Rating: 
Summary: The one that started it all.
Review: Ten years ago I discovered a copy of John Marsden's Letters from the Inside at my Library. I took it out because I was big into writing pen pals at that time in my life and thought it might be a good book. That one book started a lifelong love of John Marsden's writing.Letters from the Inside is one of the most chilling books I have ever read. I've read it three or four times in the last ten years and in each read-through, I discover one more facet of the story that I've missed. The book itself, taken at face value, is not so chilling - it's what your mind creates to fill in the spaces that Marsden leaves in his story. What did Tracey do to end up where she is? What happened to Mandy? What happened to her family? Who marked "return to sender" on the letters? Will Tracey ever find out what happened to Mandy? Will Tracey ever make it back into the real world? The mind creates the darkest scenarios to those questions. It takes a special kind of writer to make a story work with the "cliffhanger" ending. Any other writer and I'd probably have chucked the book at the wall in frustration. Part of me wishes there was a sequel to this book so that I could find out what happens next... and part of me knows that a sequel to the story wouldn't be possible. Everyone should own this book. Or if not this one, then one of Marsden's other books. Tomorrow, When the War Began is amazing as well. I would place John Marsden at the top of my favorite author list any day, and no matter how old I get (I'm 22 now and still reading him!), I don't think that will change.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely marvelous...
Review: Have you ever had a pen pal? Well if you have you will enjoy this book called Letter from the inside. This book happens in present day, it's about two young girls who were completely strangers, and suddenly turn into wonderful close friends. They share their secrets, fears and moments of happiness.
The characters of this book are Mandy and Tracey. Mandy is a girl whose family doesn't care about her and has a weird scary brother. Tracey, on the other hand, is completely different than Mandy; she has a great boyfriend and family. Mandy and Tracey share an incredible time sending letters to each other. This all started as a joke when Mandy, one day decided to joke around and put an ad in a magazine. She didn't expect to receive a response, but she did from Tracey. It started as a joke but ended with a great friendship of two. They tell each other about their love life, of how they hate school, they talk about boys and tell each other about something that happened to them.
I really enjoyed this book, except it's ending, because this book ends from no where, I was reading when suddenly it was over, it has a sudden ending. I hope there is a second book, because it left me with a lot of questions.
The author, John Marsden has a really good way of interpretating the girls feeling, actions and beliefs. I also think he has a good creativity.
This is what the book Letters from inside, written by John Marsden is about. I really enjoyed reading this book, and recommend it to girls age 12 - 15, because it's a more juvenile book.
Rating:
Summary: Really 4 1/2 stars. The other 1/2 = classification issues
Review: I'm a Mum looking for some input into the suitability of this novel for my 14 year old son who is studying it for Year 9 English (Australia). The book is about the "pen pal" relationship between 2 adolescent girls but focusses on many issues facing both female and male teenagers. My concern is that these issues are portrayed in just a little too mature a way for early teens ... especially the ending (As an adult I had trouble dealing with it no doubt because Marsden has the ability to make his characters very real and in the process makes you care about them ... even Steve). I noticed that many of the reviews of this book make the same observation in one way or another ... and from teenagers not parents. I ended up reading parts of this book to my son as if it was a movie script and then talking with him about it ... my concern is that some teenagers will be left to deal with these issues alone if it is a "prescribed" school text ... and the issues are not really "prescribed" issues.
Rating:
Summary: Wow...just wow
Review: I picked this up the other day at the library, not expecting much. But, I couldn't put it down! It is one of the best books I have ever read! Mandy and Tracey form a strange friendship ~ they've never actually met, they just write letters back and forth (pen-pals, I guess you could call it...though in the book Mandy clearly states she hates that phrase). Mandy tells Tracey all about her family, her friends, and her boyfriends. Tracey writes all about her rich family, her horses, her glorious vacations, etc. But - one of the girls isn't telling the truth. When Mandy and Tracey start getting into more serious, darker discussions, the book really, really gets interesting. One day, the letters from one of the girls (I won't say which one) stop, and are sent back to the other girl, marked "Return to Sender." What happens to Tracey and Mandy's friendship? I love this book, I've read it twice since I got it and its just amazing! The cliffhangre ending is a little annoying, but it's been said at least twice, read about Tracey's dreams and Mandy's last letter, I bet you can figure it out. Overall grade: A++
Rating:
Summary: What I thought
Review: You find yourself online talking to random people that you never met before. After a couple of e-mailsyou start to be the best of friends. You talk as if you knew the person your whole life. If that is what you are into then "letters From the Inside" is a great book for you. Try putting an ad in a newspaper looking for a pen pal and then receiving a letter from someone. You are a bit surprised you got a letter. Throughout all the letters each one revealing a different detail about the person.
John Marsden has done a great job in writing the book by not putting the in chapters but by letters. This makes it easier for some people to read. Marsden leaves a lot of holes which your immagination has to fill in. With cliff hangers and the adolescent language this would be more appropriate for high school students. I really enjoyed the book. My mom couldn't keep me away from this book and I dislike reading.
Rating:
Summary: "Don't ask what I did, don't try to find out!"
Review: I read "Letters From The Inside" in the third grade, and it just... haunted me. The ending I mean. I read it a few times since, and my love for this book didn't go away. The book is about Mandy, who, bored one day, answers an ad she saw in a teen magizine, seeing she has some things in commom with Tracy, the girl she is writing too, like they both like the group Power Without Glory. Mandy and Tracy start writing to each other about their familys, friends, school, boyfriends, ect, and Mandy thinks that Tracy has the perfect life- great boyfriend, nice siblings, rich parents, ect- until Mandy finds out that Tracy in in a teen prison. Only afer "haressing" Tracy for awhile does Tracy aswer Mandy, and then the book goes into an amazing twist. The ending is totally haunting and open, and leaves you with a lot of stuff to think about. Pick this book up.
Rating:
Summary: five stars
Review: A few weeks ago I found this book in the library at school, without having to read the blurb I decided it would be a very interesting book.
It is absolutely amazing; I could hardly put it down and once you've finished it will stick in your mind forever.
John Marsden has done an excellent job of making this book stick in memories of people all their lives, not like the other teenage books (that I have encountered) they don't have an impact on you, even though you can tell people what happened, you don't keep referring back to it in the future.
I know there will not be a sequel to this book, because it will ruin the point of the book, I still keep thinking if there was what would be in it, what else could happen to ruin the lives of these young girls.
I think we should study this book at school because it would give teachers a lot to talk about, people can put their point across very easily and it is a good book to get people thinking.
If it was put in the curriculum then it would only be suitable for year nines and over because of the language and the sexual references.
I recommend this book to anyone and think it is of five star qualities.
Rating:
Summary: After all these years...
Review: I still can not froget this book. It's about two friends Tracy and "Manna" who start writing to each other as pen pals. It starts of as kind of joke but the two girls become real frineds. Espically after Tracy tells the truth about her life.The more they write the more they are pulled into each other life, which not as near as perfect as the other thinks it is. This book is great at showing you that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. That no one has a "perfect" life or family. I think the most unforgetable thing about this book though is the ending. This is what made me never forget this book. Thought you can pretty much figure out what happens it'll still keep you up at night thinking about it. If you want one really great unforgetable book, by this one.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I read this book, and I've read many other 'bad novels' like it, when I was 13. I really enjoyed it and I couldn't put it down. He is an amazing author, and I couldn't believe that a man could write sounding exactly like a 16 year old girl would write. I loved this book, and I have read many of his books since, but I still believe this is for an older audience. If you believe a 12 year old should be reading this, and you've read it, then maybe you read a lot of 'bad stuff', but this book has many sexual references and curse words that don't belong in a 12 year old's mind. I recommend it for girls 14 and up.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome - I still think about it 7 years later
Review: This book is deceptively amazing. I first read it when I was in year 5 or 6 and it has stayed with me ever since. John Marsden is such a talented writer, no teenager in Australia should grow up without reading one of his books. Originally i read it as an 11 year old, laughinhg at the superficial jokes but when i got to the ending i realised how powerful it was. There are so many things going on in this book, i think you have to be a little older to apprecaite all the little sub-themes and the hints. I read so much trash when i was younger and it has all been wiped from my brain except for this book. Keep at it - at first the characters appear to be your stereotypical, cliched teenagers but as you read on you see what amazing characters Marsden has evoked.
I love this book! I have wanted to ask John Marsden about the ending for so long...i want to see if my theory is right!
Americans, don't be put off by this Aussie writer - he is fantastic. I would also highly recommend the "Tomorrow When the War Began" series, they are also frightengly amazing.
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