Rating: 
Summary: Did we read the same book?
Review: It was so poorly written that I could barely resist the urge to grab a red pen and begin editing. The scenes were set up so clumsily that I kept on making mental notes on how I would have written them. To open up with detailed descriptions of all the main characters (and their parents!) is such a weak method of writing. What ever happened to Show Don't Tell. Things that could have been revealed through conversations were instead just listed outright. There are so many things that are poor about this book that it is extremely frustrating to read the cover declaring that over two million copies have been sold. What a bitter pill for a (really good) aspiring writer to swallow. My only regret here is that Amazon does not have a "no stars" option.
Rating: 
Summary: A Brilliant Book
Review: I have just finished reading LISA, BRIGHT AND DARK ... and loved it. ... still understand every word, every phrase, everything Lisa went through. My attention was held throughout the whole book ... I finished it in 2 days. .... I would definately recommend this book to any ... between 12 and 16 years old.
Rating: 
Summary: She Wants Out
Review: Lisa, Bright and Dark is a short book consisting of 143 pages in medium font. Lisa is beautiful, smart and owns an air of modesty and wisdom aswell as prestige compared to most of her friends and most of the kids her age (16). Her boyfriend is the most wanted boy at school and her friends are the most caring and perfect friends you could ever wish for. What more is there that she could desire? Lisa desires her freedom. Sometimes Lisa sits alone and starts to hear voices. She hears them inside her head and they are certainly not her own. Cheerful, optimistic Lisa fails to be the usual Lisa from time to time by dressing in black costume-her beauty subsides to this by shriveling up into a face that's much too pale and thin. Lisa sits through class in a cold daze and has to use all her energy and strength to answer a single question in class. She is drained of every possible hope to live. Lisa is starting to go crazy. Being a smart girl she tells her parents but they 'ignore' her. Her teachers close their eyes and decide not to understand and Lisa falls continuously whilst also trying desperately to get the adults around her to notice her, getting her voice heard and running away from her illness. Luckily, Mary Nell Ficket (MN) who seems identified in the story as Lisa's closest friend decides to do something about the whole matter.
Along with her friend Betsy Goodman who has never met Lisa before and yet seems to be the only one Lisa feels safe enough to talk to and Elizabeth Frazer who seems to hug deeply a secret that makes her so strong and controlling with Lisa's craziness-the three of them show Lisa, it's her friends who'll make her better. When you pick up the book in the beginning you have the impression that it is a book based on Lisa completely in a diary format. Well, that's what you get the impression of from other reviews anyway. But surprisingly enough, the more you read-the more you come to realise that Lisa isn't infact the main character much more than the rest of the characters are. Lisa creates a chain of situations and instead of Lisa, we become more attached to her friends who try and clean up the situations and help Lisa regain herself. This book is easy to read for any age over 12 but it may seem a little intimidating. If you are giving it to a child you ought to be careful. It certainly isn't an average "Ask Alice" style book, it's much more dense if you look into it. Otherwise, it's a good book to read whilst you have a few minutes. I suggest you read it in a noisy atmosphere or a bright environment or you'll become a little drowsy at the end of the book and get a tiny bit 'down' yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: A good idea, but...
Review: Comparing this book to I Never Promised You a Rose Garden is deceptive. Not only does one never find out exactly what was wrong with Lisa(schizophrenia, paranoia, manic-depression)but the book is poorly written. It is easy to read, but when dealing with such a serious topic one would expect to read it in two days because it is so interesting rather than because it only contains the vocabulary of a fifth grader. I like the concept of having the story told through a friends point of view, but the story simple didn't dwell deep enough. I read this book because it dealt with someone going crazy, but I was dissapointed with the way it was written. It goes through serious topics within a few pages which makes everything seem unreal and not important. If you like the topic matter and want something well written then I would recommand The Bell Jar or Girl, Interrupted, and if you read this book expecting something on par with I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (which the back cover promises) then you will most likely be dissapointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Lisa, Bright and Dark
Review: Lisa, Bright and Dark was a very interesting book. There were alot of parts in this book that seemed very strange. Lisa is a girl in the book that is having a very hard time. The thing that starts her crazyness off was when her boyfriend broke up with her. Then Lisa starts doing wierd and crazy things to herself. I think that you should read this book because it will keep you at the edge of your seat.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This is a great book! I needed to read a book for school, and my teacher recomended this one. It keeps you waiting for more. I finished it in one sitting, I couldn't stop reading, not many books do this to me, so this one must be special! Amanda
Rating:
Summary: Great book... A must have!
Review: Lisa Shilling is just 16 years old when she starts to lose her mind. It all started at an anniversary party for Lisa and Brian, her former boyfriend, when suddenly Lisa loses control and yells "Stop it!". In an instant, the party ended as well as Lisa's happy childhood life. Now she wears bright clothes on her "up" days, and dark clothes on her "down" days. While you're on the edge of your seat, Lisa shows positive, shocking signs of madness. Her friends, Betsy Goodman and Mary Nell, are concerned, so they organize a group therapy business. Soon, their first meeting arrives and goes as planned. Lisa is talking about her illness, while Mary Nell is diagnosing everyone's problems. But will Lisa return to her old self? This story is a true, genuine masterpiece, and it pushes you on the edge of your seat as you wonder what will happen to Lisa next. Why don't her parents seem to care? What's Lisa's problem? The only way to find out is to read this brilliant novel by a brilliant author, John Neufeld. Trust me, this is one book worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Holly , Bright and Dark ?
Review: I read this book becuase I thought it might help me decide if a dear friend was mentally ill. It didn't do that , but what I found was a very good read. Ending in a very unexpected way. I enjoyed Lisa , Bright and dark . I thought it truly stated how a person in that situation might feel. It was a really good book , and I recomend it to anyone... go read it .. you will love it ....
Rating:
Summary: The right book for a wrong girl
Review: I read this book when i was in high school. I was told to read the book and write a review on it by my school councelor. I was so messed up then and i just wasn't doing too good, not just in school but inside myself i felt wrong and i couldn't explain it. I thought for sure that if i didn't get help somehow, someway that i would die from the pain i felt inside myself. My friends tried to help and they spoke to the coucelor, who was also a creative writing teacher and he spoke to me often and had me transfered into his class. I don't how i got by day to day but my friends could see i was just letting go and slipping into whatever insanity that was upon me and so did my councelor. One day i was in class and my councelor had us write a book review. Everyone got to choose thier own book except me. He handed me Lisa, Bright & Dark and told me that in order to pass his class (and graduate high school) i had to review this book. I read it and could not believe how much this story related to me. I so much wanted for someone to help her. I thought for sure no one would. When i got to the end of this story, with out any hesitation i started writing my review. The next day my councelor read it and it actually brought tears to his eyes and he looked at me and told me that everything would be ok and that i was going to be alright. I guess by reading this story i was able to associate it w/ how i felt inside and i was able to seek out the help i needed to make me right. I graduated w/ honors that year and i got the right therapy to be able to pull out of the sickness that i was willingly falling into. I am 28 yrs old now and i really believe that if it wasn't for reading this story and having a great councelor who really cared for me and my well being i would have gone insane.
Rating:
Summary: Lisa, Bright and Dark - John Neufeld
Review: A story about Lisa. Sixteen, with the world at her fingertips. She's going slowly insane, but no one will listen to her pleas. This story is told by a friend of Lisa's, Besty. She tells of the adults who refuse to see the truth, because they are not strong enough to handle it. She tells of how Lisa's little group of friends do everything to help her. I gave this book 3 stars. I was interested in the story, but it was short and sometimes too wordy. This book is a one day read. It captures you, none the less, because of the characters. A good book for teenagers who may have a friend or who are that friend that needs help. The conclusion to this story gives a ray of hope. That there is hope out there. Books like this one are, "It Happened to Nancy", or "Go ask Alice." This book is written in that tradition. So, if you like 'journals', read this book and jump into the life of Lisa.
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