Double Dutch

Rating:
Summary: An escape of Life
Review: Double Dutch was an amazing novel about the lives of troubled 8th grade students. Delia has a problem, she can't read, and chooses not to tell any one. Until 8th grade when Delia's best friend, Yolanda, questions Delia's ability to read. Yolanda spices up the mixture of characters with her urge to stretch the truth. Delia and Yolanda also hangout with Roger. Roger also has a secret; his truck driver father has been missing for weeks. He chooses not to tell anyone because he is scared that he will be separated from his father, since his mother ran away. Randy sacrifices VCR's and other appliances for money to survive. Later he finds out that his father was almost beat to death, when he refused to give up his truck to thieves. On top of all of their personal problems they also have to stay clear out of the way of the Toliver Twins. They are over grown 8th grade twins that only want each other and if you are in their way they will beat you up until you remember next time to watch out. The only escape these friends have is Double Dutch. Double Dutch is their time to shine, a place were nothing can go wrong, and where nothing else in the world matters except the rhythm of your feet and the rope beneath them. Yolanda and Delia are amazing jumpers and like to sound of success. Roger is their equipment manager and keeps the team very organized. Read Double Dutch by Sharon M. Draper to find out if the lives of these friends ever change for the better.

Rating:
Summary: Do not be decieved by the title!
Review: I am a 13 year old girl from New York. Lately I have had a lot of trouble gettting into books and I almost stopped reading this one! That would have been so stupid! "Double Dutch" si one of the greatest books that I will have ever checked out of my library! "Double Dutch" is about Delia, an 8th grade girl who, surprisingly has a big secret.. She CAN'T read!!! Her best friend Yolanda formally known as Yo-Yo confronted her about it when she learned the truth. This is a big problem even though you do not need to read in order to compete in double dutch... but it is oneo fthe biggest things everyone needs to know how to do. Yo-Yo adn Delia are superbe Double Dutchers. Their 2 teammates: Misty and Charlene are very good as well. When the "World Championships" are held in Cincinatti the girls are veryeager to compete and win. Their assistant named Randy also works hard with the team. Randy has abig crush on Delia and would do anything for her. Th two are good friends. There are two people that everyone at school are afraid of.. THE TOlliver Twins, Tabu and Titan. THe two black boys walk through the hallways with out any expression on their faces. But when the storm hits are people going to figure out their secrets and will Yo-Yo be ok? This book is soo awesome and I am so glad to reccomend it to other readers around the world.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed this one a lot
Review: My 10 yo daughter and I have been enjoying Double Dutch. I understand why some reviewers believe it is unlikely that Delia would be so successful in covering up the fact that she can't read. I have, however, seen learning disabilities go unnoticed by parents and teachers in children who are otherwise bright and well behaved. (I've also seen tremendous efforts made to put gifted but poorly behaved children in special ed programs so that knife swings both ways :-)

Another thing I liked about Double Dutch was that by and large it offers a positive and affirming picture of the lives of urban, African American middle schoolers. They face real challenges but there are many caring, involved adults--parents, teachers, coaches--who are really pulling for them in the end.

Rating:
Summary: Learning the Ropes
Review: Secrets run rampant amongst the eighth graders depicted in the book DOUBLE DUTCH. The main character of the book, Delia, has been keeping her illiteracy a secret for years. She has an excellent memory, which she uses to hide the fact that she cannot read. She is terrified that her secret will be revealed when her teacher announces an upcoming standardized test. Delia's, "friend" Randy is also carrying a heavy burden. Abandoned by his mother, Randy finds himself on his own after his truck driver father disappears. Not knowing where to turn, Randy begins to pawn goods and pray that his father has not deserted him like his mother did. The Tolliver Twins (Titan and Tabu) terrorize the school and neighborhood. Their behavior is so bad that their mother takes them on national television to get help. However, a tragedy shows everyone a side of the Tollivers that they had never seen before. Yolanda is Delia's best friend. She happens to be a compulsive liar and brings comic relief to the seriousness of the book.

Aside from having secrets, the characters in this book are brought together by their love of double dutch. The book does an excellent job telling a brief history of double dutch and portraying the hard work and determination it takes to participate in the sport.

Sharon Draper had written an excellent book that shows the dangers that keeping secrets may have. Dealing with issues of illiteracy, abandonment, fear, and preconceived notions, this book has a little something that all preteens can relate to. My only criticism is that I wish the reason Delia could not read had been explored more. This is another great novel from a wonderful author.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Learning the Ropes
Review: Secrets run rampant amongst the eighth graders depicted in the book DOUBLE DUTCH. The main character of the book, Delia, has been keeping her illiteracy a secret for years. She has an excellent memory, which she uses to hide the fact that she cannot read. She is terrified that her secret will be revealed when her teacher announces an upcoming standardized test. Delia's, "friend" Randy is also carrying a heavy burden. Abandoned by his mother, Randy finds himself on his own after his truck driver father disappears. Not knowing where to turn, Randy begins to pawn goods and pray that his father has not deserted him like his mother did. The Tolliver Twins (Titan and Tabu) terrorize the school and neighborhood. Their behavior is so bad that their mother takes them on national television to get help. However, a tragedy shows everyone a side of the Tollivers that they had never seen before. Yolanda is Delia's best friend. She happens to be a compulsive liar and brings comic relief to the seriousness of the book.

Aside from having secrets, the characters in this book are brought together by their love of double dutch. The book does an excellent job telling a brief history of double dutch and portraying the hard work and determination it takes to participate in the sport.

Sharon Draper had written an excellent book that shows the dangers that keeping secrets may have. Dealing with issues of illiteracy, abandonment, fear, and preconceived notions, this book has a little something that all preteens can relate to. My only criticism is that I wish the reason Delia could not read had been explored more. This is another great novel from a wonderful author.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Rating:
Summary: Double Dutch
Review: When I first read this book, I was surprised that the girl said she couldnt read. I was thinking "How can her parents not notice?". It was a good book, but kind of unrealistic in this day and age because all kids are being taught how to read, write, add, subtract, ect, because of the law.