 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
You Don't Know Me
- By David Klass
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Teen uses humor and fantasy to cope with abuse.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the protagonist deals with serious abuse at the hands of his mother's live-in boyfriend. Fourteen-year-old John is an easy character to feel sorry for and root for as he deals with everyday problems, and larger ones, like the abuse. Alienated and angry, John briefly considers suicide. Some profanity and sexual references as well.
What's the story?
John, 14, describes his life, filled with the usual teen miseries: he has a crush on a manipulative, selfish girl, he doesn't understand algebra, he has no good friends, and he is alienated both at school and at home. But he also has a more serious problem: his mother's live-in boyfriend, referred to only as "the man who is not my father," beats him regularly, and may be involved in criminal activities. In the course of this book, John has a more disastrous than usual date with the girl of his dreams, his "friend who is not a friend" is arrested for shoplifting, and he is given a tuba solo in the school band. But then his mother has to leave town to deal with a dying relative, and John is left alone with her abusive boyfriend.
Is it any good?
This is a stunning combination of brilliantly sardonic teen observation, lyrical writing, and anger. Like teen protagonists before him, all the way back to Holden Caulfield, John notices above all the falseness and hypocrisy around him, but his descriptions of each moment, ruthlessly parsed, are uniquely creative, at times almost surrealistic.
Some of the scenes are laugh-out-loud funny, so the denouement comes as even more of a shock. John's problems may get a bit melodramatic at the end, but by then the reader is so immersed in his character that it is moving nonetheless. Sharply observed, and with a powerful voice, this is David Klass' best novel yet.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the heavy theme of this book. Is it important for kids -- even those who have never had to deal with an abusive home life -- to read John's story? Why or why not?
How do you think the author handled the descriptions of violence? Were they appropriate for the story? This book is targeted to 12 and up -- does it seem appropriate for this age group?
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AGE
Its Real
I had to read it for summer reading in my high school. I think it is somewhat beneficial because it makes you realize that people aren't always what they seem to be. I think it would be good for kids to read to just have their eyes opened and to know and understand that the things that happen in that book are real and happen to kids everyday.
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AGE
Um, Great.
This is the best book I have ever read(and i've read A LOT). It is stylistically so different from other books and almost impossible to put down!
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AGE
this book is a perfect example of a sittuation many teens are put in . My self im four teen and i personaly loved, it made me realize how easy my life actualy is. It gives a good example of the struggles of a teenagers life i recomend that parents read this book. it is well writen with a good story line.
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AGE
I LOVED IT! I cried and laughed
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I just finished it and can relate to this boy. He must feel so alone in this world. The author made it so we can feel like we were actually there !
5 star book
I have told all my friends to read this book!
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AGE
amazing
I loved how sarcastic he was and how he was just like anyone at his age. And the way he dealt with the abuse was just like anyone his age would too. This author knows just how the average kid thinks.
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AGE
Good story, bland writing
I thought the story was great and I enjoyed the characters. The writing was pretty basic. The narrator is supposed to be 14, and the style of writing didn't seem to fit. Although the summary says his moms bf's abusive, its actually not brought up in the story as much as you would think.
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AGE
Well Written
This book had an interesting way of writing, it was often in second person (to his mom) but used a lot of metaphors. It was hard for me to read about the physical abuse, so that subplots were a nice break.
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AGE
Perfect for teenagers, but not for younger kids because it deals with mature issues.
I loved this book. I thought that the main character John was extremely heroic and funny. I liked the way that John dealt with situations by being sarcastic and witty. Teenagers can really relate to John and some of the things that he goes through. John is an excellent example of a person who is strong willed and refuses to back down even when the odds are against him. Through his actions he demonstrates that kids can get through anything with a little determination.
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AGE
It's a sureal psychological novel.
Personally I loved this book. I read it in 6th grade and it really allowed me to delve into the character's mind. People believe that it should be for 13+ but I read it around age 11. (I stumbled upon it in my collection of books) There isn't really any gorey scenes, but the step father does beat the protagonist. I've read the book at least 13 times. It's a book you can read again and again and not get tired of it. There may be some concern that it's to mature for young readers, but you should allow your kids to read it if you believe the are mature enough. It's an awe inspiring book.
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| Author: | David Klass |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Contemporary Fiction |
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Children's Books |
| Publication date: | May 30, 2005 |
| Number of pages: | 344 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.00 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
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