In this verse novel, Jack is a normal, average sixteen-year-old. He’s obsessed with sex, sports, and his maturing body. He’s got a lot...
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May 05, 2011
kari
rated it: 
This book in written in verse and I've read several books in this style and really enjoy them. You seem to get all the emotions of the characters without lots of descriptions. The story is pared down to the basics and, for me, it works. I wouldn't want to read all books in verse because in some cases the descriptions are so integrated into the story that losing it would lose the story, but not in this case.
Don't be worried that reading poetry is too different or that you won't understand i More...
Don't be worried that reading poetry is too different or that you won't understand i More...
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Feb 11, 2009
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Originally released in Australia as two separate works in 1996 and 1998 respectively, KISSING ANNABEL is a compilation of two related stories in poetry.
The majority of the work is told by Jack. In the first story, his mother has been dead for seven years. He struggles to overcome the ghost of his mother. He turns to his sister, Desiree, for advice on clothes, girls, and even sex. Everything he'd have turned to his mother for. His fa More...
Originally released in Australia as two separate works in 1996 and 1998 respectively, KISSING ANNABEL is a compilation of two related stories in poetry.
The majority of the work is told by Jack. In the first story, his mother has been dead for seven years. He struggles to overcome the ghost of his mother. He turns to his sister, Desiree, for advice on clothes, girls, and even sex. Everything he'd have turned to his mother for. His fa More...
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Nov 11, 2011
Melissa
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Well, to be honest, this is not really my type of book. I mainly picked it up because it was about to be deleted from my collection, it was short, and looked kind of weird so I thought I'd give it a try. And you know what? It totally payed off! Love, Ghosts, & Facial Hair is the coming of age story of a boy named Jack after he loses his mother to Cancer. Written in verse, Jack writes poems about the diagnosis of his mother's illness, of his mother and father's loving relationship up to the day s
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Jan 14, 2011
Devinc
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The book Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick, is about a young boy named Jack. He is sort of an outcast, and is interested in a girl named Annabel. Annabel is a smart, beautiful, popular girl, and Jack is convinced that he cannot get her. But to his surprise, they fall in love. It is their senior year, and Annabel is accepted to a university. She is set on graduating high school, and being successful in college. Jack has different plans, though. He wants to buy a cheap car, and leave his small tow
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Jan 27, 2011
Chelsea
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This book is a bind up of Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair, and A Place Like This. These two books focus on the life of Jack and his family. Something I thoroughly enjoyed is how the perspective of the book jumps from one character to another, focusing on Jack, his sister Desiree, his father, and Annabel throughout the first novel. I also liked getting to meet more people in the second novel, and seeing their perspective. I feel like I know more about each character than the characters know about
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Dec 05, 2011
Abbey
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. I rarely get a book that I can not put down and this book is now on that list. I liked the way the book was written especially. I never thought I would like a book written in verse. It was actually very easy to follow along to though. My favorite character is Jack because he has lots of different sides to him. You cant really ballpoint his personality. People who read lots of romance i think should read this book because it has the right amount of romance without goin
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Jun 22, 2011
kb
rated it:
I'm not the biggest fan of verses but first page of this book and I was sold. I liked how all the poems could stand on their own and that they could all mean something - a lot of things - together. And the book as a whole wasn't just a teenage love story. It was about life, self-discovery and acceptance, finding meaning and dealing with grief and loss and a lot more. It represented different kinds of people in different situations - a father who has lost a wife, a daughter who has failed her dad
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Apr 22, 2010
Laura
rated it:
"Kissing Annabel" reminds me of Edger Allen Poe’s poem "Annabel Lee". Although Annabel doesn't die in this book, I feel that in some way Jack is protecting her from that death because he couldn't protect his mom.
I found the poem his sister wrote to be very chilling. I can only imagine how many daughters of breast cancer patients have done the same thing; worried that they some day soon would get the disease. I wonder what it would be like to live in this fear.
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I found the poem his sister wrote to be very chilling. I can only imagine how many daughters of breast cancer patients have done the same thing; worried that they some day soon would get the disease. I wonder what it would be like to live in this fear.
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May 10, 2011
Shelley
rated it:
Novel in verse for high school and up. A coming of age look at life after high school. This book is separated into several different parts. It includes many different viewpoints and many different characters as the young couple first get together. The deal with their parents and one of them must deal with the ghost of his mother. Then they hit the road heading to nowhere and see what is out in the world before the go to college. Their journey doesn't lead them very far and they end up takin
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Mar 16, 2011
Nic
rated it:
I am big fan of verse books. I discovered Steven Herrick's brilliant writing earlier this year and since then I have made it my goal to read all of his books this year. Kissing Annabel is another heartfelt and humourous tale from this very talented Australian author.
This book is two related previous release stories put together Love, Ghosts & Facial Hair and A Place Like This. Both have the same main character Jack. Again like Herrick's other novels it has great charactization. More...
This book is two related previous release stories put together Love, Ghosts & Facial Hair and A Place Like This. Both have the same main character Jack. Again like Herrick's other novels it has great charactization. More...
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Jan 02, 2011
Kaylie Andrews
Gold 3
10-28-10
Title: Kissing Annabel
Author: Steven Herrick
Pages: 137
The majority of the story is told in first person by the main character, Jack. In this story, Jack’s mom has been dead for seven years. He has a hard time overcoming the ghost of his mother. He is not shy to go to his sister named Desiree, for advice on clothes, girls, etc. Jack’s dad is suffering in his own grief, so Jack and his dad haven’t had any “heart -to- heart” More...
Gold 3
10-28-10
Title: Kissing Annabel
Author: Steven Herrick
Pages: 137
The majority of the story is told in first person by the main character, Jack. In this story, Jack’s mom has been dead for seven years. He has a hard time overcoming the ghost of his mother. He is not shy to go to his sister named Desiree, for advice on clothes, girls, etc. Jack’s dad is suffering in his own grief, so Jack and his dad haven’t had any “heart -to- heart” More...
Nov 06, 2010
Love, Ghosts, and Facial Hair is told from Jack’s point of view through his poetry. Since his mother passed away when he was young, he hasn’t been able to let go, and believes he can talk to his mother’s ghost. At the same time, he is dealing with the fact no one except his sister, Desiree, really understands him. But beyond that, he’s just a normal guy who thinks about “sex, sport, & nose hair.” That is, until he meets Annabel, who really understands him. Suddenly, everything seems to be going
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Jan 12, 2011
Alicia
rated it: 
With a cover like the paperback, it would be hard to get it into the hands of boys, when the narrator is a boy! What a disconnect between the story and cover. There are times when I can't appreciate the narration and story because the author is not American. Herrick is Australian, which affects my understanding of a lot of the humor, conversations, and situations. I did not like this novel-in-verse. Jack's character didn't grab me and his sometime whiny thoughts over the death of his mother seem
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Jun 09, 2011
Michelle.
rated it: 
Cute but i swear I have seen a book EXACTLY like this. and you know the next one, A Place Like This, or something?
I think I have read a book exactly like that. With the plot and all because I am having a HUGE case of deja vu.
Anyway, the book was OK, nothing special really. You can't really change anything to make it better, I think. Kind of a time waster.
I think I have read a book exactly like that. With the plot and all because I am having a HUGE case of deja vu.
Anyway, the book was OK, nothing special really. You can't really change anything to make it better, I think. Kind of a time waster.
Sep 05, 2011
Armando
rated it:
It was okay totally different, this book had like no story line what's so ever. But I kinda like the fact that it was more of a journal entry then a story, like if someone just wrote little notes on a diary. It was alright.
Oct 05, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
Kissing Annabel was incredibly easy and good because of it being two books in. They easy to read and I finished fast. This book is about a young man who has struggles and also obviously likes a girl named Annabel.
Dec 14, 2009
Chersh
rated it:
This book was very good. It is about a young boy who has struggles and is in love with Annabell. Teenagers can relate to this book because it has alot to do with love and other things teens worry about.
Oct 10, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
I wasn't terribly impressed with this one. It didn't have much of a story and I'm not a fan of the style it was written in.
But it was something different, I guess, and a pretty quick read. Just not particularly something I'd likely pick up ever again.
But it was something different, I guess, and a pretty quick read. Just not particularly something I'd likely pick up ever again.
Mar 04, 2009
Taylor
rated it:
cute book.
the poem way in which it was written is great.
i couldnt help but laugh at some parts. Jack is a funny character.
the poem way in which it was written is great.
i couldnt help but laugh at some parts. Jack is a funny character.
Nov 06, 2010
Cory
rated it:
FYI? I don't particularly care for books in verse. I tend to think they are precious and needlessly convoluted and pretentious. I mean, if you have something to say, just say it!!!! However, I REALLY liked this book. I read it in one sitting, and I teared up at the end. It was good. I'm amazed at how well Herrick conveyed the personalities of his characters in so few words, and how he made me care about them.
Nov 06, 2010
meredith
rated it:
good shit!
had to teach it to the world's shittiest students last year, none of whom really appreciated it. but i dug it. and though it's young adult fiction, worth a look for adults alike.
it's also a nice progressive choice of a novel for students - dealing with sex and such, death, heavy issues. it makes parents angry, which makes me excited! yay for rocking the boat
had to teach it to the world's shittiest students last year, none of whom really appreciated it. but i dug it. and though it's young adult fiction, worth a look for adults alike.
it's also a nice progressive choice of a novel for students - dealing with sex and such, death, heavy issues. it makes parents angry, which makes me excited! yay for rocking the boat
Nov 06, 2010
Anna
rated it:
This is a powerful little book! I love that the story was told through poems written from various perspectives. Jack is the main character, but you also get to know Desiree (his sister), his dad, his friend Ezra, and his girlfriend Annabel. It's very touching and quite sad at times.
Nov 06, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
it was ok, not the best book; very easy read. talks about 2 teens liking eachother and thier views on what happens. love, facial hair and deffiniatly ghosts do play a big part in this book hence the title.
Nov 06, 2010
Freddy
rated it:
fun, quick read... i'd give it a 6 out of 10 overall... not the best book i've read but if you like herrick's other books, you'd like this one as well...
Nov 06, 2010
Rose
rated it:
A wonderful coming-of-age novel in verse. Life is always a challenge... but that's what makes it interesting.
