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Ryan Dooley #1
Dooley Takes the Fall
White Pine nominee, 2009 Spinetingler Magazine Award Nominee, 2009 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice, 2009 A boy maybe twelve years old, on a bike, stopped next to Dooley, looked at the kid sprawled on the pavement and said, "Is he dead?" "Yeah, I think so," Dooley said In fact, he was sure of it because there was no air going into or coming out of the lungs of the kid on the pavement Also, the kid's open eyes were staring at nothing, and his head was twisted, as if he had turned to look at something just before he made contact with the hard surface of the path Right away, Dooley knows he's in trouble For one thing he's got a record For another, the dead kid isn't exactly a stranger - and he's no friend So slowly the net begins to close around 17-year-old Dooley, a troubled lone wolf who has a couple of strikes against him already Not many are on Dooley's side; in fact at times he even wonders whether his uncle - a retired cop - thinks he's guilty again There's a big question of trust in their uneasy relationship, and his uncle is the only one standing between Dooley and big time disaster The dead kid's sister Beth is someone Dooley would like to have think better of him as well - but she also suspects he's involved in the crime And all around him are other teenagers at school and in the world he's drawn into who would like to pin him with responsibility for a growing number of murders that swirl through the city Norah McClintock, five-time winner of the Arthur Ellis juvenile crime award, has now moved into a different realm with a richly detailed novel aimed at older teens Gritty, hard-edged, Dooley Takes the Fall is the first in a trilogy of mysteries about a troubled teenager struggling to free himself from the tentacles of his past and the implications of the present conspiracies that surround him
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
17 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Norah McClintock
91 books208 followersNorah McClintock’s fascinating mysteries are hard to put down. Her Chloe & Levesque series, Mike & Riel series, and Robyn Hunter series, all published by Scholastic Canada, have been popular with readers in many countries. Norah has also written several crime novels for reluctant readers in the Orca Soundings series from Orca Book Publishers,
Norah is a five-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Novel. Read Mistaken Identity, The Body in the Basement, Sins of the Father, Scared to Death, and Break and Enter to find out why! Norah's books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she has won numerous awards.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award - Juvenile
o 1996 – Mistaken Identity – Winner
o 1998 – The Body in the Basement – Winner
o 1999 – Sins of the Father – Winner
o 2002 – Scared to Death – Winner
o 2003 – Break and Enter – Winner
Red Maple Award
o 2004 – Hit and Run – Winner
Norah is a five-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Novel. Read Mistaken Identity, The Body in the Basement, Sins of the Father, Scared to Death, and Break and Enter to find out why! Norah's books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and she has won numerous awards.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award - Juvenile
o 1996 – Mistaken Identity – Winner
o 1998 – The Body in the Basement – Winner
o 1999 – Sins of the Father – Winner
o 2002 – Scared to Death – Winner
o 2003 – Break and Enter – Winner
Red Maple Award
o 2004 – Hit and Run – Winner
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 29, 2011
Dooley Takes the Fall is a very interesting book that has suspense, romance, and mystery all together. Dooley, the protagonist, is being suspected of a crime that he did not commit. He is being accused of killing a boy who jumped off a bridge and fell to his death. All throughout the book, Dooley is being questioned by the police because he has a criminal record. There are also a string of murders happening around his town and many people would like to put the responsibility and blame on Dooley’s shoulders. This book does have some flaws but I find it a very good read overall.
The only flaw in my opinion was that the ending was rushed to quickly. The author, Norah McClintock, crammed the final clues and conclusion of the book into the last forty pages. There were some clues that should’ve been known earlier in the book like how Everley loved Esperanza or that Rhodes was a maniacal sadist. Also, the ending where Dooley asks Beth out was a bit forced since it only really started to get better on the last page.
One element that I liked in the book was how well the mind of a former convict was portrayed. Dooley still hated cops, even though he hasn’t committed any crimes since he went to live with his uncle. He felt really uncomfortable when the police were questioning him about the deaths of Mark Everley and Edward Gillette. He was also fighting for his freedom as many of the police still believed he had committed the crime. An example of how he did this was when the homicide detective, Graff, was questioning him and Dooley’s lawyer told Dooley to not answer any questions but Dooley did it anyways because he wanted to prove he was innocent.
Another element that I liked was the portrayal of the other characters. Dooley’s uncle, Beth, Rhodes and Edward Gillette. Dooley’s uncle was a former cop but he loves Dooley even with his former criminal record. An example of how Dooley’s uncle still believed him would be when he agreed with him that Dooley did not commit a crime after the party. Beth is a girl that Dooley instantly found an interest in but she thought that he had killed her brother, Mark Everley. When the truth is revealed to her, she becomes remorseful towards Dooley and apologizes for her harshness to him. Rhodes is an interesting character. At first, he seems like a nice and friendly guy but at the end of the book, it is revealed that he is a sadistic person. “’You came here,’ Rhodes said to him [Dooley]. ‘You were completely out of it. I think he must have been on drugs officer,’ he said, as if he were talking to the cops now. ‘He burst into the house, he was completely crazy, he was making crazy accusations. He threatened Peter. It wasn’t the first time’” (298). This quote even made me feel uneasy because Rhodes went from talking to Dooley to pretend he was talking to officers from the police department (but the officers were not there at all and he was talking to himself).
When I picked up this book, I was not expecting much because it looked like one of those run-of-the-mill mystery books where someone gets accused of a murder and works to prove their innocence. However, this book is different and after reading the blurb, I found it very interesting that Dooley already had a record and that he could get sent to jail again. I recommend this book to older audiences because it does contain use of offensive language.
The only flaw in my opinion was that the ending was rushed to quickly. The author, Norah McClintock, crammed the final clues and conclusion of the book into the last forty pages. There were some clues that should’ve been known earlier in the book like how Everley loved Esperanza or that Rhodes was a maniacal sadist. Also, the ending where Dooley asks Beth out was a bit forced since it only really started to get better on the last page.
One element that I liked in the book was how well the mind of a former convict was portrayed. Dooley still hated cops, even though he hasn’t committed any crimes since he went to live with his uncle. He felt really uncomfortable when the police were questioning him about the deaths of Mark Everley and Edward Gillette. He was also fighting for his freedom as many of the police still believed he had committed the crime. An example of how he did this was when the homicide detective, Graff, was questioning him and Dooley’s lawyer told Dooley to not answer any questions but Dooley did it anyways because he wanted to prove he was innocent.
Another element that I liked was the portrayal of the other characters. Dooley’s uncle, Beth, Rhodes and Edward Gillette. Dooley’s uncle was a former cop but he loves Dooley even with his former criminal record. An example of how Dooley’s uncle still believed him would be when he agreed with him that Dooley did not commit a crime after the party. Beth is a girl that Dooley instantly found an interest in but she thought that he had killed her brother, Mark Everley. When the truth is revealed to her, she becomes remorseful towards Dooley and apologizes for her harshness to him. Rhodes is an interesting character. At first, he seems like a nice and friendly guy but at the end of the book, it is revealed that he is a sadistic person. “’You came here,’ Rhodes said to him [Dooley]. ‘You were completely out of it. I think he must have been on drugs officer,’ he said, as if he were talking to the cops now. ‘He burst into the house, he was completely crazy, he was making crazy accusations. He threatened Peter. It wasn’t the first time’” (298). This quote even made me feel uneasy because Rhodes went from talking to Dooley to pretend he was talking to officers from the police department (but the officers were not there at all and he was talking to himself).
When I picked up this book, I was not expecting much because it looked like one of those run-of-the-mill mystery books where someone gets accused of a murder and works to prove their innocence. However, this book is different and after reading the blurb, I found it very interesting that Dooley already had a record and that he could get sent to jail again. I recommend this book to older audiences because it does contain use of offensive language.
April 21, 2012
This story was effectively written in first person through the eyes of Ryan Dooley. He reminds readers of a troublesome teenager as he battles his conviction of murder through this suspense-filled mystery.
I like the way the mystery is written, slowly revealing clues and evidence, engaging reader to continue reading while trying to think of many different possibilities of how to solve the case.
Another aspect that makes the mystery so complex is the way the author describes the characters. Each character is so detailed that it allows the readers to visualize the characters' emotions and characteristics.
One major theme of this novel is how you don't always get what you want. Dooley wanted the girl so bad, he wanted less attention, but most importantly, he wanted others' trust. Trust is the big theme of this book. Dooley, after making selfish and bad decisions, lost his only real friend, his uncle's, trust. Even his uncle, a former cop, was suspicious of him in the murder, adding to the suspense of this fast-paced novel.
All in all, the novel was entertaining, filled with many small, personal plots, adding to the uniqueness of the story. However I did not enjoy the ending to the mystery as it happened way to fast along with the developed romance, which seemed to be rushed and felt somewhat forced. There were many intriguing twists to the mystery, like the slow revealing of crucial information about certain characters and I would have definitely recommended all types of readers to read this book, however I only encourage teenagers to read this book since there is quite a bit of coarse language, although it was effectively incorporated throughout the novel.
I like the way the mystery is written, slowly revealing clues and evidence, engaging reader to continue reading while trying to think of many different possibilities of how to solve the case.
Another aspect that makes the mystery so complex is the way the author describes the characters. Each character is so detailed that it allows the readers to visualize the characters' emotions and characteristics.
One major theme of this novel is how you don't always get what you want. Dooley wanted the girl so bad, he wanted less attention, but most importantly, he wanted others' trust. Trust is the big theme of this book. Dooley, after making selfish and bad decisions, lost his only real friend, his uncle's, trust. Even his uncle, a former cop, was suspicious of him in the murder, adding to the suspense of this fast-paced novel.
All in all, the novel was entertaining, filled with many small, personal plots, adding to the uniqueness of the story. However I did not enjoy the ending to the mystery as it happened way to fast along with the developed romance, which seemed to be rushed and felt somewhat forced. There were many intriguing twists to the mystery, like the slow revealing of crucial information about certain characters and I would have definitely recommended all types of readers to read this book, however I only encourage teenagers to read this book since there is quite a bit of coarse language, although it was effectively incorporated throughout the novel.
December 28, 2008
Read about it over at Bookshelves of Doom, saw mention of the movie Brick--which I love--and knew I had to get a copy. Started it on December 18th and couldn't stop until the next day, when I finished it and sighed in contentment. One of the best young adult novels I've read in ages.
June 8, 2008
A great mystery about a young man with a past who finds himself caught up in a police investigation when he witnesses a suicide.
Currently reading
February 14, 2011I have no idea, I was given this book -_- ...
July 17, 2020
Suspenseful Mystery with a Touch of Romance- 17-year-old Ryan Dooley hasn’t had an easy life. With a past filled with violence and dark secrets, Dooley has been trying to turn his life around and make a change for the better. When Dooley witnesses the death of a young boy, his track record makes him the prime suspect for this “accident”. Dooley soon finds himself caught up in a string of murders in his town, with all the evidence pointing back to him. Surrounded by unfriendly faces looking to convict him of these crimes, Dooley knows that this could be the end of the line for him. Despite this, Dooley finds himself falling hard for a girl named Beth; however, things become complicated fast when she begins to suspect that he’s somehow involved in the murders. Determined to prove himself and his innocence to his uncle, the cops, and (most importantly) Beth, Dooley takes matters into his own hands. Readers will join Dooley as he works to uncover the dark secrets within his small town as he fights for justice and freedom.
I really liked how this book gave off “The Outsiders” vibes. The style of writing, characters, and the plot reminded me of this beloved novel. Similar to “The Outsiders”, this book dealt with heavy themes of murder, drugs, coarse language, and violence. I also loved the characters in this book. The author did a brilliant job of developing Dooley’s character and portraying the world from the point of view of a troubled teen. The reader was able to (emotionally) grow with Dooley as he used his past experiences to make changes for the better and fight for his freedom. The other characters in the book were just as lovable and mysterious, each with their own set of secrets from their pasts. The end of the novel felt a bit rushed in comparison to the rest of the story. The last two chapters ended the story abruptly without giving a fully satisfying ending. I would have preferred a couple more chapters detailing the events at the end of the novel. Despite this, I found this book to be an exciting read filled with shocking plot twists. I recommend this book to teens looking to join Dooley on his journey to solve this suspenseful mystery as he works to uncover the dark secrets within his town.
Reviewed by Roksanna K, age 15, Broward County Mensa
September 16, 2022
wow, i only started this book because of my english class. and well, i have now finished it. i took it home and read it all.
i became hooked as soon as we started reading this book, all i wanted to do was take it home and just read it. it was THAT good. i just got sucked in, and had to know what happened. but finding it all out, i would have NEVER guessed any of it. what happened to the maid?? the fact rhodes or whatever his name is literally did so much bad shit- AND HE KILLED LANDERS??? what the fuck. just wow. i’m so shocked, and will gladly hunt down the second book. dooley, i love you. 😍😍
i became hooked as soon as we started reading this book, all i wanted to do was take it home and just read it. it was THAT good. i just got sucked in, and had to know what happened. but finding it all out, i would have NEVER guessed any of it. what happened to the maid?? the fact rhodes or whatever his name is literally did so much bad shit- AND HE KILLED LANDERS??? what the fuck. just wow. i’m so shocked, and will gladly hunt down the second book. dooley, i love you. 😍😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2020
The mystery-novel plot with its twists and turns made up for some of the bad things like a slow beginning and middle, confusing sentence structure, and a lack of character imagery.
December 29, 2020
I usually enjoy Norah McClintock's books, but this one didn't do it for me.
July 24, 2014
I used to read a lot of Norah McClintock's book in high school. Now that I'm in college I'm just starting to rediscover my love of reading and decided to give this familiar author a good shot.
This book is a mystery novel written from the point of view of our male protagonist, Ryan Dooley.
Dooley is a delinquent who has spent much of his time getting into trouble and numbing his feelings with drugs. Now, after serving his time for a violent crime he's trying his best to live straight and narrow under his new guardian, his uncle - a retired cop. Unfortunately, the past three months that he's shown of good behaviour is put to the test when he witnesses what he believes is a suicide coming home from work. Due to his past involvement in crime he is scrutinized by his peers, the police, his uncle, and even the victim's sister - whom he has a crush on. The more he tries to claim his innocence the more things start to look like he may have had a hand in the crime...
Let me break down what was good about this book:
- mystery/suspense - Forget about the mystery. Just learning about the main character, his past, how he came to live with his uncle, how he is connected to other characters - let alone the actual mystery - are all information that the author makes you work for. Everything comes in bite size pieces. You definitely feel like you're were an outsider looking and everyone knows so much about what you don't know and that pushes you to keep reading to find out more.
- male POV - first* I can't say that I've read a lot of books from a male perspective. So this was really refreshing - especially because. I don't share the same troubled past as Dooley so I definitely felt as if I was taking a walk in his shoes. Also, I'm used to characters feeling very sympathetic for victims or having a really quick character turn around for the better. Dooley remained true to his hard nature. He was very real and although he didn't care for plenty of people and things we find out that he's not as bad as people think he is. He had a hard angle on life and at times would ask questions that would make you stop and pause.
Cons
-I picked up at least 3-4 (maybe even more) times of characters "whispering in _____ ears". It started to feel redundant through out the book - there's only so many times i can read that phrase before it gets distracting. **note: otherwise i find the author is very descriptive and great and building her characters and settings
- the ending - the book had a great build up but the ending was too rushed and sloppy. So much time went into finding out more information piece by piece that by the time we got to the end it was like AND OK THERE - THE END. I didn't mind the dramatics but something that was a bit more conclusive would have been better for me.
