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Bad
Inspired by the author's work in a girls' rehabilitation center.
Ray called it skating when we did the crazy things . . . Hot-wiring a fancy car for a joyride after midnight. Boosting stuff from stores . . .
Sixteen-year-old Dallas loves the rush, the excitement of "skating." But then she and her friends decide to rob a convenience store and it's Dallas who gets caught while the others get away. Since it is her first offense, she thinks her father will help her out - but when the judge says she can go home on probation her father says no, he can't control her. So the judge gives Dallas six months in the Girls' Rehabilitation Center. Once there, Dallas meets an assortment of "bad" girls, many of whom don't expect to change, and those who do often don't make it. How Dallas comes to terms with herself - both the bad and the good - makes for a heartfelt and insightful novel about troubled teenagers and the odds they face in trying to turn their lives around.
Ray called it skating when we did the crazy things . . . Hot-wiring a fancy car for a joyride after midnight. Boosting stuff from stores . . .
Sixteen-year-old Dallas loves the rush, the excitement of "skating." But then she and her friends decide to rob a convenience store and it's Dallas who gets caught while the others get away. Since it is her first offense, she thinks her father will help her out - but when the judge says she can go home on probation her father says no, he can't control her. So the judge gives Dallas six months in the Girls' Rehabilitation Center. Once there, Dallas meets an assortment of "bad" girls, many of whom don't expect to change, and those who do often don't make it. How Dallas comes to terms with herself - both the bad and the good - makes for a heartfelt and insightful novel about troubled teenagers and the odds they face in trying to turn their lives around.
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 1999
46 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Jean Ferris
29 books208 followersThis author is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects: living with a deaf parent (Of Sound Mind), facing the consequences of a criminal act (Bad), or questioning one's sexuality (Eight Seconds). But Jean Ferris is also adept at writing comedy, historical fiction, and romance. What's most interesting is that she didn't publish her first novel until she was in her mid-40s. Yet she's never forgotten the intense feelings and changes of her own teenage years. Critics as well as teen readers have seen the evidence of that in her writing and have honored her novels with a number of awards, from Best Books for Young Adults to various state and National Book Award nominations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
March 11, 2015
The book “Bad” by Jean Ferris is a story about a young girl named Dallas who gets into some trouble with the law, and gets sent into a rehabilitation center for girls. When she gets there she starts to get to know the other girls and even realizes that she’s like them too. To me, this book was a 4 out of 5. I liked the plot and it kept me interested the whole time. I especially liked the part where she has class with the other girls and she gets to know them. I also liked the part where the two girls jump the security guard in the shower. To me, overall it was a good book. The only part I didn’t like about this book was the relationship between Dallas and her father. I feel like people in my age group (16-17) would really like this. Due to the fact that it’s told from a teenagers point of view, the reader might be able to connect with the main character, Dallas. I also like this book because it’s different from other books since it didn’t end the way one would expect it to end. I recommend this book to anybody in my age group.
May 29, 2015
This book is about a troublesome teenage girl named Dallas. She and her friends were going to rob a store and she was caught and sent to a girl rehabilitation center of GRC. Dallas and he father got into a fight and she is pretty much on her own after he brings her stuff.
I rate this book four stars because it has a lot of twists and turns along with there is always suspense because in the rehab center not too many people are friendly. I would recommend this book to teenagers girls because it is about a teenage girl who made some mistakes. You need to have a little maturity for this book so I recommended teenagers.
I think Dallas’s views on life changed a little bit because she did not use as much common sense in the beginning of the book as in the end. In the end of the book she listens to people more and does not swear as much. She also shies away from her troublesome friends and makes new ones like Shatasia that she met in the rehab center.
I rate this book four stars because it has a lot of twists and turns along with there is always suspense because in the rehab center not too many people are friendly. I would recommend this book to teenagers girls because it is about a teenage girl who made some mistakes. You need to have a little maturity for this book so I recommended teenagers.
I think Dallas’s views on life changed a little bit because she did not use as much common sense in the beginning of the book as in the end. In the end of the book she listens to people more and does not swear as much. She also shies away from her troublesome friends and makes new ones like Shatasia that she met in the rehab center.
