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Tell (pb) by Norah McClintock
When his step-father Phil is shot dead in an apparent robbery, David becomes the prime suspect. Where was David that night, and what does he know about Phil?David has figured out the truth about his step-father, and the day his kid-brother died. What will it take for him to tell? And how did he know?
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First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Norah McClintock
91 books209 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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
March 8, 2018
Have you ever told someone something that would devastate them for life? Have you ever told someone a secret that you knew you weren’t supposed to tell anyone? Or have you ever held in something you thought you’d never tell anyone until someone made you snap? If so, in the book Tell you’ll relate and more.
The mystery of David’s stepfather’s murder is no accident. David holds in so much information when his stepfather’s death pops up suddenly in his family. Could David be responsible for Phil’s death? Was it a bad poker game gone wrong? In Tell, Phil was a huge poker player. Could he have cheated and was caught? Phil was murdered at an ATM machine late at night. Could it have been a robbery?
In this story, a lot of drama goes down. It’s quite chaotic for David’s family, especially his mother. Phil took David’s mother in along with David and Jamie. What happened to Jamie though? How come Jamie isn’t brought up in the beginning of the story? David’s mother was struggling with financial issues and keeping the boys with a roof over their heads and food. Then, Phil came in and knew he was going to do something about it. Phil worked along with David’s mother to have a good life as a family. Do you think Phil is actually a decent guy? Was Phil playing a role just to use David and his family? All of these questions have yet to be answered for the person reading this review. The only way you find out is if you read Tell by Norah McClintock for yourself.
The mystery of David’s stepfather’s murder is no accident. David holds in so much information when his stepfather’s death pops up suddenly in his family. Could David be responsible for Phil’s death? Was it a bad poker game gone wrong? In Tell, Phil was a huge poker player. Could he have cheated and was caught? Phil was murdered at an ATM machine late at night. Could it have been a robbery?
In this story, a lot of drama goes down. It’s quite chaotic for David’s family, especially his mother. Phil took David’s mother in along with David and Jamie. What happened to Jamie though? How come Jamie isn’t brought up in the beginning of the story? David’s mother was struggling with financial issues and keeping the boys with a roof over their heads and food. Then, Phil came in and knew he was going to do something about it. Phil worked along with David’s mother to have a good life as a family. Do you think Phil is actually a decent guy? Was Phil playing a role just to use David and his family? All of these questions have yet to be answered for the person reading this review. The only way you find out is if you read Tell by Norah McClintock for yourself.
February 24, 2014
"Tell" by Norah McClintock was a very good book,and the plot was present day time. The weather or seasons were never brought up. The story first starts off with David and his mother. He had a step dad named Phil that took great care of him. As far as David knew his real dad is dead.
Phil was one of the main characters, who was only home on the weekends. Phil took care of David, his brother,and their mother. Phil drove semi over the road and made pretty good money. David was a fifteen year old boy who was always stuck doing Phil's chores and he hated it. They would always play cards,and sometimes the would bet best two out of three to see who would have to do the chores. David has a younger brother, but a name was not mentioned.
This story took place in a small town like Waupaca. There were bars around, a couple stores here and there, and some banks. Everyone got along for the most part, or that's what the police thought anyways. Phil loved to gamble. Phil would go out every weekend and play cards, sometimes bringing in money, or sometimes losing money. Phil was shot dead after he pulled money from an ATM and would not give it up. The police investigated and further found out who shot Phil.
I've rated this book four stars. It was a short read, but it was a great book. The story was a mystery. I never wanted to stop reading. This was the first book that I brought home to read in my own time. I would recommend this book to people of all ages. I really enjoyed it , and I think others would too.
Phil was one of the main characters, who was only home on the weekends. Phil took care of David, his brother,and their mother. Phil drove semi over the road and made pretty good money. David was a fifteen year old boy who was always stuck doing Phil's chores and he hated it. They would always play cards,and sometimes the would bet best two out of three to see who would have to do the chores. David has a younger brother, but a name was not mentioned.
This story took place in a small town like Waupaca. There were bars around, a couple stores here and there, and some banks. Everyone got along for the most part, or that's what the police thought anyways. Phil loved to gamble. Phil would go out every weekend and play cards, sometimes bringing in money, or sometimes losing money. Phil was shot dead after he pulled money from an ATM and would not give it up. The police investigated and further found out who shot Phil.
I've rated this book four stars. It was a short read, but it was a great book. The story was a mystery. I never wanted to stop reading. This was the first book that I brought home to read in my own time. I would recommend this book to people of all ages. I really enjoyed it , and I think others would too.
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May 23, 2019Student Name: Devin Kuenzi Date Submitted: 3/5/19
Book Title: Tell Lexile: 650
Personal Response: I like this book because it is an interesting book, and I like how the boy told his story about what happened to his brother and his stepdad. I would say that this book is a little sad but at the same time very interesting. I like how David, the boy, tells the officer about what happened. It was a really good way for him to share the information. He also lets his mother stay to hear what happened and then makes her leave the room after.
Plot summary: This book is about a boy named David, and he tells the story about his stepfather and younger brother’s deaths. David’s stepdad was into poker and would always play it. David would lose most of the time to his stepdad, but I think that's because his stepdad didn't ever want to do the chores. When David’s step dad had friends come over to play poker he didn't win that much against them. There is this guy named Jack that is friends with David's mother and father. He could read Davids stepdads motions and actions while playing poker. He tells the officer about all of this and he thinks that David still killed his step dad. Then David told the officer that he saw the guy shoot his step dad and explains what he looks like. A couple of weeks later, they find the guy that murdered his step dad. The whole time they thought that David killed his step dad, but it actually the other guy.
Chararitsation: The main character, David, tells a interesting story about how his brother dies and how in the end how his stepdad dies. At the beginning of the story, David is always nervous and will not tell the truth. Then one day, the police take him in and ask him questions. He tells them alot about what happened and then tells them who shot his step dad. After David was done getting to the point, he describes the murder. The police catch the murderer a couple weeks later.
Recommendations: I recommend this book to a male high schooler. This book gets emotional to someone who is an emotional type of person. This book is good for someone who likes a good fast Goodreads. This book is good for people who like to try to find out mysteries.
Book Title: Tell Lexile: 650
Personal Response: I like this book because it is an interesting book, and I like how the boy told his story about what happened to his brother and his stepdad. I would say that this book is a little sad but at the same time very interesting. I like how David, the boy, tells the officer about what happened. It was a really good way for him to share the information. He also lets his mother stay to hear what happened and then makes her leave the room after.
Plot summary: This book is about a boy named David, and he tells the story about his stepfather and younger brother’s deaths. David’s stepdad was into poker and would always play it. David would lose most of the time to his stepdad, but I think that's because his stepdad didn't ever want to do the chores. When David’s step dad had friends come over to play poker he didn't win that much against them. There is this guy named Jack that is friends with David's mother and father. He could read Davids stepdads motions and actions while playing poker. He tells the officer about all of this and he thinks that David still killed his step dad. Then David told the officer that he saw the guy shoot his step dad and explains what he looks like. A couple of weeks later, they find the guy that murdered his step dad. The whole time they thought that David killed his step dad, but it actually the other guy.
Chararitsation: The main character, David, tells a interesting story about how his brother dies and how in the end how his stepdad dies. At the beginning of the story, David is always nervous and will not tell the truth. Then one day, the police take him in and ask him questions. He tells them alot about what happened and then tells them who shot his step dad. After David was done getting to the point, he describes the murder. The police catch the murderer a couple weeks later.
Recommendations: I recommend this book to a male high schooler. This book gets emotional to someone who is an emotional type of person. This book is good for someone who likes a good fast Goodreads. This book is good for people who like to try to find out mysteries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2018
Personal Response:
I rated this book three and a half stars. I did not like how the book dragged on. I did not like how the book mostly took place in the police station. If the author went straight to the main point, the book would have ended in 40 pages. I liked how this book showed a strong theme. I liked how the author backtracked throughout the book. I liked how this book wasn't too long. The book also ended at the right moment.
Plot:
The book first started out with the cops at David’s door. The cops explained how his step father was shot and killed. The cops didn't know who killed David’s stepfather: Phil. The cops created a investigation for the murder case. The police thought David was the killer. David tried to explain himself to the officer that he didn't do it. The police found out that David was not the murderer at the end of the book.
Character analysis:
David was the main character of the book. David was 14 years old. David grew up without knowing his real dad because he passed away before he was born. David used to live in a tough neighborhood until his mother met Phil. David’s stepfather, Phil, was the one who got murdered in the book. David had a younger brother, but unfortunately, he died due to drowning under Phil’s supervision. David did not like Phil due to the past experience of his younger brother, David believed he could have saved him. Phil also made David do excess amount of chores around the house. Phil had an obsession with gambling.
Setting:
The setting took place in present day. The murder happened downtown by an ATM machine where Phil was withdrawing money. The same night Phil got murdered, David was in the same part of town that's why he was the main suspect of the case.The book mainly took place in the police station, because that's where David had gotten questioned at. When David was younger he lived in a tough neighborhood until Phil got with his mom, so they then moved to the suburbs.
Recommended:
I recommend this book to people who like detective books. I recommend this book to both genders, because it’s a good book overall. I recommend this book to people who want to read a short book, because this book is only 120 pages long. I recommend this book to people who like to get thrown into loops when they read. I recommend this book to 15 year olds and up, because it talks about murder in the book.
I rated this book three and a half stars. I did not like how the book dragged on. I did not like how the book mostly took place in the police station. If the author went straight to the main point, the book would have ended in 40 pages. I liked how this book showed a strong theme. I liked how the author backtracked throughout the book. I liked how this book wasn't too long. The book also ended at the right moment.
Plot:
The book first started out with the cops at David’s door. The cops explained how his step father was shot and killed. The cops didn't know who killed David’s stepfather: Phil. The cops created a investigation for the murder case. The police thought David was the killer. David tried to explain himself to the officer that he didn't do it. The police found out that David was not the murderer at the end of the book.
Character analysis:
David was the main character of the book. David was 14 years old. David grew up without knowing his real dad because he passed away before he was born. David used to live in a tough neighborhood until his mother met Phil. David’s stepfather, Phil, was the one who got murdered in the book. David had a younger brother, but unfortunately, he died due to drowning under Phil’s supervision. David did not like Phil due to the past experience of his younger brother, David believed he could have saved him. Phil also made David do excess amount of chores around the house. Phil had an obsession with gambling.
Setting:
The setting took place in present day. The murder happened downtown by an ATM machine where Phil was withdrawing money. The same night Phil got murdered, David was in the same part of town that's why he was the main suspect of the case.The book mainly took place in the police station, because that's where David had gotten questioned at. When David was younger he lived in a tough neighborhood until Phil got with his mom, so they then moved to the suburbs.
Recommended:
I recommend this book to people who like detective books. I recommend this book to both genders, because it’s a good book overall. I recommend this book to people who want to read a short book, because this book is only 120 pages long. I recommend this book to people who like to get thrown into loops when they read. I recommend this book to 15 year olds and up, because it talks about murder in the book.
January 14, 2019
Personal Response
I think this was a very good book. It dealt with real-life situations such as murder and crime investigation. The whole idea of the story was to explain how an investigation works. It really surprised me how much I learned from reading this book.
Plot Summary
In Tell the main character David’s stepdad, Phil, is shot and killed. The cops are now in search of who killed Phil. They later go on and put the evidence together and believe that David had shot and killed him. David then went on to explain to the officers that he did not kill Phil and told them about how great of a stepdad he was. In the end, they never actually found out who killed Phil and left it on a cliffhanger.
Characterization
David was the main character of the story. He never got to see his real dad since he passed away before he was born. David’s mom then met Phil and they moved in with him in a better neighborhood. David did not like his father because he figured out that he was cheating when he would play him in cards so David then had to do chores.
Recommendation
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in crime and investigation. It is a very easy read and overall a good book. This book reminds me of a CSI movie. I am definitely going to read the rest of the books in the series.
I think this was a very good book. It dealt with real-life situations such as murder and crime investigation. The whole idea of the story was to explain how an investigation works. It really surprised me how much I learned from reading this book.
Plot Summary
In Tell the main character David’s stepdad, Phil, is shot and killed. The cops are now in search of who killed Phil. They later go on and put the evidence together and believe that David had shot and killed him. David then went on to explain to the officers that he did not kill Phil and told them about how great of a stepdad he was. In the end, they never actually found out who killed Phil and left it on a cliffhanger.
Characterization
David was the main character of the story. He never got to see his real dad since he passed away before he was born. David’s mom then met Phil and they moved in with him in a better neighborhood. David did not like his father because he figured out that he was cheating when he would play him in cards so David then had to do chores.
Recommendation
I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in crime and investigation. It is a very easy read and overall a good book. This book reminds me of a CSI movie. I am definitely going to read the rest of the books in the series.
October 11, 2017
Tell by Norah McClintock is a very different book apart from other books that I have read. This book doesn't tell you who did it until the very end and the story teases you into thinking that it’s somebody that it really isn’t. It was a fast and simple read with a great story line. Every chapter leaves you asking questions, and the author's writing allows you to put the pieces together about the main character, David Benson. I enjoyed this book mostly because it was exciting, but also a very easy read. When David’s stepfather Phil is murdered, the motive seems to be robbery. But there are several events that keep pointing to David as a suspect. It really puts you on the edge of your seat and keeps you thinking, and I am not somebody that likes to read that much.
The only problem that I saw with the story was the fact that the climax wasn’t as big as it should have been. The person that killed David’s step dad wasn’t the person that you thought it was going to be, which led to a bit of disappointment for me. I recommend this book to anyone who is not a big fan of reading but still enjoys a good story once in awhile. Although the book is rather short, it opens up the crime and mystery genre to new readers and I think anyone would enjoy it. Tell is a very exciting and intriguing story that keeps you interested the whole way through.
The only problem that I saw with the story was the fact that the climax wasn’t as big as it should have been. The person that killed David’s step dad wasn’t the person that you thought it was going to be, which led to a bit of disappointment for me. I recommend this book to anyone who is not a big fan of reading but still enjoys a good story once in awhile. Although the book is rather short, it opens up the crime and mystery genre to new readers and I think anyone would enjoy it. Tell is a very exciting and intriguing story that keeps you interested the whole way through.
May 27, 2018
Personal Response:
I thought that Tell was a very good book. I liked how once I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. I always wanted to know what was next. In all this was a great book.
Plot Summary:
The book Tell started out with David and his mother finding out that his stepfather was killed in a street robbery. David never really got along with Phil, but he tells the detective that he was not the one who killed his stepfather. David was on a convenience store security video, which makes the detective more suspicious as to if he did kill his own stepfather. David finally admits he was in the area where his stepfather was killed, but David insists on giving the detective some background about Phil. He told the Detective that Phil allowed David’s younger brother, named Jamie to drown a couple summers ago. David saw his stepfather get shot when he was hiding behind a bush, but he wanted to let him suffer, just like he let David's little brother Jamie suffer.
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend this book to high school students because seeing someone get shot is likely for someone to witness as they get older. I would also recommend this book to people who love to read mystery and crime books. I would also like to recommend this book to young adults who have had this happen to them before.
I thought that Tell was a very good book. I liked how once I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. I always wanted to know what was next. In all this was a great book.
Plot Summary:
The book Tell started out with David and his mother finding out that his stepfather was killed in a street robbery. David never really got along with Phil, but he tells the detective that he was not the one who killed his stepfather. David was on a convenience store security video, which makes the detective more suspicious as to if he did kill his own stepfather. David finally admits he was in the area where his stepfather was killed, but David insists on giving the detective some background about Phil. He told the Detective that Phil allowed David’s younger brother, named Jamie to drown a couple summers ago. David saw his stepfather get shot when he was hiding behind a bush, but he wanted to let him suffer, just like he let David's little brother Jamie suffer.
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend this book to high school students because seeing someone get shot is likely for someone to witness as they get older. I would also recommend this book to people who love to read mystery and crime books. I would also like to recommend this book to young adults who have had this happen to them before.
October 29, 2018
Personal Response:
I thought this book was really good. You never knew what to expect next. I personally never knew who the suspect was because the point of view always changed.
Plot Summary:
At the beginning of the book, David and his mom find out that Phil, David’s step-dad has been shot. Immediately after the killing, the police set up an investigation. The investigation held David as their number one suspect in the murder. David tells them he was at home. But little did he know, they got him on camera at convenience store near the time of the murder. David then tells the police he rarely got along with Phil. They take that as a red flag and investigate him more. Finally, they push David hard enough and he admits to what happened.
Characterization:
David is the character I believe has changed the most. At the beginning, it seemed like he somewhat liked Phil. As the book went on, I could tell that David did not like Phil. David did not like Phil, because he saw what he did to his brother during his death.
Recommnedations:
I recommend this book to people who like books with a blind corner. I think it is a great book for teenagers. Or anyone who likes books with blind corners.
I thought this book was really good. You never knew what to expect next. I personally never knew who the suspect was because the point of view always changed.
Plot Summary:
At the beginning of the book, David and his mom find out that Phil, David’s step-dad has been shot. Immediately after the killing, the police set up an investigation. The investigation held David as their number one suspect in the murder. David tells them he was at home. But little did he know, they got him on camera at convenience store near the time of the murder. David then tells the police he rarely got along with Phil. They take that as a red flag and investigate him more. Finally, they push David hard enough and he admits to what happened.
Characterization:
David is the character I believe has changed the most. At the beginning, it seemed like he somewhat liked Phil. As the book went on, I could tell that David did not like Phil. David did not like Phil, because he saw what he did to his brother during his death.
Recommnedations:
I recommend this book to people who like books with a blind corner. I think it is a great book for teenagers. Or anyone who likes books with blind corners.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2017
In the novel Tell, Norah McClintock does a fantastic job of giving detail and she knew how to keep the reader interested. She takes no time getting started. The beginning starts of with a bang right away. This is one of the books for people that like things fast paced and exciting. I haven’t wanted to put this book down since I have started reading it. A suspicious murder had happened to the stepdad and many questions came up immediately. David Benson, the stepson, was the one being questioned the most. Detective Antonelli was put on this case and he was a great character. He pushed David to the limits to get everything out of him.
This book left me speechless at the end. The author did so much with the characters and the theme of the book. I wish I could forget everything and read it again just so I could having the feeling of suspense again. I pictured everything as it was happening. I highly recommend this book for a quick and easy read that you will be fascinated by.
This book left me speechless at the end. The author did so much with the characters and the theme of the book. I wish I could forget everything and read it again just so I could having the feeling of suspense again. I pictured everything as it was happening. I highly recommend this book for a quick and easy read that you will be fascinated by.
February 28, 2008
Reference information:
Title: Tell
Author: Norah McClintock
Publisher: Orca Soundings Year: 2006
# of pages: 100 Genre: mystery
Reading level Interest level: 11+
Potential hot lava: violence, lying
General response/reaction:
This book was so suspenseful and gripping. I can definitely see a reluctant reader taking and keeping this book. Since the book was only 100 pages, it was really easy to read in a short period of time, but even with my ability I did not want to put the book down! This concise book gets straight to the plot by describing a death in the first two pages. McClintock has a great balance of revealing just enough information to help the reader understand and leaves out just enough to make the reader want to turn the pages faster. This book was an awesome read and I would recommend it to anyone!
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
• Lying
• Truth
• Poker
• “Tells”
• Cheating
• Past and future
Characters:
• David – main character, narrator, step-son of Phil, police think he has something to do with Phil’s death
• Detective Antonelli – main investigator on Phil’s death, the one who questions David about the situation
• Jack – a friend of David’s mom, reveals information to David that helps him understand more truth
• Phil – David’s step-dad, lies a lot, cheats, overall not a good guy
Plot summary:
The police come to David’s house to tell him and his mom that Phil, David’s stepfather, has been shot and killed in a possible robbery. After the formalities of a funeral, Detective Antonelli pushes to find more answers about the murder. Antonelli believes that David knows more about the murder than he is letting the police know about, so Antonelli pulls David into the police station to question him further.
At first, most of the evidence points to David. A picture of his dead brother is found among David’s laundry which was missing from Phil’s personal effects. David is seen on store surveillance cameras ten minutes before Phil’s death one block away from the murder scene. David has a history of not really liking his stepfather. The police suspect that David either knows more about the murder or committed the murder.
Then David tells Antonelli about Phil. He begins with how Phil loves to play poker and how Jack knows Phil’s tell. When David learns about the “tell”, he studies Phil and realizes that Jack was right. David tests the “tell” and realizes that Phil has been cheating the whole time. While David tells his story, Antonelli becomes impatient because he does not see the point to David’s way of telling the story. Also during this time, David’s mother is out of the room so that David and Antonelli can talk in private. David knows more about his own past than his mother ever told him.
Before the police let David’s mother back into the room, David tells Antonelli about his brother’s death and other information Jack told him. When David’s mother is let back into the interrogation room, David explains the true story about his brother’s death and how Phil did not save his brother. He then explains that he was in the vicinity of the murder scene and saw Phil get murdered. David says he did not call the police after he saw Phil get shot because Phil did not bother to save his brother.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
This book is really interesting and really easy to read. It is a page turning mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Any reader would enjoy this book.
Drawbacks or other cautions:
Not every secret that is revealed gets followed up. The ending is not that great, it kind of just ends.
Teaching ideas:
Pre-reading:
• Anticipation guide
o One question I would definitely ask would be if the students believe that violence is ever justified.
o Another question up for debate would be if someone should be held responsible for not doing anything (like David not calling the cops).
During reading:
• The students could play detective and try to piece all the clues together.
o However, this book is so short that it seems like it would be hard to drag this activity out to more than one day.
Post reading
• Characters on Trial
o The students will get to choose a character and either defend or prosecute them.
• David’s mom for lying about a lot of things (Jamie’s death, Jamie and David’s fathers, etc)
• Phil for lying and cheating
• David for just watching Phil die and not doing anything about it
Title: Tell
Author: Norah McClintock
Publisher: Orca Soundings Year: 2006
# of pages: 100 Genre: mystery
Reading level Interest level: 11+
Potential hot lava: violence, lying
General response/reaction:
This book was so suspenseful and gripping. I can definitely see a reluctant reader taking and keeping this book. Since the book was only 100 pages, it was really easy to read in a short period of time, but even with my ability I did not want to put the book down! This concise book gets straight to the plot by describing a death in the first two pages. McClintock has a great balance of revealing just enough information to help the reader understand and leaves out just enough to make the reader want to turn the pages faster. This book was an awesome read and I would recommend it to anyone!
Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
• Lying
• Truth
• Poker
• “Tells”
• Cheating
• Past and future
Characters:
• David – main character, narrator, step-son of Phil, police think he has something to do with Phil’s death
• Detective Antonelli – main investigator on Phil’s death, the one who questions David about the situation
• Jack – a friend of David’s mom, reveals information to David that helps him understand more truth
• Phil – David’s step-dad, lies a lot, cheats, overall not a good guy
Plot summary:
The police come to David’s house to tell him and his mom that Phil, David’s stepfather, has been shot and killed in a possible robbery. After the formalities of a funeral, Detective Antonelli pushes to find more answers about the murder. Antonelli believes that David knows more about the murder than he is letting the police know about, so Antonelli pulls David into the police station to question him further.
At first, most of the evidence points to David. A picture of his dead brother is found among David’s laundry which was missing from Phil’s personal effects. David is seen on store surveillance cameras ten minutes before Phil’s death one block away from the murder scene. David has a history of not really liking his stepfather. The police suspect that David either knows more about the murder or committed the murder.
Then David tells Antonelli about Phil. He begins with how Phil loves to play poker and how Jack knows Phil’s tell. When David learns about the “tell”, he studies Phil and realizes that Jack was right. David tests the “tell” and realizes that Phil has been cheating the whole time. While David tells his story, Antonelli becomes impatient because he does not see the point to David’s way of telling the story. Also during this time, David’s mother is out of the room so that David and Antonelli can talk in private. David knows more about his own past than his mother ever told him.
Before the police let David’s mother back into the room, David tells Antonelli about his brother’s death and other information Jack told him. When David’s mother is let back into the interrogation room, David explains the true story about his brother’s death and how Phil did not save his brother. He then explains that he was in the vicinity of the murder scene and saw Phil get murdered. David says he did not call the police after he saw Phil get shot because Phil did not bother to save his brother.
Strengths (including reviews and awards):
This book is really interesting and really easy to read. It is a page turning mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Any reader would enjoy this book.
Drawbacks or other cautions:
Not every secret that is revealed gets followed up. The ending is not that great, it kind of just ends.
Teaching ideas:
Pre-reading:
• Anticipation guide
o One question I would definitely ask would be if the students believe that violence is ever justified.
o Another question up for debate would be if someone should be held responsible for not doing anything (like David not calling the cops).
During reading:
• The students could play detective and try to piece all the clues together.
o However, this book is so short that it seems like it would be hard to drag this activity out to more than one day.
Post reading
• Characters on Trial
o The students will get to choose a character and either defend or prosecute them.
