Bibliographic data
Bray, Libba. Going Bovine. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. ISBN 9780385733977
Critical analysis
“The best day of my life happened when I was five and almost died at Disney World. I’m sixteen now, so you can imagine that’s left me with quite a few days of major suckage” (1). This is how Cameron’s journey begins in Going Bovine. Libba Bray’s dark and twisted novel poses many questions about life. A few questions that Cameron seeks are: Why are we here? What is real? Why must we die? How do we really live? Cameron is given some terribly bad news in his early life. He finds out he has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is mad cow disease. It’s a degenerative neurological disorder, incurable and fatal. Bray certainly did her homework in researching this disease and how it affects the victim. Somehow, the fact that Cameron has mad cow disease and he will die does not sadden this novel at all because readers are on this fantastic hallucinating and weird journey with these crazy characters. Readers will definitely enjoy Bray’s dark, twisty, sarcastic humor throughout this novel.
Bray, Libba. Going Bovine. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. ISBN 9780385733977
Critical analysis
“The best day of my life happened when I was five and almost died at Disney World. I’m sixteen now, so you can imagine that’s left me with quite a few days of major suckage” (1). This is how Cameron’s journey begins in Going Bovine. Libba Bray’s dark and twisted novel poses many questions about life. A few questions that Cameron seeks are: Why are we here? What is real? Why must we die? How do we really live? Cameron is given some terribly bad news in his early life. He finds out he has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is mad cow disease. It’s a degenerative neurological disorder, incurable and fatal. Bray certainly did her homework in researching this disease and how it affects the victim. Somehow, the fact that Cameron has mad cow disease and he will die does not sadden this novel at all because readers are on this fantastic hallucinating and weird journey with these crazy characters. Readers will definitely enjoy Bray’s dark, twisty, sarcastic humor throughout this novel.
This humorously dark novel parallels Don Quixote’s storyline. It begins early in the novel, when Cameron’s class is taking part in reading and discussing the Spanish novel. The characters in this book are all similar to many different characters in other pieces of magnificent works, like Don Quixote, Metamorphoses, and On the Road.
Cameron meets Dulcie, a punk/angel that helps guide him when he needs that extra push in the right direction. She has quite a sugar habit. Cameron, along with readers, does not quite know if Dulcie is real or part of Cam’s hallucinations. Cameron takes friends along for this journey. Gonzo is a video-gaming dwarf who thinks he’ll die of common circumstances. His mother makes him fear everything will kill him, he won’t eat nuts because he could be allergic to them and die. Also along for the ride is Balder, a yard gnome. Balder is tired of being strewed around the world having his pictures taken with fraternity boys and getting urinated on by dogs.
In the end, Cameron finds out what it really means to live. It had to take death for him to actually do it though. The threat of death somehow woke up his life and he enjoyed this hallucinating journey. Bray writes an excellent journey and it shouldn’t just be marketed for teens because adults will get a kick out of Cameron’s voyage, too. The old lady in the hospital with Cameron says it best, “I don’t think you should die before you’re ready. Until you’ve wrung out every last bit of living you can” (97). Whether Cameron actually lived or just hallucinated these events is up to the reader to decide, but he lived it.
Practical suggestion
The book website: http://goingbovine.com/
The author website: http://www.libbabray.com/
A book talk video would be a great idea for teens to attempt. Let them watch the author’s video of this book on the book’s website to get some ideas.
There are many storylines within storylines in this book. Have teenagers flesh out these people/groups in more detail. Have the CESSNA group create smoothies, create music to the “happy” songs and lyrics that the group sings about incessantly.
Find the parallel stories in the works Bray provide links for in GB. She uses many great novels and stories within GB. What are these stories? Where do these stories connect in GB? Similarities? Differences?
External assessments
Publishers Weekly
Bray's surreal humor may surprise fans of her historical fantasies about Gemma Doyle, as she trains her satirical eye on modern education, American materialism and religious cults (the smoothie-drinking members of the Church of Everlasting Satisfaction and Snack 'N' Bowl). Offer this to fans of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy seeking more inspired lunacy.
VOYA
Readers will be rooting for Cameron to overcome his obstacles to save himself and claim his love for Dulcie. The novel is a laugh-out-loud, tear-jerking, fantastical voyage into the meaning of what is real in life and how someone can learn to live. It is a must-purchase for any libraries wanting to reach out to all teens who need to know there are stories out there for them.
School Library Journal
It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way.
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