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El Blanco
Cuando su tía muere, Emily aprende que todo lo que sabiþa sobre su famila es una mentira. Su madre no es su madre, y Emily trata de averiguar la verdad sobre su pasado.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 19, 2024
I read this by accident because it was shelved in the adult section and I picked it up with another book by an author with a similar name thinking they were both by the same author. The teenaged protagonist, whose whole story is told in the first person, seems terribly immature for a 17-year-old and reacts more like she's 12 or 13. Most of the secondary characters, especially Sandra the adoptive mother, seem to have no personalities or backstories that would have brought the story to life. The plot itself is painfully predictable and resolved in a predictable way, but then I think this is a high-interest, low-vocabulary book for struggling readers in the first place rather than a deep dive into genuine teenage experience. Only one character feels genuine to me, and I’m curious about what a real 17-year-old reader would make of this. It’s certainly not the kind of book you’d give a young person as a gift, and reminded me of those abridged classics that all the tasty meat boiled off and left students with a shaky skeleton of a book; but it would be an interesting springboard for discussion in a secondary school writing class.
March 3, 2023
When I first decided to read Bull's Eye by Sarah N. Harvey, I thought the book would be about how to make a bull's eye. I was wrong. This book is about an 18-year-old girl named Emily going through family issues. After Emily's mom dies, she learns that everything said to her has been a lie. Emily is forced to face that her mother is not who she thought she was. Her Aunt Sandra kept it a secret to protect Emily and waited until she was eighteen to tell her the truth.
What I love about this book is how it describes Emily as outgoing and shows that she's trying to find the truth about her past. Another thing that I love is the suspense the author creates in the story. For example, when Emily didn’t know that Sandra was her aunt. I can't entirely agree with everything Harvey wrote about Emily, like when she left and ghosted her aunt for an entire week. But I still recommend this book because of its exciting and climactic story. Bull's Eye is one of the better books I have read.
What I love about this book is how it describes Emily as outgoing and shows that she's trying to find the truth about her past. Another thing that I love is the suspense the author creates in the story. For example, when Emily didn’t know that Sandra was her aunt. I can't entirely agree with everything Harvey wrote about Emily, like when she left and ghosted her aunt for an entire week. But I still recommend this book because of its exciting and climactic story. Bull's Eye is one of the better books I have read.
January 23, 2024
This book is about a girl finding out that she is adopted (no spoilers, it's on the back of the book). She goes around looking for things from her past, trying to find her father and finding out things about her real family. The entire time, she is heavily avoiding her non-biological mother. She even runs to a completely different state at one point. After returning home, she starts randomly spray painting a bull's eye onto different surfaces around her town (this is because the bar her father worked at is called the Bull's Eye). She eventually gets caught and has to face the consequences of what she did.
The main subject of the novel is the teenage years. It's the classic story of a teenager running away at the smallest bump in their life. The story would have benefitted from showing more emotion and more care about the events. Every interaction felt so rigid, like a black-and-white movie from the 60's.
I liked some parts of the novel, but it was kind of overshadowed by a lot of things. The story felt kind of relatable at some points, but I can't assure you that other people would have this same feeling. The novel is just alright. I would probably recommend this to my friends who aren't very advanced in reading. Coming in at 104 pages, with probably the biggest text size I have seen since 2nd grade, this book is incredibly easy to read. If someone asked me if the book was good, I would say "Mmmm, yeah. It's alright."
The main subject of the novel is the teenage years. It's the classic story of a teenager running away at the smallest bump in their life. The story would have benefitted from showing more emotion and more care about the events. Every interaction felt so rigid, like a black-and-white movie from the 60's.
I liked some parts of the novel, but it was kind of overshadowed by a lot of things. The story felt kind of relatable at some points, but I can't assure you that other people would have this same feeling. The novel is just alright. I would probably recommend this to my friends who aren't very advanced in reading. Coming in at 104 pages, with probably the biggest text size I have seen since 2nd grade, this book is incredibly easy to read. If someone asked me if the book was good, I would say "Mmmm, yeah. It's alright."
September 19, 2017
The book I read, Bull’s Eye, was an okay book. Basically it’s about a girl. This girl learns that her Mom is not her real mom and that her actual mom is deceased and died recently. She learns this through letters. Go through this emotional roller coaster as she tries to find out who her dad is. While reading this I found the book to be kind of disturbing as well as sad. For example, the book described how the main girl of this story, thought that not only her half-brother was hot, but that she had to stop herself from flirting with him. I also found this sad because of how bad this girl’s luck was. I enjoyed this book, because of the emotional roller coaster that it causes. The girl was happy, which she then turned to depressed. Then, she became curious and many more effects. All in all, I thought this book to be good if you’re in to sad stories with happy endings.
April 1, 2018
Si yo estuviera en la misma situación que Emily, no se que yo haría. Yo no me puedo imaginar que mi tía sea mi verdadera mamá porque yo tengo los ojos igualitos a los ojos de mi madre. Si yo me entero de que mi tía es mi verdadera madre, yo estuviera muy triste porque quiero mucho a mi madre, pero estuviera un poco contento porque quiero mucho a mi tía. Mi vida definitivamente cambiará mucho. Yo me tendrá que mudar para Tampa, Florida donde vive mi tia y me tendrá que despedir de mi mamá que es el amor de mi vida. Creo que yo no pudiera irme de mi casa porque me encanta estar donde yo vivo y porque todos mis amigos después me van a hacer mucha falta. Ahora que lo pienso, lo que pasó Emily fue algo bien difícil.
April 19, 2018
Bull's eye is a good book because the plot and the events that go down in the book are awesome but sad at the same time. For example, how would you feel when your supposedly called mom turns out to be your aunt after you grown up with her almost your whole life. Then, you get a box in the mail one day and your "mom" freaks out and finally comes out and tells you that she is your aunt and that your mom actually died and but she said that your "aunt" died. So, then you go on a rampage mad at the world and you go and try and find your dad in Vancouver. Finds him talks with him and comes home. She starts doing bad things; for instance, she spray paints her school. Does her community service and finds a little girl that has burn marks on her arms and she reports it and talks with her mom about adopting her and she becomes her "sister".
January 10, 2020
The book bullseye is about a girl who goes through some tough times as a kid and finds out that one of her crazy relatives is actually her mom but she can’t call her that anymore because it feels weird to call her that. My honest opinion about the book is that I really like it. I would give it a 4 out of 5 because I like how the format of the book was and it was interesting. The theme of this book is never giving up on family.
January 16, 2018
Mature subject matter when finding out about her biological dad, but other than that a good story about dealing with life when it throws you a curve.
August 8, 2019
Read it within an hour and I really liked it. Nothing spectacular, just a good book meant for the 11-14 year olds.
December 21, 2022
Short, but a great read
November 6, 2015
The Book “Bull’s Eye” by Sarah N. Harvey is an interesting read. The back of the books says, “In the photograph, Aunt Donna is very, very pregnant. My mother is not. I look up at my mom and she is crying silently, with her hand over her mouth. I just make it to the bathroom before I lose my breakfast, my lunch and my mind.” A rather vague description for what’s ahead when reading this short story.
The story starts off with Emily who is the main character of the story. She finds out that her ‘aunt’ died, but later finds out in the letters she has received that her ‘aunt’ is actually her mom. The person who Emily is living with is actually her aunt. Emily throws temper tantrums for not knowing that information and later decides to set off into a journey to know more about her real mother and father.
As the story progresses… It eventually leads to a point where Emily starts vandalizing places by spray painting them a bull’s eye. Later getting caught for spray painting the school (the cover of the book shows the bull’s eye). Emily goes through therapy and now has to babysit a little girl called April. Things go down, and I thought that part of the story gets really cool. More better than the part when Emily was researching about her deceased parents which I found to be not as interesting.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s not a big reader to read this book. It’s a short story (104 pages), and while things take big turns in the book, it keeps you wanting to read more just to see what happens next. There are however some parts that make you want to hate Emily though, so bare that in mind.
The story starts off with Emily who is the main character of the story. She finds out that her ‘aunt’ died, but later finds out in the letters she has received that her ‘aunt’ is actually her mom. The person who Emily is living with is actually her aunt. Emily throws temper tantrums for not knowing that information and later decides to set off into a journey to know more about her real mother and father.
As the story progresses… It eventually leads to a point where Emily starts vandalizing places by spray painting them a bull’s eye. Later getting caught for spray painting the school (the cover of the book shows the bull’s eye). Emily goes through therapy and now has to babysit a little girl called April. Things go down, and I thought that part of the story gets really cool. More better than the part when Emily was researching about her deceased parents which I found to be not as interesting.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s not a big reader to read this book. It’s a short story (104 pages), and while things take big turns in the book, it keeps you wanting to read more just to see what happens next. There are however some parts that make you want to hate Emily though, so bare that in mind.
February 5, 2016
After reading, “Bull’s Eye” by Sarah Harvey I felt as though the book was a great read and enticing when read. As Sarah kept going through the story and adding more detail about the loss of her Aunt, I didn’t want to stop reading it! It all came together very well toward the ends with the details you waited for throughout the whole book and I would have to say this would be one of the most highly recommended books that I would have teenagers read. Even if you take one glance at it and notice that it’s a very short read, you will find the full detail that the author gives when reading this book.
With this book Emily, a teenage girl who just recently lost her Aunt. She feels as her whole life has just came crashing down when she finds out her mom has been lying to her for her whole life. Which leads Emily to become a rebellious child and she starts vandalizing different places, including her school. Throughout the book Emily faces different struggles and complications in her life which leads her to distance herself from her mom until she realizes what her mom has done for her.
When I first started reading this book I thought that it wouldn’t be very detailed and I thought that content would be super boring considering how small it is, but I was completely wrong once I really got into it. It was definitely a page turner to the point you will not want to put it down until it is finished! This book is ideal for young teens which shows what love is and how you shouldn’t take life for granted. If you are skeptical about smaller books, but want a quick and enjoyable read, “Bull’s eye” is definitely for you!
With this book Emily, a teenage girl who just recently lost her Aunt. She feels as her whole life has just came crashing down when she finds out her mom has been lying to her for her whole life. Which leads Emily to become a rebellious child and she starts vandalizing different places, including her school. Throughout the book Emily faces different struggles and complications in her life which leads her to distance herself from her mom until she realizes what her mom has done for her.
When I first started reading this book I thought that it wouldn’t be very detailed and I thought that content would be super boring considering how small it is, but I was completely wrong once I really got into it. It was definitely a page turner to the point you will not want to put it down until it is finished! This book is ideal for young teens which shows what love is and how you shouldn’t take life for granted. If you are skeptical about smaller books, but want a quick and enjoyable read, “Bull’s eye” is definitely for you!
November 16, 2010
One day Emily receives a package that changes her life. The contents of the package prove the woman whom she thought was her mother is really her aunt and her late aunt, whom she never knew, was really her mother. Emily decides to travel from her home in Victoria to Vancouver, to learn more about her mother and possibly locate her father. Written at just above a fourth grade reading level, this novel is perfect for struggling and reluctant young adult readers. The eventful plot and fast pace should hold readers' interest. Harvey is successful at capturing an authentic teenage voice full of doubt and angst. The manageable length (104 pages) and eye catching cover art give the title shelf appeal. As with all Orca Soundings titles, the font size and margins are slightly larger than usual, making the book less intimidating. Despite its intriguing premise, Bull's Eye's unappealing heroine might cause readers to put the book down unread. Emily is irrational and ungrateful for her many blessings. For example, her immediate hatred of her adoptive mother, who has loved and cared for her for eighteen years, renders her unsympathetic. Although Emily softens some by the novel's end, it isn't enough to forgive her brutish behavior. Recommended for purchase where hi-lo books are in demand, otherwise, an additional purchase.
February 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading one of Sarah Harvey's books and may not be my last. The story begins with a normal teenage girl but as the story progresses the plot becomes more and more interesting and really pulled me in. I think the best thing about this book is how unpredictable the main character is. You can never really expect what her next action will be, so that makes you want to find out what will happen in the next page or chapter. The book has a lot of cliffhangers similar to those on your favorite TV show.
Another thing I liked about this book is its ability to interconnect key details throughout the whole book. Everything in the book adds on and is relevant to the plot. The book shows the process of the dramatic emotions the teenage girl experiences and also shows her peculiar responses because her story is very unique. The book was also very descriptive and used imagery to the best of its advantage, I could easily interpret everything and paint a picture in my mind.
The only thing I would change about this book is the character selection. Maybe if the main character was male, it might appeal and relate a bit more to me just because I am a male as well and I might better understand some references and actions that were in the book. Otherwise, the book is very interesting, descriptive, and a bit addicting.
Another thing I liked about this book is its ability to interconnect key details throughout the whole book. Everything in the book adds on and is relevant to the plot. The book shows the process of the dramatic emotions the teenage girl experiences and also shows her peculiar responses because her story is very unique. The book was also very descriptive and used imagery to the best of its advantage, I could easily interpret everything and paint a picture in my mind.
The only thing I would change about this book is the character selection. Maybe if the main character was male, it might appeal and relate a bit more to me just because I am a male as well and I might better understand some references and actions that were in the book. Otherwise, the book is very interesting, descriptive, and a bit addicting.
February 18, 2016
"Bull's Eye" is a fairly short but good quick read and it almost a mystery book were you learn more and more about her and she learns more about herself as well. I would highly recommend anyone for this book if they are looking for a fast read. The story hooks you in so you don't want to stop reading and you will end up reading a lot of the book in one sitting.
The books main character is Emily, who is a teenager struggling after the death of her aunt. Because she learns that her mom had been lying to her for pretty much her whole life. And then she starts freaking out and runs away. And it takes a long adventure and after meeting many people she begins to realize who she is and becomes thankful for her mom even though she is very upset with her.
The books detail is amazing and really does make up for how short the book is and locks you in so that you will be done fast and you won't put it off more and more. I would say that this book is for older kids and younger teens as it is a small book but it has some good life lessons that any kid could learn from like appreciating your parents and family for what they do and for who they are. And some kids now a day I feel might not appreciate what their parents do for them.
The books main character is Emily, who is a teenager struggling after the death of her aunt. Because she learns that her mom had been lying to her for pretty much her whole life. And then she starts freaking out and runs away. And it takes a long adventure and after meeting many people she begins to realize who she is and becomes thankful for her mom even though she is very upset with her.
The books detail is amazing and really does make up for how short the book is and locks you in so that you will be done fast and you won't put it off more and more. I would say that this book is for older kids and younger teens as it is a small book but it has some good life lessons that any kid could learn from like appreciating your parents and family for what they do and for who they are. And some kids now a day I feel might not appreciate what their parents do for them.
November 12, 2012
Reviewed by Kelly for TeensReadToo.com
Imagine you wake up one morning to find out that the person you've been calling your mom, really isn't your mom. Instead, she's your aunt, and your real mom is dead.
In the book BULL'S EYE, that is exactly what happens, and it sends Emily on a journey to find out who her real dad is, and find out who her mom was. Little does she know the secret that lies between her real mom and dad when she visits the school her mom used to go to.
When she returns to school after unraveling her past, she is mad at everyone and everything. To relieve herself, she goes to the school and starts drawing graffiti on all the walls, and she makes them bull's eyes. She does this for awhile until she gets caught.
To keep her from being in the court system they gave her a buddy to talk to. Her name is April. Emily could tell there was something wrong with April, but she wasn't sure what. She soon learns that April's dad abuses her, but can't find a way to tell anyone.
Will she eventually find the courage to speak out about this?
BULL'S EYE is very good and an easy read, and I recommend it.
Imagine you wake up one morning to find out that the person you've been calling your mom, really isn't your mom. Instead, she's your aunt, and your real mom is dead.
In the book BULL'S EYE, that is exactly what happens, and it sends Emily on a journey to find out who her real dad is, and find out who her mom was. Little does she know the secret that lies between her real mom and dad when she visits the school her mom used to go to.
When she returns to school after unraveling her past, she is mad at everyone and everything. To relieve herself, she goes to the school and starts drawing graffiti on all the walls, and she makes them bull's eyes. She does this for awhile until she gets caught.
To keep her from being in the court system they gave her a buddy to talk to. Her name is April. Emily could tell there was something wrong with April, but she wasn't sure what. She soon learns that April's dad abuses her, but can't find a way to tell anyone.
Will she eventually find the courage to speak out about this?
BULL'S EYE is very good and an easy read, and I recommend it.
April 7, 2011
I felt like I was reading 3 different books all in one! I wish the author would just have split it up and done different books. First Emily finds out that she's adopted and she now hates her Adoptive-Mother/Aunt. The idea of that could make for a fun easy read and that would have been OK.
Then she stares lashing out and vandalising which can be apart of that idea but the way the author approached it just made it seam like she was writing form a new persons point of view, like she jumped characters.
Next she find an abused child at her work place and leaps into action and saves this poor girl from her abusive family. I don't think Harvey spent enough time doing this and it SO did NOT need to be apart of the book. If she was looking for a way to reconnect the mother-daughter relationship she should have just made he get into trouble (like she did), but make it have a deeper affect on her then they could have reconnected through that.
I did enjoy the book and read through it and tried to get my librarian read it, I'm not really sure why but I did, but it's how life works I guess :).
Please just give it a go, OK?
Then she stares lashing out and vandalising which can be apart of that idea but the way the author approached it just made it seam like she was writing form a new persons point of view, like she jumped characters.
Next she find an abused child at her work place and leaps into action and saves this poor girl from her abusive family. I don't think Harvey spent enough time doing this and it SO did NOT need to be apart of the book. If she was looking for a way to reconnect the mother-daughter relationship she should have just made he get into trouble (like she did), but make it have a deeper affect on her then they could have reconnected through that.
I did enjoy the book and read through it and tried to get my librarian read it, I'm not really sure why but I did, but it's how life works I guess :).
Please just give it a go, OK?
June 19, 2011
had a really hard time getting into this story, and I think that is all based on personal preferences. They story is very well written, and I think it will appeal to the young adult crowd, but for me, it just didn’t click.
Emily is a very selfish young woman who believes the world revolves around her, and I have trouble with characters like that. Yes, her world is knocked upside down when she finds out her “mother,” Saundra, is really her aunt, and her recently deceased “aunt” is really her mother. Yet, I don’t think that justifies the reactions of Emily or Saundra within the novel, especially because Emily states in the very beginning that her deceased aunt meant nothing to her, and she only met her once. However, Emily flies off the deep end, as does Saundra, and their reactions were just not real to me. Saundra seems like a loving, caring parent, but the fact that she doesn’t even blink when Emily runs off makes me question the validity of the story line...
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
Emily is a very selfish young woman who believes the world revolves around her, and I have trouble with characters like that. Yes, her world is knocked upside down when she finds out her “mother,” Saundra, is really her aunt, and her recently deceased “aunt” is really her mother. Yet, I don’t think that justifies the reactions of Emily or Saundra within the novel, especially because Emily states in the very beginning that her deceased aunt meant nothing to her, and she only met her once. However, Emily flies off the deep end, as does Saundra, and their reactions were just not real to me. Saundra seems like a loving, caring parent, but the fact that she doesn’t even blink when Emily runs off makes me question the validity of the story line...
To read my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
April 7, 2008
Brigid Shogun recommended these series of books from Orca Soundings for the Hi Interest-Lo Rdng level kids in our middle school. This is a slim volume on a 4th grade reading level that definitely packs a punch! 15 yr. old Emily, receives a pkg. from the UPS man and it turns her life upside-down. Her mom's sister who lives far away and has always suffered from alcohol/drug addictions recently died and the pkg reveals that she is actually her true mother - a secret kept from Emily by her "non-mom" (as Emily starts calling the woman who raised her). This sets a series of adventures in motion that take Emily on a quest to find out who her father is? What is the story behind this woman who is her true mother? This is a good fast page-turner for the reluctant readers in middle school.
December 18, 2014
Once again this is a book more for girls. I did not really enjoy this book. It had no climax and if it did have a climax then it was at the very beginning of the story. The story is about a girl whose mom is not really her mom the aunt had the baby because the mother could not. Already this seems like a very weird predicament to be in. I did not like this because I would not enjoy to be in this predicament or think about being in this predicament. I do not like the ending at all because nothing happens it just seems like the main character Emily just comes to a conclusion at the end that she should not care who her mom is anymore. I would not recommend this book.
September 30, 2011
In my thought as an occasional reader without much experience with different types of books I would like to say that this book was success. It was short but a great read, a lot of detail and action in this book. The story line is great, the way she expresses herself and reacts to her situations is instinctual for a young teen and I believe this book should be read by others who think reading isn't all that great.
December 18, 2014
This book was about a girl named Emily who lives with her a lady named Sandra. Then one day a box arrives at Emily's house and there's a letter inside and it says that Donna was actually Emily's mother. Emily then becomes very upset and struggles with her emotions and so she shuns out Sandra the lady who she has lived with most of her life because she never told her that Donna was her mother. The book had it's ups and downs but I thought that it was an okay book.
May 3, 2013
Bull's Eye is a very good book that talks abuth a gril that after her aunt die.she learns that everything she has always believed is a lie, and her world crumbles. Forced to face the fact that her mother is not who she thought she was, the gril tries to find the truth about her past and make sense of her future.
Read
March 10, 2009Bulls Eye is similar to the units of short stories that Ms.Aguda is teaching. Its about a girl who finds out that her aunt is her mother and that her mother is her aunt. And throughout the story she tries to locate her father.
April 20, 2009
This book is bout a girl name emily dat she had been callin a women Mom so emily found out dat isn't so she went out and did things to find her real mom..I dislike dat she was sad went her fake mom told her she wasn't her real mom..I recomend did book to everybody
May 14, 2013
This is a really crummy, mediocre book. It did not resolve, it just transitioned without dealing with what had been the main conflict. It was artificially & conveniently wrapped up. Incredibly lame, lame lame. There was also a printing error.
December 16, 2015
I liked this book Bull's eye it is about a girl that lost here ant. She is know trying to fine her real parson. The people that she was living with was her foster parson.She ran away and trys to find here real parson.
January 21, 2022
Si yo fuera Emily, no sé qué haría. Sentiría que mi vida era una mentira. Tendría grandes problemas de confianza y definitivamente trataría de encontrar a mi padre. Pero creo que estaría muy agradecido por las personas que me lo dijeron y que me asustaron.
October 28, 2012
This book is from a series for reluctant readers. The text is at a lower level but the subject matter is high interest. Some of my students are reading these books and I thought I'd try one.
Read
December 16, 2012I really enjoyed this book:)
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