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The Game
While in detox at a psychiatric treatment facility, fourteen-year-old Dani Webster befriends self-mutilating Scratch and homosexual Kevin as she works through her feelings for her family and her reasons for attempting suicide.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2003
7 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Toten
13 books210 followersMy earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write...
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 9, 2013
I literally read this book in about three-four hours. The. Entire. Book.. Oh my goodness, it was a fantastic read. At the beginning it's a little confusing and then it just grabs at you. If you like books that tug at your emotions, this book is definitely for you. At some point, you can relate to at least one character in this story. This was an amazing book and the author wrote it beautifully. Haven't read a book like this that could hold my attention! This is a MUST READ.
November 14, 2018
let me just say this book is getting five stars because I read it like freshmen year of high school and have spend years googling random shit to try and find it again and literally had to go to my local library catalogue and search the title to find it!!! I literally typed "The Game ya novel" into google to avail, i searched the game on goodreads to no avail, I typed the entire description of the book into google to try and find it. Thank god my library still has a copy of it. I can't believe under 200 people have read this book and I just happen to have been one of them!!! So yeah it gets five stars because I think about that twist ending a lot, and it really ruined all other twist endings for me because I can just guess them all now.
September 18, 2019
The Game Red Deer Press, 2005, 208 pp. $7.95
Teresa Toten ISBN o-88995-232-9
“Quit looking like that, Dani. I’m telling you that for all of these years, my mother thinks it was my fault. That has not changed.” Scratch slumped against the tree trunk. “That’s never going to change and I’m not putting myself in harm’s way again. I am not going back, and the thing is, Kevin isn’t either.” - The Game by Teresa Toten.
Dani is a brave, troubled teenage girl who loves to play “The Game” with her younger sister, Kelly. Dani cares a lot for Kelly. Kelly is a young, carefree and kind child. Dani misses Kelly a lot during her stay at Riverwood Clinic. Dani can no longer play “The Game” with Kelly due to the fact that they are now separated. “The Game” is a special game that Dani & Kelly would play everyday in the woods pretending to vanquish evil monsters while not getting caught by their father. Dani is staying in the Riverwood Clinic because her mother had left her and Kelly with their abusive father and Dani would often get overwhelmed and over-drink alcohol. Scratch is Dani’s roommate at Riverwood Clinic. Scratch is a bold, caring and cautious teenage girl. Scratch prepares Dani for her stay at the mysterious Riverwood Clinic. Scratch believes that Riverwood Clinic isn’t what it seems to be. Dr. Thurber, the youth therapist, tries to help Dani heal quickly. But Scratch believes that Dr. Thurber is only brainwashing Dani. Dr. Thurber establishes the “Little Group” which was created to help the youth at the Riverwood Clinic share their thoughts, issues and goals with each other.
The Game by Teresa Toten is a must-read. It is a short, strong, powerful story full of emotion, rage, wonder and trust. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys being absorbed into the book, relating to characters and reading surprises along the way. The way that Teressa Toten expresses Dani’s emotion through Dr. Thurber’s Little Group sessions are memorable, clear and full of hope for Dani as she pursues her way straight through the Riverwood Clinic.
Teresa Toten ISBN o-88995-232-9
“Quit looking like that, Dani. I’m telling you that for all of these years, my mother thinks it was my fault. That has not changed.” Scratch slumped against the tree trunk. “That’s never going to change and I’m not putting myself in harm’s way again. I am not going back, and the thing is, Kevin isn’t either.” - The Game by Teresa Toten.
Dani is a brave, troubled teenage girl who loves to play “The Game” with her younger sister, Kelly. Dani cares a lot for Kelly. Kelly is a young, carefree and kind child. Dani misses Kelly a lot during her stay at Riverwood Clinic. Dani can no longer play “The Game” with Kelly due to the fact that they are now separated. “The Game” is a special game that Dani & Kelly would play everyday in the woods pretending to vanquish evil monsters while not getting caught by their father. Dani is staying in the Riverwood Clinic because her mother had left her and Kelly with their abusive father and Dani would often get overwhelmed and over-drink alcohol. Scratch is Dani’s roommate at Riverwood Clinic. Scratch is a bold, caring and cautious teenage girl. Scratch prepares Dani for her stay at the mysterious Riverwood Clinic. Scratch believes that Riverwood Clinic isn’t what it seems to be. Dr. Thurber, the youth therapist, tries to help Dani heal quickly. But Scratch believes that Dr. Thurber is only brainwashing Dani. Dr. Thurber establishes the “Little Group” which was created to help the youth at the Riverwood Clinic share their thoughts, issues and goals with each other.
The Game by Teresa Toten is a must-read. It is a short, strong, powerful story full of emotion, rage, wonder and trust. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys being absorbed into the book, relating to characters and reading surprises along the way. The way that Teressa Toten expresses Dani’s emotion through Dr. Thurber’s Little Group sessions are memorable, clear and full of hope for Dani as she pursues her way straight through the Riverwood Clinic.
January 1, 2024
I was not sure what to expect from this book and I was pleasantly surprised with the read. A girl is put in an institution because of an apparent alcohol overdose. It is the story of her journey to healing and the friendships she makes along the way. The past hurts can make a lasting impression on our truths of the present. A poignant and relevant story of what happens to children and their interpretation of truth and how it affects their logic.
January 5, 2018
Such an emotional read. One of my all time favorites.
January 21, 2022
10/10. It is such a captivating story! I read it in one day.
May 25, 2022
this book made literally no sense. like the writing was just AWFUL. good perspective on mental health but i was lost the whole time
March 16, 2024
U know she was cute, a short lol story, nothing crazy but it flowed well and had a lil twist. Nothing special but not a bad story either
September 18, 2014
When 13 year old Dani ( Danielle) Webster finds herself waking up in a isolation room in the Riverwood Clinic, she doesn’t know why exactly she was there. She had been drinking and taking some drugs, but it isn’t like she did it on purpose to make herself pass out... Right?
Danni and her younger sister Kelly, 11 years old had a special game of their own that only Dani and Kelly could play. They created a world of their own, to escape what was happening at their
home. The game was always about quests where they were to Vanquish the evil and protecting each other from the evil imaginary people, Saraya and Yura. You see their father was abusive and their mother was afraid of her husband to do anything about it. Dani was the one that got the worst of it, and the game was the only place where she could stop what was happening and it gave her some feeling of control.
While at Riverwood, Danni tries with all of her might to deny or not accept the true reason why she took the drugs and drank so much. She wanted to leave Riverwood and go on, but Dr.Thurber knew what really needed she is too talk about what was really going on and that she was in complete denial too.
Dani had a roomate named Allison, who at first they both clashed and Dani thought that them rooming together was a big mistake. Allison liked to go by the name Scratch, which Dani soon finds out is because Scratch is a cutter. There is a boy there as well that Dani soon connects with named Kevin and they were their support group you could say for each other. Though they in there for different reasons, they really were there for each other.
Dani had group counciling with every which at first she found really hard to be real and open up to the group. All she wanted to do was to leave. Dr.Thurber explains to Dani that in order to leave, she has to feel better and in order to feel better she needs talk. It took quite some time, but Dani starts to let her guard down and she becomes real on how she is truly feeling inside.
When Dr. Thurber suggests to have Dani do some counciling with her mother, Dani fights him tooth and nail not wanting anything to do with it. Dani didnt want to show or feel anything, especially not in front of anyone. When Scratch talks to Dani and tells her if she was to just open up in group or with the Dr. that she would get out sooner. Dani decides it was time to start working on letting everything go.
As Dani starts to do her counsiling with the group she starts to be able to let her mom in more. Her Mom and her were never really, close but her mom wanted to change that. They were never a hugging type but her mom really wanted Dani to know just how sorry she was for what had happened. She wanted Dani to feel safe with her.
One day Danni wakes up to find that Scratch and Kevin escaped and no one knew where they had gone to. Of course Danni knew that they were planning this because they had asked her to leave with them, but she was shocked they actually did it. All she wanted and waited for was to hear from them in some way. They finally call her under a fake name to let her know they were good and wanted to know if she was going to join them. With the progress she has made with her mom, she thanked her but declines her offer, but tells her to keep in touch. That she was being released in a few weeks.
In the end Danis mom asks Dani if she could ever forgive her. Dani tells her that she cant even forgive herself right now or her, but she is going work on it.
I loved this book. It was sad, raw and real.
Danni and her younger sister Kelly, 11 years old had a special game of their own that only Dani and Kelly could play. They created a world of their own, to escape what was happening at their
home. The game was always about quests where they were to Vanquish the evil and protecting each other from the evil imaginary people, Saraya and Yura. You see their father was abusive and their mother was afraid of her husband to do anything about it. Dani was the one that got the worst of it, and the game was the only place where she could stop what was happening and it gave her some feeling of control.
While at Riverwood, Danni tries with all of her might to deny or not accept the true reason why she took the drugs and drank so much. She wanted to leave Riverwood and go on, but Dr.Thurber knew what really needed she is too talk about what was really going on and that she was in complete denial too.
Dani had a roomate named Allison, who at first they both clashed and Dani thought that them rooming together was a big mistake. Allison liked to go by the name Scratch, which Dani soon finds out is because Scratch is a cutter. There is a boy there as well that Dani soon connects with named Kevin and they were their support group you could say for each other. Though they in there for different reasons, they really were there for each other.
Dani had group counciling with every which at first she found really hard to be real and open up to the group. All she wanted to do was to leave. Dr.Thurber explains to Dani that in order to leave, she has to feel better and in order to feel better she needs talk. It took quite some time, but Dani starts to let her guard down and she becomes real on how she is truly feeling inside.
When Dr. Thurber suggests to have Dani do some counciling with her mother, Dani fights him tooth and nail not wanting anything to do with it. Dani didnt want to show or feel anything, especially not in front of anyone. When Scratch talks to Dani and tells her if she was to just open up in group or with the Dr. that she would get out sooner. Dani decides it was time to start working on letting everything go.
As Dani starts to do her counsiling with the group she starts to be able to let her mom in more. Her Mom and her were never really, close but her mom wanted to change that. They were never a hugging type but her mom really wanted Dani to know just how sorry she was for what had happened. She wanted Dani to feel safe with her.
One day Danni wakes up to find that Scratch and Kevin escaped and no one knew where they had gone to. Of course Danni knew that they were planning this because they had asked her to leave with them, but she was shocked they actually did it. All she wanted and waited for was to hear from them in some way. They finally call her under a fake name to let her know they were good and wanted to know if she was going to join them. With the progress she has made with her mom, she thanked her but declines her offer, but tells her to keep in touch. That she was being released in a few weeks.
In the end Danis mom asks Dani if she could ever forgive her. Dani tells her that she cant even forgive herself right now or her, but she is going work on it.
I loved this book. It was sad, raw and real.
July 17, 2014
What do children do when they are scared? The answer is they play games. Make a world of make believe and soon their problems are gone, replaced with princesses and kingdoms to be saved. The bully becomes a dragon, grades become task, and the sister becomes the princess. Yet when the game is over, and you have to go back inside, the problems are still there. The game becomes longer and more real, as each problem becomes harder to solve. Soon the children cannot see straight, of what is reality and what is the Game.
Dani Webster played the Game. The Game was what she and her little sister Kelly use to play, in the woods behind a cranky old man’s house. Too bad for Dani she has no memories of what the Game was, or the last time they played it. All Dani can remember is waking up alone in a blue room. Later she finds out her mother put her here. Here meaning the Riverwood youth Clinic, also known as the loony bin for teenagers. Dani soon gets out of isolation and into the daily routine of Riverwood, which includes going to classes, hanging out with her friend Kevin and her roommate Scratch, and go to group, one-on-one and family therapy sections. During these times Dani tries to remember what happen to Kelly and her in the last Game.
