Rating: 
Summary: For anyone who has struggled to fit in
Review: "Choosing up Sides" is a young adult book for everyone, of every age. The universal need to be one's self, and to be accepted for it, lies at the heart of this story and is sensitively handled by the author. Ritter has numerus opportunities to take the easy way out, and passes each by, opting instead for the more complex, thoughtful and realistic turn of events. I am not a young adult, nor am I left-handed, but I am a human being, which I believe is the only criteria necessary to enjoy this book. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone who has struggled to fit in
Review: "Choosing up Sides" is a young adult book for everyone, of every age. The universal need to be one's self, and to be accepted for it, lies at the heart of this story and is sensitively handled by the author. Ritter has numerus opportunities to take the easy way out, and passes each by, opting instead for the more complex, thoughtful and realistic turn of events. I am not a young adult, nor am I left-handed, but I am a human being, which I believe is the only criteria necessary to enjoy this book. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Read for Middle/Senior High Students
Review: As Language Arts Chair and Peer Coach/Staff Developer, I'm writing on behalf of 500 middle school students, their teachers, and parents. John H. Ritter's first novel, Choosing Up Sides, is an extremely powerful story which has touched all of us in one of San Diego's public schools. Although every single language arts teacher read Ritter's book to each of their students during the school year 1999-2000, kids, parents, and teachers are still commenting on the plot and engaging in meaningful dialogues regarding complex issues faced by Ritter's characters. And, I don't expect the talk to fade. Afterall, isn't that what excellent literature is designed to do?Teachers are thrilled to put their hands on a gripping story that causes students to engage in critical thought, ask powerful questions, and express opinions on matters relevant to adolescents. Kids yearn to sink their teeth into issues that matter, issues that allow them to search for and define their own feelings. Ritter's book serves as a catalyst for such introspection and growth. And, his story is just as captivating for adults as it is for adolescents. Therefore, as teachers, we're receiving reports of kids and parents engaging in book talks over this novel. Imagine. Adolescents and their parents reading and discussing literature! Why is this happening? It's happening because Ritter's book is one of healing and hope. A young man gets in touch with his spiritual self and finds strength to love and forgive. Readers need more authors like Ritter who have the courage to make us squirm in order to grow emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Our readers are not only continuing to share Ritter's first novel with others, they are also reading and discussing Over the Wall, his second book for young adults. In conclusion, I take issue with a reviewer's suggestion that Choosing Up Sides may not be appropriate for its targeted audience. I suspect that this reviewer lacks insight into the developmental needs and strengths of adolescents. Adolescents, as proven by our students, are highly perceptive and discerning. They weren't left feeling that Ritter had coupled religion with superstition, as suggested by this one reviewer. In fact, this novel helped to clarify and solidify many a young person's spiritual beliefs. We anxiously await the release of many more novels by John H. Ritter. Our students and their families deserve the best. Until then, as a staff we intend to use both of Ritter's first two novels in all of our language arts classes. Thank you, John H. Ritter.
Rating:
Summary: "Give It all The Praise"ΓΏ
Review: Being a preacher's son is normal, but there are some things that he goes through in order for him to be happy. Luke has the similar situation I had a couple of yeras ago. My dad wasn't that tough on me, but still his rules were still not on this earth. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who have those "concerned parents" at home. I think that it will give some encouragement to persue your dreams.There's nothing more unsettling than to have your parents against your goals, and this book forfills this situation ever so dramatically.
Rating: 
Summary: Left hand VS. the world
Review: Book review by --John Ritter
reviewed by Burhan Jama Choosing up sides Living a life that your parents choose for you what ever they wanted, is how most teenagers live. The book Choosing Up Sides is talking about what is like to be living under the order of parent. It may be you or someone you know, so let us share for a moment what is like to be under siege of a strict parent.
Luke Bledsoe, a 14 years old, left handed, is a son of a preacher Mr. Bledsoe that says left hand is hand of devil. Luke's discovery of that people admired how sharply he could pitch is coming to and end after his father said that, base ball field is devil's playground. Luke's left handed uncle is helping him to discover what his father hid from him;that being left handed is not crime.
