Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Power of Won, September 2, 2008
"There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar
Great expectations, everybody's watching you
People you meet, they all seem to know you
Even your old friends treat you like you're something new"
(Eagles)
There's a new book in town, and the secret is out.
Even a dedicated underachiever like Caleb Dunne submits to peer pressure (or rather, girlfriend pressure) and reluctantly finds himself a part of a rapidly expanding school club based on the new book "The Rule of Won".
The thing is, the club members seem pretty obsessed by the teachings of the book, the latest big thing to hit Screech Neck High School in recent memory, and the self proclaimed leader Ethan Skinson is pulling out all the stops.
And then there's Ethan's sister Alyssa, who has a secret of her own, and the guys from the Newspaper Club who are ready to write an expose against all odds.
Caleb is happy to go with the flow and ride the tide if it will make Vicky happy, but when things start getting out of control in a big way, he has to decide whether it's time to take a stand against the group, and Ethan.
A high school tale about peer pressure and the difficulties to be expected when one dares to be different; the story also has a nice little touch of the supernatural to spice it up, and is recommended for readers from age 12 and up.
Rated: 4.5 stars
Amanda Richards, September 2, 2008
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A slacker steps up for what's right, April 28, 2009
Review by Jill Williamson
Caleb Dune is a major slacker. He lives to laze around. His overachieving girlfriend, Vicky, is not only running for class president, she has read a book called The Rule of Won that showed her a new way to live successfully. And she is bent on getting Caleb to read it too.
Caleb gives in to make her happy. He's not sure he buys the whole thing, but, being a slacker, it's easier to join the club and make Vicki happy, than to take a stand against it and face her anger. So Caleb joins up. He wears the button proclaiming him a member and chants along with the other club members as they try to get what they want by wishing for it.
When things start to work out, Caleb gets excited. This is the ultimate slacker way of life. If he can simply wish for things and have them happen, he'll never have to do anything in life. But things start to get out of control. People get hurt, and Caleb discovers some things about the club that upset him. Can he simply turn his back on The Rule or will he have to take a stand for what is right, even if it means doing something hard?
I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and true of human nature to not only follow the crowd, but to look for easy answers in life. Caleb got sucked into the cult by simply wanting to make his girlfriend happy. It was creepy--and sometimes hysterical--to read the things the members of the cult posted on the message board. I didn't like the swearing in the book, and because of it, couldn't recommend it on my blog, which was a shame. Swearing in books for teens doesn't make them more relatable, it just turns them off to certain people and limits the book's audience. Regardless, the message of this book is a good one of you don't mind the swearing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
When The Secret Meets Teen Fanaticism , December 8, 2008
"Because of bad experiences, bad teaching, or just bad expectations, most of us expect the worst from life, so that's what most of us get. The universe *only* gives you what you ask for, so if you think about getting sick long enough, you'll get sick. If you imagine someone beating you up long enough, someone will beat you up. *But*...imagine getting a new car long enough and that'll happen, too. Imagine losing weight or gaining muscle, and you will." - From The Rule of Won
What happens when a group of students at Screech Neck High School gets their hands on a Secret-esque teaching promising that if you can imagine it, you can manifest it? What of those who are dubious, who dare to question the concept of "imanifesting"?
At first, when Duppie (downwardly mobile) Ethan Skinson begins evangelizing the teachings of Jasper Trelawney, author of the mega book The Rule of Won, students slowly, cautiously attend meetings called "Craves". Using "mesmories" to "imanifest" their "craves", students begin to focus on individual wants to bring into being.
When someone suggests "imanifesting" more school funding for Screech Neck High--and it happens--group enthusiasm skyrockets. School-wide fervor ensues, with students (and even the principal) wearing "1" pins and yelling crave chants in the halls.
Slacker and loner extraordinaire Caleb Dunne wants nothing to do with the group--until his girlfriend Vicky practically gives him an ultimatum: get with the craving, the "imanifesting"--or get shut out of her life.
When Caleb begins to see things happening--including wishing for his bus to stop as it was driving away without him (the driver does, indeed, brake and pick him up)--he, too, becomes a believer.
But what of the magical drawings that Ethan's sister produces? Are they linked--or even the source--of the amazing manifestations? And what happens when members have conflicting "craves"--or want the group to "imanifest" differing scenarios?
With bold, compelling strokes, author Stefan Petrucha paints an unsettling portrait of what happens when groupthink rules--and immature teens turn on each other in the quest for the best...and in order vanquish the enemies of supposed negativity.
Cleverly melding "actual" discussion board posts from Cravers--from an Xbox and an iPod to more serious requests like safety for relatives overseas in the military--with student interaction, private thoughts and euphoric Crave meetings, Petrucha offers an unflinching look at fanaticism and its bloody (and almost deadly) aftermath.
For those who have reservations about The Secret and similar teachings, The Rule of Won (geared towards those ages 12 and up) will only confirm your misgivings. However, Petrucha doesn't throw the New Age baby out with the bathwater: while he does depict the dangers of wanton materialism combined with zealotry, the possibility--and actuality--of some tenants of manifestation are left intact.
Rather than write with a judgmental tone, the author presents an all-too-plausible scenario that could occur in isolated settings, yet refuses to offer easy answers or pat condemnation of the Law of Attraction (and similar teachings).
A gripping read, The Rule of Won would appeal to teens that enjoy Young Adult novels centering on relationship conflicts and cliques. Teachers will appreciate the sensitive treatment of themes like bullying, herd mentality and acceptance. Lastly, those who welcome novels exploring the juncture between metaphysical concepts and the "ground level" vagaries of life will consider reading The Rule of Won time well spent (as I did).
-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book
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