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Kicked Out
Dime is fifteen and angry all the time. Her parents don't like the way she dresses, her boyfriend, her attitude. Her older brother Darren was paralyzed in an accident she walked away from, and Dime is sure her parents wish she were the one in the wheelchair. When the fights and accusations finally become too much, Dime moves in with her brother. At first she is overjoyed with the change of scenery and lack of parental control. But when her troubles follow her she finds that maybe it isn't everyone else who is the problem, and realizes that she has to start taking some responsibility for her actions.
Also available in Spanish.
Also available in Spanish.
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
20 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Beth Goobie
30 books76 followersBeth Goobie is best known for her quirky and dark young adult novels. She's published several of them, beginning in 1994. Her novel Before Wings won the Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Book Award in 2000, and was chosen by young readers for the Best Books list of the American Library Association.Much of the turmoil in Goobie's life has been laid bare in two books for adult readers, Scars of Light, which is autobiographical poetry, and The Only-Good Heart, a book of short stories. Both are built on the theme of cults, abuse, and emotional torture. They were, she says, both therapeutic for herself and a warning to others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
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February 6, 2019To start off, the book is great, by far the best one I’ve read. The characters in the book kind of remind me of myself and my life in a way. It starts off by introducing Dime, a 15 year old girl, with a disabled older brother and 2 parents she wish didn’t want to control her life so much. He brother was in a car accident which took away all feeling in both of his legs, so he lived alone with an aid to help him do certain things he could not do on his own. Dime lived with her parents, she had dirty blonde hair, a nose ring, and listened to rock music, she was a rebel. Her parents were always on her case because her grades weren’t the best and she had her eyes on a “hunk” named Gabe, an 18 year old senior at her high school who drive a dirt bike around town, a guy they weren’t very fond of.
During the beginning of the book there are a series of incidents where Dime and her parents argue basically until they’re voices are gone it seems like, she never came home before curfew, to them she was careless in school and this leads to them practically kicking her out to go and live in her older brother, Darren. Of course, he’s open to this, he loves his little sister even though he knows she makes mistakes, he was once her age so he understands her more than her parents do. So she moves in and simultaneously the guy of her dreams offers a ride to school on his bike which she thought was so cool, in her eyes everything was falling together. Her brother would be asleep by the time she got home from bike rides with Gabe, and she even started paying more attention in school.
Everything seemed to be going perfect, until rumors in school started spreading that Gabe’s ex, the school bully, was setting up a fight between her and Dime, Dime started to be paranoid every day from that point forward. The fairytale lifestyle she thought she started to have quickly turned into a living nightmare and little did she know she was in for a load of life lessons in the coming weeks. Gabe kept reassuring her that nothing bad would happen to her, even though his sometimey behavior clearly showed different.
To sum it all up, Gabe stopped calling her one weekend, and the beginning of the next week, there was Gabe and his ex on his bike, making out. That same day she was shoved by her and instead of fighting back, she said that the ex could have him. That day she walked away feeling proud and no longer worried Gabe would lose interest in her, or worried that she would get a beat down by the ex.
She was about to turn 16 and after realizing she didn’t need a boy to feel good about herself her eyes started to open even more. She started to miss her parents, she began to think about how she knew her family wasn’t perfect but she could make it work if she really tried, the same way she fought against her heart to let go of Gabe the way she did. She gave them a ring and invited them over for dinner, they agreed to come over. After 2 hours of talking and talking and more talking, she felt like a million pounds had been lifted off her shoulder. She had turned 16, realized her self-worth and fixed her attitude for the better of her family and other around her. She was proud of herself.
During the beginning of the book there are a series of incidents where Dime and her parents argue basically until they’re voices are gone it seems like, she never came home before curfew, to them she was careless in school and this leads to them practically kicking her out to go and live in her older brother, Darren. Of course, he’s open to this, he loves his little sister even though he knows she makes mistakes, he was once her age so he understands her more than her parents do. So she moves in and simultaneously the guy of her dreams offers a ride to school on his bike which she thought was so cool, in her eyes everything was falling together. Her brother would be asleep by the time she got home from bike rides with Gabe, and she even started paying more attention in school.
Everything seemed to be going perfect, until rumors in school started spreading that Gabe’s ex, the school bully, was setting up a fight between her and Dime, Dime started to be paranoid every day from that point forward. The fairytale lifestyle she thought she started to have quickly turned into a living nightmare and little did she know she was in for a load of life lessons in the coming weeks. Gabe kept reassuring her that nothing bad would happen to her, even though his sometimey behavior clearly showed different.
To sum it all up, Gabe stopped calling her one weekend, and the beginning of the next week, there was Gabe and his ex on his bike, making out. That same day she was shoved by her and instead of fighting back, she said that the ex could have him. That day she walked away feeling proud and no longer worried Gabe would lose interest in her, or worried that she would get a beat down by the ex.
She was about to turn 16 and after realizing she didn’t need a boy to feel good about herself her eyes started to open even more. She started to miss her parents, she began to think about how she knew her family wasn’t perfect but she could make it work if she really tried, the same way she fought against her heart to let go of Gabe the way she did. She gave them a ring and invited them over for dinner, they agreed to come over. After 2 hours of talking and talking and more talking, she felt like a million pounds had been lifted off her shoulder. She had turned 16, realized her self-worth and fixed her attitude for the better of her family and other around her. She was proud of herself.
March 30, 2017
Dime: She’s a good person but sometimes she just wanted to make mad at his parents because she feels like they don't care about her, she’s also has like depression because she remember how he and her brother had an accident at his car
Dime’s parents they always wanted the best for her but they are scared of her of being a different person.
Darren: he's dime’s brother he is a good guy with his parents. He brings his sister to his apartment for she can help his parents she cause a lot of problems.
The book is about how Dime has her attitude and sometimes she acts like she does care about their parents but she realize how bad she was with them.
When realize how hard life is because her brother talks to her and that's how she realize her feelings.
I enjoy this book because some act like her and they gotta change because just because you say bad words that doesn't mean you're the most cool person because first of all you gotta respect your self for can other can respect you.
Dime’s parents they always wanted the best for her but they are scared of her of being a different person.
Darren: he's dime’s brother he is a good guy with his parents. He brings his sister to his apartment for she can help his parents she cause a lot of problems.
The book is about how Dime has her attitude and sometimes she acts like she does care about their parents but she realize how bad she was with them.
When realize how hard life is because her brother talks to her and that's how she realize her feelings.
I enjoy this book because some act like her and they gotta change because just because you say bad words that doesn't mean you're the most cool person because first of all you gotta respect your self for can other can respect you.
December 5, 2012
This book is about a girl that gets derespted. So she mooved out and stays with her older brother.Finelly releaed she loved her parents.
May 27, 2020
This book was sweet. The author made a wise decision in keeping the book short- it was a perfect length. Any longer and it would have felt dragged out. Here it flowed nicely.
I felt that the plot was somewhat predictable. At times, the author gave a little too much background and it didn't feel natural. Sometimes it felt as if Dime had too much insight into her own mind. Most people don't understand themselves that well, especially those that react in such unhealthy ways to the way they feel. Also Dime's overall change seems to have happened fairly quickly; that didn't feel very natural to me.
The cast of characters were multi-faceted, which is always something I love. Between Dime, Darren, their parents, Tiff, Gabe, and his ex, it made for a motley crew of people with hidden pain. It was fascinating to see how they each handled it. I like how profoundly vulnerable Dime was shown at various points. It made her behavior much more understandable.
I loved the ending, especially how Dime treats Gabe towards the end of the book.
It was a quick, sweet read.
I felt that the plot was somewhat predictable. At times, the author gave a little too much background and it didn't feel natural. Sometimes it felt as if Dime had too much insight into her own mind. Most people don't understand themselves that well, especially those that react in such unhealthy ways to the way they feel. Also Dime's overall change seems to have happened fairly quickly; that didn't feel very natural to me.
The cast of characters were multi-faceted, which is always something I love. Between Dime, Darren, their parents, Tiff, Gabe, and his ex, it made for a motley crew of people with hidden pain. It was fascinating to see how they each handled it. I like how profoundly vulnerable Dime was shown at various points. It made her behavior much more understandable.
