What do you think?
Rate this book
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell
Sixteen-year-old Frederick has a lot of rules for himself. Like if someone calls him Freddy he doesn’t have to respond; he only wears shirts with buttons and he hates getting dirty. His odd behavior makes him an easy target for the “Despisers” at school, but he’s gotten used to eating lunch alone in the Reject Room.
Angel, in tenth grade but already at her sixth school, has always had a hard time making friends because her family moves around so much. Frederick is different from the other kids she’s met - he’s annoyingly smart, but refreshingly honest - and since he’s never had a real friend before, she decides to teach him all her rules of friendship.
But after Angel makes a rash decision and disappears, Frederick is called in for questioning by the police and is torn between telling the truth and keeping his friend’s secret. Her warning to him - don’t tell, don’t tell, don’t tell - might have done more harm than good.
Angel, in tenth grade but already at her sixth school, has always had a hard time making friends because her family moves around so much. Frederick is different from the other kids she’s met - he’s annoyingly smart, but refreshingly honest - and since he’s never had a real friend before, she decides to teach him all her rules of friendship.
But after Angel makes a rash decision and disappears, Frederick is called in for questioning by the police and is torn between telling the truth and keeping his friend’s secret. Her warning to him - don’t tell, don’t tell, don’t tell - might have done more harm than good.
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
2 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 26, 2016
I can’t say that “Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell” is a bad book. In fact, I enjoyed most of it quite a bit. There were a couple of problems that kept it from being a four star book, though.
The story centers around Frederick, who has Asperger’s, and Angel, who is only his second friend. Frederick and his wandering stream-of-consciousness voice may be difficult for some to follow, but it’s an accurate portrayal of how many with Asperger’s (or add, adhd, etc.) think. One caveat with this is that people remember: If you’ve met one person with Asperger’s, you’ve met one person with Asperger’s. Think of this as a general view, not necessarily a specific one. Anyway, the situation in which he finds himself is complex for anyone, let alone someone with a different way of processing the world, and the portrayal of how he works through it is fascinating.
Angel is a mystery to him, but his observations do develop her character well. However, there is an abrupt shift to her point-of-view that irritated me. Here is a wonderfully refreshing story told by someone with a different way of looking at the world, and it suddenly shifted from his story to hers. We have more than enough books about the neurotypical, and I would have liked to see this one remain Frederick’s.
Granted, there is quite a significant event that happens (one I cannot elaborate on because it is a spoiler), so I can understand why the author may have thought it important to switch to Angel, but that event could have been tackled using Frederick. In fact, the handling of it seemed a bit rushed. It was a good thing to include, but I believe more exploration of the aftermath would have been more beneficial.
Overall, I can neither recommend nor not recommend “Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell.” If it seems interesting to you, give it a try.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The story centers around Frederick, who has Asperger’s, and Angel, who is only his second friend. Frederick and his wandering stream-of-consciousness voice may be difficult for some to follow, but it’s an accurate portrayal of how many with Asperger’s (or add, adhd, etc.) think. One caveat with this is that people remember: If you’ve met one person with Asperger’s, you’ve met one person with Asperger’s. Think of this as a general view, not necessarily a specific one. Anyway, the situation in which he finds himself is complex for anyone, let alone someone with a different way of processing the world, and the portrayal of how he works through it is fascinating.
Angel is a mystery to him, but his observations do develop her character well. However, there is an abrupt shift to her point-of-view that irritated me. Here is a wonderfully refreshing story told by someone with a different way of looking at the world, and it suddenly shifted from his story to hers. We have more than enough books about the neurotypical, and I would have liked to see this one remain Frederick’s.
Granted, there is quite a significant event that happens (one I cannot elaborate on because it is a spoiler), so I can understand why the author may have thought it important to switch to Angel, but that event could have been tackled using Frederick. In fact, the handling of it seemed a bit rushed. It was a good thing to include, but I believe more exploration of the aftermath would have been more beneficial.
Overall, I can neither recommend nor not recommend “Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell, Don’t Tell.” If it seems interesting to you, give it a try.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2016
Second Story Press and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, in exchange for an honest review.
Frederick has rules that he needs to follow - his compulsion for order can be directly traced back to his Asperger's. He even creates separate categories for his classmates: the Despisers, who taunt him on a regular basis, the Helpers, who try to stand up for him but sometimes make things worse, and the Avoiders, who act as though he has a communicable disease. When Frederick is asked to talk to the police about a missing girl, Angel Martinez, he uses the mantra "Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell" to remind himself to keep her secret. He never expected being a friend could be this hard...
