Book Description

Increasingly alienated from his widowed father, Vernon joins his friends in ridiculing the neighborhood outcasts'Maxine, an alcoholic prone to outrageous behavior, and Ronald, her retarded son. But when a social service agency tries to put Ronald into a special home, Vernon fights against the move.

1994 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)
1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1994 Young Adult Editors' Choices (BL)
1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Young Adult Choices for 1995 (IRA) ... Read more

Reviews (40)

The Crazy Lady Reveiw
The book Crazy Lady is about a lady named Maxine. Maxine is an alcoholic and has 1 son. Maxine gets help from a neighbor named Vernon. At first Vernon does not want to help Maxine, but when he finds out she isn't really crazy, then Vernon starts to help her and gives her the idea of Special Olympics for Ronald( Maxine's son). So when maxine said ok we can do the special olympics, Vernon gets a carnival started to raise money so Ronald can get shoes and an outfit so he can compete. Read the book to find out what happens in the rest of the book.

Crazy Lady Review
Crazy Lady was fun to read. My favorite character was Ronald because he tried so hard to learn to talk and he always behaved good. My favorite part of the story was at the end when Ronald was leaving and Vernon chased the truck so far just because he loved Ronald. At the beginning Vernon was embarrassed about Maxine and Ronald but by the end of the story he loved Ronald. Another good part was when Vernon threw the carnival to raise money for Ronald. That showed his real character. He cared so much about what his friends thought but he would never do anything to hurt anyone. I think Crazy Lady was a good book.

wouldn't recomend
To me, this book was not a book I would normally read. It was more like a book that I would have read back in the elementary days. I didn't feel like I could relate to the book in any way at all. This book would have been a good book for learning about differences and disabilities but I do not believe I am doing that. The book does not really have an ending. It leaves you hanging which is one thing that I do not like about this book. I feel that this book could have a sequel. Hopefully that book will be more enjoyable.

Not so grand...Crazy Lady
= My review on the book Crazy Lady
Reviewer: A 12-year old reader from Janesville, WI
It just wasn't my idea of a fascinating story. I like stories with action. I like books that have you on the edge of your seat, like Stephan King books or something. Its got to have parts that make your spine shiver and parts that gross you out beyond belief. Im not a fan of simple happy books.
The only reason i read the book was for school, I probably wouldn't have picked it up in a library and said, "I shall read this book!" If I would have had the choice to read it I would have said no. If you are the kind of person that likes a happy story with somewhat saddening parts, then I guess this is a book for you. But if you don't like that kind of thing I advise you to pick something up by: John Saul or Stephan King.

Silly people..I am thriteen not twelve..if only one more year had been added

Crazy Lady Review
When I first started reading this book i thought it was kind of boring. After awhile though it started to catch my interest and I actually started to like it. Some of the parts like when Vernon started helping Ronald, that really caught my attention. Sometimes I just wanted to keep reading on and other times it was as if I just wanted to stop because it got really boring. When Vernon started to get his grades up and he helped plan the carnival it made me want to read on and see what happens. Towards the end when Maxine was having all these problems with alcohol I was really interested in finding out what would happen next. At the end I couldn't believe that Maxine actually gave up Ronald it was the biggest suprise in the book. Before in the book Maxine always talked about how he would never give up Ronald, and then she just does. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Distraught over the death of a stray dog she's adopted, and worn outafter a lost childhood spent deflecting jabs at her towering height and pickingup after her alcoholic, unemployed father, 15-year-old Lucy ("the Giant")escapes from her Sitka, Alaska, home north to Kodiak, and temporarily reinventsherself as an adult. Lucy, now known as Barbara, winds up on a crabbing boat,with a motley crew that is destined to help her along the painful path toself-discovery.

Fast-paced and poignant, Sherri L. Smith's first young adult novel will appealto anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in her or his own world. Readerswill root for Lucy, never doubting that she will come out ahead... eventually.Her struggles--both physical and emotional--are authentic and beautifullyportrayed. Smith's descriptions of the grueling yet rewarding work on the BeringSea are vivid, and reflect nicely the inner work of her protagonist. We hopethis is only the first of many novels from this gifted new author. (Ages 12 andolder) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Lucy the Giant
From the age of five lived her life without her mother. Her father is a drunken mess and the kids at school mock her for her height. Lucy turns to the one thing that understands her, Santa Barbara, a stray dog who entered Lucy's life with or without and invitation.When Santa Barbara dies Lucy feels s thought she has no one. Lucy tries to leave this life, but the question is, does she walk out the right door?
Lucy the Giant is a very interesting realistic fiction book. This book would bring a smile to your face and a tug at your heart. I'd recommend this book for those who like to read about teen problems.

Hey, middle school teachers--Here's an option!
This book is an answer to the grueling search for books that (1) deal with issues students can relate to, (2)both boys and girls can appreciate, (3)no elementary teacher has already read to students.I admit none of my students have read the book yet--I just finished it myself.

At first I thought Smith did a good job of developing a dynamic character, but left her settings very flat and two-dimensional; Lucy's home life was completely bad and her crabbing life completely good.But on the other hand, the story was told in the first-person from Lucy's perspective, and teens can tend to have an all-good/all-bad outlook.

Just one complaint: I hope students won't think their problems will be solved by running away.They're not likely to find a group of friends so concerned about their success.But that could be a good topic for class discussion, or even an essay prompt!

There are plenty of literary techniques to discuss with students: irony, symbolism, metaphor. . .Students won't know their studying-- they'll unwittingly immerse themselves in the crisp Alaskan magic of the story.(Could Lucy be part Orca?)Smith's conclusion satisfies Lucy's conflict with a mature solution.

Realistic read.
For anyone who's every been different, ever been mistreated, and ever wanted to run away (I know I have), this is the book for you. While Lucy does get to indulge in her every dream, we get to see, by the end, the consequences she has to pay for her actions. Realistically written, Lucy the Giant is filled with flawed characters and authentic dialogue. The already engrossing story is made even better by the setting of the Pacific Northwest - Sheri Smith paints a picture of a stark, but beautiful Alaska and the danger and excitement of the sea just as well as she evokes the emotions and actions of her characters. Wonderful story, guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

5 Giant Stars for Lucy!
Lucy is a real page turner! I couldn't put the book down once I started reading. The heroine is a strong and believable character. She has had to grow strong due to living with an inattentive, alcoholic father and no mother. She is ackwardly taller than the other students in school. Her life takes another tragic turn which leads her on a great adventure away from home, where she must live and act as an adult. I think teen-aged readers, both girls and boys, can identify with Lucy on many levels. What teenager doesn't have family issues and/or some feeling of physical ackwardness? The character inspires by being strong, yet vulnerable. It is also refreshing to read about a teenage girl with more interesting thoughts than worries about boys and clothes. This is an adventurous yet "real" story that both teens and adults can enjoy! I can't wait to see more books by Sherri L. Smith.

