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Dare Devils
Jack's life changes dramatically from the moment the friendly new boy, Tony Thornton, sits next to him in class. Jack and his single mother are still grieving for his sister Jodie, who died in an accident. 'Thorns' soon has Jack involved in daring deeds such as challenging the school bullies, taking a day off school, climbing on the school roof instead of completing the cross-country... Jack agrees because Thorns has a list of things to do before he dies, and he could die at any time from an untreatable heart condition. As he tries to be a good mate for Thorns, Jack starts a list of his own and starts to draw again for the first time since Jodie died. There is no magical cure for Thorns, but in the end the two boys are going for a holiday with their parents where they hope to swim with dolphins, another item on Thorns' list.
The characters and situations are easy for teenage readers to relate to; the plot has both continuity and enough incidents to keep the pages turning; and the novel is entertaining in spite of addressing the serious topics of death and grief.
The characters and situations are easy for teenage readers to relate to; the plot has both continuity and enough incidents to keep the pages turning; and the novel is entertaining in spite of addressing the serious topics of death and grief.
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
19 people want to read
About the author
Bill Condon
91 books28 followersBill Condon's young adult novels, Dogs (2001) and No Worries (2005) were Honour Books in the CBCA (Australian Book of the Year) Awards. No Worries was also short-listed for the Ethel Turner Prize in the 2005 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. In 2010 Bill's Confessions Of A Liar, Thief And Failed Sex God won the inaugural Prime Minister's Literary Award for young adult fiction. A Straight LineTo My Heart is Bill's most recent young adult novel. In 2012 it was a CBCA Honour Book, and was short-listed in the Prime Minister's Lterary Awards and the Ethel Turner Prize.
Before devoting himself to novels, Bill had a long and successful career as a writer of short stories, plays and poetry for young people. His work encompasses many genres and he has more than one hundred titles to his credit. He lives on the south coast of New South Wales with his wife, the well known children's author Di (Dianne) Bates.
Bill's latest book is the junior novel, The Simple Things, published in 2014.
Before devoting himself to novels, Bill had a long and successful career as a writer of short stories, plays and poetry for young people. His work encompasses many genres and he has more than one hundred titles to his credit. He lives on the south coast of New South Wales with his wife, the well known children's author Di (Dianne) Bates.
Bill's latest book is the junior novel, The Simple Things, published in 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 31, 2015
Hello everyone! It is the second book by Bill Condon that I read, he is an Australian author who got many awards for his young-adult books. The first one I read, A Straight line to my heart, was a real revelation for me. And I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy of Daredevils. I waited until summer to read it because it felt like a summer read.
This very short book that I read in less than three days is about 16-year-old Anthony (Thorns) who has a heart condition. He wrote a list of things he wants to do before he dies, because he realizes he has not long to live. He decides to take Jack, a reserved guy from his new class, as a helper for his list. Jack is in fact the narrator, which is very interesting and surprising, because I would have expected Thorns to tell his own story. Thorns’ arrival in Jack’s life really changes his life, even though the book is not only about his new friend. It is thanks to him and his disease that Jack notices he has not done much during his sixteen years of life, except playing video games and hide at the back row of the class. Thanks to this list, it is the first time he really lives.
I thought this story was really beautiful, but a bit too short. It is a pity, but I felt like I was reading a part of a book, and not a full book. I think it t needed at least 100 more pages. I had been preparing myself for the end, but I thought there was something missing in order to really care about the characters. The ending would have touched me more if there had been a few more chapters and elements to the story. I was expecting the list to be of major importance. I thought they did not accomplish enough things, and what they did happened too fast, too easily, without any obstacles. In the end, it was not the biggest part of the story and I had expected the novel to be really about it.
I can only say that Bill Condon is a brilliant writer. His sentences are always right, with the right words, the right amount of humor and irony. You can easily find some of his novels on Amazon or Book Depository, and it really is an author I recommend.
This very short book that I read in less than three days is about 16-year-old Anthony (Thorns) who has a heart condition. He wrote a list of things he wants to do before he dies, because he realizes he has not long to live. He decides to take Jack, a reserved guy from his new class, as a helper for his list. Jack is in fact the narrator, which is very interesting and surprising, because I would have expected Thorns to tell his own story. Thorns’ arrival in Jack’s life really changes his life, even though the book is not only about his new friend. It is thanks to him and his disease that Jack notices he has not done much during his sixteen years of life, except playing video games and hide at the back row of the class. Thanks to this list, it is the first time he really lives.
I thought this story was really beautiful, but a bit too short. It is a pity, but I felt like I was reading a part of a book, and not a full book. I think it t needed at least 100 more pages. I had been preparing myself for the end, but I thought there was something missing in order to really care about the characters. The ending would have touched me more if there had been a few more chapters and elements to the story. I was expecting the list to be of major importance. I thought they did not accomplish enough things, and what they did happened too fast, too easily, without any obstacles. In the end, it was not the biggest part of the story and I had expected the novel to be really about it.
I can only say that Bill Condon is a brilliant writer. His sentences are always right, with the right words, the right amount of humor and irony. You can easily find some of his novels on Amazon or Book Depository, and it really is an author I recommend.
April 15, 2020
Loved it!
March 24, 2012
This was a fun book to read because the story. It was a interesting one to follow as it changed around throughout most of the book. The second main character died in the end :( I liked him.He was going to die from the start so I saw it coming.
May 14, 2012
An adolescent does a "bucket list". Great characters.
June 7, 2012
The book DareDevils book is a really book , so would remmonemed it to all my dare devil friends
April 27, 2013
cute story about two boys who go on an adventure.... they have a really good relationship.. but one of then holds a sad story
October 6, 2013
Thorns may only have a short time to life, but he's determined to make every second count. And he's going to drag Jack into really living too...
June 12, 2016
A great story well told by Bill Condon who I got to meet after playing the role of Rigor the teacher in the play.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews