Crooked

by Laura McNeal and Tom McNeal

Book Overview

A New York Public Library Book for the Teen AgeA California Book Award Winner for Juvenile LiteratureAn ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Book for Young AdultsA Booklist Top Ten Youth Romance Clara Wilson and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679893008
• ISBN13: 9780679893004
• Release Date: November 1999
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 346 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 16 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 11

Customer Reviews

Mallory McDonald

Good books, in my opinion are usually exciting, suspenseful, humorous, etc. This book has all of those traits, and more. It is about a girl named Clara Wilson, who is 14 years old and lives with her mom and dad. Her parents are always arguing, and Clara fears that they are on the verge of divorce. To make matters worse, her best friend Gerri is starting to hang out with Sands Mandeville, and the rest of the popular girls at their school. Meanwhile, Clara has discovered her crush on Amos Mackenzie, another student attending Melville Junior High, and doesn't know what to do about it. Unfortunately, these were not the worst that things would get, because that's when Eddie and Charles Tripp came into the picture. Their idea of fun is by frightening people, and their newest plans involve Amos and Clara. There are so many good things to say about this book, that I don't even know where to begin. First of all, I liked the authors' style of writing because it was unique, and really made the book more interesting. My favorite part of the book was near the end, because that's where everything began to fall into place, and it made me want to keep reading until I finished it. After reading this book I learned that trust is a big part of friendship, and that what's appealing for you might not always be fun for someone else. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I hope that you will read it too because I can almost guarantee that you will feel the same way as I do.

Crookedly Amusing with Straight Up Suspense

I thought this book was remarkably well written. It's told through two different people, Amos and Clara. I think the McNeals are extremely good at this style of writing because each character is both unique and realistic. The plot, too, was realistic. It was funny, and, at times, suspenseful. I found myself holding my breath near the end. I highly recommend this book. Laura and Tom McNeal are skillful in their art of story telling.

A suspensful, funny, mature, novel of love, loss & heroism,

CROOKED is the story that revolves around two plot lines and four main chracters: Clara, Amos, and Eddie & Charles Tripp, and one terrifyingly real climax. CLARA: a troubled young adult trying to find herself, worried about her crooked nose, and she has a crush on Amos. AMOS: the same age as Clara and in-love with her, he has a dying Father, a worrying mother, a tough sister, and has been hailed as a hero in school for standing up to Tripps. THE TRIPPS: two twin brothers with issues, they like to scare people and have set their eyes on Clara and Amos. There you go. CROOKED is a spellbinding look on the underground world of school and the pains of loss, love, and redemption. WARNING: contains coarse language, mature situations, and violence. Young readerts beware!

Great book

I am 12 year old reader and i think any1 from my age up wouldlove this book. The caracters were easy to identify with and i foundit hard to put down. It was easy to understand the way it was written. The story was very exciting and i couldnt tell what was going to happen next. This was one of the best books i ever read and i recomend it to any1.

Memorable Adolescent Fare

As a teacher at the middle school level, I can well understand the insecurities and emotional changes inherent in adolescents. While I was reading Crooked, I was struck by the absolute reality of the intense feelings that Clara and Amos had about absolutely everything. This, added to the parallel happenings both in their home lives (his father's death and her mother's disappearance) and in their outside worlds, (his being stalked and her misplaced attraction to the stalker) kept me turning the pages. I have wholeheartedly recommended Crooked to the school librarian and to students of both my drama and English classes. I have also recommended Crooked to friends who would like to better interpret and appreciate the ups and downs of the young adult. We anxiously await the next McNeal book!