Customer Reviews

Remembering the Good Times

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is not one of the more popular young adult novels, which is too bad. Remembering the Good Times addresses many important issues that face teens today--stress, academic pressures, friendship, divorce, and suicide.

This book does a great job of educating readers about the warning signs of suicide and the aftermath of this tragedy. It can open teens' eyes to the problems they and their friends can face when a loved one commits suicide.

This is an important book for teenagers and parents to read.

Kate, Buck, and Trav were best friends. They were always together. The three of them spent a lot of time with Polly, Kate's grandma. The three of them became friends in the eighth grade, and remained friends throughout high school. In high school, two of the friends were left with the question of how well did they know their friend. I really enjoyed this book. I feel that this book is a great book for teens to read. The book may make the students more aware of behaviors that may occur in students that may committe suicide. This book relates to concerns that students are facing today, so it makes the students to become more involved in the book. Counselors may also find this book very useful, when dealing with suicide.

This book lingers long after you've put it down. I find myself returning to certain passages and rereading them often (particularly the jarring conclusion). This book beautifully captures the confusion, fear, longing, loneliness, and uncertainty of the teenage years. Peck introduces the characters and makes you feel as though you know them. We see the events through the eyes of Buck; from his first encounter with Kate at age twelve, to his friendship with her and Trav as they begin to grow up together.

High School is honestly portrayed in this novel, often sarcastically and never sugar-coated. The humor helps soften the alienation that students often feel during this time. As Buck says: "You could yell "Fire" in that school, and most people would think it didn't apply to them." Through this mess, Kate, Trav, and Buck emerged as close friends. There was some hint of rivalry between Trav and Buck for Kate's affections, but never enough to ruin the relationship. They were always there for each other. Nothing could spoil their friendship...or could it?

Most of the reviews and even the back cover of the book give away what happens in the end, but I won't do that here. To dwell on any one event is to ruin the effect of the entire novel as it shows how the events in our lives work together to change us and shape us as we grow into mature adults. Along the way, we find friends who help us on this difficult journey, and that is what this novel is really about: Friendship. Friends who are there to laugh, cry, talk, and listen. As Buck grows, he learns the value of true friendship, and this lesson helps him face the most challenging time of his life.

This book makes me cry every time I read it. It breaks my heart, and it gives me hope. As one character says, "We can't have a community until we are ready to be one," and it's true. But if the characters in this book can learn, maybe we can. So read. Laugh. Cry. Remember the good times in your own life, but look to the future, because "In your memories, it's never raining."

Back in 03 I picked this book called "Remembering The Good Times", at first I didn't think much of it,I needed A.R. points fast.I hate to read books, but this changed my prospective. I couldn't put this book down, it only took me 4 days to read.Now I love SOME books, GO READ IT TODAY

Of all the young adult novels I've read, this is probably my favorite. Richard Peck's Remembering the Good Times is simply marvelous. An unbelievable, masterful book. Peck gives such an enjoyable to read, realistic picture of life with his characters. Peck with the beautiful yet deeply saddening ending to the book makes us ask, How well do we really know our friends? Thumbs up. A young adult masterpiece!

How well DO we know our best friends? The story of Kate, Trav, and Buck is one that opened my eyes to that question. Although their friendship looked like the typical friendship, Peck weaves subtle hints of Trav's background and personality that are easily missed if the reader isn't paying attention. The book ends with Kate and Buck wishing that they would have caught Trav's hints before it was too late. I think this book is definitely one that teens should read...maybe it will open their eyes like it did mine.

This book lingers long after you've put it down. I find myself returning to certain passages and rereading them often (particularly the jarring conclusion). This book beautifully captures the confusion, fear, longing, loneliness, and uncertainty of the teenage years. Peck introduces the characters and makes you feel as though you know them. We see the events through the eyes of Buck; from his first encounter with Kate at age twelve, to his friendship with her and Trav as they begin to grow up together.

High School is honestly portrayed in this novel, often sarcastically and never sugar-coated. The humor helps soften the alienation that students often feel during this time. As Buck says: "You could yell "Fire" in that school, and most people would think it didn't apply to them." Through this mess, Kate, Trav, and Buck emerged as close friends. There was some hint of rivalry between Trav and Buck for Kate's affections, but never enough to ruin the relationship. They were always there for each other. Nothing could spoil their friendship...or could it?

Most of the reviews and even the back cover of the book give away what happens in the end, but I won't do that here. To dwell on any one event is to ruin the effect of the entire novel as it shows how the events in our lives work together to change us and shape us as we grow into mature adults. Along the way, we find friends who help us on this difficult journey, and that is what this novel is really about: Friendship. Friends who are there to laugh, cry, talk, and listen. As Buck grows, he learns the value of true friendship, and this lesson helps him face the most challenging time of his life.

This book makes me cry every time I read it. It breaks my heart, and it gives me hope. As one character says, "We can't have a community until we are ready to be one," and it's true. But if the characters in this book can learn, maybe we can. So read. Laugh. Cry. Remember the good times in your own life, but look to the future, because "In your memories, it's never raining."

This book is one that tells you to listen to your friends because they might be telling you that they might need some sort of mental help. It describes how three friends each have a problem in their life and how they try to solve them. It also asks you, "How well do you know your friends?" This book has many clues as to what is going to happen at the end of the story. Peck gives great sadness and surprise to readers in this novel. I gave it two stars because the beginning was not very interesting.

This book was amazing
it had humor, insight, and a deep profound way of addressing different issues
Peck does an incredible job of bringing the characters to life without being overly descriptive. He gives you a starting point with the characters, and then lets your heart fill in the rest.
deep, profound, and thoughtprovoking, speaks to the heart. a simple book with a huge impact
this book will grab you and not let go. It will leave you pondering and wanting more.

REMEMBERING THE GOOD TIMES is one of Richard Peck's very best young adult novels and deserves to be read more. It is high interest and easy enough for struggling middle/early high school readers to read but well written enough that even sophisticated adult readers can appreciate it. It does a good job presenting its very sad yet important subject matter and several secondary adult characters are as well developed as the three main teen characters. An interesting subplot is the area's change from rural to upscale suburbia and its effect on the residents. Don't miss this one.