Remembering the Good Times

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 John H.

Well Remembering the Good Times was an interesting and new book because it has been a while since Ive read a book about teen issues. As you can already tell this story is about teen issues and covers the life of three teenagers. First, Kate Lucas, is an average girl who lives with her mother and grandmother Polly. Her mother is to young, naïve, and immature to take care of her so Polly is her main caretaker. Second is Travis Kirby, a young man who likes and does well in school but sees a strong resemblance of him through his parents. The third, Buck, which is the narrator is an average boy that lives with his father in a trailer. The three teens learn about the struggles of life and other social problems. As interesting as this might sound the lack of plot structure and boring dialogue leaves me sleeping as I read. Very few parts if any at all made me interested in picking up this book and to keep reading. Once you get started it is hard to push yourself to keep reading. The problem with this story is it really has no point and only discusses the main problems of a teenager and can be covered in a much shorter space. Though opinions of this book may vary, or actually vary greatly I am not a huge fan of this kind of genre. Overall I do not recommend this book to teenagers.

Reader reviewed by Samuel S.

I think remembering the good times has some good parts to it and some not to good. One of the reasons why I enjoyed it is because it always keeps you up on your feet. I like the book because it is easy to start reading and never stop. The author did a great job detailing places so you can easily picture then in your mind. The characters Kate, buck, Trav, and Polly personalitys were easy to learn.
There are also some parts of the book that I did not care for. I thought that having Trav commit suicide wasnt good. I also thought that the author did not include bucks dad, Kates mom, and Mr.Kirby and Mrs.Kirby in the book enough.
This book would not have been the same if Kate, buck, Trav, and Polly were not in the story if Trav and Kate would have dated I wonder what buck would think. When Trav killed himself I thought that that it is sad that Trav thought it wasnt worth living.
I would recommend this book to all people who like suspension. This book tells a good story that is easy to follow. Over all I thought book was fairly good. This good has good details and characters and it is well thought out.
At Chapter 15, when they had an assembly at the school for trav. The principle said something that was good. He Said how many young people are committing suicide, that there should be something done about it.

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.

Reader reviewed by K.T.

This is a great book! The friendship that develops between Trav,Buck,and Kate is really exceptional.I like how each of them comes from a different walk of life but they still become good friends.The way Richard Peck tells the story made the characters seem real,the last two chapters almost made me shed tears.I think that Remembering the Good Times reminds the reader to take a closer look at your surroundings and the people you know,and to appreciate the good times for as long as they last.