Remembering the Good Times

Reader reviewed by Makaygan P.

This story, Remembering the good times, was boring and interesting at times. Sometimes the book did not make any sense to me. To me they should have used characters that were like us and used a whole different time period so we could relate to it more. I did like it at times because it taught you what other kids go through that have lost their friends. The message of the story to me was that no matter how much you think you know someone you dont actually know what they will do. This story showed all the signs people should have seen but didnt. When people blame their selves for other peoples actions is what I didnt like. Their were a lot of things people could have done to prevent this. Examples would be his friends could have been their more for him, his parents should not have put so much tress on him, and the school should have had more educated classes for those who wanted them. Buck mendenhall and Kates characters could have been in more detail and went through their personal life too. Travs character was displayed very nicely. I thought it gave a vivid picture and brief details on what hes like and his life. The fact that Trav actually died I did not like either. In my opinion, the writer of the story should have portrayed it where he tried to kill himself but didnt succeed in. Also I didnt like that everyone thought it was other peoples fault. It was no ones fault. No one could have stopped this. But I also thought it was interesting because it shows the emotions and the hardships kids have to pass when one of their close friends died. On a five-star scale I would have given this book a 3 because it gave great details but could have had more interesting parts.

Reader reviewed by Spencer H.

When I was reading the book Remembering the Good Times I thought it was a very boring book. The reason I thought it was a boring book was because it had no meaning to it and it wasnt my favorite type of book. We already get a lot of lectures in school about people getting bullied and stuff like that. My favorite kinds of books are sports and adventure. Remembering the Good Times was an adventure book and sort of mystery. The reason it kind of mystery is because when Trav killed himself I think Kate and Buck should have found out why he did it. One of my favorite parts is when Sketer and Buck get into a fight over his dads hardhat. My least favorite part was when Trav killed himself because a lot of my relatives have died. I was surprised when the grocery store got robbed and Scotty got shot. Because it was in the middle of the night they couldnt find the robber. I was also surprised when Scotty died in the hospital like a week after he got shot at the grocery store. All in all this was a very boring book. I think that we should have read a book that had more meaning to it and was more exciting. I thought that there was a lot of boring parts in Remembering the Good Times. One of the parts when it was boring was when they were finding Halloween costumes in Polly closet. That was pretty boring. Another boring part was when Buck had to go to Cleveland and live with his mom over the summer

Reader reviewed by Daisy M.

In Remembering the Good Times novel, I thought the book was good, but not the best it could be. I really like the part when, Kate and Buck became friends, and how she asked him if he wanted to see a foal being born, and how they watched it while it was coming out, and how Buck thought Kate was beautiful in her sneakers, shorts, and her tank top. I also liked the part when Kate read aloud her poem, which Trav had written her for which she used in the play that was called: The Glass Menagerie. After the tryouts were done and Kate was walking down the hall with Buck, and Buck asked Kate if she had written the poem, and she said no, Trav wrote it for me for the auditions. And out popped that Mr. Jealousy onto Bucks back. Buck felt his ears redden. On the other hand, I didnt like the part when Irene and Scotty were not even hurting a fly, and out of nowhere, Bucks dad woke up from a dead sleep, and ran as fast as he could to the gas station. When he arrived at the gas station, he found Scottie with his foot wedged between the door and the wall. When buck had arrived shortly after his dad, Bucks dad told him to wait outside and to wave down the ambulance when they arrive. The next day when they visited Scottie he was hooked up to IVs galore. It turned out that he had been robbed, and shot at, when he was working at the gas station. A few hours later Scottie was pronounced dead, from the painful shooting. Another part I didnt care for was when Trav killed himself. And how they chose Polly to tell Buck and Kate. Even though I dont really know why Trav hung himself, thats why I thinks the book is good but could be better.

Reader reviewed by Trevor M

This is Remembering the Good Times by Richard Peck, the review. This book was, in my eyes a bad book. Description was great, but weak plot and an ending that left you wondering in the bad way.
This book is about a teenager, Buck Mendenhall that has to get through middle and high school. Along the way he meets two friends, Kate and Trav. Together they go through tough times. They encounter bullies, homework, and other life situations. Buck is a fair looking kid, about average build and height and brains. Kate is a blonde, good looking, and about average logic. Trav is skinny throughout most of the book. He has huge horn rimmed glasses, and is very smart.
The book was pretty boring leading up to exciting moments the high points were low compared to a faster moving, better written book. If you like the boring slower books then I highly recommend this, but for the normal person, dont get it.
This book was extremely boring and unsatisfieing and here is why.
"Slow action
"Poor plot
"One fight scene or action scene
"Nothing exciting
Hey, nothing against Peck hes going down in the novelist hall of fame, but this book is nothing compared to the hype I received on this great novel. Spoiler! The character dying did tell the story of what kids face and does do a good job of that. The book is not a total waste of time. I give it a 3.2 out of 10.

Reader reviewed by Pete B.

I thought that this book was a great book but it was quite sad at the end and I was sad and sorry that Travis Kirby committed suicide in Pollys old orchard. I greatly enjoyed all of the events that happened in the four years of Trav, Kate, Polly, and Buck. I liked how there was conflicts (like Skeeter) but that were easily solved, like calling Miss Slaters husband and having him beat Skeeters face into the ground and seem fine with it. I thought it was funny and well thought out that he would beat up Skeeter and at Kates idea as well. I thought that it was odd though, as the Trav, Kate, Polly, and Buck all became great friends with each other , even though they were all so very, very, different. I was confused when Polly said she was selling the orchard off for Kate so she could get an education even though she was still 16. I was amazed at how different Trav was when he came back as he was so much bigger and stronger and calmer about school. He seemed to be fine about school being the next day. It was weird because I never suspected that when Trav gave away those gifts, he was giving the away as if he was saying good-bye. It was very sad that Trav died in Pollys old orchard and never really said good-bye to anyone. I was happy to know that at the end of the book, Buck, Kate, and Polly were doing fine and were all happy, still alive and well.

Reader reviewed by Corey Klatt

I liked this book beacuse it teaches us a lot about bullying and about school and how people feel about themselves. In the book there are a lot of life lessons that should be learned from this book. I feel that this author does a good job painting a picture in your mind of what the characters look like how the characters think what happens next in the story. This book is also good because it talks about how one person's death effects everyone. When Travis died I felt really sad he was a important character and it felt like I knew him.

This book is mainly about three really good friends who really care about each other and would do anything for them the girl Kate lives with her mom and grandma but mainly her grandma who says she is the oldest and meanest person in town. This book is a exellecent book to read i liked it because it was short there is no more than 200 pages this book is great and i think I wolud want to read more books by Richard Peck.I really think that this is one of the best books i have ever read this book was great i also think that this book is very good because of the it's lessons i love this book. this is one of the better books i have ever read and i am glad i read it because it cleared up alot of things about what happens in our schools.

Reader reviewed by Teacher

This novel follows the life of three very separate and individual teens. The character development and reality of the characters' flaws is exceptional. Readers will easily be able to relate to the three. However, the major conflict comes so close to the end of the story that the conclusion feels abrupt and doesn't tie up loose ends for the readers. For some reviewers, this might be a benefit because it mirrors the abruptness and definite end of suicide--the major conflict in this novel. From the teaching perspective, this book feels almost too dated for the middle level. However, overlooking that, the story provides a valuable lesson in teen suicide and can open many doors to class discussion.

If you are looking for a book that has a strong conclusion, then keep looking because this book is not for you.

However, if you are looking for a book that deals realistically with the stark reality of teen suicide then this is your book.