Bad Deal

Surviving Southside

by Susan J. Korman

It's not going to hurt anyone. Fish hates having to take ADHD medication. It helps him concentrate, but it also makes him feel weird. So when his crush, Ella, needs a boost to study for tests, Fish offers her one of his pills. Soon more kids want pills, and Fish is enjoying the profits. To keep from running out, Fish finds a doctor who sells phony prescriptions. But suddenly, the doctor is arrested. Fish realizes he needs to tell the truth. But will that cost him his friends?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Drugs, Fiction, High School

104 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Mary]

A slim, fast read about a teen who slides into giving and then selling his ADHD medicine. A non-threatening read with plenty of dialogue and suspense. This book is part of a series of high interest/fast reads for young adults. This series would be valuable for high school students who need that sense of success at finishing a book. Books such as this could give readers the confidence to identify as readers and continue their reading journey.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fish hates his ADHD medication, so when Ella, the most popular girl in school, needs help staying awake, he gives her a couple of pills. Soon he's selling them to a few kids at school and they all want more. The doctor he's going to ask for a new prescription is suddenly arrested and Fish is afraid he might be next.

[Teri]

it was good, I liked how it wasn't just about his ADHD medications but also about his high school life showing what he went through when selling those medications. i like how it showed his emotional side when something happened.

[Kaitlyn Jacobo]

This book was good i just got bored with it fast i rate it a 7.

[Kira McKeever · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, it was short and easy to read, it got straight to the point of things.

[Nshslibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever been in a situation where you risk getting in trouble? This is exactly what happens in the book Bad Deal by Susan Korman. It was a very interesting and exciting story. Coming from a lower class family without a father, Fish, as his friends call him, has ADHD and takes meds to control it. He does not enjoy taking the pill and one morning, he was in a rush a put the pill in his pocket to take later. He then offers it to a girl he likes, Ella, to help her study and remain calm for a next day exam. The word gets around and that’s how his high school career in Ritalin dealing starts. The first few chapters of the book are not easy to understand when the author describes the characters. She crams in everyone at the beginning and it is easy to get confused. That was one of the misunderstandings I had in this book. Otherwise, the plot was terrific! Fish becoming a meds dealer made the book suspenseful and brought out character unlike the start of the book. In general the plot and the whole idea of using his meds he doesn’t take and give it to be who need it; he also makes a little bit of money off it too. I would recommend this book to any gender that is interested in a suspenseful plot because the whole time you're reading; you are hoping Fish remains out trouble. This is a very short book, so pick it up real quick if you’re in the mood for a good rebellious read. ~ Student: Noah W.

[Yang Pao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about this boy that had to take ADHD prescription but after taking it it makes him feel weird. Then there was this girl that he really like that asked him for some ADHD prescription to help her stay up to study. Then he realize he could be making money by selling his prescriptions. By the time he was making a lot of money he found out someone died and a doctor told him to go meet the doctor at his house but when he got there the doctor was not there. when he was watching TV the doctor was arrested. I give this book 4 because i like mystery books but i don't like the story line of the book it's not interesting enough and I think the author could have added what George did towards the end did he get arrested too? or did he tell the drug buyers about the arrest of the doctor that he was getting his prescription from?

[Vanessa V · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book a bad deal is a very good book, it's about a boy who had to take ADHD pills but hates taking them because they made him feel funny or weird.One day his friends that's a girl had a test to take but needed something that will keep her awake or at least give her boost,and he told her about the pills and she took one and she started to like them and fisher wanted to be cool so he started to sell them. Everyone started to go to him for pills till he ran out he went to this fake prescription Dr. , they arrested the Dr and fisher and to tell them that he didn't have no more but he knew he will lose friends.

[Ms. Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miguel V Says...
Bad Deal
Susan J. Korman
RL: 3.4, PTS= 2
This book is about a kid named George and he doesn't like taking his medicine. Then he realizes that he could make serious money his medication pills. He makes more money selling his pills then the job he has. He started getting a lot of customer for his pills.<3 [:

[Olivia Mihalek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. Drug abuse is seeming to become more and more common nowadays. I have ADHD so reading this bool reiterated the fact that nothing good happens in the long run from abusing prescription medication. Fish thought everything would be fine and he would not get caught but he was wrong and he paid the price!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series that is pretty decent with ultimately a good message. Teen selling ADHD meds is probably something that happens more than we want to admit. These are quick reads but my only problem with them is they seem so always have an afterschool special ending.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For really short books, with a very obvious message, this series is not bad. I was checking circ at my library on the 6 or so titles in this series, and this one and Beaten, are the ones getting the most use. Go figure.

[Josh Newhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trite issue fiction... Afterschool special... That said sure to be popular with reluctant readers...

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

High interest, fast-paced, plot-driven story in the Suriving Southside series. Classic example of YA "problem fiction." Good for reluctant teen readers.

[Jesusw1 valenzuela]

i like this book bescause is interestig. i thing is about a kid who is in the school and he is using drugs.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book!

[Rashad Bunrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that this book was very good.
And amazing.

[Kadijah Key]

It was good