Rating: 
Summary: you must read
Review: Lisa Bright and Dark By John Neufeld. Lisa, Bright and Dark is about a 16 year old girl who is going crazy. Some days are good and she acts normal and then other days are her dark days. On these days, she acts like no one else is around and she is the only one existing on this earth. When she is having a dark day she feels very lost, confused, scared and helpless. Her family and teachers ignore Lisa when she tells them that she is going crazy. They just don't want to believe it. The only people that believe in her and want to help her are her friends. Lisa's friends try many things to help Lisa with her disease. This book was appealing and exciting in the sense that there was always something going on. I was always waiting to see what was going to happen next, and how they were going to help Lisa with her disease. You never knew how Lisa was going to act, because she was always having different mood swings. Her friends tried so hard to help her get better, and at first it seemed like she didn't appreciate what they were doing for her. But in the end, you realize that what they did for Lisa was a great thing. In this book there are two essential messages. The first is that you should take your friends seriously and always try and keep them. In this case Lisa's friends saved her life. The other very important message is that parents should take kids more seriously. Often parents and other adults don't really listen to kids because they think that since they are younger, and maybe not as mature as they are, children don't know what they are talking about. But in this case Lisa really did know what she was talking about. She was going crazy and she needed help. If her parents had just trusted and listened to what Lisa was trying to tell them then she might not have walked through the window, and might have gotten better faster. Although this book was exciting, it did have some bad qualities too. The biggest problem was that it was not completely relevant to kids in this day and age. Lisa's problem would be handled a lot differently now than it was back then. Schools now would have definitely helped handle the situation, if the child could not get help from their parents. Different laws have been passed now that would have helped out with this situation. Now, many people are more aware of mental illness then they were back then. Overall Lisa bright and Dark, l was an enjoyable book. This book always had something going on and it really grabbed my attention. What made this book enjoyable was that it had a satisfying ending without being too unrealistic. Even though this book was a little dated, the messages that it contained are still important today. If I were to rate this book between 1 through 10 I would probably give it an 8.
Rating: 
Summary: BRIGHTENS & DARKENS
Review: I first read this book when I was in elementary school and I agree with another reviewer that this work is somewhat dated. Lisa Shilling is a 16-year-old who is suffering from a mental breakdown. She walks hunched over, she yells at her friends to "just stop it" when they were innocently dancing at a party; she whispers her answer in the teacher's ear instead of speaking before the class. Her verbalizations become increasingly bizarre and her behavior more erratic and unstable. She tells her parents and 12-year-old sister that she is going crazy, but they brush her concerns aside. In one memorable blunder on her parents' part, they send her to a nursing home in Florida during winter break with the idea of sweeping her bizarre behavior under the rug without "the neighbors finding out." Several girls who know Lisa band together to form what they call "group therapy." They sit and talk to her and try to uncover the root of her illness. They urge her to tell them what is on her mind. She makes light of their efforts, but does form an attachment to a girl named Elizabeth. It turns out Elizabeth is a survivor of a mental breakdown and her father enlists the aid of her former psychiatrist to treat Lisa. The critical point of this book is when Lisa gets up from the couch and walks through a sliding glass door. Alarmed, the girls notify her parents who by then have to confront the truth. The narrator of this story is a 14-year-old who is delighted to have an "in" place with these older girls. For the most part she was appealing, but I did get annoyed with her "wish for a cigarette" so she "could do something with her hands." I didn't like that part. I also didn't like the silly way she mentally mouthed, "Paul [Newman]! I'm back!" as if the actor would have even known. She has a silly little schoolgirl crush on Elizabeth's former doctor, which did not contribute at all to this story. It is also interesting to note that the school the girls attended did not get more involved. It does seem very unrealistic that school personnel did not notify Lisa's parents about the girl's erratic behavior and strange utterances.
Rating:
Summary: An story that's hard to forget
Review: I first read Lisa, Bright and Dark over 17 years ago. Few novels have stuck with me the way this one did. It's a powerful story because we learn about Lisa from her friend's point of view, unlike so many books about depression that are told in the first person. As a result, the reader feels the same urgency and helplessness felt by Lisa's friends as they watch her moods change and her behavior become more unpredictable. It's an accurate portrayal of watching a loved one spiral into depression. Unlike fluffy teen novels, this one often reads more like a biography of a disturbed teenager rather than a cute but unrealistic story with a happily-ever-after ending.
Rating:
Summary: A classic edgy novel that still holds importance
Review: I remember the first time I read this novel. I was maybe eleven and looking around my parents' library of books. I thought I was "getting away" with reading an adult book (my dad taught middle school, so there was a range, though I wasn't aware of it). It was only later that I realized this novel was written for young people. For that, and the time of its publication (1969), I'd give this book five solid stars. Neufeld deals frankly with a topic that is (still) too often swept under the rug-- the mental health of young adults. I give it four only because time has done the plot a disservice. Young adult women today aren't aching over Paul Newman, for example. That said, maybe we're aching for someone or something else, and surely there are plot points of value, still, in this well written book. Lisa is impossibly real. She's envied by one group, ignored by another (her family, all told) and agonizing over the means to an end. How can Lisa, a troubled yet talentd person with many promising attributes, get the help she needs? It's true that Lisa's actual "affliction" is never spelled out for the reader. I believe, however, that the decision to leave Lisa vague was a conscious one on the part of the author. Lisa could be any person in any town of any class and race. Her frieds are steadfast, creative, and unstoppable. They work with what they have in order to find help for their troubled friend. This is not just a fictional treatment of emotional turmoil. This is a timeless story (with some dated references) that many readers will appreciate. The faith the friends hold in Lisa is more about friendship than it is about knowing EXACTLY what's going on in the inner depths of a person's heart. Maybe this is a story that's overdue to be told in an age of wastebasket terminology, labeling, libeling, media-entrenched sound bytes. Lisa's "ending" is a happy one-- not because we reach the heart of her illness, but because we know that she, in her darkest hour, is never alone. That is the brightness. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: Bright and Dark
Review: A Review by Nicole This book is about a girl named Lisa who is 16. She starts to think that there is something completely wrong with herself. She tries to everyone that she is going crazy, but no one believes her. Some days she has good days and others are even worse she acts horrible, like no one is around. Her parents laugh and tell her she's fine; and her teachers don't believe it either. They don't want to admit that there is something wrong with Lisa. Her friends start to believe her. They try to help her but it's just not working out. Finally something happens and it just pushes her to far her friends know that she needs better help. This book had it's up and downs but one thing I didn't really like that much was, it was not really how things are dealt with in these times, Teachers would have noticed it right away and they would have taken care of it as soon as possible. Her parents would probably noticed something wrong was going on. I feel bad how Lisa had to wait so long to get help. I liked how her friends cared so much about her and no matter what happened they stuck through thin and thick she should be so great full for good friends like that. They really over all help her out so much in getting her help. I think that this is an okay book not to great or not to wonderful but, like I said before it had it's ups and downs. It always had something happening or going on in this book. I think people who like nonviolent action would really like this book. It's not really a book I think guys would like to read. But over all this was an ok book.
