Young Adult Books


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Related Subjects: Stine, R.L. Pike, Christopher Lowry, Lois Paulsen, Gary Cormier, Robert Dessen, Sarah Alexander, Lloyd Hinton, S.E. Nicholson, William
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Young Adult Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Young Adult
Dare Truth or Promise
Published in Hardcover by Houghton Mifflin (1999-10-25)
Author: Paula Boock
List price: $15.00
New price: $8.83
Used price: $6.88
Collectible price: $21.80

Average review score:

One of the Classic for Teen in Gay/Lesbian Literature
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-09
I LOVE this book! I can't say it enough. It's the first book on the subject I've ever read but it is still the best out there. Even if you ignore the lesbian theme, the book would still stand out among other young adult books.
Sometimes, the line 'if she had asked me to jump on the path of a jumbo (jet), I would have gladly response: "Front or back?" ~ just a paraphrase, mind you.
With the 32% discount off of the list price, this book is a steal. You can't find it use in Half Price's and other such used bookstores since everyone I know that has read it consider it a Keeper.

shameful
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 38 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-23
I wish I could give this even fewer stars. It is despicable that there are authors peddling books to our children that encourage not only premarital sexual behavior, but perverse behavior at that. Shame on Paula Boock.

Heatwarming and eye openeing
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-07
Dare Truth Or Promise took be no mroe than 2 days to read...I couldnt put it down. It touched me on so many levels; through the two girls meeting to their falling in love to every other aspect of the book. It was beautifully written and had me either smilijng or in tears for most of it depending on the part. well worht the money and deffinatly worth the time to read.

INCREDIBLE and BRILLIANT
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-28
THE best EVER lesbian/questioning book I have read so far. You fall in love with the characters instantly and it is easy to find yourself lost in the beautiful love story of this book. I loved it so much and couldn't put it down, that I read it in one night. I first got it from the library near where I live and after reading it, I loved it so much that I simply HAD to buy it. Beautifully inspirational. You will never find a story quite as true and good as this one. Everything about it is absoltely BRILLIANT. A MUST READ for lesbian or questioning teens.

A Definite Favorite!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-14
Buy this book! I'll make this short, because a lot of good has been said about the book anyway. I loved this book so much that I stayed up till 5am reading it! I couldn't put it down. Paula Boock shows that she is an excellent story-teller and writer. Her story is believable and the characters almost become real people. I absolutely loved this book! It's definitely one of my favorites now!! Such a good story! Read it nowwww!!

Young Adult
Dark Portal
Published in Turtleback by Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media (2002-02)
Author: Robin Jarvis
List price: $15.60

Average review score:

dark portal summarized by C.G.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-26
Robin Jarvis's Dark portal is an exiting, action filled thriller.Some might say it is a weird and an odd topic,but the characters being mice and rats gives the story an extra push, rather than cats and dogs.Everybody reads about cats and dogs.I like this book mainly for 2 reasons:1.there is lots of violence and action. & 2.when you read certain parts where she refers to other events it kind of makes you reread the event she is talking about so you can completly get understand what is going on.
Children 10 and younger probably shouldn't read this book because of the major violence and gore(fighting and blood).

Dark Portal Review
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-29
I really enjoyed reading this book and found it nearly immposible to put it down and I would think about it during the time I wasn't reading it. I don't generally enjoy books about animals, but this one was fantastic. The society of mice and bats and rats were fantasticily conciveed by Jarvis, who clearly delivered all aspects of the story. I plan to purchase the second one as soon as possible!

for all readers
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-08
it is the first book in the trilogy and is a great book. the end leaves you thinking that there isn't anymore, but just wait till you read the Crystal Prison. anyway, this is one of the best book having talking mice and other animals. way better than what i have read of the Red Wall series.

The Dark Portal Minh's Review
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-20
The Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis is 5 stars for excitement and survival.
Albert's life is on the line and his daughter Audrey would risk her life to save him. Albert is very kind hearted and is near death in the scariest place that any mouse would want to go! Will Audrey be able to save her father or will they be eaten by those horrific rats?
I life this book because it shows us that mice have a life that is just like ours.
This book is recommended for all kids that love excitement and really dark places.

Aweful!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 19 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-24
I just don't like rats. They are vile and digusting creatures. I don't like planet Jupiter either. It is a dumb name.

Young Adult
Dark Secrets: No Time to Die (Dark Secrets)
Published in Turtleback by Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media (2004-08-30)
Author: Elizabeth Chandler
List price: $14.53

Average review score:

MY GOD!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-17
ELIZABETH CHANDLER IS AMAZING!!!! BUY THESE BOOK WORSHIP THESE BOOKS THEY ARE A GIFT FROM GOD!!!!!!!!!!

At first...
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-26
I thought this would be a BORING book. I had to find a book for my L.A. project and chose this randomly. I just finished reading it-and to my surprise-it was so exciting! It was very suspenseful, deep, and kept me on the edge of my chair! I couldn't help but turn the page continuously and read for hours. I am unusually like this unless I am reading a REALLY good book. And that's what this is--a REALLY good book and more!

No time to die!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-25
This story is filled with unbelievable twist. It will keep you at the edge of your sit, and the ending was amazing. You won't believe what happens and you really will not guess who the killer is! I give this story five stars, a great job by Elizabeth Chandler.

Exciting book!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-14
Jenny's sister, Liza, was murdered while she was at drama camp and Jenny went there to find out if it really was a serial killer who did it. While she's there, Jenny keeps having these visions that are like memories of what Liza saw near to the time when she was murdered. Jenny is finding more and more clues and has many suspects. She doesnt think it was a serial killer, she thinks it was someone that knew Liza, and she needs to find out because they might try to kill her next. Jenny keeps touching things that give her chills and suggest that they had to do with the murder, like a hammer that she had a vision of being the murder weapon, and sometimes she has visions when she stands in a place that Liza was. Jenny doesnt tell the people there that she is Liza's sister and subtly asks around to find out more. Will she find out who the murderer is before they get her too? Read it to find out!!

Super!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-31
This is a phenominal book, full of friendship and betrayal. It has captivating characters, even those who have "passed on" are intriguing and lead to a smooth flowing novel. Every detail helps pull the plot together in a superb ending.

Young Adult
Evil Thirst (Last Vampire, No 5)
Published in Hardcover by Demco Media (1996-07)
Author: Christopher Pike
List price:

Average review score:

Great twist!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-14
Oh my God!!! The twists in this book were amazing. I found myself screaming in excitment while reading this. It was so great... just like all the rest of them. This one made me cry at the end:(( I highly recommend the series!

i love it!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-28
i read this book in year 7 this year and it is soooo cool! It is full of action as well as sad and happy emotions combined excellently. i think everyone should read it even people who don't read much will love this book. It is one of the best book i have ever read in my life!!!

this book is excellent
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-23
This book is amazing, (like the other 5) the hardest to get a hold of i must say, but this series really makse you think, and the ending in the last book just blew me away, i won't say any more though... I applaud pike for his writing, he realy makes you sympathize for a character that would be seen as the horror in most books, i loved it i think you should read it too, and if you plan to read the whole series (which you should) I suggest you read the collectors editoins, because the transitions between books is much less jerky. Read this book it is amazing!

LOVED IT!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-25
In fact I LOVED the entire series! I think I read every book over at LEAST 4 times! I especially loved the character Kalika, loved the way he described her, loved her fathomlessness... I feel speechless right now, I don't even know what I say! That's how good it is... The book is religious, yet not so seriously so that you will punished if you do not agree or w/e, but simply, you'll be sucked so deep into the book you might even smart believing Sita's believes...

The Last Vampire 5
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-01
The Last Vampire 5 is an excellent book. It can be grusome at times, but that is what makes it a good book. Buy it or you will regret it.

Young Adult
Fear Street Book and Watch (with One Evil Summer) Blister Pack
Published in Paperback by Simon Pulse (1996-09-01)
Author: R.L. Stine
List price: $9.99
New price: $22.57
Used price: $7.65

Average review score:

Help! Wanted
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-12
Amanda suspects that there is something very wrong about Chrissy. She wants to make her parents believe that she is evil because she claims that she killed her pets. But Amanda's parents think Chrissy is very responsible, kind and sweet.

Sad
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-11-26
This book was pretty exciting, Kinda sad when the certain charactors died. But other that that it was good. I read this book in february and its definatly worth buying.

da best
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-03
i think this was da frist fear street book i read,and it was [great!!!] Amanda is a belivable charcther,and tat helps da book,it is also pretty orinagle and it is full of thrills and chills,and action!!!!This is prob is my top 5 along wit The thrill club and The overnight!!!lol,check it out!!!

One Evil Summer Review By Soccerchick101
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-17
In the book one evil summer Amanda Conklin's mom is looking for a mother's helper. She sends out an ad in the Seahaven Daily. Amanda can't help her mom because she is failing algebra and has to go to summer school. A girl named Chrissy answers the ad. As soon as she walks through the door, Amanda's cat, Mr. Jinx, starts to hiss at Chrissy. Also Salt and Pepper, her birds, stop singing and they usually sing. Little do the Conklins know that Chrissy is perfect, perfectly evil!! This book is perfect reading for anyone 10 and older. R.L. Stine has many climaxes and rising actions throughout the story. I highly recommend this book.

One Evil Summer
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-21
Title: One Evil Summer
By: R.L. Stine
Reviewed By: ...

One Evil Summer is truly a thriller. When I was reading it, I got chills up m y spine. It is about a girl named Amanda. During the summer, she comes to a small town called Seahaven. Since she can't baby-sit her brother Kyle and her sister Merry, her mom hires a babysitter, Chrissy. She seems like miss perfect, but Amanda finds her a bit unique. The truth is that Chrissy wants to kill Amanda and her family. There were many things that I liked and disliked about this book. R.L. Stine made the book so interesting that you couldn't put it away. He described the events in such a way that you felt as if you were actually there. I also loved the way he described Amanda. She had such self confidence. She would stick up for what she saw. " You were floating!" she shrieked. "Don't deny it! I saw you!" She tried to tell her parents, but they wouldn't listen to her.
There were also many things that I disliked about the book. For example, I disliked the way some of the events were a little juvenile. At those points of the book, I would start to think what the author was thinking when he wrote this line. " Chrissy was floating closer! Closer!" The book could have been better.
My favorite part f the book was the ending. It unraveled everything. I thought that the end of the book was the scariest. It was hard to believe the ending....BR>This was a scary but great book.

Young Adult
The Good Master (Puffin Newbery Library)
Published in Paperback by Puffin (1986-05-06)
Author: Kate Seredy
List price: $5.99
New price: $2.30
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $11.00

Average review score:

My Favorite Childhood Read
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-21
This was my favorite book from my childhood-- it is a classic children's novel full of great Hungarian folktales and tall tales. It is very autobiographical for the author. Kate Seredy should be an author every child reads at least sometime. I still love this book and bought it to give to my child's teacher.

One of the greatest books ever written.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-21
I adore this book. It makes me wish I lived on the plains of Hungary on a ranch like this family. The Good Master is the story of two twelve year old cousins growing up and learning what it is to be a good, respectful and hardworking person. Jansci, the son of the "Good Master", is excited for his cousin Kate to come from Budapest to live with them. That is until she gets there. She is not used to living in the country and gets into many different "adventures". The time setting is about 1900 because the next book The Singing Tree is about WWI. The Good Master is just a wonderful book that everyone will love.

So you love horses?
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-10
This is a wonderful book forupper elementary or Jr. High girls who just love horses...which is a big section of this age group. The extra bonus is that it gives them a broader picture of girls/horses than the usual stories of girls and their horses in America....this is a great story of a culture and time much removed from their own sphere of experience.

Childhood Classic
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-08
This book and it's sequel, The Singing Tree, are the reasons that I am such an avid book reader. My mother read this book to me as a child, and when I have children, I will read this to them as well.
This story is a wonderful tale about life in a different time and a different place, and the best things in life.

A timeless classic
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-23
My sixth grade teacher read it to me in 1961. I became a teacher and have read it to hundreds of students as well as my own two children. It should be on a required reading list. It is a simple but delightful tale that centers on family, love and hard work.