Terrific book!
An enjoyable read from start to finish!Terrific detail and a strong voice make this book really unique and believable. Many teen readers will relate to Lucy's struggling to play the role of an adult with parts of herself still a kid...all in the context of a high seas adventure. A great follow-up for kids who loved Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle in grade school! One of the best YA's of the the year so far, I hope this author gets the accolades she deserves! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Review On The Boy Who Drank To Much
The Boy Who Drank To Much is a exciting book and it tells how much drinking can effect your life, and other family memebers that you love and care about. Buff gets into drinking with is father, and his father is an alcoholic and if his father doesnt get what he wants he starts to yell. Because of this Buff and his father would fight all the time. Drinking can effect what you do, and what you say to others. I suggest that everyone should think on what can happen to them, if they become an alcoholic or if someone they know is an alcoholic.

The book was very interesting and moving
I thought that this book was moving because it showed how alcohol can affect people's lives. Buff and his father drank too much, and it practically ruined their lives. The father was always picking on Buff for not doing things that he liked. They would get into fist fights, and Buff would try to solve his problems by drinking. But the drinking didn't solve his problems, it made them worse. It just gave him more problems to deal with. But after reading this book, I will think twice about drinking on a regular basis.

Well done
I thought this book was engaging. After a couple of sittings, I had this book done. The basic theme to this book goes along with what you'd expect, alcoholism is a disease which needs to be dealt with. I don't recall all the people's names in the book, however the only people you really need to focus on is Buff and his father.

The whole idea of the book is how alcoholism destroys families and breaks down relationships. It made for a very fast paced book indeed.

If this book had flaws, I didn't pick up on them. The book had me drawn in.

An outstanding book
This book realy cougth my atention from beggining to the end. It had very good settings witch it made it easy to understand and follow along through every little detail that was going on. I read this book in my english class and the teacher only gave me 20 minutes to read. Every time i read for those 20 minutes some thing interesting was happening but when the those 20 minutes have expire i did not wanted to stop because i was so into the book that was telling me "Don't stop now the best part is about to beggin." This is just an amazing book, that if a person had the chanse to read this book would be able to understand the problem that Buff is going through. I would recomend this book to any one that may have a problem with drinking because they might remember why they started drinking in the first place. They might relise if drinking is the best thing to do to cope with there problems and if it's worth all the harm they are doing to there bodies and relise they are destroying there life.

It was a outstanding book
It shows real life problems.I think this would be a great book for alcoholics. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (30)

Deep- a very hardcore read into a teenage girl`s mind
This was an excellent book. I recommend this book for teens, or very mature people. No kids! Han Nolan is a real writer. She takes real problems and gives them real answers, not like fairy tales. In this book she writes about a girl who is desperate to sing the blues. Born into a life of hardship, this girl is determined to get on top, no matter what.

Lies and [illegal substance] for Stardom--Kayla Valdes
The book Born Blue, written by Han Nolan, is an excellent book. Although it has some flaws, it is still very interesting. It's well written in most parts and you can get a feeling of what the main character is thinking at times. This book should have a strong connection with kids tat have been in a foster parent's care, even though the experience in the book isn't positive. I do not recommend this book to anyone under the age of twelve because of the content inside it.
Janie or Leshaya, as she is later called, was abandoned by her heroin-addict Mama Linda at the age of four. While Janie was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, her Mama Linda is getting high and doesn't pay attention to Janie when she starts to drown. Janie get put into a hospital, and when she is released she get put into a foster home with Patsy and Pete in Alabama. In this house she meets another foster child named Harmon, an African-American who introduces Janie to "the ladies", whose music churns her sole. This music inspires Janie to sing, at times that's the only thing that she can think about. Harmon and Janie became good friends, being around Harmon made Janie think that she was an African-American and that she was just "light". Harmon's and Janie's social worker, Doris, is the only other that Janie talks to. When Harmon gets adopted and Doris's daughter, Leshaya, dies Janie is left all alone. In honor of Leshaya, Janie changes her name and decides to be Leshaya.
One day when Leshaya is coming home from school, Mama Linda appears and she takes her away. Leshaya knows that she is being kidnapped, but she doesn't care since she is with her mother. Little does she know that her mother actually sold her for heroin. She then goes to live with her new "parents" Daddy Mitch and Mama Shell, who later on get arrested for [illegal substance]. Leshaya takes some of the profits that Daddy Mitch made selling heroin and runs away before the police can come and put her back into Patsy's and Pete's house. She finds where Harmon lives and decides to invite herself to live with them for a while. Once she ruined her friendship with Harmon and his family, she runs away again and meets up with a band. This band is Leshaya's first big break, people actually get to hear her sing and this makes Leshaya gets into bigger things. During some turning with a band, Leshaya gets pregnant and when she gives birth to the baby she gives it to Harmon, even though he isn't the father. Leshaya becomes [an] addict at the age of fourteen and start not to care about life anymore. Leshaya has a lot to deal with in her life, but can she make the right decisions?
Noland uses a lot of literary elements in this book. She does a great job with the plot of this book. The story is well thought out and planed. The imagery in this book is really good, sometimes you can actually get the feeling that you are Leshaya and you're suffering as much as her. For example, you could really feel the pain Leshaya was going through when she had to give up her daughter. I think that this novel is just like the blues; it makes you feel sad and alone, but yet sympathetic for the character.
I really started enjoying this book at the end, the last two chapters to be exact, because the author finally got to the resolution of the book. The part that I didn't like about this book was the way the author portrayed the character. Leshaya was, at first, an admirable person, but hen she turned into a self-centered ... addict. Another thing I didn't enjoy was that the author made Leshaya use improper English and that made it confusing at times. Despite all the negative parts to the book, overall, it was very interesting. You can really get the feeling of what some kids are feeling. I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone, young or old. It has great ideas on what young foster children are going through.

Thrilling and can relate
A legitamate combination of words. Love the story, keeps you on the edge of your seat each page that is turned! Not able to put down once you start reading it.

!!!
If you are looking for a feel good book this is not. Born Blue is a story about love, happiness, and survival. Lashaya is anything but perfect, except for her amazing voice. All she cares about is making it in the big time even if that means hurting all those around her, including her own daughter.
Ths book is not ment to have a happy ending or even an okay ending/ It's fresh, raw and to the point. If you are an experiance reader then this is a great book, if not, try reading a book about sisterhoods.

One of my favorite books
When I first read this book, I was absolutely shocked at the bluntness of the characters, and especially, the author's graphic way of depicting things. But what makes this book awesome is the fact everything is so real, to know it could happen to anyone, even you.

The story is based around Janie, who grows up a harsh and rugged life around drugs, violence, and endless crimes. We she doesn't realize, however, is that she is destined for no real future at all. It tooks the whole book for her to finally realize this, and by then, it is too late to change what has already happened. But she could provide a good and content life for her daughter, Etta - the life she never had. Janie/Leshaya makes many bad choices, but eventually learns from her mistakes.

I reccommed this book to anyone, though everything is very blunt, and the character basically speaks her mind. Nothing is held back, including everything from wild parties to pregnancy and drug dealing. Read openly. ... Read more

Book Description

It¹s about Brandon, Will, and Kevin ­ three friends on different pats ­ and the weekend that puts them to the test. It¹s not about the drugs or the girls or the fights or the fading streetlights/ It¹s about two nights that weren¹t going to be different from the rest, but took a turn. It¹s about trying to find out who you are, and who your real friends are. It¹s about everything being the same, the same, the same. It¹s about nothing being the same ever again. ... Read more

Book Description

Her street name is Maybe

She lives with a tribe of homeless teens -- runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against the cold, hunger, and constant danger.

With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn't believe her stepfather abuses her. As the other kids start to disappear -- victims of violence, addiction, and exposure -- Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets...if it's not already too late.

Todd Strasser, author of the powerful and disturbing Give a Boy a Gun, again focuses on an important social issue as he tells a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching story of young lives lost to the streets, and of a society that has forgotten how to care. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

About life on the Street
„Cant get there from here" by Todd Strasser tells the reader about a tribe of nine street kids, who live on the streets of New York and try to survive. They feel free and tell themselves that this life is the best the can choose.
There are Rainbow, who takes drugs, the innocent Tears, the anarchist Maggot, 2Moro and Jewel, who have survival-sex, OG with his dog Pest and Maybe, who tells the story. During their life on the street they sometimes even have fun, but the dark side of street life is going to destroy the young people. Only a few can survive. But there is also hope of the end of the story.
This book is not only a novel that tells a story. This book shows the real life of street kids. It shows how hard this life is and that those street kids really exist in the big towns of the world and that they are no imagination. The book wants you to think about those kids and not to ignore them. They often live on the streets because they were abused by adults and are desperate because they have no chance to live another life, if nobody tries to help them. So it is a really good choice.

Can't Get There From Here
This is a fictional story of a struggling tribe of homeless kids, and one of the main characters is a girl, named Maybe. She tells us what happens throughout her life on the streets of New York. She also tells us how members of the tribe die from being on the street too long. But she also tells about people that want just to help and get nothing in return but just to see the kids get a better life than the one they have on the streets. I really liked this book because of how Todd Strasser gave us an idea of what happens to kids on the streets and that's why I recommend this book for not just adults but teens also. It gives us an idea of what happens everyday when you are sitting in a warm house, with clean clothes on your back, and food in your stomach.

A very exciting and realistic story
Todd Strasser's book "Can't Get There From Here" talks about the situation homeless kids in the big city New York. There are different reasons why these kids run away from home. Often they don't have the feeling that they have a real home. Sometimes they had to have survival sex, their parents didn't want them, their parents couldn't afford them or they felt alone in a rich family.
In this book a few of these forgotten kids find together in a kind of family called "The Asphalt Tribe". They have to fight with hunger, cold and dirt. Will they win this fight with illnessis and with the feeling that nobody cares about them? You can read all this in Todd Strasser's exciting story.
Strasser wrote a very interesting book. It's very realistic, you often see homeless people in big towns. I think it's a very big problem of our rich society that we let kids live on the street where they can't survive. Strasser tries to explain the reasons for leaving home and why the kids often don't want to get help. They had a too bad life when they were young, so that they want to live on their own. This book makes you think about this bad situation of so young people in our rich American and European societies.

Ich halte jetzt eine Rede in der ich das R rollen werde!!!!
Hello!
Todd Strasser`s book "Can`t get there from here" is very interesting,I think.
It`s a very good book about some kids living on the street.You get to know their really bad situation and the dangers they have to face every day.Hunger and Cold are the main problems.The kids have no warm place to go to,they have no money.Each of them has a bad past.There parents wanted them to go,they were hit or sexually abuse.So know they live together in a tribe of homless kids.Sometimes new kids arrive.Every day they take new risks to survive.Some of them earn some money by having survival sex,one boy who`s called Maggot gets his money by selling drugs.Sometimes it`s the only way to survive.But you can`t get very old if you live a life like that with no plans for the future.That`s the brutal reality.When you read the book you get lots of information about homeless kids and there very bad situation.It can probably open the people`s eyes.That`s why I think the book is very interesting because you can`t always know what will happen next.
Stay brutal!!!

Buy it, read it, think about it!
The book "Can't get there from here" is a very impressive story about the life on the street of a group of 8 children. "Maybe",the narrator, tells of her cruel impressions of the life they live. She tells us how hard it is to try to get away from the street and to start a new "normal" life. But sometimes you even can't get there from here...

When I first read this book I was really surprised because it is written very amazingly. It shows the life of the 8 children very impressively and you can nearly understand how hard it must be to live on the street. The end of the book is very sad. I hope you will read this book, too. I think it is a good book because it makes you think about the hard life that some people have and it shows you how lucky you are.
So I can summarize my opinion in a few words: Buy it, read it, think about it! ... Read more

Book Description

From a Wisconsin farm to a California beach- From a measly allowance to unlimited shopping sprees- From an uncomplicated life to a highly sophisticated one- These are the head-spinning changes that lead to Christy Miller's-Summer Promise

As fourteen-year-old Christy leaves her family's Wisconsin farm to spend the summer at her wealthy aunt and uncle's beach home in Newport, California, she realizes this could be the best summer of her life. Her aunt is bending over backward to see that Christy's every wish is granted, the popular beach crowd is actually talking to her, and she catches the attention of a cute surfer named Todd.

But the summer doesn't turn out as Christy hoped. Suddenly, she is faced with choices she's never had to make before, and the safe world that she's always known comes crashing down around her. Through it all, Christy struggles to keep her promise to her parents not to do anything she'll regret. But will she stop at nothing to get Todd, to be accepted, and to force her summer to give her everything it promised?

Get acquainted with Christy's friend Sierra by reading all twelve books in the SIERRA JENSEN SERIES, also by Robin Jones Gunn.

Reviews (31)

Some of the best books ever
The Christy Miller series and also the Sierra Jenson series have been some of the best books i have ever read. Robbin Jones Gunn is such a wonderful writer that you can't help but keep reading. After I had finished reading the Christy Miller Series and Todd and Christy the college years I had to recomend it to my friend who ended up loving them just as much as I do. We have actually stayed up very late together reading our books.The Book "Summer Promise" is what really gets you attached to the characters and is a wonderful beginning. Christy Miller ends up going to visit her aunt and uncle in southern California for the summer and to her surprise ends up getting a makeover from her aunt. Her aunt Marti then encourages her to go make some friends on the beach which ends up being the start to a few very special friendships and Christy also meets a lucky guy who she ends having more than a friendship with but that is all I am going to say. All the friends then have to deal with a close friends death and that is extremly sad. This book over all was one of my favorites and I recomend it to anybody looking for a great romantic,christian novel.

these are great books!!!!!
I have read all of the Christy Miller series and the Sierra Jensen series.I have also read Until Tomarrow and As You Wish, in the Christy and Todd series. They are the best books I have ever read. Robin is by far my favorite author. The way that she writes makes you feel like you are the one going through all these things and makes me want to read them over and over again. As I read the way that Christy goes through everyday life handling school, crushes, parents, friends, and GOD, made me start to look at how I handle them. I laughed and cried through this incredible series. I would definately recommend this book and all of Robin's books to everyone!

Christy Miller series are the best
I have recently strugged with my faith, and began reading the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, and as a result, have drawn nearer to God. I've read the whole series, and the Christy& Todd college years, twice, and could read them again and again! I truly recommed these books! They will leave you thinking about your relationship with God, and others!

you'll enjoy this if...
You read it and the other 11 Christy Miller books before you read the Christy Miller college books. I had a hard time reading this book because of the fact that I had read The Christy and Todd: The College Years series first. I was used to the twenty-something Christy who had been dating Todd for awhile when I started this ( won't give away the ending of the College years trilogy) and then I got to read about Christy as a teen. It was a little hard to get rid of the annoying, child-like habits of Christy Miller aged 14. But this book does have some good points. Christy learns that decisions you make can affect your life. She learns this through Todd and one of Todd's friends. Her Aunt Marti is an overbearing character, though. For the bulk of the book Christy is trying to find herself and wants to be cool. But through Todd and his friends, she discovers that there is more to life than being cool, and she makes a summer promise she'll never forget. A good read overall. Just take my advice and don't read the college books first.

a little frustrating! but all right I guess
You can read the sum-up of the plot up above if you need to; I'm here to give you my personal perspective on it.

Aunt Marti is annoying and overbearing, practically encouraging Christy to have low self-esteem! She's much too superficial---I don't know why a guy like Uncle Bob would marry her.

Todd is such a GUY! Why does Christy have a crush on him, when he acts distant one second and warm the next? We've all been there, of course, but it's nauseating to read about it. Besides, she's 14 and he's 16---a big difference at that age, in my opinion.

And later, when a Christian singer asks Christy "If you were to die today, would you be certain you were going to heaven?", I about threw the book against the wall. That is such a poor witnessing tactic, hello?! In my eyes, that just pushes people farther away from considering becoming a Christian.

Well anyway, those are my rants about the book. But it still got me hooked on the series, probably because it's so simple and easy-to-read. See for yourself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The demon lover is an ancient theme with eternal appeal for young women, and Kathe Koja uses it to powerful effect in The Blue Mirror. Layered over the background of a contemporary and gritty street scene is the achingly poignant voice of sixteen-year-old Maggy, a loner and artist in love with a beautiful and mysterious boy named Cole. Maggy's greatest happiness is to sit for hours in the window booth of The Blue Mirror, nursing a cappuccino grande and capturing the life passing by in her sketchbook. At home she is an unwilling caretaker for her drunken mother, and her only comfort is her cat Paz--that is until Cole looks at her with those "incredibly deep and dark" eyes. The sweetness of his words and his vast need draw her in, and soon she spends almost all her days (and nights) wandering the cold streets with him, sleeping in his arms in a frigid open-air gazebo, and ignoring the other two women who trail him (childlike Jouly and angry Marianne). Not until Cole meets Paz (who greets him with terrified screeches and yowls), not until Marianne shows bruises and scrapes (from a "fall"), not until Jouly becomes a staring empty shell, and not until Maggy finally draws a true portrait of Cole, is she able to recognize the howling emptiness behind his pose of love. Koja's The Blue Mirror is an exquisite novel with just the slightest tinge of the supernatural. (Ages 14 and up) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good writer, okay book
Though "The Blue Mirror" was a disappointment for me it was wonderful to actually be reading a Kathe Koja book again; she's a splendid writer and I've missed her. I so enjoy her stream of consciousness writing style and love the gritty, seedy, creepy world she always takes me to, rich with good small details and a lushly unpleasant atmosphere. I grew up poor in a hideous slum apartment with a mentally ill mother, and this book took me back there to Gardenia Avenue and made me remember the pink lipsticked cigarette butts filling the sinks, the roaches in the bathrooms at night. "The Blue Mirror" gets my two and a half stars for all of those good things. What I didn't like about the book were the characters - though I felt some sympathy for Maggy none of them were real people to me, they were flat and frankly uninteresting - and the lack of action/strong plot in the book. Maggy meets some people, hangs out with them for a while, and then they go their separate ways. That's really about it. Aside from having sex for the first time with strange Cole Maggy undergoes no grand awakening, has no epiphany sweet or sour; she still doesn't see the point of school or make any move to get away from her black hole of a mother in the end of the book. I found the ending, wherein Cole is driven away by a glimpse of Maggy's portrait of him in her notebook, to be pretty contrived; because Cole isn't a well fleshed out character we don't know why he'd react that strongly, and I didn't believe it when I read it. Most of all, I wish Kathe Koja was still writing horror/supernatural fiction. All of her work is infused with the macabre and scented by the weird, and I long for her to return to it and give us something unimaginably ghastly.

(...)

Back and brilliant as ever.
Kathe Koja, The Blue Mirror (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 2004)

It should be obvious by now that any time a new Kathe Koja book comes out, I'll be reviewing it within a few weeks. The Blue Mirror is Koja's eighth novel, and her third for young adults. The YA novels are markedly different from her adult work; they are much shorter and more focused on a sole protagonist than her adult work (and, needless to say, there's less sex). The protagonist here is Maggy, a sixteen-year-old girl with an alcoholic mother, a cat she dotes on, a blatant indifference toward school, and a lot of artistic talent. She spends her afternoons in a window booth at the Blue Mirror cafe, drawing street scenes and drinking coffee. Until, that is, she meets a band of homeless kids led by mysterious, handsome Cole. Cole is the boy your mother always warned you about, and needless to say, things change quickly for Maggy.