I loved the ending, especially how Dime treats Gabe towards the end of the book.
It was a quick, sweet read.
May 30, 2018
This book shows us how important it is to have somebody feeding positive energy into you at all times. Dime most definitely was not an angel. However, the only thing she wanted to do was be loved and appreciated by her parents. Her parents always fed nothing but negativity into her life. So the love and appreciation she couldn’t find from her parents... She got it from a low life boyfriend named Gabe. After a stern talk with her brother, Dime finally found the right form of appreciation and love in herself. This new found love herself has caused her to be at peace finally.
April 2, 2020
Dime is an angry teenage girl. She constantly fights with her parents, as they do not approve of the way she looks, her boyfriend, her grades, or basically anything she does. She feels like she is a huge disappointment and should have been the one who was injured in a car accident, instead it was her brother Darren who broke his neck and ended up a quadriplegic.
Things come to a head with her parents and they send her to live with her brother. There things begin to change for Dime as Darren is a good influence on her. You will need to read the book to find out how though
Things come to a head with her parents and they send her to live with her brother. There things begin to change for Dime as Darren is a good influence on her. You will need to read the book to find out how though
January 11, 2018
What I thought about the book kicked out was that the book was good but it need more her family.The reason i said that is because they do really say a lot on why they make her go live with her brother . They just say that she needs to cook for him and that she can live with him because she act like she don't like living there. The only thing she don like about living there is that she can't see here boyfriend when ever she wants . Then be auguring about how she doesn't get to do anything but had bad grades .
November 16, 2020
I really like this book. This book was a very inspiring story about a teenage girl trying to get through her life and understanding everything. I recommend people to read this book because It really teaches you life lessons.
July 1, 2019
Short but sweet. I just wish the book was longer. This book is obviously aimed towards middle school aged readers but as an adult, I related to some of the topics brought up in this book.
February 28, 2023
I just didn't really get it, had a good plot i guess but it could have been way better.
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September 25, 2023This was a great book especially for reluctant readers. Its a thinner book, which often attracts reluctant readers. It dealt with emotions that many teens deal with.
March 11, 2009
The book "Kicked Out" had a great srong ending. She got herself back on track and finished her school year with out failing the tenth grade. She also stud up for herself agenst her ex-boyfriend Gage. She still likes him and thanks hes super hot but she also knows that hes not the one for her. Then her and her brother left on a vacatin on a motocyle.
Dimes mother and father is very opinated about everything she dose. They are always jugding her by what she wears, how she talks, and what she dont so instead of what she dose do. They never thank anything she dose is good enough. They are always destracted by things that she dose that are not good that they never give her credit for the things that are good.
A peace of information that i thought was interesting was how Dime felt about her brother and the car wreck. She feels like it should of happen to her instead of her brother. I think that she has a very caring heart when she wants to let it show.Dime is a great person.
One word I would use to describe this book would be burden. Dime faces alot of burdens in this book. Things that are always putting her down. Another word I would use is signifint. I think Dime is a very signifint person. The way she always finds her way around all the obsticale that always seem to appear at the worst time possible is very signifint. Surprising is another word I would use because I thought it was very surprising how she overcome all the feelings she had for Gage and stood up for herself in the end when he asked her back out. The final word I would use is horifing. The way she thinks about her mom yelling at her and it makes herso she can't think straight and always afraid of doing somthing wronge is very horifing to me.
Dimes mother and father is very opinated about everything she dose. They are always jugding her by what she wears, how she talks, and what she dont so instead of what she dose do. They never thank anything she dose is good enough. They are always destracted by things that she dose that are not good that they never give her credit for the things that are good.
A peace of information that i thought was interesting was how Dime felt about her brother and the car wreck. She feels like it should of happen to her instead of her brother. I think that she has a very caring heart when she wants to let it show.Dime is a great person.
One word I would use to describe this book would be burden. Dime faces alot of burdens in this book. Things that are always putting her down. Another word I would use is signifint. I think Dime is a very signifint person. The way she always finds her way around all the obsticale that always seem to appear at the worst time possible is very signifint. Surprising is another word I would use because I thought it was very surprising how she overcome all the feelings she had for Gage and stood up for herself in the end when he asked her back out. The final word I would use is horifing. The way she thinks about her mom yelling at her and it makes herso she can't think straight and always afraid of doing somthing wronge is very horifing to me.
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October 17, 2010Kicked out was definitely for someone looking for a quick read. This book is a realistic fiction about a teenage girl, Dime who doesn't fit in with her family. This book is by Beth Goobie. She does a great job of keeping you iterested while also telling a great story. I think that this books goes into the genre of realistic fiction because this story could be a real story. Kicked Out could relate to alomst all teenagers life in different ways.
Dime is failing all of her classes and her parents are have no faith in her. In my opinion this was an awesome story line because it starts out when Dime is basically not succeeding at anything. She always comes in late at night, school is not going well for her, she fights with her parents almost everyday and her parents think that she is a failure at life. Because of this realistic plot, I think that many teenagers would be interested in this book. Also I think that adults should read this too if they are having a hard time with their teenage daughter. This book can give then a different view point on different problems around the house.
In my opinion, I think that Goobie ends this book very well. Dime starts getting her grades up, she dumps her boyfriend that was quite a jerk and she is not afraid to be herself. It shows that once teenagers and their parents start getting along, it can really turn things around. I think that a good theme for this book, would be get along with your kids and they will listen and follow your rules. I would recommend this to everybody.
Dime is failing all of her classes and her parents are have no faith in her. In my opinion this was an awesome story line because it starts out when Dime is basically not succeeding at anything. She always comes in late at night, school is not going well for her, she fights with her parents almost everyday and her parents think that she is a failure at life. Because of this realistic plot, I think that many teenagers would be interested in this book. Also I think that adults should read this too if they are having a hard time with their teenage daughter. This book can give then a different view point on different problems around the house.
In my opinion, I think that Goobie ends this book very well. Dime starts getting her grades up, she dumps her boyfriend that was quite a jerk and she is not afraid to be herself. It shows that once teenagers and their parents start getting along, it can really turn things around. I think that a good theme for this book, would be get along with your kids and they will listen and follow your rules. I would recommend this to everybody.
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March 9, 2009The ending wasn’t that effective. I thought the ending was going to be a lot different then what it was. I thought they would say something like, my brother had thought me how to drive a motorcycle and then I brought a side car so he could come along. After I had bought it my brother and I went on a trip to get away from things.
Dime and Gabe were the most opinionated. Dime was the most because she wasn’t like her brother. He was all quiet and good, did his homework. Dime did the total opposite of what he did and her parents didn’t know how to handle her. Now Gabe was also opinionated because he liked dime and yet at the same time he liked his ex girlfriend. Dime and her parents don’t get along very well.
The pieces I found most interesting were that Gabe would leave dime and make her walk home. Dimes parents actually let her stay with her brother. The way dime talks to her parents is not cool. Tords the end of the book dime finally gets along with her parents. Then her and her parents go on a trip to some place. Dime and her parents don’t yell at each other as much as they did before.
Four words would be upsetting, because there are some parts were I wanted to just slap her. Loving, because she and Gabe are in love at some parts of the book. Tearful, because it’s sad how she feels guilty about what happened to her brother and how she wishes it was her instead of him. Hurtful, because they way Gabe treated her, she didn’t need to be treated like that.
Dime and Gabe were the most opinionated. Dime was the most because she wasn’t like her brother. He was all quiet and good, did his homework. Dime did the total opposite of what he did and her parents didn’t know how to handle her. Now Gabe was also opinionated because he liked dime and yet at the same time he liked his ex girlfriend. Dime and her parents don’t get along very well.
The pieces I found most interesting were that Gabe would leave dime and make her walk home. Dimes parents actually let her stay with her brother. The way dime talks to her parents is not cool. Tords the end of the book dime finally gets along with her parents. Then her and her parents go on a trip to some place. Dime and her parents don’t yell at each other as much as they did before.
Four words would be upsetting, because there are some parts were I wanted to just slap her. Loving, because she and Gabe are in love at some parts of the book. Tearful, because it’s sad how she feels guilty about what happened to her brother and how she wishes it was her instead of him. Hurtful, because they way Gabe treated her, she didn’t need to be treated like that.
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March 10, 2009 KICKED OUT
Kicked Out is a really good book. The parts that made me like this book are when she talks about her life problems. I also liked how she kept you wanting to read more. In one of the chapters she would put what problem she was having. Then the next chapter she would say what the solution was. My favorite part was when she stood up to her boyfriend and broke up with him.
I didn’t understand the part when Dime talks about how she wanted to get hurt in the accident instead of her brother. She blamed it all on her self. It wasn’t even a little bit of her fault. Dime thinks everybody loves her brother instead of her. She wanted self to get hurt so people would love and like her as well.
The part when Dime blamed everything on her self was the most realistic part about the entire book. Everybody does that once in a while. When someone feels left alone they make him self feel wanted. When someone did something wrong, she always blamed it all on her. It was always Dimes fault. Dime was a nice girl. She was always caring to everybody.
I decided to read Kicked Out because I liked the look of the cover. I also read the back of the book and it sounded interesting. When I read the first page it went on to the fifth. I couldn’t stop reading it. It kept me attached. I loved this book so much. I think there should be a sequel.
Kicked Out is a really good book. The parts that made me like this book are when she talks about her life problems. I also liked how she kept you wanting to read more. In one of the chapters she would put what problem she was having. Then the next chapter she would say what the solution was. My favorite part was when she stood up to her boyfriend and broke up with him.
I didn’t understand the part when Dime talks about how she wanted to get hurt in the accident instead of her brother. She blamed it all on her self. It wasn’t even a little bit of her fault. Dime thinks everybody loves her brother instead of her. She wanted self to get hurt so people would love and like her as well.
The part when Dime blamed everything on her self was the most realistic part about the entire book. Everybody does that once in a while. When someone feels left alone they make him self feel wanted. When someone did something wrong, she always blamed it all on her. It was always Dimes fault. Dime was a nice girl. She was always caring to everybody.
I decided to read Kicked Out because I liked the look of the cover. I also read the back of the book and it sounded interesting. When I read the first page it went on to the fifth. I couldn’t stop reading it. It kept me attached. I loved this book so much. I think there should be a sequel.
December 7, 2017
(2010) This is a useful book for discussing teen-parent conflict, physical disabilities, anxiety attacks, and romantic relationships. This book uses a lower reading level, so it is accessible to a wide range of students. It is never explicit, but caution should be used when using it in the classroom, because it includes a lot of content that could be controversial.
January 10, 2014
"Their house, not mine. For a moment, my eyes burned, and I thought I was about to cry. Then I got it under control. I slid a smile over my mouth and looked him straight in the eye..........Make me, I said softly." A teenager by the name of Dime is trying to escape a world of unhappiness. Dime is an average teenager with a nasty attitude. She feels that her mother and father are embarrassed of her because all they want from her is to be just like her brother. Dime is a fearful girl trying to outrun the horror of her brother's accident. Her parents are fed up with her to the point where they are ready for her to move out. In Dime's mind that was great news.............or was it...?
In my opinion this book was wavy. One minute I liked it and one minute I didnt. Never the less, the tone was expressed very well in this book. It also gives you a good visual of whats going on. All around I think this book was not that bad. It could use some improvement like all other books but its a pretty good read.
In my opinion this book was wavy. One minute I liked it and one minute I didnt. Never the less, the tone was expressed very well in this book. It also gives you a good visual of whats going on. All around I think this book was not that bad. It could use some improvement like all other books but its a pretty good read.
October 15, 2013
Can you imagine your parents and the rest of your family thinking of you as worthless and a disappointment, well that is how fifth-teen year old Dime feels all the time. Her parents don't approve and thing about her from her boyfriend to her clothes. Dime feels as if life couldn't be any worse as she struggles with her paralyzed brother and having to be another thing he has to worry about, because she moved out of her mom and dads house to live with him. Also Dime has to find a way to put all the holes in her relationship with her parents.
I enjoyed this book it is always cool for me to jump into to a different world and try to think about what I would do if I was her. In my opinion this was a great realistic-fiction book by Beth Goobie. I would suggest this book to some one at a middle school age or older.
