Customer Reviews

Bad

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a very well written provocative story about several young girls in a correctional facility. It is primarily Dallas' story. Ferris tells us what it's like in the Girls Rehabilitation Facility while Dallas spends 6 months there for attempting to commit armed robbery. Only fifteen years old, Dallas, abandoned by her friends, boyfiriend, and her father, through her experiences in the GRC realizes that her decisions brought her to where she is, and no one else is to blame -- maybe. Also, she learns from her mates and her counselors that living life "straight" is extremely hard, and she has very little hope of changing herself or her behavior when she returns to her former situation. She's not sure she wants to change. Ferris does not gloss over violent situations. She tells it the way she apparently heard it when she was doing her research, talking with teenage girls in a detention center during the summer of 1993. Particularly poignant is the experience of one of the girls who goes home for the week-end only to be beaten up by one of her family members because she won't submit to his sexual advances. Instead, eager to try and change her behavior, she fights him off and walks a long way back to the GRC-- the only safe place she knows. We are left with a glimmer of hope that some of these girls will turn their lives around, knowing that if they do, it will take extraordinary courage, much help, more than average incentive and lots of luck. The girls come to life on the pages and won't be quickly forgotten.

A Review by Sarah

Dallas, a normal 16-year-old trouble maker, gets talked into robbing a convenience store with her fiends. Unfortunately, she is the one who gets caught and her father will not let her come home on probation because he has no control over her. The judge sends her to 6 months at a Girl's Rehab Center.

What I liked about this book is the topic. The topic of getting in trouble is hardly ever boring. For example, when Dallas and her friends were robbing the convenience store and Dallas got caught because she was holding the gun. One thing that I didn't like about this book is when Dallas first goes to the Rehab Center. Here, the author was mainly informative so my mind was left somewhat wandering. However, after that, which seemed like a never ending introduction to the Rehab Center and people, the book was interesting. It was more interesting because at the Rehab Center the author started telling about the different fights. Another thing that I didn't like about this book is how Dallas's father disowned her. This happened when he said that he would not take her back in because he had no control over her. I don't believe that a good dad would just give up that easily.

This book is very rewarding for its ending, so I recommend Bad to any reader that is willing to take the time to get through its mix of informative information and excitement for a meaningful ending. The book is fairly easy to read but may contain some information that may not be appropriate for young readers so I recommend it to reader's from 6th grade and up.

BAD Charlotte Cordell
My book was called BAD by Jean Ferris. This book is about a girl named Dallas. She lives with her father. Her mother had passed away when she was around 4 years old. She doesn't remember much of her mother, but from what her father says about her, she was not a good roll model. She was really irresponsible. She came home late and didn't care much for the family. When Dallas got her father mad by whom she hangs out with or what she does, he says that she is too much like her mother. Dallas was dating a boy named Ray. Ray and Dallas where friends with a girl named Pam and a boy named Sonny. Sonny was Pam's boyfriend. That was their group of friends. What they did to have fun was shoplift and break the law. They called it, "skating." One day they were really bored and they decided to do something that they had never done before. They were going to rob a small jiffy spot store. Pam had stolen a gun from her father and brought it along so they could get control of the cashier. They were sitting in a café one night and were deciding who would do what. They had come up with the plan that Ray, Pam, and Sonny would break an entry. So that leaves Dallas to be the one to hold the gun and threaten the cashier, even though she didn't want to. When it was time, they did as planned. Shortly after they had entered the store, police cars had showed up. Ray, Pam, and Sonny darted out the back door like there was no tomorrow. They left Dallas there for blame. They also made up a story that Dallas had stolen the gun from Pam's father so that Pam and the others wouldn't get in trouble. Pam got taken away and charged with robbery. She was sent to juvenile hall. Her father wouldn't bail her out knowing how much he didn't trust her. Since they had nothing to do with her there, they sent her to a rehab for people who committed crimes. It was like a school to teach them that it was bad and also teach them so they don't get behind. Dallas had to stay in rehab for at least 6 months. She could have visitors on weekends. Pam came to visit her after a couple weeks. Dallas was desperate to get out of there! Dallas's father had shown up one day. Does he take her home? Read the book to find out.
This book was a really good book. Every time I had to stop reading this book, I didn't want to. I could have just kept reading until I finished it. It was very exciting to read. The parts that got me most excited were the cliff hangers. They set me up for a big sensation to keep reading. The author definitely made me feel like I was in the book. Jean described every scene in the book very well so that I could just imagine in my head that I was there. The main conflict did interest me a lot. When I read the first 6 pages, I was already into the book. It reminded me of what not to do. Such as: Steal and break laws. The characters were definitely realistic. They reminded me of some people that I know. (Besides the whole breaking the law part) The book ending was very disappointing. It just had a very dead end. I wanted to keep reading. Nothing much happens at the end besides one thing that is very big. But if I were to tell you, you would know the whole ending.
The author wrote in the 3rd person. The book was read as if I was reading the persons life. The author used slang and regular everyday vocabulary. One of the characteristics in the author's writing is how accurate it is. She described exactly how it would have been in rehab. She also explained in graphic details of everything that was going on. Jean Ferris is a very good author. I got very involved with this book.
I rate this book a 9 out of 10. I loved everything about this book besides the ending. I wish the ending was more interesting, it just kind of stops. I definitely recommend this book to everyone. Age doesn't really matter. It's a really good book if you are interesting in this kind of book.
This book was amazingly written. It's a pretty easy book, but very interesting. It's interesting about how some teenagers may live their lives compared to others.

Bad
The book I read was called, "Bad," by Jean Ferris. The story was about a girl named Dallas. Dallas had a really tough life because her mother died when she was four and she didn't get along with her dad. She was 16 years old and didn't know what to do with her life besides doing all of the wrong things. She started hanging out with the wrong kind of people who did something called skating for fun. Skating is basically just shoplifting but one time they had taken it way too far. Dallas was put under a lot of peer pressure to bring a gun into a store and rob the place so they could buy fake IDs. She did it because she knew that those people wouldn't be her "friends" anymore if she didn't do it. Dallas was caught and had to go to court. The judge said she could either be put on probation or sent to a girls rehab center. Her dad made her go to a Girls' Rehabilitation Center for six months because he thought Dallas needed that for better discipline. Along the way she made a ton of new friends that taught her so many things. When she was there she really learned a lot about herself. Dallas found many new things she could do besides skating. She found her interest in books, writing, and school. The rest of the book was about her journey through a Girls' Rehabilitation Center and all of the things she learned to help her.
I think this was one of my favorite books. It was really exciting because there was never a dull moment. She was either getting into trouble or learning something new. I did and didn't feel like I was in the book. I did because she goes through things that average teenagers go through. I didn't because she has a tough life and I can't really relate to doing any of the things she does like robbing a store at gunpoint. The main conflict did interest me a lot because it was different from the other books that I have read. The characters were very realistic because they were supposed to be. At the beginning of the book the author says that she was in a Girls' Rehabilitation Center so she basically wrote about what it was like for her. But it wasn't all coming from her life. The book's ending was pretty satisfying because it ended the way you thought it was. The only thing I didn't like was that it was really predictable and I thought she should have written a lot more about what Dallas was like after she went to the Girls' Rehabilitation Center.
The voice of this book was mainly coming from the author's point-of-view from what rehab is actually like. Not everything was really from her life though because Dallas and everything Dallas did was made up. Jean Ferris uses vocabulary in an interesting way because she uses some slang and a lot of cussing too. The words she used were pretty easy because I never had a hard time figuring out what they meant. The author has a unique writing style because she writes in a sadder tone but she didn't use as much description as I thought she would. The authors' ability to use dialogue was good because she could write some really intense conversations between the girls to make you feel like you were actually there. The use of description was OK, but at some parts it seemed like there could have been a little more. The tone was good because it followed the storyline. All together I like the way Jean Ferris writes.
I would give this book a rating of five out of five because it was amazing. Also, the ending wasn't as bad as some of the books I've read. I would recommend this book to teenagers mostly because we can relate to a lot of the things that Dallas goes through. This book could be for boys or girls but girls might like it better because it is from a girls' point-of-view and she talks about her boyfriend sometimes. This book definitely deserves a high rating in my opinion because of how different it was.
"Bad," was one of the best books I have ever read. I like how Dallas goes through things real teenagers actually go through such as peer pressure, family issues, and learning new things. It does get really sad in some parts. It will make you want to cry with her when she is having a hard time with life. Over all I think everyone should read this because they will learn something new from it.