Teresa Toten took an unusual topic and twisted it into this fantastic story. It was a nominee for The Canada Council for the Arts Governor Generals’ Literary Award. The only issue I found with this book was it was very confusing. I did not understand the game, or the true meaning of it until halfway through the book. Even the beginning part would make readers stop as the first few chapters are extremely confusing. I urge you readers to read on though for soon during one of Dani’s one-on-one she blows up and explains the whole concept of the Game and all its characters . The book does explain everything in the end, leaving no cliff hangers. Even though I guessed what happened to Kelly in the beginning of the book, I did not like how the author used Scratch as the bad guy who made Dani remember what happen. The force of memories brought up bitter remembrance of how much Dani resented Kelly for being perfect, and how she had to bring on the role of protector to Kelly. Where Kelly was all light and pure, Dani was tainted and dark. Dani does get her happy ending, which well deserves after all the darkness she has to go through to get it.
Dani Webster played the Game. The Game was what she and her little sister Kelly use to play, in the woods behind a cranky old man’s house. Too bad for Dani she has no memories of what the Game was, or the last time they played it. All Dani can remember is waking up alone in a blue room. Later she finds out her mother put her here. Here meaning the Riverwood youth Clinic, also known as the loony bin for teenagers. Dani soon gets out of isolation and into the daily routine of Riverwood, which includes going to classes, hanging out with her friend Kevin and her roommate Scratch, and go to group, one-on-one and family therapy sections. During these times Dani tries to remember what happen to Kelly and her in the last Game.
Teresa Toten took an unusual topic and twisted it into this fantastic story. It was a nominee for The Canada Council for the Arts Governor Generals’ Literary Award. The only issue I found with this book was it was very confusing. I did not understand the game, or the true meaning of it until halfway through the book. Even the beginning part would make readers stop as the first few chapters are extremely confusing. I urge you readers to read on though for soon during one of Dani’s one-on-one she blows up and explains the whole concept of the Game and all its characters . The book does explain everything in the end, leaving no cliff hangers. Even though I guessed what happened to Kelly in the beginning of the book, I did not like how the author used Scratch as the bad guy who made Dani remember what happen. The force of memories brought up bitter remembrance of how much Dani resented Kelly for being perfect, and how she had to bring on the role of protector to Kelly. Where Kelly was all light and pure, Dani was tainted and dark. Dani does get her happy ending, which well deserves after all the darkness she has to go through to get it.
October 3, 2008
I just finished reading a book called “The Game” by Teresa Toten. This book is fiction and it’s about a teenage girl name Dani Webster who is challenge to change her life around while she is at the Riverwood Clinic, a psychiatric treatment facility for “teens with problem”.
Dani Webster had been playing the game with her sister, Kelly, for as long as she could remember. Her for and Kelly had been on a quest to vanquish evil. After a terrible incident that happened to Kelly Dani was left alone. She used to be responsible for Kelly, but she drank herself into a state of alcohol poisoning no once, but twice. That is why she is as sent to the clinic. While at the clinic she meets her roommate whose name is Allison, but like to be called Scratch, and Kevin who is gay and is Scratch’s best friend. At first Scratch didn’t get along with Dani, but as time went by scratch was one of he people who supported her the most with eliminating the game from her life forever.
The book was interesting because I was not just reading the book I was learning from it too.
My favorite character was Scratch because she supported Dani when she needed it the most; she was a really good friend.
At the beginning of the book I was kind of confused because I didn’t really know what was going on, I had a lot of questions but at the end all my questions where answered.
I think the author did a good job in descriptions and everything. Teresa Toten writes with depth, understanding and wisdom. The book didn’t really affected me but I can connect it to the world because these are issues that are actually happening in real life.
I would recommend this book to all kinds of teenagers because even if you are not going through any problems you can learn a lot from this book.
I can relate myself to Dani in some king of way when she was stuck and didn’t know what to do. That has happened to me to.
If you liked the book “Sun Kissed” you would like this book because it shows whom your real friends are who got your back through good and bad.
After all this book is absorbing and wonderful. I highly recommend it .its really a terrifically engaging book.
Dani Webster had been playing the game with her sister, Kelly, for as long as she could remember. Her for and Kelly had been on a quest to vanquish evil. After a terrible incident that happened to Kelly Dani was left alone. She used to be responsible for Kelly, but she drank herself into a state of alcohol poisoning no once, but twice. That is why she is as sent to the clinic. While at the clinic she meets her roommate whose name is Allison, but like to be called Scratch, and Kevin who is gay and is Scratch’s best friend. At first Scratch didn’t get along with Dani, but as time went by scratch was one of he people who supported her the most with eliminating the game from her life forever.
The book was interesting because I was not just reading the book I was learning from it too.
My favorite character was Scratch because she supported Dani when she needed it the most; she was a really good friend.
At the beginning of the book I was kind of confused because I didn’t really know what was going on, I had a lot of questions but at the end all my questions where answered.
I think the author did a good job in descriptions and everything. Teresa Toten writes with depth, understanding and wisdom. The book didn’t really affected me but I can connect it to the world because these are issues that are actually happening in real life.
I would recommend this book to all kinds of teenagers because even if you are not going through any problems you can learn a lot from this book.
I can relate myself to Dani in some king of way when she was stuck and didn’t know what to do. That has happened to me to.
If you liked the book “Sun Kissed” you would like this book because it shows whom your real friends are who got your back through good and bad.
After all this book is absorbing and wonderful. I highly recommend it .its really a terrifically engaging book.
June 27, 2012
Dani Webster played The Game with her sister, Kelly for as long as she could remember. She finds herself in a rehabilitation clinic and is slowly trying to find pieces of her memory of what happened after she drank vodka and pills. Slowly, Dani begins to realize parts of her life that she does not want to accept and soon pretty much kill her on the inside. Will she eliminate The Game from her life forever? Or will Dani live in it...for good?
Enjoyed it but it didn't meet me standards.
RATING COUNT:
The plot was in my opinion very genuine and simple. 1STAR
The character development was not really good in my opinion. 0.5STAR
The writing was kind of boring and at times not really capturing. 0.5STAR
And the ending was okay, but I do wish it was a clearer story with better details. (ex. story on Kelly. Maybe a flashback?) 1STAR
TOTAL: 3/5 Stars
Enjoyed it but it didn't meet me standards.
RATING COUNT:
The plot was in my opinion very genuine and simple. 1STAR
The character development was not really good in my opinion. 0.5STAR
The writing was kind of boring and at times not really capturing. 0.5STAR
And the ending was okay, but I do wish it was a clearer story with better details. (ex. story on Kelly. Maybe a flashback?) 1STAR
TOTAL: 3/5 Stars
July 18, 2008
Not a phenemonal book but a decent attempt at a look into a young girl who has to face the truth while locked up in a treatment facilty for kids. There are moments of quality in this book that don't last, but I read it in one setting and enjoyed some parts that I wish were expanded on. An adult version, perhaps. Still a good read...a 3.5.
January 7, 2010
I don't think this book should be classified as a YOUTH fiction book! I didn't really like the authors views about certain issues and how dysfunctional all the characters were! It was an interesting story but I figured stuff out way quicker than I was supposed too! I guess I'm just really smart! HA HA
June 11, 2010
Dani played The Game with her sister, Kelly, a secret quest to vanquish evil in an attempt to escape an aloof mom and a abusive father.
After abusing vodka and pills Dani is wakes up at Riverwood, a psychiatric treatment center for teens with problems. She slowly emerges dealing with betrayal, anger, guilt, confusion and dread.
After abusing vodka and pills Dani is wakes up at Riverwood, a psychiatric treatment center for teens with problems. She slowly emerges dealing with betrayal, anger, guilt, confusion and dread.
November 4, 2013
This book was completely engaging and I was drawn in to the world Toten created such that I had to finish reading Dani's story quickly. Intriguing twist at the end that I didn't see coming, and great characterization. Easy to see why this was a Governor General's finalist. Tough subject matter (abuse, mental illness, cutting, etc), but so deftly handled.
January 14, 2015
It's actually a favourite of mine since I first found it. It's a very easy read and I think it is a really good representation of mental illness - very easy to relate to characters.
June 6, 2023
Personal Note: Contains Offensive Language.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews