Slake's Limbo

Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: I read the book Slake's Limbo as an assignment for my Children's Literature class at Northern Michigan University, which is located in Marquette, Michigan. At first, I was not sure what to think of the book. I read the opening description at the front of the text, and I thought that it was going to be some type of fantasy book about a boy that lives in his own little world and goes into a cave or a hole in the ground. Little did I know, this was a book about a young man that had some severe "real life" problems. This boy was horribly abused by some of his peers. He was teased and harassed so much that he had to run away from the boys to the underground subway systems of New York City. Here, Aremis Slake lived for 121 days. He overcame his troubles, though, and found a way to survive for all this time by finding a way to make money and get food. He got his money from selling papers, and took the extra papers to his "home" and used them for his bed. This is truly an inspirational book about a young man that battles fear, hunger, and the dangers of the New York subways to survive. This book is, indeed, a book of survival and is inspirational to those of us that want to give up every now and then. This book also gives adults a realization that we need to listen to children about their problems, and do what we can to help kids that may be experiencing difficulties like this. Many people can learn a great deal from a book like this.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. I's Project
Review: I read the book Slake's Limbo as an assignment for my Children's Literature class at Northern Michigan University, which is located in Marquette, Michigan. At first, I was not sure what to think of the book. I read the opening description at the front of the text, and I thought that it was going to be some type of fantasy book about a boy that lives in his own little world and goes into a cave or a hole in the ground. Little did I know, this was a book about a young man that had some severe "real life" problems. This boy was horribly abused by some of his peers. He was teased and harassed so much that he had to run away from the boys to the underground subway systems of New York City. Here, Aremis Slake lived for 121 days. He overcame his troubles, though, and found a way to survive for all this time by finding a way to make money and get food. He got his money from selling papers, and took the extra papers to his "home" and used them for his bed. This is truly an inspirational book about a young man that battles fear, hunger, and the dangers of the New York subways to survive. This book is, indeed, a book of survival and is inspirational to those of us that want to give up every now and then. This book also gives adults a realization that we need to listen to children about their problems, and do what we can to help kids that may be experiencing difficulties like this. Many people can learn a great deal from a book like this.

Rating:
Summary: NOT 5TH GRADE READING LEVEL
Review: I READ THIS BOOK IN MY 8TH GRADE READING CLASS, AND AM SURPRISED THAT IT IS ONLY A 5TH GRADE READING LEVAL THE VOCABULARY IS ADVANCED FOR A 5TH GRADER AND MANY OF THE SCEANS (SLAKES DREAM ABOUT THE BIRD FOR EXAMPLE) ARE NOT VERY CLEAR I DON'T THINK A 10 OR 11 YEAR OLD WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW THE BIRD REPREASENTS FEAR. ALSO FOR KIDS WHO DON'T LIVE IN A BIG CITY AND MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN IN A SUBWAY IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND.I MYSELF ONLY UNDERSTOOD IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN BOSTON SUBWAYS. ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH CHARACTER AND CONTENT FOR OLDER KIDS WHO WILL UNDERSTAND IT.

Rating:
Summary: This is a book for mature readers to read and discuss.
Review: I teach reading to 7th and 8th grade students who read below grade level, and I bought this book for them. The book is supposed to be for 9 - 12 year olds, but after reading it I think it can best be appreciated by older, more able readers. As one can tell from reading the Amazon customer comments, many readers in the 9 - 12 age group were confused by the book. The vocabulary is advanced, and the images are sometimes vague and dreamy. I enjoyed the book as an adult, but I think it is probably most appropriate for good readers who are capable of reading "below the surface." In addition, the story is set in the subway, and students who aren't familiar with subways, turnstiles, tokens, etc. will have a difficult time visualizing the setting.

Rating:
Summary: andrew slakes limbo
Review: I think that Slake was a weird kid, because he lived in the subway for 121 days. I think that it would be for 6th graders because you can learn that you should not run away from your fears. It takes a long time to read. I would recommend this book to other kids because, it would teach them that being afraid is a natural feeling and that no matter how bad a situation, you always work them out.

Rating:
Summary: If you like weird stuff read this!!!
Review: I think that Slake's Limbo is a good book. The only down side about it is that it has to many metaphors. Slake's Limbo is a weird book because there is very little that the book tells you about Slake. The only thing you know is that he is an orphan from the age of 13 and lives on his own in the subway Grand Central Station. He is a dreamer. He is aways dreaming and his dreams are freaky. He dreams about birds in his stomach, pigs being chased by nuns, leaves staying on trees al year long, a turban man spinning him in the chair, and other weird stuff. He really never had a friend except for a kid named Joesph. I gave this book three stars. It is Ok.

Rating:
Summary: Home-less Run-away
Review: I thought the book was ok. Iy was very weird though.Like Slake actually liked and wanted to be homeless. I do think kids should read the book because it teaches them more about life. But he lead a life that not many people I know would like to have.But it's good to know what he does in the end.

Rating:
Summary: Read It Its Awsome
Review: I thought this book was an awsome book.If you read you think so to.When we read it with our class it was better but when you read it alone it is not as good.when the book said he stayed at the subway for 121 days I said th my self thats alot off days.I wonder if his so called aunt is his real aunt. He was living at a cave for a while. He did not find the cave untill the cops seen him at the subway when he woke up on the 121 day. A person seenhim he yelled and the cops heared them he started to run.That was when he found the whole in the wall.well at the end he was save and did not have to run from the cops and he lived hapilly ever after.

Rating:
Summary: Aremis and the Bird
Review: I use this book with my eighth grade students, some of whom will be doing their own review. There is a little of Aremis Slake in most young teenagers- feelings of uncertainty, mistrust, fear. This novel provides an interesting look at what its like to try to survive in an urban setting, a situation totally unfamiliar to most of my students. They did, however, seem to enjoy his trials and tribulations of spending 121 days in the subway. Many students asked about, and I think would enjoy, a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: The wrong message for today's kids
Review: I was disappointed by Slake's Limbo because of its escapist outlook. In the wake of the high-school tragedies that have recently befallen our nation, I question the wisdom of condoning a book so rooted in fantasy, and aimed at our impressionable youth. Furthermore, Slake's friendsip with the rat, and his desire only to strive for money while living in a sub-terranean lair (hell?) give pause for thought as to whether this adventure of his is actually an immoral debasement of Christianity. I support teaching children to live through hardship, but teaching them to come of age in a subway sends the wrong message. How many children, having read this book, are now prepared, armed with knowledge as it were, to flee their christian homes at the first sign of trouble and survive in the cesspools of our urban transportation systems? Slake's loss of his glasses, and his subsequent recovery at the end of the book is surely analagous to the line from Amazing Grace which proclaims: "I once was blind, but now I see." Please use caution when buying this controversial title.