This is, perhaps, the YA novel that comes closest to one of Koja's adult novels; you can see the rawness through the paint scrapes (Maggy's mother being present and alcoholic, for example, rather than the referred-to-but-rarely-seen shades of parents in her earlier YA novels). Cole is very much the incubus, even if he doesn't sprout wings. As usual, Koja draws her characters with stunning believability, and nothing they do, no matter how irrational, ever seems out of character. The book's only real problem is that it's missing that certain undefinable something that makes Koja's best novels (Skin, Strange Angels, Straydog) into absolutely perfect works of fiction. But even without that whatever-it-is, he Blue Mirror is another ultimately worthy addition to the shelf of Koja novels you should all have been building next to the bed. Better than Buddha Boy, on a par with The Cipher. A must-read.(...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

The folks on Hackett Island, near Philadelphia, are not too friendly tonewcomers. Anyone the slightest bit different is eyed with suspicion, as Clairefound out when she missed a year of junior high due to leukemia. Now she workshard at fitting in, following treacherous but popular Macy's lead, hiding herpassion for the guitar, and never talking about her fear that her illness willreturn. Or her nightmares. Or her eating disorder. The boys of Hackett Island's"in" crowd are members of the "fish frat"--hunky sons of the localfishermen--and their horseplay even among themselves is brutal andedge-of-danger.

And then Lani Garver shows up at school, a tall, thin, strangely androgynousperson. "No. Not a girl. Sorry," he says pleasantly when Macy questions himabout his gender with vicious curiosity. But Claire, much to Macy's disgust, isdrawn to Lani, and his wisdom and kindness begins to heal her. He takes her toPhiladelphia to meet his artistic friends, talks sense to her about her eatingdisorder and her blind devotion to Macy, finds her a therapist. Who is this LaniGarver? He resists "boxes" like "gay." Even his age is a mystery to Claire.Strangest of all, could he be a "floating angel," as his friends at the hospitalseem to believe? Meanwhile, the fish frat are closing in for the kill, and whentheir harassment turns lethal, Lani shows a terrible side of himself Claire hasnever seen.

Carol Plum-Ucci raises tantalizing questions around a fascinating character inthis gut-clenching story that transcends the clichés of the gay-bashing novel.(Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Do angels really walk the earth?
Carol Plum-Ucci's novel, WHAT HAPPENED TO LANI GARVER, is so unbelievably remarkable that words cannot fully express its greatness. It takes place in locations I know and the story's protagonist, Claire, is nothing short of amazing. This novel is thought-provoking. It compelled me to ask questions I'd never asked myself. And, to my surprise, it even made me cry. Usually, books do not move me all that much - this book was an exception.

You will come to know and love Claire, a member of her high school elite on Hackett Island, close to Philadelphia. As I mentioned, this novel talks of many places I know, such as South Street, a whimsical place where, in real life, you can find "preps," people with countless piercings, tattoos, and hair hues, goths, rockers, etc. But WHAT HAPPENED TO... strays from labels.

Enter Lani Garver. Is Lani a he or a she? Well, although it never really is determined, we suspect Lani to be a boy. It's a difficult thing to confirm because he has the long lashes and red lips of a girl. He's tall and broad-shouldered like a boy. His hair is longer than the average boy's but his hands are a bit more on the masculine side. And he hates labels. Here, he refers to them as "boxes." "Gay" is a box. "Straight" and "bi" are boxes. As are "boy" and "girl." Upon first seeing him in the cafeteria, Claire is intrigued and says she'll be his friend, much to her best friend Macy's dismay.

Claire is a leukemia survivor who missed out on the junior high experience. Macy, kind and less judgemental than the other girls of her group, befriended Claire when she returned to school after being taught at home. Since their time spent together, they've collected many fond memories, many of them frozen in photographs. Macy deems Lani to be an odd character and is less drawn to him than Claire. Clearly, she gets jealous as a friendship quickly evolves between Lani and Claire.

Claire incessantly worries over relapsing back into her leukemia and is always looking for symptoms - bruises darker than average blemishes and orange-tinged blood. At The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, (BEEN THERE!!!) Claire meets a doctor named Marcus, who explains to her the theory of floating angels. At first, she thinks he must be joking and laughs, despite the fact he's totally serious. Marcus explains how angels are sexless beings, that you cannot tell whether they are male or female. Immediately, Claire thinks of Lani. Oddly enough, Marcus knows him, as does the rest of the hospital staff.

As their friendship grows stronger, Lani teaches Claire things she could have never possibly learned from her regular crew of school friends. Lani judges no one. He labels no one and has acceptance for everyone. Besides that, he's mind-blowingly intelligent and introduces Claire to new friends, people she immediately clicks with. But everyone on Hackett assumes Lani is gay, a box he does not want to be in, and they taunt him to no end. Claire's friends are genuinely worried about her and once they see she enjoys Lani's company and won't leave him, they go to drastic measures to try and "knock sense" back into Claire.

Plum-Ucci's novel is a dazzling piece of work, what YM magazine has called, "Gripping." Yet that word barely covers it. As Claire battles personal demons and questions her own sanity, you can't help but feel her pain as she narrates her story. And as you read on, you will come to understand the sad truth of a hate crime and how those involved will always be forced to pay their dues, more or less.

beyond words
A part of me wishes that Lani Garver was a real person, because he fascinates me beyond words.

This book was incredible. It left me near-paralyzed with emotion. If you aren't an open-minded person, then this book really may not float your boat - but read it anyway. Perhaps it will change your mind.

With a twistedly funny character such as Claire leading the way, Lani's charismatic and strangely charming self falls into place well. Carol Plum-Ucci is a fantastic writer, and builds her plot and her characters strongly. I also recommend reading 'The Body of Christopher Creed,' althought I personally love this book more.

I could read 'What Happened to Lani Garver?' over and over again, and still feel the same way at the end of the novel. Amazing. Truly Amazing.

A Must-Read
It only took me a matter of days to finish "What Happened To Lani Garver," from the moment I picked it up until the moment I put it down, I was hooked. The plot is flawless, the mood is awesome, and by the time I had finished reading, I was crying. A definite must-read for anyone who is in search of the "one" book.

Beautiful
What Happened to Lani Garver is one of the best books I have ever read. The protagonist, Claire, is believable and most teens can relate to her in some way. Claire is hiding the fact that she worries about having a relapse of leukemia and that she has an eating disorder. When she meets Lani, they become friends, and he helps her change and become a better, healthier person. The question of whether or not Lani really was an angel is left unanswered, which is probably just as well because then each reader can decide for themselves. You should definetly read this book. It is absolutely wonderful!

