The Trouble With Liberty (Orca Soundings) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kristin Butcher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Orca Soundings | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Liberty wants her way - at any cost. (RL4.2)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-While watching her brother in a calf-roping event, 15-year-old Val meets a wealthy and beautiful teen who is new in town. Liberty is every girl's nightmare and every boy's dream. However, when she accuses a popular teacher of attempted rape, she exposes herself to be a liar and a masterful manipulator. Val narrates this well-written, fast-paced novella that will hook readers. Even though it is geared toward reluctant readers, many teens will be able to relate to the situations.
Susan Geye, Crowley Ninth Grade Campus, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Everyone who has gone to high school has met a manipulator like Liberty...This book was an absolute page-turner...Highly Recommended." (CM Magazine 20040101)

"A well-written novel with believable characters and colourful expressions." (Resource Links )

"[A] well-written, fast-paced novella that will hook readers. Even though it is geared toward reluctant readers, many teens will be able to relate to the situations." (School Library Journal )

"Butcher accurately captures the gossipy social milieu of a school and a small community...Recommended." (Canadian Book Review Annual )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551432749
• ISBN-13: 978-1551432748
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,162,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Like most people who enjoy writing, I also love to read. As a child, I couldn't wait to begin school so I could learn how. To me it seemed like magic. Books were treasure chests jammed full of glorious adventures and ideas, but I didn't have the key. I had to rely on my parents and older sister to read to me, and that just wasn't good enough. I wanted to do it myself. And I wasn't disappointed. Reading was everything I had hoped it would be. The only thing that frustrates me now is the knowledge that there are more books than I'll ever get to in my lifetime.

I've noticed when I read author biographies, that many writers are or have been teachers. I'm not quite sure why that is, but it is--and I'm no exception. For me, teaching was good because it helped me to understand children better. You see, I never really was one myself. Children are active, and I've always been more of a watcher than a doer. Maybe that's why I never learned to swim or skate very well. Perhaps it's also why I was farmed off to the outfield during neighbourhood baseball games. I shouldn't give the impression that I was a washout at everything. I could climb trees, though I was even better at falling out of them. And I rode a bike; I even have an assortment of scars to prove it. I may not have been overly athletic, but I did have a great imagination and super friends. We put on theatrical extravaganzas, produced magazines, ran detective agencies, held funerals for birds, operated roadside stands of many varieties, and conducted safaris in the woods behind our homes. I always think I grew up in a wonderful era, but perhaps it's all in the way I choose to remember it. But I do remember it--vividly--and that helps me in my writing. I can't imagine that I'll ever run out of ideas for stories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars asrar, December 27, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Trouble With Liberty (Orca Soundings) (Mass Market Paperback)

Meet Liberty Hayes, and no, she doesn't give anyone any ground, whether at a rodeo, at school, or anywhere else. Liberty has just moved to Sutter's Crossing, and happily takes up Val's invitation to introduce her to other kids (including Val's cute brother, Cody) in her Grade Ten class during the last week before school. Good looks, family wealth, and incredible personal magnetism - Liberty seems to have it all, and in no time, she's gone from nervous newcomer to the girl who is "in the middle of it all." Of course, in no time, Liberty has a boyfriend, too: Cody McQueen. The only person who doesn't want to be part of Liberty's charmed circle is Val's friend, Ryan. Ryan's coolness to Liberty bothers Val, especially because he won't open up to just why he feels the way he does.
Liberty is not an academic star; showing off hot new clothes, trolling for parties, and checking out hot guys are school's main attractions. The only subject that really interests her is band, taught by Mr. Henderson, "a total hunk." Used to getting what she wants from every man she meets, from her father to the entire male population of Clarence Cobb Regional Secondary, it doesn't take long for Liberty to act on her attraction to Mr. Henderson. She becomes every teacher's nightmare: the student who lodges a false accusation of sexual misconduct. As the story unfolds, it is Ryan who knows the truth behind Liberty's false accusation of rape and Val who confronts Liberty with it.

3.0 out of 5 stars A quick teen read, January 17, 2010

By 

Brittany Moore "Reading Nook" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Trouble With Liberty (Orca Soundings) (Mass Market Paperback)

Val McQueen meets a girl named Liberty Hayes at a rodeo. They become the best of friends and Liberty even ends up dating Cody, Val's brother. When school starts up and Val tries to introduce her old friend Ryan to Liberty both of them act quite standoffish. A few days later Liberty stays after in band to get an instrument fixed. She ends up accusing their teacher of trying to rape her. Val has to decide whose side she's on when Ryan tells her something startling about Liberty. Did Liberty make it all up to win her fathers affection? Is Liberty even who she says she is?

This was a very quick read, with necessarily developed characters. I'm sure we all know people like Liberty who just want to make sure they are the center of whatever universe they inhabit. I recommend picking this up if your library has it. It may not be quite good enough to buy however, especially since it's so short. It was a good read, with good writing and a good quick storyline. That's all I have to say on the matter.

First Line:
"Forget the grizzly bear."

Favorite Line:
"But - except for some strategically placed embroidered flowers - it was totally sheer."

3.0 out of 5 stars the book, January 12, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Trouble With Liberty (Orca Soundings) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the novel "The Trouble With Liberty" by Kristin Butcher, this book is about a girl named liberty hanes. she meets a girl named val they became best friends they hanged out the hole summer. liberty is the kinda of girl who has nice cloths alots of money alwasy looking pretty evey person wants to be her friend in school becuase they think she is the coolest person in the school.
liberty then deals with internal problems she starts realizing that eveytime she lies peopl would always find out the true about it. The trouble with libert is herself she always want it her way she think she is better then anyone and perfect then anyone. by asrar