Going Bovine

There are just so many themes rampant in Going Bovine, it is hard to know where to start. Shaping your own destiny, hope in the face of the confusion of life, courage to face the inevitable, forgiveness, and realizing that to be human is to have a range of emotions, not just one static existence of happiness/anger/etc. are all prevalent themes. The complexity of people and our connections with one another, the impact of scientific innovation on the world, whether positive or negative, and finding love also abound. Libba Bray definitely uses literal nontypical experiences to reflect the metaphorical lives of her readers. Not many readers have come down with Mad Cow Disease, but most have felt the joylessness of high school, the annoying frustration of uncontrollable life, and the desire to find love, even while simultaneously feeling like you don’t give a cow patty what happens.

As far as language goes, Bray chose her first person account very well. Cameron’s tone is very much that of a teenager’s, with a teenager’s thoughts, attitudes, and rationalization. By utilizing Cameron’s voice to tell the story, Bray escapes any hint of patronizing, because the teen reader will simply relate to the story as if one of their friends is telling some wild tale. Although grammatically correct, the story is a little heavy on the swear words, once again staying true to the attitude of some teen worlds. I can see the sheer amount of bad language making some (school) librarians hesitant and choosey about who to recommend the book to; likewise, the drug references and blatant reference to… loins making some uncomfortable. These elements are not included simply for shock value, but make up the identity of the main character, and reflect the thoughts and actions of some readers. Like it or not, there are many teenagers out there that swear every other word, use drugs, and engage in sexual activities; Cameron is a relatable character reflecting themselves or perhaps someone they know.

Global issues are very much present. Not long ago, people were concerned about the Supercollider destroying the universe and mad cow disease. Drug use among teenagers is a prevalent problem while divorce and martial problems are far too common. The story also holds the smaller world of the teenager; popularity, cliques, meeting/disappointing the parents’ expectation, and not feeling understood. As Cameron grows from a mainly self-absorbed character into one that recognizes his attachment to his friends and family, the young adult reader can clearly see that everyone, even them, has an impact on the world. Some teenagers feel as if they have no voice, that adults speak (or not speak) for them, just as they would for children. It is important that young people realize that they can stand up for themselves and that their ideas on the world are important, and they CAN bring about change. This story also promotes empathy and looking beneath the surface; the reader, like Cameron, grows concerned for the lovable drunk who is (or isn’t?) destined to die in a war; even the superficial Staci has dreams and aspirations.

Overall, I enjoyed this book very much, once I got past the first hundred and fifty pages. Although slow in the beginning, the story finally picks up when Cameron sets off to save the world. Thus, I think it would take a little encouragement to keep some reluctant readers from putting it down too soon. There is a multitude of learning opportunities that readers might develop a curiosity for: Jazz music, mythology, basic premises of physics, the story of Don Quixote and mad cow disease to name a few. For me, the clues scattered in the messages kept me hooked on the storyline as I tried to figure out the connections and predict what would happen next, but I believe that for some younger readers, Cameron’s familiar voice will keep them nodding and laughing along in agreement.