Rating: 
Summary: If you think you know me now, you are indeed very wrong.
Review: I read You don't know me, by David Klass, and was completely shocked. I didn't think at first I would like it at all, I mean, how can you beat a non-fiction like Go ask Alice, by "anonymous"? I thought it was impossible, but I guess not.
The main character in the book, John, sees the way things really are. He lives in a house that is not a house, with the man who is not his father, who just happens to be physically abusive.
While the main storyline is serious, this had me laughing out loud at parts. When John passes Gloria, or Glory Hallalujah, as he calls her, a note during math class that is asking her out, Gloria EATS it. John, being the truley bizarre character that he is can only find three reasonable explanations for this strange reaction. 1- "Maybe Glory Hallalujah is not a girl at all. It is true that she looks like a girl, acts like a gril, wallks like a girl, and even gives off the perfumed aroma of a girl, but I ahve earned in my short life that things are not always what they seem If my tuba can be a giant frog masquerading as a musical instrument, then it is possible that the girl of my dreams isactually not a gril at all, but a hungry goat." 2- Maybe she was going to kiss the note, hiccuped, and accidentally ate it. 3- The worst possible scenario, she was so imbarrassed to be asked by HIM that she quickly ate the evidence to erase the very idea of the humilation that could occur.
The reason I liked this book so much, was not because of the "serious issues" involved, or the way it ends, but because it wasn't like any other book I've ever read. John has real personality, and it seems like Klass knows his characters inside and out.
Rating:
Summary: * YoU dOn'T kNoW mE*
Review: This was probably the BEST book I have ever read. I liked the charactorization and the plot. It was very descriptive and I liked how the author ( David Klass ) described everything with so much detail. YOU DON'T KNOW ME is a book about a 14 year old boy named John who deals with everyday problems that average teenagers deal with. Most of the book is about him working up the curage to ask out "Glory Hallelujah", a girl that he has liked forever. Also, he has to deal with his mom's boyfriend whom he calls "the man who is not my father". While John's mother is not around, her boyfriend yell's at John and has verbal meltdowns. John also deals with algebra. John dreads this class the most. His teacher sometimes gives him a hard time about not liking algebra. In about the middle of the book, John actually works up the courage and asks out " Glory Hallelujah". After that, he has a whole new prespective of things. When he enters the algebra class room, he is actually smiling. This is a really good book and I suggest it to kids ages 12~15... it talks about struggles that teenagers have and its interesting to read if you are around that age.
Rating:
Summary: just...briliant!
Review: I seemed to have seen this book everywhere. Every time i went into a bookshop or the libury i saw it and although the cover was eyecatching i read the back and thought it looked quite boring. Then one day i thought "what the hell, i'll give it a try" i am sooo glad i did. This book is amazing. It's about a 14 year old called John who has all a teenager's normal stuggles wile fighting his own battle with his abusive step father. It's told in a unquie style and in 2nd person and it works beautifully. it seems a little muggled, especially at first but trust me and stick with it, after the first few pages your be hooked. John has a very critical out look on life and is convinced things aren't what they seem (after all Glory Hallujah could be a goat, just in a disguse as a girl) which probably comes from his own home life being nothing like it seems. It has serious issues and is at times, very sad and slightly graphic (although i've read a lot worst) but is extremly funny too. (Gloria eating his note! hee hee) Seriously, i think this book is brilliant i really do, and i dont normally give ANYTHING 5 stars!
Rating: 
Summary: I really don't know you, and probably never will.
Review: After putting this book down, after reading it from cover to cover, i took a look at my life and realized how much worse it could have been. The main character, John, is not the average teenager, he is not some happy, careless kid, and thats what i like about this book. It does not glorify youth, because sometimes there is nothing to be glorified. John deals with an abusive father-figure (his step dad to be, or his mothers boyfriend), a mother who neglects him to pay more attention to her own well being and happiness, middle class poverty, school, and just trying to be a teenager, have friends, and be normal while still having everything in his life crumble beneath him screaming in the back of his mind, while he trys to live a happy life. Through the book you almost expect any time now, the mother will finally see her boyfriend as an abusive &*(^* and tell him to get out and pay more attention to her son, but that never happens. Before anyone even really sees how wrong things are with him, his step father had suverely injured him in a fight, the first time that John just didn't care anymore and stood up to this abusive man thats taken control of his life, though nearly died after having his nose curshed in, and his body beaten. He awoke in a hospitable his mother, finally there for him. And there is not really a happy ending, just more of a realization that people don't have to know him, and expecting more than dignity shown towards him is still expecting too much. I like the unique way that the author wrote, describing other characters with cute nick names, ie, Mrs. Moonface, or others like 'the man who is not my father' the kitchen that is not a kitchen.' it's like a world created inside that main characters head while the author still creates a reality outside this world. A little strange, but i like that.
Rating:
Summary: Fiza Khan
Review: You Don't Know Me, written by David Klass, qualifies as one of the most realistic yet a vitriolic and humorous novel. The story revolves around a fourteen-year-old boy, John, and his struggles and problems during teen years. The book beautifully illustrates John trying to cope with problems that most teenagers face at that period of time; but a dark secret lies within him. His soon-to-be stepfather abuses him. No one seems to know about this abuse and John does not intend to tell anyone either. He thinks no one cares; including his own mother. Everything John does backfires at him, or so how he perceives. John likes a popular girl at his "anti-school," named Gloria. When John finally gets the courage to ask her out, the date turns out to be a disaster and his love story with "Gloria Hallelujah" ends. John gets suspended from school for verbally harassing his algebra teacher and he notices that Mr. Steenwilly, his music teacher, drives by the house quiet often. John realizes that Mr. Steenwilly has an idea of the abuse and turmoil that John goes through but decides to ignore the random spying. The book closes up with John going out to a dance with one of the girls from his music class. John receives a severe beating by his soon-to-be stepfather when he arrives home late, but fortunately Mr. Steenwilly sees the torture and rescues John from being beaten to death. You Don't Know Me creates a spell-bounding atmosphere, making it irresistible for the attached reader to put the book down. The book captures the reader's minds, transforming it into John's head and becoming a part of his daydreams, scenarios, jaded thoughts and alternative realities. This book qualifies as one of the most meticulous and it seems that Klass knows his characters inside and out. I recommend this book to anyone willing to "step outside the box," and ready to accept a little bit of teenage craziness. This book defines itself as one of the best; it is practically impossible to not enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Wow...
Review: I have read many books. I love books, and I have to say that this is one of the best that I have ever read! David Krall amazes me with his wonderful writing talent. I love how John creates a bullfrog character for his tuba. This book is inspiring, and I would recomend that everyone reads this.
Rating: 
Summary: Klass knows teenagers
Review: David Klass must have a child himself, because he had nailed the age group. His style is accurate of most teenagers: bright, intelligent, disturbed. The main character, John, is full of hopes and dreams. He is amazing enough to survive some horrible stuff, but human enough to make his share of mistakes along the way.
John (no last name given) is a fourteen-year old boy. The traditional stuff of a story (precise location of setting, accurate names of chracters) is ignored in order to focus more on character relationships, which the book's theme revolves around.
John has an abusive stepfather. His mother is always working. His friends hate his guts. The girl of his dreams turns out to be a mean, deceitful witch. He is suspended from school.
Despite these serious problems, John survives. He is strong, he is a warrior. Klass keeps John grounded by making him witty. Humor easily finds itself intermingled with tragedy. This is the funniest book I ever read. More importantly, it reveals the dilemma of most teenagers: The longing to know where we belong in society, and the people we meet along the way. Klass portrays all characters simply, and true. For example, in Chap. 3 , the "secret sorority of pretty 14-yaer-old girls" is portrayed down to a tee. The nerds, the jocks; all stereotypes not ignored by the author, bot embraced with wild abandon.
Great understanding of teenagers makes this book insightful. It is good to see an adult understand, sympathize, and nobelize our generation when others carelessly dubb us "the X-generation." I thank Klass, it was well worth the time.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I really loved this book. I finished it in one day. I picked it up off of a bookstore shelf with no clue what it was about, but the title was catching. I read the back of the book and it seemed to have potential, so I bought it. I am recommending it to all of my friends. Not only is the material in the book good, but the way it is written is unique and exceptional. It made me laugh out loud and sob uncontrollably, and I'm not exaggerating. I have never cried during movies but the occasional book will make me shed a tear. This one was definitely worth it!
Rating:
Summary: best book ever read
Review: The first time I picked up this book was in a book store looking for a book report book. I was looking through the shevels of books and this one happened to catch my eye. I read the back and front of the book. I didn't no if I should use the book for my report. I read the first few pages and I was totally confused. I thought it would make an interesting book report book so, I paid for the book and started reading it at home. I am now half way done with the book and at times I can't help it, but to laugh out loud. This book is not like any other book. I bring the book to school and everyone wants to read it! There is no way how I could not have given this book less than 5 stars. I can't wait to finish the book!! :)
Rating:
Summary: perfectly brilliant!
Review: Wow, what can I say? David Klass personifies his character (John) so much, that for at least a while you forget that he isn't a real person. Something about him really catches you and really makes you magnify life in its entirety. I think that for those people who stated in their reviews that the book was too confusing in the beginning, or not 'catchy' enough - obviously you didn't quite understand the premise of the book. Remember: You don't know him. I gave You Don't Know Me five stars because I could read this book over and over until the end of time. Klass is incredibly brilliant and every time I read the story, I'm equally - if not more - awed by it. Amazing book. =)
|
