Theories of Relativity

by Barbara Haworth-Attard

Book Overview

Dylan is living on the streets, not through any choice of his own; he's been cut loose by his unstable mother, and lost most contact with his two younger brothers. Disturbing, gritty, painful,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805077901
• ISBN13: 9780805077902
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 231 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

A Fantastic Read

Theories of Relativity is a great novel. It allows you to travel into the mind of a 16 year old teen named Dylan who was recently kicked out of his house. He struggles day after day begging for money to be able to buy food to live. He finds a few friends and thinks he has a tight relationship with all of them, but unfortunately one of them ends up betraying him. Throughout the novel Dylan has to face a few but tough obstacles that confront him and they leave him both physically and emotionally scarred for life. Also, I agree with Marsha Skrypuch, who previously said that "The story will stay with you." It has definitely touched me and will stay with me in the future. Not only has it influenced my perspective on life, I think it will influence anyone else who reads it. After finishing reading this book I took a moment and thought about how most people have very easy lives and how Dylan had to struggle during his life, both when he lived in his house with his family and also when he lived on the streets. This fantastic book has left a deep imprint on me and it will on anyone else who reads it. I recommend everyone to read this book as it is most definitely a MUST READ!

I have a theory.... this book is great!

The novel starts out with a 16-year old teen named Dylan, a bright but emotionally damaged boy because of the bad breaks that he has gone through. When his mother got pregnant, his father left her to fend for herself and Dylan. In the present, Dylan was kicked out of his house because of his bad attitude and his mother's innate hatred for him. Now on the streets, Dylan must face the unrelenting and harsh reality of the world. Dylan must learn to protect himself and his values or the streets will have taken another victim.... Overall, I think this book was great because the author has made it seem like what happened to Dylan could happen to anyone. This book also portrays the awful truth about homeless teens and how low that some of them may go to survive just a few days on the streets. This book is masterfully executed with little flaws and I would totally recommend this book to anyone who is interested in these issues or if you just want a good book to read.

A book that will stay with you

For about 3 months I had not read a book because I just did not have any motivation to read. I found this book, read the first page and knew that I would read this from finish to start unlike the other books that I bought and got sick of. I could not put down this book and it is very sad but the ending gave me a touching feeling. Some parts were quite disturbing. This book has made me aware of the kids on the street. I hope more people will read this so they too will be aware.

Power novel about a street kid

Before I read Theories of Relativity, my favourite Haworth Attard novel was Home Child, which in my opinion is a classic right up there with Anne of Green Gables.However, now that I've read Theories of Relativity, I am blown away by her talent and I have a new favourite.The main character, Dylan, is an obviously bright and angry teen who has been delt a terrible series of tough breaks. His own mother dropped out of high school in grade ten when she got pregnant with him, and his father left both of them before Dylan was even born. Hostility and mutual blame bounce back between Dylan and his mother. When Dylan is kicked out of his house and lands up on the street, his day to day survival is portrayed in searingly real terms. It is all the more powerful because Dylan seems like the kid next door. I could imagine my own son or other kids I know in Dylan's situation, which is of course the author's intent.Read this book. The story will stay with you.