Book Description

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

... Read more

Reviews (468)

A girl at her best.
Star Girl, written by Jerry Spinelli, is a wonderful fiction novel. It is a story about a girl in Arizona who has just come from home schooling to the town's high school. Her name is Stargirl and she has a lot of interesting qualities about her. She wears different clothing then most girls and acts completely different also. She even has a pet rat named Cinnamin. One day in school a boy catches her eye. Even though she is so different there is something about her that he can't stop thinking about. At first she is lonely, then she joins the cheerleading squad and suddenly she was one of the most popular girls in school. Then she does something that makes the cheerleaders turn their backs on her and then she is unpopular again. This boy keeps on seeing and likes her a lot. They finally make it public that they like each other and then before you know it, everyone is interested on how their relationship will work. The ending in this book is amazing. So read the book to find out what happens to Stargirl and her pet rat, Cinnamin.

Thank you, Mr. Spinelli...
Unlike many of the other reviews I will not summarize the plot as well, but give a public thank you to Mr. Spinelli for such a poignant story. Having just finished the audio version, I must applaud both the verbal performance (by John Ritter, excellent choice and we miss him dearly) and the excellent content.

As an adult reader, it caused me to reflect on my years in high school and remember, with some embarrassment, my need to conform and not rock the boat of popularity. I feel the book goes much beyond the surface story, touching on the deep human need to make a difference in other people's lives. Unfortunately, that longing is often lost early in life - the need for acceptance takes center stage and rarely gives up the spotlight.

This story made me laugh and cry, and shall join the short list of books I would take with me if ever stranded on a desert island. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Those wanting more of Mr. Spinelli's excellent work should also read the audio book Loser, performed superbly by Steve Buscemi.

I hope you're still out there, Stargirl. Please keep your eye on me, too.

To conform or not to conform, that is the question.
Stargirl, with a name like that she would have to be an original and she is. No one at Mica High has ever met anyone so non-conformant to the group norm. Stargirl sings happy birthday to student in the cafeteria while playing her ukulele. She drops money on the sidewalk for little kids to find. She cheers for BOTH teams at sports tournaments. Can anyone this selfless and caring survive the pressure to "follow the unwritten school rules" of behavior? Will her individuality be squashed or will the town of Mica, Arizona never be the same?

Karen Woodworth-Roman

*GIRL*
WOW! I got this book in a small book shop in an upstate town. It had an interesting cover and so i thought it would be interesting. I believe in the phrase "you cant judge a book by its cover". So i thought i would give it a shot. I read it in one day!!! I was shocked when i found out that it was narrorated by a boy. Usually girls narerate. Besides the point... It is a great book about how a boy falls in love with a girl who is not what everyone else is. When the whole school stops liking Stargirl, Leo is torn between stargirl and the school. It is a great book about how being different has its ups and its downs. It showed me that being different is something that everyone should try and that not following the croud is something that is not always a good thing. It tought me how to be different in a good way.

Making Conformity Unpopular
I'm not the biggest fan of Spinelli. Although he's a wonderfully artistic writer, his works usually depress me. He has changed my mind with his book, "Stargirl". Reading the book, I recognized the pressures for conformity not only from my high school days, but even now, during my lasT years of college. I both wanted to be and hated the character Stargirl. She's everything we SHOULD be, but never come close to becoming. I hope this book doesn't remain in the young adult circle, but spreads to the adult section as well. A winner. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Mom's Review
This book, "The Clique", overall is a charming story about tweens ganging up on the "new girl" who is less fortunate than these upper crust Westchester snobs. Even the cover should give away some information about the story since its bearing the classic Burberry print.
However, I didn't think that the 7th grade girls were portrayed accurately. I don't think any 7th grader would act that mature. I know because my daughter goes to a New York City all-girls private school. I read this book because I wanted to learn more about how girls interacted with each other this day in age. I chose this book because it seemed the most appealing the time. When I finished this book my daughter found it, read it, and told me it was mixture of: Gossip Girl (how money, wealth, and designers are incorporated) + Mean Girls (how the girls acted and the strategies they used against each other) + lastly, the A-List & the sequel Girls on Film (the insecurites of the girls and wealth).

Review for the clique
I've read all 5 gossip girls , the a-list and girls on film and this book is just as good as all of them. its like gossip girl for the preteen or teenager age group. I read the book in one day i loved it so much. its one of those books where you feel like you know the characters and you cant put the down. its a def must read!

The Clique.
I just bought and finished the book today. Though I like to read books with a little more substance I must admit it was very interesting.

It kind of tells the lives of two girls. One being the popular girl in school Massie. Everyone grovels at her feet and she is admired by almost every girl in school. Massie is also very rich.
The other girl is Claire. She is new and she moves into Massie's guest house. They don't get along basically because Massie hates the idea of being around a girl who is nothing like her.

In the end as always things are resolved.

A version of Gossip Girl for the younger scene
This book is a very good book. It is about a bunch of spoiled girls who pick on the new girl simply because she is not rich. It is Gossip Girl for the younger scene, it shows that Massie, Kristen, Alicia and Dylan all have problems and insecurities of their own, but just keep them well hidden. Even though they are all part of The Clique, Massie is obviosly their leader. If Massie says a command or makes a comment they all follow completly. I think the real conflict is that Massie and Claire are both strong characters and never back down, while Dylan, Alicia and Kristen let Massie have her way. I believe that the reason that Massie insisted on Claire being shunned was because she could give her a run for her money. Kristen's secret gives the book a great twist that shows that Massie doesn't know everything that goes on between her friends. I believe that since the ending didn't give the readers all the information they wanted there will be a sequel to fufill the questions.

The Clique just clicks
I was immediately excited when I picked up "The Clique". Even the cover looked like a younger version of Gossip Girl, which is what I wanted. I am a HUGE fan of the Gossip Girl series, but I was in seventh grade when I read the series, so there wasn't much for me to relate too. Now, on the other hand, The Clique hits the mark. It has all the shallowness of GG, but more things for younger girls to relate to.
The books starts off with trendy and spoiled Clique leader Massie being forced by her parents to meet and be friendly with Claire Lyons, the Florida girl who is staying with her family in Massie's guest house until they can find a house of their own. Massie immediately dislikes Claire, and makes it very clear from the beginning that she won't be joining the Clique anytime soon. Massie's clique is the coolest of the cool, the trendiest of the trendy, the prettiest of the pretty, and the best of the best. And they know it. So when Claire tries to get her revenge on Massie, through a sketchy plan to make the clique love Claire and turn on Massie, it all goes awry.
The ending makes you sure that a sequel is in the works, because the Clique is reunited but not redeemed. And I'll be sure to read it when it comes out.

The book may not be destined for literary greatness, but it sure is fun ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Encouraging book for kids trying to do the right thing
Cliques are tough on kids. The ones in cliques feel a false sense of empowerment and the ones outside can feel isolated and powerless.

This books breaks down playground dynamics for kids so they can see the why. If they understand the why maybe recesses won't seem so discouraging.

Wonderful book for kids to read to feel strong and hopeful.

Great Book
My mom bought me this book yesterday, and I thought it was so good that I finished it within 30 minutes. It really told me a lot about cliques, and friends. I've never been in one, and I wouldn't want to be in one, but I've always been excluded by them, and made fun of, so this was a great book. It told me that even though people in cliques act like they're cool, really they're just looking for a group of people to hang around with so they look tougher.

I think this is a great book for any kid/teenager who is either involved in cliques, or excluded by cliques. This is a great book for both, and a must read for anyone who has met up with cliques and phonies. ... Read more

Book Description

She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum. When she was old enough to appreciate it, Chrysanthemum loved her name. And then she started school. "I'm named after my grandmother," said Victoria. "You're named after a flower." Chrysanthemum wilted. Life at school didn't improve. In fact, it got worse. Then the students were introduced to their music teacher, Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly, Chrysanthemum blossomed.... ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Great for kids and grownups alike
Chrysanthemum loves her name- she whispers it to herself constantly. Her parents reinforce how unique and special she is, which is why they chose her "absolutely perfect" name. Chrysanthemum thinks her name is perfect, too- that is, until the day she enters Kindergarten and the kids make fun of her. From that day on, she is crestfallen every day she returns home from school, and it's up to her parents to bolster her confidence. Still, there's no hope for poor Chrysanthemum's broken spirit- until a substitute teacher with an equally unique name teaches the class, and makes all the girls wish they had a perfect name like Chrysanthemum, too. Kevin Henkes' books are great for kids, and equally enjoyable for adults(look for the subtle designs in the illustrations, like Chrysanthemum's Father reading child psychology books while her Mom comforts her)- it's the little attention to details that makes Henkes a favorite kids author.

"Chrysanthemum is Absolutely Perfect"
When Chrysanthemum was born, her parents thought that she was absolutely perfect and felt that her name must fit that. Chrysanthemum loved her name until she went to school and all her classmates teased her about it. One day, by the help of a teacher, Chrysanthemum and her classmates realize that her name is not all that bad. The text and illustrations in Chrysanthemum blend together to form a delightful book for both kids and adults. The story also explains a valuable lesson, and that is, to be nice to others, no matter how different they are. The language is simple, but also involves some complex adjectives: "precious", "priceless", "fascinating" and "winsome". Repeated verses in the text can also be found throughout the story. "She did not think her name was absolutely perfect. She thought it was absolutely dreadful." This sentence is repeated several times and is like the chorus to a song. The repeated lines provide consistency throughout the book. Another repeated line is "Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum." The repetition of this line aids in the concordance of the story. Kevin Henkes also makes the print of the story life-like at one point. "Chrysanthemum grew and grew and grew." As the font grows larger, it grabs the attention of the reader. This is a singled out event, which makes it even more memorable. Another instance of language playing an important part in this story is when Chrysanthemum is teased. Her reaction is the same every time; "Chrysanthemum wilted." This is a brilliant metaphor for a children's book. It gives a human flower-like characteristics. In addition, the illustrations fit well with the text. The pictures actually add to what the text is trying to get across to the reader. The drawings in Chrysanthemum are very simple but effective. Some books rely just on illustrations to tell the story, some just rely on text, and others rely on both. The author of Chrysanthemum relies mainly on text to tell a story, although the illustrations do help the story to be more appealing. The text alone may seem to be boring and monotonous, but Kevin Henkes makes it exciting and produces the central focus of the book.

A perennial (ha ha!) classic
If you were to single out the one picture book author that most successfully puts their finger on the pulse of children's hopes and fears, the award for Greatest Long-Distance Therapist would go to none other than Kevin Henkes. I am a huge fan of "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" and I found a great deal of enjoyment in "Owen" (though I feel it's not his strongest work). Even "Wemberly Worried" covers a lot of ground by directly confronting the fears of worrywarts everywhere. With "Chrysanthemum", Henkes discusses originality and how being different (even if you're different in name alone) can single you out in both good and bad ways. As a Henkes fan, I consider this book to be amongst his strongest.

Chrysanthemum feels that her name is absolutely perfect. She likes how it looks and she likes how it sounds and she likes that it is her name alone. Everything's going great until Chrysanthemum starts school. Suddenly everyone's making fun of her name. She has a class full of Sams and Eves and Victorias. There doesn't seem to be a place for a girl with as wildly original a name as Chrysanthemum. One student in particular, Victoria, makes it her goal to continually ridicule poor little Chrysanthemum day in and day out. Talking about it with her parents helps a little, but the next day the same thing occurs. It seems that Chrysanthemum is doomed to be unhappy until she meets the music teacher Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly everything in Chrysanthemum's life is a whole lot better.

I liked the moral of this lesson and the way in which Chrysanthemum learns that it's okay to be original. I also liked the epilogue in this tale wherein the leader of Chrysanthemum's tormentors abruptly forgets her lines in the school play and our little heroine is vindicated. Call me shallow, but I always enjoy it when the villains in a piece "get their's". This is probably indicative of a singular shallowness on my part. Just the same, the fact that the similarly tormented Molly of the children's book, "Molly's Pilgrim" never receives any vindication has always bothered me. So kudos to Kevin Henkes for punishing the bad guys mildly! Hear hear!

There are other less personally petty things I like about this book too. I always love a good Henkesian drawing. I love that the parents in these tales are always caring, available, and attentive to their children's needs. In this book I was especially amused by Chrysanthemum's father running to child psychology texts (like "The Inner Mouse Vol. 1: Childhood Anxiety" and "A Rose By Any Other Name...Understanding Identity") to help his daughter. I loved the extraordinarily cool Mrs. Twinkle with her hugely pregnant stomach, ballet shoes, and tail that twists into a musical staff. I loved it all.

