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Jul 21, 2011

Jillian rated it:

My new library has a coffee shop and a rack of free-read-and-return books outside the main doors, which is very convenient when you accidentally show up almost an hour too early without anything to do. I chose this one because it was (1) short enough to finish in one sitting (2) a vaguely familiar title and (3) not a romance novel.

There were some excellent bits of humor and some truly chilling moments. And it's a good story to tell -- a young girl begins suffering from some form of More...

2 comments like

Apr 05, 2011

Bird Brian added it

I had completely forgotten about this book, until I stumbled on a review of it here. Yes... this was assigned reading in eighth grade. I don't remember much, so I shouldn't write a big review as if I do. For all I know, it's well written... but considering the other junk they assigned at my school, most of which I'm too embarrassed to list on GR, probably not.

Just a few things:
1) The phrase "descent into madness" is officially overused. It's on the GR writeup of this More...

6 comments like (14 people liked it)

Jun 16, 2010

Larissa rated it:

Lisa Shilling is an attractive, smart, and friendly girl from a comfortably middle class family in a small town in New York. She's dating the most popular boy in her highschool, has lots of friends, and seems to have everything. But midway through her junior year of highschool, Lisa begins to notice that something is wrong.

She's hearing voices, feeling isolated, has unpredictable mood swings and lashes out at her friends. She develops a cruel sense of humor, disappears from places un More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 24, 2010

Sarai rated it:

from Amazon: By Mr.Francesco Raphael Galardo of the Catskills
Lisa Shilling is experiencing mental problems of which seem to put her as an outcast at school. Some of her closest friends, Mary Nell, Betsy and Elizabeth realize that there is a problem. They seek to find answers in their own "group therapy" everyday after school. Although the students see that Lisa has a problem, Lisa's parents deny the facts that are given to them. Through out the book Lisa makes situations worse ju More...

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Jan 29, 2012

Lisa rated it:

I first picked up this book when I was a teenager for no other reason than...yes, she shares my name. When I read the back and discovered it's plot, about a girl that is psychologically troubled, to put it mildly, I was hooked. I've always been interested in stories where the character has a serious illness or problems. I've read countless books about girls with cancer, girls who have drug problems, girls who've been raped, and like 3 where the girl had cancer. Depressing, I know.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 12, 2010

Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it:

I would have ended this book in a totally off the wall different way but for what its worth this was a good book. It was written back in 1969 and the copy I own was actually printed back then. YUP YUP! It was full of ferret typos and and even a couple of words that repeated themselves (I secretly love that). When we moved into our current house the previous owner left a pile of stuff here and out of that we got this book, a ton more, and nearly the entire Harry Potter series (SCORE!!)

More...

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Jan 09, 2009

Taylor rated it:

Lisa, Bright and Dark
The book I reviewed is Lisa, Bright and Dark by John Neufeld. The book is a fiction/drama story and The theme is friendship.
It’s about a sixteen-year-old girl losing her mind but nobody wants to believe her. She tried to tell her parents but they didn’t want to hear it. Lisa started to have two personalities. People in her school called it good and bad days or bright and dark days. On her bright days she would act normal. On Dark days she would More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 05, 2011

Maran rated it:

This book is my favorite because it's a story about friends who help each other even in the most darkest of times. The main character Lisa who is known for being so lively and friendly begins to go mad and slowly starts to act bizarr. Peers in her school begin to torment her even though just months before they admired her and even strived to be her. Even though she reached out to her family like many times in a teenagers life they feel they aren't heard represented or given a voice even when the More...

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Jan 25, 2012

E rated it:

This book contains the line "We all rushed to Elizabeth's house at lunch and nearly raped Dr. Donovan for news." Oh man. Neufeld follows up with "(I looked that up. It means "to seize", which is perfectly OK in this sense.)". Needless to say, this book is a little creepy since it's an older male author writing as a 16-year-old girl who is sexually naive but totally obsessed with boys.

But really, the whole thing reads less like a story about people and m More...

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Feb 17, 2011

Myles rated it:

The stuff that after-school specials are made of...and I'm not kidding, Lisa, Bright and Dark was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV drama, the cover says so.

But don't be so quick to judge, this is hardly Go Ask Alice or any other histrionic 'What Happened to the Chiiildreeen!!' fare. Neufield is quick to establish Lisa Schilling's dilemma and the concern of her classmates Mary Nell (M.N.), Elizabeth and Betsey and the lack of response from teachers, the guidance counselor and Lisa's More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 28, 2010

Sandra rated it:

There were a few specifics that didn't quite "ring true" for me, but that might be due to the style of the writing prevalent in the late sixties. Overall, the general issues were presented well and it was easy to identify with Lisa and her friends. Lisa herself reminded me of one of my patients many years ago--a young woman whose long black hair was parted in the middle and draped over her eyes like two heavy black draperies. On her good days, we were allowed to see her eyes and on her More...

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Aug 18, 2011

Lesa rated it:

The novel is written from the perspective of a teenage girl and has a very chatty, informal tone, which seems to work for this book. In a nutshell, a young lady, Lisa, is crying out for help when she realizes that she is suffering from some form of mental illness. As her cries falls on the deaf ears of the adults in her world, Lisa's friends decide to take matters into their own hands. If nothing else, the book serves a reminder of why it is so important for us "grown folks" to really More...

5 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 28, 2011

Misti rated it:

It has been years since I read this book, but it has so profoundly impacted my life that I can write this review as though it was a recent read. This book paints a vivid picture of mental illness as suffered by teen aged Lisa, and how no one is willing to accept the fact that she needs help until she does something drastic. A read all teenagers should read to better understand the difference between regular teen angst, hormones, mood swings, and the terrifying world of mental illness.

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Aug 28, 2011

Lauren rated it:

Really not bad for a book I bought when I was 13 or 14. I remember it being much worse, but it really captures the heart of a girl who's going crazy and can't get the adults around her to take her seriously, along with the makeshift group of friends who help her get through to said adults. That said, don't waste money buying it unless you have an angsty teenage girl who needs to be reminded that there is hope. It was certainly good for that.

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Jul 26, 2010

Ab rated it:

An interesting story ... a bit fractured and unrealistic. To have no adult believe Lisa needs help? To listen to her when she asks for help? Three friends have to look up psychological terminology and symptoms to try and help her themselves? Really? Maybe it's just disheartening to think that any adults could be like that ...

In any case, this reminded me of a lesser sort of piece of "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden" but only sort of.

1 comment like

May 13, 2009

Joanie rated it:

I read this in junior high parts of it still stick with me today. Lisa's friends are concerned about her erratic behavior and drastic mood swings and try to figure out ways to help her. Turns out she has bipolar disorder (then called manic-depression) and is pretty sick. The parents in the book all seemed pretty clueless which was the most disturbing thing-or maybe I'm just not remembering it all.

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Jul 31, 2011

Kayleigh rated it:

One of those pseudo-edgy "teen issues" books I read in junior high. Despite the low rating, I actually think this book was pretty good--the writing was skillful, the characters well fleshed-out and realistic, and the issue of mental illness handled with sensitivity and honesty. However, while I didn't dislike the book and feel that it was technically well-done, I didn't particularly like or enjoy it.

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Jul 27, 2011

Christina rated it:

Something I read as a very troubled teenager, coming from an alcoholic, abusive, dysfunctional, and denial-ridden household. I don't know exactly what I'd think of it now, but it was good because it was just an honest and realistic view from a girls own diary writings and her life at the time as she discovered her bi-polar disorder.

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Jun 17, 2010

Bobbi rated it:

This is an old pocket book I had laying around and I just happened to pick it up one day. Interesting story, quick read ... Lisa is asking for help because she feels she's losing her mind but her family doesn't take her seriously - she's just stressed over school etc. Thank goodness her friends step in to help.

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Jul 20, 2011

Edy rated it:

Lisa, Bright and Dark and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden both deal with the same subject, mental health. However, this book does not delve into the subject as much.

(I read this novel in the 70s when I was taking an adolescent lit. class. The critique came from one I did for the class.)

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Jun 27, 2010

Featherheart rated it:

It was weird that it wasn't told from Lisa's point of view (POV) but still believable, except for the counselor, who just seemed too weak to be a counselor. And Mrs. Shilling was a little too mean. And the specifics of Elizabeth's mystery were never explained. But Lisa's growing madness was clear as day.

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Jul 02, 2011

Chauntel rated it:

This book was simply amazing. Perfectly written, engaging, and was a beautiful story. Of a girl in need of help, surrounded by a world of adults that don't want to see it. And the friends that fight for her.

Read it on a beautiful afternoon on my balcony. Its really a book you can't put down!

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Mar 27, 2010

Christina rated it:

Pretty sure my mom gave me her old copy of this from high school. I don't know why, but I remember this book very clearly, especially the part about "English voices" in Lisa's head. I was really into this teen-girl-schizophrenia novels at the time. Does every girl go through that phase?

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Jan 18, 2009

Hirsch rated it:

Slightly outdated cultural references, but timeless aspects of human thought and emotion. Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread. This classic novel of a tee More...

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Jun 17, 2008

Dominique rated it:

I found this book hard to get into at first, but as time porgressed it got easier. It's about a girl going through somewhat of an emotional journey, in which effects her freinds, family, and social life/status. The book itself is not to long, although it contains a lot of detailed content. It is also not one of those books that you can read over a period of time, because the issue and main points of the book will slip away. The book was very realistic, and I am not sure whether it was based on a More...

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Nov 20, 2008

Sarah rated it:

This was the first book I ever read about someone who was struggling with depression, and it made a huge impact on me because I was dealing with a lot of the same issues as the main character. It's one of my favorite books.

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Jun 06, 2007

Ty'shauna rated it:

Believe that you are being mentally and physically disturb by the society and the surroundings your in. Although your willing to get help and climbed to even greater heights of being helped. The story seems to turn teens away by the title but can strongly bring you to better understanding of the society. Coming to life with Lisa and her friends you begin to understand how much reality affect you. Lisa need for help is being tested by the environment she's in and people she's hurting. Through thi More...

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Jul 27, 2011

Karen rated it:

I read it in the late 70's and I felt like I was a breath away from being Lisa. If you have ever felt any of the things Lisa felt, then you would know that it was perfectly written!

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Jan 02, 2008

Meaghan rated it:

This was probably a good book back in 1969, but it's terminally dated now, much like the similar I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. Lisa would probably, nowadays, be diagnosed with schizophrenia. If you want to see how mental illness was ignored back then, or if you're a middle-aged adult wanting to go back to your teenage years, this might be good to read. But the modern reader should understand that psychiatrists, and the general public, take a different approach to Lisa's problems today than More...

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Jul 20, 2011

Edy rated it:

This book is similar to I Never Promised You a Rose Garden but handles the subject matter more gently.

(I read this novel in the 70s when I was taking an adolescent lit. class. The critique came from one I did for the class.)

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