Black-Eyed Suzie

Rating:
Summary: A "should-read" for parents or would-be parents ...
Review: Adolescence ... a time of life emotionally-fraught in the best of circumstances. Shaw's book steps beyond the "normal" crisis of youthful self-discovery in offering us a grippingly intense profile of a woman-child, Suzie, whose abusive context resulted in her disassociation with reality, ... the state in which we first meet her. Fortunately, the girl survives in the end: scarred perhaps forever, but finally able to acknowledge her past, and to cope with her present and ~ hopefully ~ her future, as well.

This book could easily be read by Amazon's recommended 9-12 year olds, though I personally suggest it for a 12+ readership. It all depends upon a younger child's maturity, and possible experience of "abuse" somewhere, even if only from a fellow student.

I also feel that parents of youngsters, in reading this, could benefit from it in reliving just a little of their own adolescent trauma. And, too, I suggest that men and women desiring to have children ought to read this book, in order to realize that bearing children is not a "right", but rather a "responsibility". Suzie's mother "bears" a fetus, but cannot "bear" the child. Later, having been "born" by her parents, the older Suzie cannot be "borne" by them.

As said above, the author ends the tale in a believably "okay!" scenario. Still, it leaves me wondering how often such non-fictional stories end so semi-happily, with children such as Suzie somewhat intact and functional and protected. How many in truth would have had the intervention she had? How many would have some place to go, later? It's a troublesome question ...

Shaw's book is a disturbingly realistic glimpse into the darker side of youthful identity and parental responsibilities. Its characters jump out from the pages, alive, to be embraced or hissed at by the reader. Still, as the story progresses, it offers no easy answers: its likeable characters stay likeable, but most of the rest remain rather ambiguously neither wholly "good" nor "bad", as in reality.... As in OUR reality.

This book will likely make you cry at times, but it exudes a hopefulness of "sanity" throughout. Read it and see.

Rating:
Summary: A "should-read" for parents as well as for their children
Review: Adolescence ... a time of life that's emotionally-fraught in the best of circumstances. Shaw's book steps beyond the "normal" crisis of youthful self-discovery in offering us a grippingly intense profile of a woman-child, Suzie, whose abusive context resulted in her disassociation with reality, ... the state in which we first meet her. Fortunately, the girl survives in the end: scarred perhaps forever, but finally able to acknowledge her past, and to cope with her present and ~ hopefully ~ her future, as well.
This book could easily be read by Amazon's recommended 9-12 year olds, though I personally suggest it for a 12+ readership. It all depends upon a younger child's maturity.
I also feel that parents of youngsters, in reading this, could benefit from it in reliving just a little of their own adolescent trauma. And, too, I suggest that men and women desiring to have children ought to read this book, in order to realize that bearing children is not a "right", but rather a "responsibility". The father of the family is ineffectual. Suzie's mother "bears" a fetus, but cannot "bear" the child. Having been "born" by her parents, the older Suzie cannot be "borne" by them.
As said above, the author ends the tale in a believably "okay!" scenario. Still, it leaves me wondering how often such true-life stories end semi-happily, with children such as Suzie somewhat intact and functional and protected. How many in truth would have had the intervention she had? How many would have some place to go, later? It's a troublesome question ...
Shaw's book is a disturbingly realistic glimpse into the darker side of youthful identity and parental responsibilities. Its characters jump out from the pages, alive, as ambiguously complex as we ourselves are. This book will likely make you cry at times, but it exudes a hopefulness of "sanity" throughout. Read it and see.

Rating:
Summary: An Engrossing Book!
Review: Susan Shaw's story drew me in on the very first page. I'm not usually a fan of "problem novels," but Suzie's voice was hard to ignore. The short "chapters" moved the story along quickly and I found I could not put it down. Suzie's problems were revealed gradually, with great care and detail. It made me wonder if the author knew someone like her or had worked with young people struggling with similar psychological problems. I also agree that this book would appeal to both mid-grade and older readers. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: 100% Realistic
Review: Suzie is in a safe-box, in her most comfortable position, the fetal position. She won't talk, eat, walk or anything. Her mother is so mad yet won't get her any help. She refuses to acknowledge anything being the matter with her daughter. Suzie's older sister tries to help but she isn't much help at all. Uncle Elliot stops by and forces the family to take action. He forces them to take Suzie to the hospital. In that hospital, a history of abuse starts to take shape and everyone starts to learn of Suzie's past and what is going on in her life. Only then, can they start to heal.

This book is a very easy read. I would recommend this to 7th grade and above. It will get the attention of everyone reading it from the first page to the last. It is very hard to put down; you always want to know what happens to Suzie that has put her in this state of mentality.

Gripping!! You become attached to Suzie and can't help but live her past through her eyes as everything takes shape. You will definitely want some tissues for this book!

Rating:
Summary: Black Eyed Suzie
Review: This book may be targeted for young adolescent girls, but is compelling reading for adults as well. Although it is fiction, I believe that it could be useful in cases where abuse is suspected by a teacher or other authority figure. When Suzie learns that she can tell the truth and begin to get well, it opens the door of hope for others. I believe this could be true not just for the other characters in the book, but for those in real life.

Rating:
Summary: Black-Eyed Suzie Review
Review: This book was intruigingly excuisite. I think it was created to make people feel a mixture of deep, passionate emotions stirring around in your soul that create a type of emotion soup. Do you want to have an emotion soup? Then you should read this book filled with emotions.

Rating:
Summary: VERY INTERESTING READ !!!
Review: This book was quite revealing as to the problems abusive homes can cause in young people. It kept my attention, and I would
recommend it as a good book for adolescents.

Rating:
Summary: saddest book ever!
Review: this was the saddest book i've ever read. i'm volunteering at the houston public library and 1 of my jobs is to read the fist 3 chapters of a book and give it a short review. i read about 13 pages before i got another job assigned to me. when i came back i couldn't put it down. i was totally hooked! it makes you feel sooooooo appreciative! i cried the whole time i was reading it. there was a little tear spot on my pillow. deffinatly a gripping story!