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Would you settle for improbable?
The arrival of Arnold, who has spent much of his life in juvenile detention centers, has a great impact on 14-year-old Mike and his 9th-grade classmates.
- GenresYoung Adult
185 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Petersen
32 books12 followersP. J. Petersen grew up on a farm six miles from Geyserville, California. He says, "I was sure that I lived in the most boring place in the world--a prune farm in the middle of nowhere. Since my family didn't have the time or money to travel, I did my traveling through books. I read everything I could get my hands on. Most of my books came from the Geyserville Public Library, which was one tiny room served by the county Bookmobile. I loved the place, especially on the day after the Bookmobile came."
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
Mr. Petersen wanted to be a writer from the beginning. He had other ambitions, like being an airline pilot and a baseball player, but he always intended to write books.
He was not an immediate success. He wrote seriously for over twenty years without selling a single word. Then he had his best idea--to write a book for his daughter Karen, a seventh grader at the time. He had never written for young people, but he knew the kind of books his daughter liked. That book, WOULD YOU SETTLE FOR IMPROBABLE?, was his first published novel. He has been writing books for young people ever since.
Mr. Petersen lives with his wife, Marian, in Redding, California. He has two grown daughters, Karen and Carla, and two grandchildren, Ryan and Emma. A graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in American literature from the University of New Mexico, he taught at Shasta College from 1964 to December 2000. Now that he has retired from teaching, he is available for school visits, workshops, or conferences.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 15, 2018
It was a great book. Though I feel as if the ending could been alot better. Maybe mention what happens to Arnold after the graduation. Or if Arnold and Mike ever talks again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2021
Yes, this story has dated language. It's the end of the year for a class of ninth graders in 1978. A student teacher asks our protagonist and his friends to be buddies with a kid who's arriving at their school from juvie, but not to expect too much.
I enjoyed it. However, I am definitely over the word "dumb" in every way.
I enjoyed it. However, I am definitely over the word "dumb" in every way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews