Editorial Review

According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnnykills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels thesame whether a soc or a greaser. This classic, written by S. E. Hinton when she was 16 years old, is as profound today as it was when it was first published in 1967. ... Read more

Reviews (1428)

my inspiration...
When I had to read THE OUTSIDERS in seventh grade, at first I was just like whatever because I thought it was going to be another boring book we had to read and why can't we ever get good books to read? But from the first chapter, that was it. I fell so hard I still haven't gotten up.
Battle Against The Socs - A Review By Izzy, age 11
A boy named Ponyboy, and his two brothers, Sodapop and Derry, turn into hoodlums when their parents die in a car crash. They join a group of hoods: Johnny, 2-Bit, Steve and Dally. They are in a battle against the Socs, who are spoiled and very rich. The Socs always jump the hoods (Greasers) when they are alone. They all have parts to play: Dally is the tough guy, 2-Bit is known for his switchblade, Steve is known to mess around a lot, Sodapop comforts people, Johnny is the pet of the gang, and Ponyboy is the youngest at the age of fourteen. There are two other gangs of greasers.
rockin book
I loved this book because you never know what is going to happen. Plus I think it's wierd that people would go into gangs. I feel sad for Johnny for dying saving other people. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Literature - Classics    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family - General    5. Family life    6. Fiction    7. Gangs    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Social Issues - Adolescence    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Adolescence   

Editorial Review

At the height of the Harlem Renaissance during the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston was the preeminent black woman writer in the United States. She was a sometime-collaborator with Langston Hughes and a fierce rival of Richard Wright. Her stories appeared in major magazines, she consulted on Hollywood screenplays, and she penned four novels, an autobiography, countless essays, and two books on black mythology. Yet by the late 1950s, Hurston was living in obscurity, working as a maid in a Florida hotel. She died in 1960 in a Welfare home, was buried in an unmarked grave, and quickly faded from literary consciousness until 1975 when Alice Walker almost single-handedly revived interest in her work.Read more

Reviews (369)

A Challanging yet amazing book
I really liked this book. I thought Janies life was interesting. it was a hard read. It was ahrd to understand but i loved it. I like reading about what people go through and how they deal with things. This was definitely one of those kinds of books. I strongly recommend it

Value as historical artifact
Funny how folks seem to love this or hate it.I admire the author's creativeness in the context of her time:the use of vernacular was quite creative at the time, and brings the reader intimately to the story.The very subject matter, a young black woman on a journey of self discovery-- easy to take for granted today how remarkable this publication must have been.That said, as a contemporary reader I didn't love this book and had to push myself to finish it (for my book club).Hard to care for this protaganist who passively scribes herself in relation to a succession of husbands.I just didn't like the person she was!But worth trying for yourself, I think.

A great book for our times
Out of curiosity I picked up "Their Eyes Were Watching God" at a yard sell and discovered a gem.
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Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Fiction    3. Literary    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Fiction / Literary    6. Modern fiction    7. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

Like the Oklahoma dust bowl from which she came, 14-year-old narrator Billie Jo writes in sparse, free-floating verse. In this compelling, immediate journal, Billie Jo reveals the grim domestic realities of living during the years of constant dust storms: That hopes--like the crops--blow away in the night like skittering tumbleweeds. That trucks, tractors, even Billie Jo's beloved piano, can suddenly be buried beneath drifts of dust. Perhaps swallowing all that grit is what gives Billie Jo--our strong, endearing, rough-cut heroine--the stoic courage to face the death of her mother after a hideous accident that also leaves her piano-playing hands in pain and permanently scarred. Read more

Reviews (759)

Be careful with this book
My daughter was allowed to borrow this book from her school library when she was 7 because she tested high on her SRI. She was sitting on the couch reading it with tears welling up in her eyes. I read the book, and it is a beautifully-written, powerful piece, BUT be careful. If your child is not ready for this emotionally, DO NOT allow her/him to read it. The baby and mom die horribly, the father withers away and the girl is racked with guilt and blame. It's not something you give lightly to a child of any age.

A Mon avis...
Though this book is well written and has a creative style I absolutely despised the story. The reason I dislike this book has nothing to do with it being "very sad" as some other reviewers have commented. Instead I dislike the book because the story is lacking and I do not think the author does a good job of creating empathy towards the characters. Usually when a reading a "sad" book I have sympathy towards the characters. In this book there was none. Also I felt the character development was lacking. I don't reccomend this book if you are looking for a good story I do reccomend it though if you are interested in learning about free verse or seeing how the author shaped the story.

Poetry
This book is AWESOME! I believe that it is simply amazing how this authour was able to portray so eloquently the joys and hardships of Billie Jo during the Dust Bowl, especially when writing it all in poetry. This a must-read for anyone really, even those who are 10, like me. I loved it because of the above reason, and, because Billie Jo is so truthful and pure about here feelings in this book, and you don't see a lot of that nowdays. My advise is to READ IT!!!!!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Classics    6. Depressions    7. Dust storms    8. Farm life    9. Fiction    10. Historical - United States - 19th Century    11. Historical - United States - 20th Century    12. Juvenile Fiction    13. Oklahoma    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / 19th Century   

Reviews (15)

Among the Free
Luke, a third child wanted the population law gone. It was that, because of droughts that nobody was allowed more than 2 children. When he figures out the population police were overthrown he goes to check it out.
Disappointing Ending to a Good Series
Among the Free should have been the exciting climax to a well-done series about illegal third children fighting the Population Police.Instead, it is rushed and unbelievable, with Luke, our hero from the first few books, still unsure of himself and still being led by the voice of his friend Jen instead of thinking things through for himself.
Thrilling end to gripping series
I've been reading this series since the first book. It never dissapoints. Each book is a pageturner, that I can't put down, and this one was the same. It focuses on Luke the boy who we were first introduced to on the first page of "Among the Hidden". It follows Luke through a fast paced adventure, exploring the nature of people, government, and righteousness. If you liked the other books, you will not be dissapointed by the thrilling finale to this seriously. I literally squealed as I read it and surprsing twists continued to be thrown. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Conduct of life    5. Fiction    6. Freedom    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Science fiction    11. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Editorial Review

Ever since Mark's parents died, he has been living with Bryon. The boys are more like brothers than mere friends. They've been inseparable--until recently. Something seems to be changing between them, and Bryon can't figure it out. Is it Cathy, Bryon's new girlfriend? Is Mark jealous? Bryon is also tired of the street fighting, but Mark seems unable to quit. And where is Mark getting all of that money? In Read more

Reviews (230)

That was then , this is now
The theme of the story "This was then this is now" is changed throughout the story the boys Mark and Bryon seem to be in school and walking down the streets most of the time and wondering anywhere there situation is. The aspect of the story I personally liked was that Mark and Bryon are in different situations, like Bryon has a girlfriend that mark and is constantly getting into street fights and mark is jealous of Bryon having a girlfriend. And at the same time mark seems to be coming up with money and can't control himself and won't seem to quit most of the time. The aspects that weren't so interesting to me were that Bryon gets into street fights the were caused by the stupidest things and doesn't want to resolve the problems he just wants to fight all the time and he gets tired of fighting already. I think that images that Hinton put out were very persuading to the person whose reading the book, because he said how Bryon sticks up for mark in a fight and how there on the streets dealing with the problems, I also thought that the main characters were believable because I would think the boys were just the typical best friends that get in to situations that the boys get into in the story.The story was an adventure that two best friends have in a lifetime.

Oustanding, Hard Hitting
As a 7th Grade Language Arts teacher in search ofgood book for my students, I hit a home run with this one.Wow! Powerful!
Another outstanding novel about teen boys in trouble
When I was in tenth grade, my English teacher read "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton to the class. I loved the book so much that I reread it one year later and consider it one of the best examples of fiction about teenagers. While this book isn't quite the caliber of "Outsiders" it is another excellent novel about teenagers experiencing troubles.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family - Stepfamilies    5. Fiction    6. Friendship    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Friendship    10. Social Issues - General    11. Social problems    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship   

Reviews (97)

My favorite book!!!!
Rumble fish tells the tale of Rusty-james, a 14 year old tough kid who enjoys keeping up his bad rep and wants more than anything in the world to be like his brother, The Mortercycle Boy. The Motercycle Boy is the coolest guy in town, the leader of the gangs, and a mystery to all. Smart, eye catching, and tough; the Motercyle Boy is everything Rusty-James has ever dreamt of being. The only problem is, Rusty-james isn't quite as bright as his brother. He is more bronze than brains and rather reckless. Also he is incapable of understanding The Motercycle Boy and u can't help wondering... is being The Motercycle Boy really as great as Rusty-James thinks it is?
Rumble Fish
While this book was exciting and interesting and kept me reading until the very end, I was confused.
Rumble Fish
After reading "The Outsiders", I decided to read "Rumble Fish". This book was the greatest.I just love how the story involves a teenager who looks up to his brother Motorcycle Boy and how he gets into all these illegal activities like fighting and stealing. I would recommend this book to any kinds of reader who likes to reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. City and town life    5. Family - Siblings    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Issues - General    9. Social Situations - General    10. Social problems    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (19)

The Best Books Ever
I have read many many books and the shadow children books are the some of the best books I ever read. It's impossible not to like them. Once you'll start reading,you won't want to stop. These books have lots of suspense and can be a little scary too. I have reread each of the shadow children books 6 times and I still don't get tired of it. It's a great book for all ages.

Wow
Yeah I am only 12 but these books I still love<3<3 they are exciting thrilling and most of all my favorite part about them is you dont want to put them down!!! I recomend these books 100 percent to any reader who is ready for adventure!
My favriot book
these books are awsome, at first i was forced to read one for a school report but as soon as i picked it up i could not put it down and i finished it that day, now i have read the first three books at least 4 times and i am starting the fourth one, they are just truly amazing ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. General    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Science fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Features

• Bargain Price

Reviews (73)

the book that is really sad and makes you cry!!
The book Olive's Ocean has a lot of detells and I can understand it a lot. I think you should read it because it is funny and in some parts of the book it might make you cry. In some parts of the book it was kind of boing and some parts it feels like you are right in the book with the characters. The chapters are not that long and I like short chapters because I do not like reading a lot at once. The was about a girl that dies and her name is Olive. Martha wrights a story about Olive while she is at her grandmother's house. Martha does not know how to tell her parents that she likes to wright. Martha finds out that there is this kid that likes her but he really does not. Martha thinks Jimmy like her but his brother Tate really is the one who likes her.

Amazing, touching book
I couldnt put this book down. It was one of those books where you try and sneek reading it after bed-time. i loved this booksoooo much and definatley would read it again. One of my all-time favorite books. The author was very descriptive and the book had short, suspensful chapters so that you were hooked on reading it. you should definatley buy this book. recomended for girls from ages 10-15 maybe. loved it!!!
Olive's Ocean reviewed by Helen
Olive's Ocean
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Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Family - Multigenerational    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Grandmothers    7. Henkes, Kevin    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Love & Romance    10. Self-perception    11. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational    13. Reading Group Guide    14. Bargain   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Subjects:  1. Children's audiobooks    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Gangs    7. Hinton, S. E.    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Unabridged Audio - Literature Classics    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (40)

Among the Reports
The protagonist of the story is Matthias, he is a smart, brave, 13 year old boy, who is and illegal 3rd child. His mission is to shut down the Population Police.
Among the Enemy
I really read this book only because I liked Margarett Haddix's other book Double Identity. This is the only Shadow Chidren book I have read but now I am definitely going to read the other ones. This book is one that you could probably read in a day because it is so suspensful. I reccomend this book to anyone who hasnt read it before to pick it up and start reading because I am 99.99% positive you will like it!!!(see, I even used three exclamation points)

An excellent book
Among the Enemy is all about loyalty, and being true to yourself and beliefs. When Matthias saves the life of a population police officer, he is immediately accepted into their ranks. Instead of being pleased by this turn of events, he's torn between the admiration the police have for him, and his desire to help the very rebels the population police are hunting for. Two of Matthias friends- Alia and Percy- were injured trying to escape the police, and he still wants to help them stay free and alive, despite his new duties as a recruit and despite the fact that he has become friends with a few of his fellow officers. This inner struggle Matthias has reveals a lot about his character as he fights to do what's right.I would compare Among the Enemy to An Audience for Einstein, since both books are about the struggle to do what must be done and overcome the temptation to do what's easy and self-serving. In that regard, they are stories about how hard it can be to always act ethically and morally, which is always a valuable lesson.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Conduct of life    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Science fiction    10. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    11. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Reviews (11)

***Great Book***
Anya (aged 10) has a diease (which I can not spell)that makes her allergic to her own hair. So she starts losing all her hair. Right before she goes back to school after Christmas Break she gets a wig. Some girls notice her wig and Stef tells girls in her Clique to tug on it. Keely feels bad, so she doesn't do it. One day in Gym Class Anya does 5 sommersaults in a row in front of the whole class and on her 5th one her wig fell off. Anya just wants to be alone and refuses to go back to school, until......... ( you must read the book to find out the end)

Because of Anya
Have you ever had a problem that just wouldn't go away? Anya did, she has alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a rare disease that means that you're allergic to your own hair. Steph, a mean girl in school, and her crew think that she has cancer. Absolutely nothing will stand in their way of finding out the well known question, why is Anya wearing a wig? In Because of Anya, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Anya finds out the hard way what it is like to have no hair. When Keely, Steph's friend, tries to talk to Anya, Anya does not know why, but she tries in every way possible to not let her secret get out to anyone. Will it go to far? Will the secret get out? If so, how? What will they think of her? Find out by reading the absolutely amazing book by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Because of Anya.

Anya
The main character in this story is Anya, she is always shy and very worried that her wig will fall off.Anya feels like she is being left out because she thinks running, bending over, shaking her head, and even standing up to fast will make her wig fall off.At the beginning of the book, a girl named Keely is sitting in school, she gets a note passed to her by a girl named Stef.Stef has been Keely's friend for five years, but Keely doesn't remember how they became friends.Stef is very bossy and Keely wonders how Stef can have friends when all she does to them is boss them around and tell them her ideas.Keely feels that she should stand up to Stef, but she just isn't brave enough.Stef has two other friends, their names are Tory and Nichole.The book doesn't tell much about these characters, but it does tell us that they are Stef's best firends.The book doesn't tell us a lot about any of the character's parents either.I really enjoyed this book by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I hope other people will, too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Baldness    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fiction    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. School & Education    7. Schools    8. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    9. Social Issues - Values    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance   

Reviews (65)

Tex
In this book, there is a kid named Texas, and he is fifteen.At the beginning of the story, everything is going his way.Later it all started to go downhill; everything went wrong.Texas and his older brother Mason were running out of money.Things just keep getting worse.
Tex
The title of my book is Tex. The author of this book is S.E. Hinton. This is a realistic fiction book with some action. The theme of this book is to be thankful for what you have and to live with the life you were given. The setting is a small town in U.S. the protagonist is a 15 year old boy named Tex; he can be very stubborn and not think about what he's doing. The antagonist is life and all the challenges that come with it. The conflict is Tex and his older brother Mason are waiting for their Pop to come home, and they're having a lot of trouble managing by them selves. They are really poor and dealing with financial problems and Tex gets in lots of trouble so Mason has to be like the father and Tex doesn't like it.
Got To Read It!!!
This book has got to be my all time greatest book by my all time greatest author, S.E. Hinton.You must read this book, it is about a boy named Texas and the only thing that follows him is trouble.Being a trouble maker doesn't help him either.His troubles first begin when his brother sells his horse for money to pay the bills, because the Pa has run out on them and their mom is dead.This book is full of action and adventure.You will never get bored, every part is exciting and full of twists and shoking moments at every corner.The book is full of suspense and so much like real life.You've got to read this book, it is absolutely incredible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Classics    4. Family - Siblings    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Social Issues - Adolescence    7. Social Situations - Adolescence    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General   

Reviews (352)

Book Review
Among the Hidden is really good! it is very suspensful and intriguing. It tellsthe story of Luke Garner, a third child. Mrs. Haddix wrote a very good mystery about Luke and his family. She also keeps you reading with the mysterious girl who comes into the picture. Make sure to read the shadow children books in order!

This book is absolutely amazing!!!!!
This book is one of the best fiction books of all time! It shares all kinds of different emotions and excitment for any reader.I personally would like to thank Margaret Peterson Haddix for reaching out to kids all over with this one-of-a-kind book!!!

The Shadow Children series is a must read!!
I got this my 11th Christmas, and it looked weird so I didn't read it. I love books, and I have to finish without stopping once I start. But this book looked boring. One day I had nothing else to do, so I read it. It was so good! It was a little bit slow at first, but it got better and better. Now that it's been 4 years I've reread it over and over again.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Juvenile Science Fiction / Fantasy    6. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Science fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (3)

A very realistic book (coming from me)
I have family members that have expierienced this adventure of "crossing the wire". It is not only hard but its also sad, sad because not only are you suffering but you see other people suffer and that ther can get really tough. This book goes in detaial what one person, Victore Flores had to do to cross. Now if whatever happend to him in the story affects you in any way, just think about all the people that are crossing just to see how it is like here, or even to get money for their family. I think they deserve a little simpathy. Overall this book is a great book to read, you'll get addicted i guarantee it.

Loved it
As an author, I was freaking out about how timely this book was, given all the talk of illegal immigration, etc. Then I read it, and was even more impressed. This is a terrific book, far more interesting than a lot of news stories I've read on the topic, from a master of the genre. I fear it won't get the attention it deserves, solely because it's a YA book.

A Good Read And You Might Learn Something
Once again Will Hobbs has put together a boy's story that leads the reader not only on an adventure but also gives insight into ways of life in which most of us are unfimiliar. Overwhelmed in the knowledge that his mother and little brother will soon end up living on the streets the young lad of Crossing Jordan decides that he must sneak across the American border where there is hope he can make enough money to send home.The adventure is the telling of all the efforts, and failures, the boy must go through to accomplish such a feat.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Boys / Men    4. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. Fiction    8. Illegal aliens    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. People & Places - Mexico    11. Social Issues - Friendship    12. Social Issues - Homelessness & Poverty    13. Survival    14. Voyages and travels    15. Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / Mexico   

Reviews (232)

Great Read Aloud
I have been reading this to my students for the past six years and every year they beg me to read more. I truly love Margaret Peterson Haddix's wonderful writing. She has a way of captivating her audience and leaves the reader wanting more at the end of every chapter. I love to start the year with this book because it makes my students realize how much fun reading really is. If I can get their attention and have them begging for more, they can find books equally exciting. Thanks to Haddix for pulling her readers in and giving me an excellent book to start my year. I would love to see a movie that is G or PG made from this book. I'm not interested in seeing The Village. This book is not meant to frighten children, but to keep them in suspense. Read this book. You won't regret it.

UN BELIVABLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once I started the book it was impossible to put it down! Every page was filled with adventure. The plot is amazing I read it in only one day. A great selection for young readers of all ages.

GREAT BOOK!!!!!!!!
This book is about a girl " Jessie Keyser", that lives in a village called " Cliffton." Jessie's Mom is the midwife and kind of a nurse. Jessie notices her mom has been called out alot more then usual, and there are alot of empty seats at school.Finally Jessies mom tells her to go to the woods after school by herself to meet her. Then Jessie learns a big secret Cliffton is not really a village, and a man name Miles Cliffton founded it. It is a hisitorical preserve, insted of being the 1800's its actually 1996, and Miles Cliffton has stopped sending in modern medicine. All of the children are getting very ill, with Diptheria. Ma sends Jessie out of Cliffton in some clothing ma kept from before they moved to Cliffton.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Diphtheria    7. Fiction    8. Mystery and detective stories    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

When her English teacher, Mrs. Dunphrey, announces that she will require everyone to keep a journal, Tish Bonner sighs and fidgets. She's one of those girls with big hair who sits in the back of the classroom, giggling and passing notes to friends instead of paying attention. Frankly, school is a waste of time for Tish. She would rather be working to help support herself and her younger brother. (Goodness knows her mother never lifts a finger to help them.) Mrs. Dunphrey says that she won't read any student's entry marked "DO NOT READ." Should Tish believe her? Much to Tish's surprise, journal writing becomes a welcome--yet frightening--outlet for the increasing stress she feels about life at home. Should she write about everything she's feeling? Will Mrs. Dunphrey really respect her privacy? This novel offers teens a realistic view of a young woman's life spinning out of control. Tish has real heart, and the way she faces her problems will inspire readers. ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Yeah! Abook review from a kid's point of veiw!
This book was a really great book! It talks about how there's a girl named Tish who lives with her brother and her mom. She has to face the troules between her mom and her father, who ran away when she was just 4. Every since then, her mother would mop about, not caring what happened in other people's worlds and just crying about her husband. In her English class, her teacher, Mrs. Dunphrey, tells the kids to write 4 journal entries every week. But if they don't want to let her read it, they can write, Don't Read This, on the top of the page. In this journal, Tish spills her deepest darkest secrets including the fact that her mother ran away to search for her dad, leaving no money behind for Tish and her brother. Each journal entry, of course, has the title, Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey, on it. But sometimes Tish just goes a little too far, escpecially when things get real bad. Will someone finally find out that Tish and her younger brother are living without parents, electricity, and food? Find out and read Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphery.

DON'T YOU DARE READ THIS!!!
THE BOOK HADDIX IS AN AWESOME BOOK.IT'S ABOUT A SISTER,TISH,AND HER BROTHER MATT WHO'S PARENTS ALWAYS ARE FIGHTING AND THERE DAD ABUSED THEM TOO.BUT WHEN THERE DAD COMES BACK AFTER 2 YEARS HE HASNT CHANGED A BIT.AND WHEN TISH'S ENGLISH TEACHER HAS THEM WRITE IN A JOURNAL.THEY CAN PUT "DON'T READ THIS"AND SHE PUTS ALL HER PERSONAL INFORMATION IN IT.INCLUDING THAT HER MOM LEFT THEM WITH NOTHING TO GO FIND THERE DAD.CAN THEY SURVIVE?READ THE BOOK TO SEE HOW IT ENDS!!!

It was allright...
This book was good in some ways...I really liked the character of Tish. It wasn't one of those stereotypical journal-formated books. The bad part: by the middle of the book, I was knew how it would end. It's worth reading, but I guarantee it won't be your favorite book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child abuse    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Diaries    5. Family - Parents    6. Fathers and daughters    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. School & Education    11. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    12. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Reviews (48)

LEAVE This Book for Another Day
`Angela's clear voice asked behind her, "Do you trust us?""Yes," Dorry mumbled."Are you willing to stake your life to prove it?""Yes," Dorry mumbled again.'
Leaving Fishers
Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix is about an eleventh grade girl named Dorry that feels unbelievably lonely at her new school after moving from a small town like Bryden, Ohio to a large city in Indianapolis.That is, until one day, a girl named Angela invites her to sit with her and her friends.Dorry soon discovers that Angela and her friends are part of a religious group called the Fishers of Men. Overjoyed by her new friends and their compliments toward her, Dorry tries to spend as much time with them as possible.She attends religious services, and parties and in doing so, decides to join their group.Little does she know of their high expectations and their strict beliefs.Dorry finds herself caught up in a twist as she tries to keep herself balanced between Fishers and the life she had before.Will Dorry ever be able to keep up with the Fisher's demand?
Will Dorry be able to leve the Fishers?
Dorry has just moved to North view, she has no friends there and is always alone. One day while Dorry was eating lunch, a girl named Angela comes up and asks Dorry to come and sit by her and all her friends. Dorry does this and soon is always with this group, and they become friends. Later on, Dorry comes to find out that all her friends are in a religious group named The Fishers of Men. Dorry goes to the Fishers retreats, and then becomes a Fisher. She really likes this at first and tries hard to become a better Fisher, but then things start to get rough. The Fishers start aking more and more of Dorry and Dorry cannot do it. Will Dorry be able to leave the Fishers, or will she be stuck forever?
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Religious    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Christian life    4. Cults    5. Fanaticism    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Religious - Christian    9. Religious - General    10. Social Issues - Peer Pressure    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Peer Pressure   

Editorial Review

A huge, old house with secret tunnels, a cantankerous caretaker, and buried treasure is a dream-come-true for 13-year-old Thomas. The fact that it's reputedly haunted only adds to its appeal! As soon as his family moves in, Thomas senses something strange about the Civil War era house, which used to be a critical stop on the Underground Railroad. With the help of his father, he learns about the abolitionists and escaping slaves who kept the Underground Railroad running. While on his own, he explores the hidden passageways in and under the house, piecing clues together in an increasingly dangerous quest for the truth about the past. Newbery medalist Virginia Hamilton creates a heart-pounding adventure with this absorbing classic for older readers. Read more

Reviews (94)

An interesting and exciting book.
When I first picked up this book i thought it would be borring and confusing.It turned out to be quite the opposite.The story follows Thomas a young boy who has to move from his home in the south to Ohio because of his fathers new job.He is not moving to any ordinary house however but the house of Dies Drear, a former conductor on the underground railroad who let slaves hide in his house until they were able to out into freedom.Rumor has it that the house is haunted which really scares young Thomas into believing the house taker Pluto is devil. Many events that follow help Thomas think that Pluto is trying to scare them out of the house, but he couldn't have been more wrong.There are many twist and turns that will have you on the edge of the seat and nothing is what it seems.This was a very enjoyable book and will be a good read for people who love mystery, suspence, and adventure.

Mystery andHistory!!!!!!!
This a great book for grown people and for young adults.My friend Kristen gave me this book for my 9th birthday and I am 13 know It is so good I reed it every birth day that I have. The book has mystery, spunk, and pazzaz all in one. This book is my favorite one yet. If you like to learn about history bout not about how sad somethings were you realy despritley need to reed this book.
House of Cheesy, 1-Dimensional Over-Writing
I completely and totally dislike The House of Dies Drear. The characters, had no depth, and were one-dimensional, the dialogue was stiff, and robot-like, and there was nothing in the book that I could relate to. I consider the book to be quite anti-climactic, lacking a major turning point in which the readers are supposed to be enthralled in. It had no twists, about two cliff-hangers, and was completely predictable. It was, in fact, probably one of the worst books that I have ever read. On a scale of five, I'd have to rate it a two, because as I said, it did have a couple of cheesy cliffhangers, but nothing that left me satisfied with the book that I have read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Anthologies    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Mysteries / Detective    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children's stories, American    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Classics    9. Fiction    10. Hamilton, Virginia    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    13. Mystery and detective stories    14. People & Places - United States - African-American    15. Underground railroad    16. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (2)

Bittersweet look at family relationships!
Part of Me is a celebration of family and reading. Spanning four generations, this book tells the story of important events that happened when the main character was thirteen years old.