A fifteen-year-old Mexican American has experienced a series of tough breaks before finding himself completely on his own. He decides to try to kee...
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Feb 20, 2009
Diane
rated it: 
See Sean's review. I was frustrated that R.D. didn't always explain situations and so was unfairly punished, but I guess that's realistic. I felt it showed how he grew from self-centered, lazy teenager to a mature, responsible young man. And he had built more solid relationships, or just come to see that he had them all along because he called upon those people to help him and get involved.
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Feb 15, 2009
Sean
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A pitch-perfect account of becoming a young adult and the fear that comes with actually gaining the independence you so desire as a young person.
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Nov 08, 2010
i Chose to read this book because when are teacher showed it too us and told us a little about it , it sounded really good.
The setting took place in Lemoore.
The genere is basically realistic fiction.
This book is about a book about a boy name r.d who failed the 8th grade and is now taking it again.
He is known for getting in trouble and lives with his step granpa earl. His grandmother rose left them to be with a guy named hairy. One, day when r.d comes home from sch More...
The setting took place in Lemoore.
The genere is basically realistic fiction.
This book is about a book about a boy name r.d who failed the 8th grade and is now taking it again.
He is known for getting in trouble and lives with his step granpa earl. His grandmother rose left them to be with a guy named hairy. One, day when r.d comes home from sch More...
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Sep 08, 2010
Kimberli
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R.D. is stuck in limbo in the San Joaquin Valley school system. He's repeating 8th grade again and is sick of seeing the same old crap day after day. He’s neutral but there are those who wear red or blue find and fight for no reason at all. Being Mexican and Cheyenne doesn’t help him at all. R.D. lives with his grandmother's boyfriend Earl, who takes really good care of him while Grandma is off with her new boyfriend and his mom is in the State Pen. One thing is for sure, R.D. has got a great he
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Dec 04, 2009
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
R.D. never knew his father, and his mother is in prison. He was raised by his grandmother, but she up and left him with her boyfriend, Earl, so she could run off with a hairy truck driver. R.D. has promised to clean up his act and get through the eighth grade this year for sure, but it's the first day of school and things aren't starting off very well since he's suspended for fighting by lunch time.
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R.D. never knew his father, and his mother is in prison. He was raised by his grandmother, but she up and left him with her boyfriend, Earl, so she could run off with a hairy truck driver. R.D. has promised to clean up his act and get through the eighth grade this year for sure, but it's the first day of school and things aren't starting off very well since he's suspended for fighting by lunch time.
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Jul 28, 2009
Deanna
rated it:
Realistic fiction, identity, middle school, family.
R.D. (Richard Diaz) seems to mess up at everything. He is repeating eighth grade while living with Earl (his grandma's ex boyfriend). He returns from school one day and finds Earl dead and is unable to call Earl's sister, best friend or his grandma. He ends up living on his own for 3 months before everyone finds out.
One of my favorite things about this book is R.D.'s slang talk. Lynch really knows how middle school homie More...
R.D. (Richard Diaz) seems to mess up at everything. He is repeating eighth grade while living with Earl (his grandma's ex boyfriend). He returns from school one day and finds Earl dead and is unable to call Earl's sister, best friend or his grandma. He ends up living on his own for 3 months before everyone finds out.
One of my favorite things about this book is R.D.'s slang talk. Lynch really knows how middle school homie More...
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Jan 06, 2010
Ricki
rated it: 
I would give this one 3.5 stars. Based on all of the hype, I expected to like it a lot more. I usually like urban teenage books, but this book's slang felt a bit forced for me. For example, the author uses "alot" and "sez." These aren't pronounced any differently verbally, so why spell them differently if the book isn't written in a journalistic format? I also found many of the characters to be very archetypal, particularly Mrs. Trueblood and R.D.'s friends.
I liked the More...
I liked the More...
Nov 20, 2010
Laura
rated it:
What would you do if you were 15 and on your own? This was the case for R.D. R.D. was part Indian and part Mexican and had no one to turn to. His mother was in prison and his father was an illegal immigrant that was no where to be found. He lived with his grandmother and her long term boyfriend Earl. When Earl died his grandmother left and he was now alone. He did not tell anyone that he was alone because he did not want to be placed in a home. He forged signatures, cashed Earl's checks, and did
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Aug 30, 2010
bjneary
rated it:
R.D. is a "messed up" kid who can't quite get what life is about. He is now repeating 8th grade for the 3rd time, lives with his grandmother and grandfather, Earl because mom is in jail and dad, long gone. He gets in fights, skips school so he doesn't have a good rep at school with administration or the police. On the first day of school, R.D. stops a fight between 2 girls and helps a new teacher but he still gets suspended for three days. His grandmother has deserted RD and Earl f
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Apr 18, 2009
Diana
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Fifteen-year-old R.D. never knew his father, his mother is in prison, his grandmother has run off with a trucker, and so he lives with his step-grandfather, Earl. The first day of his second year in eighth grade he steps in to help a new teacher break up a fight and is suspended for his efforts. When he returns to school he finds the saucy girl he helped rescue in the fight has decided she is his girl friend and he becomes project partners with an Anglo girl who appears perfect to him. His life
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Sep 20, 2011
Deborah
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R.D.'s dad is out of the picture. His mom was sent to prison when R.D. was little. His family consists of his grandma and her boyfriend, Earl, until she meets a guy who makes her feel younger and she runs off with him. R.D. and Earl have a relationship of understanding. R.D. gets in trouble at school often (he is repeating the 8th grade), and Earl doesn't bug him about it. But then Earl dies and R.D. has to figure out to survive without being sent to foster care. At the same time he loses
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Jul 20, 2009
Karla
rated it:
R.D.'s mom is in jail, he doesn't know his dad, and now his grandma left him with her ex-boyfriend, Earl, to go off with her new boyfriend. R.D. is just trying to get by in his third year of eighth grade until he turns 16 and they have to move him up to high school. Then Earl dies and R.D. is alone. He doesn't even know how to cook. He has to learn how to survive , mature and make it on his own. I really liked R.D. and want to know more about him. Although his dad was mentioned, I'd love a
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May 25, 2010
Additeenlibrarian
rated it:
R.D. is Mexican-American-Native American, from the poor side of town, and two years behind in school (15 and still in junior high!). But he's not really a bad guy. He knows how to stay out of serious trouble and has some respect for his "grandpa," Earl. But when things start to fall apart in R.D.'s life, he has to make some big decisions. Is he smart enough to make it on his own? Does he have to be on his own?
This book was a "Best Books for Middle Schoolers" choic More...
This book was a "Best Books for Middle Schoolers" choic More...
Jul 09, 2011
Mrs. Tongate
rated it:
RD, 15 years old, lives with his step grandfather. He never knew his Dad, his mom is in jail, and his grandmother ran off with another guy. RD is a tough guy, but really he seeks to be loved. RD is in the 8th grade for the third time! He really wants to be good this year. Everything is going OK until something happens to hia grandfather. Now RD has to step it up and take care of everything. This book shows how some students have so much going on at home, that we can't imagine. RD is a gr
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Oct 31, 2011
Annie
rated it:
Messed Up is about a troubled boy named R.D. who has to repeat the eighth grade. He wants to stay out of trouble this year, but when his grandma's ex, who he lived with, dies, he decides to keep it a secret and live on his own. I really liked this book because it was interesting to read about someone my age, whose life is very different from mine. Reading about R.D.'s life made me think about how lucky I am to live in a good neighborhood, have a good education, and have my family with me. It was
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Oct 21, 2010
Alicia
rated it: 
Love the cover, hate the plot. I mean, I get it, R.D. doesn't want to end up in a group home after his "sort of" step-grandpa dies while his grandmother is cavorting with another man so he begins weaving a tale of lies to keep the facade that everything is fine. Wait, I don't get it. Totally not plausible, but every kid will think it is. And the ending? Where he gets emancipated and everything is peachy? Please!
But, with all high-interest urban lit, there's girl fighting, g More...
But, with all high-interest urban lit, there's girl fighting, g More...
May 11, 2011
2-3-2011
the writer is talking about the fight between some girls.
p.4
2-7-2011 Mon "4 sentence Summary"
Teachers was asking what happened about the fight. Teachers asked different people opinion and ideas. the main character gave his opinion about the school. also, i found out that the charater is not very good kids in school
p.8
2-9-2011 Wed "5 sentence Summary"
the officer Mendz comes to Mr.Bowan's office to take More...
the writer is talking about the fight between some girls.
p.4
2-7-2011 Mon "4 sentence Summary"
Teachers was asking what happened about the fight. Teachers asked different people opinion and ideas. the main character gave his opinion about the school. also, i found out that the charater is not very good kids in school
p.8
2-9-2011 Wed "5 sentence Summary"
the officer Mendz comes to Mr.Bowan's office to take More...
Feb 03, 2012
Alize
rated it:
Messed Up was written by Janet Nichols Lynch. I really liked this book. The reason i liked it is because the book is very interesting and it kept you reading it. It was about a kid Named R.D. living in a horrible place and some bad things happen in his life and at first he dint say anything about what was happening.While all that was happening he was trying to stay in school and keep out of trouble.I would definitely recommend this book to other teenager because they see what kind of life they
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Oct 27, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
Though provoking if rather improbable story about a teenager trying to come of age in a dysfunctional family/abandonment setting. Reverts to rather crude references to bodily functions, and is more than a little morally ambiguous with teen on teen violence and teenage pregnancy occurring. It does make one appreciate family stability and that there are some positive portrayals of adults trying to help youth in difficult situations.
May 13, 2009
Scarlett
rated it:
It was good; I'm mainly giving it three stars because it's not the kind of thing I would normally pick up, but if I liked this kind of thing it would probably be four. My favorite part of this book was how when R.D. is alone and goes to the grocery store he recognizes that he has to be frugal and is able to make smart decisions about what to buy. I thought it was great that the author was portraying this 15 year old kid as learning a responsibility that many adults don't have. I would recomme
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Nov 27, 2011
Mrs.Houck
rated it:
Gripping story of a Latino teen who has to grow up suddenly when his guardian dies. Struggling to do the right thing in a dangerous neighbohood , he wonders how much to tell the authorities and how much to keep secret. Gang fights and problems at school complicate things. Good depiction of the day to day struggles teens go through as they assume more responsbility for their lives
Sep 21, 2010
Lori
rated it:
R.D.'s life is really messed up! Even though I thought a lot of the life situations seemed real and believable, I didn't think the ending was very realistic. I do think readers will enjoy watching R.D. confront many obstacles and will appreciate the strength of his character and how well he deals with everything despite his unusual upbringing.
Sep 15, 2010
Sandy
rated it:
I really liked this book about a 15-year-old boy named R.D. who is repeating the 8th grade and lives with his grandma's boyfriend, Earl. The language used throughout the book seemed authentic, as did the poor situations surrounding the characters. The ending was tied up a bit neatly, but not necessarily in an unrealistic way. C. 2009, genre-realistic fiction
Sep 16, 2010
Bryant
rated it:
You have to love this book! its just what i wanted to read, it starts with a action which is a fight two big girls fight and people going crazy. Which i think its smilier from where i come from. But i learned that its not only about problems and fighting sometime the best way is by talking.
Jan 31, 2012
Danica
rated it:
With the opening paragraph this book has, what's not to like? I can't wait to recommend this to some of my middle school students. I think they would relate, and I like that RD managed to grow and mature throughout the course of the book. A definite read for reluctant teen readers.
Nov 06, 2011
Eryn
rated it:
A perfect middle school level book. The writing confuses you at first because of the spelling choices the author made to be "authentic" to her character. But, overall, this book has the right amount of drama and action without swear words, major violence or over sexualized characters.
Oct 06, 2011
Cbouck
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Book Review
Chase Bouck
Messed Up is a Realistic Fiction book about a fifteen year old boy named R.D. R.D has been through a lot in his life and is about to have another unexpected turn for the worst. R.D's father left him when he was but a little boy and his mother is in jail for drug trade. R.D is now living with his grandma and her boy friend Earl in a house that they only half own. Can things get any worse More...
Chase Bouck
Messed Up is a Realistic Fiction book about a fifteen year old boy named R.D. R.D has been through a lot in his life and is about to have another unexpected turn for the worst. R.D's father left him when he was but a little boy and his mother is in jail for drug trade. R.D is now living with his grandma and her boy friend Earl in a house that they only half own. Can things get any worse More...
Jun 11, 2009
Phoebe
rated it:
My favorite aspects of this novel is how R.D. gradually learns how to take care of himself, develop deeper and more satisfying interpersonal relationships, and take pride in domestic chores all while retaining his wry sense of humor, innocence, and boyishness.
Jan 19, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
My favorite thing about the main character was his ability to learn. He quickly learned to change behavior, imitate common decency, and appreciate what others did for him--even if it was too late to thank them. There are lots of cultural references in this book that would make it fun to teach. I didn't like the editing of this book, however. The text is written in slang as the main characters voice. I can appreciate and understand slang but I think the editors made a bad choice with misspell
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Nov 24, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
Loved it. Sweet and sad and funny. Especially RD's entree into groceries and cooking--hilarious! Makes me realize how many things that are like common knowledge for me, were things I learned, from my mom or someone else. And if no one had taught me, how would I know what to do?
