Rating: 
Summary: The Car
Review: The Car, by Gary Paulsen, is a book that I really enjoyed and would recommend to people, mostly young adults.
Fourteen-year-old Terry Anderson is a boy living in Cleveland, Ohio where his parents have left him. He receives two phone calls from each of his parents saying that they can't stand each other and that they have left for good. Terry finds this a good thing because he now can do what ever he wants. He finds a car kit in his dad's garage for a 1974 Blakely Bearcat also known as "The Cat." He finds love in building this car and finally finishes.
Later he finds out that his dad's intention for "The Cat" was to go on a cross-country car ride to Portland, Oregon to find a long-lost uncle which Terry barely even knows. On the way, he first encounters a Vietnam War veteran trying to "learn" about life. Terry reluctantly decides to bring him along because he offered to pay for all of the expenses of the trip. Next they pick up two other Vietnam War veterans named Wayne and Walyon. What happens next in the book is what really captures me; the author uses tons of very vivid words to describe the beautiful landscape that they come across. The author during this time in the book makes you feel like you're actually in the car, driving with them through the rolling hills of the Rocky Mountains and the colorful foliage of the fall. On the ride to Portland, Wayne and Walyon get into some trouble with the police and have to split from the group. Once they reached Portland, Terry and the other Veteran split. Terry later finds his uncle. After some bonding Terry decides that he likes his uncle and chooses to stay in Portland with him.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it because of the excellent writing and gripping story line. This book appeals to young adult boys that like books that are hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: the car
Review: The Car. The feel of a car driving down the road, the response of the engine as a pedal is pushed farther and farther to the floor, the feeling that you have nowhere to go, nobody to return home to, nothing to look at but the scenery around you describes what might be going through the head of fourteen year old Terry Anders while he was behind the wheel of his homemade kit car. You see, Terry never really got along with his parents; they were just there. They were just people who happened to live in the same house as him and who really could care less about the future of Terry. Typically, one day they don't come home. After a while they don't show up and in a freak coincidence, they both call, one after another, and saying that they are leaving. Many thoughts are going through Terry's head, and he eventually decides to finish building the kit car that was in the garage and sets out on a journey of a lifetime. On his journey, he meets people who accompany him on his ride, people who know the United States like the back of their hands. They show him places that aren't on the tourist maps, things that would be very hard to find by yourself. While I was reading this, it came to me that even though this book was a very good book, it came to me that none of this could happen in real life. Sure, maybe a 14 year old might be able to drive around the neighborhood in a car without any attention, but in real life this just wouldn't work. It would also be very hard for him to build it too. Despite all of this, the way that Gary Paulsen writes his novels captivates me every time. I have read many of his books, and in simpler terms, he puts his characters in trees and throws rocks at them. Basically what that means is that he puts them in situations and throws problems at them and they always find a way of solving their problems. These books, as well as his others make your mind escape into an imaginary world where it's just you, Terry, the Car, and the open road. The only major disappointment in this book would have to be the ending. It leaves you there wanting more, questioning what will happen to Terry, asking why does the book have to stop there? I guess that is what shows you it is a good book. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a light read, cars, and following a teenager on a wild adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: The Car
Review: The Car. The feel of a car driving down the road, the response of the engine as a pedal is pushed farther and farther to the floor, the feeling that you have nowhere to go, nobody to return home to, nothing to look at but the scenery around you describes what might be going through the head of fourteen year old Terry Anders while he was behind the wheel of his homemade kit car. You see, Terry never really got along with his parents; they were just there. They were just people who happened to live in the same house as him and who really could care less about the future of Terry. Typically, one day they don't come home. After a while they don't show up and in a freak coincidence, they both call, one after another, and saying that they are leaving. Many thoughts are going through Terry's head, and he eventually decides to finish building the kit car that was in the garage and sets out on a journey of a lifetime. On his journey, he meets people who accompany him on his ride, people who know the United States like the back of their hands. They show him places that aren't on the tourist maps, things that would be very hard to find by yourself. While I was reading this, it came to me that even though this book was a very good book, it came to me that none of this could happen in real life. Sure, maybe a 14 year old might be able to drive around the neighborhood in a car without any attention, but in real life this just wouldn't work. It would also be very hard for him to build it too. Despite all of this, the way that Gary Paulsen writes his novels captivates me every time. I have read many of his books, and in simpler terms, he puts his characters in trees and throws rocks at them. Basically what that means is that he puts them in situations and throws problems at them and they always find a way of solving their problems. These books, as well as his others make your mind escape into an imaginary world where it's just you, Terry, the Car, and the open road. The only major disappointment in this book would have to be the ending. It leaves you there wanting more, questioning what will happen to Terry, asking why does the book have to stop there? I guess that is what shows you it is a good book. I recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a light read, cars, and following a teenager on a wild adventure.
Rating:
Summary: The Car: An Interesting and fascinating book.
Review: The Car: An Interesting and Fascinating Book. Reviewer: Cesar Esquives from: Harbor City, CA May 23, 2000 The car, written by Gary Paulsen, is a delicate and fascinating book. The author creates the perfect atmosphere to keep the reader's attention until the end. It is never boring because the story is told from a fourteen-year-old boy's point of view. Paulsen encourages a young audience to never give up, not even when their lives are not going in the direction they would like to. Terry, the main character, begins a new life when he realizes it would be better to live without his parents who have never represented any support for him. I would like to congratulate Gary for writing such as good books that project the situations many young people are living in the society today. A society that is losing the real human values. I really enjoyed reading this book because it is a clear example of reality. Gary Paulsen writes what he lives, therefore, his books are interesting and realistic. One learns from his own experiences. In the story we discover a boy who lives while he learns that life is not happiness all the time. I realized we are supposed to live the present because we will never be completely happy. There will be always something to worry about. The Car is, in conclusion, an understandable and simple book that may be read for adolescents who enjoy adventures, for those who want to learn something from a good book. I am a young man who likes to explore new paths. I would like to invite all of you to read a good book. Reading enriches our skills and lets us know new things we have never imagined. Choose a book that contains important facts about life. Gary Paulsen is popular author that knows how to capture the elements to write only realistic books.
Rating: 
Summary: A very dumb book. No plot, many flaws in the story.
Review: This book had characters with no morals or direction in their lives trying to show a young adult boy the meaning of life by visiting a prostitute, winning a poker game, and getting in a couple of fights along the way. The book is The Car by Gary Paulson.
Rating:
Summary: The Car
Review: This book is a wonderful book. The thing that caught my eye was the title. The Car, By Gary Paulsen. I saw it in the media center and was taken by storm. I was not expecting to find a book that I would like to read, and now that I found it I am so glad that I did. I can feel what Terry Anders is going through. I know what I would do in this situation, and he has done a good job keeping his cool. I would recomend this book to anyone who is into cars and adventures, this book has the both of best worlds.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Book Even down to the Title
Review: This book is about a fourteen-year-old child named Terry Anders who is abandoned by both of his parents. He doesn't want to just stay in the house, so what does he do? He starts assembling pieces of a kit car together known as the Cat. When Terry finishes the car, he sets out on a journey to find his uncle who lives in Portand. On the way, he picks up a wandering Vietnam veteran who teaches Terry about life on the road.
I really enjoyed reading this book because it made me think. It made me think not only about the road, it also made me think about life. Just think about this quote from the book,"The first call came almost exactly at eight o' clock. His mother called first. 'Terry, I'm not coming home. I can't take it any longer. I've taken all things. Tell your father I won't be there for him to fight any longer. You'll both have to do without me.' And she hung up. His father called just after nine.'Tell your mother I'm not coming back-I've got all my stuff, or everything I want. I'm sick of the whole thing.' And he hung up."
This book was full of deep moments like that. For instance, this quote,"He was alone. His name was Terry Anders. He was fourteen years old, living in Cleveland, Ohio, and his parents had left him.Of course it didn't happen quite that suddenly. It was true he could not exactly remember a happy time with his parents. He thought there might have been a few moments when he was a baby, but they weren't memories so much as feelings, or wishes about feelings he would have liked to have had."
My absolute favorite part of this book was when Terry was making the kit car and how he had to figure it all out by himself. It is my favorite part because it tells you how determined he was to make the kit car, eventhough both of his parents left him.
Rating:
Summary: Gary Paulsen leads you on a map of places an alone boy goes.
Review: This book was a great adventure of a deserted boy who has to make it on his own. I thought Gary Paulsen did a geat job showing the characters feelings, and how the car was a part of him. His two friends that he meets on the road are a great example of friends who can teach you things, and keep you living for the next adventure. This book is a good one to sit back and enjoy, and I think Gary Paulsen will become one of your favored authors.
Rating:
Summary: The Car
Review: This is a great book that i would recomend to everyone this book makes you feel like you are right in the book. The charaters that Gary paulsen wrights about come alive with feeling and thouhgts. The Car is a great book that is suspenseful and keeps you wanting to because it feels like you are right in the book. So if you enjoy reading i would advise you to pick this book up and read it.
Rating:
Summary: Teenager Takes A Ride
Review: This is an interesting story that I think would grab Junior High students. Terry Anderson feels abandoned by his truly dysfunctional parents. He decides to build a kit car and take off to find his uncle. On the road he finds friendship,makes new discoveries about what it means to be alive, and learns about survival. Although the book does contain strong language and sexual situations, it's agood read.
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