A Review by Teddi

Dallas is a 16 year old criminal convicted of armed robbery. It wasnt really her fault was it? Her boyfriend pushed her to do it and then un-loyally ran from the cops when they came. So Dallas gets put in GRC to try and turn her rebellious ways around. While in GRC she meets a large variety of people such as Darius, a Neo-Nazi, and her roommate Shatasia, a single mother. Her visit at GRC forces her to deal with problems rooted deep in her soul-like the death of her mother when she was only 4, and why she did bad things.

Bad was a great book mostly because the amount of kids who can relate to it. Dealing with drugs and peer-pressure is a big part of life. The way the book was worded made it really easy to read and interesting. I also liked the large variety of characters at the CRG; it was very realistic because it showed people from every walk of life get into trouble. This book was fun to read, action-packed, and addicting. I especially liked the fact that there was conflict, even in the GRC, where kids are trying to turn their lives around.

I recommend Bad to anyone into realistic books about growing up and the conflict that comes with it. But I do think it would suit an audience with more of a baggage in their lives because they could relate to it more and it would hit home with them. Sensitive people may not like this book because it includes racism and violence. I think as a whole the majority of youth would enjoy this book.

Sixteen-year old Dallas is involved in "skating". "Skating" was the word that Dallas used for the exciting things that her group of friends did together. These exciting things were usually crimes. Dallas was heavily influenced by peer pressure from her boyfriend, Ray and her best friend Pam. Dallas'family consisted of her rule-bound father. Her mother who was not an ideal role model died when Dallas was four. Dallas father did care for her but was unable to express his emotions. After Dallas got caught holding up a convenience store at gun-point her father allowed her to be taken to a Girls Rehabilitation Center. He told the judge that he could not control her. As Dallas spent time in the
Girls Rehabilitation Center she began to come out of her shell. The reader is able to see some hint of rehabilitation. Dallas begins to have an appreciation for literature. Dallas is also touched by her roomate and the relationship that she has with her daughter.
We rated this book a three out of five. We thought that the author could have expanded on each character a little more than she did. We were interested in the father's viewpoint. We would like to know more about his inability to show his love for his only daughter. We would also like to see a resolution with the father daughter relationship at the end of the book. On the other hand the author did a good job of introducing the reader to the other girls at the GRC. The girls all had different personalities and the reader was able to explore them and the reasons that they were there. The character of Dahlia was so violent that she was frightening. Because there were times of violence and abuse we would not recommend this book for children
younger than the eighth grade. This book could be used to show children how to determine what choices to make. There are several lessons that could be taught through the characters in this book. Bad could also be used to discuss relationships among families and friends.

A review by Alison

Dallas is a 16-year-old girl who gets thrills from shop lifting, having sex in public places with her boyfriend, and taking nice cars out for "joy rides." Dallas and her friends called it "skating." Ray, her boyfriend, and her friends Pam and Sonny had a great new idea for skating. They had planned to rob the store Jiffy Spot. They wanted Dallas the hold the fun and get the money. She ended up getting caught in the act and she was arrested. After her court hearing, the judge and her father decided to put her in GRC, Girls Rehabilitation Center. There she makes a really good friend, Shatasia, who helps her out a lot. After her six months is up, she decides that she would rather live in a group home instead of living with her father.

This book was very interesting. The main character, Dallas, was semi-realistic. She seemed pretty sarcastic at times as well. "What do you expect? I'm a felon. And what does that make you, going through my pockets?" At first I was a bit skeptical about reading this book, I didn't think I would enjoy it too much. It had a serious concept to it, but at times, I found myself laughing at some of the things the girls in GRC would do. The author uses pretty simple language. Some parts were hard to follow, especially when dialogue was coming from Shatasia. "My gram says that, and I've seen it happen too much to think she's wrong. That's why I'm turning myself around, if I can. I got me some bad juju pilin' up." The author also uses a lot of slang words. Some conflicts were more realistic than others. I can see how the girls always fought with each other, but I didn't think that they would actually beat up a P.O. The ending of the book really disappoints me; I wanted to know more. When the story is over, it doesn't tell what happens to Dallas when she gets out of GRC. I was really interested in knowing if she was continuing to get in trouble, or if she cleaned up for good. It leaves you guessing.

