This is obviously not uniquely Chinese but in Chinese books it can make from pretty dark and sad books.

I wasn’t quite expecting that, but perhaps it’s my fault, because the title and the cover should have prepared me. All the more, the characters seem rather stereotypical to me and the writing just plain. I wasn’t really ready to go along with the twists and cruelty of the events, but I can totally understand why the book has turned into a very successful TV adaptation in China.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. I received a free copy of this book for review consideration.

Bad Kids by Zijin Chen is certainly something a bit different.
It begins with Zhang Dongshen somewhat spoiling his wealthy in-laws enjoyment of a day with him at a local mountain beauty spot by pushing them off of a wall to their deaths. With the police convinced that the whole thing was an accident Zhang's smug self-congratulation is brutally ended when he's approached by 3 children who inadvertently filmed the whole thing. With the kids blackmailing him events take an increasingly darker path.

The book initially seems like a rather juvenile YA story but as the story gets into its stride I went from thinking maybe I'd chosen the wrong book to read to enjoying its simplistic style and finding some of the horrific and disturbing scenes more effective for being related in what seemed like the voice of a child. There are plenty of surprises in the book and a definite need to suspend belief quite often but it's very entertaining and definitely not run of the mill.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book as much as I did. The plot seemed unbelievable in the first few chapters but I’m glad I kept reading. The writing itself is simple but the as the story got going I was riveted. The story is not the run of the mill mystery and it has a good twist that you won’t see coming

I am usually the biggest fan of Pushkin Press and the translated crime but this is a step too far for me, I’m probably in a minority here but I just can not read this!

The translation feels extremely basic. Is this Young Adult being pushed as adult crime in the UK? the whole time I was reading it I felt like ‘ Is this what watching dubbed tv feels like when you read the books’.

I can see lots of glowing reviews, maybe I’m of the wrong audience. Even the way the antagonist makes his kill is absurd.

Not for me

This is an extremely twisty and suspenseful story that will keep a reader on the edge of her chair until the very last page. The concept behind the story is relatively simple, though its execution is anything but.

Chaoyang is a bright 13 year old who's having a bad time at school. Widely viewed as a nerd, he is also singled out for bullying by the daughter of a high-level police officer. The girl is jealous of his excellent academic results, and his dubious social status as the son of divorced parents in a China where conservative social values still hold sway makes him particularly vulnerable, garnering little sympathy from teachers.

To make matters worse, his wealthy father provides very little support to the boy and his mother, forcing the latter - despite being a single parent - to often spend days away from home in order to meet the requirements of her job. Meanwhile, his father and very mean stepmother dote on their own 10-year-old daughter, who is not even aware that she has a brother!

Alone and friendless, Chaoyang is surprised at home one day when a friend of his comes to visit after a gap of several years. It turns out the this 13-year#old boy, Ding Hao, is on the run with another young girl aged about 11, who is nicknamed Pupu. The pair have escaped from a state institution, where they were placed after their parents were imprisoned or executed for various violent crimes.

Initially unwillingly, Chaoyang nevertheless allows them to hide out at his place. The trio quickly become close friends, and one day he takes Ding Hao and Pupu for a day out at the National Park where his mother works. While they are at the sightseeing area, an unfortunate accident occurs, and two elderly tourists fall to their death during an attempt to take a scenic picture.

The children return home to find that in the background of the video they were taking of their various antics, a man can be seen pushing the couple over the edge. After an abortive attempt to contact the police, they realise that such an action would actually lead to the authorities discovering that Ding Hao and Pupu are escapees, which would mean that they would then be taken into state custody.

So, instead, the children decide to take the far more dangerous route of finding the murderer and extracting money from him in return for the video, so that Ding Hao and Pupu will have the necessary resources to live on while they wait to reach the age of independence.

What the children don't fully realise is the darkness they will be led into by stepping onto this path. Chaoyang - who is the least keen on this idea -is quickly caught up in the plan, which will have unforeseen consequences. Not just for the three children, but also for the killer.

