From what I read about this book, this was a graphic horror novel. I'm always up for a scary read and it did not disappoint. However: very graphic I found it not. I read reviews from people who say they literally got sick while reading and that was just not the case with me. Maybe for a YA book this is very graphic, but I wasn't really shocked by any of the descriptions. I did keep on reading though, cause the suspension was really there and I wanted to know what would happen next. It was a fine read and scary as well, and the details in the book were plenty. But I was expecting it to be bloodier and more scary. But then again, this is YA and in the genre it's a very graphic novel. ( )

This was book was disgusting and horrible in every way possible. I forced myself to listen to the whole thing, hoping it would get better since it won an audiobook award/ No such luck though. I don't know why anyone would want to read it. I would never reccomend it ( )

Narrated by Kirby Heyborne. There are horrific moments in here but the real horror is how Ry's mind snaps after a life impacted by an abusive father. It veers to weird and Huh?? so it won't appeal to every reader. But after his winning narration for "Rotters," Heyborne tackles this with the same aplomb. ( )

Listened to the audiobook. The narrator was the amazingly talented Kirby Heyborne, who did a truly remarkable job bringing these characters to life. The way he vocalized each individual's distinctive personality--from the deep gritty sound of Marvin Burke, to Sarah's soft, slurry tenor and the exaggerated voices of Ry's toys--added a masterful layer to a story already rife with physical and psychological trauma.

That said, while I certainly applaud the merits of the audio performance and the novel's extraordinary writing, Scowler was not a story I enjoyed, and had I been reading it rather than listening to the audiobook, this is one book I would have put down early on. The fact that it's on the YALSA reading list was my main reason for selecting it. I was also looking for something outside my comfort zone and Scowler definitely fit that bill. I am not a horror fan and to Daniel Kraus' credit, his writing was so descriptive and chilling that at times, I felt ill. Really, I could only listen to this in small increments because the story had me so rattled.

There are some very dark places the author explores in the psychotic mind of a father and the rapidly deteriorating sanity of a son. A stranger's appearance outside their home foreshadows the vise of terror that will grip 19 year old Ry Burke, his mother, JoBeth and sister, Sarah. Shortly thereafter, the explosive crash of a meteorite on the family farm lends a surreal, otherworldly quality to all the events that follow. The countdowns, both before and after the impact, begin each chapter and add to the suspense. Ry's memories of the suffering he and JoBeth endured, and the events that led to his father Marvin's incarceration, are horrific and only heighten the panic of their current situation.

This is not a book for marshmallows like me, and I would recommend it for true horror fans only--those of you who can read Stephen King and shrug. But what can I say about the power of spoken words? Scowler may prove to be more frightening as an audiobook. The sounds and voices that narrate this story are scarier than anything you’ll imagine in your head. ( )

This is one of the grossest books I have ever read, and that's saying much since I do not get grossed out easily. A frightening blend of psychological and physical horror, Scowler brings the possible consequences of a mental breakdown to the forefront. The ending was a bit confusing since it's told from the viewpoint of Ry, who has gone crazy by that point. ( )