I enjoyed this book it is always cool for me to jump into to a different world and try to think about what I would do if I was her. In my opinion this was a great realistic-fiction book by Beth Goobie. I would suggest this book to some one at a middle school age or older.
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March 9, 2016Kicked out book review
Dime’s parents didn't like anything about her daughter. That's why she’s always sad because her parents didn't love her so she decided to move with her brother. Dime's parents agreed that she can live with her older brother Darren who is a paraplegic from an accident. Although she first equates living with Darren. Darren treats her as an adult and she cares too much for him to selfishly ignore the responsibilities she agreed to including cooking.When they fight accusations finally become too much for Dime so she moves in with her brother. At first she is overjoyed with the change of scenery and lack of parental control. But when her troubles follow her she finds that maybe it isn't everyone else who is the problem and realizes that she has to start taking some responsibility for her actions.
Dime’s parents didn't like anything about her daughter. That's why she’s always sad because her parents didn't love her so she decided to move with her brother. Dime's parents agreed that she can live with her older brother Darren who is a paraplegic from an accident. Although she first equates living with Darren. Darren treats her as an adult and she cares too much for him to selfishly ignore the responsibilities she agreed to including cooking.When they fight accusations finally become too much for Dime so she moves in with her brother. At first she is overjoyed with the change of scenery and lack of parental control. But when her troubles follow her she finds that maybe it isn't everyone else who is the problem and realizes that she has to start taking some responsibility for her actions.
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November 17, 2010It seemed kind of like a social issues book about a every day teenager.It's about a teen that goes through many hardships in life and more.Dime has a boyfriend that doesn't seem to be a good influence and she doesn't get along well with her parents.She moves in with her brother and things kind of change for her.Her brother Darren is a good influence and ever since she moved out,she improved and made better life styles.At the end I liked how she stood up to her ex boyfriend and just did it.It was very brave of her to do that.
December 7, 2011
A book that is a fairly easy read but containing problems that teens will relate to is often difficult to find. I enjoyed this book and really connected with the characters. I found the ending to be rather cheezy, but I still recommend this book to teenagers who struggle with their reading.
Reading Strategies: This book has fairly simple language, but that doesn't mean that the problems that "Dime" is facing are not complex. Make sure you take time to make inferences so that you get the full story, not just the words.
Reading Strategies: This book has fairly simple language, but that doesn't mean that the problems that "Dime" is facing are not complex. Make sure you take time to make inferences so that you get the full story, not just the words.
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July 7, 2009KICKED OUT is qood book.this book showed me that qettiinq off in the wronq foot with ur pareents is a bad start .I culd really relate is really similar to thinqs that my mom be teliinq meh .two thinqs i remeber in the book that made me realise alott of things was when she was on the date and her mom and dad fliped (happen to me before) i recomnde this book to everybody excep mery cause she read with me because it show u how important is to have a good realationship with ur parents.
October 1, 2012
This book was a very inspiring story about a teenage girl trying to get through her life and understanding everything. She was a rebel towards her parents in the beginning, but living with her brother made her realize that they only wnated the best for her. They were just concerned that she wasn't making the most of her life. In the end, she changed her attitude, dumped her nasty boyfriend, and created a better realtionship with her parents.
June 3, 2008
This wasn't the best book I've read, but it was pretty ok. I couldn't relate to it too much and that's probably the reason I didn't enjoy it too much. Even though I couldn't fully understand how the character felt, I really think this book was insperational and I learned quite a bit from it.
December 3, 2013
It a great book it is about a girl that life is crazy. She gets in trouble alot for being out after curfew or her attiude.So, her parents thinks it would be best to let her live with her parlized brother so, she can help take care of him. And maybe he can help her get her life on the right track.
September 29, 2015
This was honestly a good book. one of the fews that I actually finish reading. I like how they showed the way she was acting and how she changed over the time when she got to spend more time with her bgrother. I liked this book alot
July 15, 2008
good book
November 21, 2008
it was aight
January 29, 2009
this girl she gets kicked out her mother house b/c she was disrespecting her mother and every one else she was skippin school and etc.......
February 5, 2009
i learned that you always have to be nice to your family and dont think that just beacause you are older dosnt mean you cant have a cerfew
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