This is a well-plotted book, with remarkable number of twists and turns, and all four of the main characters are brought vividly to life. The supporting characters - who include the killer's wife, Chaoyang's parents and stepmother, his classmates, and the police officers involved in the case -
are also well-drawn, and linger in the reader's mind.

It was particularly interesting to learn something about contemporary China through the eyes of these children, and by the ways in which the authorities puzzle over the complexity of cases which they are not aware are actually linked.

Despite the occasional quirk inevitable in a translated work, this is a fast-paced read, and quite gripping. The complexity of the plot is belied by the ease with which the story can be read.

It's a five star read for me, and highly recommended to anyone who enjoys complicated family dynamics, murder mysteries, and good storytelling that combines psychological thriller and crime elements.

(PR product @pushkin_press @netgalley)

I don’t read many crime novels these days but I’m always intrigued when I see one in translation, as I always like seeing what other countries have to offer in terms of murder 🤷‍♀️ And this offering from Chinese author Zijin Chen is aptly named indeed, as three kids witness a murder and blackmailing, chaos and yet more murder ensues.

The body count in this book is sky high, I was definitely on the edge of my seat and you better not get attached to anyone because you never know who’ll be next! The chapters are short and bounce around between different characters, so I felt like I flew through large chunks at a time. However, I’m not sure if it was the translation or the original but it felt like the author was doing a lot of telling rather than showing, some parts felt over-explained and that took away from the tension somewhat.

But I did like the questions the author poses around nature versus nurture, and to what extent a minor can be held responsible for their actions. How far can neglect push someone? I’d love to see a sequel because I cannot imagine the impact the events of this book would have on the psyche of a thirteen year old! Also that cliffhanger ending is just begging for a follow up.

Overall, lacking a little bit in style, but a fast paced, messed up read if you’re in the mood for some murder from around the globe 🌏🔪

Normally I wouldn't rate a book I hadn't finished, but as I received a free copy of this one from Pushkin Vertigo via NatGalley, I feel obliged to. At first introduction, this book seemed to tick a lot of boxes for me, which is why I took the opportunity to read an advance copy (i.e. in advance of the English language publication date) but I set it aside at 28% (or Chapter 26) for a number of reasons which I will outline below.

Firstly, I found the translation disappointing. It's what I would describe as a no-frills translation, with zero nuance to smooth the transition from the original Chinese (the publisher does not state which Chinese language it was written in) to English. I'm in no position to judge in an academic sense, but I suspect it has been translated with very little interpretation. You can feel the spare Chinese shining through, which might delight some readers, but not this one. Nevertheless, I made a conscious decision to ignore that issue and continue reading for the promise of a good story.

The main characters in this book are 3 children, aged 9-13. They speak in hyperbole, which might be a realistic trait, except this trio does it constantly. They also talk about things that just didn't ring true for me. I don't mean they wouldn't be aware of those things, but it stretches my imagination a bit too far to accept that they would sit around discussing them. Once these related complaints broke through my subconscious, the only way I could rationalise it was by designating the writing as immature in style. Had it been written by a mid-teen, it would have made more sense. But this book is not Juvenile or YA fiction - far from it! And the author is young-ish, but not that young. An example of the problem, and the straw that broke this reading-camel's back, was the setup to contrive the initial meeting between the kids and Zhang Dongsheng at the supermarket. It worked, but it was both unrealistic and immature.

This book is a quick read. It already has legions of fans in China, and I have no doubt it will gain more upon its English-language publication, but I'm not amongst them.