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell is a well articulated novel that gives the reader an insider look into how it feels to be Frederick, a young man with Asperger's. He puts his world in order, the way he wants it to be, regardless of what others think. Angel strikes up an unlikely friendship with Frederick, as they are both misfits trying to find their way despite being bullied. Frederick does not feel the way that others do, but he uses his intellect or his familiarity with the individual to puzzle out the social cues. Written in the different perspectives of Frederick and Angel, I almost wish that the author had decided to have the story told by Frederick alone. His was the stronger tale to tell, as well as the fact that the uniqueness of the premise was due to Frederick as the central character. I recommend Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell to all YA readers, as this book delivers a powerful message about taking charge of your own life, in whatever capacity you need.
Frederick has rules that he needs to follow - his compulsion for order can be directly traced back to his Asperger's. He even creates separate categories for his classmates: the Despisers, who taunt him on a regular basis, the Helpers, who try to stand up for him but sometimes make things worse, and the Avoiders, who act as though he has a communicable disease. When Frederick is asked to talk to the police about a missing girl, Angel Martinez, he uses the mantra "Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell" to remind himself to keep her secret. He never expected being a friend could be this hard...
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell is a well articulated novel that gives the reader an insider look into how it feels to be Frederick, a young man with Asperger's. He puts his world in order, the way he wants it to be, regardless of what others think. Angel strikes up an unlikely friendship with Frederick, as they are both misfits trying to find their way despite being bullied. Frederick does not feel the way that others do, but he uses his intellect or his familiarity with the individual to puzzle out the social cues. Written in the different perspectives of Frederick and Angel, I almost wish that the author had decided to have the story told by Frederick alone. His was the stronger tale to tell, as well as the fact that the uniqueness of the premise was due to Frederick as the central character. I recommend Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell to all YA readers, as this book delivers a powerful message about taking charge of your own life, in whatever capacity you need.
May 19, 2016
This review was originally posted on www.125pages.com
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell by Liane Shaw had some great moments and some not so great moments. I loved the first half of the book. Frederick was a fantastic narrator and I really enjoyed seeing his world through his eyes. I was hooked and so engaged. Then Angel began trading off narration of the chapters and I was turned off. She was whiny and so self-centered that I could no longer enjoy the story. If the whole book would have been in Frederick’s voice I think it would have been an unqualified winner, but with the dual narration, it lost that unique spark.
The plot of Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell had so much going for it. I really enjoyed the take of a story told from the perspective of a person who sees the world through his own filter. But then Angel took over as the other narrator and it threw off the story as a whole. The writing of Liane Shaw was interesting and I did enjoy the first half of the book while Frederick was narrating. Then it was unique and had such a distinct voice. Once the other narrator joined, the writing seemed to change. The pacing was spot on and I enjoyed the quick clip of the story. The world built was decent, but lacked definition. There was not a huge range of emotions in this read. When your main character is a young man with a limited emotional range that is to be expected. I loved the portrayal of Frederick with Asperger’s. He was an engaging narrator and I enjoyed his thought process. Angel and Frederick’s mom both turned me off. Angel is a selfish girl who only thought of herself and Frederick's mom had no idea how to relate to her son and seemed to be angry with him for the way he acted. I am always disappointed in a book that features a lead with a different way of being and the parents cannot handle it. It just seems like a cheap way of creating tension to me.
I did enjoy reading Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, I just really loved the first half and was meh about the second half. Liane Shaw did a great job speaking for Frederick but then could not keep the engagement up when she added Angel’s voice. As a whole I would tilt this more towards the good side than the bad as Frederick was such a special voice, but it was not a home run.
Favorite lines - My mother calls it facing the music. I know what it means—owning up to something you did wrong and taking your consequences. But why is it called that? How do you face music? You can’t see it, unless you have an oscilloscope and I don’t think the expression is about sound waves. Maybe it’s about being a conductor, who is someone who faces musicians who are making music…except you orchestrated a lie instead of a symphony.
Biggest cliché – But you should do what I want because I want it.
Have you read Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, or added it to your TBR?This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell by Liane Shaw had some great moments and some not so great moments. I loved the first half of the book. Frederick was a fantastic narrator and I really enjoyed seeing his world through his eyes. I was hooked and so engaged. Then Angel began trading off narration of the chapters and I was turned off. She was whiny and so self-centered that I could no longer enjoy the story. If the whole book would have been in Frederick’s voice I think it would have been an unqualified winner, but with the dual narration, it lost that unique spark.The plot of Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell had so much going for it. I really enjoyed the take of a story told from the perspective of a person who sees the world through his own filter. But then Angel took over as the other narrator and it threw off the story as a whole. The writing of Liane Shaw was interesting and I did enjoy the first half of the book while Frederick was narrating. Then it was unique and had such a distinct voice. Once the other narrator joined, the writing seemed to change. The pacing was spot on and I enjoyed the quick clip of the story. The world built was decent, but lacked definition. There was not a huge range of emotions in this read. When your main character is a young man with a limited emotional range that is to be expected. I loved the portrayal of Frederick with Asperger’s. He was an engaging narrator and I enjoyed his thought process. Angel and Frederick’s mom both turned me off. Angel is a selfish girl who only thought of herself and Frederick's mom had no idea how to relate to her son and seemed to be angry with him for the way he acted. I am always disappointed in a book that features a lead with a different way of being and the parents cannot handle it. It just seems like a cheap way of creating tension to me.
I did enjoy reading Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, I just really loved the first half and was meh about the second half. Liane Shaw did a great job speaking for Frederick but then could not keep the engagement up when she added Angel’s voice. As a whole I would tilt this more towards the good side than the bad as Frederick was such a special voice, but it was not a home run.
Favorite lines - My mother calls it facing the music. I know what it means—owning up to something you did wrong and taking your consequences. But why is it called that? How do you face music? You can’t see it, unless you have an oscilloscope and I don’t think the expression is about sound waves. Maybe it’s about being a conductor, who is someone who faces musicians who are making music…except you orchestrated a lie instead of a symphony.
Biggest cliché – But you should do what I want because I want it.
Have you read Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, or added it to your TBR?This book was most likely received free from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 7, 2016
Grade: B
Frederick, who has Aspergers, made a promise not to tell what he knows about Angel's disappearance. He doesn't understand Friendship Rules, but he does know keeping his promise is one. But there's no rule for when she doesn't call her parents as promised.
Liane Shaw created an authentic voice in Frederick, accurately depicting the thought process of a concrete, literal thinker, whose mind wandered off in tangents often about words and phrases. I found his chapters often difficult and frustrating, because this slowed the pace and flow of the story. Shaw did a great job getting inside his head. The second half of the story, narrated by Angel, flowed much easier. I loved seeing her perspective on Frederick. She appreciated his eccentricities instead of pathologizing them.
I'm not sure who the target audience for DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL. Most of the plot seemed appropriate middle grade readers, as well as YA, though there are some brief sexual references.
THEMES: Special needs, Aspergers, runaway, sexual assault, friendship, family
DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL is a well written story about the friendship between a boy with Aspergers and a troubled classmate.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Frederick, who has Aspergers, made a promise not to tell what he knows about Angel's disappearance. He doesn't understand Friendship Rules, but he does know keeping his promise is one. But there's no rule for when she doesn't call her parents as promised.
Liane Shaw created an authentic voice in Frederick, accurately depicting the thought process of a concrete, literal thinker, whose mind wandered off in tangents often about words and phrases. I found his chapters often difficult and frustrating, because this slowed the pace and flow of the story. Shaw did a great job getting inside his head. The second half of the story, narrated by Angel, flowed much easier. I loved seeing her perspective on Frederick. She appreciated his eccentricities instead of pathologizing them.
I'm not sure who the target audience for DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL. Most of the plot seemed appropriate middle grade readers, as well as YA, though there are some brief sexual references.
THEMES: Special needs, Aspergers, runaway, sexual assault, friendship, family
DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL, DON'T TELL is a well written story about the friendship between a boy with Aspergers and a troubled classmate.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.
March 14, 2016
The first half of the story is told from Frederick's viewpoint and I found myself enthralled with the way he thinks. Frederick has Asperger's and so being able to view everything through his eyes is such an interesting experience. Shaw is able to accurately capture how life is viewed by someone on the spectrum. Frederick is the most logical person I have ever gotten to read about. He takes one idea and completely take you on these long streams of thought where you find yourself wondering where his mind is taking you, and then all of a sudden he brings your full circle! I would catch myself getting confused for a bit with what he was talking about but after processing it, I was surprised to see just how much sense it actually made. It was incredible! Where some may not understand, I found myself thinking that Frederick is really just so much more intelligent than normal people. I loved his little thought tangents. Watching him grow from the loner and antisocial to embracing his friendship with Angel was really fun to watch. However, some people may get annoyed with his chapters as they tend to be a bit dense due to the way he processes thoughts and social situations.
The second half of the book is told from Angel's viewpoint. We finally get find out what has caused her to run away and also see how she views Frederick and his eccentricities. I enjoyed Angel. She's very direct and instead of allowing Frederick's disability to hinder any friendship that might arise, she just plows forward and never gives it any thought. She just accepts and appreciates him for who he is. I really respected that about her character. We always think that we will do the right thing but sometimes we don't rise to that occasion and instead let society dictate our behavior for us, but Angel doesn't. She attempts to break down Frederick's wall and get to know all of him. I also valued that her story brings up several issues and doesn't shy around them, such as peer pressure and body shaming. I appreciate that Shaw spotlights some of these real life problems, rather than your typical YA fluff.
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell is a pretty typical YA novel, in that it focuses on characterization rather than action and plot. Yes, there is the mystery surrounding Angel's disappearance, but that's not what makes this a compelling story. The real brilliance is in the voices of our two MCs. I found them to be so realistic and fleshed out, that they were truly brought to life. Frederick especially was someone that I really found myself connecting with. I was more interested in seeing how this situation changed him than in actually wondering what caused Angel to run away in the first place. The book did seem to drag a bit around the middle but never reached a place where I found myself not caring what was going to happen next.
I didn't have a whole lot of issues with this story. I did feel that the voices of Frederick and Angel were a little young rather than the 16 years old that they are supposed to be. It wasn't much of a deal with Frederick because it made sense for him to be that way, however, I was expecting a bit more from Angel. This isn't really a criticism but this story almost felt as if it was written specifically to be required reading in school. I mean, I can literally picture it being on the 8th grade Pre-AP required summer reading list, right there alongside To Kill A Mockingbird and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. It just has that feel to it. Though, I definitely enjoyed reading more about Frederick and Angel than I did the Logans (because that book was just awfully boring).
The second half of the book is told from Angel's viewpoint. We finally get find out what has caused her to run away and also see how she views Frederick and his eccentricities. I enjoyed Angel. She's very direct and instead of allowing Frederick's disability to hinder any friendship that might arise, she just plows forward and never gives it any thought. She just accepts and appreciates him for who he is. I really respected that about her character. We always think that we will do the right thing but sometimes we don't rise to that occasion and instead let society dictate our behavior for us, but Angel doesn't. She attempts to break down Frederick's wall and get to know all of him. I also valued that her story brings up several issues and doesn't shy around them, such as peer pressure and body shaming. I appreciate that Shaw spotlights some of these real life problems, rather than your typical YA fluff.
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell is a pretty typical YA novel, in that it focuses on characterization rather than action and plot. Yes, there is the mystery surrounding Angel's disappearance, but that's not what makes this a compelling story. The real brilliance is in the voices of our two MCs. I found them to be so realistic and fleshed out, that they were truly brought to life. Frederick especially was someone that I really found myself connecting with. I was more interested in seeing how this situation changed him than in actually wondering what caused Angel to run away in the first place. The book did seem to drag a bit around the middle but never reached a place where I found myself not caring what was going to happen next.
I didn't have a whole lot of issues with this story. I did feel that the voices of Frederick and Angel were a little young rather than the 16 years old that they are supposed to be. It wasn't much of a deal with Frederick because it made sense for him to be that way, however, I was expecting a bit more from Angel. This isn't really a criticism but this story almost felt as if it was written specifically to be required reading in school. I mean, I can literally picture it being on the 8th grade Pre-AP required summer reading list, right there alongside To Kill A Mockingbird and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. It just has that feel to it. Though, I definitely enjoyed reading more about Frederick and Angel than I did the Logans (because that book was just awfully boring).
May 18, 2016
Frederick, a 16 year old boy with Aspergers, needs to follow his rules at all times. He shields himself from the world, but Angel, a loud but self-conscious new girl at school, thrusts herself upon him and his little bubble of a life. As the story progresses, we are able to see into the mind of Frederick and understand more about the thought process of someone who has Aspergers (although it is notable that not everyone has the same thought process). It’s quite a jarring story to be told, with many tangents and off-topic topics (a friend of mine went on tangents a lot and thats what he called them). Halfway through the book, when Frederick goes through all his thoughts and gets to when Angel has left town, the book switches to Angel’s POV.
Many people weren’t a fan of Angel’s POV, but I didn’t mind her. She definitely has the thought process of a teenage girl, which some people forget about while reading YA books that aren’t necessarily for young adults.
We later learn that Angel ran away because she was sexually assaulted. She had a bit too much to drink and boys from her school took advantage of that. When she regained consciousness and as the days go by, she slowly remembers what happened and feels mortified, remembering that there was a video. She believes that the only thing she can do is run away to her home town, and tells Frederick of her plan, but she makes Frederick promise “don’t tell don’t tell don’t tell”. This mantra plays throughout Frederick’s mind throughout the novel.
Frederick feels that he has to go and find Angel, gets on a bus to her town (which is a whole anxiety attack in itself), finds out that she isn’t there, and then heads back home. Angel ended up camping out in the woods behind Frederick’s house. Long story short, Frederick finds her, they get lost in the woods for a night, and a search party finds them the next day.
Overall I really enjoyed the novel. It was an easy to read book and I do suggest people to read it. Liane Shaw wrote the story very well and you can see that she has the background of working with people who have Aspergers.
Many people weren’t a fan of Angel’s POV, but I didn’t mind her. She definitely has the thought process of a teenage girl, which some people forget about while reading YA books that aren’t necessarily for young adults.
We later learn that Angel ran away because she was sexually assaulted. She had a bit too much to drink and boys from her school took advantage of that. When she regained consciousness and as the days go by, she slowly remembers what happened and feels mortified, remembering that there was a video. She believes that the only thing she can do is run away to her home town, and tells Frederick of her plan, but she makes Frederick promise “don’t tell don’t tell don’t tell”. This mantra plays throughout Frederick’s mind throughout the novel.
Frederick feels that he has to go and find Angel, gets on a bus to her town (which is a whole anxiety attack in itself), finds out that she isn’t there, and then heads back home. Angel ended up camping out in the woods behind Frederick’s house. Long story short, Frederick finds her, they get lost in the woods for a night, and a search party finds them the next day.
Overall I really enjoyed the novel. It was an easy to read book and I do suggest people to read it. Liane Shaw wrote the story very well and you can see that she has the background of working with people who have Aspergers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2016
I received an eARC from the publisher through Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.
I found this book on Netgalley and it seemed different from the normal contemporaries that I read, so I made my chose and dived in.
The first half of the book is written from the protagonist Frederick and I immediately noticed that he is very different from other boys. For example, he lives on a fixed structure, he wears only shirts with buttons, he always counts the buttons of his blouses, he does everything with left first and he is terrified of germs. I was a few pages in, and my suspicion was confirmerd: Frederick has Asperges. I absolutely like the idea of Liane to write a story a story through the mind of a person with Asperges, but I must admit that it was incredibly annoying to read. It just didn’t read fluently and I’m terribly annoyed about that.
The second half of the book is written from Angel, a teenage girl who always gets bullied because she is fat. After I was halfway through the book and began to read from Angels POV, it immediately was so much better to read from her perspective. I know it sounds a bit mean, but reading from Frederick’s mind was a disaster in my opinion. But because of the variety, you can really see the difference in the characters – the difference between someone with Asperges and someone who does not – and that’s the only good thing about this book, because the story and the plot were much to be desired.
The story was very strange. I didn’t really understand Angel’s idea and I didn’t understand why Frederick reacted that way. I actually can’t tell you anything more about that, because I don’t think the story added much value.
I also found the flashbacks quite annoying to read. They were all over the place, written between the present and I had to reread them several times to finally understand. I wasn't very keen on this.
Depsite the plot of this story and sometimes the writing style of Liane, I still think this book has some potential. The idea behind Don’t Tell Don’t Tell Don’t Tell is very unique. I give it three stars.
I found this book on Netgalley and it seemed different from the normal contemporaries that I read, so I made my chose and dived in.
The first half of the book is written from the protagonist Frederick and I immediately noticed that he is very different from other boys. For example, he lives on a fixed structure, he wears only shirts with buttons, he always counts the buttons of his blouses, he does everything with left first and he is terrified of germs. I was a few pages in, and my suspicion was confirmerd: Frederick has Asperges. I absolutely like the idea of Liane to write a story a story through the mind of a person with Asperges, but I must admit that it was incredibly annoying to read. It just didn’t read fluently and I’m terribly annoyed about that.
The second half of the book is written from Angel, a teenage girl who always gets bullied because she is fat. After I was halfway through the book and began to read from Angels POV, it immediately was so much better to read from her perspective. I know it sounds a bit mean, but reading from Frederick’s mind was a disaster in my opinion. But because of the variety, you can really see the difference in the characters – the difference between someone with Asperges and someone who does not – and that’s the only good thing about this book, because the story and the plot were much to be desired.
The story was very strange. I didn’t really understand Angel’s idea and I didn’t understand why Frederick reacted that way. I actually can’t tell you anything more about that, because I don’t think the story added much value.
I also found the flashbacks quite annoying to read. They were all over the place, written between the present and I had to reread them several times to finally understand. I wasn't very keen on this.
Depsite the plot of this story and sometimes the writing style of Liane, I still think this book has some potential. The idea behind Don’t Tell Don’t Tell Don’t Tell is very unique. I give it three stars.
November 9, 2016
A different approach to a teen with Asperger's. I love Frederick's (Kal) voice. It sheds more light into how people who transmit and receive information differently think. This book has comical moments while dealing with a serious subject: taking advantage of girls who have become impaired by alcohol or drugs (in this case alcohol). Angel instructs Kal to not tell anyone where she is and he takes this literally even though the police question him, his mom questions him and the kids at school make snide remarks about the situation. I love Angel and Kal's interactions after they come together and would love to see where they are 10 years from now.
March 5, 2016
This book was GREAT!!!
It was a positive and accurate portrail of a person on the spectrum.
At times I was laughing out loud.
I was so angered by the "despisers ".
I loved the friendship that blossomed between Fredrick and Angel.
I couldn't put this book down til i was finished.
What a goodread!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC .
Thank you
It was a positive and accurate portrail of a person on the spectrum.
At times I was laughing out loud.
I was so angered by the "despisers ".
I loved the friendship that blossomed between Fredrick and Angel.
I couldn't put this book down til i was finished.
What a goodread!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC .
Thank you
December 4, 2019
I've just started this book, I"m barely 20 pages in and it's incredibly obvious that nobody understands this kid. Not his mother, not the officers, and what's even more obvious, based on his stream of consciousness style of thoughts is that he's clearly on the Autism Spectrum.
The book opens with him being interviewed by the police, and the officer being frustrated by Frederick not answering questions how he wants, and my only thought is that THIS IS WHY WE NEED SENSITIVITY TRAINING. IF police and first responders and everyone else were properly trained on how people who aren't neurotypical operate, then they'd be better able to serve them, and specifically for police, better able to question them and get the answers they need. Now obviously, this book wasn't written yesterday, but some time ago, what since we don't use the term Asperger's anymore, we simply say that a person is on the autism spectrum, so hopefully, in the real world things have improved and cops aren't still like this (though I"m not holding out much hope).
The book opens with him being interviewed by the police, and the officer being frustrated by Frederick not answering questions how he wants, and my only thought is that THIS IS WHY WE NEED SENSITIVITY TRAINING. IF police and first responders and everyone else were properly trained on how people who aren't neurotypical operate, then they'd be better able to serve them, and specifically for police, better able to question them and get the answers they need. Now obviously, this book wasn't written yesterday, but some time ago, what since we don't use the term Asperger's anymore, we simply say that a person is on the autism spectrum, so hopefully, in the real world things have improved and cops aren't still like this (though I"m not holding out much hope).
July 28, 2017
Shaw has certainly documented the confusion and the ambiguity of emotions that surround friendships for young people. Her words are clear and concise as she gives us insights to the thoughts of Frederick as he considers his actions in his dealings with his friend Angel and her disappearance. This is a story told from a unique perspective and documents some interesting elements of the human condition.
http://tinyurl.com/y8xo3ky7
http://tinyurl.com/y8xo3ky7
March 5, 2018
I don't know what I think, to be honest.
I will get back to you...
-Z
I will get back to you...
-Z
July 17, 2018
A great book for young adults.
November 2, 2019
The story took a twist, which while good, felt like it was a last minute thought.
April 3, 2016
Actual Rating: 2.5*
I did like this one but I had a couple issues with it. I always have a hard time getting into books that use stream of consciousness to tell the story but this one wasn't too bad until we switched from Frederick's point of view to Angel's. One of the main problems for me was the scene were Frederick finds Angel was very confusing. I had to read it three times until I fully understood what was happening and even still I have some questions. It didn't flow the way the rest of the story did and was really jarring.
I did like that both characters had something they didn't want to tell and I liked being in Angel's mind as she tried to figure out if she should tell or keep it to herself. However, being in Angel's mind was very underwhelming after having been in Frederick's mind. She was very one dimensional and didn't really add a whole lot to the story once we were in her mind. She added more, in my opinion, when Frederick was trying to analyze her and her motives and emotions. Because I always understood Angel since she was fairly neurotypical compared to Frederick.
This was a really quick and easy read but it didn't feel like too much really happened. I feel like it could have had a bit better narrative while still telling the same story. Instead it felt a bit pieced together to create something that it wasn't. The plot wasn't anything special and was a little underdeveloped in my opinion. The real star of the show was Frederick but the rest of the story and characters didn't live up to what he brought to the page.
I still really enjoyed the characters and being in Frederick's mind, but this isn't a book you HAVE to pick up and read. It is just sort of meh to me.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I did like this one but I had a couple issues with it. I always have a hard time getting into books that use stream of consciousness to tell the story but this one wasn't too bad until we switched from Frederick's point of view to Angel's. One of the main problems for me was the scene were Frederick finds Angel was very confusing. I had to read it three times until I fully understood what was happening and even still I have some questions. It didn't flow the way the rest of the story did and was really jarring.
I did like that both characters had something they didn't want to tell and I liked being in Angel's mind as she tried to figure out if she should tell or keep it to herself. However, being in Angel's mind was very underwhelming after having been in Frederick's mind. She was very one dimensional and didn't really add a whole lot to the story once we were in her mind. She added more, in my opinion, when Frederick was trying to analyze her and her motives and emotions. Because I always understood Angel since she was fairly neurotypical compared to Frederick.
This was a really quick and easy read but it didn't feel like too much really happened. I feel like it could have had a bit better narrative while still telling the same story. Instead it felt a bit pieced together to create something that it wasn't. The plot wasn't anything special and was a little underdeveloped in my opinion. The real star of the show was Frederick but the rest of the story and characters didn't live up to what he brought to the page.
I still really enjoyed the characters and being in Frederick's mind, but this isn't a book you HAVE to pick up and read. It is just sort of meh to me.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
April 8, 2016
Frederick lives by a set of rules. Strict rules he's set for himself, like he won't respond if someone calls him “Freddy” and only wears button down shirts. Frederick is different, which makes him an easy target for bullies, but also leads to his friendship with Angel. Overweight and new at the school, Angel has bullies too, and finds refuge with Frederick and his odd, solitary existence. Angel is the complete opposite of Frederick. She's talkative, friendly, and a bit loud, but somehow he accepts her presence and she enjoys being around him. But when Angel makes a decision fueled by emotion, Frederick winds up at the police station for questioning. In the strange surroundings of the station, Frederick doesn't know how to react and replays Angel's words to him over and over, “Don't tell, don't tell, don't tell.”
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, written by Liane Shaw, is told from the perspective of Frederick for much of the novel. Eccentric, endearing and at times funny, readers will love Frederick and his quirky view of the world. Frederick has been diagnosed with autism and his perception of himself, and bullies or “The Despisers” as he calls them, makes for exceptional prose and insight into the motivations of others. His interactions with Angel are often comical, and he feels real and wonderful as a character. The book loses some of its momentum when the story is told from Angel's perspective for several chapters. Frederick is a much stronger character and his narrative will resonate with readers much more powerfully. This book will leave the reader thinking about their interactions with others, and perhaps make them more mindful of personality differences. This is a great read for teens, with limited profanity and mild sexual references.
Thank you to Net Galley for a reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Don't Tell, written by Liane Shaw, is told from the perspective of Frederick for much of the novel. Eccentric, endearing and at times funny, readers will love Frederick and his quirky view of the world. Frederick has been diagnosed with autism and his perception of himself, and bullies or “The Despisers” as he calls them, makes for exceptional prose and insight into the motivations of others. His interactions with Angel are often comical, and he feels real and wonderful as a character. The book loses some of its momentum when the story is told from Angel's perspective for several chapters. Frederick is a much stronger character and his narrative will resonate with readers much more powerfully. This book will leave the reader thinking about their interactions with others, and perhaps make them more mindful of personality differences. This is a great read for teens, with limited profanity and mild sexual references.
Thank you to Net Galley for a reading copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It felt a bit tired at first but I honestly chalk that up to the fact that I recently reread Jodi Picoult's "House Rules," which also focuses on a boy with Asperger Syndrome and his (female) friend who goes missing. If I hadn't, I think I wouldn't have thought twice about it.
I felt like it was relatively easy to follow Frederick's thought process early in the book; Liane Shaw's writing is effective in that regard. I also liked I found both characters to be endearing.
What I liked most, though, was I thought a handful of their conversations seemed heartfelt, but this one was the most touching.
I felt like it was relatively easy to follow Frederick's thought process early in the book; Liane Shaw's writing is effective in that regard. I also liked I found both characters to be endearing.
What I liked most, though, was I thought a handful of their conversations seemed heartfelt, but this one was the most touching.
May 20, 2016
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
For me, this book was just sort of forgettable. It hit on themes and character archetypes that have been done many other times, and there wasn't anything new or refreshing in this version. The plot was fairly straightforward, not predictable exactly, just not really all that engaging, either.
There's a dual narration that switches halfway through the book, which is kind of awkward. This was probably done in order to hide what is going on with Angel, letting us just see Frederick's perspective first in order to raise some questions. Then, we switch to Angel's perspective, letting us see the missing pieces from Frederick's account. It's not that it's badly written. The two narrative voices are unique enough from one another that it's not confusing. It's just kind of boring. The "big reveal" that Frederick is missing just isn't as provocative as the book seems to think it is.
The book comes across as preachy, also, which was a negative for me. It felt like a lecture about telling the truth when you're in trouble, not drinking alcohol, and being nice to people who are different from you. All of these are good messages for teenagers, of course, but it wasn't exactly nuanced.
