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Title: Are You in the House Alone? by Richard Peck ISBN: 0-14-130693-9 Publisher: Puffin Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.85 (20 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Sad But True
Comment: I read this book when I was fifteen, and I think it would make me sick if I were to read it now. But more about that later. The main character, Gail, is not portrayed as a saint but rather as a sexually active sixteen year old-this makes it hard for some people, I suppose. Secretly, whether we will admit it or not, it's harder for some of us to empathize with a sexually active character who, as the rapist points out, isn't even wearing a bra when he attacks her. Grr, darn that Richard Peck, exposing our prejudices!
Honestly, Gail isn't a very likable character. She's kind of selfish, kind of manipulative, kind of meanly sarcastic...I think that's why I liked her so much. She's real. When she starts getting threatening notes and phone calls, she doesn't know what to do, and so, as most people would, she doesn't do much of anything. At this point we're screaming at the book to try to get her to do something, because we know what's coming. But the greatest strength of this novel is that it makes us wonder what we would do in a similar situation.
The most frustrating thing about this book is that it seems to carry the message that there's nothing we CAN do. Gail tries to defend herself but fails. She tries to punish the man responsible, but fails. Maybe that's reality, but not only is it extremely frustrating, it's a BAD message to send to victims:Don't try to prosocute your attacker, the justice system is against you. I don't think that's necessarily the message that Mr. Peck was trying to get accross, but that's how I felt when reading the book. That's why I can't give this book more than three stars. It's good, the characters seem real, but it's hard to like any of them, and by the end you're pulling your hair out over the unfairness at all. Maybe I should give the book extra points for eliciting such a strong emotional response-I can see that I'm not alone, given the other reviews on this site. In that case, give it four stars. This book is compelling, and it's definately worth reading, but be forewarned about these messages before you read: the justice system is often unjust, it's hard to find people you can trust, and survival is a difficult and painful process.
Rating: 4
Summary: Difficult, Painful, but Worthwhile
Comment: I read this book when I was fifteen, and I think it would make me sick if I were to read it now. But more about that later. The main character, Gail, is not portrayed as a saint but rather as a sexually active sixteen year old-this makes it hard for some people, I suppose. Secretly, whether we will admit it or not, it's harder for some of us to empathize with a sexually active character who, as the rapist points out, isn't even wearing a bra when he attacks her. Grrr, darn that Richard Peck, exposing our prejudices!
Honestly, Gail isn't a very likable character. She's kind of selfish, kind of manipulative, kind of meanly sarcastic...I think that's why I liked her so much. She's real. When she starts getting threatening notes and phone calls, she doesn't know what to do, and so, as most people would, she doesn't do much of anything. At this point we're screaming at the book to try to get her to do something, because we know what's coming. But the greatest strength of this novel is that it makes us wonder what we would do in a similar situation.
The most frustrating thing about this book is that it seems to carry the message that there's nothing we CAN do. Gail tries to defend herself but fails. She tries to punish the man responsible, but fails. Maybe that's reality, but not only is it extremely frustrating, it's a BAD message to send to victims:Don't try to prosocute your attacker, the justice system is against you. I don't think that's necessarily the message that Mr. Peck was trying to get accross, but that's how I felt when reading the book. That's why I can't give this book more than four stars. I really think it deserves five stars. It's good, the characters seem real, but it's hard to like any of them, and by the end you're pulling your hair out over the unfairness at all. Maybe I should give the book extra points for eliciting such a strong emotional response-I can see that I'm not alone, given the other reviews on this site. In that case, give it five stars. This book is compelling, and it's definately worth reading, but be forewarned about these messages before you read: the justice system is often unjust, it's hard to find people you can trust, and survival is a difficult and painful process. Peck must be commended, however, for being so brutally honest.
Rating: 3
Summary: Not really the best
Comment: I found this book to be in the middle of realistic and not realistic enough. The plot was about Gail, a young woman (still in high school) who is already sexually active. In the beginning she is being stalked she doesn't really have any idea who it is and thus can't protect herself. She decides to babysit for a neighbor and gets raped by her stalker who is really her "best" friends boyfriend. I found that this book just touches on the surface. Gail jumps out as being eerily real, but the people she meets are all one demensional. If I had a choice to read this book again, I probably wouldn't. If it couldn't keep my attention the first time, I doubt it will a second read through.
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Title: Dreamland Lake by Richard Peck ISBN: 0141308125 Publisher: Puffin Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: The Last Safe Place on Earth (Laurel Leaf Books) by RICHARD PECK ISBN: 0440220076 Publisher: Laure Leaf Pub. Date: 01 July, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.50 |
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Title: Strays Like Us by Richard Peck ISBN: 014130619X Publisher: Puffin Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: Ghosts I Have Been by Richard Peck ISBN: 0141310960 Publisher: Puffin Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Ghost Belonged to Me by Richard Peck ISBN: 0140386718 Publisher: Puffin Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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