If you have never read a book by A.S. King, then you are in for a wild ride with Dig. If you have read any of A.S. King’s previous books, then you’re still in for a wild ride, but you probably knew that was what you were getting into. A.S. is a writer that isn’t afraid to color outside the lines, so to speak. She writes deep YA fiction that really makes one think and explore new ideas, and her newest novel, Dig, is no different. 

Within the first section of this book, the reader is introduced to a handful of different characters that really seem to have no connection whatsoever–except for the fact that they’re all dealing with some serious life problem. Eventually, that’s what kind of brings them all together and helps them relate, but in the beginning it’s hard to foresee that. Because these characters are all so unique and have problems (really, who doesn’t though), their narrations are a little confusing at first. Once you start getting to know them, it is easy to slip into the way their minds work and begin to connect with them. 

There are five teens in this book who intertwine and finally come together at the end. What’s important to note is that each teen is going through his or her own trauma or upheaval and is desperately searching for a friend or someone to help them make sense of the world, and just not quite finding it. There’s a boy who thinks maybe his purpose in life is to dig, whether it be snow or dirt or anything you can shovel, so he starts to carry a shovel with him wherever he goes. A girl works a fast-food drive-thru and feels that all she might be good for is helping, even if her customers use her in all of the wrong ways. Basically, these teens are trying to find a purpose in life and a way to get to that purpose, but they’re struggling to make it. And then the end of the book comes and everything somehow makes sense. 

This is a book that you just have to read to find out if it’s a good fit. It is not one I feel I can recommend to people, simply because A.S. King is somewhat of an acquired taste, and her writing might freak a reader out at first. Although one thing is certain about her and her books:  she is not afraid to tackle teens and the tough issues that they deal with in their day-to-day lives, and she knows how to make those issues seem real, important, and like something that one can overcome.

Review of an Advance Reader’s Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Dutton

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  2 religious exclamations; 2 mild obscenities; 1 religious profanity; 10 derogatory names; 7 scatological words; 9 anatomical terms; 16 F-word derivatives.

Violence/Gore:  Minors get in a fight and throw punches, no one is seriously hurt; a minor is cut with a knife by her boyfriend; a friend is mentioned to have taken their own life; bullying occurs between minors and some light hazing; a minor is threatened by their peers verbally and physically in a few fights; men threaten others with a loaded gun; a missing girl is mentioned and some minors set out to try to find her; a dead body is mentioned to be found with no explicit detail. 

Sex/Nudity:  A teen mentions that they are “getting laid”; a teen talks about seeing his dad “with women” and sexual innuendo is implied; a boy wants to kiss a girl; sexual innuendo is implied between teens; teens touch each other in a brief scene; safe sex is mentioned in a conversation; pre-marital sex and a resulting pregnancy are mentioned.

Mature Subject Matter:

Shoplifting; cancer; homosexuality; suicide; racism; bullying.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Drug dealing by a minor is mentioned several times. Underage drinking and offering beer to a minor occurs in a few separate scenes. Weed is mentioned to be smoked recreationally. An older and younger teen drink beer and whiskey with each other. Pot brownies and “ganja” are mentioned to be consumed by an adult.