Rating:
Summary: Bright and dark and gripping
Review: I first saw this novel in a bookstore a long time ago (when I was about nine years old), and although I didn't know anything about it, the title stuck in my mind for years afterward. Only just last month did I finally read it! Lisa, Bright and Dark is a well-written and thoroughly gripping read. It chronicles the story of sixteen-year-old high schooler Lisa Schilling's descent into mental illness. Although Lisa's mother and father and teachers are inclined to ignore her, her trio of girlfriends recognize that something is wrong with her and decide to help her out. After learning everything they can about schizophrenia and other various mental disorders, the girls meet with Lisa for a series of amateur psychiatric sessions. Although of course they cannot give her all the help she needs, their determination to save her is touching and will likely make the reader wish he/she had those same friends. Set in the sixties (and originally published in 1969), the tale is narrated by Betsy Goodman, the most reserved and sideline-sitting of the three girls. This was, in my opinion, an interesting and well made choice on author John Neufeld's part, for as a result we get to learn things about the character of Betsy that we would not have been able to know otherwise. I have seen some reviews of this book where the reviewer complains that it seems antiquated (i.e. the girls' use of the word "groovy," Betsy's lusting after Paul Newman, etc.). I personally didn't find this bothersome at all. Instead I thought it had the effect of making the book seem like a period piece, not unlike the movie "Mermaids" - and also like that movie, the majority of its qualities are indisputably timeless.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a great book, so read it Buddy~!!*
Review: I would reccommend John Neufeld's book Lisa Bright and Dark to anyone. It's a "keep you on the edge of your seat book". I really enjoyed this book, mainly because it's about people my own age. I also enjoyed it because it also showed how adults ususally don't listen to everything that you would say just because your not as old as them. This book is about a girl who is about 17 years old and she is going crazy. She tried to tell her parents but, they wouldn't listen to her. All the teachers in school were also trying to ignore the fact, in fear that they would make Lisa's parents feel like they didn't raise her right. The only people who would dare to try to help her was her friends. It really realtes to alot of situations that go on today. Most of the time parents and adults just don't listen to you and take you seriously.That pretty much summerizes what i read so far so thats all the opinion i can give you. All i can say is that strongly reccomend you read this book, and if you don't read it then its your loss.
Rating:
Summary: Lisa, Bright and Dark
Review: "Lisa, Bright and Dark" by John Neufeld. Is a great novel.I would recommend this book to any teen or pre-teen.
This book taught me just how important friends can be, especially when no one seems to understand or believe you.
sixteen year-old Lisa Shillings had everything and almost anything. She was; popular, smart, pretty,and was dating the most popular guy in school.
But Lisa wasn't so normal; she begins to develop mental illness. Her family didn't believe her; Lisa's teacher denied it. Her friends Besty Goodman, Mary Nell Fickett, and Elizabeth Frazer are the only ones who seem to be listening.
Taking matters into their own hands, Lisa's friends walk with her where adults refus to go. This book will grab you by the heart, I had problems putting it down.
The way John Neufeld chose to write this book keeps you on your toes, you are constantly wondering what's going to happen next.
Rating:
Summary: Just a great book!
Review: Lisa, Bright and Dark is a spectacular book. It is so truthful and teaches you what to do if you find these symptoms in another friend/family member. It gives you a mental picture of what her life is like and what she is going through. In my perspective, it is one of the most outstanding books of any I have read. This book is just fablous for kids to learn about different problems and that we should be thankful that we have our common sence.
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Summary: Meg M Book review
Review: Lisa, bright and dark was well a written novel. It travels though the mind of a mixed up teen. The book used literally elements such as flashback, foreshadowing and irony. A literally element used in this book is flashback. An example of flashback is when Dr. Donovan arrived and the girls had to tell him what happened during their experience with Lisa. Lisa Flashes back in the book to conversations she had with her parents. An example of this is when she told them she thinks she is going crazy. She also flashed back when she told her friends about her trip in the beginning of the book. Foreshadowing was another literally element used in this book. It accrued mostly at the ends of chapters, the author would give clues as to if something good or bad was going to happen. Irony was in the book but you had to really look for it, it wasn't an obvious twist in the story. When you thought something was going to happen it didn't.. The first time she tried to commit suicide, she was in school and had to see the guidance Councilor, and he sent her on vacation instead of to a doctor. Though the book was well written, and used an assortment of literally elements, there is always room for improvements and in this case I believe the ending could have been better.
Summary: Lisa, Bright and Dark was a creative book,. It seemed Lisa had everything: looks, boyfriend, friends and good grades. Over her high school career Lisa developed a mental illness, but no adults cared to see that. When she goes to school some days she will have a "bright day" when she is in a good mood and talkative. Other days would be a "dark day," and she would dress in all black and isolate herself from everyone. Lisa's friends, Betsy, Mary Nell (M.N) and Elizabeth decide to have help sessions in their houses and begin to diagnose her. Lisa's friend Elizabeth finds Lisa a doctor to help. Thought out this book Lisa attempted suicide several times and was never successful. I enjoyed this book and it's good if you want a short book to read, even though it seems to go on forever.
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