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Liked It “Boys really are a different species. Glad I'm not one.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Boys really are a different species. Glad I'm not one.”
Tammy A wrote this review 7 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love how the author weaves in the story of Crime and Punishment by Russian author Dostoevsky. A group of boys suspect that their English teacher has murdered one of their friends. While some scenes are too graphic for a younger audience, this is a high interest book that would be good for reluctant readers in high school.”
Miss M wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Micheal, Tommy, Mixer, and Bones aren't just from the wrong side of the tracks--they're from the wrong side of everything. Except for Mr. Haberman, their remedial English teacher, no one at their high school takes them seriously. Haberman calls them "gentlemen," but everyone else ignores them--or, in Bones's case, is dead afraid of them. When one of their close-knit group goes missing, the clues all seem to point in one direction: to Mr. Haberman. Gritty, fast-paced, and brutally real, this debut takes an unflinching look at what binds friends together--and what can tear them apart.
Nisareen - So Much To Read So Little Time wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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“The thing that is most interesting about this book, is the point of view. It gave me an insight of someone I would probably never hang out with.
Kazia. Love to see you cry. wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When you think about a gentleman, you'd think some guy that is nice and polite. What you get from this book is a group of friends (Mike, Bones and Mixer) that end up in a lot of trouble for beating up a teacher (or at least Bones), when they thought that their other friend was murdered (Tommy).
As the book says, friendships usually have an end to it. ”
“YA book.
Mona R wrote this review Monday, February 15 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
A mystery story about three students who begin to question the actions of their English teacher after their 'fourth' disappears. The students aren't sure whether their teacher is mocking them or showing them respect when he calls them 'gentlemen'. What they do know is that their teacher has presented a bizarre lesson that may or may not have something to do with their missing friend, and continues to focus some strange attention on the three. One thing leads to another in this chilling thriller, and soon the boys may be in over their heads. A fast and entertaining read - especially good for boys. ”
“Michael, Mixer, Bones and Tommy are a close group of friends who don't do well in school and don't have many other friends. One teacher, Mr. Haberman, calls them "Gentlemen", but they don't believe he means it in a nice way. They believe he is mocking them. Then one day, Tommy, goes missing and Mr. Haberman has Michael, Mixer and Bones help him take a large, heavy trashcan out to his car. Michael believes it is the body of Tommy. The problem is, Tommy has disappeared on his own before. So is he dead, or just gone again.
Connie P wrote this review Tuesday, February 2 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
When the police start asking questions, no one confides their fears that Mr. Haberman has something to do with Tommy's disappearance...instead they decided to take matters into their own hands.
There is some references to drug use and one sex scene in the story. Neither add to the story...simply gratititous. Another scene of brutal violence. Still, this was an interesting concept for a story. Also, the complicated explanations and descriptions make this a hard choice for reluctant readers.”
“A group of teenage guys get into some trouble at school and at home, but when one of them goes missing, they begin to think that their English teacher had something to do with it. Mike, Mixer and Bones will do anything to find their friend Tommy.”
readsall wrote this review Monday, January 4 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I have to say I really liked this book, even though the premise was a little convoluted and contrived. But, its realism with regards to the voice of the teenager was true and will speak to young adult readers.
Jackie W wrote this review Saturday, January 2 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Micheal (the narrator), Bones, Mixer, and Tommy are a group unto themselves in high school. Mr. Haberman, their English teacher, challenges them with Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky even though it is a remedial class. He brings a barrel filled with a questionable substance (is it a body?) into class as a means to illicit a reaction from the group. He wants them to realize that there is a perceived notion about words, thoughts, and suppositions when the tangent evidence is not really in front of you. When Tommy goes missing, they seemingly piece two and two together and convince themselves that Haberman had something to do with Tommy's disappearance. What results is violence, horror, and then shock when the truth finally reveals itself.
Even though a great injustice was brought upon an innocent individual, that individual rises up to the top and encourages one perpetrator to acknowledge his talent and be true to himself. Whether he will hear those words, is another question altogether. Gentlemen would be a great book for young adult discussion groups as peer pressure, violence, sexuality issues, and literature all meld into one thought-provoking story”
“What happened to Tommy? Micheal, Mixer and Bones think Mr. Haberman, (their English teacher) is responsible.
Mrs. 'S' wrote this review Wednesday, December 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The book starts out slow, but picks up speed later on. All the characterizations in the beginning really slowed down the advancement in the plot, but is also part of the books draw. The characters and situations are very true-to-life and the issues brought up are deeper than you think at first. I would recommend it to high school audiences, especially boys.”
