I Don’t Want to be Crazy

By Samantha Schutz

Reviewed by Rebecca R., BCCHS student

*** This book is available at your local public library or bookstore.

It’s a terrific autobiography of her life after she comes face to face with her problems. At age eighteen she gets diagnosed with anxiety disorder and as a freshman in college this is like a death sentence. Samantha talks about her daily ordeals and sleepless nights dealing with anxiety. Reading this book makes you feel like you are living her life and facing her problems. It is all so surreal. I Don’t Want to be Crazy is a really fantastic nonfiction book that discusses topics you never knew existed.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

By Robert T. Kiyosaki

Reviewed by Afshin A., BCCHS student

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki presents many great points about how the rich people make money work for them and how everyone else works for money. The book does a great job on teaching how one should think about work and money. It has good real estate and business management advice, but I do not agree with how the book presents this information. Kiyosaki speaks as if investing in real estate and the stock market is a really easy thing to do, but your average person has virtually no experience in investing in the stock market or real estate. The biggest problem with this book is that it lacks actionable techniques, in other words it doesn’t tell people what to do.

One of my most favorite quotes in the book would be, “Most people never study the subject. They go to work, get their paycheck, balance their checkbooks, and that’s it. On top of that, they wonder why they have money problems. Few realize that it’s their lack of financial education that is the problem.” I like this particular quote because it distinguishes what the working class does compared to the wealthy. I would recommend this book as a way to challenge one’s thinking about work and money, but not as an educational book for tactical recommendations of financial strategies. Overall, I would rate this book as a 7 out of 10.

Hole in My Life

By Jack Gantos

Reviewed by Adrian H., BCCHS student

A Hole In My Life is a very interesting book, but if you want to enjoy the book you must always be thinking as you read and trying to predict what’s going to happen so that you understand what’s going on. The book keeps you on your toes. It’s mainly about this young teen who is forced to become a man at a young age because of his life situation. He has his own apartment, his own car, and he is a student in high school trying to do everything in his power to become a professional writer, and the way he does it is unique: Instead of making his writing plain and boring, throughout the story he forces himself into situations that are dangerous and daring, which get him into trouble and sent to jail, and from there the story begins!

If I were to rate this book, I would give it eight out of ten, which is good. This book is mainly for anybody that likes reading, but it also depends on what type of a book reader you are. For example the book is based on a true story, and it is based on somebody’s life. You must begin with high expectations for the book to actually like it.

I found it interesting and unusual that the character is a good kid and his mentality in life is positive, but from out of nowhere he goes to jail for a mistake that he will regret his whole life. It was interesting when he said, “I wasn’t raised around this level of violence.” He’s not a bad man; he’s just put in a spot where he doesn’t belong. And many people can relate to this situation because when you least expect it you can make a mistake that will make your life go downhill. So reading this book will keep you aware of how anything can happen even though your intention isn’t to do anything bad. The book makes you visualize his perspective so that you don’t make the same mistakes. This book can be looked at in many ways—from entertaining to an eye opener to many other subjects. That’s the main reason why you will enjoy this book, guaranteed.

Tuesdays with Morrie

By Mitch Albom

Reviewed by Katerin Q., BCCHS student

Tuesdays with Morrie is an incredible book that teaches one great lessons. There is a man named Mitch that used to be a student at the college that Morrie worked at. Mitch mentions how when he was young, he believed he could do anything. He thought his life was going to turn out to be perfect and that money was not going to be his great concern. As he is now an adult, he’s realized that money has become a big part of his life. He is now a man that lives his life concerned about what he has even though it’s not what he wishes to have.

He finds his professor by watching a show on television. At first, it’s weird to him to talk to his old professor due to the fact that they lost contact after college. Mitch feels it’s his fault. Every Tuesday, Mitch visits Morrie and learns something about life. Mitch finds it really amazing how Morrie, being a man who has a deadly disease, mentions how happy he is about his life and how he always enjoys it to the fullest. Morrie is a really special being that teaches one so much. For example, how people learn to live once they accept death.

