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Title: On My Honor
ISBN: 0440466334
Author:
Marion Dane Bauer
Publicate Date: 1987-10-01
Publish: 1987-10-01
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $1.38
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $6.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Too dark for elementary readers, my 10-year old daughter hated it
My daughter complained about "hating" this book, so I bought it and read it in an hour or so. It is very dark, and I don't recommend it, especially for sensitive children. Two boys go out for a bike ride. One is coerced by his friend to engage in very dangerous acts, including swimming in a river with a strong current. The latter friend drowns and the former spends the rest of the book feeling bad about it, even wishing on three separate occassions to be dead. And not in a vague sense, but in very specific ways like being sucking under the tires of a semi. Really! He doesn't admit to anyone that he knows what happens until the end, so he spends the whole book feeling awful. There is not even a tiny glimpse of happiness in this book from page 1. A Newberry Winner? Maybe I ought to get crackin' on a depressing book about teens making bad choices -- maybe I'll win an award.
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2: A short but powerful book
This is a very short book, around 85 pages, but that doesn't mean it is a light or easy read.
Two boys aged about twelve are friends trying to figure out how to spend a summer day together. Neither one of them is able to be honest with the other, or their parents, about what they want to do. This leads to resentment, dares, bravado and ultimately tragedy. It is in how the tragedy is handled rather than the tragedy itself, that gives the book its weight and complexity. I would imagine that this is a perfect class discussion novel. There are many meaty themes to explore and could produce hours of lively thought provoking topics. However, my son is 10 years old and while he reads at a high level, I believe this book is too complex for 5th to 8th grade readers to fully appreciate without an involved adult ( parent or teacher ) to discuss it with. I believe this is borne out by the reviews written here by children. Additionally, I thought the ending of this book read more like a short story ending rather than a novel ending and would have liked to see one more chapter. I felt there was more to say about the aftermath of the boy finally telling the truth about what happened to his friend.
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3: On My Honor
I think that On My Honor is a really great story. The author is from our area and her descriptions about the river and setting are very accurate. I felt really bad that Joel had to go through so much before he finally told the truth. This story shows why it is important to be honest when something happens. It might not change the outcome, but it sure makes things easier to deal with in the end. The story is sad, but in the end Joel does the right thing. I think any middle school kid would enjoy this story and connect with Tony and Joel.
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4: A little too depressing to be touching, but the heart is still there
Okay, I think I see why this particular little book won a Newberry Honor. However, despite all its artistic merit, including some incredible writing and poweful storytelling, it's a very dark and depressing tale. This is absolutely necessary to get across the message and the heartbreak; however, it should still be a valid warning. I still cry every time I think about this book. So, no, it's not a feel-good story. But it is powerful.
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5: Required summer reading selection
This book was a choice for my son's required summer reading. He would recommend it. The book wasn't too long and he read it quickly. It was a different genre than he typically reads, but he liked it.
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