Customer Reviews

The Boy From the Basement

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jolene Sanders
Mr. Slater
English 9
14 December 2010

The Book from the Library

The Boy From the Basement is a good that makes the reader want to keep reading because the reader doesn't know what is going to happen next, although it kind of leaves you hanging on why Charlie is in trouble; I recommend this book to anyone.
The plot of The Boy From the Basement is very well placed, especially when the reader gets to the chapter on how Charlie gets to the hospital from the basement. Charlie gets found outside when he needs to use the bathroom when the door gets shut by the wind and it is locked. When he is found he gets taken to the hospital because he is sick. While he is at the hospital he hallucinates that this spider is going to get him and hurt him; the spider is in the corner everywhere he is but, only Charlie can see this spider. It is nice when Charlie gets a foster mother (Mrs. Harrigan) and foster brother (Ambrose). Charlie doesn't have much of an education so he has a lot of questions about things in life.
The characterization of Charlie makes the story more intense by how he has to go through life and how it effects him. The conflict type is man vs. man. Charlie has been through so much in his life he has to be alone for awhile. His mother tries to sneak him stuff when father is not around but, that is pretty hard to do; she has gotten caught. Charlie goes from living in a basement , getting out much, and being scared to living in an actual house with new clothes books, use to the bathroom, kids to play with, and people to teach him things that he needs to know like his alphabet and his numbers.
The Boy From the Basement has a major theme that is worth reading. People have to overcome some kind of problem whether it is not being taken care of or not. No one should be treated this way even if a kid is being bad.
This book overall was pretty good and is interesting. The Boy From the Basement is a book worth reading even though it is sad.


Work Cited
Shaw, Susan. The Boy From the Basement. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2004.

This was truly one of the best books that I have read. I find it very compelling and the smilies that the writer used to explain the spider that he kept seeing and fearing was unbelievable. It just seemed so surreal to me, and I'm not so sure why.

I read this book in grade six and it showed me that the world wasn't really a perfect and wonderfully great all the time. I owe a lot to this novel.

I enjoyed the concept that was displayed in this story, and I swear every second a emotion streamed down Charlie's back I felt it too. The scene that I enjoyed the most was when the two boys went outside and Charlie's dad showed up. I didn't know what was going to happen at that point to be honest, I thought that it was going to be very climaxic, by his father dragging him away, but than the foster family to take him out of his hands.

This book will make you think about all the things that you have, have had, are going to have, and all the things that you will leave behind when you die. Charlie didn't have that in the begining of the story, but as time progressed he was given more and was earning more and most importantly he had a family, foster one maybe, but at least they cared about him and wanted to help him out.

I would recommend to anybody, to READ THIS BOOK.

This was a very moving story that is guaranteed to make you cry. I don't like stories that are depressing... this one was just emotionally gripping. This story made me look at everyone like someone who deserves to be loved and cared for. Everybody should read this book.

Ever wonder how a young child could escape out of child abuse? Charlie (main character) knows exactly what it takes. His story takes you through the brutality, hard-ship, and recovery of child abuse. Recently I read The Boy from the Basement, by Susan Shaw for my freshman English class.
The main character in the book is a young boy named Charlie, who has been locked away and kept prisoner in the basement, by his easily angered father, as a "punishment". He has never been to school, heard of holidays or even used a phone. He believes he deserves this because he has been bad. Sadly, this is all Charlie has ever known. But when Charlie gets accidentally locked outside one night, he sees a world he had never seen before. When he gets picked up by police officers he is sent away to a foster family, where he is haunted by hallucinations and his father's anger.
I think that there were some very good parts in this book. One being was when Charlie was playing outside at his foster home and his father shows up. This was a big deal because his father was not supposed to even see Charlie because he had abused him. He also never let him outside before or he would make Charlie stay in the basement for even longer.
The reason why I'm recommending this book to you is that I think that it had a message I think that people should understand. The main idea was about a boy's escape and recovery from extreme child abuse and finding a new home. In my opinion this is a big problem still today. I also think that the author did a good job explaining the journey and how the main character got through it. On the other hand one thing I probably would have changed was about the mother in the story and that she really didn't have anything to do with the story line. I think it would have been better if they would have included her in it.

I teach Reading to struggling readers in high school. My goal is to get them engaged, because, if they're engaged, they read. This book hasn't been on the shelf more than 5 minutes since it was received in the mail. I haven't read it yet, but intend to over the summer. The teacher who recommended it was 100% correct.

I love this story, I wish it was a memoir, but that would mean it would have to be true. and there is enough going on in the world today , we don't need this story to be one that is seenon the news. However, it IS a very good read. I suggest that organizations that deal with children who were abused and neglected need to read this book, it relates to the childrne. It makes the reader keep reading to find out what happens to the little boy. I am older than a teen, but study things for children. I think this is a good teen or adolescent read for children who have been through this situation.
Has a great ending, you will love it

I think this book deserves this award. It is a great book but not the best I have ever read. I think this book was a little depressing but at the same time joyful. This book is suspenseful. If you like suspense you'll love this book. I would recommend this book to ages 11 and up and anyone who loves dramatic endings.

This is a good book it really grabs you total and full atention. Once you grab it and start reading it you can't put it down because it leaves you hanging and you just want to know what happenes next. I recomend this book to anyone who likes good dramatic stories.

I am recommeded the FACS teacher at our school use this book with a parenting class. Even though this book is underdeveloped and has lack lustre appeal I think it touches many issues that are taught in these type classes. The book lacks detail in regards to the abuse and therefore it can be used with younger children however, it leaves the more mature reader feeling empty. More details and graphic imagery would make this a real page turner and would become a hot shelf item even years after publication. Overall, it is worth the read and most recommended to use with younger children. I can see this being a great book to read with an elementary student that has recently been exposed to other children being abused, etc. It is a gateway book -- great place to start.