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205th out of 254 books
—
1,641 voters
My rating:
add to my books
Secret Saturdays
A poignant look into one fatherless twelve-year-old's struggles with friendship and trust.
Sean is Justin's best friend, at least Justin thought he was. But lately Sean has been acting differently. Sean's been telling lies, getting into trouble at school, and hanging out with a tougher crowd, even getting into fights. This isn't like Sean at all.
When Justin finally discov...more
Sean is Justin's best friend, at least Justin thought he was. But lately Sean has been acting differently. Sean's been telling lies, getting into trouble at school, and hanging out with a tougher crowd, even getting into fights. This isn't like Sean at all.
When Justin finally discov...more
Hardcover, 208 pages
Published
April 15th 2010
by Putnam Juvenile
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A good read, particularly for guys or for reluctant readers. This book follows the lives of two friends (really four, including a girl) Justin and Sean, who have similar backgrounds (black and Puerto Rican and living in Red Hook).
Justin notices a change in Sean. His wisecracks become brutal and he starts to become a bully. He acts out in class and at school and his grades begin to suffer. Justin also sees Sean and his mom sneaking out on Saturdays, and decides that this is behind the ...more
Justin notices a change in Sean. His wisecracks become brutal and he starts to become a bully. He acts out in class and at school and his grades begin to suffer. Justin also sees Sean and his mom sneaking out on Saturdays, and decides that this is behind the ...more
BAYA Librarian
rated it
Justin, a sixth grader in New York's tough Red Hook neighborhood, has a lot in common with his best friend, Sean. Both boys are half black and half Puerto Rican, fans of rap, and though neither realize it, both are keeping secrets about their absent fathers. As Sean begins to flounder in school, hang with a tougher crowd, and bully other kids, they grow apart. But when Justin learns Sean's secret he turns to his other friends and adults in his life to help him repair his relationship with Sean.
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What an absolutely marvelous book this is! I am a recently retired NYC public school teacher, a middle school ELA teacher, to be exact. While reading SECRET SATURDAYS, I kept thinking, " Oh, how I wish I had this book to read with my students!" It speaks eloquently to that age group and toouches upon so many of the issues with which they deal. I was particularly taken with Justin, Sean, Vanessa, and Kyle. They are lovely young people who have been brought up to believe that educat...more
Nancy
rated it
Recommends it for:
middle school teachers and students
Recommended to Nancy by:
a fellow teacher
Shelves:
strongly-recommend
When I read this book, I could experience what it was like for a young boy to grow up in the Red Hook projects of Brooklyn. Having taught middle school for almost 30 years, I instantly realized what a great read this would be for middle school students. Not only would adolescents identify with Sean and Justin, but they would be intrigued by the mystery in the plot line. As a teacher I know that the choices that Sean eventually made were ones that we would hope all young males in the throws of...more
Justin, a sixth grader in New York's tough Red Hook neighborhood, has a lot in common with his best friend, Sean. Both boys are half black and half Puerto Rican, fans of rap, and though neither realize it, both are keeping secrets about their absent fathers. As Sean begins to flounder in school, hang with a tougher crowd, and bully other kids, they grow apart. But when Justin learns Sean's secret he turns to his other friends and adults in his life to help him repair his relationship with Sean.
...more
Great book. I hope this book is chosen for World Book Night in the future.
I agree with the endorsement of Rita Williams-Garcia that this book is "Playground tough with a sweet center." It's a clean read. The strongest language is people being called "Bighead" and sucking their teeth. Since it is set in the Red Hook projects, I was braced for harsh language. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a clean read. The story addresses the importance of guys having...more
I agree with the endorsement of Rita Williams-Garcia that this book is "Playground tough with a sweet center." It's a clean read. The strongest language is people being called "Bighead" and sucking their teeth. Since it is set in the Red Hook projects, I was braced for harsh language. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a clean read. The story addresses the importance of guys having...more
The tough Red Hook projects of New York City form the backdrop in this, the author's first book. Justin and Sean, both 12, have been best friends for what seems like forever. But now Sean is changing--bullying other students, missing classes, and not caring about grades. Why does he disappear every weekend? Why does he lie about where he's been? Justin doesn't understand and just want things to be the way they were. A thread about not having a father living in the house weaves itself throug...more
Justin and Sean have been friends forever. Sean has always had Justin’s back. Instead of fighting with fists, Sean has always fought with words. Lately something has been bothering Sean. Lately his dissing has become mean and hateful. He has begun using his fists. Justin, Vanessa and Kyle are concerned. Then Justin and Kyle notice Sean and his mother sneaking out at night and no one knows where they are going or why. Could this be the reason Sean has changed?
Torrey Maldonado h...more
Torrey Maldonado h...more
The plot of this book is original and then again it isn't. I thought the secret Saturday visits were obvious but that may be because I'm older than the main characters and I think younger readers may not be able to figure it out, but I had two guesses and halfway through the novel I was able to confidently say I knew what would happen. That was really the only thing I didn't like about the book. Along with the fact that some characters were cliches but that was mostly the minor ones, like Sean's...more
Secret Saturdays is an insightful read. Torrey Maldonado explores the all too real world of two boys (Justin and Sean) trying to survive middle school in New York City. To quote Maldonado its "dis, or get dissed on". The boys also have to deal with the common problem of living in a fatherless household, growing up in the projects, and all the complications this entails. Justin and Sean are pretty tight at the beginning of the story, but then Justin discovers that Sean has a secret. Con...more
What can i say about this book,living in red hook where the book is from it was awesome,to also have our jhs in it was the best..i can relate to the kid in the book,because thats how it really was growing up in red hook..i read the book in 1 day i couldnt put it down..i had my kids read it after i did they laughed because of the disses but they understood you don't make fun of people because you never know their circumstances..hopefully we get it in our school reading 142 here comes torrey...more
Title: Secret Saturdays
Author: Torrey Maldonado
I was reading a book called Secret Saturdays by Torrey Maldonado. The author wants to teach everyone a lesson in this book. He doesn’t want kids to be messing up in school. For example the character Sean was missing assignments, showing up late, and failing tests. He did all these things but when his friend Justin tried to ask why, he just ignored him and didn’t really reply. He would always make up silly answers like he doesn’t kno...more
Author: Torrey Maldonado
I was reading a book called Secret Saturdays by Torrey Maldonado. The author wants to teach everyone a lesson in this book. He doesn’t want kids to be messing up in school. For example the character Sean was missing assignments, showing up late, and failing tests. He did all these things but when his friend Justin tried to ask why, he just ignored him and didn’t really reply. He would always make up silly answers like he doesn’t kno...more
A realistic view of what life is like in the projects for a teenaged boy, Secret Saturdays explores the father son relationship from a grittier perspective. The story revolves around Justin, his group of friends, their families, and their classmates. Each of the main and supporting characters bring with them their individual familial crosses to bear. Some have moms, some dads, and some are fortunate to have both. Regardless, all live in the projects of Red Hook — what seems to me to be a loc...more
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Friendship can be tricky. BFF has certain conditions that it sometimes takes a lifetime to understand. Being there for a friend seems simple - until it's not.
Justin and Sean have a lot in common. Both are half Black and half Puerto Rican. Both are being raised by single mothers intent on raising good, upstanding sons. Both are good students and behave in school. However, all that is beginning to cha...more
Friendship can be tricky. BFF has certain conditions that it sometimes takes a lifetime to understand. Being there for a friend seems simple - until it's not.
Justin and Sean have a lot in common. Both are half Black and half Puerto Rican. Both are being raised by single mothers intent on raising good, upstanding sons. Both are good students and behave in school. However, all that is beginning to cha...more
This book by local Brooklyn teacher Maldonado is likely to appeal to urban middle schoolers. It's honest about the difficult situations many kids face in low-income urban neighborhoods without ever being crass or sensationalist. Maldonado also honestly depicts middle school friendships, especially among boys. His prose is occasionally clunky and the plot drags in spots, but overall his message that boys need to be more open with their feelings resonates strongly.
In this urban lit novel, Justin goes to an inner city school in NY and deals with his best friend Seans' personality transformation. Sean was always tough, but when he starts picking on helpless people, and gets violent, Justin wonders what's up. This book was a fast read and was one of the few urban dramas that I actually made it through and enjoyed.
Monica
rated it
This book was ok. It was good. The author tells a realistic story of teenage boys growing up fatherless and the implications of it. They have trouble trusting each other even though they are best friends. There is definitely a good lesson in this book and I would recommend it to middle school boys as well as girls.
This is a wonderful and sorely needed young adult book aimed at a demographic that is often ignored. Mr. Maldonado has made an important contribution to young adult literature which should create a thirst for more stories from this talented writer.
Lynn, social worker, San Jose, California
Lynn, social worker, San Jose, California
Good choice for middle school boys, especially in urban settings. Themes include friendship, family, dealing with emotions, sexuality (what it means to be a man, fear of being thought of as gay). Grades 5-8. AM
I know that I'm not the intended audience for the book, but I felt that the storytelling was lazy and cliched. I thought the most honest part was the last chapter; everything that preceded it was uninspired.
It was heavy for an ages 9-12 book, but I thought it was realistic because some kids have to deal with these kinds of issues.
A great new voice in urban fiction.....great characters , great plot.....a great read !
I'm not into rap or the vocabulary, BUT this book was WELL done!
Ashley
added it
I liked the book but it is for guys and is mature .
Booktalking this one for June Youth Services Meeting.
This was an interesting book. I enjoyed the story and learning about the characters. I believe this read will be very popular with relunctant readers.
Got an ARC and loved it.
Page turner!
I love this book!
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