Downsiders

Rating:
Summary: Downsiders!
Review: I read this book a few years ago and it suddenly just poped in my mind that I wanted to read it again, It is great, I loved it

Soooooo much,

ok this review sounds as if it was written by and idiot but there are no words to describe just how amazingly fantastic this book is

get it ?
got it ?

good!


Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Book: The Downsiders
Review: "Downsiders" is an updated "Peter Pan" for our times. In it, a girl is approached by a boy from another world. The two become friends, and he takes her with him into a place that no Topsider has ever seen. When Lindsay (our protagonist) decides to discover the truth about the Downsiders, her actions have consequences far more reaching than she had supposed.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. Not long ago I had the chance to see a remarkable documentary entitled, "Dark Days", by a Mr. Mark Singer. In it, the documentarian digs deep into the depths of New York City to reveal the homeless people that dwell in the abandoned subways stations below. The film is an amazing series of stories, showing people with running water and electricity and living their lives out of sight below. A year before this film came out, however, Neal Shusterman (children's author extraordinaire) wrote "Downsiders". A similar, if significantly different tale of underground dwellers. And, unfortunately, less amazing.

Shusterman is adept at weaving innovative ideas with actual historical fiction. The story of Alfred Ely Beach and his pneumatic subway system, as well as the Great Sinkhole Disaster of 1885 are taken and then stretched a little further into fantasy. Sometimes these stretches are inspired. For example, the Downsiders' world contains such splendid places of art as a crystal filled underworld theater and subway token studded walls. On the other hand, sometimes Shusterman stretches credulity into absolute goofiness. I'm sorry, but I'm having a bit of difficulty believing that somewhere in the depths of the New York City underworld there are herds of wild bulls stampeding in the sewers.

In the end, Shusterman doesn't stretch his tale as far as he could. He seems to be making some slight correlations between Lindsay's parents' divorce and the relationship between the Topsiders and the Downsiders but no real conclusions are made. Also, inconsistencies abound. At the end of the tale, Lindsay's mother appears (after hearing rumors of her ex-husband's notoriety) to whisk her elder child away leaving our protagonist to continue her own adventures. Why would a mother fear for only one child's safety? Especially when she spent years living with the other child as well? Also, the Downsiders write a language of mixed English, Russian, Chinese, and other hieroglyphics. Yet they not only speak English flawlessly (without even so much as an accent) but they also can read it without difficulty.

If you would like a good fun tale about a world not too distant from our own, "Downsiders" is a perfect Sunday afternoon read. If, however, you'd like something more enchanted and more entrancing, I highly recommend you seek out Mark Singer's "Dark Days". Why eat a hamburger when you can have steak?

Rating:
Summary: We daren't go a-hunting
Review: "Downsiders" is an updated "Peter Pan" for our times. In it, a girl is approached by a boy from another world. The two become friends, and he takes her with him into a place that no Topsider has ever seen. When Lindsay (our protagonist) decides to discover the truth about the Downsiders, her actions have consequences far more reaching than she had supposed.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction. Not long ago I had the chance to see a remarkable documentary entitled, "Dark Days", by a Mr. Mark Singer. In it, the documentarian digs deep into the depths of New York City to reveal the homeless people that dwell in the abandoned subways stations below. The film is an amazing series of stories, showing people with running water and electricity and living their lives out of sight below. A year before this film came out, however, Neal Shusterman (children's author extraordinaire) wrote "Downsiders". A similar, if significantly different tale of underground dwellers. And, unfortunately, less amazing.

Shusterman is adept at weaving innovative ideas with actual historical fiction. The story of Alfred Ely Beach and his pneumatic subway system, as well as the Great Sinkhole Disaster of 1885 are taken and then stretched a little further into fantasy. Sometimes these stretches are inspired. For example, the Downsiders' world contains such splendid places of art as a crystal filled underworld theater and subway token studded walls. On the other hand, sometimes Shusterman stretches credulity into absolute goofiness. I'm sorry, but I'm having a bit of difficulty believing that somewhere in the depths of the New York City underworld there are herds of wild bulls stampeding in the sewers.

In the end, Shusterman doesn't stretch his tale as far as he could. He seems to be making some slight correlations between Lindsay's parents' divorce and the relationship between the Topsiders and the Downsiders but no real conclusions are made. Also, inconsistencies abound. At the end of the tale, Lindsay's mother appears (after hearing rumors of her ex-husband's notoriety) to whisk her elder child away leaving our protagonist to continue her own adventures. Why would a mother fear for only one child's safety? Especially when she spent years living with the other child as well? Also, the Downsiders write a language of mixed English, Russian, Chinese, and other hieroglyphics. Yet they not only speak English flawlessly (without even so much as an accent) but they also can read it without difficulty.

If you would like a good fun tale about a world not too distant from our own, "Downsiders" is a perfect Sunday afternoon read. If, however, you'd like something more enchanted and more entrancing, I highly recommend you seek out Mark Singer's "Dark Days". Why eat a hamburger when you can have steak?

Rating:
Summary: "Downsiders"
Review: "Downsiders" READ IT NOW

This is an awesome book! This book keeps you interested from page 1. There is always an adventure whether it is running from bulls in sewers or being pulled down a manhole by a stranger wearing smashed pop cans as a vest. This is the first book I have read by Neal Shusterman, now he's one of my favorite authors. This book has many messages and different view on our every day life. It taught me not to classify people by what they wear or look like. This book is definitely worth reading. It's kind of a shock almost to have people living in tunnels with a different set of laws and traditions.

Rating:
Summary: Another world
Review: A review by Meghan

The book Downsiders is about living in two different worlds. One of the worlds is the Topside, which is where we live, with the sky, tall buildings, lights and cars. The other world is the Downside, which is where the old subway stations and tunnels that no one uses anymore are. The people in the Downside live in the dark mostly and make all they're belongings, even clothes, out of things that have fallen from the Topside. Lindsey Matthias met Talon when he same into her room looking for medicine. He did one of the worst things he could; he brought her into the Downside. This book deals with their relationship and the trouble he gets into.

The characters in this book are believable because it takes place in modern time and they deal with the same stuff we do. The only difference is that some of them live under ground in abandoned subways, the Downside. The people in the Downside live a lot differently than we, on the Topside, do. The author of this book gives just enough detail to stay with the story. It deals with the consequences for actions taken.

I would recommend this book to other reader because it deals with real conflicts and real consequences. If you like a book with some action and books about different worlds then you should like this book

Rating:
Summary: Downsiders
Review: Downsiders was definetely one of the best books I have ever read. Any adventure, fantasy, or realistic fiction fan should definitely read it.
The story is based on Talon and Lindsay, two young kids who meet by mistake, become friends, and fall in love. The problem weith this is, Talon is a Downsider-someone who lives below New York city- and they are not allowed to have any type of contact with a topsider- someone who lives above the ground. Lindsay is a Topsider. The penalties of their friendship could cost Talon- and Lindsay- their life.
I really like this book because suspenseful, and bizarre. The book makes you feel real emotions for the characters. It was unlike any other book I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: The Downsiders- - the best book around!
Review: Have you ever been to a big city? Better yet, have you ever been to New York City? If you have, did you ever look down into the sewer systems or wonder what was in there? Once you've read the book The Downsiders by Neal Shusterman you will definitely wonder! Fourteen-year-old Lindsay isn't exactly happy when she hears she has to move in with her Dad. It means that she will have to endure her stepbrother's taunts, go to a preppy school, and live in New York City. Lindsay would much rather just curl up with a good book. Imagine living in a world fearing the sun. All through your life you've been told that if you ever see the sun, you will die. Envision wearing a watch on your ankle because, "Time is of little importance." In this world, socks are of the most value. If someone helps you, or if you buy something, you pay in socks. Try picturing walking through sewer tunnels with a half-inch of mucky water in them. This is the world that Talon Angler lives in, called the Downside. Want to know where this world is? You'll never guess.... okay, okay, he lives under New York City. Lindsay and Talon meet by accident, and they become friends. Talon even shows Lindsay the downside, which no Topsider has ever seen. Did I mention that it is also forbidden? Lindsay is mystified by the wonderful world, and is determined to find out more about it. But when Lindsay's dad and his construction company tunnel under the earth and come across the Downside, it's up to Lindsay and Talon to save Downside. But to do this, they may have to sacrifice the most important thing-- their friendship. Can they do it?

Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: I did like this book. It was a nice idea for a book and stuff. But it did get really boring after awhile. The only reason I kept reading it was because we had to for Language Arts.

Rating:
Summary: SO much better than i expected
Review: i didn't really have any expectations when i picked up the book, but i thought the inside cover sounded like a original set-up. and so it was! the story centered around talon, a teenage boy who resides UNDER new york city, and a teenage girl, lindsey, who has just moved to the city. we are first introduced to talon's world, called the "downside." the vivid descriptions made his world come alive. yet, talon longs to visit the "topside", which is forbidden, esp. when he needs to get medicine for his little sister. that's when lindsey comes into play. i don't want to ruin anything, but the struggles talon and lindsey face together are great to read about. i began to think about if talon's world could be possible, and found myself looking around storm drains. :)

Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly different.
Review: I enjoyed the originality of the "Downsider's World". The author has created a unique place to coexist with the "Topsider's World". I found the different perspective of commonplace events and household items of our world sometimes humorous. The story was not great, but refreshingly different.