Desire Lines

By Jack Gantos

Book Overview

Sixteen-year-old Walker has discovered something potentially scandalous--two of his female classmates are having an affair. It is a secret he has no problem keeping to himself . . . until it comes to protecting his own reputation.

"It is difficult to close Desire Lines without the overpowering feeling that evil's caretaker can very well be an average young man who lacks the courage to do what he knows is right. This is a morality play as painful and rage-inducing as a personal betrayal. Take it personally. You cannot read this without getting as emotionally involved as if you were a player in the story." --Chris Lynch

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374417032
• ISBN13: 9780374417031
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 12 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 7 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Desire Lines

I really enjoyed this book. It does have a bit of a dystopia ending, yet i think it is really well written. Someone else's comment said they thought it was something out of the 50's, I can sortof understand how they might come to that conclusion, but, another more plausible reason (I think) is that the town where this happens is a small town, not a big city or anything, and in small towns like this, storys like this are much more likly to play out. I agree that the ending is a little exaderated, or played up, but overall I thought that this story was very well portrayed.

Fascinating

Besides being thought provoking this book is exceptionally well written. I agree with everything Booklist said. It's a gut wrenching story about a basically likable kid making the wrong choices. Bravo to Mr. Gantos for finally writing a story about a realistic teen who struggles with his conscience and doesn't do the right thing.

It doesn't deserve an award, but it makes you think...

Let's be honest-- Desire Lines is not a well-written book. But with that same honesty, let's admit that the book is absolutely awe-inspiring in the feeling it leaves you with. Living in the midwest, I walked through my house after finishing it, numb; I brought it to school as passed it around among my firends who have the same concerms I do. I recomended it to every English teacher I could talk to. I want to make it a requirement for joining the GSA I head... This book is important because it makes you think about the way things can get out of control; it makes you think of a phrase I assume originated from an Amnesty tee shirt: 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for enough good people to do nothing...;' it makes me paraphrase Kim Gordon and say you take a look at all the hate, it makes you feel very up-to-date...

A completely different Jack Gantos, and just as good.

When I started reading this book, I thought it would be somewhat like Jack's New Power, or Heads or Tails, books I really enjoy. But as I read on, I realized that this wasn't going to be a drive through a country of humor. It's a serious, thoughtful book about what some people are like and what they go through. It's very different, but like his other books, I enjoyed it greatly