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117th out of 186 books
—
36 voters
My rating:
add to my books
December Stillness
Sensitive and idealistic fifteen-year-old Kelly McAllister feels at odds with everyone around her. Her best friend has suddenly turned boy crazy. Her talented mother creates greeting card designs instead of real art, andher father never talks to her about anything except working hard and getting ahead.
That's why Kelly becomes so involved in the plight of a homeless Vietnam
...morePaperback, 192 pages
Published
September 1st 1990
by Harper Teen
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This is another book that isn't a 3, but not quite a 4. Through much of the book, I had to fight the sigh of resignation that comes from reading the typical teen book where the protagonist is mad at the world, spends much of the book feeling sorry for herself, and rationalizing why it's OK to shrug off school. The end of the book found me with tears running down my face.
December Stillness is another book where the author uses fiction to address the societal ills of the world. In t...more
December Stillness is another book where the author uses fiction to address the societal ills of the world. In t...more
I was expecting to like this book much more. It deals with a 14 year old girl named Kelly (who supposedly I think the author was trying to make interesting, but unfortunately she didn't grab my attention as much as she should have),and her encounter with a homeless man who is a veteran of the Vietnam War.
The basic concept of the novel was good but it felt like it lacked a certain something to it. It did give a clear view on people's opinions about the war and the veterans. You could tell ...more
The basic concept of the novel was good but it felt like it lacked a certain something to it. It did give a clear view on people's opinions about the war and the veterans. You could tell ...more
The high school library where I teach was clearing their shelves to make room from some newer material. This book was one of the books that was free for the taking, so I took it. The premise sounded interesting to me: A 14-year old girl writing a paper on the topic of homelessness tries to befriend a homeless, disturbed Vietnam veteran in her town. While the book was definitely intended for an adolescent audience, the issues involved in the story line were grown-up.
I loved how the author brought this issue up, the issue about family and problems from the past, it was amazing and so real. Kelly's relationship with the people she was surrounded by was not at all well and she had to decide wether to listen to them or do what she thought was right. I loved how the author made such descriptions that allowed you to visualize the entire book.
This was a really good book and a very fast read. I would've of given this book a 5 star but the author seemed to have not finished the ending. She left a friendship/romance undone and never really made the realationship with Mr. Weems very strong. I wish the author would've at least let them become friends. Over all though, a very good book.
Michelle
added it
I think I read this just because of Mary Downing Hahn's other book, Wait Till Helen Comes, which I read multiple times. But since I didn't re-read this one and don't really remember it, I don't think it was as great.
Sorry MDH. I loved this book as a kid, but as a grownup I found it preachy and mostly intolerable. The two stars are only for the portions of the book dealing with Kelly feeling distance from her friends. The part with the Vietnam Vets? Handled with no subtlety at all.
I really enjoyed reading "December Stillness". Both heartbreaking and tender, it will touch hearts and serve as a sober reminder of how the past can affect the present.
This book was short, but effective. Something that took a while to sink in. The progression of a family toward a new start after the Vietnam War
Libby
added it
This is a very good book about a girl named Kelly and her vietnam vet friend Mr. Weems just to warn u the ending is sad.
Pretty dated. You can tell it was written in '88.
READ W/ MY IRLA CLASS
really good, lots of literary devices
really good, lots of literary devices
very good i learned alot from this book
the best
As the child of a Vietnam Vet, this book touched me deeply. It explores many of the hardships that come from being the child of a veteran of a war that wasn't celebrated, or of any war, really. It also explores the different ways in which serving in such a war can affect a person. Excellent read! Another book that is just as meaningful to an adult as it is to the young adult crowd it was intended for.
Girl interested in Vietnam Veteran bum. Okay, kind of redundant, teenage style. Good ending.
This was a pretty good book. It is definitely for young adult readers. The one part I didn't enjoy was placing it in a time period. It's obviously post-Vietnam War, but it's hard to establish a time period until more toward the end of the book. The main character was great- very easy to identify with.
im currently reading this book..........n it stinks!!!!!!!!! we have to read it 4 class.....and so far, im not getting anythin good from it........i highly dont recommend it!
excellant book about respecting the homeless and the elderly...real tear jerker
the only young adult fiction book i've come across that addresses the vietnam war.
very dramatic, or was it? I can't remember
Reese
added it
verry moveing!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. It is an easy read and it is a beautiful story.
Mallory Anne-Marie
marked it as to-read
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is currently reading it
Margaret
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