Young Adult
Of Beetles & Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard
Published in School & Library Binding by Tandem Library (2003-07)
Author: Mawi Asgedom
List price: $19.30
New price: $19.30
Used price: $189.11

Average review score:

review by amanda g
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-13
Scared for your life in the midst of a civil war. Then put into a Sudanese refugee camp, disconnected from your father but left with your terrified mother and siblings. After a while, you are reunited with your father, and your entire family is together. Then in America, where you must start over in an alien place, where you get most of your possessions from dumpsters. This was the childhood experience that Mawi Asgedom underwent.
The book "Of Beetles & Angels" shows the extraordinary experiences throughout Mawi Asgedom's young life, which led him to America and to graduate from Harvard University. His amazing story shows the hardships, as well as the joyful occasions, as he discovers American culture and starts an American life. I thoroughly enjoyed his book and believe that I caught a glimpse at just how hard his childhood was.
The chapters within the book are separated into different stories and times of Mawi's life. This way, the reader truly gets to see how wonderful and cruel our country can be to those who are starting over in a new place, and how Mawi and his family start in a new and foreign place. The book also shows Mawi's experiences viewing racism, biased brutality, and what it is like to be noticeably different from most others around you. " Most of our classmates treated us nicely, others ignored us, and the rest -- well, we could only wish that they would ignore us. We may not have understood their words, but we always understood the meaning behind their laughter. `African boodie-scratcher! Scratch that boodie!' `Black donkey! You're so ugly!' `Why don't you go back to Africa where you came from?' We were just two, and they were often many. But they had grown up in a wealthy American suburb, and we had grown up in a Sudanese refugee camp. We were accustomed to fighting almost daily, using sticks, stones, wood chips, and whatever else we could get our hands on. So it was usually no contest, especially when the two of us double-teamed them, as we had done so many times in Sudan. The cruelty of brutal beatings and the name calling left Mawi and his older brother scared and unsure about their new found home America.
Mawi Asgedom's parents dreamed that their children would do well in school. The primary values that they taught their kids were that education was most important, knowledge was power, and that if all of the children within their family studied hard, they could earn scholarships and become smart and powerful leaders within their new country. Mawi kept his parents' values close and fulfilled them all. "I graduated from Harvard one year ago and have since thought much about my parents' dream. By earning my scholarship and graduating, I have fulfilled it. But along the way, I have found greater value in other dreams. And while Harvard University taught me well, my true education has come from less-likely sources. As I look back to the angels, the Charlenes and the Beth Raneys; as I look back to God's servants, dressed as beggrs and as beetles; as I look back to my inspirations, to the Mamas and Tewoldes, I see true guidance staring back at me. True power comes from focusing on what we can give, not what we can take." Mawi learned so much throughout his life and not only made his parents' dreams come true, but also made his own dreams come true.
This book, with all of its extraordinary detail and description, probably cannot entirely summarize all of the struggles, hardships, and rewards Mawi and his family endured from their journey to America and once in America. However, throughout the pages and dialogue of the story "Of Beetles & Angels", the book does an exceptional job of showing how unique Mawi Asgedom's life was as a child. I absolutely recommend this book.

eye opening
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-11
Beginning in 2001 I worked with two refugee families from Liberia. I wish I had read this book first, because it would have helped me to understand better the sorts of things these families might have experienced before they arrived in our country. While experiences of war, persecution and homelessness vary among people arriving in the USA, the feeling of confusion (even when you speak English, like 'my' families did) and dependence mixed with utter relief of finally getting here seem to be common among all. "My" families knew basic things, but our housing, food and school systems were totally overwhelming even for these educated people. And the police, which we're taught to depend upon, strike fear into every refugee I've ever met. Most of them have had bad experiences with police.
So when I read this book I could relate to some things, I cried over others, and I put others in the back of my mind to remember for when I'm working again with refugee immigrants, especially in these days of heated debates about immigrants.
Personally I think this book should be a must-read in every high school curriculum and for every teacher, not only because it's such a compelling story, but it helps us to see others through another lens and it is ultimately a story of hope.
From a strictly literature point of view there are better books out there, but this one tugs at the heart. And it's also a fast read if you want it to be.

An Inspiring Memoir of the American Dream
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-23
Of Beetles and Angles is the remarkable non-fiction account of Mawi Asgedom's jouney as an African war refugee to America and the obstacles that he and his family had to overcome. In his own words he describes his inspiring transformation into a man with traditional values and principles mixed in with the demands of everyday life in a new society. Influenced by his older brother and father, Mawi sets out to experience the American dream and more importantly, look upon each and every person as angels sent to test the will of our hearts.

Miracles in many forms
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-01-24
This book told me one thing: everyone can be an angel. No matter in what form, that thing could be an angel.
From this story, a boy named Mawi was a refugee. His homeland had been involved in a war. His father decided the family would flee to Amerikha, as they called it. It was a place of peace, which was something that didnt exist in Eritrea, their homeland.
Many perils were made in America. Mawi needed to go to school, with his brothers and sister. He survived through prejudice and violence at school. His dream was to be welcomed with a scholarship into a special university. He worked very hard to achieve his goal.
How did it happen? Just read the book and find out!

Heart warming and inspiring
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-11
I won't take a lot of space stating what the book is about. Just get it and read it, everyone from middle school through adults. You'll be glad you did.

Young Adult
Soul of the Bride
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Simon Spotlight Entertainment (2001-05-22)
Authors: Constance M. Burge and Elizabeth Lenhard
List price: $5.99
New price: $1.29
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

i love this book!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-06-04
this is one of my favourite charmed books!!! as it shows true halliwell spirit. basically prue gets the oppertunaty for a front page photo. but the camera she uses sends all the models and pheobe into hades. in the effort to get there sister back piper and prue have to go through loads of greek mythology gods and creatures. this book is a must have for all charmed fans

Officially the best Charmed book ever!!!! *bows to Elizabeth Lenhard*
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-13
As far as I'm concerned, ALL other good Charmed books (The Queen's Curse, Whisper's from the past, Dark Vengeance, Mystic Knoll, Inherit the witch, Something Wiccan [just to name a few]) are small potatoes in comparison to this superbly penned Charmed book!!! NO other Charmed novel could possibly be better than Soul Of The Bride!!! Elizabeth's work here, is a masterpiece!!!!

What makes this story stand out from the other Charmed books is her impeccable blend of Greek Mythology and the Charmed ones tale aptly blended in. She mixed the two geneologies flawlessly, very well blended, I should add. Every single tiny detail added in is beneficial for the Charmed ones, and that's what stands out in this book. Alot! For example, the part where Piper takes a quick glance at Prue and realizes that she is still wearing Piper's necklace, makes Piper remember that she had to pay Charon the fee to take them over to the other side of River Acheron, which is taking the letter opener and mother-of-pearl inkwell, just in case. Turns out that the letter opener is useful in impaling the Sirens!!!

I'm not going to reveal details of the story, but I guarantee, whether or not you know about Greek Mythology, you will definitely enjoy this story. Soul Of The Bride is a must-have for all Charmed fans!!!!!! My fave bit is when Phoebe is determined not to give up and succumb to the tasty grub kept in Hades, only to realize they are tainted to make people an empty-headed party animal. Also, all 3 sisters had a vital part to play, and with their team work, girly (and sisterly) support, all the loose knots are tied, the i's are dotted and its a happy ending for them.

My only thumbs-down about this story is just that its seems like a pretty huge coincidence that Nikos had known about Prue's photo shoot and sent Mitchell to make sure Prue's topic is on Victorian Portraiture, using Greek Mythology, which then lures Phoebe to Hades. In the Charmed Universe, coincidence is extremely rare, unless Nikos had known it all along, and places a spell on the them to find out.


But other than that, it is 100% recommeded, you WILL love it, like I did!!!
I paid $9 for this book and every single cent was worth it!!!!

Two Thumbs WAAAY up for Miss Lenhard!! *G*
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-23
This one of the best Charmed books ever written. I loved the combination of Greek Mythology and Charmed. Unlike the 'Oh My Goddess' episodes, this book blends both genres together effortlessly. The writing is top-notch... it really pulls you into what's going on. I had a hard time putting this book down (finished it in a couple days.. even with work).

HIGHLY recommend this to Charmed fans. You won't be disappointed :).

Best book yet!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-23
I am a huge, HUGE fan of charmed, I love the series, but ANY OTHER BOOK PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE SOUL OF THE BRIDE!!! It follows the story of the power of three flawlessly!!! If you are interested in any kind of mythology, or even if you're not, the soul of the bride is a MUST-HAVE!!!!

Greek Myths+ Life
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-10
i have read all the books in the charmed series and this is one of my favorites. it combines the greek mythologies with modern day life, which i think is quite creative. i highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys greek myths.

Young Adult
To Sir, With Love
Published in School & Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (1999-10)
Author: E. R. Braithwaite
List price: $14.65
New price: $14.65
Used price: $9.95

Average review score:

To Sir..
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-09
When I was in school, 10th grade, we had a chapter in English Literature. This chapter, named In the Grip of Prejudice, was from the book 'To Sir With Love'. That was such a gripping chapter, that I decided to buy the 'To Sir With Love' immediately.

Amazing book and fantastic movie (with excellent performance of Sydney Poitier). The book has been with me for more than a decade and re-read multiple times. Very intelligent book that teaches the basics of right human existance.

Excellent!

A Sentimental Book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-31
I just saw "Amazing Grace" about William Wilberforce
and the ending of the British slave trade. There is little doubt that the Ricky Braithwaite who is a relatively young black teacher in England
is the breeding product of such slaves used by sugar planters
in British colonies. In arriving at their destination a large percentage died in the crossing. An even larger number usually died each year as
a result of over work and underfeeding. Genetically this actually tended to make the black slaves superior to their white masters in many ways.
Survival makes very good people.
But the question is not if Braitwaite was as good teacher a teacher as
he is a writer, but have conditions improved since 1959 when he first published this. From hearing about the life of Amy Winehouse who is a very popular British singer, one tends to think they may have actually gotten worse in London's East End, not better?
So for all the popularity of the book and movie of this book,
not a lot of attention was really paid to his lessons in understanding
and care for the poor and hard pressed of all races.
Amy Winehouse was expelled by a Weston type for being independent and different. Progressive education has been replaced with regimentation and discipline. Braitwaite made the point that music, even classical music, got through to these children, but in California we spend money on contact football instead? In California E. R. Braitwaite wouldn't be allowed to teach in an high school. He doesn't have a recognized teaching credential.

Good
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-09
During my school days, we had an extract from this book as one of the lessons in our English subject. The lesson was named "In the Grip of Prejudice". After reading the lesson, I just wanted to read the whole book. ER Braithwaite has handled a touchy subject aesthetically.

Highly recommended! :-)

A Classic About Both Education & Life
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-05
A very enjoyable book. Braithwaite tells an inspirational story about both teaching kids but also overcoming prejudice as a black man in post WWII England. I'm a new teacher and hope to develop the type of relationship he had with his students with mine some day.

Inspiring stuff
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-27
I remember having read an extract of "To Sir with Love" during my school days and have been wanting to read it ever since. Unfortunately I never got around to doing so for quite a while. Recently while browsing in a bookshop, my eyes fell on the book and I decided to pick it up.

The book is an extremely inspiring autobiography which chronicles the life of a 'coloured' teacher in a particularly rowdy neighbourhood of London.

Written in an extremely touching, charming (and ocassionally witty) style, the author talks about how he has to deal with racial sterotypes. It is uphill all the way for Braithwaite as he counters the cynicism of his impressionable students and, ocassionally, that of his colleagues also. Slowly, he wins over the minds (and in the case of Pamela Dare, heart) of his students as he tries to wipe clean their minds of prejudices (racial or otherwise).

The book was also filmed starring the ever-charming Sidney Poitier in the lead role. See the movie after reading the book.

Young Adult
True Blue Forever
Published in School & Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (2003-04)
Author: Joyce Sterling Scarbrough
List price: $36.45

Average review score:

Thoroughly Enjoyable
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-10
Joyce Scarbrough knows all the emotional buttons to push. Reading her fast-moving tale of four teens working their ways through those difficult years, I laughed and wept. I pulled for the protagonists and railed at the villains. And I was thoroughly entertained. It even has a happy ending.

Of course, the characters are too good to be true. As a father of four who went through their teens at precisely the same time, I found myself comparing Jeanna and Mickey to Skip, Wendy, Jeff and Marty, all of whom are now productive and responsible adults in their 40's. But back then their language was vile, they all experimented with drugs and took GED tests to get out of high school early, and protested for or against whatever the cause celebre of the day was.

So True Blue Forever is fiction, which is precisely what the author claims it to be. Jeanna and Mickey are more virtuous than real life; Billy Joe funnier; Wade meaner, although through an interesting twist he undergoes a transformation before the story ends.

Read True Blue Forever for pleasure. I would rate it suitable for anybody over the age of 12, considering the times we live in.

(...)

wonderful book, beautifully written
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-20
True Blue Forever, by Joyce Sterling Scarborough.

Let me start with an unadorned statement - I loved this book.

I carried True Blue Forever to work each day and read it on the train, forfeiting my nap on the ride home to continue reading. It brought out laughter, it forced me to wipe away at my mist-filled eyes, it stirred anger, frustration and an adolescent need to pump my fist with an "in your face" sense of triumph. True Blue Forever did, as all good books hope to do - it stirred me as a human being.

Romance is a language that speaks to both the heart and mind. When it touches the soul, however one can be sure the words are pure. Three boys make a silent vow to win the heart of a magnificent young lady in the fifth grade. The story blossoms from there with two of the boys having kept contact with her throughout her life while the third, having returned from a move to another town, reaffirms his devotion by setting out to win her heart. The stage is set, one boy has grown to be an arrogant "jock", one is a comical jokester and the third, this stranger from afar, is a tried and true, steadfast depiction of manhood. Together, they create a whirlwind of interaction centered around Jeanna, a girl who is as beautiful as these three boys believe, both inside and out. The story is sure to touch your soul.

True Blue Forever is not a difficult read and that helps to make it an addicting read. I relished the story as it unfolded and was unhappy when it ended because I wanted more. The characters are not only believable, they are endearing and the love they feel for one another is heart-warming. Jeanna, although frustrating at times (from a man's perspective) with her unselfish optimism, ultimately shows herself to be a most rousing individual, as mentioned above. The three boys are all lucky for knowing her and having her as part of their lives. True Blue Forever is a strong testament of friendship and how hardships can be overcome with the help of those in life who care - even when one has stopped caring for oneself.

True Blue Forever, by Joyce Sterling Scarborough - an outstanding tale of friendship, love, romance and perseverance as well as family, trials, heartbreak and redemption. It's a feel-good book that does its job well.

An Enchanting Story
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-19
Joyce Sterling-Scarbrough has given us a trip back to the bitter-sweet times of reaching out for maturity, the agony and ecstacy of the teen-years.
Her characters are solid and the plot is alluring.
A really entertaining story to read. Be sure you read it!

A big block in a world full of Hondas - by FordPower351
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-08
A friend of mine was telling me about this book they were reading and they mentioned that one of the characters drove a Boss 429. Well since they only made about 1200 of these Mustangs, I immediately became skeptical, thinking that the author was just using these rare, top of the line vehicles like they were store brand cereal. So I read the book convinced that it would reek of stale overused stereotypes in every other story. Well it turned out to be a huge girly love story like I had expected. But what I didn't expect, and don't let anyone know this(especially not the Chevy guys), but I loved it. I read it all in one night, a night that was supposed to yield a rebuilt carburetor. But my Holley carb had to wait for Jeana and Mickey and Billie Joe, and I don't regret it one bit. The story line was excellent and constantly had me wanting to read more of it. My wife must have thought I was under the car with another woman with all the lauging I was doing out in my garage, because she came out to see what was "so freakin hilarious," as she put it. Well she read it the night after I finished and absolutely LOVED it. Although she did keep asking me why there was so much grease on the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story, not just a love story, but a lot more. This was one of the best books I have read in a long time, and I hope there is a second book on the way? I did have one problem with it however, I felt that Mickey was spending way too much time with Jeana and not enough time with his Ford. But I guess Jeana was just that one special girl we all have. And he really didn't need that much time to work on his Mustang anyway, those Fords run forever you know!

Karen Penn- TCM Reviews
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-17
Eleven year old Jeana Russell recites a poem written from the heart at a fifth grade honors program. Three boys in the audience fall hopelessly in love with the pretty redhead, each one of them vowing that one day she will be their girl.

True Blue Forever follows the teenage years of these four friends, Jeanna, Mickey, Wade and Billy Joe, as they journey through their teenage years in the late 1970s.

Jeanna must deal with the different expectations each boy has of her, while maintaining the one relationship she sees as 'true blue'.

Although this book deals with the lives and loves of teenagers, it is plainly written for adults, and is truly addictive reading. True Blue Forever is well written, full of emotion, humor and heartache.

I am really looking forward to reading more from this author.


Books-Under-Review-->Arts-->Literature-->Authors-->Young Adult-->36
Related Subjects: Stine, R.L. Pike, Christopher Lowry, Lois Paulsen, Gary Cormier, Robert Dessen, Sarah Alexander, Lloyd Hinton, S.E. Nicholson, William
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