If you have a child being teased by fellow classmates for being a little off, this may not be THE best book to offer, but it's pretty darn good. Give it a shot and see what you think. If you love Henkes, you won't be disappointed.

not good for bibliotherapy
If you're looking for a cute, whimsical picture book to launch into a discussion with your child about respecting differences, this one has a major flaw. Love the pictures, love the whimsy, but when the little girl, Chrysanthemum, is teased for her name during naptime (the other girl snickers that chrysanthemums grow near worms and dirt, ugh), the teacher replies with sarcasm, "Thank you for sharing." Well, little kids don't get sarcasm--they take it literally. Why does the teacher not step in and say something straightforward about how that's an ugly statement? I don't want to teach my child that kids can get away with being nasty and teachers will look on in approval. True, a second teacher stands up for Chrysanthemum, but I think to let a teacher make a crack like that, without having some character call her on it, sends the message to kids that you can't trust teachers to do the right thing. At least the girl could've told her parents exactly what happened so they could say, "That teacher was wrong and we're going to talk to her" or something.

Beautifully written
This book is beautifully written! Keven Henkes tells a great story about appreciating our differences as individuals. I would highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Book Description

The fourth book in the series about Marvin, a precocious eleven year old, who tries in vain to be good, but always seems to make the decisions that land him in trouble with his parents, teachers and classmates. Marvin struggles to impress the girl he likes, while trying to avoid the class bully. Along the way, he creates a special friendship with his teacher, and encounters many of life’s humorous hurdles through the eyes of a fourth grader. Parents, teachers and students will see many parallels to their own lives, as the elements in these stories are taken from real-life experiences chronicled by the author during almost two decades as an elementary school teacher. ... Read more

Book Description

Hey, little ant down in the crack

Can you hear me? Can you talk back?

See my shoe, can you see that?

Well now it's gonna squish you flat!So begins a conversation between a young boy and the ant trembling in the shadow of his sneaker. This playful story brings up questions about the ethics and peer pressure, encouraging the very youngest citizens to decide for themselves: to squish...or not to squish?! ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Using ANTS to teach diversity.
"Hey, Little Ant," by Phillip and Hannah Hoose is one of my favorite children's books. Based on a real-life experience the author had as he watched his toddler squishing ants one day, this book is as powerful a teaching tool as I've seen come along in a very long time. In this classic, a Kid threatens to squish the book's hero Ant and a clever dialogue ensues. Allowed to plead its case, the Ant explains to the boy that he, too, has a special reason for being. Through cleverly rhyming verse, set to musical notes if you'd rather sing it, the Ant tries to negotiate for its life, citing the "Golden Rule" to solidify its case. The beauty of this tale is that it ends with a dilemma: "what do you think that Kid should do?" Leaving it open-ended is a tremendous way to generate dialogue with children. It gives them the opportunity to think the problem through and offer problem-solving solutions; it serves to empower them by giving them a voice. At a time in our society when schools are reluctant to teach values through character education, along comes a little book with a powerful message. As a counselor, I used it to teach middle schoolers how to deal with the people who are ANTS in their lives - who might bite them with their words or try to poison them with their actions - focusing on characteristics we might need like Awareness, Negotiation, Tolerance and Sensitivity. I give "Hey, Little Ant" as many stars as it can get and more. Don't miss this one; you will NOT be disappointed!

Changing Perspectives for Children
Kid: "Hey, little ant . . . ./See my shoe, can you see that?/Well, now, it's gonna squish you flat!"

This situation opens the book. The story then evolves into a dialogue between ant and kid to decide the ant's fate.

The kid feels like he can do what he wants if the ant cannot talk back, but his ant can. The ant begs for his life. Then the kid argues that ants don't feel, and no one will miss him. The ant points out that he will be missed. The kid argues that ants steal from people, and the ant protests that they only take a little. The kid says that his friends expect him to squish the ant, and the ant asks the kid to exchange places in his mind. "If you were me and I were you,/What would you want me to do?"

The book ends with "What do you think that kid should do?" This question is a nice set-up for a thoughtful discussion with your child. Unlike many books that proclaim the correct judgment, this one certainly suggests that the ant not be squished but leaves the question open. You can ask how your child's answer might change if other creatures are involved (a mosquito, a worm, a caterpillar, a butterfly, and so forth).

The rhyming scheme in the book is also set to music in the back, so you can also play and sing the book together.

Phillip Hoose is on the staff of the Nature Conservancy. His daughter and co-author, Hannah, was 9 when they wrote this book together. So another pleasure of changing perspectives here is to realize that parents and children can write books and songs together!

The illustrations are very wonderful. In several sequences, the two page spreads are developed vertically rather than horizontally. Ms. Tilley does this very well to portray the giant kid looming over the ant, and later the imaginary giant ant dominating the kid. Each illustration has a sense of movement and presence that makes them seem to come off the page. The details are very rewarding, and will encourages your youngster to look closely.

After reading this book, I suggest that you also talk about where parents and children should be more considerate of each other in what they ask and expect. The relative size differences there are important. You may be surprised to find that your children are a little more intimidated by you than you intended. If so, this book can have a wonderful application in your family . . . as well as in nature.

By the way, I avoid hurting any living creature . . . so I found this book especially charming.

See the world through the eyes of others and other creatures!

hey little ant
This wonderful book gives the reader a great feeling for this poor ant . This little ant has to negotiate for his life!! The only way to make the kid with the big shoe know how it feels to be squished is to turn the tables and make him realize what it feels like to be under an Ants' foot. This book is a must have. It teaches compassion, negotiation, and how to see the world through someonelses eyes.

Great Book for Fun Reading
I purchased this book at a book fair for my 4 year old. He enjoyed it so much it didn't take long before he memorized whole sections of the book. He has brought it to his preschool on 2 occassions for show & tell and the other kids love the book. I am purchasing a copy of the book now for his preschool to have permanently.

Great gift for all children
Hey, Little Ant, is my favorite gift for the children in my extended family. Such a thought provoking, conversation stimulator. The illustrations are bright and colorful. Great for the little ones to follow. I love everything about this book and so do my friends and their children. I hope we have many more coming soon from this gifted family soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sometimes the best way to get through hard times is finding out you're not alone. The books in the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series have provided just that reassurance to millions of teens in the few years since the first was published. Much like the earlier volumes, the third in theseries features stories, poems, and cartoons, most of which were written by teens themselves. Twenty teen reviewers read every submission,narrowing the selection down to 5,000 favorites. Editors Jack Canfield, MarkVictor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger made the final cuts. The result? Packed with compassion, heartache, love, experience, and wisdom, Teen III (as the editors refer to it) is every bit as inspirational as the earlier editions.

