This was one of those books that wasn't very memorable, and left too many lose ends, even if the author was planning a sequel. The story was good, and it was definitely exciting at times, but I didn't really take anything away from it. I wouldn't say don't read it, but if you're looking for a more meaningful story line, look somewhere else.
This book is one of my favorite books i have ever read. It has changed courses multiple times and caught me by surprise. Every scene keeps my attention and makes me want to read more. I love how Mickey is so in to finding out the mystery of if his father is alive and where his girlfriend went. I felt to book pulled you in and made you relate to how mickey was feeling and some of his thoughts during the whole process. His life takes so many different turns and there's always something going on. I would defiantly tell people to read this book if they wanted a mystery.
Emily B Jones 4 So far the most prominent setting in this novel is the Old Bat Lady’s place, Mickey broke into her house and found a picture of people all wearing the same shirt with the same symbol on it, and it just so happens the symbol on their shirt is the same symbol on the cover of the book so that’s why I think it’s going to be significant later on in the novel. I feel a lot of this story is going to take place at that house also because Mickey’s dad was there once when he was little and came out a changed person: “After that night, your dad was always afraid of the Bat Lady’s house. I mean, like I said, we were all creeped out, but your father didn’t even want to walk past it. He had nightmares about the house. I remember he went to a sleepover party and he woke up screaming about the Bat Lady coming to get him.” (page 68) So far in my novel the main characters are: Mickey he’s 6’4” and a sophomore in high school. Spoon is the nerdy type and he’s the janitors son at the high school. Ema is a bigger girl and is slowly becoming Mikey’s friend. She’s “emo” and dresses that way. “I just looked at her-in the black clothes, with black nail polish and silver studs in her eyebrow” page 45
The setting of the Novel is in Kasselton, New Jersey. I think this setting is important to the novel because of previous novels by Coben. With the familiar Myron Bolitar series, centered around, our main character Mickeys uncle, Myron's life. I would like to say that in a way this book, and this trilogy, is a sequel to the Myron Bolitar series. With the setting of the book being a very close nit neighborhood like community, it leaves the same kind of communication and legacies as they did in the earlier series and past life of Mickey's uncle, which I have a feeling will play a huge role further into the book. The main characters in this Novel so far are Mickey, Ema and 'Spoon'. Mickey is the stories narrator, he's well over 6 foot and we can assume is also appealing to the eye as well based on a scene where a group of girls ask for his number, by Micky falling so hard for other new girl Ashley, virtually falling in love with her as well, I think its safe to say that he's a bit naive as well but then again, he's also known for trusting his gut and acting on impulse like when he decided to first make his way into the Bat Lady's home. Again, I think that Mickey is a bit damaged too, his dad recently passed away and his mom is in rehab, unable to really see him or take the role as his mother, he's lonely in a way, which is why I think he's fallen so hard for Ashley. Next is Ema she's bitter and rough, shes described on page 18 as "She had on heavy black makeup thing going on, shoe-polish black hair, black clothes, black boots, pale skin. She was goth or emo or whatever they called that look. Tattoos covered her forearms. One snaked up her shirt and around her neck. She looked up at me with a face that could not have been more sullen without actually being punched." Ema is for lack of better words, aggressive. She's not the nicest and has an unappealing exterior, but later Mickey learns to actually like her, they click in a weird way. And Spoon, he's interesting, described as a nerd. He's confident, almost cocky for example when he confronts a rude cop, who we later find is one of the novels Antagonists father, he tells him he's rude and also gives him a surprising one liner. From what I can tell I think he's just looking for a friend, but also may know something that Micky does not. I cant wait to finish reading and get my questions answered.
Jasmin Jones 4 The Setting so far is School and Old Bat Lady's House. Mickey hear Old Bat Lady say his father was still alive, Bat Lady said "your father isn't dead" (page 3) so he decided to brake into her house. He found a picture that he thought was very interesting, it was group of teenegers having the same symbol on all of their shirts. It may come up later in the novel bringing something involving his dad. The main characters are Mickey-a new sophmore to this high school. Ema-a goth girl thats becoming friends with Mickey and Spoon-the janitors son, also becoming friends with Mickey
I think Mickey and Ema are going to become more then friends I feel like Mickey is developing feelings for Ema, this quote shows it I think "It was a text from Ema: home. happy? me: ecstatic." If he didn't have feelings for her or care for her then he wouldn't care if she made it home or not. I think them hanging out together and finding things out about The Bat Lady is going to get them closer and form a better relationship between them.
Lauren Jones 4 So far, this book has a lot of things going on at once that might be hard to keep track of. One of the things that really caught my attention and keeps me wondering is if Ema actually has a home. Any time Mickey offers to drive her home or walk her home, she refuses and says she's fine and just runs away, usually in the direction of the woods. Yes, that is her business and Mickey really has no room to ask for that much personal information, but I would be worried if I were him. Secondly, I feel like the guy in the suit and sunglasses is actually helping and protecting Mickey from something or someone. If he was looking to hurt him or anything, he has had many opportunities to do so. He's hiding something that has to do with his father, but is waiting for the right time to tell him, that maybe telling him now might blow something secretive that's going on. So far, I'm really into this book, it was sort of slow in the beginning, but now it's really got you on the edge of your seat.
Emily I am really curious when it comes to where Ema lives, she won’t let Mickey walk her home or anything. “It’s late. I don’t like you walking alone. Where do you live?” “Another time,” she said” (page 108) This really shows how Ema doesn’t want Mickey anywhere near her house if she has one? or maybe she’s hiding something. I also feel maybe Ema is in on this crazy Bat Lady stuff going on. I guess we’ll wait and see.
There are so many conflicts in this book, between Mickey and Officer Taylor or Mickey and himself when dealing with his mother, on page 103 after Mickeys mother goes through a grueling relapse, he says "I thought about how my mom had smiled at me, how she told me that she was home preparing spaghetti and meatballs, how she even supplemented her original bogus meal with garlic bread. Lies. All lies." I predict that this will not be resolved, that this is something that his addict mother will always deal with, but eventually Mickey will learn to cope. The tone used throughout this book is a lot of sarcasm and suspense. Sarcasm in the sense that the characters aren't afraid to be casually abrupt with one another, and suspense with that the author is always keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Lauren L. Jones One of the conflicts in this book is between Mickey and himself. He beat himself up so much over the thought of his father still being alive. He is trying so hard to get into this old creepy house and talk to the Bat Lady, but every time he tries, he fails to get in. Another is when he entered the Plan B Go-Go Lounge and got taken to Buddy Ray, on page 187, Mickey struggles with getting away from Buddy Ray, he says "Here's whats going to happen, with Derrick holding you in place, I'm going to sock you in the gut again. Harder this time. Then, much as you're going to want to bend and fall back on the floor, Derrick is going to hold you up. And then, if you don't talk, we will take you to the dungeon." Buddy Ray thinks hurting someone will get information out of them, when in reality, the rush makes Mickey snapped and took action by headbutting Derrick and breaking his nose and making a run for it towards the door to escape. I feel like this just made his situation even bigger than it was, now somebody is really out to get him. The tone of this book is more serious and intense. There is a lot of problems and realizations in these next few chapters that really make you sit on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next. There is never a part of the book where it's dragging on or really slow, there is always something happening and I think that's really cool of the author to do.
There are a lot of conflicts in this book and I think a very important one is Mickey vs society/Ashley. He really likes Ashley as you can tell in this quote “I described Ashley as my girlfriend. That might have been and exaggeration. We were taking it slow, I guess. We’d kissed twice-no more. I didn’t really like anyone else at my new school. I liked her.” (page 11) Mickey trying to find Ashley has lead him to some very crazy conflicts, like when he went to the club looking for her and ended up getting beat up by Buddy Ray. This conflict won’t be resolved unless he finds Ashley or gives up on looking. I predict Mickey is going to find Ashley eventually and see her for who she really is and not love her anymore and fall in love with Ema. I feel the tone is very serious, but also sometimes curious
I also think Mickey will fall in love with Ema eventually over the next couple of books because near the end of the book while Rachel and Ema were going in to the Plan B Go Go Lounge, he said "man I love this girl" whenever she was working her way into the club since the bouncers weren't going to let her in since she was a little heavier.
I also think Mickey will fall in love with Ema eventually over the next couple of books because near the end of the book while Rachel and Ema were going in to the Plan B Go Go Lounge, he said "man I love this girl" whenever she was working her way into the club since the bouncers weren't going to let her in since she was a little heavier.
Jasmin C Jones 4 An external conflict was when Mickey hadn't heard from his mom all day but she said she would've been home before he got home. He found out that she had been lying about improving her health and actually being a better mom for example going to the grocery store and getting new clothes. When he was looking for her, he finally went to his uncle Myron for help "I can't find mom" pg 98 Myron knew when his mom was right away but Mickey didn't know how nor did he ask. They eventually find her in the motel. The tone of the story was pretty serious. Every decision theat Mickey made just had a bigger effect on other things later in the novel.
That scene really got to me. I imagined in that had happened to me, it made me really angry. I couldn't believe that she would actually do that to him after how nice and willingly helpful he was with her, but I also saw it coming whenever she got out and didn't really want him with or around her. I kind of figured something was up.
Lauren L Jones 4 I really liked this novel. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a little mystery. At first, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, but it really jumped to the chase in the beginning and kept you wanting to read more. My favorite quote, "It was like Buddy Ray knew it all already. I had lost my father. I was losing my mother. And now, when I finally found a real friend, I would lose her too." It really makes you cherish the things in life and never take anything for granted. I was satisfied with the ending. The author ended it very well with a big cliff hanger making you want to read the next book. Which is always good because then the next book will start right from where it left off. I think this book was chosen as a Gateway Book Award because it was a thriller, mystery, with a little sarcasm that teenagers could relate to. It's always keeping you on the edge of your seat, but also very easy to understand and follow along.
This was one of those books that wasn't very memorable, and left too many lose ends, even if the author was planning a sequel. The story was good, and it was definitely exciting at times, but I didn't really take anything away from it. I wouldn't say don't read it, but if you're looking for a more meaningful story line, look somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteAnna C
ReplyDeleteHolmes 2
This book is one of my favorite books i have ever read. It has changed courses multiple times and caught me by surprise. Every scene keeps my attention and makes me want to read more. I love how Mickey is so in to finding out the mystery of if his father is alive and where his girlfriend went. I felt to book pulled you in and made you relate to how mickey was feeling and some of his thoughts during the whole process. His life takes so many different turns and there's always something going on. I would defiantly tell people to read this book if they wanted a mystery.
Emily B
ReplyDeleteJones 4
So far the most prominent setting in this novel is the Old Bat Lady’s place, Mickey broke into her house and found a picture of people all wearing the same shirt with the same symbol on it, and it just so happens the symbol on their shirt is the same symbol on the cover of the book so that’s why I think it’s going to be significant later on in the novel. I feel a lot of this story is going to take place at that house also because Mickey’s dad was there once when he was little and came out a changed person: “After that night, your dad was always afraid of the Bat Lady’s house. I mean, like I said, we were all creeped out, but your father didn’t even want to walk past it. He had nightmares about the house. I remember he went to a sleepover party and he woke up screaming about the Bat Lady coming to get him.” (page 68) So far in my novel the main characters are: Mickey he’s 6’4” and a sophomore in high school. Spoon is the nerdy type and he’s the janitors son at the high school. Ema is a bigger girl and is slowly becoming Mikey’s friend. She’s “emo” and dresses that way. “I just looked at her-in the black clothes, with black nail polish and silver studs in her eyebrow” page 45
Lucy C
ReplyDeleteJones 4
The setting of the Novel is in Kasselton, New Jersey. I think this setting is important to the novel because of previous novels by Coben. With the familiar Myron Bolitar series, centered around, our main character Mickeys uncle, Myron's life. I would like to say that in a way this book, and this trilogy, is a sequel to the Myron Bolitar series. With the setting of the book being a very close nit neighborhood like community, it leaves the same kind of communication and legacies as they did in the earlier series and past life of Mickey's uncle, which I have a feeling will play a huge role further into the book. The main characters in this Novel so far are Mickey, Ema and 'Spoon'. Mickey is the stories narrator, he's well over 6 foot and we can assume is also appealing to the eye as well based on a scene where a group of girls ask for his number, by Micky falling so hard for other new girl Ashley, virtually falling in love with her as well, I think its safe to say that he's a bit naive as well but then again, he's also known for trusting his gut and acting on impulse like when he decided to first make his way into the Bat Lady's home. Again, I think that Mickey is a bit damaged too, his dad recently passed away and his mom is in rehab, unable to really see him or take the role as his mother, he's lonely in a way, which is why I think he's fallen so hard for Ashley. Next is Ema she's bitter and rough, shes described on page 18 as "She had on heavy black makeup thing going on, shoe-polish black hair, black clothes, black boots, pale skin. She was goth or emo or whatever they called that look. Tattoos covered her forearms. One snaked up her shirt and around her neck. She looked up at me with a face that could not have been more sullen without actually being punched." Ema is for lack of better words, aggressive. She's not the nicest and has an unappealing exterior, but later Mickey learns to actually like her, they click in a weird way. And Spoon, he's interesting, described as a nerd. He's confident, almost cocky for example when he confronts a rude cop, who we later find is one of the novels Antagonists father, he tells him he's rude and also gives him a surprising one liner. From what I can tell I think he's just looking for a friend, but also may know something that Micky does not. I cant wait to finish reading and get my questions answered.
Jasmin
ReplyDeleteJones 4
The Setting so far is School and Old Bat Lady's House. Mickey hear Old Bat Lady say his father was still alive, Bat Lady said "your father isn't dead" (page 3) so he decided to brake into her house. He found a picture that he thought was very interesting, it was group of teenegers having the same symbol on all of their shirts. It may come up later in the novel bringing something involving his dad. The main characters are Mickey-a new sophmore to this high school. Ema-a goth girl thats becoming friends with Mickey and Spoon-the janitors son, also becoming friends with Mickey
I think Mickey and Ema are going to become more then friends I feel like Mickey is developing feelings for Ema, this quote shows it I think "It was a text from Ema: home. happy? me: ecstatic." If he didn't have feelings for her or care for her then he wouldn't care if she made it home or not. I think them hanging out together and finding things out about The Bat Lady is going to get them closer and form a better relationship between them.
DeleteLauren
ReplyDeleteJones 4
So far, this book has a lot of things going on at once that might be hard to keep track of. One of the things that really caught my attention and keeps me wondering is if Ema actually has a home. Any time Mickey offers to drive her home or walk her home, she refuses and says she's fine and just runs away, usually in the direction of the woods. Yes, that is her business and Mickey really has no room to ask for that much personal information, but I would be worried if I were him. Secondly, I feel like the guy in the suit and sunglasses is actually helping and protecting Mickey from something or someone. If he was looking to hurt him or anything, he has had many opportunities to do so. He's hiding something that has to do with his father, but is waiting for the right time to tell him, that maybe telling him now might blow something secretive that's going on. So far, I'm really into this book, it was sort of slow in the beginning, but now it's really got you on the edge of your seat.
Emily
DeleteI am really curious when it comes to where Ema lives, she won’t let Mickey walk her home or anything. “It’s late. I don’t like you walking alone. Where do you live?” “Another time,” she said” (page 108) This really shows how Ema doesn’t want Mickey anywhere near her house if she has one? or maybe she’s hiding something. I also feel maybe Ema is in on this crazy Bat Lady stuff going on. I guess we’ll wait and see.
Lucy C.
ReplyDeleteJones
4th
There are so many conflicts in this book, between Mickey and Officer Taylor or Mickey and himself when dealing with his mother, on page 103 after Mickeys mother goes through a grueling relapse, he says "I thought about how my mom had smiled at me, how she told me that she was home preparing spaghetti and meatballs, how she even supplemented her original bogus meal with garlic bread. Lies. All lies." I predict that this will not be resolved, that this is something that his addict mother will always deal with, but eventually Mickey will learn to cope. The tone used throughout this book is a lot of sarcasm and suspense. Sarcasm in the sense that the characters aren't afraid to be casually abrupt with one another, and suspense with that the author is always keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Lauren L.
ReplyDeleteJones
One of the conflicts in this book is between Mickey and himself. He beat himself up so much over the thought of his father still being alive. He is trying so hard to get into this old creepy house and talk to the Bat Lady, but every time he tries, he fails to get in. Another is when he entered the Plan B Go-Go Lounge and got taken to Buddy Ray, on page 187, Mickey struggles with getting away from Buddy Ray, he says "Here's whats going to happen, with Derrick holding you in place, I'm going to sock you in the gut again. Harder this time. Then, much as you're going to want to bend and fall back on the floor, Derrick is going to hold you up. And then, if you don't talk, we will take you to the dungeon." Buddy Ray thinks hurting someone will get information out of them, when in reality, the rush makes Mickey snapped and took action by headbutting Derrick and breaking his nose and making a run for it towards the door to escape. I feel like this just made his situation even bigger than it was, now somebody is really out to get him. The tone of this book is more serious and intense. There is a lot of problems and realizations in these next few chapters that really make you sit on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next. There is never a part of the book where it's dragging on or really slow, there is always something happening and I think that's really cool of the author to do.
There are a lot of conflicts in this book and I think a very important one is Mickey vs society/Ashley. He really likes Ashley as you can tell in this quote “I described Ashley as my girlfriend. That might have been and exaggeration. We were taking it slow, I guess. We’d kissed twice-no more. I didn’t really like anyone else at my new school. I liked her.” (page 11) Mickey trying to find Ashley has lead him to some very crazy conflicts, like when he went to the club looking for her and ended up getting beat up by Buddy Ray. This conflict won’t be resolved unless he finds Ashley or gives up on looking. I predict Mickey is going to find Ashley eventually and see her for who she really is and not love her anymore and fall in love with Ema. I feel the tone is very serious, but also sometimes curious
ReplyDeleteI also think Mickey will fall in love with Ema eventually over the next couple of books because near the end of the book while Rachel and Ema were going in to the Plan B Go Go Lounge, he said "man I love this girl" whenever she was working her way into the club since the bouncers weren't going to let her in since she was a little heavier.
DeleteI also think Mickey will fall in love with Ema eventually over the next couple of books because near the end of the book while Rachel and Ema were going in to the Plan B Go Go Lounge, he said "man I love this girl" whenever she was working her way into the club since the bouncers weren't going to let her in since she was a little heavier.
DeleteJasmin C
ReplyDeleteJones
4
An external conflict was when Mickey hadn't heard from his mom all day but she said she would've been home before he got home. He found out that she had been lying about improving her health and actually being a better mom for example going to the grocery store and getting new clothes. When he was looking for her, he finally went to his uncle Myron for help "I can't find mom" pg 98 Myron knew when his mom was right away but Mickey didn't know how nor did he ask. They eventually find her in the motel. The tone of the story was pretty serious. Every decision theat Mickey made just had a bigger effect on other things later in the novel.
That scene really got to me. I imagined in that had happened to me, it made me really angry. I couldn't believe that she would actually do that to him after how nice and willingly helpful he was with her, but I also saw it coming whenever she got out and didn't really want him with or around her. I kind of figured something was up.
DeleteLauren L
ReplyDeleteJones
4
I really liked this novel. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a little mystery. At first, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it, but it really jumped to the chase in the beginning and kept you wanting to read more. My favorite quote, "It was like Buddy Ray knew it all already. I had lost my father. I was losing my mother. And now, when I finally found a real friend, I would lose her too." It really makes you cherish the things in life and never take anything for granted. I was satisfied with the ending. The author ended it very well with a big cliff hanger making you want to read the next book. Which is always good because then the next book will start right from where it left off. I think this book was chosen as a Gateway Book Award because it was a thriller, mystery, with a little sarcasm that teenagers could relate to. It's always keeping you on the edge of your seat, but also very easy to understand and follow along.