Despite the simplistic writing, perhaps the fault of the translation, I enjoyed Bad Kids. It's well crafted in plot and character development.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

What a pleasant surprise Bad Kids by Zijin Chen proved to be! I loved the Fargoesque quality to it. Bad Kids is often chilling. At other times, it is hilarious. It is always entertaining. I couldn't have anticipated how much fun this book would be. It is indeed fast paced. The suspense is palpable. The characters enveloped by the black cloud of the crimes committed in Bad Kids will shock you. This is a book I can't recommend too much! Thank you to Pushkin Press, Pushkin Vertigo, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #BadKids #NetGalley

Atmosphere 👌: Fly-on-the-wall observations with a sympathetic, candid, sincere tone. There were moments with an off-beat, almost whimsical feel that may be translation relics or purposeful (excellent translation btw!).
-Set in Ningbo, China during the summer break from school
-People are well described through body language and appearance. You can be creative with imaginings without it being destroyed later, but your imagination doesn't have to work overtime to set a scene

Main POVs: Third party narration with gradual, seamless transitions between POVs.
-A 13 year-old student. Academically intelligent, conflict-avoidant, and lonely. They are bullied at school and despite the best of intentions often misunderstood by the adults in their life.
-A 13 year-old who had a rough start in life, but comes through with idealistic resilience. They are loyal, moral, and protective, but also easily distracted and overly trusting.
-An 11 year-old who faced tragic loss and abuse at the hands of an institutional caregiver. They are stoic, skeptical, and condemnatory, but also loyal, sensitive, and emotionally intelligent.
-A police officer who is logical, evidence based, and hard working. They set high standards for themselves and that affects how they interpret evidence and treat their family.
-A mathematically intelligent former police officer who is now a Criminal Logic Professor with a rare gift for merging 'gut feeling' with logical analysis
-An adult from humble means that has married into a wealthy family. They thought their relationship was based on love, but that seems to be fading away and they are looking for a quick-fix

Cred Rating 👌👮🧒: Realistic to plausible
This story is giving off so much true crime, 'truth is stranger than fiction' energy. The parent-child dynamics seemed very realistic.

Tail wags 🐕:
-Main POVs are those of pre-teens, yet the story was not juvenile and didn’t rely on ‘creepy kid’ vibes. It was nostalgic reading about their experiences because I saw the world as a kid again with all the feels, revenge and freedom fantasies, and friendship dramas.
-The author didn’t overly rely on convenience, coincidence, or police incompetence to drive the story, and didn’t use information delays, interruptions, or hold-backs either. It felt like it naturally unfolded.
-The thriller/suspense elements don't depend on how much you care for any one character. If you like them you'll be cheering on their plans and hoping they come out unscathed. If you don't you'll be hoping they fail and get caught.
-As the reader, we usually know more than any one character so the unexpected and mysterious moments are all the more vivid.
-Possible Growl for some: Cliffhanger ending open to reader interpretation. It worked for me because it was symbolic of how pre-teens and teens are constantly living in that awkward space where adult intervention can redeem or destroy.

Reading Journey: On vacation exploring a new city. Never been there before, but somehow, it’s nostalgic and familiar. Arrive back home planning a repeat visit.

Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Light touch of literary fiction with fly-on-the-wall narrative
-Cat-and-mouse dynamics between police and perpetrators (involving a competent police force)
-Coming-of-age, found family trope
-“Good for them” (revenge against the bullies) elements involving blackmail
-Thought-provoking commentary on kids behaving badly – born, made, or a combination?
-Complex dynamics between fathers and their children

Vibes: 😥🤭🤯

Content Heads-Up: Blackmail, Parent Death, and Parental Rejection

Format: ARC of the English translation from Pushkin Vertigo and NetGalley

P.S. 🤗 In the running for our Fav Book of 2023 .

Was hoping for a little more after this book got off to a very fast start. As it progresses, it falls into stereotypes of the genre.

O K EEEEE Y

This book was a roller coaster of murder.

When I started reading the book, I was not expecting everything that happened at all and the truth is that I loved it when only the tip of the iceberg is revealed to us and one finds oneself involved in a totally intricate story that you don't know where it's going to go because clearly You do not expect everything you are reading.