The best book I ever read
oh. my. gosh. this book was so amazing i ended the book sobbing and shaking. literally. its absolutely amazing, i became so emotionally involved. i absolutely COMMAND you to read this book. there are no words to discribe it. ... Read more

Book Description

Raspberry Hill, who once was homeless, vowed never to end up on the streets again.To her, money equals security.But when a troubled neighborhood teenager attacks her mother, Raspberry is desperate for things in her life to change and ends up stealing from her best friend. But nothing good comes from bad money.And as her thoughts alternate between the two men in her life-as her relationship with Sato blossoms and her relationship with her drug-addicted father erodes-Raspberry must finally confront the biggest of all her fears: is she really much different from her thieving father after all?How will her friends react when the find out what she's done? Raspberry is certain...something's got to change. ... Read more

Book Description

"Jimmie Boogie Learns About Smoking" 3rd Edition is a children's book that educates children about the prevention of tobacco usage. This book was edited by Dr. Bonnie Hedrick and Mr. Robert Canning of the Ohio Prevention Educational Resource Center/Safe Schools Center. Children easily identify with the characters in this true to life, captivating story. Children learn about addiction and the consequences of smoking cigarettes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jimmie Boogie Learns About Smoking, 3rd Edition
An excellent book for families of young children.
Jimmie Boogie and the kids invite you onto the playground for fun while teaching about the dangers of smoking and addiction. The messages age given through a multicultural group of friends with happy freckled faces, sibling support and possitive peer pressure to not smoke. The delightful coloring book images keep the attention of young readers. Children learn possitive messages about staying healthy,and ways people can get help to stop smoking. A friendly book,an important message written in a sensitive, caring way.

A great way to educate children about cigarette addiction
If you want an easy-to-read short story that really helps children understand the dangers of smoking, then Jimmy Boogie Learns About Smoking (second edition) is for you. Addiction can be a very difficult concept for children to grasp. This story is so simply written kids will quickly comprehend the message. And the book's colorful illustrations really reinforce the message by holding their attention. I would highly recommend it to any parent or teacher who wants to educate their little ones about an addiction to smoking.

Informative Entertaining Lesson
This is a very informative and entertaing lesson for a young person. This short book is well written and easy to understand. The illustrations are colorful and story-book-like in character, while retaining the goal of the important message about smoking. A must read for all young children in groups with teachers in school or at home with their parents. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Controversial and award-winning British author Melvin Burgess (Smack, Bloodtide, etc.) is in fineform in his brilliant, satirical novel about a hedonistic teenage girl who isturned into a dog by a mysteriously magical town drunk. Sandra (a.k.a. Lady) isdismayed at first, but quickly discovers the pure joys of unfettered freedom todo whatever she wants and have sex with whomever she pleases--a seeminglyperfect scenario for a devil-may-care young woman who would "have shagged[Wayne] up against the wall for a bag of jelly beans a month ago."

Hooking up with a couple other humans-turned-dogs, Lady roams the streets and,well, does what doggies do: "One thing about dogs--they know how to greetsomeone. It's not so much scratch and sniff as sniff and lick--as soon as yousee someone, you just gotta know what they taste like!" Her new life is notwithout inner turmoil, however. Part of her longs to return to her humanlife, annoying family, standardized school testing, boy-of-the-day "romances,"and all. Living as a dog helps her study what it means to live as a human--withthe responsibilities, silly inhibitions, stress, and worry that mark thatspecies--but also the flip side: the security and love of her family.

Ultimately the decisions Sandra/Lady makes may be shocking, but Burgess's voiceis undeniably, ruthlessly authentic. Readers in search of a traditionallymoralistic diatribe against the reckless promiscuity of today's youth will needto look elsewhere. But those seeking a funny, sensual, and honest exploration ofreal teenage life and a much more intense and complex study of humanity willrevel in the author's expertly crafted allegory. As Burgess himself says, "evensomeone who doesn't know what an allegory is will recognize that Lady isnot a piece of advice, or a suggestion on how to govern your life; it's simply away of trying to make people think about the ways in which we define work andplay." Highly recommended. (Ages 14 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just goes to show how dense we humans are!
This was a good book. I liked the way Burgess really got into how a dog feels and senses things. While this is not a book that has a place on my 'Favorites' list, I still think it was a really good book with a very unpredictable ending.

Worth reading. (...)

A great book!
This was a great book! I really enjoyed reading it and I could hardly put it down. I totally recommend it! It had a very unpredictable ending and a gripping story line.

Lady : a brilliant read
When I first picked up the book it was because my school librarian said I should read it. I thought it would be a typical teenage book, but after the first few pages I just couldn't put it down. This is a great book, with an unpredictable ending (at least I couldn't predict it and I'm quite good at predicting endings). I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed with this book. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Review of "God of Beer"
The book "God of Beer" is an accurate portrayal of what takes place in a small town where teenage kids have nothing to do and turn to underage drinking as a way to pass the time. It starts with a teacher asking what God would have to come to their town as in order to reach the kids and realize he is there. The main character, Kyle Nelson, answered that God would have to come as beer. This angers the teacher as he had asked the question in comparison to Gandhi saying that God would have to come as bread to India because all the people are starving and they wouldn't realize that God was there unless he came as something they needed. The teacher thinks that it is wrong to compare beer to bread, but a debate ensues that since the kids have all the basic things in life they would be more relatable towards beer than bread. A group of kids forms a group in order to try and raise awareness about drinking and also lower the drinking age to 18. They have parties where they serve unmarked cans to people and most are sodas but some are beers. They do this to show that people can still have a good time without drinking. One member of the group, and probably the most popular of them all, is killed in a car accident after she drove her boyfriend home. She wasn't drunk but he could barely stand walk to the car. He was distracting her from driving which caused for the accident. This is where I think the book is fairly weak. The focus of the first hundred or so pages is all about the club and trying to improve conditions so that people won't have to drink to pass the time and when a member of their club is killed because of someone that is drunk, they completely forget about it. I can see them doing this for a while but the book goes on to explain what happens to each one of them in the upcoming year and it seems they don't care about underage drinking anymore. Most of them have said that they won't drink until they are 21 but they don't try to keep other kids from drinking like they did before. The whole focus of the books shifts because of the death, which is very accurate to what teenagers do if someone dies, but at some point I think that they wouldn't just give up on the club since they have been even more affected by drinking. Garret Keizer does a fantastic job writing this book and I recommend it to anyone because it is written so well but I personally did not enjoy this entire book.

