What do you think?
Rate this book
Downtown
Book by Mazer, Norma Fox
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
Library Binding
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Norma Fox Mazer
59 books108 followersNorma Fox Mazer was an American author and teacher, best known for her books for children and young adults.
She was born in New York City but grew up in Glens Falls, New York, with parents Michael and Jean Garlan Fox. Mazer graduated from Glens Falls High School, then went to Antioch College, where she met Harry Mazer, whom she married in 1950; they have four children, one of whom, Anne Mazer, is also a writer. She also studied at Syracuse University.
New York Times Book Review contributor Ruth I. Gordon wrote that Mazer "has the skill to reveal the human qualities in both ordinary and extraordinary situations as young people mature....it would be a shame to limit their reading to young people, since they can show an adult reader much about the sometimes painful rite of adolescent passage into adulthood."
Among the honors Mazer earned for her writing were a National Book Award nomination in 1973, an American Library Association Notable Book citation in 1976, inclusion on the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year list in 1976, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1978, an Edgar Award in 1982, German Children's Literature prizes in 1982 and 1989, and a Newbery Medal in 1988.
Mazer taught in the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program at Vermont College.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/norma-fo...
She was born in New York City but grew up in Glens Falls, New York, with parents Michael and Jean Garlan Fox. Mazer graduated from Glens Falls High School, then went to Antioch College, where she met Harry Mazer, whom she married in 1950; they have four children, one of whom, Anne Mazer, is also a writer. She also studied at Syracuse University.
New York Times Book Review contributor Ruth I. Gordon wrote that Mazer "has the skill to reveal the human qualities in both ordinary and extraordinary situations as young people mature....it would be a shame to limit their reading to young people, since they can show an adult reader much about the sometimes painful rite of adolescent passage into adulthood."
Among the honors Mazer earned for her writing were a National Book Award nomination in 1973, an American Library Association Notable Book citation in 1976, inclusion on the New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year list in 1976, the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1978, an Edgar Award in 1982, German Children's Literature prizes in 1982 and 1989, and a Newbery Medal in 1988.
Mazer taught in the Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program at Vermont College.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/norma-fo...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 22, 2009
This book was interesting because Pete/Pax, was living a double life. He had a hard time and it was cool to know how he handeled it. I thought the characters were also interesting. I learned that he had to tell someone, because otherwise it seems like you are faking who you really are. I sometimes got mad though, because he lied a lot.
October 19, 2011
See my review on my book blog: http://quirkyreader.livejournal.com/1...
July 21, 2021
The first page was a red flag. I read on a couple chapters and decided this was not worth my time; swearing, and lewd subject matter. Into the garbage it went.
April 15, 2013
I bought this on the recommendation of a girl who promised me that it wasn't the teen romance that it was packaged as. It turns out that she was right this was kind of a non-musically gifted "Running on Empty."
The story revolves mostly around a 16 year old guy who calls himself Pete Greenwood. He was originally named Pax Martin Gandhi Conners by his parents Laura and Hal Conners but they've been fugitives from the law for the past eight years following a protest bombing gone wrong. Little eight year old Pax was dropped off with his unmarried uncle and now eight years later Pete Greenwood is facing all the usual teenaged angst with double side helpings of paranoia and guilt and abandonment issues.
While I enjoy an angst wallow as much as the next guy, I would have enjoyed this more if some of the issues had been a bit more resolved or if there was some more readily apparent character growth. Still, its a quick read. If this title crosses your path perhaps you should read it and judge for yourself.
The story revolves mostly around a 16 year old guy who calls himself Pete Greenwood. He was originally named Pax Martin Gandhi Conners by his parents Laura and Hal Conners but they've been fugitives from the law for the past eight years following a protest bombing gone wrong. Little eight year old Pax was dropped off with his unmarried uncle and now eight years later Pete Greenwood is facing all the usual teenaged angst with double side helpings of paranoia and guilt and abandonment issues.
While I enjoy an angst wallow as much as the next guy, I would have enjoyed this more if some of the issues had been a bit more resolved or if there was some more readily apparent character growth. Still, its a quick read. If this title crosses your path perhaps you should read it and judge for yourself.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews