Now I know why they have the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I expected the story to be a bit more frightening due to the design of the cover, but once I began to read it and got further and further into it, it was not what I predicted it to be. I enjoyed the book and was constantly caught into what the main character, Duncan, was doing and thinking. His interest in the diary and wanting to find the guy kept me anxious to discover what would happen. I did not expect for the guy whose diary it was to die at end. I thought there would be a bigger and exciting ending. Overall, I loved book!
When the author describes the Lost and Found basement in which Duncan works, I thought it was depressing. I could actually picture an open place, as big as a school gymnasium where everything echos, with rows and rows of tall, old rusty shelves with a bunch of lost items covered in dust. I could see the lights swinging back and forth and flicker as the subway would go by above. You can’t help but feel Duncan’s mood and what it is like to work at a place such as the Lost and Found.
“I was the one who didn’t save her” (p. 11) was an occurring thought in Duncan’s mind throughout the story. He constantly thought about the drowning of his friend and tied it into what was really happening with the diary. What child has not experienced something that has changed them completely whether for the good or worse? Events, whether small or large, cause a person’s self esteem to decrease or disappear, such as Duncan’s after seeing a friend drown and not being able to save her. I liked Ch. 13 when Duncan had a flashback to last fall right after his friend’s drowning where his dad told the story about the man who was JFK’s body guard being interviewed on TV. It was neat how his dad related the man’s emotions to Duncan’s in order to try and help him feel better. Now, he has recurring nightmares of the girl’s drowning mixed with what is currently going on with the psycho’s diary. Is Duncan’s interest in finding the guy and wanting to save the women’s lives supporting his need to have a second chance in saving someone since he could not save his friend? It’s like Vinny says, “You think because you couldn’t save her----you’re getting, what, a second chance?” (p. 104)
I could see how Duncan’s life was affected by the people he spent time with, especially by the “life of crime” with Wayne and his relationship with Kim. It was interesting how he thinks of Kim throughout story as if it helps him in some way solve the psycho man mystery, and then she shows up by his hospital bed at the end. It is understandable of why Duncan does not share the diary with anyone until the middle of the story when he tells Vinny about it. He is afraid that the police and anyone else will think it is his and that he wrote and drew all the entries. Once the information in the diary about the women is found to be true, Duncan no longer takes the situation about the diary/journal lightly and becomes more intrigued and serious about finding the guy. Duncan becomes a detective. I would be just like Duncan where those types of entries in a diary would interest me, yet gross and freak me out at the same time. He was pretty smart when he was able to figure out clues as he reads and re-reads each page. It’s fun to solve mysteries and any child who reads this book will become involved just like Duncan.
There was a part of the book which broke away from the seriousness of the diary. Duncan was home with his mom after a long day of “hunting” and he is thinking, “I’ve spent the last couple of hours fumbling around trying to find one particular psycho in a city that must have hundreds of them. And now, after a hard night of stalking, sweating, and confusion, I’m home eating Mom’s grilled-cheese sandwiches, chatting about an imaginary date I was just on.” (p.76) So, even though Duncan is acting older while solving a mystery, he is still a teen who spends time with his family. Young adults can either relate to or learn from this. You don’t have to be grown up all the time.
When the author describes the Lost and Found basement in which Duncan works, I thought it was depressing. I could actually picture an open place, as big as a school gymnasium where everything echos, with rows and rows of tall, old rusty shelves with a bunch of lost items covered in dust. I could see the lights swinging back and forth and flicker as the subway would go by above. You can’t help but feel Duncan’s mood and what it is like to work at a place such as the Lost and Found.
“I was the one who didn’t save her” (p. 11) was an occurring thought in Duncan’s mind throughout the story. He constantly thought about the drowning of his friend and tied it into what was really happening with the diary. What child has not experienced something that has changed them completely whether for the good or worse? Events, whether small or large, cause a person’s self esteem to decrease or disappear, such as Duncan’s after seeing a friend drown and not being able to save her. I liked Ch. 13 when Duncan had a flashback to last fall right after his friend’s drowning where his dad told the story about the man who was JFK’s body guard being interviewed on TV. It was neat how his dad related the man’s emotions to Duncan’s in order to try and help him feel better. Now, he has recurring nightmares of the girl’s drowning mixed with what is currently going on with the psycho’s diary. Is Duncan’s interest in finding the guy and wanting to save the women’s lives supporting his need to have a second chance in saving someone since he could not save his friend? It’s like Vinny says, “You think because you couldn’t save her----you’re getting, what, a second chance?” (p. 104)
I could see how Duncan’s life was affected by the people he spent time with, especially by the “life of crime” with Wayne and his relationship with Kim. It was interesting how he thinks of Kim throughout story as if it helps him in some way solve the psycho man mystery, and then she shows up by his hospital bed at the end. It is understandable of why Duncan does not share the diary with anyone until the middle of the story when he tells Vinny about it. He is afraid that the police and anyone else will think it is his and that he wrote and drew all the entries. Once the information in the diary about the women is found to be true, Duncan no longer takes the situation about the diary/journal lightly and becomes more intrigued and serious about finding the guy. Duncan becomes a detective. I would be just like Duncan where those types of entries in a diary would interest me, yet gross and freak me out at the same time. He was pretty smart when he was able to figure out clues as he reads and re-reads each page. It’s fun to solve mysteries and any child who reads this book will become involved just like Duncan.
There was a part of the book which broke away from the seriousness of the diary. Duncan was home with his mom after a long day of “hunting” and he is thinking, “I’ve spent the last couple of hours fumbling around trying to find one particular psycho in a city that must have hundreds of them. And now, after a hard night of stalking, sweating, and confusion, I’m home eating Mom’s grilled-cheese sandwiches, chatting about an imaginary date I was just on.” (p.76) So, even though Duncan is acting older while solving a mystery, he is still a teen who spends time with his family. Young adults can either relate to or learn from this. You don’t have to be grown up all the time.
No comments:
Post a Comment