Learning Lessons from the God of Beer
With a flair for the dramatic, Garrett Keizer's "God of Beer" details the struggles of a diverse group of high school friends and their hopes of rescuing their rural Vermont community from drowning in alcoholism. Using a plotline filled with the twists and turns that reflect the nature of everyday high school life, Keizer explores a difficult subject in a highly realistic and painfully straightforward manner with elements of truth and authenticity imbedded within it.
The story finds its beginnings in the voice of Kyle, the likeable but in his own words average high school senior who holds no real dreams or ambitious for the future. Sparked by his own comment that beer is the governing force of the community in Salmon Falls, Kyle and his friends, smart and witty Quaker Oats, and beautiful basketball star Diana, decide as part of a social studies project to form a social protest group to fight against this disturbing trend. On the suggestion of Quaker Oats, they form a group called SUDS, or Students Undermining a Drunken Society. SUDS mission is threefold, to "lower the drinking age, raise the drinker's awareness, and destroy the non-drinker's stigma." Invigorated with their idea, the group plans staged drinking parties where the police are intentionally called and where students receive mystery drinks of either soda or beer so no label can be assessed to the person holding the drink.
Things seem to be going well at first, but the plot thickens with the introduction of polar opposite characters David, a self-conscience backwoods country boy who still finds himself in high school at age 21, and Condor, a transfer student from California with a short fuse and a large chip on his shoulder. Kyle becomes caught in a hopeless balancing act, trying to keep David and Condor away from each other while at the same time struggling to understand and explain his love for Diana, who, in typical high school fashion has fallen for the outsider Condor. Things go from bad to worse as the SUDS group's ideas receive criticism on all sides, from Kyle's mother all the way up to the police themselves. Shortly thereafter, everything turns completely south when, after one of the local drinking parties, a sober Diana is killed in a car accident while taking the drunken Conrad home.
Left to pick up the pieces, the SUDS group quickly dissolves and the town goes into mourning. Kyle blames himself and struggles to maintain a perspective on life, turning to some longstanding friends for elderly advice. David goes into a rage, entering a local minimart and smashing all the beer because "they killed my friend." Quaker Oats, the pacifist, follows David's lead when, during a court session to try and determine who was at fault for Diana's death, he smashes beer bottles right on the court benches and winds up in jail for three days. With Condor lying crippled in the hospital bed, the community holds a touching memorial service to remember and relive one of the town's greatest young heroines, but the experience is so painful that Kyle wonders if it was even worth the tine
With not much left to go on, the plot maneuvers its way through a series of awkward moments during which Kyle continues to come to grips with Diana's death. After making peace with Condor before the recovered victim returned home to California, Kyle begins to get ready to assume the typical life of a man in Salmon Falls; working at the plastics factory during the day, and drinking off the long day at the bar come nightfall. However, because of the recent events, Kyle nobly but predictably refuses to fall into the trap of the latter, and provides some hope in the story that he may try and attempt college in a year or two when the factory life grows old. The book concludes with Kyle's transformation complete, as he puts away a full beer bottle and vows not to open it until his age allows him to.
Keizer makes a valiant effort to push an often ignored subject into the spotlight, and the backdrop he creates to the story in little Salmon Falls Vermont provides the perfect opportunity for him to do so. His creation of a variety of contrasting characters also provides promise of an intriguing story, but unfortunately he comes up short in not giving these characters a real purpose or direction with a weak plot line that often leaves the reader wondering where the story will go next. In addition, the student's once vibrant hopes of transforming their community quickly dissolve, and while their intentions may have been good at the outset; the inability to make any significant change by the novel's conclusion leaves a realistic yet almost hopeless impression about the state of drinking in the high school setting. Yet, Keizer must be applauded in tackling this issue and not being afraid to show the harsh realities of drinking. Although the accident and its corresponding response are predictable and almost glamorized, Keizer never lets the novel become washed in sympathy and remorse. Instead, he does a solid job of representing the high school society accurately, offering insights into a highly complex world swirling with emotions and anxieties.
Keizer does his best work in taking these various thoughts, fears, and actions and showing how they all fit together to contribute to the drinking problem that teenagers face. His ability to portray this struggle in real life color instead of painting the traditional black and white picture on the subject makes this book a success and worth a read.

Thoughtful read for teens
This book poses a very interesting question for teens who are thinking about issues dealing with the meaning of life, their faith, and their values. The teens in the book are challenged to consider the following: Gandhi stated that the only meaningful way God could come to the poor in India was as food. What form would God have to take to be meaningful to teens living in middle-class North America? The youth in the story decide the answer is "beer." I have used this book with a group of youth to pose the same question to them and it generated interesting discussion. On the literary side, the story is a quick read, throws in all the stuff teens will relate to and depicts teenagers in a sensitive but honest light.

Needs work
Poorly done. Read Publisher Weekly's review from above, they are right on, but a little too nice. It's amazing what gets past editors' desks - the dialogue is so cheesy, even young adults should be insulted.

An endearing, artful work
A highly enjoyable novel for adults young and not-so-young alike, Keizer's cast of rural characters moves the story forward with a sincerity that is at once moving and compelling. A must-read novel from a sterling author. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Great Book for young teens.
Imitate the Tiger by Jan Cheripko

Chris Serbo is a high school teen who loves to play football, and who loves to drink. He loves to party, maybe sometimes a little too much, and he loves to get messed up as much as he possibly can. All teens love to party, but in this story Chris Serbo takes partying to a different level. He finds drinking a regular habit, and he finds it more addicting than biting your finger nails. His Aunt Catherine is about to toss him out of the house, and she is fully aware of Chris's problem. Chris also just recently lost his girlfriend who he is desperately trying to get back. Chris is now in a desperate attempt to regain his life while thinking of what he did in a rehab center. Jan Cheripko did an excellent job portraying an adolescent teen male making very critical decisions about his life. She also brings out many important lessons for all teens to learn like "don't drink and drive." She showed that she knew what recent high school life was like, and she also showed situations and the consequences of certain people's actions. On a scale of 1-5, I would rate this book a 4, for the reasons of her sharp perspective of adolescent life.

My review
Chris Serbo is a senior in high school that is faced with the problem that is ruining his life, alcohol. In Imitate The Tiger by Jan Cheripko he is desperately trapped in a deep hole that he cannot get out of, for he lost his girlfriend, his grades are dropping, and his relationship with his aunt is deteriorating.
He lives with his aunt because his mother is dead and his father is a drunk in the army and can't be there for him. Chris plays football for love from his coach, John Popano and his best friend Billy Krovats and his friend Polly play a big role in that they are there for Chris when he needs to talk about his problems. The only way he can disappear out of the trap is the wonderful feeling of hitting someone in football or the great sensation of getting drunk, but he doesn't quite understand what alcohol is doing to him. He thinks he has control over his life but through the book he learns the truth about himself.
I believe that many teenagers could relate to the situations Chris is dealt with and the enjoyment comes from how Chris is finding himself and how it all ends up. I believe it is a great book and to me it seems like Chris Serbo is a real kid in a real world.

The Tiger and it's ups and downs.................
Imitate The Tiger
By Jan Cheripko.