Angel and Frederick's relationship is lovely. Even though both characters felt flat, their friendship does have some nice complication to it. I would have liked to have seen them with a more inventive plot.
For me, this book was just sort of forgettable. It hit on themes and character archetypes that have been done many other times, and there wasn't anything new or refreshing in this version. The plot was fairly straightforward, not predictable exactly, just not really all that engaging, either.
There's a dual narration that switches halfway through the book, which is kind of awkward. This was probably done in order to hide what is going on with Angel, letting us just see Frederick's perspective first in order to raise some questions. Then, we switch to Angel's perspective, letting us see the missing pieces from Frederick's account. It's not that it's badly written. The two narrative voices are unique enough from one another that it's not confusing. It's just kind of boring. The "big reveal" that Frederick is missing just isn't as provocative as the book seems to think it is.
The book comes across as preachy, also, which was a negative for me. It felt like a lecture about telling the truth when you're in trouble, not drinking alcohol, and being nice to people who are different from you. All of these are good messages for teenagers, of course, but it wasn't exactly nuanced.
Angel and Frederick's relationship is lovely. Even though both characters felt flat, their friendship does have some nice complication to it. I would have liked to have seen them with a more inventive plot.
November 30, 2016
Bit of an odd book. I liked that the main character was a male with Aspergers. The author gave him a voice to try to explain how he sees the world. Some of the phrases she used seem cliche, like when talking about eye contact and colors, but I appreciate the thought to have a main character with special needs.
I did not like when the book switched from Kal's point of view to Angel's. It was a disjointed switch and I missed seeing the events from his POV, especially after he got hurt.
The book was not very compelling. I kept reading it though I felt no compulsion to do so. My main goal was to finish it so I could start another book. It was enjoyable enough that I was definitely going to finish it. I considered not finishing, but I did want to see how it ended. Overall, eh. It was okay. (Yes, that ending is cliche.)
I did not like when the book switched from Kal's point of view to Angel's. It was a disjointed switch and I missed seeing the events from his POV, especially after he got hurt.
The book was not very compelling. I kept reading it though I felt no compulsion to do so. My main goal was to finish it so I could start another book. It was enjoyable enough that I was definitely going to finish it. I considered not finishing, but I did want to see how it ended. Overall, eh. It was okay. (Yes, that ending is cliche.)
March 13, 2016
The first half of this story is told from the perspective of Fredrick and most of the remainder of the book is told from the perspective of Angel. Fredrick, having Aspergers, doesn't like contact with the outside world. But Angel forces him to accept her into his world. When she tells him she's planning to run away to scare her parents and that he has to keep the plan a secret, Fredrick is uncomfortable but bound to keeping Angel's secret. After Angel is missing for a longer period of time than planned, Fredrick decides to search for her. The narrative works best when told through Fredrick's voice and seems more forced when told by Angel.
April 17, 2016
ARC provided by Second Story Press and Netgalley
This was a really great story about friendship and dealing with secrets. I especially enjoyed the first half of the book, as I felt that Frederick's voice was very genuine and interesting. It reminded me a lot of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
A great read, good pacing, I would highly recommend it.
This was a really great story about friendship and dealing with secrets. I especially enjoyed the first half of the book, as I felt that Frederick's voice was very genuine and interesting. It reminded me a lot of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
A great read, good pacing, I would highly recommend it.
September 4, 2016
Overall I did enjoy this book and will recommend it to my students. Especially the ones who are tried of the dystopia craze and love stories. I found there were strong points and really enjoyed the first half from Frederik's perspective. I did struggle with Angel's voice, even though I realize that students may be going through similar low-confidence struggles. I'm glad I've read it, but it's not my top pick.
July 19, 2016
An interesting read about someone with Asperger's. A decision to switch voices mid way seems to be unpopular with some readers but it seemed to me to be appropriate to the important discussions that made up the second half of the book. Recommended for use in middle and high schools.
July 16, 2016
I have an friend with a son who has Asperger's and Frederick was a dead ringer for him which made this book extremely enjoyable. While Angel was a very different character, she still added a great deal to the book and it was really nice to see someone like Frederick through her eyes.
did-not-finish
January 24, 2017I tried, but I just couldn't deal with the narrator, Frederick. There were too many tangents, too much stuff that I didn't care about and that probably didn't have any point. After five chapters of all that off-topic nonsense, I decided that this is a book that I won't be able to finish.
October 27, 2016
This story is well written BUT, it just didn't work for me. I failed to connect with the characters and simply was not compelled to read on. I read 50% of the book.
July 1, 2016
An important look at the complex issues surrounding Asperger's syndrome and also the issue of sexual consent. Well worth the read.
October 5, 2016
wasn't my favourite, but not terrible either.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews