Cheeseburger Subversive

By Richard Scarsbrook

We have all been there: those sublime and ordinary moments in growing up that create the evolution of change, or as Cheeseburger Subversive's Dak Sifter would call it, a "shifting of gears". Scarsbrook's novel captures the weird logic of self discovery that marks the explorations of boy becoming man, and in its noise and thrashing, explodes the maturity myth. Short listed for the 2004 Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Canadian Book Award

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1894345541
• ISBN13: 9781894345545
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Thistledown Press
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.6" x 5.5"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

This book is really funny!!!!!!!

This book is the diary of Dak Sifter; he recorded the major events that happened in his school life from grade seven to the first year of university. The format of this book is a series of short stories from one grade to the next. The first few years were more about his friends and his family. When Dak was in grade seven, he tried to drive the mower, but he drove into the driveway. He jumped off the machine and it rolled over, sputtered and died. Once, his father bought Dak a bike but he met some bad guys in the park. They fought and he got hurt. In the later chapters, Dak talked about his girlfriend Zoe Perry most of the time. Dak started to like this girl when he was grade seven. In grade 10, Dak found a part time job in a television store. He had decided to buy a car and he wanted to date Zoe, but when he found that the shop was tricking the customers, he quit the job. Dak wrote a poem for Zoe and read it aloud in class. He applied for a job as a tour guide at the same place that Zoe was working. He did many such silly things for Zoe throughout his school life. In grade twelve, Dak succeeded in getting Zoe to go to the prom with him. But the date was a disaster and Zoe dumped him. They went onto different universities. This book is good to read if you want some fun. It records a boy's journey from being a child to becoming a man. The book is written in the first person. It is funny and maybe similar events might have happened to you as well. The strength of this book is in the humorous writing style, especially when the character tells us something that he doesn't like and makes him feel ill. For example, when Dak was in grade seven, his cousins came to visit on Christmas day. Dak said in the novel that he disliked his cousins and had a real smile when he saw their car had gone. This part of the book was so funny that you want to read everything in the novel. However, some of descriptions were too detailed and the author mostly talked about feeling. It made me feel really bored when I saw there were a few pages to describe what was going on at one time and how he was feeling. Also, when there were fights or other exciting events, the book doesn't make reader feel nervous and excited too. Overall, the novel was good and I would recommend this book to the others. I found this book from the school library. The author is Richard Scarsbrook who lives in Toronto and he has won many of awards. He is good at writing short stories and "Cheeseburger Subversive" is his first book. You can find this book in any bookstore or library. The price of this book is about $15.

Very Funny and Very Real

Most of Cheeseburger Subversive is a hilarious - I laughed through nearly every chapter. Many of the funniest moments elicit laughs of recognition, such as Dak Sifter's first "real job" in "Pushin' Pickle", his dealings with bullies in "Hell on WHeels" and "Dogs That Lick and Dogs That Bite", and his hilarious and relentless purstuit of Zoe Perry throughout the book. Occasionally, though, Scarbsrook hits you with a dose of reality that makes you stop and think hard about the dificulties modern teens face (ie. the chapter "Benjamin's Aliens").Dak Sifter is one of the best-drawn characters I've run across in some time. I really hope Scarsbrook writes a sequel soon - the ending begs for a follow-up. Both adults and teens will find this book to be a fantastic read.

Hilarious and Observant

Cheeseburger Subversive is one of the funniest books I've ever read. It is also touching and observant in its observations of the various trials that we all go through in becoming adult - facing up to bullies, growing beyong our parents, falling in love, discovering ourselves. Scarsbrook's Dak Sifter is one of the most realistic, well-drawn characters I've encountered.Both teens and adults will find Cheeseburger Subversive entertaining and funny. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Observant and VERY funny!

Cheeseburger Subversive is one of the funniest books I've ever read. It is also touching and observant in its observations of the various trials that we all go through in becoming adult - facing up to bullies, growing beyong our parents, falling in love, discovering ourselves. Scarsbrook's Dak Sifter is one of the most realistic, well-drawn characters I've encountered.Both teens and adults will find Cheeseburger Subversive entertaining and funny. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Cheeseburger Subversive is HILARIOUS!

Cheeseburger Subversive is a hilarious book - I laughed through every chapter. There are a few serious moments as well, which are gripping and thought provoking.Dak Sifter is one of the best-drawn characters I've run across in some time. I really hope Scarsbrook writes a sequel soon - the ending begs for a follow-up. Great stuff!