I did not like the blame this movie places on the mother for having a lack of attachment or ability to bond with her son. Troubled kids need therapy not lessons in lethal weaponry. I found the book impossible to read, so I saw the movie instead. Yes, I could have skipped this one, but the kid and the mom were both well acted roles.
After that I watched "Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close" which portrays another troubled kid with strained adult relationships, and also hits you with a sneaky premise, (no spoilers), but I think it is a much better movie.