6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teacher's Favorite: Problem Novel Has Fresh Point of View, June 24, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Eye of the Beholder (Mass Market Paperback)
Eye of the Beholder combines popular appeal with redeeming moral and literary qualities, making it ideal for classroom use with young adult readers. Author Daniel Hayes has taken the stock formula for the "problem" novel and turned it outside-in. It's not that Tyler McAllister doesn't have the same excuses for selfish introversion that are given to so many angst-filled protagonists. Tyler, who lost his father in tragic circumstances, is being raised by a single parent with a busy career. While Tyler is a privileged child, his mother constantly makes life uncomfortable for him. He encounters several other characters he doesn't like or respect, with some justification. So far, he fits the pattern of a stock hero-victim.
The quality that raises Eye of the Beholder above the pack is this engaging 13-year-old's shift in perspective. Rather than being locked into the me-ism that plagues so many novels of this genre, Tyler is refreshingly sensitive to the feelings of his family, friends, and even his enemies. The author has blessed him with a still maturing but already healthy conscience. Tyler is no saint, and he may cause damage to people and property around him. But he has the grace to be remorseful when he observes the hurtful effects of his actions and attitudes, and he has the courage to try to make amends. He reaches this point by connecting with others, not by wallowing in his own muck, and therefore other characters are redeemed as well. Even his mother turns out to be deserving of compassion!
Tyler as a fully rounded character -- both protagonist and antagonist -- struggles with the complications that arise from his own actions. Daniel Hayes has given us a problem novel which centers on how the main character affects his environment, instead of vice versa. The result, for Tyler and the reader alike, is a respectful awareness of an individual's power to choose his own actions and reactions. The author gently combines this with patient tolerance both for Tyler and for ot! her characters, all of whom are less than perfect and, therefore, fully human.
Although this sounds rather serious, the depth of Eye of the Beholder is only increased by its side-splitting humor. The scrapes Tyler and his best friend Lymie get into are funny, age-appropriate, and satisfyingly complex. The action builds to always hilarious but ever-increasing tension. The climax has a message with implications for the rest of Tyler's community -- and, by extension, the reader -- even as the novel ends on a laugh-out-loud note that promises more mischief in the future.
Eye of the Beholder is an English teacher's dream. It is an excellent novel to feature in thematic studies with young teenagers, especially for units on Choices and Consequences. The humorous situations are coupled with lots of word play, which can vitalize reading and vocabulary instruction. As a study of form, Eye of the Beholder is simply but beautifully written. The author's mastery is apparent in his use of literary devices, and it would be difficult to find a better piece of literature for studying plot elements, characterization, dramatic tension, conflict and theme with this age group.
The dialogue always rings true: even the most minor characters have a distinct voice, and many scenes lend themselves to readers theatre adaptations or film interpretation. Exploring this clarity of voice can also help students discover and develop their own writing style. And because Eye of the Beholder has such richness, it offers many complexities to explore through responsive writing, critical thinking activities, and classroom discussions.
But perhaps the best reason for using this novel in the classroom may be a selfish one: it is a selection that you can fully appreciate, and maybe even be challenged by, along with your students.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious and Suspenful Book !!!!!!!!!!!!, February 8, 2005
A Kid's Review
This review is from: Eye of the Beholder (Mass Market Paperback)
Tyler and Lymie have know idea what trouble there getting in by just getting the chicken pox and imatating a famous local artits. The town is having a huge festival for the annversity, also they are dreding the local river to find heads that the artist made. As a joke the boys make heads of there own. If you like a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end then this book is for you. The boys are always getting into mischeif from running into the river with there clothes on to egging the infamous keepouts who want no one near there house not even the a little eight grade kid.Also they are always getting in trouble by there parents from being grounded uncountable number of times to having a gun to there head to riding home in a police car. From reporters chasing them to there home and calling there house you'll be on your seat untill the very end!!!!!!!!
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