Customer Reviews

Split Image

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book would be a great addition to any YA collection.Although it is classified as "poetry," the entries are notat all obscured by high literary style. They read as fresh, high-school penned poetry ought to and should appeal to many students.

Part of this appeal lies in the controversial subject matter. The relationships between Laura Li and her mother, her brother, other students, and the school's librarian are both realistic and easily conveyed through each person's point of view. I found myself constantly wanting Laura Li to connect with someone--anyone--on a deeper level. The answer to whether or not she ever does will leave you breathless!

Thank you, Mel Glenn, for a fine, fine read.

I think that this book will appeal to people who truly enjoy reading and literature. In my view, it is a one of a kind, since it tells a story in a poem, rather than in pros. This gives it a sort of sing-song feel. The story itself is also very good, telling how a girl who looked so perfect to everyone on the outside, actually had many problems brewing inside, leading to a tragic end.

When I picked up this book I was sure I wouldn't like it because I'm not a big fan of poetry. But I read it anyway, thinking that I should at least give it a chance. I'm so glad I did! Even though this book is written in poetry form it's just like reading a book, except it's better. One reason I think this sounded better in poetry form is because that way you can see what everyone thinks of Laura Li. Some people love her, some people hate her, and some people just don't understand her.

From the outside looking in it seems like she has the perfect life. But she doesn't. She feels trapped in her life, being everything everyone wants her to be. So she starts sneaking out in the middle of the night, dancing in clubs with strange men. As you read further into the book her life get darker and darker then it had before. Dragging you deeper and deeper into her innermost thoughts. . .

Meet Laura Li, the most popular girl at school. Cold-hearted to some, yet "the prettiest girl in school" to others. People love her, people despise her. The want to ask her to the prom, they write her love letters and express themselves to her. They talk trash about her. The teachers love her. She works in the library during and after school. Her mother is strict and her father is almost never home. She has to take care of her older brother and lean the house. She can't stand her life. Late at night she sneaks out to dance clubs and dances with strange men. All of her emotions finally build up and her life goes nowhere but downhill.

Mel Glenn does an amazing job with this book. I read it in less then one day! I couldn't put it down. He shows the readers that not everyone is perfect. They might have problems at home and people might hate them. The true lie of a teenager- not very perfect. This book kept me in suspense the whole time, I felt anger and sorrow for Laura Li. The surprise in the end will truly shock you.

Hundreds of different viewpoints construct every high school -all spiraling upward from the same building--and the school depicted in Glenn's Split Image is no different. The focal point of these voices forms out of the library as one girl blossoms when she never could before. Laura Li is the protagonist of this story told--exclusively in poetry--but she is perhaps not the heroine. Not only her voice, but also the voices of the other students and teachers tell her story. One character in particular, Alejandro Felix, finds himself changing and growing as he gets to know Laura and her story. However wonderful she may seem in person, Laura's life is anything but perfect. She reveals exclusively to the reader her stifling home life and all of the conflicting emotions she feels between her Chinese heritage and the American culture surrounding her. Laura's story centers on her voyage to find herself, balance her heritage with the new culture, and to make it through emotional adolescence in one piece. Old and young can identify with this distraught girl and the other characters as they go through the emotions of humanity, speaking with their different voices through each poem. Split Image could not be better named: As each poem is presented, one more fragment of the shattered photograph exposes more of the truth.

Laura Li came over from China when she was little with her parents and her older brother, who is disabled. Since then her life has been difficult. Her father travels all of the time and Laura wishes with all of her heart that he would take her with him. She can't seem to do anything to please her mother, who thinks she's become too Americanized. And she is expected to devote her entire life to her brother, to plan her future around being nearby to take over his care when her parents get too old. There is a lot of pressure on Laura.

At school nobody really knows Laura very well, partly because she is always too embarrassed to invite anyone home with her. And her mother doesn't let her date or even talk to boys on the phone. Laura is very desirable, though, flirting with the boys who come to the library where she works, and breaking hearts left and right. Sometimes on weekends she sneaks out of her house and goes to a dance club to break even more hearts.

On the surface Laura's life seems to be okay to most people. But no one ever asks her what is going on in her mind, and so no one is able to see the pressure building up inside of her and threatening to boil over.

I liked that there were so many characters, each with a story to tell and a different point of view of Laura. I would have liked more insight into the functioning of Laura's family, though. It would have been nice to know what, exactly, was wrong with Laura's brother and why he couldn't communicate with her. I also would have liked to have seen what Laura's father was thinking about his family.

Ever wonder what everyone thought about you? This book collects the thoughts of Laura's classmates, teachers, and faculty members. Some love her, others loathe her. Laura struggles with how others perceive her. You as the reader are privvy to everyone's honest opinions of her; had Laura herself know what they truly thought, things may have gone differently for her. The ending may shock you, and the writing style will encourage readers to look at events from more than one perspective.

Also recommended for multiple perspectives: Leap Day by Wendy Mass and The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan.

This book explores the life of one girl and the perceptions others have of her. The layout of the text gives the story more power and immediacy. The points of view change quickly from one character to the next. This book could be used as a springboard for some interesting discussions about duty, race, love, appearances, suicide, etc. A short read, but highly recommended.

I thought that this book was very good, but also very interesting. It was neat how the book was written in poems, but I thought that there were too many characters. I would definately read this book again for a short read. I thought it was awsome.

"Split Image" By Mel Glenn. Laura-Li is a romodel for all. Shes smart, funny, pretty and works at the library. Everyone looks up to her, some are even jealous of her, others admirer her. But after dark its another story. Laura-Li sneaks out at night to loud banging clubs and is introduced to the 'world of drugs'. Here she forgets all of her troubles at home, taking care of her brother, her strict mother, and her father being away. Laura-Li thinks that she has to solve her problems with taking her own life "It is time, perhaps to dance without stopping at the bar of heaven's gate". Shes not the perfect angel we all thought."Split Image" was really sad, but life changing.