All in all, This book is a great read. It should be a fast/decent pace for most people. The death that Dooley witnesses is literally on the first page. Your immediately thrown into the mystery disoriented and confused and you spend the entire book in Dooley's shoes trying to figure out what the buck happened.
some highlights that made me laugh:
immediately after Dooley stands up for the school nerd who is picked on he is inwardly criticizing the kid for the same reasons other kids make fun of him
I liked this amazing description of Dooley's crush
The school nerd, Warren schools Dooley on the first rule of comedy/life. I feel like i should know this reference but I can't put my finger on it
This book is a mystery novel written from the point of view of our male protagonist, Ryan Dooley.
Dooley is a delinquent who has spent much of his time getting into trouble and numbing his feelings with drugs. Now, after serving his time for a violent crime he's trying his best to live straight and narrow under his new guardian, his uncle - a retired cop. Unfortunately, the past three months that he's shown of good behaviour is put to the test when he witnesses what he believes is a suicide coming home from work. Due to his past involvement in crime he is scrutinized by his peers, the police, his uncle, and even the victim's sister - whom he has a crush on. The more he tries to claim his innocence the more things start to look like he may have had a hand in the crime...
Let me break down what was good about this book:
- mystery/suspense - Forget about the mystery. Just learning about the main character, his past, how he came to live with his uncle, how he is connected to other characters - let alone the actual mystery - are all information that the author makes you work for. Everything comes in bite size pieces. You definitely feel like you're were an outsider looking and everyone knows so much about what you don't know and that pushes you to keep reading to find out more.
- male POV - first* I can't say that I've read a lot of books from a male perspective. So this was really refreshing - especially because. I don't share the same troubled past as Dooley so I definitely felt as if I was taking a walk in his shoes. Also, I'm used to characters feeling very sympathetic for victims or having a really quick character turn around for the better. Dooley remained true to his hard nature. He was very real and although he didn't care for plenty of people and things we find out that he's not as bad as people think he is. He had a hard angle on life and at times would ask questions that would make you stop and pause.
Cons
-I picked up at least 3-4 (maybe even more) times of characters "whispering in _____ ears". It started to feel redundant through out the book - there's only so many times i can read that phrase before it gets distracting. **note: otherwise i find the author is very descriptive and great and building her characters and settings
- the ending - the book had a great build up but the ending was too rushed and sloppy. So much time went into finding out more information piece by piece that by the time we got to the end it was like AND OK THERE - THE END. I didn't mind the dramatics but something that was a bit more conclusive would have been better for me.
All in all, This book is a great read. It should be a fast/decent pace for most people. The death that Dooley witnesses is literally on the first page. Your immediately thrown into the mystery disoriented and confused and you spend the entire book in Dooley's shoes trying to figure out what the buck happened.
some highlights that made me laugh:
immediately after Dooley stands up for the school nerd who is picked on he is inwardly criticizing the kid for the same reasons other kids make fun of him
pg. 104 "geeze, what a loser. he had a kind of whiny voice that could get on your nerves real fast"
I liked this amazing description of Dooley's crush
pg. 187 "her smile got wider. she had great teeth-straight as soldiers on parade, white as newly scrubbed porcelain."
The school nerd, Warren schools Dooley on the first rule of comedy/life. I feel like i should know this reference but I can't put my finger on it
pg. 250 "the first rule of comedy-the biggest laughs come from someone else's pain"
July 27, 2013
23 May 2008 DOOLEY TAKES THE FALL by Norah McClintock, Red Deer Press, 2008, 314p. ISBN: 978-0-88995-403-8
"Nobody told me there'd be days like these." -- John Lennon
"Dooley was looking down at the kid sprawled on the asphalt path in the ravine when two things happened. First, Dooley's pager vibrated. Dooley knew without checking that it was his uncle trying to reach him. Second, a boy maybe twelve years old, on a bike, stopped next to Dooley, looked at the kid lying on the pavement and said, 'Is he dead?'"
Teenager Mark Everley is, in fact, dead, having gone off a bridge (Fell? Pushed?) under the evening's full moon. Seventeen-year-old Ryan Dooley was out walking, after leaving work at the video store, when he looked up and saw Everley, in the distance, taking a header toward that asphalt path.
"'Mark Everley,' his uncle said at last. 'The kid who went off the bridge.' He shoved the newspaper across the table to Dooley. 'You didn't tell me he went to your school.'
"'I thought I recognized him,' Dooley said, which was true. 'But his head was kind of smashed up, so I wasn't sure' which wasn't true, but it sounded a lot nicer than saying what he was actually thinking (It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person), which would have only annoyed his uncle. 'Anyway, I didn't know that was his name and the cops didn't tell me,' which was also true."
Dooley has come to live with his uncle after spending significant time in confinement for an incident involving a baseball bat. He has only been attending this school for a few weeks.
Dooley's uncle is a retired cop who now owns a couple of dry cleaning stores. Dooley's father has never been in the young man's life. Prior to confinement, and his current residency in his uncle's house, Dooley had grown up bouncing around with his substance-prone mother from place to place and school to school.
Inch by inch, we come to know that Dooley has a significant measure of goodness and compassion in him, and that Dooley's past behavior has sometimes been unforgivable. But the questions to be puzzled out in this great YA crime mystery include: How does Dooley fit into the death of Mark Everley? What will come to pass between Dooley and Everley's beautiful sister? How does the young illegal alien Esperanza fit into the mystery?
And what can Dooley possibly do to alter what comes to seem like an inevitable path toward re-incarceration?
"The main reason was the feeling in his gut, the one that made everything churn, even milk and cereal, the feeling that in the old days he would have warded off with booze or pills or weed or whatever was handy. It was the same feeling that used to creep over him when he was a kid and all alone in a dark room, listening for noises out in the hall (doors opening, footsteps approaching, hammering on the door) or in his mother's room next to his. It was the feeling that came on him when he got called on in school and he didn't know the answer and kids would look at him like he was stupid. It was the feeling that however bad things were now, they were about to get worse."
Methodically offering readers vital little pieces of the puzzle, veteran Canadian author Norah McClintock has fashioned a tense, high interest young adult mystery around a vulnerable, complex teenager who has made some really bad choices in the past and is trying to get it right this time.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
"Nobody told me there'd be days like these." -- John Lennon
"Dooley was looking down at the kid sprawled on the asphalt path in the ravine when two things happened. First, Dooley's pager vibrated. Dooley knew without checking that it was his uncle trying to reach him. Second, a boy maybe twelve years old, on a bike, stopped next to Dooley, looked at the kid lying on the pavement and said, 'Is he dead?'"
Teenager Mark Everley is, in fact, dead, having gone off a bridge (Fell? Pushed?) under the evening's full moon. Seventeen-year-old Ryan Dooley was out walking, after leaving work at the video store, when he looked up and saw Everley, in the distance, taking a header toward that asphalt path.
"'Mark Everley,' his uncle said at last. 'The kid who went off the bridge.' He shoved the newspaper across the table to Dooley. 'You didn't tell me he went to your school.'
"'I thought I recognized him,' Dooley said, which was true. 'But his head was kind of smashed up, so I wasn't sure' which wasn't true, but it sounded a lot nicer than saying what he was actually thinking (It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person), which would have only annoyed his uncle. 'Anyway, I didn't know that was his name and the cops didn't tell me,' which was also true."
Dooley has come to live with his uncle after spending significant time in confinement for an incident involving a baseball bat. He has only been attending this school for a few weeks.
Dooley's uncle is a retired cop who now owns a couple of dry cleaning stores. Dooley's father has never been in the young man's life. Prior to confinement, and his current residency in his uncle's house, Dooley had grown up bouncing around with his substance-prone mother from place to place and school to school.