December 22, 2015
Sixteen-year-old Dallas feels fated to screw up. With a mother who lived too fast and died too soon, and a father obsessed with keeping Dallas on a short leash, she doesn't know who she is or where she belongs. She naively craves the excitement she finds in petty crime but is soon in over her head.
It's only when she lands in a Girl's Rehabilitation Center that she starts thinking about life more seriously... and learning about it from her fellow inmates. The world, it turns out, is even more complicated and hard to cope with than she already thought.
The messages are a little heavy-handed at times, but there are no easy answers here. I appreciate that the author didn't sugar-coat the characters-- they are hard girls with hard lives, but they are also more than cautionary tales. The book puts a very human face on juvenile delinquency and the circumstances that drive people to do reckless things.
It's only when she lands in a Girl's Rehabilitation Center that she starts thinking about life more seriously... and learning about it from her fellow inmates. The world, it turns out, is even more complicated and hard to cope with than she already thought.
The messages are a little heavy-handed at times, but there are no easy answers here. I appreciate that the author didn't sugar-coat the characters-- they are hard girls with hard lives, but they are also more than cautionary tales. The book puts a very human face on juvenile delinquency and the circumstances that drive people to do reckless things.
January 12, 2016
Pretty good book. Hated the ending, it just... ends.
March 11, 2015
The book Bad is a great story that shows people that domestic violence is not good and it should never be done to anyone else.The book shows that there will always be a punishment for everything that you do bad. For example a girl named Dallas goes to a recreation center with all of the other bad people. The book mainly talks about the girl named Dalles. Her mom died when she is only about four years old, now she is sixteen and she is an only child. The book is good all around except for the ending.This book is really good because it shows a lot of good points in the entire story. The book shows things like how Dalles does has different feelings throughout the entire story. Mostly throughout the beginning of the story she is mostly bad then as the story progresses she begins to change.She starts to be nice.One other thing in the story is that Dalles can be a hothead as she is kind.She has a best friend that goes out with her ex boyfriend. That is one of the reasons that she is not so nice. The book Bad is a good story that I would recommend to almost anybody.
February 25, 2018
I can't believe that the author of Love Among the Walnuts and Once Upon a Marigold could have written such a plain downer of a book. Dallas's dad is one of the most depressing characters I've met in a book.
Read
February 16, 2016this was definitely a good book. although there could have been a little more action.
February 16, 2016
Not my Favorite book, only because when i read a book I want to be able to relate to it. This book i cannot relate to going to GRC and drugs and prison.
October 21, 2019
I have really enjoyed reading this book. Bad is not a very popular book, but I really enjoyed the insider perspective of what goes on in the lives of those we only see as juvenile delinquents and criminals. Bad gives us a way to relate to them and the struggle that they go through to change which is something that we all struggle with.
The book is based on the stories and backgrounds of girls from GCR that Ferris personally interviewed. One of my favorite paragraphs is “ and what good would that do? More stealing, more intimidating, more threatening would bring me, what? Some good times, Some kicks, a bunch of stuff I probably didn’t even want, and, eventually, some more time locked up, I couldn’t doubt that. But I didn’t know how to be anyone different” (Ferris 177). One reason why I like this paragraph is that it gives us a way to compare something that they struggle with something that we all struggle with which is finding who we are away from our unhealthy habits.
The theme I feel throughout the book is that change can be difficult but it can be for the better. A quote that I feel really projects the theme is “ You know anybody who hasn’t yielded to temptation? For some people taking another piece of German chocolate cake feels as big a sin as sticking up a Jiffy-Spot might to you!” She gave me a sideways look “ It’s all in what you get used to doing. Habits are a big part of criminal life, and habits are hard to break” (Ferris 140). In this quote, Ferris did a very good job of telling us in detail the decisions that the girls at GCR had to make when it came to changing their behavior not only while they were there but in the long run as well.
We all struggle with change and breaking unhealthy habits and Bad does a great job of showing this. Ferris gives us the insider's point of view on what bad habits can lead to. Though the main character Dallas may not undergo as much change as some of the other characters Ferris still uses her to show how change can affect you and those around and how the choice not to change can affect you as well. I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely suggest reading it especially at a young age.
The book is based on the stories and backgrounds of girls from GCR that Ferris personally interviewed. One of my favorite paragraphs is “ and what good would that do? More stealing, more intimidating, more threatening would bring me, what? Some good times, Some kicks, a bunch of stuff I probably didn’t even want, and, eventually, some more time locked up, I couldn’t doubt that. But I didn’t know how to be anyone different” (Ferris 177). One reason why I like this paragraph is that it gives us a way to compare something that they struggle with something that we all struggle with which is finding who we are away from our unhealthy habits.
The theme I feel throughout the book is that change can be difficult but it can be for the better. A quote that I feel really projects the theme is “ You know anybody who hasn’t yielded to temptation? For some people taking another piece of German chocolate cake feels as big a sin as sticking up a Jiffy-Spot might to you!” She gave me a sideways look “ It’s all in what you get used to doing. Habits are a big part of criminal life, and habits are hard to break” (Ferris 140). In this quote, Ferris did a very good job of telling us in detail the decisions that the girls at GCR had to make when it came to changing their behavior not only while they were there but in the long run as well.
We all struggle with change and breaking unhealthy habits and Bad does a great job of showing this. Ferris gives us the insider's point of view on what bad habits can lead to. Though the main character Dallas may not undergo as much change as some of the other characters Ferris still uses her to show how change can affect you and those around and how the choice not to change can affect you as well. I really enjoyed reading this book and would definitely suggest reading it especially at a young age.
September 25, 2017
Bad, A short novel by Jean Ferris that is filled with learning, and 16 year old girl named Dallas is trying to fit in, and find her place in society. But you have to remember that not everyone is really your “friend”.
The main story is about a girl that has had trouble with following the rules. It doesn't help that she has a bad boyfriend named Ray. Ray, Dallas, and Pam were about to rob a “jiffy spot”.And the honor of holding the gun was given to Dallas.
The characters in “Bad” all had a reason there where not just to make space. Each and every one of them helps our main character Dallas. They are relatable and you might even see yourself in a couple of them i know i did. Not only will you relate to the characters your emotions will hang with them. Because you do not only want to see Dallas succeeded, but also everyone else in the girls home too. In this book it is told from the morning of the day she robbed the store, forward there is no skipping back and forth which makes it much more simple. I’m happy that the suther did this because then it would just be to hard to follow. And i like the way that the characters develop in this style .
So in conclusion “Bad” by Jean Ferris is a story for readers that are ready to really connect with everyone in the story, and truly feels what they feel as they try to figure out who there are.
February 15, 2019
The book "Bad" is about a girl named Dallas who gets 6 months in the Girls' Rehabilitation Center for holding a convenience store at gunpoint with a few other friends but it's Dallas the one who goes down for it. Her father refuses to take her home on probation so Dallas ends up rooming with one of the girls at the Girls' Rehabilitation Center (GCR). The girls she meets aren't like anyone else she's ever met and Dallas finds herself learning their stories and befriending her roommate. Throughout her time at GCR, she learns a lot about herself, others, and comes to terms with who she is and who she'll never be no matter how many times her father reminds her. I really enjoyed this book because it was told in the teenager's perspective so I could relate to what she felt at times and it was intriguing reading the thoughts of someone like Dallas. "So what if leaving town, leaving the state, even leaving the country was a probation violation? What did I care? Why did I have to go where somebody else told me to? What was there to hold me here?" this was a part of Dallas's thoughts that I liked how the author wrote because it's thoughts that most 16-17-year-olds would have. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who's trying to change themselves.
October 16, 2018
I remember reading this book my freshman year and I completely enjoyed it. It's about a young 16-year-old girl named Dallas who decides to rob a convenience store with some of her friends and ends up getting caught, while the others got away from it. Since she had gotten caught, and her father as well refused the judge’s offer to take her home on parole, she was then sent to a Girls’ Rehabilitation Center for six months. As a 16-year-old myself, this book demonstrates how different people can be and how the influence of others can reflect on your actions. Overall, this book was a great book and would recommend anyone who is interested into crime and drama books to definitely read it.
December 16, 2018
This was a quick, easy read. It would definitely benefit young girls that might not have the best living conditions or upbringing and to let them know they're not alone. I liked how the ending was left open because life can be unpredictable and it's not always clear what will happen. Definitely worth the read.
June 19, 2017
This book was a good example of what a struggling life looks like. Dallas had the death of her mother, abusive relationship, and a dad that ¨does not care for her¨ Dallas goes into jail, and meets different roomates, she learns the different struggles of life and becomes a better person.
July 16, 2018
funny
September 8, 2019
I like this book
April 29, 2023
Reread. Enjoyed as a teenager, still enjoyed as an adult.
March 14, 2024
Felt very real and satisfying
November 2, 2018
The book “Bad” by Jean Ferris is about a teenager named “Dallas” who loved skating. She would hang out with a group of friends who weren’t really good influence for her. Her friends encouraged her to rob a convenience store, she had never done this before and was scared. Her friends promised to stay together but when they heard the police’s sirens they left Dallas inside the store alone. Dallas was sent to a rehabilitation center for girls only because her dad didn’t want to take her back home. The relationship between Dallas and her father was already not good between both of them and when he left her in the rehab center he only took her some of her things. I would definitely recommend this book, I read it my freshman year and I wouldn’t want to stop reading it. Some people might be able to relate to the main character, Dallas. From this book I learned that some “friends” will influence you to do things and say they’ll be with you but you shouldn’t trust those who influence you to do bad.
October 31, 2013
The book "Bad" by Jean Ferris is based on a young girl named Dallas who lived with her father since her mother died when she was small. Since she her and her father don't have a good relationship she wpuld spend her time ditching school, stealing, and being with her boyfriend. But one day she got caught up with her friends or the people she thought were her friends robbing a kwik mart. Andthe person who got in trouble was her and her friends left her there, without even helping her.
The book takes place in GCR which is the rehab where Dallas spent six months paying for her consequences. And her house were she would spend her furloughs with her dad watching movies and not talking. The conflict of the story is Dallas being locked up because it wasn't her fault and she had to deal with all the drama outside and inside The main characters of the story are Dallas, Shatasia, and Dallas's dad. Shatasia was Dallas's roommate in GCR. They went through of lot of drama with the other girls but they got closer and closer while being together in GCR until Shatasia was released and was sent to a group home.
I haven't finished the book but so far I like it. What I would change about it was for the author to also put the point of view of the characters outside of GCR. Since there was many characters outside and to see how they would react.
I would read another book fron this author because I like the book and what its based on. Since its based on real life situations. Like Dallas being in
jail because of her friends since it was their fault.
I would recommend this book to a friend because its a really good book so far. Its bases on real life situations in which everyone can relate to and could happen to anyone. People can learn from it. I would say the theme would be learn from your mistakes because Dallas got in trouble for something she didn't know of she was at the wrong place wrong time with the wrong people. And since she went to the rehab she learned new things.
The book takes place in GCR which is the rehab where Dallas spent six months paying for her consequences. And her house were she would spend her furloughs with her dad watching movies and not talking. The conflict of the story is Dallas being locked up because it wasn't her fault and she had to deal with all the drama outside and inside The main characters of the story are Dallas, Shatasia, and Dallas's dad. Shatasia was Dallas's roommate in GCR. They went through of lot of drama with the other girls but they got closer and closer while being together in GCR until Shatasia was released and was sent to a group home.
I haven't finished the book but so far I like it. What I would change about it was for the author to also put the point of view of the characters outside of GCR. Since there was many characters outside and to see how they would react.
I would read another book fron this author because I like the book and what its based on. Since its based on real life situations. Like Dallas being in
jail because of her friends since it was their fault.
I would recommend this book to a friend because its a really good book so far. Its bases on real life situations in which everyone can relate to and could happen to anyone. People can learn from it. I would say the theme would be learn from your mistakes because Dallas got in trouble for something she didn't know of she was at the wrong place wrong time with the wrong people. And since she went to the rehab she learned new things.
May 19, 2013
I choose the book “Bad” written by Jean Ferris for the reason that I always saw it at the library but never actually thought I would like it but one day I just picked it up and I am glad that I did. This novel is about a teenage girl named Dallas who is spending some time behind bars for making a bad decision with her so called “friends”. She and her friends robbed a shop and she was the one who held the gun and though her friends got away she did not. While behind bars she meets other girls who had more serious problems than her but Dallas’s roommate was the person who told Dallas that the only way to resist going back to her old life was to think about what was really important to her. Fortunately, in the end of the novel Dallas soon got out of GRC (the place where she was put for rehab) and instead of going home, where her relationship with her father was not going too well, she decided to arrange a new place to live until she was eighteen. Dallas also decided that this new place would be a good way to restart her new life. My favorite quote in this story was “I was going traveling and I needed to know the way.” Dallas said this as she was getting ready to leave GRC and go to her new home. In my opinion, Dallas is basically saying how she is going to be starting a new phase of her life and she will need to learn the way around it. The author wrote this story in first person point-of-view of Dallas. I really liked her writing style because it actually made me think of what I would do if I were in her shoes. It also gives me an insight of what Dallas is really thinking about what she did to get her behind bars and what she thinks about the people around her. I would recommend this book to any young adult readers who like to read about troubled teens and their experiences. Overall it was a very nicely written book that I really enjoyed reading and I have recommended it to most of my friends.
November 20, 2013
“Bad” by Jean Ferris
“Change”, despite you thinking nothing is wrong, doesn’t mean you’re right. This book follows the journey of a teenage girl named Dallas. She is a trouble teen who lives with her father. Dallas thinks that her dad is overbearing and too strict, however he is just looking out for her. Dallas mother Dixie Lee had passed away when she was very young. Dallas believes she would have gotten along with her better. Dallas hangs out with her friends including her boyfriend Ray. They perform numerous law breaking activities that they call “skating”. One night things take a turn for the worst for Dallas. Her friends pressure her into robbing a gas station. Things go sour and her friends flee the scene, leaving Dallas facing armed robbery. She gets sentenced to six months in an all girls rehab center after her father denies he wants custody of her while she's on probation because he believes it'll do no good, she resents him for this.. She gets roomed up with a girl named Shatasia, they become close. Shatasias sentence ends early than Dallas’ leaving her without any close friends until her sentence is up. While Dallas change her ways when she is released? Will she go back to her father? The main character is Dallas and Shatasia. Some of the best moments in the book are the robbery and when the girls have to go to counseling. those moments are some what uplifting and relatable for being fiction. This book could be read by any audience, however I believe that teeangers and young adults would enjoy this book much more. This book has a good meaningful storyline. Although there is not many exciting moments with purpose. It is basically a narration of a girl in rehab. This book gets three stars out of five.
“Change”, despite you thinking nothing is wrong, doesn’t mean you’re right. This book follows the journey of a teenage girl named Dallas. She is a trouble teen who lives with her father. Dallas thinks that her dad is overbearing and too strict, however he is just looking out for her. Dallas mother Dixie Lee had passed away when she was very young. Dallas believes she would have gotten along with her better. Dallas hangs out with her friends including her boyfriend Ray. They perform numerous law breaking activities that they call “skating”. One night things take a turn for the worst for Dallas. Her friends pressure her into robbing a gas station. Things go sour and her friends flee the scene, leaving Dallas facing armed robbery. She gets sentenced to six months in an all girls rehab center after her father denies he wants custody of her while she's on probation because he believes it'll do no good, she resents him for this.. She gets roomed up with a girl named Shatasia, they become close. Shatasias sentence ends early than Dallas’ leaving her without any close friends until her sentence is up. While Dallas change her ways when she is released? Will she go back to her father? The main character is Dallas and Shatasia. Some of the best moments in the book are the robbery and when the girls have to go to counseling. those moments are some what uplifting and relatable for being fiction. This book could be read by any audience, however I believe that teeangers and young adults would enjoy this book much more. This book has a good meaningful storyline. Although there is not many exciting moments with purpose. It is basically a narration of a girl in rehab. This book gets three stars out of five.
March 12, 2019
The book I read is called “Bad” by Jean Ferris. A sixteen year old girl called Dallas isn’t living her best life. Her mom wasn’t a very good example to her and her dad only wanted what was best for her. Dallas thinks that her dad is trying to throw her life away by interfering in what she want to do. Her friends aren’t the best examples and her boyfriend isn’t so friendly. Her boyfriend Ray would do bad things and called it “skating.” It was late night and Dallas is very excited about “skating”, they decided to rob a convenience store and Dallas is the one who gets caught. She thought her dad would help her out, since it was her first time getting in trouble. The judge said that Dallas could go home on probation but her father said, “no.” He thinks that he can’t control her and will just end up doing worst. She ends up going to girls rehabilitation for six months.
Her boyfriend only visit her around two times. Whenever she would try to call he would make an excuse and hang up. Later on she finds out her best friend and her boyfriend are dating. She was angry and very frustrated. She started behaving good so they let her go out with her father on the weekends. She sneaks out and goes to Ray’s house just to see her best friend and him together.
She starts doing better and is thinking about changing her ways. One of the friends she made in rehabilitation is released and is able to go home. But she was scared she was going to do bad and that she would lose her daughter. Will Dallas have be a better person when she goes out, or will she just be the same girl? I highly recommend this book, I don’t like reading but I really enjoyed this book. I really like how its very specific about everything.
Her boyfriend only visit her around two times. Whenever she would try to call he would make an excuse and hang up. Later on she finds out her best friend and her boyfriend are dating. She was angry and very frustrated. She started behaving good so they let her go out with her father on the weekends. She sneaks out and goes to Ray’s house just to see her best friend and him together.
She starts doing better and is thinking about changing her ways. One of the friends she made in rehabilitation is released and is able to go home. But she was scared she was going to do bad and that she would lose her daughter. Will Dallas have be a better person when she goes out, or will she just be the same girl? I highly recommend this book, I don’t like reading but I really enjoyed this book. I really like how its very specific about everything.
March 11, 2015
Bad by Jean Ferris
The book “Bad” by author Jean Ferris is a story that every reader should look for, a story that will have you wanting to read over and over again , it is a kind of story that makes you think about what you want to do in your life and what you have already done, whether or not they were the best decision to make. The story depicts a girl by the name of Dallas and the decisions that she has made throughout her life hasn't been the greatest , her mother left her and her father at a young age and her and her father's relationship isn't the best because Dallas’s father fears that she will end up the same way that her mother was defiant and reckless which unfortunately she already has. Dallas hangout with the wrong group of people and the do this thing that they call “skating” which is basically in their words to cause crime such as shoplifting and a majority of other things.Eventually Dallas gets peer pressured into doing a crime which she knows is wrong and causes her to get arrest ,the judge makes bail for Dallas but her father demands she be put somewhere other than home which ends up landing her in a girl rehabilitation center where she meets a group of other girls who have lived rough lives and made crimes and all together they try to understand that things can be better than what they are you just have to believe in yourself. If you like a good book that will reopen your eyes to the things in this world whether good or bad i recommend that you read this book.
The book “Bad” by author Jean Ferris is a story that every reader should look for, a story that will have you wanting to read over and over again , it is a kind of story that makes you think about what you want to do in your life and what you have already done, whether or not they were the best decision to make. The story depicts a girl by the name of Dallas and the decisions that she has made throughout her life hasn't been the greatest , her mother left her and her father at a young age and her and her father's relationship isn't the best because Dallas’s father fears that she will end up the same way that her mother was defiant and reckless which unfortunately she already has. Dallas hangout with the wrong group of people and the do this thing that they call “skating” which is basically in their words to cause crime such as shoplifting and a majority of other things.Eventually Dallas gets peer pressured into doing a crime which she knows is wrong and causes her to get arrest ,the judge makes bail for Dallas but her father demands she be put somewhere other than home which ends up landing her in a girl rehabilitation center where she meets a group of other girls who have lived rough lives and made crimes and all together they try to understand that things can be better than what they are you just have to believe in yourself. If you like a good book that will reopen your eyes to the things in this world whether good or bad i recommend that you read this book.
March 12, 2008
Dear good reads readers,
February 20, 2008
This book is about a girl named Dallas. Her mom had died in a car crash with the neighbor when Dallas was only four years old well now she is six-teen years old. She is an only chilled, she is the type of person that just wants to have fun and that is tried of following her dad’s rules. Her best friend is Pam and her boyfriend is Ray, but of coerce Dallas’s dad did not approve of him. Dallas is sentenced to six months in the Girl’s Rehabilitation Center when her father refused the judge’s offer to take her home on parole. She held up a convenience store at gunpoint, the ultimate episode in a pretty-crime spree she is undertaken when she is with her manipulative boyfriend.
To me this book is a 10 because it shows how peer pressure can miss up ones life and there family in this matter. It is also a ten because went I was reading it I could not stop or put the book down. One of the parts that I think that I would always remember is the part were her boyfriend and her are in the car just before they went in to the store “he put his hand on my thigh…he said we decide that you should have the gun…I started and Ray gripped my leg harder.” To me this is very remember able because when you have a boyfriend he shouldn’t make you do something that you don’t want to be doing or hearting you like that. To me the them of the book is that you should be your self and to try not to fall in to peer pressure.
Love
Amber Vandervort
February 20, 2008
This book is about a girl named Dallas. Her mom had died in a car crash with the neighbor when Dallas was only four years old well now she is six-teen years old. She is an only chilled, she is the type of person that just wants to have fun and that is tried of following her dad’s rules. Her best friend is Pam and her boyfriend is Ray, but of coerce Dallas’s dad did not approve of him. Dallas is sentenced to six months in the Girl’s Rehabilitation Center when her father refused the judge’s offer to take her home on parole. She held up a convenience store at gunpoint, the ultimate episode in a pretty-crime spree she is undertaken when she is with her manipulative boyfriend.
To me this book is a 10 because it shows how peer pressure can miss up ones life and there family in this matter. It is also a ten because went I was reading it I could not stop or put the book down. One of the parts that I think that I would always remember is the part were her boyfriend and her are in the car just before they went in to the store “he put his hand on my thigh…he said we decide that you should have the gun…I started and Ray gripped my leg harder.” To me this is very remember able because when you have a boyfriend he shouldn’t make you do something that you don’t want to be doing or hearting you like that. To me the them of the book is that you should be your self and to try not to fall in to peer pressure.
Love
Amber Vandervort
March 11, 2015
Bad by Jean Ferris is all about a misguided 16 year old teenage girl named Dallas, who causes herself to get into a various amount of mischief with her manipulative boyfriend Ray which she calls “skating”. It all catches up to her one night when her peers pressure her into robbing a grocery store with a gun. Her friends end up bailing on her and never speaking to her again with the exception of Ray coming to visit her while she’s in a Girl’s Rehabilitation Center also known as GRC. After she robs the store, Dallas thinks her father will swoop her off her feet at the trial but he only sends her to GRC to learn her lesson. During the time she’s in GRC Dallas meets a various amount of girls with habits just as bad as her. Dallas refused to believe she was there for “rehabilitation”, she just wanted to get her time done and get out so she can be bad once again. During her time in GRC Dallas is mad at the world and blaming it for everything gone wrong in her life. From her mother Dixie Lee dying to her father being so hard on her after Dixie Lee’s death. She soon learned to have a change of heart being so cooped up in GRC, but realized she will never change her ways. She will never change if she doesn’t leave where she’s living. If you like novels with young teenage drama,adrenaline and all books being based on a teenage girl’s point of view then this is the story for you! I do recommend this book to various people. It is indeed a good read.
March 11, 2015
Bad
The book is about a 16 year old girl named Dallas and it involves her and her three friends. She spends most of her time with her friends instead of her own family. Her and her group of friends are known to get into a lot of trouble with the things they tend to do which they call “skating”. Dallas doesn’t really have a mother and father figure to look up to her mother died when she was only 4 years old so she is living alone with her father. Her father doesn’t think she is doing anything good in her life and he keeps telling her that she is going to end up just like her mother, living with no regrets and doing what she feels like even if it means getting into a lot of trouble. Dallas doesn’t bother to listen to what her father has to say, but one day Dallas goes out with her friends and they go “skating” she got caught in the action of trying to rob a convenience store and she was faced with the consequences of going to a rehabilitation center for 6 months. While in there Dallas meets many other troubled teens that are just like her and while in there they are all expected to change within the time spent in there. I personally enjoyed reading this book because it has to do with teens and i could probably relate to some of the things that were said in this book. I would recommend reading this book to any troubled young adults who can relate to this book, you wont regret it.
The book is about a 16 year old girl named Dallas and it involves her and her three friends. She spends most of her time with her friends instead of her own family. Her and her group of friends are known to get into a lot of trouble with the things they tend to do which they call “skating”. Dallas doesn’t really have a mother and father figure to look up to her mother died when she was only 4 years old so she is living alone with her father. Her father doesn’t think she is doing anything good in her life and he keeps telling her that she is going to end up just like her mother, living with no regrets and doing what she feels like even if it means getting into a lot of trouble. Dallas doesn’t bother to listen to what her father has to say, but one day Dallas goes out with her friends and they go “skating” she got caught in the action of trying to rob a convenience store and she was faced with the consequences of going to a rehabilitation center for 6 months. While in there Dallas meets many other troubled teens that are just like her and while in there they are all expected to change within the time spent in there. I personally enjoyed reading this book because it has to do with teens and i could probably relate to some of the things that were said in this book. I would recommend reading this book to any troubled young adults who can relate to this book, you wont regret it.
March 11, 2015
I think this book was very interesting. This book had very many different topics throughout the story. I thought it was cool how not only was there Dallas’s story to why she was in there and her background with her issues and the issues she has with her father, but the author, Jean, also added other inmates stories. Such as when she talked about Toozdae and how she got beat by a man and how he got sent to prison. There are life lessons in here as well, such as abuse is not okay, and to not break the law because you will regret it and it will have you wishing you could go back in time and take it all back. Breaking the law just to have fun isn’t worth it in the end. Also with Dallas and her father how they have issues and she causes most of the problems in their relationship because she always makes the wrong decisions. I personally think that the whole reason she got sent to rehab could have been much better and more interesting and more relatable to teens now a days, such a drugs because there is a lot of teens that are into that. Don’t get me wrong there are also a lot of teens that steal as well, I personally just think that there would’ve been more of a lesson or more of a connection with a different story line. I would recommend this book to any teen or young adult. Go to your local library today and check out a copy!
March 11, 2015
Bad, written by Jean Ferris is about a young troubled teen who will do anything to try and fit in. Dallas the main character gets caught trying to rob a store with her friends and her friends leave her to get in trouble alone. Dallas soon learns that her friends are not really her friends after all and her boyfriend has moved on . This was honestly one of the best books that I have read. It is easy for me to relate to the main character Dallas, because she is a teenager and has been put through peer pressure as have I. The author did a great job with the organization of the book. Jean introduced everything in a nutshell in the beginning of the book, by giving a background on Dallas which gave a better understanding of the person that she was. I strongly recommend reading this book if you like a little drama and life changing books. The book has multiple lessons to be learned such as that you can not really trust anyone. This book has affected me by making me wonder if I got in a situation with my friends, would they leave me high and dry to take all of the blame? The authors audience is intended for teens. The author could have added better detail into the book to get a better understanding of the atmosphere, although there is one down fault I still strongly recommend that the article should be read.
March 12, 2015
The book “Bad” by Jean Ferris is a well written book. In the beginning it shows Dallas’s personality and her relationship with her father. The book gets straight to the point of what the title means and that’s what grabbed my attention. It keeps getting more interesting when she finds her way through the situation but it happens all so quickly that once she stays in the GRC for awhile, the excitement declines. It declines because Dallas does not rebel nor is a trouble maker while in the GRC. I think readers of this book are expecting Dallas to be more of what the title is saying. I was not expecting for her to be well behaved after the incident that made her end up in the GRC. The story after all ends up showing her true friends, her feelings towards her father and her troubled past. Her thoughts come out more about everything and thats what makes me understand more about her. After being released from the GRC, she does not change as a person. She still does not have a better relationship with her father and she still didn’t change herself. I was expecting Dallas to have more positive thoughts about the future or about her father . The ending was too short, it was like a cut off for me. I think there should have been more added to continue the story a little more but it was put together too short. The rating I’m going to give this book is 3 out of 5 stars.
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