Remembering the Good Times

Rating:
Summary: Remembering The Good Times
Review: Of all the young adult novels I've read, this is probably my favorite. Richard Peck's Remembering the Good Times is simply marvelous. An unbelievable, masterful book. Peck gives such an enjoyable to read, realistic picture of life with his characters. Peck with the beautiful yet deeply saddening ending to the book makes us ask, How well do we really know our friends? Thumbs up. A young adult masterpiece!

Rating:
Summary: Dealing with impotant issues
Review: This book is not one of the more popular young adult novels, which is too bad. Remembering the Good Times addresses many important issues that face teens today--stress, academic pressures, friendship, divorce, and suicide.

This book does a great job of educating readers about the warning signs of suicide and the aftermath of this tragedy. It can open teens' eyes to the problems they and their friends can face when a loved one commits suicide.

This is an important book for teenagers and parents to read.

Rating:
Summary: Dealing with impotant issues
Review: This book is not one of the more popular young adult novels, which is too bad. Remembering the Good Times addresses many important issues that face teens today--stress, academic pressures, friendship, divorce, and suicide.

This book does a great job of educating readers about the warning signs of suicide and the aftermath of this tragedy. It can open teens' eyes to the problems they and their friends can face when a loved one commits suicide.

This is an important book for teenagers and parents to read.

Rating:
Summary: Remembering...
Review: This book lingers long after you've put it down. I find myself returning to certain passages and rereading them often (particularly the jarring conclusion). This book beautifully captures the confusion, fear, longing, loneliness, and uncertainty of the teenage years. Peck introduces the characters and makes you feel as though you know them. We see the events through the eyes of Buck; from his first encounter with Kate at age twelve, to his friendship with her and Trav as they begin to grow up together.

High School is honestly portrayed in this novel, often sarcastically and never sugar-coated. The humor helps soften the alienation that students often feel during this time. As Buck says: "You could yell "Fire" in that school, and most people would think it didn't apply to them." Through this mess, Kate, Trav, and Buck emerged as close friends. There was some hint of rivalry between Trav and Buck for Kate's affections, but never enough to ruin the relationship. They were always there for each other. Nothing could spoil their friendship...or could it?

Most of the reviews and even the back cover of the book give away what happens in the end, but I won't do that here. To dwell on any one event is to ruin the effect of the entire novel as it shows how the events in our lives work together to change us and shape us as we grow into mature adults. Along the way, we find friends who help us on this difficult journey, and that is what this novel is really about: Friendship. Friends who are there to laugh, cry, talk, and listen. As Buck grows, he learns the value of true friendship, and this lesson helps him face the most challenging time of his life.

This book makes me cry every time I read it. It breaks my heart, and it gives me hope. As one character says, "We can't have a community until we are ready to be one," and it's true. But if the characters in this book can learn, maybe we can. So read. Laugh. Cry. Remember the good times in your own life, but look to the future, because "In your memories, it's never raining."

Rating:
Summary: Remembering...
Review: This book lingers long after you've put it down. I find myself returning to certain passages and rereading them often (particularly the jarring conclusion). This book beautifully captures the confusion, fear, longing, loneliness, and uncertainty of the teenage years. Peck introduces the characters and makes you feel as though you know them. We see the events through the eyes of Buck; from his first encounter with Kate at age twelve, to his friendship with her and Trav as they begin to grow up together.

High School is honestly portrayed in this novel, often sarcastically and never sugar-coated. The humor helps soften the alienation that students often feel during this time. As Buck says: "You could yell "Fire" in that school, and most people would think it didn't apply to them." Through this mess, Kate, Trav, and Buck emerged as close friends. There was some hint of rivalry between Trav and Buck for Kate's affections, but never enough to ruin the relationship. They were always there for each other. Nothing could spoil their friendship...or could it?

Most of the reviews and even the back cover of the book give away what happens in the end, but I won't do that here. To dwell on any one event is to ruin the effect of the entire novel as it shows how the events in our lives work together to change us and shape us as we grow into mature adults. Along the way, we find friends who help us on this difficult journey, and that is what this novel is really about: Friendship. Friends who are there to laugh, cry, talk, and listen. As Buck grows, he learns the value of true friendship, and this lesson helps him face the most challenging time of his life.

This book makes me cry every time I read it. It breaks my heart, and it gives me hope. As one character says, "We can't have a community until we are ready to be one," and it's true. But if the characters in this book can learn, maybe we can. So read. Laugh. Cry. Remember the good times in your own life, but look to the future, because "In your memories, it's never raining."