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Crooked
Clara Wilson has a lot on her mind. Her best friend, Gerri, has started moving in circles that will never in a million years include Clara and her crooked nose. Clara's parents are fighting again, and her mom keeps talking about teaching in France. At least Clara still has Hambone, her loyal dog. And her crush on Amos McKenzie, of course.
Amos McKenzie doesn't much like home these days. His dad's corny questions are bugging him more than usual, and his mom's gone religious for no apparent reason. On top of that, he's starting to fall for a major dink, Clara Wilson. And as it turns out, he's not the only one...
The Tripp Brothers are the biggest delinquents in town. They smash mailboxes, shoplift groceries, and cruise around in their Seduck (half sedan, half truck). They've just turned their sights on the school's newest, cutest couple. And that can only mean one thing for Clara and Amos: danger.
Clara and Amos--their lives turned upside down by each other, their families, and the two meanest brothers in town--discover that honesty may be the answer...but it can be awfully hard to find. In this emotionally compelling and suspenseful young adult novel, Laura and Tom McNeal present a searingly accurate look at life in ninth grade--where thrills, heartbreak, and intimidation can take place at a locker, in the lunchroom, or in a bathroom stall.
From the Hardcover edition.
Amos McKenzie doesn't much like home these days. His dad's corny questions are bugging him more than usual, and his mom's gone religious for no apparent reason. On top of that, he's starting to fall for a major dink, Clara Wilson. And as it turns out, he's not the only one...
The Tripp Brothers are the biggest delinquents in town. They smash mailboxes, shoplift groceries, and cruise around in their Seduck (half sedan, half truck). They've just turned their sights on the school's newest, cutest couple. And that can only mean one thing for Clara and Amos: danger.
Clara and Amos--their lives turned upside down by each other, their families, and the two meanest brothers in town--discover that honesty may be the answer...but it can be awfully hard to find. In this emotionally compelling and suspenseful young adult novel, Laura and Tom McNeal present a searingly accurate look at life in ninth grade--where thrills, heartbreak, and intimidation can take place at a locker, in the lunchroom, or in a bathroom stall.
From the Hardcover edition.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
29 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Laura McNeal
15 books325 followersLiving since 1983 (the year I first read Thomas Hardy) in the haunted mansion of Victorian literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
March 25, 2015
I picked this book off of Ms. Falkner's shelf one day because I forgot my free reading book and it turned out to be very good. The story follows two characters named Clary and Amos who share very similar problems. 1) Both of their parents are hiding something and 2) they have become targets of the two meanest kids in town- the Tripp brothers. This story follows Amos and Clary as they work together to evade the Tripps and support each other as their parents' secrets are revealed. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick and easy read.
May 30, 2007
I found this at a discount book store and picked it up because of the cover. I was surprised to find that I really liked this book. But, I read it so long ago that I can't remember what I like about it.
December 12, 2023
Hm
For a random book I chose,
it wasn't too bad.
I was curious and hesitant in the beginning...
no idea what to expect.
I wish they mentioned milk more.
Also.
The brothers are actually psychopaths. Literally.
And that was a bit terrifying.
Good ending, considering.
Too good?
I don't know.
For a random book I chose,
it wasn't too bad.
I was curious and hesitant in the beginning...
no idea what to expect.
I wish they mentioned milk more.
Also.
The brothers are actually psychopaths. Literally.
And that was a bit terrifying.
Good ending, considering.
Too good?
I don't know.
September 18, 2019
I hadn’t read a Laura and Tom McNeal book in quite a while. I saw Crooked while browsing, read the sample, then bought the book. And then it was consumed in one night. I had forgotten that these authors do not play safe, don’t hesitate to put their characters in unbearable situations.
Tension, tension, tension….. this from a book that is about the ordinary in life: no magical powers, no rich uncles, no alternate universes, no super powers. And yet they created more suspense in this plausible, normal world than so many YA books. It is a simple story of attractions and questions found in so many lives, particularly teenagers.
Evil is evil, for the most part. But there is the attraction to evil, even hoping that it is only perceived as evil, not so in itself. Characters change, but not that much. Still, you have empathy for those characters. And yes it is the story that pulls you forward.
If you like YA and are not averse to tension, then read this. Four stars!
Tension, tension, tension….. this from a book that is about the ordinary in life: no magical powers, no rich uncles, no alternate universes, no super powers. And yet they created more suspense in this plausible, normal world than so many YA books. It is a simple story of attractions and questions found in so many lives, particularly teenagers.
Evil is evil, for the most part. But there is the attraction to evil, even hoping that it is only perceived as evil, not so in itself. Characters change, but not that much. Still, you have empathy for those characters. And yes it is the story that pulls you forward.
If you like YA and are not averse to tension, then read this. Four stars!
July 21, 2022
Listen, I’ve been looking for this book for YEARS and finally found it again (all I could remember was a vague idea about the plot, that the cover was black and red and white, and had a title like Twisted or Zipped or Turned). Yesterday, my internet sleuthing led me to the right answer, and I am so glad it did. As soon as I saw that tilted milk bottle, I knew.
The first time I read Crooked was in middle school (roughly 2008) and the story stuck in my head permanently. I never forgot the climax. Ever. And now, upon rereading, I know why.
I wish I would have remembered more about Clara and Amos and Ham and Crook, about the emotional rollercoaster trapped within Crooked’s pages, and I wish I remembered how it felt to read this story for the very first time…
But I got to read it for the second time ever.
And the wait was so worth it.
The first time I read Crooked was in middle school (roughly 2008) and the story stuck in my head permanently. I never forgot the climax. Ever. And now, upon rereading, I know why.
I wish I would have remembered more about Clara and Amos and Ham and Crook, about the emotional rollercoaster trapped within Crooked’s pages, and I wish I remembered how it felt to read this story for the very first time…
But I got to read it for the second time ever.
And the wait was so worth it.
February 11, 2015
The book was interesting in a way. I did find Clara to be super annoying though & it made it seem as if Amos' father had like some deep dark secret but really he just had cancer. I'm not really sure when I just stopped kind of enjoying and just wanted to finish it. It was a decent read. Nothing really excited happened or popped out for me.
November 21, 2014
Some kids might like the two points-of-view--one a guy's, one a girl's--but some might have preferred just one POV in a shorter book. Does help to have rare guy's POV of romance.
July 20, 2008
Um, I read this book twice because I didn't remember reading it the first time. I read it the entire way through without realizing I'd read it before.
November 22, 2016
why read anything other than YA fiction?
January 15, 2013
It continues to amaze me that books by these incredibly talented authors are so hard to find in bookstores and libraries. Crooked, an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, captures with startling verisimilitude the voices of the young people who populate this story set in a small town in upstate New York.
Clara and Amos, the fourteen-year-old protagonists, are sweet and shy, full of hormones and angst, and achingly believable. Similarly, the cruel girls in their class are as convincingly frightening and dangerous with their verbal and psychological abuse as are the malicious town misfits, Charles and Eddie Tripp, with their physical abuse.
This story of two nice kids who are targeted basically for being two nice kids is told so well you can actually feel the fear and bewilderment of Clara and Amos, and you can’t help but hurt for them as school becomes a place to dread, rather than a place to learn. And as if this weren’t enough, both Clara and Amos suffer significant upheavals in their family lives. Apprehension over what will happen to them and how they will cope with it increases as the story progresses.
Discussion: Clara and Amos are confused; they’re not always “cool”; and they don’t always do the right thing. But they are both decent and good-hearted kids, and manage to make the best out of some pretty badly drawn cards. In different ways, they slowly transcend the hurts, and ascend the awkward coming-of-age ladder. By virtue of their grace and goodness, they discover inner strength, courage, the ability to forgive others and themselves, and a recognition that value is sometimes lying just beneath the surface.
Evaluation: Crooked brought me back to the awful cruelty of junior high with flashback-like realism. There are some very tense moments in the book, but there is also a pervasive sweetness, which thankfully remains the dominant emotional strain of this close-up look at life in a small-town junior high. Parents will find this book provides an excellent opportunity to discuss a variety of issues that unfortunately come into play at the junior high stage.
Rating: 3.5/5
Spoilery Note (for Parents): There is a scene of almost-sexual-abuse, and while the fact that it didn’t get carried out was probably the least realistic part of the story, I was very happy and relieved nevertheless!
Clara and Amos, the fourteen-year-old protagonists, are sweet and shy, full of hormones and angst, and achingly believable. Similarly, the cruel girls in their class are as convincingly frightening and dangerous with their verbal and psychological abuse as are the malicious town misfits, Charles and Eddie Tripp, with their physical abuse.
This story of two nice kids who are targeted basically for being two nice kids is told so well you can actually feel the fear and bewilderment of Clara and Amos, and you can’t help but hurt for them as school becomes a place to dread, rather than a place to learn. And as if this weren’t enough, both Clara and Amos suffer significant upheavals in their family lives. Apprehension over what will happen to them and how they will cope with it increases as the story progresses.
Discussion: Clara and Amos are confused; they’re not always “cool”; and they don’t always do the right thing. But they are both decent and good-hearted kids, and manage to make the best out of some pretty badly drawn cards. In different ways, they slowly transcend the hurts, and ascend the awkward coming-of-age ladder. By virtue of their grace and goodness, they discover inner strength, courage, the ability to forgive others and themselves, and a recognition that value is sometimes lying just beneath the surface.
Evaluation: Crooked brought me back to the awful cruelty of junior high with flashback-like realism. There are some very tense moments in the book, but there is also a pervasive sweetness, which thankfully remains the dominant emotional strain of this close-up look at life in a small-town junior high. Parents will find this book provides an excellent opportunity to discuss a variety of issues that unfortunately come into play at the junior high stage.
Rating: 3.5/5
Spoilery Note (for Parents): There is a scene of almost-sexual-abuse, and while the fact that it didn’t get carried out was probably the least realistic part of the story, I was very happy and relieved nevertheless!
November 7, 2007
Very good teen fiction, with an interesting mix of family drama and scary thug thriller. Great characters, with all the details of school friendships and family dynamics done right. I loved how smart and tough Clara was. She didn't try to be friends with Gerri anymore after the mocking phone call, she stood up for herself when she was alone with Eddie, the tough guy, and later at the big climax, even when she was paralyzed with fear, she kept thinking instead of giving up. I wish Amos, her counterpart, had stood up for himself as well.
I hate it when an animal is introduced in a thriller like this, because you know immediately that it's a goner. If you have an aversion to that kind of plot point, avoid this story.
I hate it when an animal is introduced in a thriller like this, because you know immediately that it's a goner. If you have an aversion to that kind of plot point, avoid this story.
May 20, 2008
This was a really good book because it had a surprising outcome. The book is written in two different perspectives, a girl named clara and a boy named amos. It switches back and forth about every other chapter, and really helps you understand the book more by doing this. Amos's dad dies in the middle of the book, which makes the book a bit sadder and creepier. Generally the idea is that you shouldn't worry about someone's appearance or judge then unfairly because they might turn out to be really nice people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2008
A wonderful book about a complicated crush and even more complicated events to follow. this book held my attention from beggining to end and ultimatley (?) satisfied my hunger for a good book that was mystery/teenage drama/ who knows?.
i highly reccomend it.
i highly reccomend it.
July 8, 2007
I liked it, but not as much as Crushed. The McNeals seem to have a formula: sweet-but-not-hip-main character, misunderstood boy, thugs, betrayal, missing parents.
July 12, 2008
This book was good from what I remember, but it wasn't as powerful as I had hoped for... =(
April 12, 2009
What can I say? Boring.
October 1, 2014
This is an excellent read for young adults! But you don't have to be a young adult to enjoy it. Books like this are what I considered to be classics on how to grow up.
June 27, 2023
As part of the long, long process of removing childhood items from my parents' house, I took a small collection of YA books I remember being special to me. Some of these I'd even repurchased. Crooked was one of these. I have distinct memories of a Very Cool Girl in my class reading it and being spellbound by its cover. I know I read it but remember exactly one plot detail. So why I thought it was good enough to buy and keep I don't remember.
Re-reading it, I was surprised to find that really liked it, even more than I expected. One of my problems with some of the more current YA books I've read (and "current" is a weird way to put it because I definitely felt that listening to 2003's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things) is that they can feel obnoxiously didactic and sometimes the plots can feel pat and ring with the "I learned something today." In this book, there's a little more ambiguity and darkness throughout and the plot arcs often resolve in an unresolved way that I appreciated. The Tripp brothers genuinely skeeved me out.
Even though I found some of the dialogue a little on the corny side (are there teenagers who swear as little as these characters?) and the ending felt a bit rushed, I am surprised by how much I got into the story and read the book (a print book!) through pretty quickly, which is a struggle I've been having with all the other books I've been trying to read lately, print or audio.
Re-reading it, I was surprised to find that really liked it, even more than I expected. One of my problems with some of the more current YA books I've read (and "current" is a weird way to put it because I definitely felt that listening to 2003's The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things) is that they can feel obnoxiously didactic and sometimes the plots can feel pat and ring with the "I learned something today." In this book, there's a little more ambiguity and darkness throughout and the plot arcs often resolve in an unresolved way that I appreciated. The Tripp brothers genuinely skeeved me out.
Even though I found some of the dialogue a little on the corny side (are there teenagers who swear as little as these characters?) and the ending felt a bit rushed, I am surprised by how much I got into the story and read the book (a print book!) through pretty quickly, which is a struggle I've been having with all the other books I've been trying to read lately, print or audio.
April 2, 2020
So good! A great story of Amos, the milkman's son and reluctant hero, and Clara, who's mother has gone to Spain. I decided to reread this, since I really didn't remember anything about it, except that I loved it.
Amos, our boy, is the son of a wonderful man who tragically dies of something no one ever really explains. Clara, who's nose is crooked, has a discontented mother who finally takes off to teach in Spain, and a father who starts dating another woman immediately.
In Grade 9, both kids become entangled with the pure-bad Tripp brothers... Clara, when she sees them steal from the grocery store, and Amos when he inadvertently interrupts them while they
re vandalizing a neighbour's house, and then gets beaten up by them. Eddie Tripp becomes entranced by Clara, alternately charming and seducing her, and then terrorizing her.
A wonderful sad and thrilling book, and even better than I remembered.
Amos, our boy, is the son of a wonderful man who tragically dies of something no one ever really explains. Clara, who's nose is crooked, has a discontented mother who finally takes off to teach in Spain, and a father who starts dating another woman immediately.
In Grade 9, both kids become entangled with the pure-bad Tripp brothers... Clara, when she sees them steal from the grocery store, and Amos when he inadvertently interrupts them while they
re vandalizing a neighbour's house, and then gets beaten up by them. Eddie Tripp becomes entranced by Clara, alternately charming and seducing her, and then terrorizing her.
A wonderful sad and thrilling book, and even better than I remembered.
October 11, 2021
I found this book on my daughter’s bookshelf, one she read back in high school, and decided to read it. I actually enjoyed the story, even though it is Young Adult genre. I usually read most of the books she read just to see what she was reading but had missed this one. The author deals well with many themes and characters. The book covers so many real life situations as experienced by teens, (relationships, bullies, divorce, death of a parent) and does it very well and realistically. The author does not cover up reality and includes experiences that are real, but does not become so graphic since it is YA genre. I would recommend.
March 31, 2019
I liked the way that this story had the two varying YA perspectives and it really grasped growing up in a very real way. The characters are flawed, but very admirable in many ways and the story unfolds very smoothly with everything coming together. Clara and Amos are foils of each other and it is a very interesting relationship that they develop. Definitely a good coming of age story.
June 6, 2019
found this at a thrift store for ten cents, it was paper back and smelled old, not something that would call my attention! but it did and this is one of those don't judge a book by its cover books because the story it told was rather entertaining! I was rooting for Clara and Amos the whole time and the Tripp brothers were just plain out creepy characters. it was a fun read!!
January 3, 2020
This was one of my favorite books in high school and so I decided to reread it to see if it held up after 10 years. I would probably rate it 3.5-4 now but because of the nostalgia I have to give it a 5.
May 30, 2024
This book surprised me a lot it had a lot of plot twists and I really enjoyed how it put in prospective that both men and woman can be taken advantage of and how it shows even if ur insecure you can still find happiness
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2017
I read this book a while ago and although I have grown since then I am still a fan.
July 10, 2017
Read this when I was younger but I remember liking it and being on the edge of my seat reading the ending!
October 16, 2017
This book was a good quick read. It was entertaining to read, but won't stand out to me after a week or two.
November 8, 2017
Extremely frightening and uncomfortable. Clara is a champ.
February 21, 2018
Recently I just finished "Crooked" by Laura McNeal. My thoughts on the book is surprising. Through out the book I had gotten a mystery thriller vibe to the book, which is a different vibe from what I usually read. I thought that this book carried out well and I enjoyed it a lot with all its twists and turns.
*Spoiler Alert*
One part that surprised me was that the older Tripp bother was very abusive not just to everyone else but to the people that was close to him. I was also surprised that the younger Tripp brother didn't do much else to help Clara when his older brother was about to cause her harm.
*Spoiler Alert*
One part that surprised me was that the older Tripp bother was very abusive not just to everyone else but to the people that was close to him. I was also surprised that the younger Tripp brother didn't do much else to help Clara when his older brother was about to cause her harm.
May 3, 2018
Crooked was a very well-written book that always kept me interested. I would definitely recommend reading it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews