297th out of 600 books
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1,256 voters
Battle Dress
by
Amy Efaw (Goodreads Author)
Based on the authorÕs own experiences as a cadet at the exclusive United States Military Academy at West Point, Battle Dress is the brutally honest tale of seventeen-year-old Andi Davis, who views her acceptance at West Point as a chance to escape her dysfunctional family and prove to herself that she has what it takes to survive ÒThe Beast,Ó insider terminology for Basic...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
December 2nd 2010
by Speak
(first published May 31st 2000)
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May 30, 2010
Valerie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
realistic-fiction,
favorites
I can't remember everything in this book but I remember that I really liked the girl. She is strong and not only physically. But she is real and I can really understand how she is. The author describes the environment of west point well too and the end is good.
On the ride to West Point, Andi's siblings bicker and her mother tries to get out of the speeding car at 65 mph and then throws her dad's glasses out the window so he will be forced to let her drive. With a family like this, it's no wonder Andi welcomes the grueling six week boot camp experience, known discomfortingly as "Beast." Anticipation quickly turns to tolerance as she is verbally abused to relearn how to walk, talk, even eat. The fear that she will fall into the category of dropout like...more
I didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up. I'd just finished reading Richelle Mead's The Indigo Spell last night when I decided I'd give this book a try. I read the first few pages before school and right away my interest was captured. So when I sat down to read after school, imagine my surprise when eight o'clock rolled around. Then ten o'clock snuck in through the window as I turned the last page. Battle Dress is a fast read, relatively easy to follow, and it utterly captivated m...more
Aug 12, 2012
Rachel Brown
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
military
A semi-autobiographical YA novel based on Efaw’s own experience attending West Point. For teenage runner Andi Davis, military academy is an escape from the unrelenting brutality of her family’s emotional abuse. There she faces institutional sexism and her own tendency to judge women more harshly than men, and, like any cadet, struggles to survive in a deliberately harsh environment. But she also finds, for the first time in her life, a sense of belonging and people who value her strength.
The nov...more
The nov...more
Pipes, Dawn
P.6, English 4
Mr. Clark
05.30.12
Review
In Amy Efaw’s Battle Dress Andi Davis, a young lady in a bad family structure heads off on a whirlwind adventure to “Beast” or a military boot camp for the army. “Beast” is one of the hardest training camps the army has to offer, the best of the best, and Andi decided to go there. She left to get away from her family and while she is there, she runs into a whole new lifestyle. This lifestyle forces her to have everything in an orderly manner...more
P.6, English 4
Mr. Clark
05.30.12
Review
In Amy Efaw’s Battle Dress Andi Davis, a young lady in a bad family structure heads off on a whirlwind adventure to “Beast” or a military boot camp for the army. “Beast” is one of the hardest training camps the army has to offer, the best of the best, and Andi decided to go there. She left to get away from her family and while she is there, she runs into a whole new lifestyle. This lifestyle forces her to have everything in an orderly manner...more
Battle Dress was quite different from most books I've read, but I really enjoyed being able to see what life is like for a new female cadet at West Point.
Amy Efaw's main character, Andi, was easy to become attached to. The decision to go to West Point isn't one that I would make, but I could definitely understand why Andi needed to get away from her dysfunctional family.
I don't think I'll ever understand the yelling and belittling that comes with armed forces training, but the environment worked...more
Amy Efaw's main character, Andi, was easy to become attached to. The decision to go to West Point isn't one that I would make, but I could definitely understand why Andi needed to get away from her dysfunctional family.
I don't think I'll ever understand the yelling and belittling that comes with armed forces training, but the environment worked...more
After spending many decades trying to imagine what life in the military would be like for females, I have seen times change enough that women are not only in the military, they write about it. Efaw has fictionalized her summer of the Beast, Basic Training at West Point, when she was seventeen.
Efaw sticks to a tight structure: we open with 17 year old Andi Davis being driven by her family to West Point. The first chapter is their trip, establishing her dysfunctional family (though her sister is s...more
Efaw sticks to a tight structure: we open with 17 year old Andi Davis being driven by her family to West Point. The first chapter is their trip, establishing her dysfunctional family (though her sister is s...more
First off, Andi is the type of girl who I wish I was. She's mentally and physically strong, she's compassionate while still being a realist and she just has this inner strength that I don't think many people could ever have.
Andi aside, this book was really interesting to read while captivating my attention - I read it in one sitting while I should have been sleeping or preparing for work the next morning - and making me want to know what happens next. I wish that there was a second book to this...more
Andi aside, this book was really interesting to read while captivating my attention - I read it in one sitting while I should have been sleeping or preparing for work the next morning - and making me want to know what happens next. I wish that there was a second book to this...more
Battle Dress, by Amy Efaw
"Battle Dress" follows Andrea Davis through her first sumer at West Point, a time when the incoming class is stripped of their civilian lives. Andi's family life is clearly dysfunctional, mostly described through flashbacks and the order of West Point is a sort of comfort to her. I would have liked a little more detail on the why, but I don't think it's necessary for the story as the bits provided easily set up Andi's home life.
While her initial goal is to survive the s...more
"Battle Dress" follows Andrea Davis through her first sumer at West Point, a time when the incoming class is stripped of their civilian lives. Andi's family life is clearly dysfunctional, mostly described through flashbacks and the order of West Point is a sort of comfort to her. I would have liked a little more detail on the why, but I don't think it's necessary for the story as the bits provided easily set up Andi's home life.
While her initial goal is to survive the s...more
I know little to nothing about the military save for what I've seen in the movies. I picked this book up at a book fair in the young adult section and thought I'd give it a read before putting it on the shelf for my middle schoolers, not quite sure what it contained for them. What I got was a lesson in West Point etiquette, vocabulary, and more respect for all those men and women who choose to serve our country.
The 300-page novel comes from Andi's point of view, a girl fresh out of high school n...more
The 300-page novel comes from Andi's point of view, a girl fresh out of high school n...more
If you had ever dreamt of attending The United States Military Academy at West Point, you ought to read Amy Efaw’s novel – Battle Dress. It is more than just a great novel that will pass the time. It is a novel that will not only inspire you, but will also challenge you to ask questions about your own character. Throughout the reading, I had asked myself questions, concerning whether or not I could have endured all the hazing, yelling, physical training, and other demands placed upon the new cad...more
I thought this book was really good! It kept you on your toes, made you want to dash out of bed in the morning and rush through things to keep the upperclassmen happy! lol. The only thing I wanted was to see her family again at the end. I was hoping I would. Even if they didn't change their tune towards her, I still wanted that, wanted to see her stand up to them as a changed woman. Even without that at the end, it was still a very satisfying ending though. I highly recommend this book to anyone...more
So, I recently read the author's book "After," so I thought I'd check out her other book "Battle Dress." Turns out, I actually already read this book... Twelve years ago! My life was so different then, no kids, no husband. It's so weird to be reunited with a long lost friend.
The book had been updated since then. One of the characters in the original version mentioned how he got his combat award in Desert Storm. Remember that? In this new version, it was from Afghanistan. Other than that, nothin...more
The book had been updated since then. One of the characters in the original version mentioned how he got his combat award in Desert Storm. Remember that? In this new version, it was from Afghanistan. Other than that, nothin...more
Mar 10, 2011
Ricki
added it
This book is unique because it is told through the eyes of Andi. Andi is seventeen and has left her life behind to enroll at West Point. Here, she will have to survive six weeks of Beast. She is screamed at, belittled, and pushed to her limit. She is only one of two girls in her squad. They others are all male. Other's beliefs that she can not succeed push Andi to do her best and show them what she's got. First, she beats everyone in the PT running test. Then, she makes the track team all in one...more
My Dad is a member of the Long Gray Line. Growing up, I heard stories of his time at West Point, and, of course, his time spent in 'Beast' Barracks. However, because he was one of the last classes comprised entirely of men (the first women were admitted in 1976 for inclusion in the class of 1980 and he graduated just prior to that), I always wondered what it must have been like for women.
This book answered a lot of those questions. It had it all -- character growth, struggling to find meaning in...more
This book answered a lot of those questions. It had it all -- character growth, struggling to find meaning in...more
Mature Content: Mild Language
Lexile: 650L
I have always known that basic training for any branch of the military drags its participants through every physical, emotional, and mental challenge they can possibly think of. I know that I am not cut out for this type of training and deeply respect anyone who endures it. This is the story of one such person.
Andi, short for Andrea, enters West Point to escape from her very challenging family. Quickly, she discovers her personal strengths and weaknesses...more
Lexile: 650L
I have always known that basic training for any branch of the military drags its participants through every physical, emotional, and mental challenge they can possibly think of. I know that I am not cut out for this type of training and deeply respect anyone who endures it. This is the story of one such person.
Andi, short for Andrea, enters West Point to escape from her very challenging family. Quickly, she discovers her personal strengths and weaknesses...more
Most of you do not know this about me, but I have always been fascinated by military protocol. For a nation that champions individuality and creativity, its military seems to be one of the last bastions of enforced conformity and groupthink. Coming from both a collectivist and individualistic culture, I can see the pros and cons of this military protocol. BATTLE DRESS was a solid glimpse into the mysterious world of West Point, although Andi’s internal conflicts were a little roughly drawn.
Creat...more
Creat...more
I was disappointed that this story wasn't really true. Based on the author's real experiences, it tells the story of a girl champion runner with a horrible mother joins the military to escape. The story tells her experiences at West Point in the weeks of intense training and psychological testing before the actual plebe year begins. Good characterization, but the girl's continual rising above the hazing and prejudice of her superiors and peers should have been TRUE to have the impact the author...more
I had previously read a book by Amy Efaw and was intrigued to find Battle Dress when searching for books at my local library. The summary seemed interesting enough, and it definitely ended up that way, too.
The entire plot is based on a young girl's journey through West Point. This means a lot of discipline, gender roles/issues, and self reflection.
I found the plot and characters to be quite fascinating, even if I was surprised at the activities they were forced to do sometimes. The characters we...more
The entire plot is based on a young girl's journey through West Point. This means a lot of discipline, gender roles/issues, and self reflection.
I found the plot and characters to be quite fascinating, even if I was surprised at the activities they were forced to do sometimes. The characters we...more
A young girl named Andi needs to get away from her home, and much to her parents chagrin gets accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. This book follows her from the time she gets in the car heading to West Point to her graduation of her summer training (which is mostly the same as Basic Training).
I'd recommend this book to anyone considering the US Military. As the author herself is an Academy graduate, she offers an accurate representation of your first two months of life,...more
I'd recommend this book to anyone considering the US Military. As the author herself is an Academy graduate, she offers an accurate representation of your first two months of life,...more
Andrea -Andi Davis can't wait to begin her first year as a cadet at West Point. She has wanted to escape from her dysfunctional family for as long as she can remember. But will life at West Point be any better than life at home? Does she have the inner strength to survive her first year? This compelling book realistically portrays the rigorous trials and challenges that new cadets face during basic training--The Beast--the summer before their year as plebes at America's oldest and most prestigio...more
This was a really good read. It was very well written and I couldn't help but feel like I was there with Andi at the Beast through all her ups and downs. I laughed, I cried, and I cheered her on no matter what. This book really gave me some insight on the day-to-day life of new cadets. I really felt like I was there with them from their first day to their last of the Beast. One of the things I really got a good glimpse at was the phrase, "their bark is worse than their bite". I feel like that ph...more
Amy Efaw's Battle Dress is a vivid account of one girl battling the odds to make it through "Beast," the Basic Training at West Point. In a bid to escape her crazy and frustrating family, main character Andi hopes to find some escape - but what she gets is a challenge unlike anything she could have imagined. Extremely outnumbered by the guys, Andi must face the daunting physical and mental challenges to prove to herself that she can do it, that she has what it takes. As the book is based on the...more
Nov 01, 2009
Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-ya,
maybe-reread-sometime
This is an interesting book. To get the most out of it, you have to think a little; this is not a book that spoon-feeds everything to you. Certain things are not resolved as well as they could be. Also ... the book was written and published in the year 2000. If it had been published sometime later, it might have been a different and somewhat deeper book. Nonetheless, if there were a sequel (which there doesn't seem to be), I would read it.
I know there are awful parents out there, but I had a lit...more
I know there are awful parents out there, but I had a lit...more
I liked this book. I think it was well written. It was a bit of a "chick book" however. Not saying its a bad thing, just it gives the book an automatic "eh" to it. For me. It had a good plot, and I liked that it showed the goods and bars of West Point. It may not be a hundred percent accurate, but I liked that part. I also liked how the author portrayed the high officials. It may be nice to see a sequel, find out what happens after she graduates, but I don't need it. I really enjoyed this book,...more
I just finished this book this weekend, and I really liked it. Hearing the very realistic account of a new West Point recruit was very compelling. It's a tough environment for anyone, but the main character is also a female, and this leads to some different challenges. Unlike some recruits, Andi is NOT homesick because her home life was not ideal. She is highly motivated to do well & make sure she doesn't have to go home. I hope the author writes a follow up story about Andi and her journey...more
Amy Efan is a wonderful author. The first book I read by her, After, was very captivating and sided on controversial in a new, contemporary twist. It was brutal, offensive, and overall, a great read. She is also a delight to speak to, and I hope that she has other projects to be released soon.
So it really stabs me in the heart to dislike Battle Dress. The writing was still perfect, but Andi, the main protagonist, and I never really got along. Hell, I can’t stand her. Andi comes from a troubled b...more
Battle Dress was so much fun to read! It's all about Andi starting Cadet training during the summer and I loved reading it. It's reinforced my thoughts of never joining the army but it's also made me want to read more!
Battle Dress is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. I laughed a ton during the beginning (though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional... I have a weird sense of funny) but then I got used to the insults hurled by Cadets. The actual story is very simple since most of...more
Battle Dress is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. I laughed a ton during the beginning (though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional... I have a weird sense of funny) but then I got used to the insults hurled by Cadets. The actual story is very simple since most of...more
Battle Dress was so much fun to read! It's all about Andi starting Cadet training during the summer and I loved reading it. It's reinforced my thoughts of never joining the army but it's also made me want to read more!
Battle Dress is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. I laughed a ton during the beginning (though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional... I have a weird sense of funny) but then I got used to the insults hurled by Cadets. The actual story is very simple since most of...more
Battle Dress is the kind of book that leaves you wanting more. I laughed a ton during the beginning (though I'm not sure if the humor was intentional... I have a weird sense of funny) but then I got used to the insults hurled by Cadets. The actual story is very simple since most of...more
This was a great read for so many reasons. It's an intriguing look into life at West Point, what the cadets go through their first six weeks, the beat down they receive before they are built back up as new, stronger people. It seems just like a lot of yelling and degradation at first, but by the end, it made sense to me.
Andi comes from a very dysfunctional family. At first, she feels like she's stepped from the frying pan into the fire, but soon in the middle of being called a knucklehead and le...more
Andi comes from a very dysfunctional family. At first, she feels like she's stepped from the frying pan into the fire, but soon in the middle of being called a knucklehead and le...more
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Mar 12, 2013 10:13pm