It's the first time I've read the author and although at first I felt that the childish conversations that the main characters had with each other shocked me a bit, later I realized that they were common conversations between boys of that age. It's just that one is used to other types of more mature protagonists even when they are 13 years old. And that's why I think I ended up liking it so much, because even though these guys find themselves involved in a lot of extreme situations and act in somewhat perverse ways, they're still kids and that innocence and talk still has the characteristic tint of age.

The truth is that I look forward to reading other things about this author. And more if they are thrillers like these! I loved how the events unfolded and although the way this story ends is not the kind of ending I prefer... it was very fitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Bad Kids by Zijin Chen.

This is a novel about Bad Kids! They capture a murder on a camera and decide to blackmail the murderer instead of turning the evidence over to the police. There are a bunch of different points of view, but they all work together really well.

I really loved this book. I was nervous the entire time I read it, not sure what was going to happen next or what would happen to Chaoyang. This might count as a spoiler, but the part with the journal was amazing! I honestly dreaded reading what might be discovered as the journal was read. The ending…you’ll have to make up your own decision about what happened. I found the translation a bit choppy, but it didn’t really bother me that much.

this was a dark novel that was made even darker every time i remember all of the main characters are under the age of 14. insane.

the storyline was so creative and well thought out, especially how each story linked together and in a way that i really doubt underfunded police would have ever been able to solve. the cunningness of all the characters playing off each other, while also only seeing what they wanted to see from the people around them and letting their assumptions rule their actions.

the language in this book read almost too much like a chinese translation though, which diminished my emotional connection to it, as the language was very choppy and short. i think the better translations can take the words and the story and adapt them to the way the new language flows. i didn't hate this entirely though - the book is authentically chinese as a result and helps to connect the reader to the setting, and if you can read language like that its not a huge hurdle to jump.

i also thought the ending made the book quite strong, leaving it where it did. they were only kids, and they are still kids, so it leaves you with the question of how much responsibility can kids really take on and how much should the rest of their lives be dictated by decisions they make at such a young age.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

"[Zhang Dongsheng]...allowed himself an inward smile...He had committed the perfect crime-nothing could compare to the 'accident' he had choreographed."

July, 2013. Zhang took his in-laws for an outing at Sanmingshan, a nature park. After climbing up to the observation point, on the most famous mountain in Ningbo, Zhang seated them on a long wide wall to take their photo. "...then without warning he grabbed their legs and lifted sending them hurling down the mountain. They screamed....". No one was looking in their direction. Zhang had gotten away with murder, or so he thought. Three young teens were fooling around nearby.

Zhu Chaoyang, 13 years old, lived in a shabby, musty apartment. His mother worked a low-paying job with long hours and was often away for days. His father, having abandoned the family, chose to live a cushy life with his demanding new wife and spoiled daughter. Chaoyang was a diligent student, a math superstar with a promising future. He felt isolated and alone, was bullied at school, and embarrassed by his small stature. He should never have opened the apartment door to two runaways from an abusive orphanage in Beijing. Ding Hao was a former classmate who Chaoyang hadn't seen in five years. Along with him was Pupu, an eleven year old girl who ran away from the orphanage with Hao. They were out of money, had begged on the street, and now hoped that Chaoyang would let them stay for the night.

Using an old camera, barely able to hold a charge, Chaoyang took a video of Pupu to burn so that her dad would receive it in the afterlife. The video, taken at the lookout point at Sanmingshan, would reveal Zhang's so-called carefully planned murder as seen in the video's background.

Three kids with troubled pasts. A plan to blackmail the murderer, Zhang. Three kids who get sucked into more than they bargain for. "Chaoyang realized that he was afraid of the murderer-and of his new friends." So many unfair elements make up the lives of these youngsters.

"Bad Kids" by Zijin Chen is a dark thriller that questions societal accountability, parental responsibility and judges the resultant behaviors presented by the trio. A crime is covered up and bad choices are made. The age of the protagonists who lack a moral compass is a tragedy, in part, due to the circumstances of their upbringing. A chilling, heartbreaking novel.

Thank you Pushkin Vertigo and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.