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Just Deserts
"Dear Ethan: I know you must be terribly confused, a little bit scared and thinking, hoping, praying, that the plane will return. It will not." Ethan can barely believe it. Until now, his biggest problems have been trying to stay in one school without getting expelled and finding his next drink. But after Ethan's drunken imitation of the current headmaster goes up on YouTube, his father steps in with a shockingly drastic measure. Now Ethan is sprawled in the sand. In the Sahara desert. Alone. According to his father's letter, Ethan is to trek 200 km across the desert to the city of Tunis, with the help of a guide and three other young people. Confused, hungover, and-if he is truthful-more than a little scared, Ethan has no choice. He will face sandstorms, vipers, and agonizingly painful blisters ... but, most painful of all, he will face his inner demons and come to a true realization of who he really is.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
20 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
158 books909 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 31, 2012
So this was the first YA novel that my teen girl book club read together.
We picked it purely because there are always multiple copies of Eric Walters books on the shelves. He seems a staple for teachers and parents trying to keep young readers in the game, particularly guys. The books tend to centre around male protagonists at some point of personal calamity and are high on adventure, low on challenging vocabulary.
This book was pretty .. predictable. Young privileged student has a drinking problem. He gets expelled from a private school. His dad sends him on a trek across the Sahara to dry him out. After much complaining and some detoxing, he succeeds and realizes there is more to life than partying.
So I would have just given it an average review, because it was just ..average by way of narrative. Walters perhaps doesn't aim any higher for knowing that he has a devoted following among frustrated parents and teachers to boys.
BUT here's the thing.. the ONE female character was SO two dimensional. The male protagonist largely commented on her looks .. long legs in shorts (she was in the sahara, dont forget). Other commentary about her was relegated to her bladder problem that kept holding the boys back.
She was not an inspiring representation in the least. Nor did the main character's comments about her endear him to us. In fact, the highlight of the trek for him is when some visiting holy man of the desert tells a sexist joke about women. He laughs, laughs into the African night sky and feels.. happy. Yeah, piss off.
We were not amused, Walters. We give you ONE star. Please try harder. If not with the story, then at least with the way that you write up girls. Because even if young female students don't bother with your texts, young males will - with the encouragement of teachers. And they will appropriate this rather patronizing, peripheral appreciation of their female peers.
We picked it purely because there are always multiple copies of Eric Walters books on the shelves. He seems a staple for teachers and parents trying to keep young readers in the game, particularly guys. The books tend to centre around male protagonists at some point of personal calamity and are high on adventure, low on challenging vocabulary.
This book was pretty .. predictable. Young privileged student has a drinking problem. He gets expelled from a private school. His dad sends him on a trek across the Sahara to dry him out. After much complaining and some detoxing, he succeeds and realizes there is more to life than partying.
So I would have just given it an average review, because it was just ..average by way of narrative. Walters perhaps doesn't aim any higher for knowing that he has a devoted following among frustrated parents and teachers to boys.
BUT here's the thing.. the ONE female character was SO two dimensional. The male protagonist largely commented on her looks .. long legs in shorts (she was in the sahara, dont forget). Other commentary about her was relegated to her bladder problem that kept holding the boys back.
She was not an inspiring representation in the least. Nor did the main character's comments about her endear him to us. In fact, the highlight of the trek for him is when some visiting holy man of the desert tells a sexist joke about women. He laughs, laughs into the African night sky and feels.. happy. Yeah, piss off.
We were not amused, Walters. We give you ONE star. Please try harder. If not with the story, then at least with the way that you write up girls. Because even if young female students don't bother with your texts, young males will - with the encouragement of teachers. And they will appropriate this rather patronizing, peripheral appreciation of their female peers.
August 7, 2017
I picked this up because I've been a long time fan of Eric Walters' books. And I quite enjoyed this one.This book is about extremes- going the extra mile when you've (literally) walked thousands of steps; the guide who has climbed the world's tallest summits, and the father who dropped his son off in the middle of a desert to try to save his son. Then it's also about moderation- to take each day at a time but to still find your extremes (aka your passions).
There was a plethora of bumper sticker and philosophical quotes, but they all served a purpose to Ethan's story and gave him something to think about. And they gave me something to think about as well.
I didn't like it as much as some of his other books (I didn't particularly like the mild bathroom humour and Ethan was a real snob), but the trek across the desert was pretty interesting to read. 3.5 stars.
There was a plethora of bumper sticker and philosophical quotes, but they all served a purpose to Ethan's story and gave him something to think about. And they gave me something to think about as well.
I didn't like it as much as some of his other books (I didn't particularly like the mild bathroom humour and Ethan was a real snob), but the trek across the desert was pretty interesting to read. 3.5 stars.
December 9, 2024
I FINALLY FINISHED THIS. It has been sitting on my currently reading shelf for years. I picked it up because the concept was really interesting (and I love survival books), but I wasn't in the right mood when I first picked it up. I think because of how insufferable the MC is at the beginning of the book, this can be a bit heavy for those not in the mood to read about a spoiled teenager getting his just deserts.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and finally gave it the attention it deserves and this was incredibly obvious in how I finished over half of the book in a few hours.
