Double Dutch

by Sharon M. Draper

Book Overview

A young girl who loves Double Dutch is caught in the crossfire of the secrets she, her best friend, and the school bullies are keeping in this emotional middle grade novel.

Delia loves Double Dutch more than just about anything, and she's really good at it--so good she and her teammates have a shot at winning the World Double Dutch Championships. Delia would die if she couldn't jump--but she's hiding something could keep her off the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689842309
• ISBN13: 9780689842306
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

An excellent book!

The book I have read was Double Dutch by Sharron M.Daper. I chose this book because it looked interesting. The main characters are; Delia, Randy, Yolanda, Toliver Twins, Cherline, and Narrator. Girls will most likely like this book because of the drama, and double dutching (ages:12-15).The main events are, Delia has a secret she can't read, and the finials of the Double Dutch competion.The theme of this book is friends are there for you no mater what. My opinion of this book is that it is super. The weakness about this book is nothing its great! The good thing about the book is you can relate to it. It was interesting when the twins' mother bribed them. Della kept secret that she couldn't read. Her friend Yolanda spread the rumor that the Toliver twins were going to blow up the school because she was scared of them. My conclusion on this book is that it is great and will relate to girls in high school and middle school. I strongly recommend this book for anyone to read. I recommend this book because a lot of girls can relate to this book. Shanyah A.

Double Dutch

Do you like to double dutch and want to read a really good book about friendship and unsolved secrects? Well I recommend you to read Double Dutch. Double Dutch is about the main character Delia who is in the 8th grade like me. Delia has trouble with reading but keeps it a secret. She goes through good and bad experinces with her best friends Yolanda and Randy. But as you know Delia has a crush on Randy and he has a crush on Delia. The 8th graders go through a lot of stress with the double dutch chapionship and the biggest school bullies the Tolliver Twins. But see how something so tragical can bring everyone together! I highly recommend that you read this book It will have you laughing and a little teary eye.

Learning the Ropes

Secrets run rampant amongst the eighth graders depicted in the book DOUBLE DUTCH. The main character of the book, Delia, has been keeping her illiteracy a secret for years. She has an excellent memory, which she uses to hide the fact that she cannot read. She is terrified that her secret will be revealed when her teacher announces an upcoming standardized test. Delia's, "friend" Randy is also carrying a heavy burden. Abandoned by his mother, Randy finds himself on his own after his truck driver father disappears. Not knowing where to turn, Randy begins to pawn goods and pray that his father has not deserted him like his mother did. The Tolliver Twins (Titan and Tabu) terrorize the school and neighborhood. Their behavior is so bad that their mother takes them on national television to get help. However, a tragedy shows everyone a side of the Tollivers that they had never seen before. Yolanda is Delia's best friend. She happens to be a compulsive liar and brings comic relief to the seriousness of the book.Aside from having secrets, the characters in this book are brought together by their love of double dutch. The book does an excellent job telling a brief history of double dutch and portraying the hard work and determination it takes to participate in the sport.Sharon Draper had written an excellent book that shows the dangers that keeping secrets may have. Dealing with issues of illiteracy, abandonment, fear, and preconceived notions, this book has a little something that all preteens can relate to. My only criticism is that I wish the reason Delia could not read had been explored more. This is another great novel from a wonderful author.Reviewed by Latoya Carter-QawiyyThe RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Learning the Ropes

Secrets run rampant amongst the eighth graders depicted in the book DOUBLE DUTCH. The main character of the book, Delia, has been keeping her illiteracy a secret for years. She has an excellent memory, which she uses to hide the fact that she cannot read. She is terrified that her secret will be revealed when her teacher announces an upcoming standardized test. Delia's, "friend" Randy is also carrying a heavy burden. Abandoned by his mother, Randy finds himself on his own after his truck driver father disappears. Not knowing where to turn, Randy begins to pawn goods and pray that his father has not deserted him like his mother did. The Tolliver Twins (Titan and Tabu) terrorize the school and neighborhood. Their behavior is so bad that their mother takes them on national television to get help. However, a tragedy shows everyone a side of the Tollivers that they had never seen before. Yolanda is Delia's best friend. She happens to be a compulsive liar and brings comic relief to the seriousness of the book.Aside from having secrets, the characters in this book are brought together by their love of double dutch. The book does an excellent job telling a brief history of double dutch and portraying the hard work and determination it takes to participate in the sport.Sharon Draper had written an excellent book that shows the dangers that keeping secrets may have. Dealing with issues of illiteracy, abandonment, fear, and preconceived notions, this book has a little something that all preteens can relate to. My only criticism is that I wish the reason Delia could not read had been explored more. This is another great novel from a wonderful author.Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyyof The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Do not be decieved by the title!

I am a 13 year old girl from New York. Lately I have had a lot of trouble gettting into books and I almost stopped reading this one! That would have been so stupid! "Double Dutch" si one of the greatest books that I will have ever checked out of my library! "Double Dutch" is about Delia, an 8th grade girl who, surprisingly has a big secret.. She CAN'T read!!! Her best friend Yolanda formally known as Yo-Yo confronted her about it when she learned the truth. This is a big problem even though you do not need to read in order to compete in double dutch... but it is oneo fthe biggest things everyone needs to know how to do. Yo-Yo adn Delia are superbe Double Dutchers. Their 2 teammates: Misty and Charlene are very good as well. When the "World Championships" are held in Cincinatti the girls are veryeager to compete and win. Their assistant named Randy also works hard with the team. Randy has abig crush on Delia and would do anything for her. Th two are good friends. There are two people that everyone at school are afraid of.. THE TOlliver Twins, Tabu and Titan. THe two black boys walk through the hallways with out any expression on their faces. But when the storm hits are people going to figure out their secrets and will Yo-Yo be ok? This book is soo awesome and I am so glad to reccomend it to other readers around the world.