Remembering the Good Times

Reader reviewed by Tyler J

In our language class, we read the book Remembering the Good Times by Richard Peck. At first before we started reading the book, I thought that maybe it was going to be about adult friends discussing their childhoods. After we started reading the book, I was strongly mistaken. It had nothing to do with what I had originally thought. The book was pretty good, but it did not spark my interest. Remembering the Good Times did not have any major or minor events that happened to catch my attention. Also, the book was almost always too serious, and never had any exciting events take place in it. Another reason why I think that this book didnt get my attention is because of the conclusion. The major conflict, the main character committing suicide, comes too late in the story. It makes the book come to a sudden end. This book would not be good for you if you are looking for one with exciting events or a good, strong conclusion. However, this book does deal with the practical event of teen suicide. It does also capture the unique qualities of all of the characters, qualities that almost all teens could relate to. This book also shows that no matter how different their personalities and backgrounds may have been, they all got along extremely well with each other. This book reminds the reader that nothing lasts forever, and that they should appreciate all of the things that they have in their life.

Reader reviewed by Brandon R

The book Remembering the Good Times was a boring book at times. But some times it became an exciting book. The book is written well in some parts but in other parts its not. The book is a story about a teenage suicide. Most of the characters were good but Polly was far the best character out of all of them. What made her the beast was that they told how she acted throughout the story. They said that she acted like a mean grouchy lady. Travis was a quite boy who had a lot of collectibles in his room.
The beginning of the book was pretty good setting and every thing was alright in the beginning. The middle of the book was alright but not descriptive enough and really didnt tell much like it didnt give you an idea that was going to happen later. The ending of the book was a really exciting book. But it was kind of like the middle part of the book. It was pretty descriptive but it did not do very good foreshadow.
The most exciting part of the book was when Travis commits suicide. He committed suicide in Pollys orchard. He did it in Kates secret hid out place thats where they found him. When he does that everybody feels really sorry and sad. They thought of him for everything that they did. They even though of him when they were eating lunch. Kate and Travis were very sorry that he did that. He went to nobody to everything. Thats what I think of the story.

Reader reviewed by Cody S

Remembering the Good Times

There are some reasons why I liked and disliked Remembering the Good Times. I thought it was a great novel and it incorporated a lot of problems teens deal with today. But some problems in the story that were made just werent necessary.
This book starts out explaining Bucks early life and how he met Kate in the orchard. They meet Trav and become quick friends together, facing a bully and of course, the pressures of school. This becomes a great book to read, as I like reading about friendships. The one problem with the story is that Trav is the chosen one to be made the person who is put under pressure and eventually takes his own life. This part bothered me and made me angry with the story because it wasnt what I wanted to happen. Sometimes stories do that to you to make a conclusion. This was what the author wanted to happen though. It was very tragic of what happened to Trav and as they put it in the story, This is a growing problem. It was then and that is why this novel was written. Thankfully, there arent many of these problems nowadays. The story makes you feel how stress can affect you.
Remembering the Good Times is the tale of the classic small town kids who kind of come together and become best friends. The story makes you feel grateful for your friends, family, and people close to you. It moved me a little and made me think of how great your life can seem, like Travs, and then have it taken away right from under you because of a problem that could be resolved. The story was a great one and I hope I can get a chance to read it again.

Reader reviewed by Jessica E

As I read the book I thought it was a very good book for kids our age. I think that because it involves events that could, or does happen in our lives. One of the things I really liked about the book was he didnt just commit suicide for know reason, or like he didnt think anyone would care. He did it because he was much stressed with school, and being the very best he could possible be. And thats how I think a lot of the teenage suicides happen for that reason. Another reason was, because its about how best friends can make mistakes sometimes, and still be best friends forever. One more reason I really liked this book was because, it had a point about bulling, and how Skeeter did a lot of bulling, and being mean to others too. At our school we have really big poleis over bulling. So thats why I liked that part of the book so much. I recommend this book to kids my age, ages thirteen to eighteen, and the reason for that is, because kids around those ages attend to do commit suicide and they other things they do in the book. So those are just a few ways how Remembering the Good Times is good. In conclusion, overall the book has its ups and downs but its a great book to read.

Reader reviewed by Amanda H.

In the book Remembering the Good Times, I would say that the main theme was about going through life and making decisions that you know will make you a better person in the long run. This book has several characters including the three main characters Kate, Buck, and Travis. These characters are what tie the book together. The main plot for this book is that in the beginning, it introduces the three characters, and how they met. And in time, it progresses to when the main story takes place; when the three are teenagers. It tells of how Buck, Kate, and Travis survive school days together and handle some tough times both in their own families and in school. One main event that caught my attention was when the three friends go to their school dance together and Kate thinks of a plan to aquire revenge on Skeeter; the school bully, for beating up Buck one day. This was my favorite part because it shows Kates real personality as not only clever, but as a true friend that would stick up for people when she knows it is right.

I enjoyed this book because with every page, it unfolded countless moments that I could relate to with my own life, and taught me morals that could be useful to me. It also had some surprising moments and shared about the various ordeals that the three friends faced as they grew up together.

