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Living Rough
In most ways, Poe is like the other kids in his school. He thinks about girls and tries to avoid too much contact with teachers. He has a loving father who helps him with his homework. But Poe has a secret, and almost every day some small act threatens to expose him. He doesn't have a phone number to give to friends. He doesn't have an address. Poe and his father are living in a tent on city land. When the city clears the land to build housing, Poe worries that they might not be able to find another site near his school. Will Poe have to expose his secret to get help for himself and his father?
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
12 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Cristy Watson
10 books84 followersI am a retired teacher and writer living in Calgary, Alberta. Since retiring I have grown the writer part of my life and now edit and mentor authors, as well as offering writing workshops. Along with eight published novels, my poetry appears in anthologies and online. Thanks for visiting my page!
Check out my author Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/watsoncristy
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Check out my author Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/watsoncristy
And my new YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD76...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 10, 2020
Book #5 in NZ Goodreads Readathon
CW:
A brief look at a teen coping with a significant change in circumstance that results in him and his father being homeless. Lacks any grit or depth. Short novels can have these as Robert Swindells has shown.
CW:
A brief look at a teen coping with a significant change in circumstance that results in him and his father being homeless. Lacks any grit or depth. Short novels can have these as Robert Swindells has shown.
March 9, 2019
Cristy Watson has a flair for writing socially relevant novels at an easily accessible level. With the current climate changes taking effect, and homeless shelters overflowing, Living Rough is most a propos for reluctant readers. Compassionate but not overly sentimental, insightful but not scholarly, this book not only entertains, but leads the reader to think in a more mature and sympathetic manner.
FIVE STARS!
FIVE STARS!
March 6, 2018
This is for a particular group of readers, ie. reluctant teens. If you're trying to get your teen to start reading, then this is a good fit for them. It's not long, it's not difficult to read and at the same time it's about a struggling teen that young readers will be able to relate to. Even though the theme is very serious, the author manages to shine a positive light on the situation. I know the author is a teacher, so I'm sure she understands teens better than anyone!
August 30, 2013
A complex and difficult subject dealt with simply, but not simplistically. Set in Canada, the situations and issues translate well to any US or first world city. Quick and easy to read in a textual way, but challenging and intense in content.
January 12, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
The author donated a copy to the juvenile jail I volunteer in. I just had to sneak a peak at the book first.
This book is a great read. The main focus of the story is homelessness, but there is also the idea of friendship and family. Poe has to deal with being homeless and not losing his family. It is a really tough spot for anyone to be in. Not only does the book address some of the emotional issues of being homeless, but it also addresses some of the reasons why someone would be.
I like that the book flat out says that not all homeless people are drug addicts or “lazy”. It gives that idea that some people ran into bad luck and just have been trying to survive. There is talk about how it isn’t easy to ask for help and that even when help is asked for there are not always services available. It was a wonderful introduction to the topic for teens. It was also a book that will really resonate with teens who are struggling.
The book was wonderfully paced and had a great deal of action, which wasn’t what I was expecting. There is even a mild romance plot. I loved the literary references. They just really put that little spin on it that made the book feel older than what the reading level suggests. It didn’t feel like it was talking down to the teens that need the lower reading level, instead it seemed to seek to comfort and push them a bit further. Those references opened a door for the teens finding more to read in a subtle way. They were there, but they didn’t require anyone to know anything about those authors or books to continue the story. It is hard to be upset when Poe is referenced.
The author donated a copy to the juvenile jail I volunteer in. I just had to sneak a peak at the book first.
This book is a great read. The main focus of the story is homelessness, but there is also the idea of friendship and family. Poe has to deal with being homeless and not losing his family. It is a really tough spot for anyone to be in. Not only does the book address some of the emotional issues of being homeless, but it also addresses some of the reasons why someone would be.
I like that the book flat out says that not all homeless people are drug addicts or “lazy”. It gives that idea that some people ran into bad luck and just have been trying to survive. There is talk about how it isn’t easy to ask for help and that even when help is asked for there are not always services available. It was a wonderful introduction to the topic for teens. It was also a book that will really resonate with teens who are struggling.
The book was wonderfully paced and had a great deal of action, which wasn’t what I was expecting. There is even a mild romance plot. I loved the literary references. They just really put that little spin on it that made the book feel older than what the reading level suggests. It didn’t feel like it was talking down to the teens that need the lower reading level, instead it seemed to seek to comfort and push them a bit further. Those references opened a door for the teens finding more to read in a subtle way. They were there, but they didn’t require anyone to know anything about those authors or books to continue the story. It is hard to be upset when Poe is referenced.
November 14, 2016
Have you ever saw someone on the streets asking for money or food? Do you know why they are there? Well this book is kind of like that and has many attention grabbers that want to make you wonder, "well what going to happen next?" This book is by Cristy Watson and is titled, Living Rough.
In this book there is a kid and his name is Poe. Poe and his father live in a tent because they dont have a home but no one knows that. He goes to school living his life like if there was no trouble to worry also trying to not let his secret come out. Some kids in his school knows there is something wrong with him and try to do things for him to spill it. While at home or in his tent, near their house are people who clean out the grounds to make new land for new houses and stores to be built. But one day they get this horrible storm that causes not only Poe to worry but for his father to live. I think this book was made for us to think that not all people out there have normal lives or have food or might have a home. We all have something in our lives that we cant fix that just how life is. In the book there is kids who bother him to know his secret. Sometimes people like to keep things in because they are afraid of what might happen in a resault. I think Poe didn't tell anybody because they might take him away from his father.
I think this is my favorite of all books. This book made me want to keep reading more and more. It was so interesting when me "the reader" could reflect on how others peoples lives are. Not all lives have it easy. Its hard dealing with something you cant fix and cant tell no one because you dont what they might think of you.
I recommend this book to all readers who like attention grabbers and how other people get through hard situations. It was sad at times. I give this book a 5 out of 5.
In this book there is a kid and his name is Poe. Poe and his father live in a tent because they dont have a home but no one knows that. He goes to school living his life like if there was no trouble to worry also trying to not let his secret come out. Some kids in his school knows there is something wrong with him and try to do things for him to spill it. While at home or in his tent, near their house are people who clean out the grounds to make new land for new houses and stores to be built. But one day they get this horrible storm that causes not only Poe to worry but for his father to live. I think this book was made for us to think that not all people out there have normal lives or have food or might have a home. We all have something in our lives that we cant fix that just how life is. In the book there is kids who bother him to know his secret. Sometimes people like to keep things in because they are afraid of what might happen in a resault. I think Poe didn't tell anybody because they might take him away from his father.
I think this is my favorite of all books. This book made me want to keep reading more and more. It was so interesting when me "the reader" could reflect on how others peoples lives are. Not all lives have it easy. Its hard dealing with something you cant fix and cant tell no one because you dont what they might think of you.
I recommend this book to all readers who like attention grabbers and how other people get through hard situations. It was sad at times. I give this book a 5 out of 5.
February 26, 2012
Thanks to my good friend, Laurie for reading and reviewing this for PSLA 2012!
Poe tries to go unnoticed in school so he can hide his secret. He does share his life story with his best friend, Ben and the new Ukrainian student, Inna; Poe and his dad lost everything after his dad lost his job to take care of his dying wife. An unexpected turn of events occurs and his secret of poverty and living in a tent is soon revealed to the entire school. Will he lose everything, including his dad, Ben, and Inna? This book gives a glimpse into a tough situation that some teens deal with while trying to balance adolescence; Watson brings compassion and sensitivity to teen homelessness.
Homeless persons Laurie O, Abington Senior High
Poe tries to go unnoticed in school so he can hide his secret. He does share his life story with his best friend, Ben and the new Ukrainian student, Inna; Poe and his dad lost everything after his dad lost his job to take care of his dying wife. An unexpected turn of events occurs and his secret of poverty and living in a tent is soon revealed to the entire school. Will he lose everything, including his dad, Ben, and Inna? This book gives a glimpse into a tough situation that some teens deal with while trying to balance adolescence; Watson brings compassion and sensitivity to teen homelessness.
Homeless persons Laurie O, Abington Senior High
August 15, 2012
Poe is a teen with a secret, he and his father are homeless. No one knows, not his friend, not his teachers, no one and Poe spends a lot of time worrying about how he's going to keep the secret.
This was an okay book. I felt like it could have went more in depth and that the ending wrapped up a little too easily but the glimpse that it did give into the homeless situation felt both honest and realistic.
It would have made a good longer length novel. As it was it was more short story that would appeal to male readers.
This was an okay book. I felt like it could have went more in depth and that the ending wrapped up a little too easily but the glimpse that it did give into the homeless situation felt both honest and realistic.
It would have made a good longer length novel. As it was it was more short story that would appeal to male readers.
June 18, 2013
I read this book as part of a project with one of my students. He picked out the book and I thought to myself that this was going to be one of those boring, meaningless books that stands in for a real book. I should have known better as this is an Orca book, and this publisher does a great job ferretting out the best fiction written for low level/high interest audiences. Meet Poe, a high school student living on the streets with his father who is trying to hide his less-than-ideal living arrangements. You won’t think about homelessness the same way ever again.
November 24, 2013
In this book Edgar Allen or as his friend calls him Poe, he and his father are living in a tent hidden away from people. One day when Poe went to school and had to guide this foreign girl around, whom he ended up falling in love with. Later on there ended up being a storm which forced Poe and his Dad to pack up their campsite and go somewhere else, in the entire process of this happening Poe's dad had manages to break his arm. Now Poe and his Dad aren't sure where they'll end up going, and if they could even be seperated.
April 29, 2020
Living Rough by Cristy Watson is quick read told from the perspective of a teenage boy who lives with his Dad in a tent in White Rock. Poe has fears that he will be discovered at school & does his best to hide their struggles from his friends, school, & society. The vocabulary in this book makes it easy to read but it’s content will appeal to a YA audience. I am thankful that this book was recommended for me to read.
June 11, 2014
another orca sounding - this one was better than the last one I read. again the concept is a short concise story that usually teaches a lesson. I did like what this one said about homelessness - how there is shame when there really shouldn't be - the misconceptions about the homeless and how other people perceive it. pretty well done in a short story.
August 20, 2012
YA -- Orca Currents
The male protagonist seems realistic and interesting. I felt like there were issues that could have been addressed in this book and weren't. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but then I can see how it would appeal to a teen and especially a male teen.
The male protagonist seems realistic and interesting. I felt like there were issues that could have been addressed in this book and weren't. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but then I can see how it would appeal to a teen and especially a male teen.
February 10, 2015
Of the four Orca high interest low reading level titles I read today(!), this was the best.
January 17, 2019
The best
June 17, 2020
A selection from our NZ Group Book Read.
All Poe wants is to be able to get through the day with as little attention as possible. He's a pretty standard teenager, there's girls and friends but there's also something that he's been trying to hide for a very long time. His living situation is currently a tent hidden away in the forest with his father, there's no electricity and there's barely any heat but it's home as long as they don't get caught. But then things start to change and suddenly Poe has been thrust into everyone's attention, its now that he and his dad finally start to come to terms with where they are in their lives.
This was a shorter book than I realized, you start off with a usual day in the life of Poe. For myself I felt that Poe was a deep teenager and wonder if this was a reflection of the struggles that he has been dealing with in his situation.
The book doesn't have any major depth, which makes sense with the length and the target audience which would be for young adults and teens. It's a quick and easy read, enough substance there to get an idea and would be good for those who aren't that fond on reading.
All Poe wants is to be able to get through the day with as little attention as possible. He's a pretty standard teenager, there's girls and friends but there's also something that he's been trying to hide for a very long time. His living situation is currently a tent hidden away in the forest with his father, there's no electricity and there's barely any heat but it's home as long as they don't get caught. But then things start to change and suddenly Poe has been thrust into everyone's attention, its now that he and his dad finally start to come to terms with where they are in their lives.
This was a shorter book than I realized, you start off with a usual day in the life of Poe. For myself I felt that Poe was a deep teenager and wonder if this was a reflection of the struggles that he has been dealing with in his situation.
The book doesn't have any major depth, which makes sense with the length and the target audience which would be for young adults and teens. It's a quick and easy read, enough substance there to get an idea and would be good for those who aren't that fond on reading.
January 26, 2023
The story has brevity and simplicity to it that probably makes it accessible to a young adult readership, but also means it somewhat romanticizes the realities of homelessness.
January 21, 2013
Living Rough is a very short, easy-to-read book for teenagers. The lead character, Edgar Allen Reed AKA Poe (get it?), is in high school, has a dad that loves to read with him, a best friend, and a girl he's into. He also has a huge secret that he doesn't want anyone from his school to find out.
SPOILER:
I've read another longer and better book about this same topic called Forgotten, by Melody Carlson (she's a Christian YA author but is sometimes decent at writing about teen issues). That book wasn't amazing either, but this one felt especially unrealistic. The dialogue just wasn't very good, and a lot of things felt glossed over to keep the story short, like Poe's relationship with his dad and basically everything about Inna, the exchange student he's interested in.
Their relationship really bothered me, actually. She's just moved to America, and Poe is the first person she interacts with. Obviously, she's hot, because the foreign exchange student is always hot, and all the guys in school tease Poe about him hanging out with the hot foreign girl. So basically, it felt like Poe taking advantage of the situation to potentially get with a hot girl by having her depend on him for help at school. We never really learn anything about her personality except that she's foreign, so it's not like this relationship would be based on anything aside from mutual niceness and physical attraction. Shallow and kind of gross, if you ask me :p
SPOILER:
I've read another longer and better book about this same topic called Forgotten, by Melody Carlson (she's a Christian YA author but is sometimes decent at writing about teen issues). That book wasn't amazing either, but this one felt especially unrealistic. The dialogue just wasn't very good, and a lot of things felt glossed over to keep the story short, like Poe's relationship with his dad and basically everything about Inna, the exchange student he's interested in.
Their relationship really bothered me, actually. She's just moved to America, and Poe is the first person she interacts with. Obviously, she's hot, because the foreign exchange student is always hot, and all the guys in school tease Poe about him hanging out with the hot foreign girl. So basically, it felt like Poe taking advantage of the situation to potentially get with a hot girl by having her depend on him for help at school. We never really learn anything about her personality except that she's foreign, so it's not like this relationship would be based on anything aside from mutual niceness and physical attraction. Shallow and kind of gross, if you ask me :p
October 29, 2012
In my personal opinion I thought the book was a little slow. It was hard to get into it because it was so short. At first it was really boring but then as I got to reading it I started to see how it relates to people I’ve met in high school. The overall story line of the book was good. A lot of high school students could really relate to it, especially guys, in the sense that Edgar falls for a girl he meets at school. I like how it was a down to earth subject that more people than you think could relate to. I personally can’t relate to it, but I’ve meet a couple people who were homeless and go to my school and blend in just like all the other kids. Although the book wasn’t the best I’ve read, it was an overall good book for a teenage in high school to relate to. I would recommend it to guys more than I would girls.
The main character Edgar is the type of kid who gets picked on at school and he doesn’t have very many friends. His only real Friend is Ben, and he meets a new foreign exchange student named Inna. She doesn’t understand much English, but Edgar starts to fall for her anyways.
I rated this book at a three because although I didn’t care for the book very much, it did do well in relating to issues I see in high school today. That is one reason why I would recommend it to a couple people I know that face some of the very same issues in the book.
The main character Edgar is the type of kid who gets picked on at school and he doesn’t have very many friends. His only real Friend is Ben, and he meets a new foreign exchange student named Inna. She doesn’t understand much English, but Edgar starts to fall for her anyways.
I rated this book at a three because although I didn’t care for the book very much, it did do well in relating to issues I see in high school today. That is one reason why I would recommend it to a couple people I know that face some of the very same issues in the book.
October 29, 2015
Living Rough is a young teen novel that hits on the critical issue of homelessness and poverty. Although the book is pretty short, Watson manages to get across the hardships of being homeless and overall public assumptions, while still being able to give the readers a happy ending.
Edgar Allen Reed is a high school aged boy who lives with his father in a tent in the woods. Edgar, whose friends call him Poe, tries to hide his home situation from his peers and teachers as best as possible, that is until tragedy strikes. The best part of this novel is that it shows the raw emotion between the students when they have an in class discussion about poverty. I would definitely have this book available on my classroom bookshelf to provide exposure of these subjects to my students.
Edgar Allen Reed is a high school aged boy who lives with his father in a tent in the woods. Edgar, whose friends call him Poe, tries to hide his home situation from his peers and teachers as best as possible, that is until tragedy strikes. The best part of this novel is that it shows the raw emotion between the students when they have an in class discussion about poverty. I would definitely have this book available on my classroom bookshelf to provide exposure of these subjects to my students.
August 25, 2014
I really liked this book because, I can connect to Edgar in some ways. I know what it is like to lose a parent and how it feels to not fit in with the other kids in school. I really liked the fact that Edgar found a comfort spot in Ben and was able to have a friend to help him through his struggles. But the thing that i felt did not fit in was Inna. Sure by a long shot she might have purpose but, in the situation that Edgar is in i find her out of context almost. I don't know but that is just my opinion.
September 17, 2012
poe
when i starting reading this book i did not think i was going to like it but then its started geting good. i like the story of this book i like how poe livies a hard life growing up poor with no money to eat he lives outside. when i am reading this book it feels like i am one of the charter in this book.
when i starting reading this book i did not think i was going to like it but then its started geting good. i like the story of this book i like how poe livies a hard life growing up poor with no money to eat he lives outside. when i am reading this book it feels like i am one of the charter in this book.
January 29, 2016
a young man is living in a tent in the forest with his dad since they don't want to be separated from each other. he lives in fear of people finding out and being separated. it comes to light what was happening when the city decides to cut down the trees.
April 29, 2012
I was hoping for better, but it was ok. Would like to read a couple others by this publisher to get a better sense of the writing.
September 10, 2012
I think that the disruption could be better. I read 2 and a half hours
November 20, 2012
Simplistic and a bit glossy and tidy, but a fair addition to any library's hi-lo collection. Clean.
April 10, 2013
it was awesome
April 28, 2017
A young boy feels embarrassed to let out his biggest secret of him and his father. I really admire Poe, the main character of the book. The way Poe acted in school is like seeing a reflection of myself.
This heartbreaking-it-will-make-you-feel-bad book describes how Poe lives with his secret. He meets certain people in his life that made him have an impact. The author made me have that weird feeling. It’s like having this what-if-I-were-in-this-position feeling. I read, felt Poes’ pain, thought about if this were me, and began to die inside.
The author gives a horribly amazing description in this book. The way the book describes is like if you were actually living it. It’s like living in pain. It’s like having your heart shattered. It’s like being under a dark cloud. I felt the way he suffered. I felt his exact pain. Throughout the book, you will have a feel of shame. The book is under a dark cloud until that little peek of sunshine pops out.
This heartbreaking-it-will-make-you-feel-bad book describes how Poe lives with his secret. He meets certain people in his life that made him have an impact. The author made me have that weird feeling. It’s like having this what-if-I-were-in-this-position feeling. I read, felt Poes’ pain, thought about if this were me, and began to die inside.
The author gives a horribly amazing description in this book. The way the book describes is like if you were actually living it. It’s like living in pain. It’s like having your heart shattered. It’s like being under a dark cloud. I felt the way he suffered. I felt his exact pain. Throughout the book, you will have a feel of shame. The book is under a dark cloud until that little peek of sunshine pops out.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews