Posted on August 23, 2008 at 1:33 am
I just read this one and pretty much agreed with your assessment of it. I really wasn’t impressed, and I usually like Todd Strasser. The ending was a little too…I dunno, we spent most of the book setting up Garrett’s character and then suddenly, bam, total 180? I get what Strasser was going for, but IMO it was a cheap cop-out; for us to buy it, we have to see it happen.
Posted on September 4, 2008 at 10:54 am
I actually attending the facility Todd was talking about in his book. And I can understand why you think the ending wasnt all that great, but thats how it works. They bend you and break you there so you are brainwashed into thinking their way is the best way, and what is even better is your parents will go along with the facility because they believe the facility will be able to save your life, so you have no one to turn to, nowhere to go. might as well follow the rules.
i read the book, and loved it. i am going to barnes and nobles tonight to buy more of his books. i havent been able to find such a great author in a while.
Posted on September 4, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Wow, Brenda, thanks for sharing your experience. I agree that my reading of the book is probably totally differently informed and I can see how a sudden 180 might be even a strong person’s best choice of action given what sound like pretty trying circumstances. I guess my critique of Strasser lies more in the way he conveys this change, even if the text as it exists might be more truly mimetic. To me, there seemed to be no visible change in character that allowed switch in point of view to occur, nor was there any sudden mental “breakthrough” moment on behalf of the character that allowed me to believe the shift. Absent those, while the sudden switch might be, indeed, versimilous, the literary text requires a bit more explanation to convey what I think Strasser intended as textual realism. What did you think of Sisters in Sanity (reviewed on this blog)?
Posted on September 21, 2008 at 2:43 pm
this book blows
Posted on February 10, 2009 at 3:56 am
Teens boot camps definitely bring more knowledge with new skills during the camp. Generally boot camps are meant to teach them a systematic way of learning, living and helping others. I guess, this book shows the possibilities in the future.
Posted on July 21, 2008 at 8:02 am
sounds interesting! boot camps or other similar support groups are designed to help and reach out those troubled teens and not to abuse them physically or mentally. This book, I guess, shows the possibilities in the future.