Most of the stories are contributed by young, unpublished writers, and the quality of the writing is good, if a touch melodramatic at times. But then, adolescence is nothing if not melodramatic, and the audience undoubtedly will relate perfectly to the tales of betrayal, friendship, identity crisis, parental clashes, and painful crushes. The editors have organized this collection into nine categories: Relationships, Friendship, The Power of Love, Family, Lessons, Tough Stuff, Overcoming Obstacles, Self-Discovery, and Growing Up. A great source for laughs, advice, compassion, and the comfort of knowing that we're never as alone as we think. (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (78)

A quick, easy, and inspiring read
It's amazing how much emotion can be communicated through the written word. Since the inception of the Chicken Soup for the
Soul series, millions of Americans have gained a deeper understanding of themselves through the hundreds of stories included in these books. Authors Canfield, Hansen, and Kirberger have illuminated a fire within their readers. The faithful readers of this popular series have turned to the stories of their fellow man to find inspiration, hope, and emotion within themselves.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III, like its predecessors, was jam-packed with stories by teenagers and for teenagers. We, as
teens, learn through these stories of love, despair, and triumph that the splendor of life equally comes from our encounters of love, despair, and triumph. It is through experiencing these three things that life becomes richer and we become happier.

The sections of this book each touch an area of life sacred to teens: relationships, friendships, love, tough times, and growing up. Seeing other teens deal with these dilemmas encourages us to hold onto life's experiences and LEARN from them. It is through this learning process that we truly mature and find ourselves.

Great For Teenagers!
This book definitely gave me very good advice about being a teenager. I previously read Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II. I think that this one was a wee-bit better than the others Chicken Soup books because the stories were more entertaining. I have always like the Chicken Soup books ever since I was a little. I always found the books fun to read and also educational. This book also taught me a lot about myself and that there are people out there that think the same way I do. This book was happy, sad, fun, and enlightening all in one. I would definitely recommend this book to all teens that need a little heart-warming. This book was a kind of book that you get cozy with.

Great Book!
This book definitely gave me very good advice about being a teenager. I previously read Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II. I think that this one was a wee-bit better because the stories were more entertaining. I have always like the Chicken Soup books ever since I was a little. I always found the books fun to read and also educational. This book also taught me a lot about myself and that there are people out there that think the same way I do. This book was happy, sad, fun, and enlightening all in one. I would definitely recommend this book to all teens that need a little heart-warming. This book was a kind of book that you get cozy with.

A Boat of Emotions
Love, friendship, death, challenges and overcoming events is just a part of what is in this great book. A book you can't put down. You'll laugh and you'll cry. The true stories are great to read but also sad. I found out more about me while reading this book. It helped me realize that there are people out there with my problems and with my views. Every teenager and adult should read this book. The only other thing I can say is that you'll be speachless!

Mmm Mmm Good
Chicken soup for the teenage soul has got to be the best collection of books that I've read. This book is full of small storys about teens getting through hard times and teens going through the best times of their life. This book was especially good because I can relate to some of the storys. Some of them made me cry because they were sad, and others made me cry because they were so happy. There are over 101 testemonies of Teenagers in this book. There were some people who wrote the storys in the book where I just sat back and thought, 'wow, that sounds like me'. The book offered some good advice to some things I was going through. Chicken soup for the Teenage Soul III made a lot of sense too. All the storys were Non-fiction and they really sounded like it too. Not everyone fell and love and married the same person, someone could be heartbroken because their one true love didn't love them back. I recommend this book for anyone that has any hint of being interested in reading it. In summary it is a GREAT book of short real life storys about teenagers. ... Read more

Book Description

Lately everybody's messing with Jamal. His teachers, the kids at school, even his dad. And now that Jamal's brother Randy's in the slam, Crazy Mack has a crazy idea. He wants Jamal to take control of the Scorpions and run crack.

All the gang jive--Jamal has no use for it. Unless, like some say, it's the only way to cop the bread for Randy's appeal...

The story of twelve-year-old Jamal, whose life changes drastically when he acquires a gun. Though he survives the experience, it's not without sacrificing his innocence and possibly his relationship with his best friend.

1989 Newbery Honor Book
Notable Children's Books of 1988 (ALA)
1988 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1989 Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
The USA Through Children's Books 1990 (ALA)
Young Adult Choices for 1990 (IRA)
1989 Judy Lopez Children's Books Award, Honorable Mention
Children's Books of 1988 (Library of Congress)
1989 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library) ... Read more

Reviews (80)

Extremely moving book!
The book, Scorpions, by Walter Dean Myers is an extremely well written book. I have always been fascinated for some reason on the hardships and lives of gangs. Maybe because I have helped some close friends of mine get out of gangs and drugs and I never knew exactly how they felt. I dont know. But when you read a book like this, it's like you were a friend of Jamal and Tito, the two main characters. Walter makes you feel like you are in the book and you belong there. It is a great book with a lot of emotions that is hard to put down.

It's about a young boy named Jamal whose brother, Randy, is in jail. Jamal's best friend, Tito, is always there for Jamal through good times and bad. The book goes through details of Jamal's trouble times with Randy's appeal, school, and his brother's gang, the Scorpions. Once Jamal is in the Scorpions, only trouble seems to face them. Will he be able to get out alive?.....

Breaking Away
Gangs, violence, guns, drugs, and poverty are just some of the topics that other sugar-coated books steer clear of. Walter Dean Myers, however, is a risk-taker and isn't afraid to expose the public to these subjects.
In the well-written book Scorpions, Myers breaks away from the everyday children's books. He writes about a young boy from Harlem, Jamal.
When Jamal's brother Randy goes to jail, Jamal has to take his place as the leader of the gang Scorpions. He thinks it is a bad idea. In my opinion, Myers successfully intertwined the worlds of violence and gangs. Jamal, the innocent bystander, and Indian, a fellow gang member, battle for position of head Scorpion. It is Indian's rough personality that Jamal is intimidated by.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The book reminds me of how people fight in my school and I could relate. As I was reading the book, I felt supportive of Jamal and the decisions he needed to make. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a refreshing change of perspectives. Anyone can relate to this book.

Bang!
Bang! This is the sound you will hear in Scorpions, by Walter Dean Myers, a present day tale about gang life in Harlem, New York. Jamal, the main character, struggles to keep up with normal life, while getting sucked into the life of the Harlem underworld. His brother, who is in jail, and Mack, notorious for being crazy, pressure him to lead a Harlem street gang, the Scorpions. Jamal's friend, Tito, is honest and kind, and sticks by Jamal through his troubles. When Mack gives Jamal a gun, Jamal is not sure what to do with it.
Scorpions shows how hard life can be when you live in poverty. This is an extremely detailed and realistic story. You feel like you are in the book when you read "A blind man with a Seeing Eye dog crossed St. Nicholas Avenue. Jamal watched as the man followed the dog across the street. The dog looked happy taking the man around."
While Scorpions can be exciting at times, much of the book dragged on. It is full of violence, but you would expect fighting in a book about street gangs. "He didn't see the punch coming .. Angel hit him again. He felt his stomach turn in, and began to throw up." Details like this are sprinkled everywhere by Walter Dean Myers.
If you get yourself involved in something dangerous and inappropriate for your age, the outcome will not be good. Sixth to eighth graders interested in the dramatic life of the streets would enjoy reading this book.

A Good Read
The book, Scorpions, is about a young boy and his struggles in a bad neighborhood filled with crime and gangs. Throughout the book he is faced with fights at school, fights at home, and even fights with gang members on the streets. His main problem is that his brother, the leader of the gang called the scorpions, is sent to jail for a robbery turned murder and throughout the book he tries to get money for an appeal. His brother wants him to take over the lead position of the gang and he is only 12 which caused problems between him and the other gang members. This led to the young boy and his friend commiting murder to save their own lives.

Scorpions
Danger! Excitement! Tragedy! In a worn down part of Harlem New York, gangs, guns, and drugs plague the streets. The leader of a well-known gang, the Scorpions was arrested and his 13-year-old brother was forced to take over.

All of these problems and emotions are packed into one book, Scorpions, by Walter Dean Myers.

In this book, Jamal, a 13-year-old tough guy, is forced to take over his brother's gang, leaving him and his friend, Tito, under a gigantic burden, a gun.

Jamal and Tito have a great friendship. No matter what trouble Jamal gets himself into, Tito sticks by him. Throughout the whole book, Jamal has to figure out what to do with the gun which Tito is so afraid of, yet can not run away from the danger it brings.

In this book Walter Dean Myers uses great sensory images enabling the reader to paint a picture in his or her mind. He also uses dialect getting the reader into the book. One example of sensory images used by the author is the wonderful description of the Scorpion signature jacket.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially to young adults. This book can be compared to a number of books written by S. E. Hinton. The message of Scorpions is violence is not the answer. ... Read more

Book Description

Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker-Do I dare disturb the universe?

Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school societ-the Virgils-and master of intimidation.Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event-a chocolate sale.When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school.In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable. ... Read more

Reviews (287)

The Chocolate War
The Chocolate War is a book about a corrupted teacher, an underground society, and a lone kid who stands up against them all, at a private Catholic School called Trinity. The entire ordeal begins when Brother Leon uses unauthorized money to buy 20,000 boxes of chocolates for $20,000.00. Usually, at the Trinity annual chocolate sale, students would sell 25 boxes each, at a dollar a piece, but with the extreme need of money, students are forced to sell 50 at 2 dollars a piece. This is the cause for Brother Leon to call in the help of the Vigils, a "secret", underground organization within the school. The group is led by the notorious Archie Costello, who dreams up pranks for some victim chosen by the Vigils to perform. One such victim is Jerry Renault, who is ordered not to sell chocolates for 10 days. On the eleventh day, he becomes the only person to defy the Vigils by saying "No." once again to a dumbfounded Brother Leon. Who will prevail, the corrupt Brother Leon and the Vigils, or Renault? The Chocolate War is an interesting book but has an undefining ending. Don't fret over that, however, because this is simply a lead up to the sequel, Beyond The Chocolate War, which is suggested for you to understand the entire aspect of the Vigils, Archie, and the shady Trinity Prep.
This is a very worthwhile book to an avid reader, although some may get lost in the plot.

Book Review of The Chocolate War
The Chocolate War is a novel that can relate to the real world. A freshman named Jerry Renault decides to refuse to participate in Trinity's fund-raiser, selling chocolates. At first everyone is on his side, but eventually hey decide to show school spirit and sell the chocolates. This novel shows how Jerry deals with the school and a gang known as The Vigils. He needs confidence and strength to survive. Throughout the story a life lesson is taught: standing for what you think is right will not always end happily. People are going to go against you one time or another. The characters used in this story sort of represent those that live around us. There is always going to be evil and someone standing for what they believe. Despite the book being interesting and having a true theme, there are problems. Those that read this book should be read by young adults or those older; for many unnecessary words, events, and behaviors are used. I think that the story is hard to follow because the point of view changes, and unimportant characters are always mentioned where there is no need for them. I personally did not enjoy the book, but others may prefer this type of literature.

not too bad...
...but not as good as the movie.

I feel bad saying that, since the movie CAME from the book; it's just that the movie has more twists and more depth of character development -- particularly at the end.

Brother Leon, for example, comes across as much more wicked in the film, and the supporting cast is more sharply drawn.

I also felt the book suffered from the use of omniscient narrator technique. It seemed to reduce the suspense and focus.

Also, such scenes as the evil gang of little kids are much more effective visually than they are in print.

One of the reasons, I suppose, that I found the movie so creepy and disturbing was because there was this desolated, lonely atmosphere to everything, implying, in a way, that the schoolboys were actors of mythic stature at the beginning of an empty world. Nothing but the Brothers and them. I think this is due, however, to the movie's being brought off on a shoestring budget; I'm not sure the director intended it this way. Whatever the case may be, this thing -- this central excellence of the film, in my view -- is totally missing from the book.

I think the author was going for a kind of William Golding-type idea, but I don't think he succeeds anywhere near as that other author. He depicts evil, sure enough, but it just doesn't seem to have enough grip or intensity to be compelling.

However, on balance, a worthwhile read. Who can't identify with the degrading chocolate sales that every American school -- both public and private -- "invite" their students to participate in?

More development of the reader's sympathy for Jerry, the central character, would certainly have helped.

Powerful Book
This is a good book with a powerful message. It starts with a high school freshman Jerry Renault being picked on by a secret school society called the Vigils. Brother Leon, a teacher at the school assists them in the harassment when Jerry refuses to participate in an annual school chocolate sale.As stupid as it may seem, the Vigils see him as a threat to them and the school tradition. I'll just tell you that they do some nasty things to him and those who admire him for his defiance (I don't want to ruin the book for those of you who haven't read it). All in all, it shows you that standing up for what you believe in and doing what you want to do is not always the best choice. Jerry didn't go along with the rest of the crowd and suffered the negative consequences for his choices. It's a good, suspensful, and exciting read, and for those of you who haven't read it, you should.

Depressing, bleak and utterly disappointing.
I expected to read a children's classic, but apparently, my definition of a classic is different than some people's. "The Chocolate War" is a book that wallows in hopelessness and despair.

Adolescence is difficult enough without filling children's heads with the bleak, crude ideas in this book. None of the characters are likeable, parents are characterized as empty shells sleepwalking through life, teachers are either cruel and domineering or weak-minded and feeble. Finally, the students are depicted as sheep who act only as they are directed.

The writing is poor with excessive use of similes. It seems every other sentence contains "like", "as if" or "a kind of". Examples of this are: "the smile remained on his face like a label on a bottle" or "the dial tone was like a fart in his ear". Huh? People "laugh as if it was some kind of joke". Awful.

I don't understand why this is required reading in many schools. This book is supposed to depict "realism", but I think it succeeds only in revealing Robert Cormier as a misanthrope. ... Read more

Book Description

Leo isn’t reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo’s mother isn’t. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he’s ready. ‘Reassuring for other late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures.’—Saturday Review.

... Read more

Reviews (16)

A pleasing look at how children can develop differently.
What better way to explain to a child that it's OK to be different? Leo the Late Bloomer is a classic of American children's stories with brilliant illustrations that bring the tale to life. Leo the young tiger doesn't lead a "normal" child's life and his Father is constantly worried that something is wrong with his son. Leo experiences many of the childhood frustrations that we are all too familiar with such as being unathletic, unartistic or ostracized by your peers. Over time Leo absorbs what the others have been doing and eventually blossoms with a newfound love for life. This book brilliantly conveys the revelation of a child discovering his or her place in the giant world. Leo the Late Bloomer is a timeless classic with a relevant social message and is an enjoyable read for any age child

Use This Book to Boost Your Child's Self Esteem
This is a great book that I like to read to my first graders on the morning of the first day of school. The illustrations are colorful and leave room for the reader to ask comprehension questions while reading. It's a terrific read-aloud, especially on the first day of school when students are nervous about starting the new year.

I value this book most of all because it allows students to understand that it's okay if they can't do everything that their classmates do. We grow in our own good time, but sometimes a five or six year old can't understand why they can't do what the girl across the room does regularly. This book can help alleviate those concerns, leading to greater self esteem on the part of the child. As a teacher, in my opinion this is the best aspect of the book. If you teach kindergarten or first grade, or if you have children of your own at that level, this is a great book to boost their self esteem.

However, I caution you that this is not a book that you should rely on if you are the parent of a special needs child. This is a wonderful read-aloud children's book, especially for special needs children, but it is not a resource guide for parents and should not be viewed as such.

We Really Liked This Book!
This story is about Leo who isn't good at a lot of things. One day he can do the things he couldn't do before. He needed time to be good at differnt things. We liked this story because Leo didn't think he was good at anything, but he felt really proud of himself in the end.

Can't do anything right?
The book begins by saying Leo couldn't do anything right. What child can't identify with the frustrations of not being able to accomplish what someone else accomplishes? Many children generalize and say they can't do anything right when they met with failures. This book is encouraging for any child, regular or special education. Another book to use with this one is Little Lemon - Activities for Developing Motivation and Memory Skills by Betsy B. Lee. It has a story, song, discussion questions, and lessons to help develop learning strategies by giving specific techniques. Leo, the Late Bloomer does not give this kind of instruction but it is very encouraging and a big help.

Tiger tiger burning bright
Since 1971 the delightful story of Leo the tiger, and proverbial late bloomer, has been charming children and adults. The story of Leo is the story of many a child. He does not speak, or eat nicely. He does not draw or do anything particularly well. This comes as a bit of a concern to Leo's pop, but him mother reassures him that in time Leo will "bloom". The story in and of itself could be made or broken by the illustrations. Put into the wrong hands, this story could easily have been drawn in a syrupy ooey-gooey mentality. There is a definite danger of cutesiness. Illustrator Jose Aruego, however, never allows this to happen. You've not seen such a sad little tiger cub as Leo. In beautiful scenes of subtlety and oomph, Leo's environment, friends, and parents are rendered in interesting and unique ways. The colors are lovely and evocative. And the emotions of the characters are perfect. Every stripe on Leo's body is an undulating shade of purple. Aruego has advanced watercolor to the next level, creating a book that is (no doubt about it) art. If you like art, or watercolors, or cute tiger cubs, then you won't want to miss out on this sweet little number, "Leo the Late Bloomer". ... Read more

Book Description

"I refuse to speak further of the Ten-legged One...but the more I think about it, the more I like it. Why mess around with Catholicism when you can have your own customized religion? All you need is a disciple or two...and a god."

Fed up with his parents' boring old religion, agnostic-going-on-atheist Jason Bock invents a new god -- the town's water tower. He recruits an unlikely group of worshippers: his snail-farming best friend, Shin, cute-as-a-button (whatever that means) Magda Price, and the violent and unpredictable Henry Stagg. As their religion grows, it takes on a life of its own. While Jason struggles to keep the faith pure, Shin obsesses over writing their bible, and the explosive Henry schemes to make the new faith even more exciting -- and dangerous.

When the Chutengodians hold their first ceremony high atop the dome of the water tower, things quickly go from merely dangerous to terrifying and deadly. Jason soon realizes that inventing a religion is a lot easier than controlling it, but control it he must, before his creation destroys both his friends and himself.

Pete Hautman, author of Sweetblood and Mr. Was, has written a compelling novel about the power of religion on those who believe, and on those who don't. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Must read
This book will change the way you think. It's a good story, with characters I swear I know, and the main guy is too believable for words. He's funny, he's serious, he's smart, and he's not smart. Just like that guy that sits next to you in (fill in the blank). He's got questions about people telling him what to believe--he wants to figure it out for himself--and conquering his fear helps him do that. I never knew what would happen next. I've told all my friends to read it.

Godless is Awesome
First, I loved the characters. It was great to hang out with them. Second, I loved what it was about. Godless shows you how a religion could come to be--how it could actually be created.

Pete Hautman always takes on big issues in his books: Sweetblood--vampires and diabetes, Mr. Was--abuse and time travel, Stone Cold--gambling. In this new book, he decides to take on a huge issue--what and how we believe God to be.