I loved the survival aspect and the teamwork. I also liked how much we learned a lot the way with the MC when faced with new and scary situations. I liked that each character had enough personality so they felt like rounded characters.
I really liked that this was a story that centred the MC's personal journey and what he discovered about himself in the end. There are so many messages hidden in this book that could help other young (or older) readers. Through the hardship of surviving such a dangerous land with people the MC doesn't know, we learn the importance of being self-aware, empathetic, and determined to be a better human being. JUST DESERTS also shows how powerful that internal battle can be when you're set in your ways, that relatability alone would make this a powerful book recommendation for teens and even adults.
I also love that the author actually walked this. There is a section at the end of the book where Walters talks about his own experiences walking the very same path and that was eye-opening. It put into better perspective the hardships of the MC because we now know that dangerous path through the desert does actually exist and tours do happen.
I do wish the ending had been a little clearer and a little more satisfying in a certain way, but I'm definitely glad that I finally finished this and got to go on a wild survival story!
Happy reading!
I thoroughly enjoyed it and finally gave it the attention it deserves and this was incredibly obvious in how I finished over half of the book in a few hours.
I loved the survival aspect and the teamwork. I also liked how much we learned a lot the way with the MC when faced with new and scary situations. I liked that each character had enough personality so they felt like rounded characters.
I really liked that this was a story that centred the MC's personal journey and what he discovered about himself in the end. There are so many messages hidden in this book that could help other young (or older) readers. Through the hardship of surviving such a dangerous land with people the MC doesn't know, we learn the importance of being self-aware, empathetic, and determined to be a better human being. JUST DESERTS also shows how powerful that internal battle can be when you're set in your ways, that relatability alone would make this a powerful book recommendation for teens and even adults.
I also love that the author actually walked this. There is a section at the end of the book where Walters talks about his own experiences walking the very same path and that was eye-opening. It put into better perspective the hardships of the MC because we now know that dangerous path through the desert does actually exist and tours do happen.
I do wish the ending had been a little clearer and a little more satisfying in a certain way, but I'm definitely glad that I finally finished this and got to go on a wild survival story!
Happy reading!
December 11, 2019
it wasted the great is but it was not bad i would recommend this book if you like a journey
August 13, 2016
"Just Deserts" has the potential to be a great adventure book but really ends up being quite average. It starts with a bang when Ethan is expelled from his elite private school after a drunken impersonation of the Headmaster which is uploaded to YouTube. Ethan's ultra wealthy widowed father takes the tough love approach to parenting and has Ethan dropped into the Sahara where he can claim a large amount of money if he completes a 200 km trek to Tunis with the help of a guide and in the company of three other well-motivated young people. The premise of the book is good if you believe that extreme physical challenges change people for the better, but the problem is that for a book that is supposed big on character building, there's too much stereotypical characterization. Ethan merely moves from awful to less awful - in other words, he's still seeing himself as the big kahuna at the end of the book. Other inconsistencies include Larson the leader giving Ethan a lesson on moderation -- the mentor who has climbed the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and is dishing out advice in the middle of the world's most dangerous desert. For young readers, the real strength of the book is in Walters' direct style and his snappy dialogue.
March 25, 2018
This was a decent book. It was pretty slow at some points but that's what you would expect from a book based in the deserts I guess. I think I hated the main character up until after the midpoint in the book since he was too rude for me to tolerate. Good message though and very different from the other books I've read that's for sure.
Again not the best book...
Again not the best book...
December 4, 2019
Thé book is an easy read that starts with promise but ends sub par. That being said, I can’t write a better ending and I enjoyed it enough to read twice. Not as good as most of Eric Walters books but still a great author
May 13, 2021
There is no character growth the characters don't feel like real people. Nothing interesting every happens, the most interesting thing is Ethan spinning like a light house for a couple hours overall just boring.
May 4, 2017
WOW! What an incredible story!
Eric Walters sure did not disappoint!
Eric Walters sure did not disappoint!
May 8, 2018
Good desert survival story. Others I like in the same genre are Holes by Louis Sachar and Oasis by Jim Harrison.
October 4, 2018
The mental images of this book have stayed with me after many years. It inspires tolerance of growth and its pains. I plan on reading it again.
Read
October 25, 2019Really great book!
March 12, 2022
It was any ok book not my favourite but it was ok
September 17, 2022
A good teenage read. A bit extreme but gets the point across.
June 24, 2025
A very good desert survival story. Eric Walters books for YA readers are very well written and I have enjoyed every one I have read.
March 24, 2013
"Just Deserts" was a pleasant book. I wouldn't say it was great, but it wasn't bad either. The plot was very predictable, having a stuck up, self obsorbed and unliked main character plopped in the middle of the desert by his rich daddy to try and change him for the better. Does he change into a good little boy instead of a drunk and rowdy teen? Hmmmm. I don't know. Yes, I did know. Right from page one. Walters shot for a good topic and even though it wasn't very original, he could have made it good. There was lots of promise for this book. But to me it fell sort of flat. The characters were not well developed and they really had no personality. Kasja had to pee all the time, Connor was super sweet, Andy was a tough and strong show off. I would have enjoyed seeing some real relationships develop, but it's like all the characters were just thrown together and left to mingle without anything ever happening to any of them throughout the whole story.
Larson had some pretty cool philosophical life lessons that really ended up being the thing that made the book so good for me.
Other than that, nothing exciting happened. The book cruised along on an easy path, with no real conflict or self discovery or anything like that. I expected some substance to the plot but it was so simple I could sum the book up in one sentence and you wouldn't have missed anything. A misbehaving teen must travel across the desert with a guide and three other people to get to civilization and claim his prize money from his dad.
I was hoping for a wonderous sense of adventure and hardship, struggles and change, but none of it was delivered. The events in this book were disconnected and choppy, and even as our main character Ethan was figuring some stuff out about himself, he went from literally one hour being ungrateful and stubborn to suddenly thinking of everyone as a team and thinking that he could be a better person than he had been.
I also wasn't fond of how quickly the end came about. I felt no real buildup to create any interest and then the book simply ended. You never really find out what exactly happens to Ethan or what he chooses to do after the desert, or if he sticks to his plan.
All of that said, the thing that I liked about "Just Deserts" was it's simplicity and juvenile writing style. It was a very easy read with no difficult concepts whatsoever. I did like the humorous tone and the snide sarcasm and manipulative thinking of the protagonist. The narration was great and the descriptions perfect, and despite having read some complaints about sexism, that part in particular was my favourite in the story, as it was one of the parts that evoked a little bit of feeling. I guess instead of being very emotional, this book was to the point and factual, simply explaining how it would be to travel across a desert and all the dificulties you would face, but I imagine slightly toned down. It was a very quick read and it did amuse and entertain me. Definitely not an award winner, but overall, not bad. I would recommend this for a younger audience, say maybe 10-12 years old.
Larson had some pretty cool philosophical life lessons that really ended up being the thing that made the book so good for me.
Other than that, nothing exciting happened. The book cruised along on an easy path, with no real conflict or self discovery or anything like that. I expected some substance to the plot but it was so simple I could sum the book up in one sentence and you wouldn't have missed anything. A misbehaving teen must travel across the desert with a guide and three other people to get to civilization and claim his prize money from his dad.
I was hoping for a wonderous sense of adventure and hardship, struggles and change, but none of it was delivered. The events in this book were disconnected and choppy, and even as our main character Ethan was figuring some stuff out about himself, he went from literally one hour being ungrateful and stubborn to suddenly thinking of everyone as a team and thinking that he could be a better person than he had been.
I also wasn't fond of how quickly the end came about. I felt no real buildup to create any interest and then the book simply ended. You never really find out what exactly happens to Ethan or what he chooses to do after the desert, or if he sticks to his plan.
All of that said, the thing that I liked about "Just Deserts" was it's simplicity and juvenile writing style. It was a very easy read with no difficult concepts whatsoever. I did like the humorous tone and the snide sarcasm and manipulative thinking of the protagonist. The narration was great and the descriptions perfect, and despite having read some complaints about sexism, that part in particular was my favourite in the story, as it was one of the parts that evoked a little bit of feeling. I guess instead of being very emotional, this book was to the point and factual, simply explaining how it would be to travel across a desert and all the dificulties you would face, but I imagine slightly toned down. It was a very quick read and it did amuse and entertain me. Definitely not an award winner, but overall, not bad. I would recommend this for a younger audience, say maybe 10-12 years old.
May 7, 2015
SPOILER ALERT!!
Mr. Walters is an expert on the topic of taking an expedition across the desert because he spent time with Ray Zahab, who has personally done this expedition across the Sahara desert, and he gave Eric Walters insight on how tough it would be for Ethan.
This book is all about rebellion. Throughout the novel Ethan is constantly rebelling against everything, starting from drinking on campus, up until running into the desert alone because he doesn't want to help his teammates out. By the end though, Ethan finally realizes the error of his ways when all of the group still bands together to help him out when he gets stranded in the desert. After this significant event, Ethan figures out that rebellion is not always a good thing and that there is always someone there to help you resolve your issues.
This book is heavily geared towards an audience that are reluctant readers so Eric Walters tries to abstain from using advanced vocabulary so that people who normally don’t read will enjoy this book. He uses a lot of terms that are easy to understand so that you don’t need to go grab a dictionary every 5 minutes to follow what you’re reading, so that is a big bonus in this novel.
Figures of speech come up time and time again in Just Deserts. Larson is just a fountain spouting memorable quotes that would go great on some bumper stickers… too bad he doesn't own a car to put all of his bumper stickers on… My favorite quote from Larson throughout the novel was: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together.” This figure of speech is my favorite because I could really relate. I always want to race ahead of the group, take the lead, but in the end I always rejoin the group to accomplish a goal.
Just Deserts is mostly centered on the development of Ethan. It shows him going from a juvenile, wealthy, drunk brat, to a mature young adult who is ready to make responsible decisions. Everyone else is just along for the ride. Andy, Connor and Keisa aren't developed during the novel. They are just a few professional athletes going for a walk in the desert. You don’t see any change in the way that the athletes act. I think that if we could have seen the supporting characters become dynamic and could get more insight into them, then that would make Just Deserts just that much better.
Anyone who is a reluctant reader or wants a book to read in your free time without much commitment, this book is for you. This book is a great read for about the 13-18 year old range, probably better for guys for lack of a strong female character. If you added in a female character who was given a description besides being beautiful and having long legs, this would be recommended to all reluctant readers in the teenage years.
Mr. Walters is an expert on the topic of taking an expedition across the desert because he spent time with Ray Zahab, who has personally done this expedition across the Sahara desert, and he gave Eric Walters insight on how tough it would be for Ethan.
This book is all about rebellion. Throughout the novel Ethan is constantly rebelling against everything, starting from drinking on campus, up until running into the desert alone because he doesn't want to help his teammates out. By the end though, Ethan finally realizes the error of his ways when all of the group still bands together to help him out when he gets stranded in the desert. After this significant event, Ethan figures out that rebellion is not always a good thing and that there is always someone there to help you resolve your issues.
This book is heavily geared towards an audience that are reluctant readers so Eric Walters tries to abstain from using advanced vocabulary so that people who normally don’t read will enjoy this book. He uses a lot of terms that are easy to understand so that you don’t need to go grab a dictionary every 5 minutes to follow what you’re reading, so that is a big bonus in this novel.
Figures of speech come up time and time again in Just Deserts. Larson is just a fountain spouting memorable quotes that would go great on some bumper stickers… too bad he doesn't own a car to put all of his bumper stickers on… My favorite quote from Larson throughout the novel was: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together.” This figure of speech is my favorite because I could really relate. I always want to race ahead of the group, take the lead, but in the end I always rejoin the group to accomplish a goal.
Just Deserts is mostly centered on the development of Ethan. It shows him going from a juvenile, wealthy, drunk brat, to a mature young adult who is ready to make responsible decisions. Everyone else is just along for the ride. Andy, Connor and Keisa aren't developed during the novel. They are just a few professional athletes going for a walk in the desert. You don’t see any change in the way that the athletes act. I think that if we could have seen the supporting characters become dynamic and could get more insight into them, then that would make Just Deserts just that much better.
Anyone who is a reluctant reader or wants a book to read in your free time without much commitment, this book is for you. This book is a great read for about the 13-18 year old range, probably better for guys for lack of a strong female character. If you added in a female character who was given a description besides being beautiful and having long legs, this would be recommended to all reluctant readers in the teenage years.
November 10, 2012
You really dislike this main character--Ethan, you don't really hate him, you just dislike him, strongly.
Ethan can barely believe it. Until now, his biggest problems have been trying to stay in one school without getting expelled, but he didn't really even care about that all that much. His only other problem was where and when to find his next drink. After one bad decision, a regular one for Ethan, his drunken imitation of his school's headmaster goes viral. And after that, his father steps in. The next thing Ethan knows is he's sprawled out, laying in the middle of a desert with only Le Orange for a companion.
The more I think about this book the more I feel that it was a really half hearted effort, the story wasn't bad--in fact it had potential to be a real, true adventure story one that makes you look inside yourself and examine what's really important, like Before I Fall does.
Ethan is a detestable, identifiable character I felt for. But I found the progression towards all these self revelations, his and his fathers--see his fathers letter-- to be too rushed.
As for his father's letter, yes, that had to be done quickly, as in his father obviously had to realize his mistakes in order to felt his son rectify his, but the letter seemed too excessive. His father realized every little thing that he did wrong--unrealistic.
Ethan's story is slightly cliched, but most stories are, what matters is what is in between the pages, the way the character gets through it and the way he owns his life.
I think what makes a story like this bad is when it feels rushed and fake, I felt that Ethan was a realistic character but I felt that the rest of the story was too hurried, as if the story was trying to more on without him.
I think for Ethan the real turning point had to be becoming lost in the desert and spinning like a lighthouse, barely conscious, and then he seen the Terminator and his guide looking for him. I think that was the biggest turning point for him.
I think the ending of this book was almost poetic, I loved the bond between the characters and the authors notes at the back of the book.
Though I liked this book okay I wouldn't say it is the best survival, coming of age stories I've ever read. It did stick with me for a little while, I loved that I actually learned about long distance running, funny enough I read this book pretty fast, in about three or so days, and mainly at the gym.
I would suggest you get this for any young boys in your family, Ethan really turns out to come into himself. I'd love to know what you thought of it.
You have to admit that the relationship between Ethan and Le Orange was pretty awesome, though did it remind anyone else vaguely of Tom Hanks and Wilson? Just curious.
Ethan can barely believe it. Until now, his biggest problems have been trying to stay in one school without getting expelled, but he didn't really even care about that all that much. His only other problem was where and when to find his next drink. After one bad decision, a regular one for Ethan, his drunken imitation of his school's headmaster goes viral. And after that, his father steps in. The next thing Ethan knows is he's sprawled out, laying in the middle of a desert with only Le Orange for a companion.
The more I think about this book the more I feel that it was a really half hearted effort, the story wasn't bad--in fact it had potential to be a real, true adventure story one that makes you look inside yourself and examine what's really important, like Before I Fall does.
Ethan is a detestable, identifiable character I felt for. But I found the progression towards all these self revelations, his and his fathers--see his fathers letter-- to be too rushed.
As for his father's letter, yes, that had to be done quickly, as in his father obviously had to realize his mistakes in order to felt his son rectify his, but the letter seemed too excessive. His father realized every little thing that he did wrong--unrealistic.
Ethan's story is slightly cliched, but most stories are, what matters is what is in between the pages, the way the character gets through it and the way he owns his life.
I think what makes a story like this bad is when it feels rushed and fake, I felt that Ethan was a realistic character but I felt that the rest of the story was too hurried, as if the story was trying to more on without him.
I think for Ethan the real turning point had to be becoming lost in the desert and spinning like a lighthouse, barely conscious, and then he seen the Terminator and his guide looking for him. I think that was the biggest turning point for him.
I think the ending of this book was almost poetic, I loved the bond between the characters and the authors notes at the back of the book.
Though I liked this book okay I wouldn't say it is the best survival, coming of age stories I've ever read. It did stick with me for a little while, I loved that I actually learned about long distance running, funny enough I read this book pretty fast, in about three or so days, and mainly at the gym.
I would suggest you get this for any young boys in your family, Ethan really turns out to come into himself. I'd love to know what you thought of it.
You have to admit that the relationship between Ethan and Le Orange was pretty awesome, though did it remind anyone else vaguely of Tom Hanks and Wilson? Just curious.
February 21, 2017
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to when I first started. My initial reaction was "what parent would drop their child off in the desert all alone, this is so unrealistic", but as soon as he came across Larson and the rest of his teammates, I started to become more and more intrigued by Ethan's journey. I even teared up in the last chapter, not that it takes much to make me cry, but I did find that the further I dove into the book, the more emotionally invested I became. I, too, was proud of Ethan! If you're thinking about reading this book, I would definitely recommend it!
May 14, 2015
Review book club
In the fiction novel, Just Deserts by Eric Walters, there is a boy named Ethan, he has bad habits and bad attitude. It is one teen, one desert and one epic journey.
This book takes place in the Saharan desert when Ethan’s father sends him there because of his behavior. This novel is all based on the present day. Ethan has to make it to this curtain spot called Tunis in a three weeks stand. Ethan meets a guy named Larson and few other people like Kajsa, Connor and Andy. All throughout the book he is always talking to an orange called l’orange de Tunis. He becomes good friends with l’orange because he has a hard time making friends. Ethan wants to become a better person but he doesn’t try very hard to do it.
Ethan is a very unfriendly person and he has bad problems and attitude. This makes it hard for him to make friends. He also lost his mom so I believe that is why he is always being rude and disrespectful to other people like his father. He has a problem with alcohol and he is snobby and irresponsible with his behavior and what he does. He has only one friend and that is the orange that they gave him.
There was a guy named Larson in the book and he was their tour guide throughout the book. He has crossed the desert three times before this time and he can also predict the weather. He shows Ethan that he can be a better person by starting over in life.
There is Kajsa and she is a very strange girl. She has a bathroom break ever hour of the day and she also is nice to Ethan, but he isn’t nice back to her.
My opinion for this book is that it is slow at first but improves by the middle of the book. This book was interesting and showed me that if you ever make mistakes you can always recover. Also it told me that you should never be rude to your parents because they can always do something to get you back later in life. I think that this book is mostly for everyone because it is a way to show that you can recover from bad mistakes. I give this book a four out of five because they ending of the book was very bland. The author could have improved on their conclusion to just deserts.
In the fiction novel, Just Deserts by Eric Walters, there is a boy named Ethan, he has bad habits and bad attitude. It is one teen, one desert and one epic journey.
This book takes place in the Saharan desert when Ethan’s father sends him there because of his behavior. This novel is all based on the present day. Ethan has to make it to this curtain spot called Tunis in a three weeks stand. Ethan meets a guy named Larson and few other people like Kajsa, Connor and Andy. All throughout the book he is always talking to an orange called l’orange de Tunis. He becomes good friends with l’orange because he has a hard time making friends. Ethan wants to become a better person but he doesn’t try very hard to do it.
Ethan is a very unfriendly person and he has bad problems and attitude. This makes it hard for him to make friends. He also lost his mom so I believe that is why he is always being rude and disrespectful to other people like his father. He has a problem with alcohol and he is snobby and irresponsible with his behavior and what he does. He has only one friend and that is the orange that they gave him.
There was a guy named Larson in the book and he was their tour guide throughout the book. He has crossed the desert three times before this time and he can also predict the weather. He shows Ethan that he can be a better person by starting over in life.
There is Kajsa and she is a very strange girl. She has a bathroom break ever hour of the day and she also is nice to Ethan, but he isn’t nice back to her.
My opinion for this book is that it is slow at first but improves by the middle of the book. This book was interesting and showed me that if you ever make mistakes you can always recover. Also it told me that you should never be rude to your parents because they can always do something to get you back later in life. I think that this book is mostly for everyone because it is a way to show that you can recover from bad mistakes. I give this book a four out of five because they ending of the book was very bland. The author could have improved on their conclusion to just deserts.
May 7, 2015
Review of Just Deserts
Author Eric Walters
Review by Curtis Leger
Have you ever struggled to find a book that suits you? This book here is well written and it gets you interested within the first few pages.
Eric Walters makes it easier to read and he doesn’t use difficult words. He makes the story easy to understand and still interesting. He is an expert on this book topic because he actually did the hike they do in the story.
This book is a fictional story for young adults about adventure and self-discovery. It is character driven because you want to see if Ethan will go through a major change and how he will deal with obstacles in his way. Through the book, you learn what a team is and how to make good friends. The main purpose of this book is to show how to be independent.
Eric Walters writes the book in first person. He is very good at writing in first person because he makes you feel as though the character is talking to you directly. He doesn’t write huge descriptions and he makes the dialogue sound like something a normal person would say. Most of his characters are ‘round’ as he describes them well. This makes you feel like you know them personally. He gives the characters a believable background. He makes them all have different reasons for doing things and they all have different goals to accomplish. The paragraphs are well structured and easy to read but keep you interested. His chapters are not too long which makes reading the book easier and a quicker read.
Even though he did not have large descriptive paragraphs or any illustrations, you are able to make a perfect image in your head of what the characters are doing and what the scene looks like.
The ideal audience for this book is young adults. I recommend this book because it was easy to understand, you can relate to one of the several characters and the topic was interesting. I would buy this book ten times over.
Author Eric Walters
Review by Curtis Leger
Have you ever struggled to find a book that suits you? This book here is well written and it gets you interested within the first few pages.
Eric Walters makes it easier to read and he doesn’t use difficult words. He makes the story easy to understand and still interesting. He is an expert on this book topic because he actually did the hike they do in the story.
This book is a fictional story for young adults about adventure and self-discovery. It is character driven because you want to see if Ethan will go through a major change and how he will deal with obstacles in his way. Through the book, you learn what a team is and how to make good friends. The main purpose of this book is to show how to be independent.
Eric Walters writes the book in first person. He is very good at writing in first person because he makes you feel as though the character is talking to you directly. He doesn’t write huge descriptions and he makes the dialogue sound like something a normal person would say. Most of his characters are ‘round’ as he describes them well. This makes you feel like you know them personally. He gives the characters a believable background. He makes them all have different reasons for doing things and they all have different goals to accomplish. The paragraphs are well structured and easy to read but keep you interested. His chapters are not too long which makes reading the book easier and a quicker read.
Even though he did not have large descriptive paragraphs or any illustrations, you are able to make a perfect image in your head of what the characters are doing and what the scene looks like.
The ideal audience for this book is young adults. I recommend this book because it was easy to understand, you can relate to one of the several characters and the topic was interesting. I would buy this book ten times over.
May 7, 2015
“If you wish to go quickly, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together.” One of my favorite quotes from the fictional novel Just Deserts written by Eric Walters. This author has completed the same walk as the main character in the novel, and had most of the experiences which he wrote in this book.
This author does a lot of things right with this novel. First of all the word choice. By going through the desert he is very specific with the details in the story that you feel like a 6th member of the group. Just Deserts is not a difficult read, even for reluctant readers like me it was not too hard but not too easy either, this is a novel that is somewhere in the middle with its difficulty. Somewhat like our main Character, Ethan is the protagonist of this piece of literature, and is in the process of changing as a person while on this journey through the desert. We read the novel from his perspective. I don’t know if Eric Walters was ever dropped into the desert on a hangover, but the way he writes this novel makes me think so. Thirdly, the dialogue in this novel was around 50% of the novel, but it flowed very well with the plot and makes the novel much more believable. Just Deserts reminded me of the movie 127 hours, so if you enjoyed that film I would highly recommend this novel to you.
In conclusion I would also recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading any sort of survival story, and people around Ethan’s age or in college or university so you could relate to the character a bit more. With all of these factors considered, I would rate this book 4 stars, because it can be a little predictable at times, but other than that it was very enjoyable novel.
This author does a lot of things right with this novel. First of all the word choice. By going through the desert he is very specific with the details in the story that you feel like a 6th member of the group. Just Deserts is not a difficult read, even for reluctant readers like me it was not too hard but not too easy either, this is a novel that is somewhere in the middle with its difficulty. Somewhat like our main Character, Ethan is the protagonist of this piece of literature, and is in the process of changing as a person while on this journey through the desert. We read the novel from his perspective. I don’t know if Eric Walters was ever dropped into the desert on a hangover, but the way he writes this novel makes me think so. Thirdly, the dialogue in this novel was around 50% of the novel, but it flowed very well with the plot and makes the novel much more believable. Just Deserts reminded me of the movie 127 hours, so if you enjoyed that film I would highly recommend this novel to you.
In conclusion I would also recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading any sort of survival story, and people around Ethan’s age or in college or university so you could relate to the character a bit more. With all of these factors considered, I would rate this book 4 stars, because it can be a little predictable at times, but other than that it was very enjoyable novel.
May 8, 2015
Why do we read books like Just Deserts by Eric Walters?
The topic of the book would have to be coming of age or overcoming obstacles. The genre would be realistic fiction mainly because Eric Walters did walk across the Sahara desert. The theme of the book would book is maturing and overcoming your demons is an important part of people’s lives. The purpose of the book is to tell us that anything is possible and that people can change.
I enjoyed how it was a first person point of view. You really get to picture Ethan walking across the desert and how you can picture his blisters and the expression on his face. The plot started off good then slowed down a bit and ended with no strings attached. I feel that characters in the story are fitting because they were all athletes and Ethan was just left in the desert with no training but he never gave up. The overall effect on the story kind of gets the reader thinking near the end like is he going to do this or is he doing this. I admire how the pace of the story is not too fast and not to slow. The dialogue is very well written and I can hear Ethan when he is talking to the other characters. I think just deserts give a unique feel to the perspective on the subject because it is more of a character point of view than a narrative point of view.
In conclusion I think Just Deserts is worth buying and I would definitely recommend that you read it and not just put it on a shelf and never look at again. I think the ideal audience would have to be teens and adults and I think the type of reader that would like this are people how read adventure books.
The topic of the book would have to be coming of age or overcoming obstacles. The genre would be realistic fiction mainly because Eric Walters did walk across the Sahara desert. The theme of the book would book is maturing and overcoming your demons is an important part of people’s lives. The purpose of the book is to tell us that anything is possible and that people can change.
I enjoyed how it was a first person point of view. You really get to picture Ethan walking across the desert and how you can picture his blisters and the expression on his face. The plot started off good then slowed down a bit and ended with no strings attached. I feel that characters in the story are fitting because they were all athletes and Ethan was just left in the desert with no training but he never gave up. The overall effect on the story kind of gets the reader thinking near the end like is he going to do this or is he doing this. I admire how the pace of the story is not too fast and not to slow. The dialogue is very well written and I can hear Ethan when he is talking to the other characters. I think just deserts give a unique feel to the perspective on the subject because it is more of a character point of view than a narrative point of view.
In conclusion I think Just Deserts is worth buying and I would definitely recommend that you read it and not just put it on a shelf and never look at again. I think the ideal audience would have to be teens and adults and I think the type of reader that would like this are people how read adventure books.
May 14, 2015
Would you like to be stranded in a desert, stuck with four people you despise and are forced to be best friends with an orange…Of course not? In the novel Just Deserts by Eric Walters, the protagonist, Ethan is faced with shocking news when his dad strands him in the desert.
In this novel most of the whole book takes place in the…desert, as you could have guessed. Ethan has to overcome his journey in the desert which is a staggering 200km trek. With his guide at his side, him and three others known as Kajsa, Connor and Andy attempt this emotional and endurance test to the finish. Everything is on the line for Ethan, they must arrive on time or he loses it all.
Ethan the protagonist is a total jerk at the start but I honestly think he’ll change for the better. At the exposition of the novel Ethan is a huge Alcoholic with no friends. He’s kind of a rich spoiled brat. The antagonist his dad, a wealthy business man. We don’t know much about him but throughout novel, Ethan makes it clear that he dislikes his father. Connor is very friendly guy with many friends. He shares a tent with Ethan during the night and he snores a lot! Ethan isn’t too fond of his in the beginning but throughout the novel, their friendship grows.
All in all, this entire book was a great read for me because I don’t read too much books. I liked the whole idea of the plot but I think the ending could have been better. My rate for Just Desserts is 4stars out of 5stars.
Read
May 13, 2015Just Deserts
Eric Walters
The quote ‘’ you may be an idiot, but you are our idiot” is said to Ethan in the book. This quote makes the reader interested in the protagonist, Ethan. Eric Walters, the author, loves to write books about adventure and the places he has traveled to. Ib fact, he got ideas for the book from people from the desert he interviewed
The theme would of the book is survival. Ethan and his team in the desert try to get to Tunis and try to survive and overcome obstacles. The point of view of Just Deserts would be third person. Dialogue is something that the author has put in to his book making the whole group sound like teens. Character development is strong. In the beginning of the book, Ethan is a drink spoiled rich kid thinking no one loves him. Near the end of the book, he realizes that he is not alone in this world and that he needs to change. At times, most parents discipline their kids but not the way Ethan’s dad disciplines. He sends his son to the desert to survive. Most parents send their kids to their room or no games. I think the book is exciting and interesting because of all of the adventure and that it is based on real desert runs. I would recommend this book to young adults that like adventure
Eric Walters
The quote ‘’ you may be an idiot, but you are our idiot” is said to Ethan in the book. This quote makes the reader interested in the protagonist, Ethan. Eric Walters, the author, loves to write books about adventure and the places he has traveled to. Ib fact, he got ideas for the book from people from the desert he interviewed
The theme would of the book is survival. Ethan and his team in the desert try to get to Tunis and try to survive and overcome obstacles. The point of view of Just Deserts would be third person. Dialogue is something that the author has put in to his book making the whole group sound like teens. Character development is strong. In the beginning of the book, Ethan is a drink spoiled rich kid thinking no one loves him. Near the end of the book, he realizes that he is not alone in this world and that he needs to change. At times, most parents discipline their kids but not the way Ethan’s dad disciplines. He sends his son to the desert to survive. Most parents send their kids to their room or no games. I think the book is exciting and interesting because of all of the adventure and that it is based on real desert runs. I would recommend this book to young adults that like adventure
August 31, 2020
I don't know why people are hating on this book, like I honestly don't really care for "more action", I mean, they're litterally walking through a desert. What could really happen? Somebody gets bitten and dies or something? I think not, this is like a young teen book, don't think it's be appropriate of that happens...
Or maybe I'm just what Ethan said "simple minds like simple things" or something like that.
Also, this book probably features the most character development I've ever seen in a book!
Why am I even awake, it's litterally 8:30 in the summer, I should be sleeping.
I kinda wanna try this desert trek. Maybe when I'm old enough(after getting a job and all that) I might look into it, if I remember.
I also kinda wonder, what happened to l'orange de Tunisia, certainly one of my favourite "characters". I don't even know how, but Ethan really made me feel like it was an actual character, and it had feelings and all. Lol. At some point in the book I even started feeling bad for it.
I'm delusional.
Or maybe I'm just what Ethan said "simple minds like simple things" or something like that.
Also, this book probably features the most character development I've ever seen in a book!
Why am I even awake, it's litterally 8:30 in the summer, I should be sleeping.
I kinda wanna try this desert trek. Maybe when I'm old enough(after getting a job and all that) I might look into it, if I remember.
I also kinda wonder, what happened to l'orange de Tunisia, certainly one of my favourite "characters". I don't even know how, but Ethan really made me feel like it was an actual character, and it had feelings and all. Lol. At some point in the book I even started feeling bad for it.
I'm delusional.
July 2, 2014
Loved it! Libraians/Teachers - if you are looking for a book to entice reluctant boy readers, this is it!
Imagine walking across the desert and this thought might be unthinkable. This was certainly the case for Ethan who has had a lot of issues with getting kicked out of one boarding school after another. His father decides to hand him an ultimatum - walk across the desert in 7 days and earn a yearly trust fund or fail and have no money.
Ethan goes through a wide range of emotions through his trek and but also experiences moments of pure happiness.
Considering the author actually did this walk, I think this is where the feeling of being there on the journey comes from. He did this trek with a group of people including 4 young people who he loosely basis the story on.
Recommendation - Read it! There will be no regrets
Imagine walking across the desert and this thought might be unthinkable. This was certainly the case for Ethan who has had a lot of issues with getting kicked out of one boarding school after another. His father decides to hand him an ultimatum - walk across the desert in 7 days and earn a yearly trust fund or fail and have no money.
Ethan goes through a wide range of emotions through his trek and but also experiences moments of pure happiness.
Considering the author actually did this walk, I think this is where the feeling of being there on the journey comes from. He did this trek with a group of people including 4 young people who he loosely basis the story on.
Recommendation - Read it! There will be no regrets
January 9, 2016
I had read this book with my class as a read aloud and when our teacher ended each day we wanted more I do recommend this book to any age group as it is intriguing and you feel as if you are there with them
SPOILERS
Ethan had some major character development as he grew to love the other characters like family even though he never had a proper family of his own [ his dad is a businessman who has no time for Ethen, mother is dead ] but the ending is dull and boring with no climax he just sees's his dad we could, at least, get to see the interaction between them.
SPOILERS
Ethan had some major character development as he grew to love the other characters like family even though he never had a proper family of his own [ his dad is a businessman who has no time for Ethen, mother is dead ] but the ending is dull and boring with no climax he just sees's his dad we could, at least, get to see the interaction between them.
December 3, 2013
I really liked this novel.Alot. The main character was very likible though he seemed like a jerk in the begining. It was very interesting seeing how he developed and changed as a person throughout his journey. My favourite character would be Ethan because of his manipulative personality and his crazy pal L'Orange. However i also loved Larson cause he had so many amazing deep things to say. All in all it was an excellent read.
Thank you Eric Walters for another amazing book.
Thank you Eric Walters for another amazing book.
January 18, 2013
Not the most exciting book I've read, but it was alright. I was looking for a survival story when I read it, and this isn't really survival, but more the story of a journey, both physical and personal. Still, I found it very readable.
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