Razzle

Rating:
Summary: RAZZLE is both funny and touching.
Review: "Life has been one long snooze," Kenyon Baker tells us in the fist line of Ellen Wittlinger's new novel, RAZZLE. He's been the nice boy for so long. None of the girls at his mother's private school notice him at all. No one questions his goody two shoes status and no one asks Kenyon if he is happy. So when Ken's parents retire and move to Cape Cod, Ken isn't too upset --- especially after striking a deal with his parents. In exchange for his helping to rehabilitate some rundown cottages, Kenyon gets the use of one for the summer. He savors the idea of having his own place. And he really likes the idea of having his own darkroom.

Ken decides to explore his new environment through the lens of his camera. Or at least that's the plan. Then he meets a strange girl during a trip to the town dump with his mother. Razzle, named for the angel of mysteries, lives with her grandmother, brother, and a dozen dogs. Her mother isn't around very often. She has never left Cape Cod and doesn't want to. Razzle likes Ken but she doesn't like Harley, the local cool girl. Harley has all the boys begging for her attention and when she begins to take an interest in Kenyon, Razzle warns him that Harley will eventually hurt him. Ken, being male, refuses to listen. He doesn't want to believe such a beauty could be evil. Razzle must then watch as Harley has Ken running in circles, twisting their friendship and getting him to make compromises with his photography.

RAZZLE is both funny and touching. Wittlinger unfolds a story about friendship and change with great skill. I especially appreciate her portrait of the people who live year-round in a place where most other people only go for pleasure. While she shies away from the most famous towns on the Cape, like Provincetown, she does manage to give a glimpse of what life there is like for natives while showing a complete picture of a smaller town.

People on Cape Cod say that once you begin to recognize the smell of the Cape, or get its sand in your shoes, you'll always return. Take Ellen Wittlinger's invitation and get sand in your shoes by reading RAZZLE!

--- Reviewed by Cassia Van Arsdale




Rating:
Summary: It will give you sand in your shoes!
Review: An extra credit reading assignment for my freshman English H class brought me to this book that is currently up for some award and our teacher wants us to read all the books and vote for our favorite at the end of the year....
and i definitely got sand in my shoes!! This book was great! a little predictable... I mean Frank was her dad right?.... guess u got to read it! I guess it wasn't totally predictable but it was an interesting book about th every weird relationship between Kenyon and Razzle.. Razzle is a kid w/ a screwed up family but she still manages to be reallly creatinve (definitely not a perwin!) Good book Id reccomend it... 2nd or 3rd favorite of the books ive read so far in the book club

Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: I stumbled upon this book while I was searching for the ones I wanted from my books-to-get list. The title and the back summary sounded interesting so I went ahead and gave it a shot.

Razzle is one of the better books out there available for young people. The story is nice and unique. Usually I skip through sentences and just skim through the boring parts. However, this book had neither so I read the whole 247 pages of it verbatim.

It doesn't try to be romantic or cheesy. It takes a closer look to a teen's viewpoint with successfully sounding truthful. I enjoyed the fact that the protagonist is a budding 15-year-old photographer. His passion for photography is so convincing that you will want to pick up a camera and turn your bathroom to a darkroom.

Razzle is not the best out there but it should gain more recognition. All in all, nice read.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT Book
Review: I think the book "Razzle" is a great book! It is suspenseful and thrilling. It's about a guy named Kenyon who moves to Cape Cod with his family. There he meets a girl named Razzle at the city dump. Razzle is a weird girl you wouldn't expect to ever meet. She lives with her grandma named Billie and her brother named Ezra. Her mom doesn't live with them because Billie never gets along with her. Razzle's father died before Razzle was even born. Later Razzle introduces Kenyon to a guy and his girlfriend named Harley. Harley and Razzle are like enemies. Harley starts to like Kenyon and obviously Kenyon likes Harley. Harley is gorgeous. Kenyon's mom ends up giving Harley a job working as a sort of maid at the huts that Kenyon's family is renting out to tourists. Also Kenyon befriends the plumber his dad hires. I recommend this book to everyone it is a fun read and I know people will enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: A book for the different
Review: I'm pleased with this book. I've read it in school from the library, expecting something not what it was.

You can get the basic plot from other reviews.

What really intrigues me is the characters. Razzle is a character that's not afraid to be different. I admire that.

I thought I would have more to say... Eh... BUY IT.

Or at least read it.

The writing flows nicely, and gives the slightly detatched feel I like in a book, while still giving lots of emotion in the wordings.

Rating:
Summary: Descriminating Readers Beware!
Review: It looks innocent enough. There is nothing in the front cover jacket to warn you otherwise. Nor will you find anything in opposition to this book anywhere on the internet that I can find. In fact it is recommended reading for those 12yrs. and up. My opinion is to the contrary.

My middle-schooler brought this book home from her school library. and after about 20 pages into the book SHE brought it to my attention that she was uncomfortable with the contents. After reviewing the book myself I was shocked and saddened that such a book would be readily available in the public school library, particularly for the 11-13 yr old set.

The main characters in this book may be only 15 and 16 but the subject matter of their lives covers everything from drugs, homosexuality, and abortion to pre-marital sex (it's encouraged), orgasms and suicide (to name a few).

You will find in the book (pg 193) a description of the main character (Kenyon) putting his hands up a girl's shirt to feel her breasts. There is also a very soap opera-like ending in which the young girl (Razzle) finds out the truth about her father who actually committed suicide before she was born because her mother lied and told him that she had gotten pregnant from another man. There are also plenty of swear words (all but the "F" word). These are just a few of the "off-color" highlights.

I am grateful that my daughter brought this book to my attention before she read more than she needed in her young and impressionable mind.

Hopefully this information will keep those who would prefer to pick books with a different standard from making the same mistake she did.

Rating:
Summary: Razzle
Review: razzle is a book about a 15 year old boy named kenyon baker. kenyon moves from boston to cape cod. he thinks he is losing all of his friends, but does not realize he may gain some on the cape. he meets a nice, but very weird girl named razzle. their friendship strenthens over the summer. and they eventually become best friends. the author shows great detail. for example, when kenyon is taking pictures of his beautiful, yet snobby girlfriend harley, he describes it like this. "harley, heavily made up and barefoot, vamping her way down the sand hill- me capturing every twist and pout on film. this is a great way to describe a 15 year old's reaction to a subject he finds appealing. however the plot moved somewhat slowly. frank, kenyon's plumber comes into the picture when he knows a secret about razzle's father. the secret is not revealed until the very end, and it seems like forever until the reader discovers what the secret is, but it does keep you involved.this book can be picked up and read by anyone. even though the plot moves slowly it is easy to read. it is a story about growing up and maturing at an age where you might not make the best decisions. it is a great book for children 13 and up.

Rating:
Summary: Razzle is a Dazzling Book
Review: Razzle is one of the most diverse and interesting book I have read. I am a 15 year old girl and can relate to what happens in the book whether it happens around me everyday or it has happened to me personally. Many many people could relate to this book in some way or another. That, I believe, is why everyone loves the book if I ask them about it.

Someone is always wanting to have the prettier girl or guy,leaving behind someone they care for along the way, getting hurt by that prettier girl or guy, going back to the person they hurt and then get rejected. It happens in high school. But knowing about it and reading about it are two different things. You get a better understanding for what can really happen.

This book gives you a mixture of feelings that can embrace your heart or break it. If you are one of those people that doesn't like to read a book that takes a long to get into you will like this book from the very beginning. Once I picked up the book I couldn't put it down. You'll love it!!

Rating:
Summary: Very good book
Review: THis book was wonderful. you can read some of the other reviews if you want a summary, but i dont want to waste my space with that. Its not one of those corny happy ending books where everyone is happy. those can be good if your in the right mood, but this is more of a truthfull real life book. there are some parts where you are worried for the characters, or sad. it makes your heart ache sometimes. it is very good and even though i dont like the other books by this author, this ones a keeper. i would like to comment on a review a little further down the list, by airwhacka i think. dont listen to her. she is a very closeminded person. she says she is shocked from this book, but i am shocked that she can be so closeminded that she doesnt want her daugther to read this. i mean, yes this book includes a gay man, and teenagers feeling each other up , and confrotational things like abortion and teen pregenency and suicide, but it is all done very tastefully and realistically. she is in denial if she thinks that this book isnt the way things are some places. This book makes you want to be one of the people in the story, they are so wonderful and unique (well, i want to be razzle. i like her) i hope this helped you.by the way, i am a high school student, 16, and other kids in my school have been doing these kinds of things since eight grade for some. this is how things really are.

Rating:
Summary: Read This Book NOW
Review: This is the best Ellen Wittlinger book I have ever read - high praise for a wonderful author with other amazing books.

Fifteen year old Kenyon is resentful that his parents bought a group of vacation cabins in Cape Cod and moved him there without asking so they could enjoy a peaceful retirement in picture perfect settings. He's been enlisted to fix up the dilapidated buildings when he'd rather be taking endless rolls of film and exploring the different angles and facets of photography.

As the summer progresses, he develops a friendship with Razzle Penney - weirdo extraordinaire, but great person and wonderfully crafted character. A relationship with sexy but shallow Harley threatens to ruin everything he has with Razzle and others in the small town.

You won't want to put this book down. The characters are some of the most vivid I have ever read about. I wanted it to keep going forever.