Customer Reviews

Eye of the Beholder

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!!!!!!!

This is a great book! It is so funny and so well written!

Tyler and Lymie had no idea that having the chicken pox would get them into so much trouble. It was about time for the centennial celebration of an artist named Badaglio. Badaglio was rumored to have made two heads out of stone and thrown them in the nearby river. Tyler and Lymie have some fun and make their own stone heads and they too throw them in the river. Theywere found just before the big Badaglio art fest. Two art critics declared that they were authentic. They fouled everybody. Tyler and Lymie were worried sick , because they thought they would get in trouble. Now the real fun begins. I really enjoyed reading this book, because it was very interesting and funny. I would recommend that one of my friends read this adventurous novel.

In this book EYE OF THE BEHOLDER there are two main characters Tyler and Lymie. All throughout the book Tyler and Lymie have you on the edge of your seats wondering what their next move will be. The story take place in a small town called Wakefield. Wakefield isn't really all that exciting but in just a few days the twon is going to throw a big celebration for the twon's hero the famous sculpter Badoglio,Tyler and Lymie cook up a plan to give the town a big surprise but they just don't know how their surprise will go. I really liked this book alot becouse, it had to do with kids. I could relate and understand also. I would recommend this book becouse it's really good and funny.

I just finished reading Eye of the Beholder.It is a very interesting novel. It keeps you very interested and you just don`t want to put it down. I liked the novel for the most part.The two main characters Tyler and Lymie get into a little trouble during the novel with their interests in art. I like the novel because of what happens during the novel. I would urge a friend to read this novel because it is a fun book to read,and if I liked it I`m positive that they would like it to.

The book "Eye of the Beholder" is a very good book. It is about two boys named Tyler McAllister and Lymie Lawrence, who are in the eight grade. They are staying together when they have the chicken pox. It is then when they hear about the Badoglio festival that will take place in Wakefield, Badoglio's hometown. The main reason for the festival is to let everyone see the two heads Badoglio made and threw into the Hoosickill River. The towns people were going to try and find the heads. Lymie and Tyler made two heads that looked like Badoglio's and threw them into the river shortly before the town was going to look for Badoglio's heads. I really do think you should read this book so you can see what happens in the rest of the book. I liked the book "Eye of the Beholder" because it seemed like it was something that could have really happened.

Eye of the Beholder is a funny story that involves two eighth graders, Tyler and Lymie. They both always get in trouble. With one of Lymies's plans, Tyler and Lymie stir up the town of Wakefield. Badoglio, who once lived in Wakefield, supposedly threw two stone heads into the river. Tyler and Lymie end up making their own heads. They then throw them into the river where they think the town will find the heads. That's when the trouble starts. I liked it. It was very humorous and I didn't want to stop reading it. You always wondered what happened next. I would recommend others to read. I think they would enjoy it as much as I did.

The book Eye of the Beholder is excellent! As Tyler and Lymie get into trouble after planting fake sculpted heads that they carved in imitation of Badoglio. He is an artist from there hometown. This book is a must read for all Hayes fans especially if you liked The Trouble with Lemons!!!!!!!!

The eye of the Beholder is a good novel. Tyler is not too good in school as you'll find outbut he is good at getting into tons of trouble. So when Lymie Tyler's best friend comes up with his great idea they are in some big trouble. They make some heads that look a lot like Badoglio's. They throw them in a river. They soon are found and thought to be the artist work. Then the fun really begins. Whilr reading the book I found it interesting. It was a good book. I think other people should read it because it's a very exciting fun-filled novel.