English 425tttttSubmitter’s name Crystal AlexanderBook BanktttttBook Bank subject: Reluctant ReaderReference information: Title TellAuthor Norah McClintockPublisher Orca Book PublisherstYear 2006# of pages 100tGenre Reluctant ReadersReading level 4thtInterest level High SchoolPotential hot lava: The only thing that I could come up with as to why it would be bad was the fact that David’s step-father gets shot and the book is about David trying to keep it a secret.General response/reaction: When I first started reading the book I wasn’t interested in it. It was hard to dive in and try and read. I don’t know if a teenager would enjoy it, in just the time that it took me to like it.Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas: The theme of the book is a murder mystery. Who did it and why they did it, and the things that surround why it happened.Characters: David, the suspect, was around during the time of the murder.David’s mom: cries all the time and is married to Phil.Phil: David’s step-father, was shot, and died.Plot summary: David is a teenage boy with a troubled past, when his step-father is suddenly murdered, he is the one that the blame is put on. Can he make his mother and the police understand why he was at the crime scene at the time of the murder?Strengths (including reviews and awards): There were no awards that I could find, but the book is really well written and it flows even though I wasn’t interested in the book at first.Drawbacks or other cautions: I don’t think that there are any draw backs to the book, it was really well written and I think that a teenager could get interested and want to read it.Teaching ideas: I would use this as a class, maybe saying that everyone could pick a short chapter book and read it. I think I would do it around Halloween and try and use it as an introduction to Mystery.
"Tell" by Norah McClintock was a very good book,and the plot was present day time. The weather or seasons were never brought up. The story first starts off with David and his mother. He had a step dad named Phil that took great care of him. As far as David knew his real dad is dead. Phil was one of the main characters, who was only home on the weekends. Phil took care of David, his brother,and their mother. Phil drove semi over the road and made pretty good money. David was a fifteen year old boy who was always stuck doing Phil's chores and he hated it. They would always play cards,and sometimes the would bet best two out of three to see who would have to do the chores. David has a younger brother, but a name was not mentioned. This story took place in a small town like Waupaca. There were bars around, a couple stores here and there, and some banks. Everyone got along for the most part, or that's what the police thought anyways. Phil loved to gamble. Phil would go out every weekend and play cards, sometimes bringing in money, or sometimes losing money. Phil was shot dead after he pulled money from an ATM and would not give it up. The police investigated and further found out who shot Phil. I've rated this book four stars. It was a short read, but it was a great book. The story was a mystery. I never wanted to stop reading. This was the first book that I brought home to read in my own time. I would recommend this book to people of all ages. I really enjoyed it , and I think others would too.
What do You think about Tell (2006)?
If you are looking for an easy read, this book is perfect! I read it in less then an hour, and I could'nt put it down. It was such a shock when I found out that the step father chose not to help the little boy when he was drowning. I thought it was sad when the mom thought that the son had killed the step father, and I just wanted scream at her for not believing him. All along i thought it was the step father's friend Jack, but it wasnt. I loved how Jack told David the truth about his real father being alive, but was sad when Jack and David did not keep in touch. I don't know how Jack was friends with David's mother all this time when he knew all the lies she kept from David.
—Tinsley Tullos
This is a story about a family that has been through several tragedy's . When the stepdad takes the younger son fishing and then he falls in and drowns . The stepdad said it was an accident, but he was a good swimmer and could of saved the boy. The stepdad then goes out late one night to an ATM to get money for his poker game, he is shot and killed. The older boy saw the whole thing but he didn't call for help, just like his stepdad didn't help his brother.Phil is the stepdad, he likes to gamble and cheat at cards. He also drives truck so he is gone all week and only home on the weekends. Jamie is the stepson who drowns. David is the one who witnessed his stepdad getting shot but didn't do anything. The mom in the story just wants everyone to get along. When the police question David about the shooting, she thinks he did it. This story takes place in a small city. The story does not give any details about what time of year it is so I am not sure of that. I think it takes place now because of the way the characters talked.I would recommend this book because it kept surprising you. Even the ending you did not expect. This story would be good for middle school and high school kids to read. Most will like it because it is easy to read and short.
—Chuck
I liked the book, Tell, by Norah McClintock because it kept you wondering all the way until the end. In this book the son, David, is accused of killing his stepfather but turns out to be innocent. The only bad thing David did was watch the murderer kill his stepfather and not call for help. David and his stepfather did not have a good relationship and the stepfather was kind of a jerk. This is why David was accused of killing him. David said he did not call for help after his stepfather had been shot because he remembered all the times he had been cheated by him and the time that Phil (stepfather) watched as his brother, Jamie, had drowned. I would recommend this book to people because it is an interesting story line and it kept me entertained.
—Garrett