In my opinion, this book helps us realize what is important in life, like friends and family, and brings to our attention that we should not only treat our friends with respect and kindness, but that we must in return, respect ourselves. Also, it makes us realize that we should always live our lives to the fullest, because we never know what days might be our last. In conclusion, I would say that this book is mainly about life and friendships. It helps us learn many life lessons, and helps us learn to enjoy every moment of our lives.

Reader reviewed by Allison I

In my opinion, I thought Remembering the Good Times by Richard Peck, was a very good book. It talked about teenagers lives and I agreed with most of it. I like books that get intense at times, and then slow down. That is exactly what that book did. The book was well written and very easy to read. The book talked about some of the problems teens face and it talked about high school. I thought the book was a big heads up for me. It helped me realize taking your life is not a good way to take all your stress and problems out on. The book was a great choice for us to read, and I am glad I read it. At first, by just looking at the cover I did not think the book was going to be good; but then I started reading it and I could not put it down. That just proves you can not judge a book by its cover. The book had awesome detail and teaches a great lesson. I thought the book was not a real put down and enjoyed reading it. The book was really entertaining and never boring. It was all action all the time, and I liked that. It never had me almost falling asleep and always had me want to keep reading. It also taught a lot of lessons, not just one. It taught a lot about how boys can be friends with girls; and it also taught about how suicide is not the answer to anything. To conclude my review, I thought the book was excellent and would recommend it to everyone I know.

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 Trav Kirby commited suicide in Polly's 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) bu that were easily solved, like calling Miss Slater's husband and having him beat Skeeter's face into the ground and seem fine with it. I thought that it wasfunny and well thought out that he would beat up Skeeter and at Kate's idea as well. I thought that it was odd though, as 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 a good 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 having school the next day. It was weird because I never suspected that when Trav gave away those gifts, he was giving them away as if saying good bye. It was very sad that Trav died in Polly's orchard and never really said good bye. I was happy to know that at the end of the book, Buck, Kate, and Polly were fine and happy.

Reader reviewed by Kara N.

I believe that the book Remembering the Good Times is a great book. It is a good book because it teaches you some things that are happening in our teens lives. The biggest example in this book was suicide. One of the main characters, Travis, commits suicide. There is a few other examples like teens parents getting divorced. This is a very common thing in this generation. Another thing that is happening in this generation, are teens getting into relationships.
Another reason that I believe that Remembering the Good Times is a good book is because it is a short and very easy book to read. A lot of the time we teenagers do not like to have to read a lot for homework. So if it is a short and easy book they will enjoy the book a little more.
Another reason that I believe that Remembering the Good Times is a good book is because it is very easy to get lost in the book. For example the book uses a lot of descriptive words to help the reader to get a mental picture of what is going on in the book. Like when the author describes Pollys bedroom in the book he describe every little thing in her room. My favorite thing that he described in the book of her room was the dresser. He said that it had clocks on it and funeral fans stuck in the mirror.
So there are a few reasons why I thought Remembering the Good Times, By Richard Peck was a great book.

Reader reviewed by Carrie S.

Remembering the Good Times by Richard Peck was a well written book. Travis is one of the main characters who found problems in the world that could not be solved. His dearest friends were Kate, Buck, and Polly. No one saw such a treacherous act coming. Travis, suffering from failed attempts to fly, ended up hanging himself in Kates orchard. Like I mentioned before, the author, Richard Peck, did an excellent job writing this novel. To begin with, it explains a sensitive subject, teenage suicide. Would the average person ever think that a straight A student that comes from a well known family commit suicide? No. This is what makes the book unique. An average person would never think of a kid like Travis to commit suicide. The author managed to make it happen though.
Richard Peck also has a variety of characters. You go from the meanest person in town, Polly, to the most sensitive person in town, Travis. Buck, another main character, is slightly shy. Buck was Travis best friend. Kate, another main character who was Travis best friend, has more responsibilities than an average teenager. She cares for her Great Aunt Polly and her mom is never around. These are the four characters that make up this novel. Examples of the other characters would be Skeeter, Rusty Hazenfield, and Sherrie Slater. These three people were mentioned mostly when it came time for Travis, Buck, and Kate to go to school. Richard Peck helped describe Kate, Buck, but mostly Travis characteristics by having Skeeter, Rusty, and Mrs. Slater come into the novel. To summarize, it helped a lot to have such a variety of characters. I would suggest that teenagers especially, read this well written novel. Great lessons will be learned.

Reader reviewed by Ryan W

Remembering the good times
During this story I really didnt like it but it mad me thing of stuff. Like when Travis died it made me thing of my best friend that died in 4th grade. Plus when Skeeter it made me laugh because it made me thing of this kid that I got into a fight with because he was harassing my friends. Then when his mom move to Cleveland I laugh to because my dad move to Yankton and I havent seen him since then. I thought it was weird that he meet her in the wood and ask him to go see a baby calf being born. When Travis made Skeeter settle down just by doing something to him I was like that is cool I need to learn that for my brothers. I also though Travis would have a lot of expensive nerdy stuff instead he had awesome little kid stuff. One of the main reason I didnt like the book was because it had nothing about skateboarding or anything I like in it. Another reason made me mad was that every one was crying because Travis died and they didnt even any him thats what had happen to my friend that died. I think that Buck should have done something about them saying that Travis was their best friend like beat them up. And towards the end it was really nice for Buck to give Miss Slater a hug. But that made me thing of remembering the good times.