Inch by inch, we come to know that Dooley has a significant measure of goodness and compassion in him, and that Dooley's past behavior has sometimes been unforgivable. But the questions to be puzzled out in this great YA crime mystery include: How does Dooley fit into the death of Mark Everley? What will come to pass between Dooley and Everley's beautiful sister? How does the young illegal alien Esperanza fit into the mystery?
And what can Dooley possibly do to alter what comes to seem like an inevitable path toward re-incarceration?
"The main reason was the feeling in his gut, the one that made everything churn, even milk and cereal, the feeling that in the old days he would have warded off with booze or pills or weed or whatever was handy. It was the same feeling that used to creep over him when he was a kid and all alone in a dark room, listening for noises out in the hall (doors opening, footsteps approaching, hammering on the door) or in his mother's room next to his. It was the feeling that came on him when he got called on in school and he didn't know the answer and kids would look at him like he was stupid. It was the feeling that however bad things were now, they were about to get worse."
Methodically offering readers vital little pieces of the puzzle, veteran Canadian author Norah McClintock has fashioned a tense, high interest young adult mystery around a vulnerable, complex teenager who has made some really bad choices in the past and is trying to get it right this time.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
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May 10, 2012Dooley Takes the Fall
By: Noah McClintock
Ryan Dooley is a young boy whose had a bad past, run ins with the laws, Drug use and overall was just a bad kid. Once out of jail, his ex-cop uncle took him in. Small suburbs town outside of the city- A fresh start. But one day on the way back from work, everything went wrong. “Is he dead” he thought when he found a body that had apparently fallen from the bridge above and everything changed, he was simply in the wrong place and the wrong time. Soon after, he found himself hanging out with a group of people so called “Friends” full of backstabbers, brawlers and even murderers. But he doesn’t find out about this until its all to late.
Ryan Dooley starts out as some nobody kids who everyone’s scared of because he has a criminal record for who knows what. He was also fine with being the nobody, just simply living life with his head down and out of the way, simply working at a video store renting movies, the typical shallow kid life but once he finds the dead body, his whole life changes people start asking to hang out with him, all for the wrong reasons. And he becomes cocky and self centred for a bit, lying to his uncle so he can go out and party. This doesn’t really help him when it comes to his low profile life he was living before. He meets this one guy at school that everyone likes ; Winston Rhodes. Rich kid with a huge house “he lives in basically a castle” as one of his friends had said, and parents that are never home, party central right? Winston however was not one of my favourite characters in this book, he was a bit of a cocky jerk who surrounded himself with people who were never really there for him, they used him for his house, money and status, but to those kids who were there it turned out to be their doom. One of the characters that I really did like however was Warren. He was a bit of a tech nerd but he was a great show of character. He started out being bullied a lot by Winston’s friends, but one Dooley took him under his wing, it became a lot different. Together they had decided to solve the murder with warrens technological skills and Dooley's reputation, they became a Sherlock and Watson type duo, virtually unstoppable. In my opinion, my favourite character happened to be the dead guys sister; Beth. She isn’t your standard type of pretty high school girl, not headstrong or covered with inches of makeup, just simple and beautiful straight up no B.S. she essentially worshipped her brother so when he passed she was devastated and blamed Dooley for it naturally as he was the one who found the body and also had a few run ins with him in the past. In the end though she realises that she was blaming Dooley for everything because of his reputation when she was wrong about everything she says and she had let his reputation get to his head and made everything go downhill.
Overall I would think that this book is a great novel, it has many interesting characteristics such as betrayal and trust, love and hate and judgement. I would strongly recommend this to anyone interested in reading a mystery novel between seasons of CSI.
By: Noah McClintock
Ryan Dooley is a young boy whose had a bad past, run ins with the laws, Drug use and overall was just a bad kid. Once out of jail, his ex-cop uncle took him in. Small suburbs town outside of the city- A fresh start. But one day on the way back from work, everything went wrong. “Is he dead” he thought when he found a body that had apparently fallen from the bridge above and everything changed, he was simply in the wrong place and the wrong time. Soon after, he found himself hanging out with a group of people so called “Friends” full of backstabbers, brawlers and even murderers. But he doesn’t find out about this until its all to late.
Ryan Dooley starts out as some nobody kids who everyone’s scared of because he has a criminal record for who knows what. He was also fine with being the nobody, just simply living life with his head down and out of the way, simply working at a video store renting movies, the typical shallow kid life but once he finds the dead body, his whole life changes people start asking to hang out with him, all for the wrong reasons. And he becomes cocky and self centred for a bit, lying to his uncle so he can go out and party. This doesn’t really help him when it comes to his low profile life he was living before. He meets this one guy at school that everyone likes ; Winston Rhodes. Rich kid with a huge house “he lives in basically a castle” as one of his friends had said, and parents that are never home, party central right? Winston however was not one of my favourite characters in this book, he was a bit of a cocky jerk who surrounded himself with people who were never really there for him, they used him for his house, money and status, but to those kids who were there it turned out to be their doom. One of the characters that I really did like however was Warren. He was a bit of a tech nerd but he was a great show of character. He started out being bullied a lot by Winston’s friends, but one Dooley took him under his wing, it became a lot different. Together they had decided to solve the murder with warrens technological skills and Dooley's reputation, they became a Sherlock and Watson type duo, virtually unstoppable. In my opinion, my favourite character happened to be the dead guys sister; Beth. She isn’t your standard type of pretty high school girl, not headstrong or covered with inches of makeup, just simple and beautiful straight up no B.S. she essentially worshipped her brother so when he passed she was devastated and blamed Dooley for it naturally as he was the one who found the body and also had a few run ins with him in the past. In the end though she realises that she was blaming Dooley for everything because of his reputation when she was wrong about everything she says and she had let his reputation get to his head and made everything go downhill.
Overall I would think that this book is a great novel, it has many interesting characteristics such as betrayal and trust, love and hate and judgement. I would strongly recommend this to anyone interested in reading a mystery novel between seasons of CSI.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2012
I feel that Dooley Takes the Fall was a very great read. Many elements and aspects in this novel were very well done and done in a very satisfying way. Nothing was rushed and the flow of the novel was perfect for the story that was being told.
The entire book is centered on information and the miscommunication and assumptions made based on that information. Ryan Dooley the protagonist, finds himself wrongfully accused of things that he didn't do, to prove that he is not the person in the wrong, and that he is wrongfully accused he sets out on a mission to prove his innocence.
But this book is also about choices and every choice he makes affects his future in a different way whether it is good or bad. Coming from a dark past, Dooley is trying very hard to reform himself and switch to the good legitimate life. He is done with drugs and criminal activities and he just wants to get on with life and away from his past. I really loved how the author slowly leaked out the truth of Dooley's past. The whole story isn't simply handed to the reader straight up, so as Dooley's character evolves and you learn more about him you realize why he did the things he did. Some may even feel sympathy for him when you do find out about his past because he had troubles at home which led him to act out in a very destructive way. These elements of his character make him very relatable to readers who may have been in similar circumstances or know others who have. This really allows readers to get closer to the story and feel for the characters.
The characterization and pace to this novel make it the great story that it is. Without giving up too much too quickly it really turns the story into a magnificent page turner. Also, with the small romance side story it really draws in all readers because there really is something for everyone in this book.
I do however feel that the end of the book was quite rushed. After the climax the follow-up to tie off loose ends seemed quite poorly done to me. Some questions were left unanswered and it seemed to have a little less realism compared to the rest of the book; which is one of the things that really set this book apart from others of the same genre. The love story really only gets good on the last page, which is a little unexpected because it is only hinted at a little bit throughout the story. It is very welcomed though and lets the reader have a sigh of relief that it finally happened.
Overall this was a really great book with a really great story. The depth and attention to detail shows the hard work by the author to make an amazing story, and it really is different from a typical mystery novel. The characters are full of depth and the story is perfectly paced to create a book with a big punch.
The entire book is centered on information and the miscommunication and assumptions made based on that information. Ryan Dooley the protagonist, finds himself wrongfully accused of things that he didn't do, to prove that he is not the person in the wrong, and that he is wrongfully accused he sets out on a mission to prove his innocence.
But this book is also about choices and every choice he makes affects his future in a different way whether it is good or bad. Coming from a dark past, Dooley is trying very hard to reform himself and switch to the good legitimate life. He is done with drugs and criminal activities and he just wants to get on with life and away from his past. I really loved how the author slowly leaked out the truth of Dooley's past. The whole story isn't simply handed to the reader straight up, so as Dooley's character evolves and you learn more about him you realize why he did the things he did. Some may even feel sympathy for him when you do find out about his past because he had troubles at home which led him to act out in a very destructive way. These elements of his character make him very relatable to readers who may have been in similar circumstances or know others who have. This really allows readers to get closer to the story and feel for the characters.
The characterization and pace to this novel make it the great story that it is. Without giving up too much too quickly it really turns the story into a magnificent page turner. Also, with the small romance side story it really draws in all readers because there really is something for everyone in this book.
I do however feel that the end of the book was quite rushed. After the climax the follow-up to tie off loose ends seemed quite poorly done to me. Some questions were left unanswered and it seemed to have a little less realism compared to the rest of the book; which is one of the things that really set this book apart from others of the same genre. The love story really only gets good on the last page, which is a little unexpected because it is only hinted at a little bit throughout the story. It is very welcomed though and lets the reader have a sigh of relief that it finally happened.
Overall this was a really great book with a really great story. The depth and attention to detail shows the hard work by the author to make an amazing story, and it really is different from a typical mystery novel. The characters are full of depth and the story is perfectly paced to create a book with a big punch.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2012
Dooley Takes the Fall is a very fascinating book written by Norah McClintock in 2008. It is a realistic novel filled with mystery, suspense, and romance all together. The story is about a teenager/ the protagonist, Ryan Dooley who goes through a trial of events, in the attempt to become a better person. He’s been going to school on a regular basis, avoiding drugs and alcohol, and generally just trying to stay out of trouble. One day, Dooley finished work early and was wandering on a bridge when he found a dead body. He called cops right away and answered their questions. Since he had a terrible criminal record, and even went to a jail before, he immediately became the primary suspect of the crime. Everyone doubted him, his uncle, the cops and a girl named Beth that Dooley likes, who happens to be the victim’s sister. Having nobody on his side, Dooley was forced to preserve and stand on his own ground.
I like the way the mystery is written, little by little revealing clues and evidence, encouraging readers to continue reading while trying to think of many different possibilities of how to solve the case. However, the beginning of the story is a little bit boring since the author spent too much time describing the unnecessary details. Another thing I liked about this novel is the way the author describes the characters. Each character is so detailed that it allows the readers to visualize the character’s emotions and characteristics. For example the conversation with one of his psychologist, Dr. Kingston. (Page 49- 54). You can tell that Dooley doesn’t like to share his life with others; he likes to keep things to himself. The author also used a lot of slangs and swear words in the book which makes the characters more interesting. For example:
Dr Calvin: Say you find yourself in a situation where your peers are drinking or doing drugs. What do you do, Ryan?
Dooley: Join the fuck in.
Dr. Calvin: Let me rephrase that, Ryan. What should you do?
Dooley: Why is it a guy's always supposed to do what he should do? Why can't he once in a while do whatever the hell he wants to do?
One of the main themes of this book is that in life you don't always get what you want. Dooley wanted a partner (Beth), less attention from the world, but mostly, he wanted others' trust. Trust is the big theme of this book. After making selfish and bad decisions, he lost the one thing he’s been trying to gain, his uncle's trust.
Overall, the mystery novel was entertaining, filled with small personal plots and very unique. I recommend this novel to any reader but preferable 13 years old or older because there is some offensive language used in the novel.
I like the way the mystery is written, little by little revealing clues and evidence, encouraging readers to continue reading while trying to think of many different possibilities of how to solve the case. However, the beginning of the story is a little bit boring since the author spent too much time describing the unnecessary details. Another thing I liked about this novel is the way the author describes the characters. Each character is so detailed that it allows the readers to visualize the character’s emotions and characteristics. For example the conversation with one of his psychologist, Dr. Kingston. (Page 49- 54). You can tell that Dooley doesn’t like to share his life with others; he likes to keep things to himself. The author also used a lot of slangs and swear words in the book which makes the characters more interesting. For example:
Dr Calvin: Say you find yourself in a situation where your peers are drinking or doing drugs. What do you do, Ryan?
Dooley: Join the fuck in.
Dr. Calvin: Let me rephrase that, Ryan. What should you do?
Dooley: Why is it a guy's always supposed to do what he should do? Why can't he once in a while do whatever the hell he wants to do?
One of the main themes of this book is that in life you don't always get what you want. Dooley wanted a partner (Beth), less attention from the world, but mostly, he wanted others' trust. Trust is the big theme of this book. After making selfish and bad decisions, he lost the one thing he’s been trying to gain, his uncle's trust.
Overall, the mystery novel was entertaining, filled with small personal plots and very unique. I recommend this novel to any reader but preferable 13 years old or older because there is some offensive language used in the novel.
Read
April 2, 2013Ryan Dooley (he prefers being called Dooley), almost 17, is really trying to get back on the straight and narrow after 18 months in a juvenile detention centre. He’s been doing a pretty good job – no drugs or alcohol, going to school and doing all his homework, holding down a dead-end part-time job in a local video store, going to counselling. All in all, he’s been keeping up with the deal that he’s made with his uncle – a tough ex-cop who has taken Dooley in – that he can make a fresh start. But then he witnesses a kid from his school, Mark Everley, jumping off a bridge to his death and, because of his record, Dooley looks like a pretty good fall guy to the cops who – it turns out – aren’t entirely convinced Mark jumped. And then there’s Mark’s sister, Beth, who’s trying to convince herself – and Dooley – that he must have seen more than he thinks he did. Dooley, who would do anything to make Beth notice him, begins asking questions and everything starts to unravel and Dooley almost does take the fall.
This is an absolutely stunning mystery that is full to the brim of almost unbearable twists and hair-pin turns, all meted out to the reader at a pace that sometimes takes your breath away. In some ways, it will come as no surprise that Dooley Takes the Fall is as good as it is because Norah McClintock is one of Canada’s best mystery and crime fiction writers! Nonetheless, she keeps readers on edge by doling out the facts little bit by little bit, always keeping her readers on edge by keeping a real aura of mystery around Dooley and not letting readers see him in his entirety so that there is always a fear that perhaps Dooley isn’t as innocent a bystander as he claims to be. Maybe Dooley is more involved than he’s letting on, lying to his uncle, the police, and Beth because he’s a more-hardened criminal type than we suspected. It’s extremely rewarding as readers to discover, time and time again, that we’re wrong and that McClintock has lead us up a false trail to keep us on edge. In fact, the mystery of Dooley’s past ends up haunting the readers as much as it does Dooley himself and that’s a remarkable achievement because ultimately readers will discover that Dooley himself is a remarkable character. This is a rich and deeply satisfying story that will grab readers from the very first page and doesn't let go – even when you close the book!
Reviewed by Jeffrey Canton in Canadian Children's Book News
This is an absolutely stunning mystery that is full to the brim of almost unbearable twists and hair-pin turns, all meted out to the reader at a pace that sometimes takes your breath away. In some ways, it will come as no surprise that Dooley Takes the Fall is as good as it is because Norah McClintock is one of Canada’s best mystery and crime fiction writers! Nonetheless, she keeps readers on edge by doling out the facts little bit by little bit, always keeping her readers on edge by keeping a real aura of mystery around Dooley and not letting readers see him in his entirety so that there is always a fear that perhaps Dooley isn’t as innocent a bystander as he claims to be. Maybe Dooley is more involved than he’s letting on, lying to his uncle, the police, and Beth because he’s a more-hardened criminal type than we suspected. It’s extremely rewarding as readers to discover, time and time again, that we’re wrong and that McClintock has lead us up a false trail to keep us on edge. In fact, the mystery of Dooley’s past ends up haunting the readers as much as it does Dooley himself and that’s a remarkable achievement because ultimately readers will discover that Dooley himself is a remarkable character. This is a rich and deeply satisfying story that will grab readers from the very first page and doesn't let go – even when you close the book!
Reviewed by Jeffrey Canton in Canadian Children's Book News
May 10, 2011
Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock
An element I really liked about this book is the conversations between characters, because they are descriptive, and you can really imagine the emotions coming from them. This really helps me understand the protagonist, Dooley, a lot more, as I can see his choices as them seem logical. I also love the scenes where he talks with the police and detectives, as you can really see how much he hates dealing with the law which really develops the story. The book also has clues to solve the mystery, but they are hard to find, as you would probably have to literally be there to catch the clues.
The only problem that I had with the book was the romance. I was expecting one in this book and it seemed a bit forced. It develops quickly, and I wasn’t satisfied about how it was left in a cliff-hanger. There are other books in the series, so I predict that it will develop more in the books that come after.
A big theme in this book is trust/betrayal. I think this really helps show the relationships between some of the characters, and it also shows the good or bad sides of them. This is big, because most of the story is made up by this trust/betrayal like Dooley ruining his uncle’s trust by making bad decisions and not listening to his instructions, and it really helps with the story.
The ending cleared up a lot of things within the book’s mystery, and it seemed to happen really fast, but I enjoyed how it ended. It seemed to be like he was thinking of the idea of dragging someone down with you before you die. It seemed like that proper way for the character to think, and it really helped show how he thinks.
Overall, the book was an enjoyable read, and it had a very unique mystery so I can’t relate it with other books. When I picked this book up in my schools library, I wasn’t expecting too much from this book so it helped make the book more satisfying. I recommend this book to any type of reader, and they should be at least 14 years old, as there is some offensive language.
4/5
An element I really liked about this book is the conversations between characters, because they are descriptive, and you can really imagine the emotions coming from them. This really helps me understand the protagonist, Dooley, a lot more, as I can see his choices as them seem logical. I also love the scenes where he talks with the police and detectives, as you can really see how much he hates dealing with the law which really develops the story. The book also has clues to solve the mystery, but they are hard to find, as you would probably have to literally be there to catch the clues.
The only problem that I had with the book was the romance. I was expecting one in this book and it seemed a bit forced. It develops quickly, and I wasn’t satisfied about how it was left in a cliff-hanger. There are other books in the series, so I predict that it will develop more in the books that come after.
A big theme in this book is trust/betrayal. I think this really helps show the relationships between some of the characters, and it also shows the good or bad sides of them. This is big, because most of the story is made up by this trust/betrayal like Dooley ruining his uncle’s trust by making bad decisions and not listening to his instructions, and it really helps with the story.
The ending cleared up a lot of things within the book’s mystery, and it seemed to happen really fast, but I enjoyed how it ended. It seemed to be like he was thinking of the idea of dragging someone down with you before you die. It seemed like that proper way for the character to think, and it really helped show how he thinks.
Overall, the book was an enjoyable read, and it had a very unique mystery so I can’t relate it with other books. When I picked this book up in my schools library, I wasn’t expecting too much from this book so it helped make the book more satisfying. I recommend this book to any type of reader, and they should be at least 14 years old, as there is some offensive language.
4/5
May 21, 2012
Dooley Takes the Fall is an excellent story written by Norah McClintock that exhibits mystery and suspense through a teenage boy’s life. This story starts off with a murder case which the main character, Dooley found out. Since he is the first witness, he starts to become the blame for the crime. As he tries to clear himself out of it, more problems are bombarded at him, leading to an intense plot of him struggling and trying to come out of the strangled mess of string he’s been trapped in.
In my opinion, this book is an exceptional novel. The characters are depicted in a way that wows us as we go along the story. Their characteristics aren’t established. For example, Dooley may seem like an imperfect boy with little in the future in the beginning, but at the end he shows courage and turns out to be a likable and serious person. The intense plot also made this book a page-turner. Additionally, the plot flows nicely with intensity. Although the plot in the beginning of the novel develops slowly, it starts speeding up as it gets closer to the end. I lost some interest in the book in the beginning, but the author has done this in order to explain what is happening and the characters’ past. For example, it often mentions in the book what happened to Dooley in the past. “Two hours later, Dooley was antsy and wishing he could have a drink or smoke some weed, anything to take the edge off.” [54] This gives us a prior knowledge of what Dooley has gone through.
Overall, this book was a surprisingly awesome read, with overwhelming characters and an exciting plot. I would recommend this novel to grade 9 and up, but readers have to be aware that the author used a lot of profanity in this book. However, teenagers, especially ones who have mystery fictions as their cup of tea, would love this book, because they can relate to this book a lot, and it allows readers to think about the crime that goes on in this story.
In my opinion, this book is an exceptional novel. The characters are depicted in a way that wows us as we go along the story. Their characteristics aren’t established. For example, Dooley may seem like an imperfect boy with little in the future in the beginning, but at the end he shows courage and turns out to be a likable and serious person. The intense plot also made this book a page-turner. Additionally, the plot flows nicely with intensity. Although the plot in the beginning of the novel develops slowly, it starts speeding up as it gets closer to the end. I lost some interest in the book in the beginning, but the author has done this in order to explain what is happening and the characters’ past. For example, it often mentions in the book what happened to Dooley in the past. “Two hours later, Dooley was antsy and wishing he could have a drink or smoke some weed, anything to take the edge off.” [54] This gives us a prior knowledge of what Dooley has gone through.
Overall, this book was a surprisingly awesome read, with overwhelming characters and an exciting plot. I would recommend this novel to grade 9 and up, but readers have to be aware that the author used a lot of profanity in this book. However, teenagers, especially ones who have mystery fictions as their cup of tea, would love this book, because they can relate to this book a lot, and it allows readers to think about the crime that goes on in this story.
November 28, 2011
When I read the description on the back cover, a few words immediately caught my eye. “Is he dead?” “Yeah, I think so.” This got me a little interested, but I was still sceptical, since it looked like a pretty
normal book with a fairly ordinary and slightly boring plot. But now
that I have finished reading this book, I have to say that it was
extremely captivating, with an attention-grabbing plot, fascinating characters, and remarkable ideas.
This book talks about a rebellious teen, Dooley, who has made
commitment to stay good and start over new. Arriving at a new school, complications arise when Dooley witnesses a possible suicide .. or
murder. As Dooley mixes himself into the wrong crowd of friends once again, lives are taken, and Dooley puts his own at risk. Determined to solve this mystery on his own, he slowly puts together the puzzle
pieces, only to discover the shocking truth behind it all.
Although I'm not a big fan of mystery books, this one had me on the edge of my seat and I was completely surprised by the ending. The dark twists and turns had me anxious to read on and find out how this
mystery would end. Dooley's character was very intriguing and
fascinating. His dark past that the author rarely ever mentions kept me craving to know more about Dooley. His rebellious and intimidating exterior, yet kind and sincere interior, had me mesmerized at how he manages to have such an effect on the characters in the book.
The plot itself was unique and distinctive. I’ve never read a book with such a storyline, and I know that this story will definitely stick to me. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book, suitable
for any teen or adult audience, and I highly recommend this book to others. It introduces you to a whole new dark, risky, and dangerous
world, and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you go spiralling into the mysteries.
normal book with a fairly ordinary and slightly boring plot. But now
that I have finished reading this book, I have to say that it was
extremely captivating, with an attention-grabbing plot, fascinating characters, and remarkable ideas.
This book talks about a rebellious teen, Dooley, who has made
commitment to stay good and start over new. Arriving at a new school, complications arise when Dooley witnesses a possible suicide .. or
murder. As Dooley mixes himself into the wrong crowd of friends once again, lives are taken, and Dooley puts his own at risk. Determined to solve this mystery on his own, he slowly puts together the puzzle
pieces, only to discover the shocking truth behind it all.
Although I'm not a big fan of mystery books, this one had me on the edge of my seat and I was completely surprised by the ending. The dark twists and turns had me anxious to read on and find out how this
mystery would end. Dooley's character was very intriguing and
fascinating. His dark past that the author rarely ever mentions kept me craving to know more about Dooley. His rebellious and intimidating exterior, yet kind and sincere interior, had me mesmerized at how he manages to have such an effect on the characters in the book.
The plot itself was unique and distinctive. I’ve never read a book with such a storyline, and I know that this story will definitely stick to me. Overall, I thought this was an excellent book, suitable
for any teen or adult audience, and I highly recommend this book to others. It introduces you to a whole new dark, risky, and dangerous
world, and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you go spiralling into the mysteries.
December 14, 2012
The book Dooley Takes the Fall is about the protagonist, Dooley, proves himself innocent from a crime that he didn’t commit. Dooley had a terrible criminal record, and he even went to a jail before. One day, Dooley finished working and was wandering on a bridge. All of a sudden, he found someone lying on the ground and had already been dead. He became the natural suspect on the crime. Everyone doubted him. At the same time, there is that girl called Beth, who is the victim’s brother, came to his life. Dooley had a crush on her. Unfortunately, Beth doesn’t have a feeling about him...
Overall, I didn’t like this book very much. One big flaw of the book is that it contains so many unnecessary descriptions. For example, the author spent a whole chapter describing Dooley and his mental instructor. This event didn’t affect the main plot at all. The point of this chapter is to show that Dooley used to be a criminal, but he’s changing himself to be kind and considerate. I got bored when I read their endless conversations. I think the author could change a different way, such as helping a stranger to imply his change, and it would probably be more exciting. Also, the ending is too rushed. The author wrote a bunch of things for the plot development, but she only used two chapters to end the story.
One thing l like about the novel is that the author used a humourous and sarcastic tone throughout the book, such as “The biggest challenge was to find some way to look busy” (Norah McClintock, 194). Besides, Dooley’s uncle is even a black humour generator. The author used a lot of slangs in the book which makes the characters more interesting.
The book is not very exciting, and I’ve seen lots of books that do greater than this one. The book also contains use of offensive language which is not appropriate for kids. I think the book could be better.
Overall, I didn’t like this book very much. One big flaw of the book is that it contains so many unnecessary descriptions. For example, the author spent a whole chapter describing Dooley and his mental instructor. This event didn’t affect the main plot at all. The point of this chapter is to show that Dooley used to be a criminal, but he’s changing himself to be kind and considerate. I got bored when I read their endless conversations. I think the author could change a different way, such as helping a stranger to imply his change, and it would probably be more exciting. Also, the ending is too rushed. The author wrote a bunch of things for the plot development, but she only used two chapters to end the story.
One thing l like about the novel is that the author used a humourous and sarcastic tone throughout the book, such as “The biggest challenge was to find some way to look busy” (Norah McClintock, 194). Besides, Dooley’s uncle is even a black humour generator. The author used a lot of slangs in the book which makes the characters more interesting.
The book is not very exciting, and I’ve seen lots of books that do greater than this one. The book also contains use of offensive language which is not appropriate for kids. I think the book could be better.
December 17, 2012
Norah McClintock’s novel entitled Dooley Takes the Fall is definitely a worthy read. After reading Hit and Run and Taken, also by this author, I have to say that Dooley Takes the Fall is my favourite. I enjoy it very much because of the important theme, dynamic characters and the excellent mystery.
The theme of personal growth is a universal theme not only applicable to trouble youths but also for everyone. For example, Dooley used to have a problem with drugs and alcohol. However, when Dooley is offered hard liquor and smoke at a party, he simply replies that “Ginger ale would be fine.” (McClintock, 131) This sets a positive model for youths who are pressured to drink or do drugs at parties. Readers will understand that conviction is a key factor in achieving personal growth.
Aside from the theme, this book also has dynamic characters. The protagonist Ryan Dooley starts off as a careless youngster and makes some serious mistakes. However, he seeks redemption and love, thus achieving tremendous growth at the end. He even musters the courage to face the woman whom he injured two years ago. He says, “I wanted to apologize [...] for what happ- for what I did [...] I am sorry [...] I really am.” (McClintock, 310) The change in Dooley is remarkable. The reader is sure to celebrate his growth.
Lastly, the good story telling keeps the book lively and exciting. McClintock uses many devices such as red herrings to keep the mystery plot unpredictable. At the same time, the events are very logical and not forced. The ending is also very satisfying. Hence, the mystery engages the readers.
Dooley Takes the fall is a marvelous mystery novel. The author teaches important lessons through the theme as well as the dynamic characters. She is also excellent at storytelling and has a great writing style. Mystery lovers will surely love this story.
The theme of personal growth is a universal theme not only applicable to trouble youths but also for everyone. For example, Dooley used to have a problem with drugs and alcohol. However, when Dooley is offered hard liquor and smoke at a party, he simply replies that “Ginger ale would be fine.” (McClintock, 131) This sets a positive model for youths who are pressured to drink or do drugs at parties. Readers will understand that conviction is a key factor in achieving personal growth.
Aside from the theme, this book also has dynamic characters. The protagonist Ryan Dooley starts off as a careless youngster and makes some serious mistakes. However, he seeks redemption and love, thus achieving tremendous growth at the end. He even musters the courage to face the woman whom he injured two years ago. He says, “I wanted to apologize [...] for what happ- for what I did [...] I am sorry [...] I really am.” (McClintock, 310) The change in Dooley is remarkable. The reader is sure to celebrate his growth.
Lastly, the good story telling keeps the book lively and exciting. McClintock uses many devices such as red herrings to keep the mystery plot unpredictable. At the same time, the events are very logical and not forced. The ending is also very satisfying. Hence, the mystery engages the readers.
Dooley Takes the fall is a marvelous mystery novel. The author teaches important lessons through the theme as well as the dynamic characters. She is also excellent at storytelling and has a great writing style. Mystery lovers will surely love this story.
November 30, 2011
The book is all about trouble, the author started of describing Dooley's past times and after being released from jail, Dooley was walking home from the video store. He walked by the dark trail and he saw a guy falling ten feet in front of him. "Is he dead?" the kid asked. "Yeah, I think so." said Dooley. At that moment, Dooley knew he was in trouble...
"Dooley takes the fall" was another amazing novel Ms. McClintock created, she explained the characters in details, She explained the personality of DOoley's uncle, Beth, Mark and the twelve year old kid. The book has gone through some tough times with Dooley, and Dooley trying to prove himself innocent, unfortunately, the cops did not believe him. The book eventually gets more interesting and I love the fact of it.
The only part that I dislike in the book is that I did not like the fact that the book gives away too much information. The theme, and the back of the book gives you a really bad impression, it reminds you of trouble.
Overall, if you are planning to read this novel, you have to keep going, the book keeps you excited and wants to read more, the trouble and the tough times they have gone through is the part where you want to continue reading, you will never want to stop reading. Also, if you are the type of people that likes to investigate, this will be the perfect book for you.
"Dooley takes the fall" was another amazing novel Ms. McClintock created, she explained the characters in details, She explained the personality of DOoley's uncle, Beth, Mark and the twelve year old kid. The book has gone through some tough times with Dooley, and Dooley trying to prove himself innocent, unfortunately, the cops did not believe him. The book eventually gets more interesting and I love the fact of it.
The only part that I dislike in the book is that I did not like the fact that the book gives away too much information. The theme, and the back of the book gives you a really bad impression, it reminds you of trouble.
Overall, if you are planning to read this novel, you have to keep going, the book keeps you excited and wants to read more, the trouble and the tough times they have gone through is the part where you want to continue reading, you will never want to stop reading. Also, if you are the type of people that likes to investigate, this will be the perfect book for you.
November 28, 2011
The story is about a teenager, named Ryan Dooley who goes through a trial of events, in the attempt to turn his life around and become a better person. One day Dooley finds himself looking at a dead body, that has just gone off a bridge. He decides to call the police, and soon finds out that the boy had went to his school. The police suspect that Dooley was the person who killed the boy; who was soon identified as Mark Everley; someone that Dooley had known.
The book is full of suspense, mystery, and surprisingly romance. The author did a great job and manages to include suspense by slowly revealing the truth, and leaving the readers wondering what happens next. The story was very detailed, and made the reader think of different possible answers to the various crimes and mysteries.
The characters each had different personalities. They were all very detailed and in depth. The main character; Dooley was someone who was involved in a lot of crimes, however, when he made the decision to become a better person, it made him very easy to relate to. The target audience of this book is teenagers, and the book displayed the daily life of a trouble teen, who has gone through crime, alcohol, fights and more.
The book is full of suspense, mystery, and surprisingly romance. The author did a great job and manages to include suspense by slowly revealing the truth, and leaving the readers wondering what happens next. The story was very detailed, and made the reader think of different possible answers to the various crimes and mysteries.
The characters each had different personalities. They were all very detailed and in depth. The main character; Dooley was someone who was involved in a lot of crimes, however, when he made the decision to become a better person, it made him very easy to relate to. The target audience of this book is teenagers, and the book displayed the daily life of a trouble teen, who has gone through crime, alcohol, fights and more.
May 10, 2012
The book ‘Dooley Takes the Fall’ is a fantastic read in which boy meets life. Dooley, the protagonist is faced with unnerving circumstances that would make the ordinary man crumble and fall. Dooley must constantly persevere and use his wits to overcome life’s obstacles and look past all the crap that is thrown at him. The book begins a little bit dull and confusing, but as McClintock, the author builds up the plot, things become increasingly crazier as things are thrown at Dooley left right and center. It is made clear at the beginning of the novel that Dooley has had some problems in the past and that he’s trying to start anew. But when a crime is committed and he becomes the primary suspect of the case, it’s up to Dooley in this mind-bending novel to pry open the case of a double homicide, of which they are of two people whom he knows. Although not necessarily in a good way. Dooley must find out the truth in a place where he is trusted by no one, not even his uncle, and everyone has ulterior motives with full intentions of keeping them a secret. ‘Dooley Takes the Fall’ is a well written realistic novel of a troubled teenager resisting the dark claws of his past pulling him back into its depths.
May 24, 2011
Dooley finds a kid he knows of from school dead in a ravine. Things just get more complicated for Ryan Dooley from there. Rarely do we know so little about a character's past than we know of Dooley's. We know he spent time in a juvenile detention center but as the mystery unfolds about the dead kid Dooley found we also find out more about Dooley's shady past.
This had me on the edge of my seat and I was completely surprised by the ending. For me, Dooley reminded me a bit of a couple of Walter Dean Myer's characters who also have sketchy pasts but Dooley really is struggling to get his life back on track. And he's adamant that he wasn't involved in a crime that took place after a party he was at on a night he doesn't remember. It's his word against the rich kid's and his friends.
I was really intrigued by Dooley and may pick up another of McClintock's books about him.
This had me on the edge of my seat and I was completely surprised by the ending. For me, Dooley reminded me a bit of a couple of Walter Dean Myer's characters who also have sketchy pasts but Dooley really is struggling to get his life back on track. And he's adamant that he wasn't involved in a crime that took place after a party he was at on a night he doesn't remember. It's his word against the rich kid's and his friends.
I was really intrigued by Dooley and may pick up another of McClintock's books about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2009
Booktalk:
Dooley's just finished doing time for past crimes. He has a second shot at becoming a decent person, with a new slate at a new school. But then he stumbles upon a dead body and despite the magnitude to which he hates cops, he does the right thing and has them called to the scene. Suddenly, Dooley is befriended by the dead guy's bestfriend and hot sister. Dooley soon realizes he's being setup and knows he'll have to think with his mind not his heart, or any other body part. As foul play threatens Dooley's efforts to stay clean, Dooley will have to decide whether it's worth the hassle to walk the straight and narrow.
Dooley's just finished doing time for past crimes. He has a second shot at becoming a decent person, with a new slate at a new school. But then he stumbles upon a dead body and despite the magnitude to which he hates cops, he does the right thing and has them called to the scene. Suddenly, Dooley is befriended by the dead guy's bestfriend and hot sister. Dooley soon realizes he's being setup and knows he'll have to think with his mind not his heart, or any other body part. As foul play threatens Dooley's efforts to stay clean, Dooley will have to decide whether it's worth the hassle to walk the straight and narrow.
March 4, 2015
I was a little reminded of a dark Kevin Brooks mystery while reading this YA novel. Dooley is 17 and trying to turn his life around, but he keeps being accused of things. He lives with his ex-cop uncle, tried to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and tries to keep a quiet profile at school. But then he sees a teenage boy take a dive off the bridge. Was it murder? An accident? Suicide? Beth, the dead kid's sister, is gorgeous and Dooley tries to help her figure out what happened. But since the police are on Dooley's case because of his record, Dooley has to take the mystery solving into his own hands.
February 7, 2009
I think most people who have read this book have likened it to the movie Brick, a comparison that I definitely agree with. This is also an example of excellent pacing. I don't typically notice the pace of a book unless it is really slow or brilliantly structured and this one was the latter. Dooley himself is an intriguing protagonist, with a shady past that might make some readers uncomfortable but also challenges preconceived notions of right and wrong, guilt and innocence. Plus it was just a great mystery. Highly recommended.
April 7, 2009
Dooley has had a checkered past and his reputation precedes him when he begins attending his new High School. One evening, Dooley witnesses someone falling from a bridge - and comes upon the body of one of his new classmates moments later. Suspicions are cast and it isn't long before Dooley is in hot water. A little mystery, a little love - a handful of language and lots of violence leaning this towards the upper rungs of YA literature.
January 31, 2012
Finally got back to this one after reading #2. :) Great start! I wish I'd read them in order...but they are also stand alone novels so don't freak out if you don't. A little bit more language then I would have liked but if you don't mind too much it's a great story that keeps you going. I love the characters (though too many people I liked died) and the backstory of Dooley is intruiging. Put on to-read. :)
December 18, 2014
Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock
Goodreads Author
Dooley, a troublesome teenager, seems to have problem continue to follow him . He has been in trouble with the law over drinking and drugs. Dooley has since seen where this is all heading and has straightened up his life. He gets blamed for alot of things since he has been in jail for past things he has done. You wonder if it will be his fault again, you wonder right to the end of the story. Keeps the pages turning!
Goodreads Author
Dooley, a troublesome teenager, seems to have problem continue to follow him . He has been in trouble with the law over drinking and drugs. Dooley has since seen where this is all heading and has straightened up his life. He gets blamed for alot of things since he has been in jail for past things he has done. You wonder if it will be his fault again, you wonder right to the end of the story. Keeps the pages turning!
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