Godless is serious and funny at the same time, at the same moment. You can be laughing about what a character is saying and yet it can be painful and true. ... Read more

Book Description

Poor Rodney Rat can't pronounce his R's and the other rodents tease him mercilessly. But when Camilla Capybara joins Rodney's class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than any of the other rodents, everyone is afraid. It seems she really is bigger, meaner, and smarter than all of the rest of them. Until our unwitting hero, Wodney Wat, catches Camilla out in a game of Simon Says. Read along with Wodney as he surprises himself and his classmates by single-handedly saving the whole class from the big bad bully. Children will delight as shy Rodney Rat triumphs over all and his tiny voice decides the day, R's or no R's. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Hooway for Lester and Munsinger!
They've done it again! The team who brought us such memorable books as A Porcupine Named Fluffy and Tacky the Penguin are at their absolute best with Hooway for Wodney Wat. Funny text and hysterical illustrations combine to make the perfect read aloud book. I laughed so hard I cried. A must have!

To Be a Hero, Just Be Yourself.....
Poor Rodney Rat...he can't say his R's, and life at P.S. 142, where all his classmates tease him mercilessly, is pretty miserable. "All of this teasing day in and day out made Wodney the shyest rodent in his elementary school. His squeak could barely be heard in class. He gnawed lunch alone. And while the other rodents scurried and scooted about at recess, Wodney hid inside his jacket. Then one day, a new student, Camilla Capybara, entered the class and began to wreak havoc. "I'm bigger than any of you. I'm meaner than any of you. And I'm smarter than any of you." And she meant it! That afternoon, poor Wodney Wat's luck turned from bad to worse. He was chosen to lead the daily game of Simon Says and his speech impediment, unfamiliar to Camilla, suddenly became an asset..... The dynamic duo who brought us the wonderful Tacky books, have written an engaging story that will have kids cheering for this shy little underdog as he becomes the class hero and saves the day. Helen Lester's simple, gentle text is complemented by Lynn Munsinger's bold, bright, and expressive artwork, and together they've authored an entertaining story about an endearing character, that's filled with insight, wisdom and humor. This is a story that will inspire little ones to have courage, and to stand up and believe in themselves. "And from that day on the pupils of P.S. Elementary School for Rodents never teased Wodney again. He was their hero. "Hooway for Wodney Wat!" they cried. "Woot! Woot! Wooty-toot-toot!" Perfect for youngsters 3-7, Hooway For Wodney Wat is a treasure.

Root (Woot) for the Underdog
In this story, the Wodney Wat starts out as timid and tucked inside himself because he was teased for who he was. As the book progresses, he becomes happier with himself and is able to have fun with all the students. That was the happy ending, in my opinion.

It covers a variety of content areas!
At first glance, one might think that this is a book solely meant for entertainment. However, after the initial reading, one discovers that the text can provide the primary/elementary child with instruction in a variety of skills: animal identification, phonemic awareness, rhyme, as well as social skills like acceptance, tolerance, cooperation, and handling bullies, all character development skills so necessary in today's world.

And, besides that, it's a fun read!

Hooway For This Book!
This story is about a rat named Rodney who couldn't pronounce r's. Instead, he pronounced his r's as w's. The other kids made fun of him at school until he chases a bully away and becomes the class hero. We liked this story because Rodney was very shy and nervous and at the end of this story he is proud of himself. You should read this story because it teaches you about tolerance and spirit. ... Read more

Book Description

Jimena was once the toughest chola in East L.A. No longer in a gang, she is still feared by many. Nothing scares Jimena. Nothing, that is, except the reappearance of Veto, who was once the love of her life. That terrifies her, because Veto was killed a year ago by a rival gang. Or was he? Jimena discovers that he has made a devil's bargain, which could cost both of them their lives. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Jimena has to face a familliar figure from her past
Everyone knows Jimena as one of the must stubborn and bravest members of the daughters of the moon, but in this book we learn how she got her bravery. Before Jimena found out she was a Goddess she was one of the toughest girls in a gang. Everyone was afraid of her and she knew it. But now that she's shed her bad girl past, a famillar face is comign back to haunt her. It's Veto, a long lost dead boyfriend from her past. What is Veto? Is he real? Did he ever die? Is he back for good? Or is he just an evil tool of the atrox set out to destroy the goddesses. Jimena dosen't know but she's about to find out.

Like the last two books in the series Night shade is exciting and a page turner. I toatally reccomend this book for fans of the series and the supernatural. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, The Secret Scroll, which stars Catty.

A definate MUST read! One of the best!
Night Shade (Daughters of the Moon, book 3) Is one of my favorites in the series so far. I also REALLY loved number 2, but this ties in my favor. Even though Jimena isn't my favorite Daughter (i like Serena ^_^) I have a MUCH higher opinion after reading this book. Night Shade is about how Jimena starts seeing Veto, which is shocking and unreal because Veto is dead. She is led to beleive that the Atrox has a fail-proof plan that involves Veto. I won't tell you the end, but Jimena prooves her braveness and power in this book as she strives to save her lost love and best friends. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! ^_^

A Impact story
The book NIGHT SHADE by Lynne Ewing is really interesting.It's about this girl named Jimena and her 2 other friends Vanessa and Maggie.Every day they used to hang around with a gang in a corner of a street called The Ninth Street in Los Angeles.All 3 of them had special powers. One of them could see the future, the other onecould fly and the other one could make things dissapear. Also it tells you what happend with Jimena's boyfriend who was killed but Jimena never believed that. She always thought he was alive somewhere else until one day he just appeared. I really recomend this book you should read to find out what happend to Jimenas boyfirend.

best of the daughters of the moon series
Jimena is the tough girl in town. The girl that all guys stare at, but are too afraid to go up to. She wasn't afraid of anything, until she saw Veto, the love of her life. The thing is, he had died a year ago, or had he? Veto had made a bargain with the Atrox to come back to life and love Jimena as he had before. What Veto hadn't known was Jimena's new secret. She was one of the Daughters of the Moon. She had the power of premonition. Her friends were Serene, Catty, and Vanessa stand by her side through the whole thing. Each have powers of their own, each with the same enemy, the Atrox, which Veto hadn't known. Maggie, Jimena's gaurdian, helps her through her problems as Jimena's power is stolen from a new member of the Atrox and Veto plummets down to Tartarus, a name for a place we all know as hell. Will Jimena be able to get her powers back? Was she still a daughter of the moon without her powers? Can she still save Veto? This is a great book and I know if you read it you'll love it as much as I did!

Very Suspenseful!
Night Shade was an amazing book I loved it, partly because Jimena Castillo is my favorite character. But I also liked it because it told me more about her old boyfriend Veto, and why he did what he did. Jimena was willing to risk everything for him, but her friends wouldn't let her go. It was probably my favorite book in the series so far, I'm still waiting for number nine to come out, it looks like an incredible book! ... Read more

Book Description

"Jimmy always told me there were only two kinds of gangbangers: Those who were dead and those who were going to die. Joining a gang doesn't make sense to Jimmy..." 

Jimmy is dead now -- gunned down in front of his little sister, Mina, and his brother, Tito. And Tito is left wondering: Was Jimmy in a gang after all? Ice Breaker Joe and Lamar think so. They say Jimmy was skimming their drug money. And if the missing cash isn't returned, Tito may have to pay -- with his life.Some people go to the crossroads, but Tito's crossroads laid themselves down in front of him. His brother Jimmy sprawls on the sidewalk at his feet. Shot in a drive by. Now a gang claims that Jimmy was their Ace Man. They say Tito must take his place and resolve some unfinished business. They give him a gun. "You need protection. It's not safe on the street." What path will be choose at the crossroads? He knows one leads to safety and one to death . . . but which is which?

1997 Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers (ALA)
1997 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
1999 Arizona Young Readers’ AwardSome people go to the crossroads, but Tito's crossroads laid themselves down in front of him. His brother Jimmy sprawls on the sidewalk at his feet. Shot in a drive by. Now a gang claims that Jimmy was their Ace Man. They say Tito must take his place and resolve some unfinished business. They give him a gun. "You need protection. It's not safe on the street." What path will be choose at the crossroads? He knows one leads to safety and one to death . . . but which is which?

1997 Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Readers (ALA)
1997 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
1999 Arizona Young Readers’ Award ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Drive By review
This book is about two brothers and a sister walking home from a birthday party and a blue car pulls up to Jimmy (older brother) and shots Jimmy with a gun and kills him. His brother Tito and 5-year-old sister Mina were watching it happen. Jimmy did not tell anyone that he was in a gang, and the people in the blue car were gangbangers. They killed a Jimmy because he taking cash from them. Jimmy wanted his brother, his sister, and his mom a better place to live in. When Tito was walking home from school there was people in his house spay painting the walls and Tito and his sister and mother was forced out of their house. The gangbangers told Tito that they want what Jimmy took from them. Tito at first did not know what they were talking about, till he was in bed that night and remember that Jimmy told him that where was a spot under the house where he would go and put thing that are important to him there. Tito went under the house and saw a box. He opens it and there was money to the top of the box. There was a letter to Tito from his brother saying:
Well littler brother, if you're reading this, I guess you've been to my funeral.
Probably my homies found out I was skimming cash and laid me down, but who knows? I didn't lie when I told you gangsters are either dead or going to be. Banging was fun at first when I was kicking back with my homies. But then it seemed like all we did was go to funerals and cause more. I thought if I could get enough money, I could take you and Mina and Mom someplace safe. Sorry I didn't get you there. But you can get there, Tito. Be strong. Use the money. Make your life sing.

A person I would tell to read this book is a person that likes to read books on gangs. It tells you how a gang member was taking money from them and the gang member find out and they killed him.

"Drive By" was a nice book to read but it was not one of my favorite book because it didn't really have a plot to it. At some parts of the books it was very interesting to read because it was like life was in a gang.

Drive By
I just finished reading the book Drive By.This book was very interesting.The reason I liked this book was because it uses the same acsent as me and my friends do.I recomend this book for someone who lives in a tough neighbrhood like me, and don't realy like reading boring books.This book takes place in Los Angeles where theres a lot of gangs and drive by's.When you read the first page of this book your not gonna want to stop.

*drive-by*
Bang,Bang!!! Thats, the last thing Tito, the main charecter, heard, when his brother jimmy was shot and killed on the streets of L.A. With Jimmy gone, hif family is in danger because he has somthing the gangbangers want and only Jimmy and Tito know there is money for them. Now the gangbangers are after Tito and his family so they can protect their drug money. And now, Tito is trying to find the money before the gangnagers do.
If u like suspense and action you might like this book.when i read it i could not put it down. Every suspensful page kept me from putting down this very good book.

Drive-By a review by Scott
Has anyone in your family been a victim of a drive-by? In the book Drive-By, by Lynne Ewing, the threesome, which included Kelly, Gus, and Jimmy went on a walk one day. Well, when they're walking something happens. Something that's going to rock their world! Jimmy is walking in the street, which a car pulls up next to Jimmy. He starts talking to the men in the car. Kelly's brother named Gus tells them to get behind the tree. Then Kelly and Gus see flashes and hear loud gunshots like thunder. They thought it was their imagination or something else. They look from behind the tree and see blood fly and Jimmy fall to the ground. The car screeches off.
Kelly hopes she is dreaming. She just witnessed some very sick-minded animals at work. She can only hope that Jimmy was playing a joke and in the car were some of Jimmy's friends. She hopes this was a set-up and a planned joke, but her heart sank and couldn't bear the pain. She couldn't change the truth or take anything back. Maybe, just maybe there's a way for a miracle to happen. Maybe Jimmy was still alive and able to be saved by medical personnel. Ladies and gentlemen, I encourage you to read the book Drive-By and read if miracles can happen with Jimmy's life.

Small book--Great Story
A Review by Teenager from North Bend, WA.

It begins with Jimmy (the oldest), Tito (the middle child), and Mina (the only daughter) walking home from a birthday party down the block from their house. Jimmy was a real jokester and always played the Claw joke, which was when he acted like he couldn't control his hand and it would go after Mina. Mina ran behind an abandoned library and Tito chased after her. It was dark out and Tito was having a little trouble finding Mina but she was hiding in the small shrub behind the old fire exit. Tito calmed Mina down and they started walking back to where Jimmy was when they heard loud music coming from a car, but it started to get louder until they saw a dark colored Chevy come around the corner. The car came at a high rate of speed before it came to a stop in front of Jimmy. There was a brief second of silence before a man in the back seat of the car leaned out the window with a gun and started to shoot at Jimmy. Jimmy fell to the ground as Tito and Mina watched in horror. The car sped off and Tito ran to Jimmy's side and checked his pulse... he was dead.

This book is a great if you like suspense and action and it has a lot of mystery. I would recommend this book to anyone and from grade 2 to 12 and if you like to read small books containing greats stories. ... Read more