by the end I felt I knew him...and I cheered his survival

books:


	• You Don't Know Me David Klass HarperTeen, 2002 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 124 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Most Entertaining Book I Ever Read

This book is about a kid who's life dose not have a happy ending. His mom married a drunk who beats him for stupid stuff when she is not looking.When she died he took over the house and the boy's life. Now he dosn't know what to do or who to tell. The only people that can help him is his friends. Too bad he dosn't want help he just wants to live his life with n problems. But theres only 1 person eho is causing probems in his life and it's not his mom's husband. I rated this book a 5 because it caught my attention as soon as i picked it up. I will recomend this book to anyone because even if u read it before u can read it again and still enjoy it.

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by the end I felt I knew him...and I cheered his survival

At the first page my impression was this story had the potential to be swallowed up and overwhelmed by the sardonic attitude of a teenager; too much of that adolescent cynicism would grow tedious quickly. Thankfully I couldn't have been more wrong. That sardonic attitude turned to a very witty humor that made this book flow easily from page to page and chapter to chapter and inspired some really good laughs along the way. And the great humor intertwined within the episodes of rage, abuse and hate helped, I think, to keep this story from being as depressing and disturbing as it could potentially have become. Mind you, there's still a very serious side to this story, as the topic of abuse in and of itself is not humorous. But the glimpses into John's life outside of his abusive home environment, i.e., at school in his band class and his "anti-math" class, are quite funny.

I thought Klass's writing style was brilliant. I think the protagonist John is essentially a teen any of us could relate to in some degree, though hopefully because the challenges and coping strategies of adolescence are a universal experience and not because of the troubled and abusive home environment John has to endure.

By the end I came to feel that John could be a friend, someone I did come to know. Ultimately, by the end I wanted to stand and applaud, with a lump in my throat, his fortitude and character. Klass's book is a great story of survival. Within the young adult fiction genre I would think this one will become a classic.

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You Don't Know me : Or do you?

John, a troubled teenager, believes that no one can ever understand him and everything that he has to go through. Though John is shy and quiet, he lives a life at home that no one could even imagine. Every day in John's life is another obstacle and another day that he hopes to get through without any problems. The novelist, David Klass, makes you experience John's pain too. This compelling story of a boy and his troubles, successes, and obstacles make the story addicting to read.
This book, You Don't Know Me, has so many amazing details I loved. John's descriptions of the different moments that occur sound so creative and unique, it makes everything seem so real. He made me feel some of the feelings and hardships that he goes through.

Just like everyone else, John has the typical teen issues. He has a terrible date with the girl of his dreams, his "friend who is not a friend," Billy Beezer, is arrested for shoplifting, and John is given a tuba solo in the school band even though he can't play. When his mother has to leave town to deal with one of her dying relatives, John is left alone with his step dad, who abuses him. The "father who is not his father" expects John to do everything for him, like a dictator. He also hits and kicks John when no one else is around. John cannot yell for help to get the "step dad" arrested.
John is all alone with no outlet to talk to since Billy is in trouble. His band mate, Violent Hayes, keeps an eye on John (a closer eye than some think). "You don't know me at all. You don't know the first thing about me," is John's motto throughout the book. To cope with all of his pain and anger, he creates amusing alternate realities in his head. Does his stepdad really hate John, or is he just protecting him? Is "Glory Hallelujah" the perfect girl for John or is she just "using" him? Why does Billy Beezer get mad at John? Does John ever find happiness?
In John's world, many things don't come easy and some things never seem to be good enough. The story is written in a unique point of view that makes you want to cry and laugh through all the adventures. Overall, this book gets an A because it was laugh-out-loud, but so powerful at the same time. It was like nothing I have ever read before. But to find out what really happens, you should read You Don't Know Me.

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'Catcher in the Rye' for kids

John, a 14-year old boy, is physically/emotionally abused by his stepfather, and tries to keep his life in one piece. But when his mother leaves for a spell to be with an ill relative, things quickly fall apart for John and he sees no way out. During the book he learns some important lessons about love, relationships, his mother and most importantly about himself and his place in the world.
Quality stream of consciousness books don't grow on trees, but here's one that is both good and written especially for young adults. It is an engaging read, with a blend of humour and sobriety. Not only that, it also works excellently for topical group discussion, drama activities, writing in the style of...in a classroom or other setting.
One of the strengths of the novel is the care that has been taken in its crafting, for example the method used to describe the two dates the protagonist goes on, links and contrasts them simultaneously.
Another strength was the use of extended metaphors, a tuba being compared to a frog, and imaginary tribes to make sense of the confused reality described in the novel. The creation and subsequent shattering of illusions can be slightly disorientating to the reader at first, but one soon gets used to this and will appreciate it as a hallmark of the crazy and confusing world John inhabits.
The message of hope at the end of the novel is both warming, as well as realistic and inspiring.
Recommended to all readers 14 and over, including adults.

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You Don't Know Me...

This book is amazing. It is about a boy who is abused by his mom's boyfriend and isn't happy with his life, and to escape the life he hates, he makes up things, like different names for his teachers/kids in his class. Anyway, I can't say much more without ruining the book. This book was in my school library and it is always checked out cuz its awesome and once someone reads it, they tell all their friends to read it.

Just so you know, the style of writing takes a little to get used to, but it's worth it. You'll be amazed how fastly the pages go.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

You think you know John? Well, let's see . . . What bathroom fixture did his father have in mind at his birth? Does algebra have a use, besides torture? Who is Glory Halle-lujah? Who is Violent Hayes? What do they want? Who or what are the Lashasa Palulu? Why do fools fall in love? How can anyone who is fighting a secret battle for his life know anyone? And how can they know him?

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