A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive

Written by Dave Pelzer

Reviewed by Tatyanna D., BCCHS student

A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer is a compelling story about a young boy and his struggle to survive in the household he calls “horror.” A Child Called “It” is a biography that has 153 pages of a heartfelt story and 31 pages of Epilogue, Perspectives on Child Abuse, and Resources for Help with child abuse.

A Child Called “It” is the unforgettable story of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California. It is the story about David Pelzer being brutally beaten by his torturous, alcoholic mother, who plays unpredictable games that almost leave a young David dead. In order to survive, he must learn how to play his mother’s games. She sees him more as a slave than a son and more as an “IT,” than a boy.

David must sleep in the cold basement in an old army cot and must wear his torn, unwashed clothes every day. When he is allowed the luxury of food, it is merely scraps of cold food or the leftover cereal, left by his brothers. He goes long periods of time without food at all. He develops the habit of stealing and begging for food. As his mother grows to learn about his habits, she keeps a close eye on him, meaning larger punishments.

I chose to read this book because of the cover. I thought that a book with a cover so interesting was worth reading. The cover shows Dave with a hand grabbing his chin. At first I didn’t know what it was, but as I looked carefully I could see it was a hand, the hand of the god that kept David alive. My expectations of the book were low because I don’t expect much from books. I simply want to be either entertained, made laugh or made cry, just like this book did.

“After months of being confined for hours at a time in the garage, my courage took over and I stole bits of frozen food from the garage freezer. I was fully aware that I could pay for my crime at any time, so I ate every morsel as if it were my last meal.” This is an example of a weakness from the book. This weakness shows how Dave Pelzer doesn’t use any expression. He doesn’t describe how he felt. It’s a strong sentence but it just seems blank.

On a scale from one to five, with one being “DUD” and five being “BEST,” I rate this book a five. I rated A Child Called “It” a five because it is the best book I have ever read. Unlike any other book I have read, this one actually made me feel something. It is an extraordinary and inspirational story that takes you through the life of a young boy desperate to find a way out of the torturous life he has been living for almost ten years. It will make you want to laugh, smile and cry. This book touched my heart and I know has touched the hearts of fellow readers. I give this book a two-thumbs up and I am prepared to recommend it to anyone that needs a good book to read.

A Child Called It

By: Dave Pelzer

Reviewed by Francis

            This book is nonfiction as it is about the author’s childhood. He was beaten by his alcoholic mom, and she sadistically liked to play games with him that left him nearly dead. His mom no longer considers him a son. My favorite quote from this book was, “The challenges of my past have made me immensely strong inside.” I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read nonfiction books. This is a good book but also sad. It may make you cry, but I read it anyway. I really liked this book.  

A Million Little Pieces

By James Frey

Reviewed by Martina

Summary:

James Frey, a drug addict, hits rock bottom in his life. His only choice to even begin to get his life back is to spend time in a rehabilitation clinic. It is in this recovery period that he reaches down into his soul to find out if he is strong enough to beat his addictions. During this time he befriends and clashes with fellow drug addicts and staff workers. He also falls for a young woman that helps James find the will to live again.

Favorite quote:

“Hold on”. Those two words are so vital to his fight to save his life. James’ life has become a tight rope. From one minute to the next he is not sure if he can hold on or lose everything. To keep killing from self loathing James hold on, breathe, and simply take one day at a time.

Recommendation:

This book is very poetic. It is a memoir that is written in prose. It is the most raw and gut-wrenching book I have ever read. In short, simple, and uncomplicated sentences James reels you into a dark and complicated world. You feel his pain, his struggle, his sadness, and his frustration. A roller coaster as he takes you on a journey into his journey of recovery and self discovery.

Image courtesy of Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

By Lance Armstrong

Reviewed by Emily

For many people, cycling may be one of the most boring, monotonous sports to participate in. I sure thought so before I started riding. In reality, cycling is a strenuous experience that requires a lot of self-motivation. It’s a brutal beat-down on the entire body, and takes an athletic composure in the mental, emotional, and (especially) physical components. As seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong puts it, “It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life, not only the longest race in the world but also the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic.” His autobiographical book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, takes his readers down a winding road of defeat, hardship, success, and triumph.

Image courtesy of Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat

By Oliver Sacks

(Coming soon.)






Image courtesy of  Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net