The senior at Valley View High, Christopher Serbro was given away when he was a little boy to his Aunt Catherine by his father who was a low paid alcoholic that didn't know how to take care of his children. His mother's death was too much to handle for his father. Before Christopher's mother died, Chris's father was in the military. That's all he knew how to do. He would go to work drunk, come home drunk, and when his wife died one day, he didn't know what to do.
Chris is an athlete. Chris plays football for the Valley View High team. He loves football because it's the only way he can get away from his problems such as his father, and Chris's ex girlfriend leaving him for someone else. Chris just likes to run away. He doesn't know how to control his feelings, and his abuse of alcohol. He doesn't know how to control his thirst for alcohol and he blames everything on his father. When Chris does drink, and people remind him that he drinks too much he tells them that he isn't an alcoholic like his father. Deep down inside he knows they are right about his drinking habits. Christopher's friends are not the best in the world, sometimes but there are there.
The audience should read this book because it's a good learning experience about a boy becoming a man that has alcoholic problems in his life. To learn how Chris to control his anger and his family. Suddenly he doesn't know whom to trust because he has no friends. What he's feeling when he is alone at home or when someone hit's him he doesn't know how to react he wants to hit them back because reflexes tells him to but he doesn't know what to do. Chris is an emotional boy that cry's when he get hits but that's him he just doesn't know how to handle things he wasn't brought up in a life that was loveable life so when he cry's he wants someone to hold him, and love him but no ones there.
Chris is an American citizen that lives in the United States. He lives with his Aunt Catherine in an old house. Chris goes to school at Valley View High School.

Imitate the Tiger
Imitate the Tiger

The book that I recently read was Imitate the Tiger written by Jan Cheripko. The story main character is Chris Serbo, a senior at Valley View High. Chris loves football and is athletic, but he likes to drink too much. He faces many conflicts and obstacles when he starts drinking constantly. He slowly changes and starts to lose all his loved ones. Since his mother died and his father wasn't capable of keeping Chris, he lives with his Aunt Catherine. He comes in drunk just about every night, but it is just a normal life for Chris until he makes the wrong decision. Now he is trying to find his way out of this horrible nightmare. His grades are starting to drop if he doesn't shape up he might fail school, and get kicked out of the house. Chris also is trying to play in the championship game he has little time, and very small choices on what to do with life, but the night of the school dance ignites all of his problems. He has to come face to face with his fears to save everything he loves.

Mrs. Whittaker, Chris' teacher at Valley View High is trying to understand why Chris is changing. He is a good student, but when his grades start dropping she is a mission to see what's up. She thinks Chris is drinking but doesn't have any proof. Chris thinks that she is out to get him, but he find out that she is trying to help. He has two decisions, and time is running out fast. He has to race against the clock to turn his life around and I think time has just run out.

I think this book was great. I really liked how the author made the story actually come to life, I felt like I was in the story. It shows me a description on how a senior's life is. It also tells people about drinking, you shouldn't do it or you could lose everything that you love. I recommend this book to all people who like sports and that like books with many tragic conflicts. Anyone who likes to actually get into a story should read this. It gives you great pictures in your mind on a senior's life that plays football and drinks. It also can get you into different mood swings like when he gets beat up, you feel mad and when he broke up with his girlfriend you feel sorry for him.

Facts Review
The book I just finished was Imitate The Tiger by: Jan Cheripko. It is about a teenager who loves playing football and likes to drink alcohol. It talks about his life and how alcohol ruins all of the areas of his life-reputation, football, school, family, and friends.
The main character is a Senior, Chris Serbo. He lives in a little town in the US with his Aunt Catharine. His Aunt is a pretty big woman, and his dad worked in the army, he was an alcoholic.
At one part of the book Chris almost gets kicked of the Football team, because a teacher caught him drinking at Connie's Bar. Miss Whitterker. She wants him off the team but some other teachers suggest he should just skip one game. But they can't do that with out the citizens agreeing if he should get kicked off or if he should skip a game, because it's the town's team too. One night, after a party Chris gets drunk and finds an unpleasant and painful surprise he won't forget, on the highway on his way home.
I don't really like reading but I really enjoyed this book, and I think that this book a real good book for teenagers, because it deals with real life. ... Read more

Book Description

Laurel Shadrach is in her second semester of her senior year and things seem to be falling into place. She's dating a Christian guy and her friendships are back on track. But right around the corner lurks the temptation of drugs and alcohol. As she witnesses their destruction on those around her, Laurel realizes that alcohol and drugs only bring temporary relief. To be totally free, you must turn your life over to Christ and rest in Him. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A total soap opera
This book was horrible. I laughed my way through it. Marijuana, alcohol, gambling, HIV/AIDS, school shooting, cheating girlfriends, car accidents, unfaithful hearts, sleazy ex-boyfriends, sex out of wedlock... you name it, it was in this book. I'm sure the author's heart is in the right place, but this book tried to be a great Christian fiction novel for teenage girls and failed. It was so chaotic that any grains of spirituality or important lessons were completely lost. Laurel's attempts to "get right with God" or return to faithfulness are superficial, extremely short lived (a paragraph, at most), and are so quickly forgotten that if you weren't reading closely, you'd never know that this was supposed to be a Christian book. If Laurel Shadrack is supposed to be an inspiration or role model for young girls, she needs to seriously change in the later books of this series. Although the author clearly admires Robin Jones Gunn, this series is nothing compared to the Christy Miller series. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, unless they were looking for a good laugh.

totally free book review
"Totally Free" is the second installment in the Laurel Shadrach series. The book covers the bulk of the remainder of her senior year of high school. Laurel is now dating Foster, a Christian guy. But Branson, her ex, will not leave her alone, especially since he regrets leaving her only to find out that he might have AIDS because his girlfriend has it. Laurel has a hard time trying to keep away from Branson and Foster catches the two of them in some rather compromising situations. Then there is Laurel's best friend Brittany, who is now a Christian and of whom is struggling with her faith. Plus Laurel's brothers seem to be at war, especially when one discovers alcohol and becomes an alcoholic--and then takes up gamblimg on the side. Laurel and her world have been torn apart again--especially after a tragic accident unfolds that leaves Laurel wondering if she still likes Branson. This book is a slightly weaker installment than the first one, but is still a worthy read. I also recommend this author's "Payton Skky" series. ... Read more

Book Description

Pip’s desperate to escape his life—he’s been skipping classes, drinking, getting high.Anything and everything to avoid his smug teachers, his sweet but needy little brother,his difficult home life. Now he’s been busted by Principal Giraldi and given anultimatum: either he shows up for all his classes and sees a counselor after school, or he’sexpelled. Pip’s freaked out; not because he might get kicked out of school, but by thethought that Giraldi might call his father. Because Pip will do anything to avoid hisfather. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

BEST BOOK EVER
This is one of the best books I have ever re