Secret Saturdays
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780142417478 |
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| Publisher: | Penguin Young Readers Group |
| Publication date: | 04/12/2012 |
| Pages: | 208 |
| Sales rank: | 244,084 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.70(d) |
| Lexile: | HL580L (what's this?) |
| Age Range: | 10 - 12 Years |
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Secret Saturdays
4.5 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
6 reviews.
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Justin and Sean have been friends forever. Sean has always had Justin¿s back. Instead of fighting with fists, Sean has always fought with words. Lately something has been bothering Sean. Lately his dissing has become mean and hateful. He has begun using his fists. Justin, Vanessa and Kyle are concerned. Then Justin and Kyle notice Sean and his mother sneaking out at night and no one knows where they are going or why. Could this be the reason Sean has changed? Torrey Maldonado has crafted characters that are right on target. By this I mean they are very believable. As a teacher I see similar behavior all the time. I¿ve never taught in the type of school Maldonado has created for his characters. I know they exist in larger areas around me. I believe this is a book that should be in every school. We have a bully program and I will be recommending it to those in charge of the program. I am going to promote this book to all of my fellow teachers and my students. This is one that must be read. It has a message that is so important to our youth today.
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A realistic view of what life is like in the projects for a teenaged boy, Secret Saturdays explores the father son relationship from a grittier perspective. The story revolves around Justin, his group of friends, their families, and their classmates. Each of the main and supporting characters bring with them their individual familial crosses to bear. Some have moms, some dads, and some are fortunate to have both. Regardless, all live in the projects of Red Hook ¿ what seems to me to be a location not for the weak of heart.Knowing that the author has roots in this community made the story he was telling all that more poignant and significant. While it is not an autobiography I couldn¿t help but wonder how much of what was being shown and shared were small snippets of his life. Snippets that we can all learn from and take with us to make not only our lives better but the lives of those around us.More of a boy book, I do think that girls can learn from the story of Justin and Sean¿s friendship, the significance and influence of family, and how the actions of others directly impact the lives of everyone they know and love. It actually reminds me a bit of the movie Stand By Me, where all the friends have their individual cross to bear but they stick together through it all to come out on the other side of events with a stronger bond.Written from the heart with tremendous authenticity, Secret Saturdays is a book middle grade classrooms should consider using to speak to the issues of bullying, gangs and the endurance it takes for a child to make a better life for him or herself.
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Friendship can be tricky. BFF has certain conditions that it sometimes takes a lifetime to understand. Being there for a friend seems simple - until it's not. Justin and Sean have a lot in common. Both are half Black and half Puerto Rican. Both are being raised by single mothers intent on raising good, upstanding sons. Both are good students and behave in school. However, all that is beginning to change. Justin knows that Sean is an expert at dissing. Sean's mother has always said disputes should be handled with words, not fists. Recently, Sean's words have become vicious and are handing out hurts that sting as much as punches. Sean's taunts are aimed at kids without fathers or at those with deadbeat dads. This gives him plenty of targets, but Justin wonders about the fact that Sean's own dad is absent from his life. When Justin and another buddy, Kyle, witness Sean and his mother leaving the housing project in the wee hours of the morning, they feel a bit betrayed, since Sean was supposed to have been with them for the evening. When the two friends confront Sean, he boldly lies. That lie is just the beginning. What follows is even more shocking for those who care about Sean. His behavior is changing dramatically. His taunts have turned to fist-fights resulting in detentions and even a suspension from school. His grades tank as the mysterious trips with his mother continue. Justin doesn't understand how best friends who previously trusted each other with everything can have secrets like the ones Sean is keeping. Debut author Torrey Maldonado takes on teens and teen relationships in the inner city. He has firsthand knowledge of just how tough it is to grow up surrounded by negative influences and how hard it is to resist temptation when there is no male role model to look up to. Justin and Sean and their other friends realistically depict the difficult times friends can face when it comes to family and secrets meant to save face or protect. Maldonado presents his story so readers can feel both sides of the situation as they listen to Justin's narration and as they try to puzzle out Sean's secret life.
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This+book+is+awesome+and+highly+rexommend+it.+The+author+came+to+my+skool+and+he+gave+us+the+book.+I+couldnt+put+it+down.
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