The White Mercedes [Turtleback]

Philip Pullman (Author)

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media; Reprint edition (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606128468
• ISBN-13: 978-0606128469
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Young Adult IS appropriate, June 10, 2005

By 

Roger Reynolds (Fort Worth, Tx) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The White Mercedes (Mass Market Paperback)

Enough with Romeo and Juliet, enough with 'near-pornography'! The fact that this is a tragedy reminiscent of Shakespeare is used as a contrast of R&J, not a retelling.

Its flaws are of logical plot turns and character, not a misplacement in the young adult genre. It IS a young adult novel, written about a boy and girl more realistic, perhaps, than parents would like their children to read about, but it is far from pornographic (look in your school libraries for Tropic of Cancer and Ulysses if you want something to get angry about). Much is said here about Chapter 6, but what of Chapter 13? Is sex so much worse than an innocent's death? Young people read more graphic things in Cosmo and the Bible.

This novel is about powerlessness and self-doubt in the face of Fate, and in that it succeeds better than most.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern addition to Pullman's scope of wonderful books, January 11, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The White Mercedes (Mass Market Paperback)

Philip Pullman has done it again in this captivating novel about trust, betrayal and love. While His Dark Materials was delightful in an innocent, fantastical sort of way, this book seemed a bit darker, more honest, and truer to our life. None of those things are bad or good; they're just different; and if you're expecting another THE GOLDEN COMPASS, change your expectations or you may be startled. This is an older children's book, more for fans of Chris Crutcher than C.S. Lewis. The characters are like people you meet on the street, not "destiny children" like Lyra and Will. They have dark pasts and modern-day troubles. You will love them and understand them as normal contemporary people.

Pullman's descriptions bring the print of the book to real life. Without ever boring you, he lets you feel Chris's emotions, and Jenny's, and their feelings about their pasts and each other. It's a tragedy book with plentiful references to child abuse, sex and troubled families, which means I wouldn't give it to a ten-year-old who adored HIS DARK MATERIALS, but read it yourself and give it to him in a few years' time, and he'll love it for what it is: a compelling modern masterpiece.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UNFORGETTABLE!, August 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The White Mercedes (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book! I've never read a book by this author before but now i'm hooked... This book kept me on the edge of my seat, i didn't want to put it down. Anyways , i recommend this book to anyone who loves a good book.