Under siege or under control of a religious parent that oppose your ideas to explore you own world and find your dreams who only wants you to flow the old testament is one of the biggest misfortunes that could happen to anyone, as it happen to Luke, the only thing that his father wants him to do is read and memorize the Bible and forget the civilized world. For Luke that seems is not working for him.
The world is changing and new things are being invented every day; people understand how to make life easier and parental control seems to be coming to a limit, there a time in every teenager's life that their parents dictate the power to control them, and there is a time that teens can control them selves.
The message of the book is for those who never under gone this kind of life, to hear and feel the pain that some kids live under their parents and help them to overcome their guilty of choosing up sides---choosing their own way of life.
Rating:
Summary: Left hand VS. the world
Review: Book review by --John Ritter
reviewed by Burhan Jama Choosing up sides Living a life that your parents choose for you what ever they wanted, is how most teenagers live. The book Choosing Up Sides is talking about what is like to be living under the order of parent. It may be you or someone you know, so let us share for a moment what is like to be under siege of a strict parent.
Luke Bledsoe, a 14 years old, left handed, is a son of a preacher Mr. Bledsoe that says left hand is hand of devil. Luke's discovery of that people admired how sharply he could pitch is coming to and end after his father said that, base ball field is devil's playground. Luke's left handed uncle is helping him to discover what his father hid from him;that being left handed is not crime.
Under siege or under control of a religious parent that oppose your ideas to explore you own world and find your dreams who only wants you to flow the old testament is one of the biggest misfortunes that could happen to anyone, as it happen to Luke, the only thing that his father wants him to do is read and memorize the Bible and forget the civilized world. For Luke that seems is not working for him.
The world is changing and new things are being invented every day; people understand how to make life easier and parental control seems to be coming to a limit, there a time in every teenager's life that their parents dictate the power to control them, and there is a time that teens can control them selves.
The message of the book is for those who never under gone this kind of life, to hear and feel the pain that some kids live under their parents and help them to overcome their guilty of choosing up sides---choosing their own way of life.
Rating:
Summary: Left hand VS. the world
Review: Book review by --John Ritter
reviewed by Burhan Jama Choosing up sides Living a life that your parents choose for you what ever they wanted, is how most teenagers live. The book Choosing Up Sides is talking about what is like to be living under the order of parent. It may be you or someone you know, so let us share for a moment what is like to be under siege of a strict parent.
Luke Bledsoe, a 14 years old, left handed, is a son of a preacher Mr. Bledsoe that says left hand is hand of devil. Luke's discovery of that people admired how sharply he could pitch is coming to and end after his father said that, base ball field is devil's playground. Luke's left handed uncle is helping him to discover what his father hid from him;that being left handed is not crime.
Under siege or under control of a religious parent that oppose your ideas to explore you own world and find your dreams who only wants you to flow the old testament is one of the biggest misfortunes that could happen to anyone, as it happen to Luke, the only thing that his father wants him to do is read and memorize the Bible and forget the civilized world. For Luke that seems is not working for him.
The world is changing and new things are being invented every day; people understand how to make life easier and parental control seems to be coming to a limit, there a time in every teenager's life that their parents dictate the power to control them, and there is a time that teens can control them selves.
The message of the book is for those who never under gone this kind of life, to hear and feel the pain that some kids live under their parents and help them to overcome their guilty of choosing up sides---choosing their own way of life.
Rating: 
Summary: The seeds of inspiration for Choosing Up Sides...
Review: Choosing Up Sides, set in 1921, Southern Ohio, is the story of Luke, a left-handed preacher's boy, who is forced by his family's religious beliefs to go through life right-handed. Luke's family holds the notion--which many people believed in those days--that the left hand was the hand of the Devil. But when the boys in Luke's town find out that he has the potential to be a great baseball pitcher--but only with his left arm--this obedient boy has to decide what to do. Many people wonder if I wrote the story because I'm left-handed or if this event ever happened to me. Actually, I'm predominately right-handed, though if I were to have a baseball card, it would read, "Bats left, throws right." The roots of the story, however, come from my childhood, back in the 1960s, during the great Civil Rights Movement. I remember watching the marchers on TV and seeing the fire hoses being turned on them, seeing the bull dogs being turned loose on them, and hearing about several Civil Rights marchers who were kidnapped and murdered. And as a ten-year-old boy, I could not comprehend the reasons for this hatred or this prejudice. About the same time, my fifth grade teacher listed some Latin root words on the board and asked the class to guess their meanings. One of those words was "sinister." We all guessed that it meant evil and diabolical and all the things we could think of that had to do with being sinister. But she said, "No. 'Sinister' is the Latin word for 'left hand.'" She went on to explain that throughout the ages left-handers were thought to be demon-possessed and were even burned at the stake as witches. Again, I could not understand the origins of this bias, but I did know one thing. In the baseball world, left-handers are revered. As a left-handed pull hitter, I knew that lefties were highly valued on any team. So, among other things, I used this novel as a way to examine the power of discrimination, its origins, and the damage it can do, by placing Luke in between these two very different worlds and watching what all the characters decide to do. I'm not sure whether I've "hit the mark," but so far all of the reviews have been generous (see the Kirkus "pointer" review above, for example). Choosing Up Sides has also been nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults and was named to the 1998 "Blue Ribbon" List by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, for which I am very grateful. I do have to say that I get a lot of interesting feedback about the ending of the book. Some people ask me why I chose that ending. All I can say is that the more you understand allegory, particularly Biblical allegory, the more it will make sense to you. Thank you, everyone, for your interest. I certainly appreciate it. Sincerely, John H. Ritter.
Rating:
Summary: Rollicking good story & interesting characters in conflict.
Review: I did not give "Choosing Up Sides" a 5-star rating for two (I believe reasonable) reasons. First, like our modern educational system, the 5-star system is a victim of "inflation." (Too many GOOD books are deemed GREAT, and 5 stars SHOULD be reserved for that VERY RARE GREAT BOOK. ) Secondly, I've got to give John Ritter SOME place to go! Bottom line, a good adolescent novel, and a VERY GOOD first novel--a book which both teenagers and adults can read and thoroughly enjoy. One by one, Ritter's meticulously-handled characters enter the story and engage its conflicts from the moment each enters. Religion vs. nature, familiar vs. risky, talent vs. luck, destiny vs. choice, passion vs. thought, chaos vs. order, father vs. son, and boy vs. girl. Ritter's characters move among these and other deep-rooted conflicts, embodying both their explicit and their subtle manifestations like deer in the forest. Each character is internally consistent yet engages others at various levels, and develops for better or worse within the storyline. The novel also carries within it an implicit and ever present sense of place and time. I found myself trusting where Ritter was going next within this gently crafted first novel. I very much look forward to John Ritter's next novel! And I am buying a copy of "Choosing Up Sides" for my teenage nephew
Rating:
Summary: Rollicking good story & interesting characters in conflict.
Review: I did not give "Choosing Up Sides" a 5-star rating for two (I believe reasonable) reasons. First, like our modern educational system, the 5-star system is a victim of "inflation." (Too many GOOD books are deemed GREAT, and 5 stars SHOULD be reserved for that VERY RARE GREAT BOOK. ) Secondly, I've got to give John Ritter SOME place to go! Bottom line, a good adolescent novel, and a VERY GOOD first novel--a book which both teenagers and adults can read and thoroughly enjoy. One by one, Ritter's meticulously-handled characters enter the story and engage its conflicts from the moment each enters. Religion vs. nature, familiar vs. risky, talent vs. luck, destiny vs. choice, passion vs. thought, chaos vs. order, father vs. son, and boy vs. girl. Ritter's characters move among these and other deep-rooted conflicts, embodying both their explicit and their subtle manifestations like deer in the forest. Each character is internally consistent yet engages others at various levels, and develops for better or worse within the storyline. The novel also carries within it an implicit and ever present sense of place and time. I found myself trusting where Ritter was going next within this gently crafted first novel. I very much look forward to John Ritter's next novel! And I am buying a copy of "Choosing Up Sides" for my teenage nephew
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