Edward MyersBesprekingen

I give it 3.5 stars. Recommended (for best enjoyment) for ages 8-12, older readers will likely not enjoy it as much. I remembered parts of it from reading it when I was around 11; I am in college now and definitely did not enjoy it as much as I did the first time. The story itself was good overall, but the writing was not the best middle grades I've read (so you know, I still enjoy some middle grades- this is one of those I definitely feel too old for). The frame story bothered me- I didn't like the interruptions of Jack's experiences with narrator's comments. It would have stood on its own without the frame, much of the content in the frame could have been incorporated in the story. It was worth finishing though. In spite of its flaws.

20 copies

It meanders too slowly for my taste. Maybe I'm just getting old...

When parents die, by Edward Myers, offers both an overview and specific suggestions for coping with the death of a parent. Topics range from the psychological responses, such as shock, depression, and guilt, to the practical consequences, including dealing with estates and funerals (Penguin, 1997, £11.34).

Offers both an overview and specific suggestions for coping with the death of a parent. Topics range from the psychological responses, such as shock, depression, and guilt, to the practical consequences, including dealing with estates and funerals .

When Parents Die: A Guide for Adults

★★★

I’ve been on sort of a self-help book kick lately. There’s just some kind of comfort in reading these books and knowing you’re not alone in your journey through grief.

In my search for dealing with the grief of a parent, I found most of the books focused on a young audience – ones that had sadly lost their parent(s) at a much younger age. I was happy to find a book the focused just on the adult aspect of losing a parent. There was some good information throughout this book, but honestly not really anything I wasn’t aware of (this is probably due to me already reading so many books on grief and not a fault of the authors part). Some parts are fairly out of date as this book was written in 1981 and revised in 1997, technology and care have taken leaps this book doesn’t discuss. I did like that the author put his own experiences into this book, along with others, giving it a more personal feeling. A good book on dealing with the death of a parent and worth a look but nothing incredibly ground breaking.

When my father passed away, almost 2 years ago now, I lamented to a few of my closest that there were no books out there for my particular situation.

After reading 'When Parents Die', I kind of get why that is.

Everyone's experience with their parents - in life, and in death - is so unique that there is no way there could be one book that could help us all. Myers goes out of his way to try, showing how situations may be if you had a close relationship, or a strained one, or if you're in your 20s or your 60s when your parents die. But the reality is, we all fall under so many different categories, that it still falls short.

This is a great book as a general guide. He includes a lot of resources in the appendices that could be very helpful to many people.

But as soon as someone writes the "I stopped talking to my dad when I was 18 because he was a violent alcoholic and then he tried stalking me and then he drank himself to death and I didn't love him but I still feel bad for him and sometimes I dream about him" book, let me know, okay?½

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

Rick jumps at the opportunity to spend his seventeenth summer in a Mexican barrio. He'll be able to improve his Spanish, live with family friends, and help them build a real house on their property. He's confident that he will learn a lot about life in a completely different culture.

He learns quickly that the Romeros are a struggling family who put their guest as their priority even if it means they go without. He doesn't even mind being called a "gringo" by the locals.

The construction project quickly turns out to be the hardest thing Rick has ever done in more ways than one. Physically, he's never been so tired and sore in his life. The family has invested all their time and money to create a home and it seems like they are running out of both. Will they be able to finish it before the rainy season?

Rick spends what little free time he has with Ellen, an American who is vacationing at her father's elaborate home. It seems worlds away from the barrio. They meet secretly for a while, and once Rick introduces her to his new "family", the cultural and social differences seem like an elephant in the room. Can they get past these to truly get to know each other?

This was a wonderful book. I highly recommend it!

Have you ever been in a very bad car crash? I was, and it wasn’t a whole lot of fun. Hi, my name is Danielle Darcy. First of all, it all started when we were driving up a mountain. Dad decided to use the short-cut, and BOOM! We crashed! My brother Jake and I started climbing up to the top of the mountain where there is a weather station to get help since our parents are badly injured. If you want to know if we make it or not, you will have to read Climb or Die by Edward Myers.

Sitting with his impatient grandchild an old man begins what seems to be a family tradition - the telling of fantastic tales. But no! The youngster demands a tale of something new and different. And so the teller begins what might be the story of his own life... or perhaps not.

Vaguely reminiscent of the Princess Bride, but with less charm and humor, the story drags and is continually interrupted by the child's questions. Presumably they are intended to instill a sense of urgency in the reader, but they proved more annoying than not. Myers' story is heavy. And not in a good way.½

RL 5.1 Pts 1.0

From the very beginning, this book grated on my nerves. Whether it was the incessant story-within-a-story device or the unrelenting allegory...or maybe it was the page and a half of explicated theme that ends the book, I felt like the whole time the author was telling me a story--winking at me about how clever he was in the telling of it. And I can see how a different reader might enjoy this type of storytelling, but I prefer more subtlety, I guess. I'm just glad I finally made it to The End.

eth is the killer. He’s suffering from the blame for the accident that lost him Frannie forever.

Jenna is the sister. She’s dealing with the anger, hate, and torment of seeing Seth live while Frannie is dead.

Ice is the story of two teenagers, told from alternate perspectives. When Seth decides to join the volunteer EMT team, he’s not sure what he’s looking for. He enjoys the work, and it provides a release from the guilt of Frannie’s death that buries him at school. That is, until Frannie’s sister Jenna joins the team to see what he is up to. Working together doesn’t make anything easier for either of the two, but maybe it’s just what they need.

Ice, by Edward Myers, started out a little slow and strange. The style is difficult to get used to, but as the pages progress and you get used to switching between perspectives, the story transforms into a smooth, rather bitter-sweet read. Having served in an EMT team himself, Myers give a unique inside look that is definitely worth reading about and creatively weaved into the plot. The characters are believable and relatable, though Jenna did annoy me somewhat with her stubborn refusal to forgive Seth. But having never been through the situation Jenna encountered, I can’t really say that it isn’t realistic, as it most certainly could be. Seth's emotions, however, are wonderfully described.

I didn’t feel a full resolve at the end, but it leaves room for imagination—so whether the reader will enjoy it or not is up to them and their preferred style. (I liked it, but it annoys the heck out of some people..) Also, there wasn’t a very important climax. I was hoping something really big would happen, but it does make the book more realistic.

Overall, Ice is a quick, worthy read. It’s interesting, and if anyone is thinking about being an EMT, definitely read it. It makes me want to volunteer, and I’d never even considered it before. And now I want to go ice-skating. So, as Myers has written a book that has left me with emotions, interest, and has had an effect on my life, I say thumbs up :)

Suspenseful, action-packed and daring, Climb or die tells a story that will not be forgotten easily.