I would recommend this book to mainly teen girls because almost all of the characters are teen girls or older women. It has a very easy reading level and would be good for those who have trouble reading higher-level books. If you like reading books about teenage delinquency, this is a book for you.

Dallas, a 16-year-old rebel female, is living a life without a mother. At four years old, her mother died in an automobile accident. When Dallas meets her boyfriend Ray, she starts "skating". Skating is what Ray calls the rush that they receive when they do crazy things. These crazy things include shoplifting, boosting stolen items, hot-wiring cars, robberies, and engaging in wild fornification in public. After being pressured to hold up a local convenience store by her peers, she is caught with a gun when the police arrive. Her friends desert her by running away. When Dallas goes before the judge, she is sentenced to six months in the Girls' Rehabilitation Center.
I recommend the novel, Bad, by Jean Ferris. It contains characters that are both delightful and irritating at times. That is what makes this book so fruitful in diversity. Its eventfulness and style, in this type of environment, captivates your attention. In the beginning of the story, you feel a sense of concern for the misguided children. As you progress further into the plot, the thoughts and actions of the characters, allows the mood to tone down a bit. It calms your agitation with some of the character's actions, as it begins to show signs of hope for some. This novel is thoughtful, empowering, and spirited. You get a feel for what really goes on inside a rehabilitation center. Most importantly, one can understand how and why, some young people find themselves confined to a correctional facility of this kind.

Dallas, a 16-year-old, is living a world full of shoplifting, stealing cars, and pick-pocketing with her rebellious friends. In her secret life she never expects to be punished for her actions.
Jean Ferris, the author of the novel,is not timid in writing a book that deals with issues that girls in rehab face. She does not feel limited to stick to the basic feel good stories written today. Jean chose to tackle troublesome subjects like living with a deaf parent, facing the consequences of a criminal act, or questioning one's sexuality. She addresses many of these topics because of the intense emotions and changes of her teenage years. Her writings have been adored by critics and teenagers all over.
I recommend the novel Bad by Jean Ferris. It is full of both delightful and irritating characters but that is what makes this book so fruitful in diversity. Its eventfulness and style of the environment keeps you in and keeps you hungry for more. In the beginning of the story you gain a sense of adventure and chance. As you progress further into the plot the mood is toned down a bit and relaxes you even though you are set on edge for what will happen next. This novel is thoughtful, empowering, and spirited. You really get a taste of what you can expect in a rehabilitation facility.

Dallas was wrapped up with the wrong people and the wrong things. ("skating," but not skatebaording. Stealing.) Her mother died when she was young, so she was left with her father who was a saint and always contridicted what ever Dallas did. Her mother was a crazy, wild woman who didn't care that much about anything but partying. But Dallas only remembers the fun they had and wanted to be that carefree woman. This makes her father feel that he can't do anything to change his daughters future. "But when you were a baby you didn't think it was so much fun to have your mother gone all the time, out looking for a good time instead of being with you. Or being so obliterated from the night before that she couldn't get up with you in the mornings. Do you know I used to come home from work and find you alone, screaming in your crib, and her gone off on one of her adventures? I hadn't known that. (P.134" But all of the "skating" seems to be the only way she felt whole. Until all her friends ran and she was left to take the crime and be sent to juvi. I have personally never read anything about girls in a rehab facility but I enjoyed it, because it said in the very begining of the book that the events and story line had come from manys iterviews with teen girls in a center. It's nice to know that authors do reaserch and don't just make it up. This auther is pretty good at making her words detailed so that you can picture it all in your mind. You wouldn't necessarily like this book if you don't like violence or a focus on the youth. But I would reccomend it to people who like to learn something educational and moral values.