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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This was a very good book for teens without any offensive/risky content. The writing was lyrical.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Boring, main character sounds like an adult, unrealistic |
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“Just finished an amazing book, Undercover by Beth Kephart. I was amazed, astounded, awed, and envious of how she used/painted the English language: ...at her chalkboard, ghosting the day into the past...; "Their talk smoked up the stairs...; "My hair was knots and toilet-brush bristles." Such imagery and language.”
Sydney wrote this review Saturday, October 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was a good read, but it ended very unsatisfying”
Kristy B wrote this review Sunday, October 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“the ending really made me mad. I wanted to know more.
Aileen W wrote this review Wednesday, July 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
But on the brightside I loved how she made it so poetic and listening to it was just wonderful:D”
“ Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
TeensReadToo.com wrote this review Monday, July 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Having recently read NOTHING BUT GHOSTS, I was anxious to crack open another Beth Kephart novel. UNDERCOVER was her first novel, and I'm surprised I missed it. According to the cover, Kephart was a "National Book Award Nominee" and a well-deserved one, I'd say.
Elisa has always viewed herself as more of her father's daughter. Her sister, Jilly, and her mother share a passion for make-up and fashion. They are always dressed in perfectly matched colors with every hair in place. Elisa, on the other hand, has perpetually wild hair and could care less about clothes and colors. Her passion lies in words and nature.
The only person who understands Elisa is suddenly missing from her life. Her father shares her interest in words and literature, but his extended business trip is keeping him from home. At least that's the excuse Elisa imagines as she tries to keep him up-to-date with letters sent to distant San Francisco. As the days and weeks pass, it's becoming more obvious that his business travel may be a side-effect of trouble in her parents' marriage.
Elisa has previously accepted her backseat in life. At home she watches her mother and sister parade, and at school she uses her talent for poetry to ghost-write inspirational love poems for her male classmates to use as they court girls that don't even know Elisa exists. All this has been satisfying enough until she met Theo.
Theo gladly accepts Elisa's poem offerings because he's head-over-heels in love with Lila. Without Elisa's words, he knows he wouldn't have a chance. He shows his appreciation by developing a friendship with Elisa, but that friendship sparks something in her she never felt before.
With her father absent and conflicting feelings about Theo filling her thoughts, Elisa seeks peace by grabbing a pair of her mother's old ice skates and escapes to the hidden ice of a secluded pond. The freedom she feels as she imagines beautiful music and teaches herself to skate helps her cope with the twisting emotions that have suddenly invaded her life.
Readers will be immediately captivated by Kephart's smooth and lyrical prose. Her words and story flow as cleanly and easily as Elisa's skates on the pond. UNDERCOVER portrays Elisa's struggle to deal with insecurities and push herself to achieve what those around her know she is capable of achieving. Teens will easily relate to her desire to fit in both at home and at school, yet not compromise her own personal spirit and view.
”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“This was a very good book for teens without any offensive/risky content. The writing was lyrical.”
Renee C wrote this review Tuesday, May 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting read. Not the kind of book I'd usually pick up, but it was on the featured shelf at the library. And hey, it has figure skating in it :) It got better as it went on.”
DisneyGirl wrote this review Sunday, March 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Poetic and lyrical. This is one I would love to hear out loud, in a rich voice. Take your time and listen to this one.”
Stephanie J wrote this review Friday, February 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The book Undercover by Beth Kephart is a moving, lyrical story. It centers on Elisa, a teen girl who writes love poems for the boys at her school to give to other girls. Elisa is truly undercover at her school, having no friends or social connections. This all changes when she writes a poem for Theo Moses. Over time, Theo becomes her confidante and true friend. Elisa falls in love with him but Theo is dating Lila, the resident mean girl. In the midst of the love triangle, the reader gets to know Elisa through her poems, her skating, and her family. The most important thing about the book is not if Elisa will finally get Theo, it’s if Elisa will finally break out of her shell, show her true self. In the end, Elisa gloriously breaks free of her constraints and finds the happiness she deserves.
Briggs Teen Librarian wrote this review Friday, January 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book reads like a song or poem. Kephart uses all five senses and then some to describe Elisa’s world. You simply do not read this book, you fall into it. As I read the pages, I could actually hear Elisa’s blades on the ice and the sounds of the forest. The story is very simple, yet Kephart’s use of descriptions makes it complex and definitely a stand-out in the world of teen fiction. I highly recommend this book!
”“Boring, main character sounds like an adult, unrealistic
Amanda V wrote this review Tuesday, December 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”
“This literary gem is packed with lovely descriptions and poetry. One teen at ALA this summer said it reminded her of Alice Hoffman and I totally agree. Not a good choice for a reluctant reader, but for someone who just wants a good story with lots of description. Elisa has almost no friends and couldn't be more different from her older sister and mother. But she has two secrets; she writes poetry and she practices her ice skating in solitude at a nearby pond.
Holly A wrote this review Friday, July 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
BBYA nomination”
