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The Prize [Paperback]

LaCourt (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)


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Book Description

March 1, 2003
Sydney Schuster was an easy target growing up; the bullies beat him up every day. Now, he's a millionaire with bullies for sons. He was willing to accept that fate (albeit with bitterness), but an opportunity arises. Syd's former tormentor, now a priest, hits him up for the money to save his school. Sydney hits back with an offer the priest could not refuse.

With Syd's financial backing, Father John will run a new boarding school for ten inner-city teenagers. The kids, however, aren't just there to study. They're the guinea pigs in a social experiment. Their mission: to break the bully/victim cycle, without breaking a few simple rules. If they succeed, they win five million dollars-half a million per student. But if even one rule is broken, no one gets a cent. By the end of the school year, few rules remain intact. The question is, how much will the judges find out? And how much will they tolerate?


Editorial Reviews

Review

"I highly recommend this book for teachers, parents, and counselors. It should be a required read for adolescents." -- Kathy Bosworth for Denise’s Pieces Book Reviews 1/03

"LaCourt applies meat and bone of her characters." -- Reviewed for Reviewers Consortium, Chuck Hamsa

"Read it, loved it..."The Prize" is a winner. I wish it had been around when I was growing up!" -- Scott D. Miller, Ph. D., Co-director, Institute for the Study of Therapeutic Change

I couldn't put it down. The discourse between characters flowed so naturally I felt like I was eavesdropping. -- Karl D. Schefft, Attorney at Law, Member of Collaborative Family Law Council of Southeastern Wisconsin

From the Publisher

The subject matter of "The Prize," - bullies, victims, and what drives them, is timely. "The Prize" however offers more than a refreshing and creative analysis of the bullying problem in our society. "The Prize" is a mystery, a page-turner, a fascinating drama. It takes the reader on a captivating journey with its endearing adolescent and adult characters as they struggle to solve one of our culture's most perplexing problems. "The Prize" will appeal to teachers, counselors and adolescents. However, as a well-written human interest story, it stands on its own merit with an appeal to readers of all ages.

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Bedside Books (March 1, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1589820665
  • ISBN-13: 978-1589820661
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,181,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Prize: A Novel about Bullies and Victims and What Drives, March 16, 2003
By 
Sandy (Aurora, IL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Prize (Paperback)
This book does what many today don't; it makes you think.

I found it similar to Holes. Even though it is targeted to teens, as an adult, I found it very enjoyable.

It is a "quick and easy" read due the compelling story line and characters, and it stays on track.

I work part time at my son's elementary school in the lunchroom. I have found that I react differently, (and I hope more positively, and proactively), since reading this book.

I highly recommend this book.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book!, March 10, 2003
By 
This review is from: The Prize (Paperback)
Because it speaks to the issue of bullying in a very different way, this is a compelling and entertaining story about life. When the book begins, we learn the story of a very bright but painfully shy young boy whose name is Sydney Schuster. Sidney is constantly taunted during his high school years, and even physically beaten by some of the other students. Not knowing how to handle this situation, he usually ran to a teacher to complain instead of standing up for himself. Of course, this behavior made him an easy target. Sidney was never able to change this situation, and suffered a great deal throughout his high school years.

Sidney grew up and became more successful than he would have ever dreamed. Since his own children became bullies during their school years, Sidney often wondered what actually caused a bully/victim relationship. One day Sidney was approached by John Murphy, one of his previous tormentors in high school. John had become a priest, and needed money to save his Catholic school. Sidney decided to make a deal with Father John about a different kind of school. It would be a boarding school for ten inner-city kids, chosen at random, who would act as guinea pigs in an experiment relating to the bully/victim cycle. These were tough kids; but, if they could manage to remain in the school for one year and get along with each other, they would win five million dollars  half a million per student. There were a few simple rules, however, and if even one rule got broken, no one would get a cent!

***** I cannot say enough good things about this book. It should be required reading in our schools. The students in this experiment soon learn how hard it is to actually get along with each other and not resort to bullying. Winning the money was their dream, and - after a rough start - they finally settled on some rules of their own to accomplish this. The rules they drew up together, The Twelve Commandments of Proper Conduct, are listed near the end of The Prize. I only wish they were poster size! *****

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing look self-interest and cooperation, March 10, 2003
This review is from: The Prize (Paperback)
This book is a real gift to every teen who struggles with peer relationships. For the rest of us, it is the perfect antidote to the dreary message of The Lord of the Flies. The Prize demonstrates that self-interest is not a human trait to be rejected or restrained. Rather, it is the essence of what makes cooperation work. Kudos to LaCourt for the creative way she
shares a profound insight into human nature.
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