• David’s mom for lying about a lot of things (Jamie’s death, Jamie and David’s fathers, etc)
• Phil for lying and cheating
• David for just watching Phil die and not doing anything about it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 24, 2018Personal Response: I like this book because I like reading about crimes and mysteries. The book was exciting at times, and kept me reading. In this book, David, a 15-year-old gets accused of killing his stepfather.
Plot: This book is about a small family that gets smaller through the book when the stepfather Phil was murdered in a street robbery. All signs point to David. He was in some camera footage nearby where his stepfather was just murdered. David Benson is the only one who knows the truth, but he is afraid to tell the truth and swore to the detective that he didn't know anything. At Phil's funeral, David gets in touch with Jack one of Phil's friends, and talks about the kind of person he was. He loved to play poker. He also would played David to see who would have to do a house chore, But Phil would always beat David in every poker game. He thought it was weird that he would beat him all the time. Jack could beat Phil in poker because he knew his tell or what he would do when he was bluffing or something he shouldn't be doing. One day when Phil was playing with his friends, David had his eyes on him the entire time. His tell was that his face would go completely blank and he licked his lips a lot, David was scared to find this out because that was how his face when his little brother fell off the boat and drowned. His name was Jaime. Throughout the book, David's mom found a keychain Phil had on his keys on David's laundry it was a picture of Jaime. He explains to the detective's everything that happened because they think that David killed his stepfather.
Characterization: David doesn't like to get bossed around. If someone does something to him like hurting him in some way he does it back to them. David could have saved his step father but didn't because his step father could of saved him when his brother was drowning.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to teens because it's about a murder. I think this book is really good because I like reading about crimes.
Plot: This book is about a small family that gets smaller through the book when the stepfather Phil was murdered in a street robbery. All signs point to David. He was in some camera footage nearby where his stepfather was just murdered. David Benson is the only one who knows the truth, but he is afraid to tell the truth and swore to the detective that he didn't know anything. At Phil's funeral, David gets in touch with Jack one of Phil's friends, and talks about the kind of person he was. He loved to play poker. He also would played David to see who would have to do a house chore, But Phil would always beat David in every poker game. He thought it was weird that he would beat him all the time. Jack could beat Phil in poker because he knew his tell or what he would do when he was bluffing or something he shouldn't be doing. One day when Phil was playing with his friends, David had his eyes on him the entire time. His tell was that his face would go completely blank and he licked his lips a lot, David was scared to find this out because that was how his face when his little brother fell off the boat and drowned. His name was Jaime. Throughout the book, David's mom found a keychain Phil had on his keys on David's laundry it was a picture of Jaime. He explains to the detective's everything that happened because they think that David killed his stepfather.
Characterization: David doesn't like to get bossed around. If someone does something to him like hurting him in some way he does it back to them. David could have saved his step father but didn't because his step father could of saved him when his brother was drowning.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to teens because it's about a murder. I think this book is really good because I like reading about crimes.
January 11, 2017
Personal Response: I enjoyed this book because it kept me intrigued and kept me going. I also really liked the book because, the book went really fast and they did not make it any longer then they had to so it was a quick read. I think they could have improved on putting more detail but overall it could have been worse.
Plot: The book began with the cops knocking on his mother´s door telling them that their father had died from being shot. Then the cops went to question them both on who may or could have killed him and why. A couple days later David´s mother found a gold picture frame that used to be in his fathers wallet in David´s laundry and then she questioned him about it and he said he did not no where that came from. Then the cops called and asked if they could come into the police station for more questioning and so they went. When they arrived the cop kept asking David questions about what happened and when he got home that night and he lied to the police officers about the time. They got David on camera where he got shot twenty minutes before it happened. David was telling him what kind of guy his stepfather was and all he had to say was bad things. His stepfather gambled most of his money away and owed money to people so he said that´s probably why he got shot but the officers did not budge. David finally told the officer that he saw his dad die but he did not know how to describe what he looked like. Two weeks later they busted the guy that shot him and David was not the killer after all.
Characterization: David did not really change throughout the book except for in the beginning of the book he did n o tell the truth about what happened and finally at the end of the book he told the truth. His mother stayed the same throughout the book and she never changed she basically was not even there in the book.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to a late middle schooler or early high schooler. I recommend this book to that age group because, there is violence and some swear words. I recommend the book to people who need a quick read because its a fast book to read.
Plot: The book began with the cops knocking on his mother´s door telling them that their father had died from being shot. Then the cops went to question them both on who may or could have killed him and why. A couple days later David´s mother found a gold picture frame that used to be in his fathers wallet in David´s laundry and then she questioned him about it and he said he did not no where that came from. Then the cops called and asked if they could come into the police station for more questioning and so they went. When they arrived the cop kept asking David questions about what happened and when he got home that night and he lied to the police officers about the time. They got David on camera where he got shot twenty minutes before it happened. David was telling him what kind of guy his stepfather was and all he had to say was bad things. His stepfather gambled most of his money away and owed money to people so he said that´s probably why he got shot but the officers did not budge. David finally told the officer that he saw his dad die but he did not know how to describe what he looked like. Two weeks later they busted the guy that shot him and David was not the killer after all.
Characterization: David did not really change throughout the book except for in the beginning of the book he did n o tell the truth about what happened and finally at the end of the book he told the truth. His mother stayed the same throughout the book and she never changed she basically was not even there in the book.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to a late middle schooler or early high schooler. I recommend this book to that age group because, there is violence and some swear words. I recommend the book to people who need a quick read because its a fast book to read.
January 21, 2016
"Tell" was a great book who was accused for killing his step dad. His real dad died when the main character, David, was younger. He didn't know tell someone told him. His step dad and him didn't always see eye to eye on things and didn't always get along. That's why the cops think that David killed him because of something they were arguing about and he was out of the house when the murder took place. David's stepdad just got done gambling when he was shot. He was on his way home when it happened. Towards the end of the book David says that he walked out of the store and saw him when he was shot. Then he said he panic and ran back home. He had to be questioned by cops be they were suspicious and thought he killed his own stepfather. At the end of the book you'll find out if he killed his stepdad or not.
David is the main character in the book . There wasn't very many characters. There was David, Phil, David's mom, David's brother, and the police. David's mom was the kind of person that doesn't like to let go and see the future. Phil was a guy that seemed to just live life the way it was set and did some fun things. David's brother wasn't motioned much and David was a dramatic kid.
Norah McClintock is a great author. I've read a few of his books before and there all pretty good. This author writes a lot of easy good books such as this one it wasn't too long and didn't take too long to read.
If you like mysteries and complicated situation this book would be good for you. I think it would be good for guys around the grades 8th-10th. This book was easy to read and understand. It is more interesting when you think about what you would do in this situation. This book really gets you to think what would you do or say to get out of this situation.
David is the main character in the book . There wasn't very many characters. There was David, Phil, David's mom, David's brother, and the police. David's mom was the kind of person that doesn't like to let go and see the future. Phil was a guy that seemed to just live life the way it was set and did some fun things. David's brother wasn't motioned much and David was a dramatic kid.
Norah McClintock is a great author. I've read a few of his books before and there all pretty good. This author writes a lot of easy good books such as this one it wasn't too long and didn't take too long to read.
If you like mysteries and complicated situation this book would be good for you. I think it would be good for guys around the grades 8th-10th. This book was easy to read and understand. It is more interesting when you think about what you would do in this situation. This book really gets you to think what would you do or say to get out of this situation.
April 8, 2016
Personal Response
I really liked this book because the story was about real life. The story kept me interested and I wanted to keep reading it. I enjoyed the little mystery it told about when they were investigating David's stepdad and what happened to his little brother.
Plot
This book is about a boy and his relationship with his stepdad. The stepdad was only around on weekends because he drove truck. David hated being told to do chores by his stepdad. His stepdad would make him play cards and they would bet on who would have to do the chores. David later learns that his stepdad cheated when they did play cards and that is why he lost all the time. His step dad is killed and David is arrested because the cops think he did it. Eventually the real killer is found and David gets out of jail.
Characterization
The main character is a boy named David. He is 15 years old and he is put in jail because they think he shot his stepdad. He serves time in jail but when the real killer is caught he gets out. David's stepdad, Phil is another character. He gets shot one night by an ATM and during the investigation into his death we learn he wasn't a very nice guy. He did something terrible to David's little brother.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to middle and high school ages. It is a short book and the story keeps you interested. It also is about things that happen in todays world which will they will enjoy.
I really liked this book because the story was about real life. The story kept me interested and I wanted to keep reading it. I enjoyed the little mystery it told about when they were investigating David's stepdad and what happened to his little brother.
Plot
This book is about a boy and his relationship with his stepdad. The stepdad was only around on weekends because he drove truck. David hated being told to do chores by his stepdad. His stepdad would make him play cards and they would bet on who would have to do the chores. David later learns that his stepdad cheated when they did play cards and that is why he lost all the time. His step dad is killed and David is arrested because the cops think he did it. Eventually the real killer is found and David gets out of jail.
Characterization
The main character is a boy named David. He is 15 years old and he is put in jail because they think he shot his stepdad. He serves time in jail but when the real killer is caught he gets out. David's stepdad, Phil is another character. He gets shot one night by an ATM and during the investigation into his death we learn he wasn't a very nice guy. He did something terrible to David's little brother.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to middle and high school ages. It is a short book and the story keeps you interested. It also is about things that happen in todays world which will they will enjoy.
May 17, 2009
If you are looking for an easy read, this book is perfect! I read it in less then an hour, and I could'nt put it down. It was such a shock when I found out that the step father chose not to help the little boy when he was drowning. I thought it was sad when the mom thought that the son had killed the step father, and I just wanted scream at her for not believing him. All along i thought it was the step father's friend Jack, but it wasnt. I loved how Jack told David the truth about his real father being alive, but was sad when Jack and David did not keep in touch. I don't know how Jack was friends with David's mother all this time when he knew all the lies she kept from David.
February 26, 2016
This book is was interesting from cover to cover. I have to say this book was one of the best books I have ever read by far. It was very detailed and was always easy to follow.
October 4, 2022
**read for the kids at work
April 12, 2019
In the book “Tell” by Norah McClintock, David goes to some interviews with
the police because they think he is guilty for shooting his stepfather dead. Throughout the story as every interview goes on David reveals more and more information but it’s at the end where everything is in its place and makes sense. David thinks too much about his past which makes his present tougher for him, and this case, sure is tough.
David “lost” his dad when he was two years old and his little brother drowned when he was 10, David wants to forget , but he can’t deny phil killed Jaime.” He never wants to forget Jaime “ Me I was the opposite, this shows that David wants to forget how and when his little brother died. “ you screamed at him to help Jaime but he did not move Remember?” This dialogue proves that Phil was guilty for Jaime’s death.
David gets Jack’s help for him to solve past and present situations.” You have a tell on Phil ?” Jack nodded . This proves that Jack knows when phil tells a lie and he is willing to tell David how he knows. As time goes on David does notice that when they play poker , Phil acts a little bit differently and that’s when David notices Phil’s tell . A little bit later , David remembers when Jaime died & he knows that when phil was telling David’s mom he had froze when Jaime was drowning , David knew , he was lying.
David denies help , to phil when he was dying as he remembered phil “froze” when Jaime was drowning. I thought about phil and his display case full of swimming medals and ribbons just sitting in that boat while Jaimie drowned. This thought shows that David knows what phil did, and he wants to let phil know how it feels when you are dying and no one helped. I also thought about his face when he told my mother he had froze and thought about him licking his lips when he told the paramedics and the cops the same thing. This proves that David knew when phil lied when he licked his lips, that was his tell . David felt anger and left phil to die.
David’s reality is tougher thanks to him dwelling on the past . David had discovered lots of things that impacted on the case of his dead stepfather. David discovered Phil had a tell and David now knew Jamie's death was not a complete accident , all of the hard events in his life impacted him and the story as well but David solves it all out like a puzzle , a very life changing puzzle. David learned how to use little things from everyday life , like a tell , to notice if someone is lying . I believe that thanks to this ability he now has he can really understand every death and loss in his life and finally leave it in the past.
the police because they think he is guilty for shooting his stepfather dead. Throughout the story as every interview goes on David reveals more and more information but it’s at the end where everything is in its place and makes sense. David thinks too much about his past which makes his present tougher for him, and this case, sure is tough.
David “lost” his dad when he was two years old and his little brother drowned when he was 10, David wants to forget , but he can’t deny phil killed Jaime.” He never wants to forget Jaime “ Me I was the opposite, this shows that David wants to forget how and when his little brother died. “ you screamed at him to help Jaime but he did not move Remember?” This dialogue proves that Phil was guilty for Jaime’s death.
David gets Jack’s help for him to solve past and present situations.” You have a tell on Phil ?” Jack nodded . This proves that Jack knows when phil tells a lie and he is willing to tell David how he knows. As time goes on David does notice that when they play poker , Phil acts a little bit differently and that’s when David notices Phil’s tell . A little bit later , David remembers when Jaime died & he knows that when phil was telling David’s mom he had froze when Jaime was drowning , David knew , he was lying.
David denies help , to phil when he was dying as he remembered phil “froze” when Jaime was drowning. I thought about phil and his display case full of swimming medals and ribbons just sitting in that boat while Jaimie drowned. This thought shows that David knows what phil did, and he wants to let phil know how it feels when you are dying and no one helped. I also thought about his face when he told my mother he had froze and thought about him licking his lips when he told the paramedics and the cops the same thing. This proves that David knew when phil lied when he licked his lips, that was his tell . David felt anger and left phil to die.
David’s reality is tougher thanks to him dwelling on the past . David had discovered lots of things that impacted on the case of his dead stepfather. David discovered Phil had a tell and David now knew Jamie's death was not a complete accident , all of the hard events in his life impacted him and the story as well but David solves it all out like a puzzle , a very life changing puzzle. David learned how to use little things from everyday life , like a tell , to notice if someone is lying . I believe that thanks to this ability he now has he can really understand every death and loss in his life and finally leave it in the past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2020
Had you ever regret of something that you did, well maybe David did. Tell by Norah McClintock's that is about a kid named David that his stepfather got murder. After this, the family that is made up of David, Mom, Jack and a couple of really close friends are devastated and now they have to try to maintain their level of life but with only one source of income. David's mom is going to do the impossible to be able to pay everything she owes and to be able to support all the expenses that they made. While all this is going the detectives are trying to find out the reasons for the killing of Phil and who was. This story happens mostly in David's house and also when Phil was murdered. David's mom can't get over the fact that her husband is dead and every time they name him she cries and there's no one who can stop her Investigators are getting more and more evidence of what happened, and the culprit is becoming more obvious than who is. But I do not want to tell you anymore, but I recommend that you read this incredible book because it makes you want to continue reading and you cannot wait to keep reading because you are not going to imagine for what comes next if I have to say something bad of the book I have to think a lot because there are not too many bad points but for me, the beginning of the book is kinda hard to understand because you don't know what is happening until they explain it. Sincerely, this book deserves a 4 out of 5 stars because it literally makes you finish the book very quickly because all the events that happened can really pass and you are really interested to know what really happened because you start to imagine a lot of things but the real reason will make that your brain explodes. This book it one of the only books that make me read it and want to keep and never stop and enjoy it a lot and that it really hard.
January 10, 2018
Many realistic fiction liked to be read for fun. However the book Tell is a great book by Norah
McClinton. The book is about how Phil died overnight and cops came in to tell David’s mom that
Phil died so basically David tries to find out who killed Phil and why. This book is Man VS self
because he always gets mad because they call Phil his dad and he is not his and when he
remembers about his little brother that died by drowning. Everyone should read this because it’s
a great mystery book. It really show how hurt his mom was when Phil died also but when she
finds out that he lied about his insurance she got mad and it was pretty funny if you tell me.
David is convicted of killing Phil and he tells the truth of his stepfather and it’s just shocking of
what Phil did in his past years and the day he died. The setting takes place mostly at his house
with his mom.
This book shows you that it is very emotional if someone dies that is very important in your life
or you love them to also it show that violence is something bad also and this is from the feelings
of David’s mom. This book also make you emotional too like imagine someone you love or that
is important to you who died overnight and you wanting to find the person who killed them.
Norah McClinton wrote this book and it is just great. Sadly she died February 6, 2017 and she
was 64 years old. She died because of Ovarian cancer.
Overall this book was good with all the drama going on and David be convicted of killing Phil.
This is the part when he tells the truth of Phil it’s just shocking like the second paragraph said
already. Teens,Young adults will love these kind of books especially when it comes to killing
someone or mystery books.
5 out
McClinton. The book is about how Phil died overnight and cops came in to tell David’s mom that
Phil died so basically David tries to find out who killed Phil and why. This book is Man VS self
because he always gets mad because they call Phil his dad and he is not his and when he
remembers about his little brother that died by drowning. Everyone should read this because it’s
a great mystery book. It really show how hurt his mom was when Phil died also but when she
finds out that he lied about his insurance she got mad and it was pretty funny if you tell me.
David is convicted of killing Phil and he tells the truth of his stepfather and it’s just shocking of
what Phil did in his past years and the day he died. The setting takes place mostly at his house
with his mom.
This book shows you that it is very emotional if someone dies that is very important in your life
or you love them to also it show that violence is something bad also and this is from the feelings
of David’s mom. This book also make you emotional too like imagine someone you love or that
is important to you who died overnight and you wanting to find the person who killed them.
Norah McClinton wrote this book and it is just great. Sadly she died February 6, 2017 and she
was 64 years old. She died because of Ovarian cancer.
Overall this book was good with all the drama going on and David be convicted of killing Phil.
This is the part when he tells the truth of Phil it’s just shocking like the second paragraph said
already. Teens,Young adults will love these kind of books especially when it comes to killing
someone or mystery books.
5 out
Currently reading
February 14, 2022The book, Tell by Norah Mcclintock, is about a boy named David, and he tells the story about about his little brother’s and step fathers death. His stepfather was into poker and would always play it. David mostly lost to his stepdad, but i think it is because his stepdad didnt ever want to do the chores. I intially chose this book because i only read mystery/horror books. what drew me in was Davids reaction to his step fathers death. what also drew me in was the picture on the cover and the name of the book. I thought the book was going to be a more detailed murder or a secret. Not going to lie, the book was a little boring because of the plot. I would recommend this book for people that like “light” mystery/ horror in books. I think this book is for teen girls and boys, just depends on what you like. The end shocked me because I thought David killed his step father from the beginning. I was disappointed that it didnt go more in depth about the killer
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2018
When I first started reading the book Tell by Norah McClintock I didn’t really think I was going to enjoy it, fortunately for me I was wrong. In the beginning of the book it doesn’t seem very interesting, at least to me. You don’t really see me sitting down and holding a book very often, but i didn’t want to put this one down.
If you are someone that gets intrigued by mystery books this would be a book for you. In this book the main character, David, is being blamed for something. He has to retell everything exactly the way he did it that night. He has to watch what he says in front of his mother because he just might get himself in trouble with her too.
If you are someone that gets intrigued by mystery books this would be a book for you. In this book the main character, David, is being blamed for something. He has to retell everything exactly the way he did it that night. He has to watch what he says in front of his mother because he just might get himself in trouble with her too.
October 3, 2025
A perfectly fine short story, but nothing special?
I mean this entire book was just dialogue and not really descriptive. The reveals were fine, but this one doesn't really stand out from other books I've read this year.
I read this book in one sitting during a study hall period. The plot begins simply, who killed Phil?
Fun fact: We never find out who killed him or for what reason!
Yes, he drowned the other son, but for what reason did Phil get killed?
Who was this guy? They said he was killed related to a robbery, but the ending of the book just has him get shot after he chatted with the guy.
WHO IS THE GUY!!!!
I mean this entire book was just dialogue and not really descriptive. The reveals were fine, but this one doesn't really stand out from other books I've read this year.
I read this book in one sitting during a study hall period. The plot begins simply, who killed Phil?
Fun fact: We never find out who killed him or for what reason!
Yes, he drowned the other son, but for what reason did Phil get killed?
Who was this guy? They said he was killed related to a robbery, but the ending of the book just has him get shot after he chatted with the guy.
WHO IS THE GUY!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2018
Personal Response
I think that this book was really interesting. It mostly took event in a police station. I rate it a five out of 5 because the book was something I've never read before. It even had a great plot twist at the end.
Plot Summary
In the book Tell , it talks about a young boy named David. He used to live in an apartment with his mother and his younger brother. After some time passed, David´s mom ended up getting married to a guy by the name of Phil. Phil was a nice guy, his only problem was that he was obsessed with playing cards. Phil took the family to his cabin for a family vacation. Phil invited David´s younger brother to go on the boat with him. David wanted to go but he was being rude so instead, he had to clean up the cabin. When Phil and David´s younger brother Jaime went on the boat Jamie fell out of the water and was not wearing a life vest. Phil froze and did not do anything to prevent Jaime from drowning. David was furious at Phil because of what he did. David remembered this and wanted to know everything about Phil. David talked to his mother about Phil's old life and why he was being a coward. He tried talking to his mom but she would not say anything. He remembered Phil´s old friend, so David knew that Phil's friend would tell him everything. His name was Jack. Jack told David what kind of person Phil was. David that night decided to go on a walk because he was all mad about what happened. Phil was at an ATM machine near where David was. David saw a guy try to rob Phil and then Phil ended up getting shot and also robbed. David went back home that night and right after that, a cop went to David´s house to tell them the news. David and his mother ended up going to a police station for interrogation the next day. They talked to the mother but the mother did not know a thing about what happened. The police then talked to David alone, and he pretended that he did not know anything as well. That´s until the cops interrogated him even more. David then told the truth and said that he wanted his step-dad to suffer like his younger brother did. David saw how Phil froze when Jaime was drowning so David did the same for Phil when he got shot. David could of saved Phil´s life, but he wanted to get payback for what he did to his younger brother.
Characterization
This book was narrated at a 3rd person view. It talks about the main character David and the way he acted during this book. He started off by being a scared 11 year old, but moved up to being a more aggressive person. He showed that he cared about his brother more than his own life. David was a good character.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to high school students that like books about mysteries. This book had some good cliffhangers in every chapter and many people would like that about the book. I also recommend this to adults who enjoy reading a short but good book.
I think that this book was really interesting. It mostly took event in a police station. I rate it a five out of 5 because the book was something I've never read before. It even had a great plot twist at the end.
Plot Summary
In the book Tell , it talks about a young boy named David. He used to live in an apartment with his mother and his younger brother. After some time passed, David´s mom ended up getting married to a guy by the name of Phil. Phil was a nice guy, his only problem was that he was obsessed with playing cards. Phil took the family to his cabin for a family vacation. Phil invited David´s younger brother to go on the boat with him. David wanted to go but he was being rude so instead, he had to clean up the cabin. When Phil and David´s younger brother Jaime went on the boat Jamie fell out of the water and was not wearing a life vest. Phil froze and did not do anything to prevent Jaime from drowning. David was furious at Phil because of what he did. David remembered this and wanted to know everything about Phil. David talked to his mother about Phil's old life and why he was being a coward. He tried talking to his mom but she would not say anything. He remembered Phil´s old friend, so David knew that Phil's friend would tell him everything. His name was Jack. Jack told David what kind of person Phil was. David that night decided to go on a walk because he was all mad about what happened. Phil was at an ATM machine near where David was. David saw a guy try to rob Phil and then Phil ended up getting shot and also robbed. David went back home that night and right after that, a cop went to David´s house to tell them the news. David and his mother ended up going to a police station for interrogation the next day. They talked to the mother but the mother did not know a thing about what happened. The police then talked to David alone, and he pretended that he did not know anything as well. That´s until the cops interrogated him even more. David then told the truth and said that he wanted his step-dad to suffer like his younger brother did. David saw how Phil froze when Jaime was drowning so David did the same for Phil when he got shot. David could of saved Phil´s life, but he wanted to get payback for what he did to his younger brother.
Characterization
This book was narrated at a 3rd person view. It talks about the main character David and the way he acted during this book. He started off by being a scared 11 year old, but moved up to being a more aggressive person. He showed that he cared about his brother more than his own life. David was a good character.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to high school students that like books about mysteries. This book had some good cliffhangers in every chapter and many people would like that about the book. I also recommend this to adults who enjoy reading a short but good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2025
I picked it up after finishing The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides because I wanted to try another thriller that was a quicker read and see if I liked this author’s style. Overall, I didn’t enjoy it. The writing felt childish and more suited for a middle school level, which made it hard to stay interested. While it was a fast read, it didn’t have the depth or suspense I was hoping for, and I thought it was much worse than The Silent Patient.
July 9, 2023
This book had better 'just desserts' than most of the adult thrillers I've read as of late. It was a perfect revenge story. Could have used more detail and depth, but for all that, the story was still really good.
October 25, 2017
It is just a kid talking to a cop about his step father death that they never really tell you about.
December 19, 2020
What a way to keep intermediate students listening on the last day of classes before winter break!
May 9, 2021
So good. The twist can be confusing if you don't pay much attention to other parts of the story.
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November 14, 2022i really liked the book
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