Freaky Green Eyes (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Later, I would think of it as crossing over..." (more)
Key Phrases: yarrow heights, freaky green eyes, aunt vicky, Reid Pierson, Krista Connor, Mero Okawa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10–Francesca (Franky) Pierson opens this story by Joyce Carol Oates (HarperTempest, 2003) by introducing us to the no-nonsense, competent, take-action adult persona she feels taking shape inside herself whom she calls Freaky Green Eyes. It's these eyes that see her situation clearly, although Francesca herself doesn't want to connect all the dots and let herself understand her family's awful situation. Her father is an abuser, both emotionally and physically, and Francesca and her younger sister and older half-brother all know how to tiptoe around him and keep him absolutely happy and in control. But her mother seems increasingly unwilling to keep him in balance by being completely subservient and compliant. Franky turns against her mother emotionally for rocking the boat, yet sees the truth. When her mother and a male friend disappear, it becomes obvious to listeners that Franky's father is to blame. As Freaky Green Eyes comes more and more to the fore, Franky begins to see her family's situation more realistically. Stina Nielsen lets listener's hear Franky's dawning awareness of the terrible truth, perfectly voicing her emotional responses to the situation. Teens in upper middle and high school will be drawn to this fine psychological portrayal of family violence.–Jane P. Fenn, Corning-Painted Post West High School, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 7-10. Freaky Green Eyes is the name 15-year-old Franky gives to her stronger self, the part that has to deal with the enigma that is her parents' relationship. With a nod to the O. J. Simpson case, Oates pulls readers into a fast-paced, first-person thriller that begins when Franky's mother, an artist, begins spending alone time at her cabin. It's immediately clear that her situation isn't idyllic; Franky's father, former football hero and popular sportscaster Reid Pierson, is calling the shots as to when his wife can come and go. There's no nuance to Reid's character. He's a charming, controlling bully who rules his family; should his will be thwarted, he gets physical. When Mrs. Pierson and a male friend disappear, there's also no mystery about who's behind the abduction; the clues, if that's what they are meant to be, are awkwardly dropped. Yet what could have been a predictable plot in the hands of a less-experienced writer becomes an absorbing page-turner as Franky slowly lets herself accept the violence that has always been in her family and finds the courage to stand up to her father. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (February 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064473481
• ISBN-13: 978-0064473484
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #751,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars can't stop thinking about it, March 13, 2005

By	Aurora "rory_7" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

this is the best book i've read in a lonnng time. Just like the cover says, it does haunt you long after the last page. francesca's alter ego, freaky green eyes, knows the truth, the truth that francesca does not want to know. The whole book you can tell that francesca's dad is a little scary, through his intolerance, abuse, and something else that is reflected in Oates writing. this is a mix of a coming to age story, and a mystery. it is the only mystery book i've read where the main character actually goes into artistic detail about her feelings. Buy this book and you won't be dissapointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scary, sad, and impossible to put down book, April 26, 2005

By	Ally Ottesen - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freaky Green Eyes (Hardcover)

From the moment i started this book, it put a death grip on my mind and didn't let go until i finished it! This book raised some real issues and haunted me soooo ong after i finished the last page. I admit,i cryed hard. This book was thick wth emotion: sadness, tension, fear, hope, love, and hate. I reccomend this book to anyone over 13 but i am warning any reader or potential reader- YOU WILL THINK ABOUT THIS BOOK LONG AFTER YOU FINISH IT...IT IS VERY SAD!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Freaky Green Eyes, March 14, 2005

By	Cara "student" (Port Huron Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freaky Green Eyes (Hardcover)

The introduction to Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates is very catchy. It leads you into the book without you wanting to put in down, and the ending makes you never want it to end. This book would mostly attract girls that like books full of real-life events. For example, in this book it talks about school, death, and divorce. These things could really happen, which is what I loved about the book. Freaky Green Eyes is about a girl named Franky with a famous, but violent father. When her mother starts leaving the house, she knows something is wrong. After, awhile her mother turns up missing, and finds her journal. Through reading this diary, she soon learns there is more to the story than just her mother leaving. My favorite part of the book is how there are so many details. Joyce Carol Oates does a very good job with keeping the story a mystery until the very end. The problem with the descriptivness is that she doesn't really leave anything to the imagination. If you are looking for a great, mysterious book that keeps you reading, this is the book for you. It takes you on a wonderful adventure that you will never forget. When I started reading this book I got into it, and didn't even notice how many pages I was reading. Unlike many books I have read, this one kept me intrested thoughout the whole book.