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Emergency Room
In this fast-paced novel, two college students experience life, death, heartbreak, and hope over the course of one night in a hospital ER.
In order to get an edge over the competition for medical school, Seth decides to volunteer at City Hospital. Diana is there to save the world—one patient at a time. These two college freshmen have little in common, except the desire to be part of the ER’s action.
Confronted with gunshot wounds and gruesome accidents, they both get a taste of the chaotic world of emergency medicine, and of the effect they can have on other people. Hour by hour, minute by minute, Diana and Seth’s adrenaline-fueled shift will alter the course of their lives. In one night, working among the doctors and nurses, they’ll learn more about medicine—and themselves—than they ever could have expected.
The multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Janie Johnson series takes readers into a life-and-death world in this captivating thriller.
In order to get an edge over the competition for medical school, Seth decides to volunteer at City Hospital. Diana is there to save the world—one patient at a time. These two college freshmen have little in common, except the desire to be part of the ER’s action.
Confronted with gunshot wounds and gruesome accidents, they both get a taste of the chaotic world of emergency medicine, and of the effect they can have on other people. Hour by hour, minute by minute, Diana and Seth’s adrenaline-fueled shift will alter the course of their lives. In one night, working among the doctors and nurses, they’ll learn more about medicine—and themselves—than they ever could have expected.
The multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Janie Johnson series takes readers into a life-and-death world in this captivating thriller.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
115 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Caroline B. Cooney
128 books1,754 followersCaroline Cooney knew in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer when "the best teacher I ever had in my life" made writing her main focus. "He used to rip off covers from The New Yorker and pass them around and make us write a short story on whichever cover we got. I started writing then and never stopped!"
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
When her children were young, Caroline started writing books for young people -- with remarkable results. She began to sell stories to Seventeen magazine and soon after began writing books. Suspense novels are her favorites to read and write. "In a suspense novel, you can count on action."
To keep her stories realistic, Caroline visits many schools outside of her area, learning more about teenagers all the time. She often organizes what she calls a "plotting game," in which students work together to create plots for stories. Caroline lives in Westbrook, Connecticut and when she's not writing she volunteers at a hospital, plays piano for the school musicals and daydreams!
- Scholastic.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
January 4, 2019
While thrilling and captivating, the book itself left too many unanswered questions. What happened to Jersey? What became of Anna Marie?
The character development was also insanely rushed and in some ways, irrelevant. Was it necessary for Diana to recognize her father's name? Was it necessary for Seth to read so uptight and rigid?
The action and fast paced nature of the novel was what drew me in but I need more information about events that mattered in the novel!!
The character development was also insanely rushed and in some ways, irrelevant. Was it necessary for Diana to recognize her father's name? Was it necessary for Seth to read so uptight and rigid?
The action and fast paced nature of the novel was what drew me in but I need more information about events that mattered in the novel!!
November 18, 2011
Date: 10/13/11
Genre: Mystery
Author: Caroline B. Cooney
Page: 3-8
This book is about a girl named Jersey. She got accepted to her dads college and that college has a dorm. Her dad gave her hundred dollars because Jersey got accepted into her dad's college. With that money, Jersey wants to go to the mall to buy shoes. She really wants to go to the mall with her two best friends Mai and Susan but they had a lab on Mondays so they couldn't go with Jersey. Jersey to go to the mall so she got out of the college at night and went to mall. Suddenly, she heard gun shots and she was flung against the pavement. She saw her black clothes turn red.
This book made me realize that it is dangerous outside at night.
I recommend this book to people that like mystery books.
An Important lesson I learned is don't go outside when it is night. Nothing good happens at night.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/17/11
Page: 9-27
This two chapters is about a guy named Seth and a girl named Diana. They were both college freshmen students that were volunteering in a Emergency Room to learn stuff before medical School. He would be helping the doctor, nurses, etc. Seth and Diana really wanted to see a person come with a gun shot wound which makes them really happy for some reason. Later on, nurses decided Diana should work with the insurance people in the hospital. Diana was so furious because she did not volunteer so she could work with the insurance people and also Seth will be working with the Doctors and Nurses. Diana was really freaked out about the people that were in the waiting room. Seth was laughing at Diana because she had to work in the insurance place.
I think the author wrote this book to show you doctors and nurses work really hard.
I recommend this book to people who like mystery.
Why is Diana working in the Insurance Place and Seth isn't?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/25/11
Page 28-44
In the first couple of pages,it is about a girl named Anna Maria. She had one young brother named Jose and a younger sister named Yasmin. Anna Marie wanted to take them to the waiting room in the Hospital because it was air-conditioned, had a tv, full of people and thing to watch, Water fountain and they gave you crayons and paper while you waited. Jose was two, Yasmin was four and Anna Maria was eight. After this chapter, Diana needs to find out who is Miss Sczevyl. She goes into this room and asked a attendant who is Sczevyl. He pointed to a girl who is a fighting, kicking, screaming, swearing psychotic. Diana keeps asking her questions but she is not answering. Also Diana believes she is not really Sczevyl. She believes it was made up so the Insurance people marked her as Unknown.
I think the author wrote this because some kids actually have to take care of their brothers or sisters even though they are all young.
Where is Anna Maria's parents?
Why is nobody taking care of her?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/31/11
Page 45-61
The first chapter was about a kid that ripped his palm open on the broken glass of a car window. Later on in this chapter, there is a women named Barbie and she basically ask questions about what happened to the people. One guy smokes crack, drinks vodka, does heroin, and takes pills. In the next chapter, it is about a guy named Alec. His cousin has a new motorcycle and Alec tries it out with no helmet. Alec drove really fast and each mile would take him a minute. He tried to make a hard right turn at top speed but he did not make it and was out of time. In the next chapter, it goes back to Jersey. Medics are right next to her and they are wandering why she got shot. She sees them but she is to weak to talk or even move. Finally she manages to tell them if she is going to be all right and they said they will do everything they can to make her feel better. The next chapter is about Diana hearing the GSW's (Gunshot Wounds). They describe the name, age, and the problem of the person on the loud speaker. Diana did not want to miss out on 3 GSW!
Why do doctors and nurses love gunshot wounds so badly?
Did the guy that smokes crack, drinks vodka, does heroin, and takes pills died?
Will Jersey ever go to the city because of this?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/4/11
Page 62-100
The first chapter is about the 3 GSW victims arriving at the hospital. They are trying to found out who was the one who shot them and the officers think it is one of the victims. In the next chapter, Alec hit his face head first. He was suprisingly unconsciousness. The ambulance were not coming anytime soon because the city hospital takes a long time getting to a place. Next Chapter is about Anna Maria. In this whole chapter, she just sits in the waiting room and finally, she leaves. In the next chapter, the ambulance finally arrived for Alec. In his mouth there is Gravel, Teeth, and Blood. They use a suction tube, they put it in his mouth and it sucked everything out of his mouth. He could not breathe because the suction tube was taking his air. The next chapter is about Diana. She told Seth that she thinks the guy in Bed Eight is her father. The next chapter is about a girl named Roo. She has to take care of her twins and her mother was five miles away from her but her mother could not help. She decides to bring them to the city hospital which is really similar to Anna Maria's case. The next one is about Seth telling Diana We should kill your father. Diana told Seth He left Diana and her mother when Diana was 4 and left them so he could marry somebody else. Diana is not sure what she should do.
Why do the officers think it's one of the victims that shot himself and another two people?
Who died because of the gunshot?
How is Diana sure that the guy in Bed Eight is really her father?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 11/7/11
Page 101-121
In the first chapter, it is about Jersey. She is losing so much blood and her blood color is yellow. Jersey was going into shock which caused her body to shut down. In the next chapter, it was about Alec. Alec needed oxygen so they took a 2 inch needle and poked it between the bones on his wrist. Seth was really close from puking near the doctors so a nurse took him out of there. In the next chapter, it is about Roo, a 15 year old mother with twins. She went to the hospital because her twins had a "fever." She went there because the hospital was air conditioned and had tv. Roo sat next to two girls and colored with them. She let two strangers hold her twins(not a smart mother). The two girls were Anna Maria and Yasmin. Later on, drug dealers came into the hospital and half the waiting room people left because they knew who they were. They were in the KSI and they are basically drugs dealers and they would murder people too. One of the guys named Dunk wanted to see Tilltson and Dunk said Im his brother. The nurse said your white and Tilltson is Black. Dunk then left.
Why did Roo let the strangers hold her twins?
Who is the father of the twins?
Why does Dunk want to see Tillitson?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 11/9/11
Page 122-156
In the first chapter, it is about a homeless women named Norma. She get brought to the hospital once a week because when she is drunk, she might hurt herself or another person. In the next chapter, it is about Dunk. He is trying to find a way to get past the hospital security so he could kill Tilltson. Dunk got in the hospital and he thinks now he could kill Tilltson. In the next chapter it is about Roo. Roo is thinking of abandoning her two twins because she thinks taking care of them is to much! She is deciding whether she should be with them or abandon them and never see them again. Next chapter, it is about Ana Marie. She knows she has to get her brother and sister out of the Hospital. She knows who Dunk is and what he does for living. If Ana Marie does not get out of there on time, there will be trouble. In the next chapter, Diana sees a women with a doll. She looks closely and says "That's not a doll, that's a Baby!" The women kept swinging the baby around and Diana was frightened. Barbie, one of the nurses told Diana to grab the baby and so she did. A nurse came quickly and took the baby quickly. That was the first time Diana ever held a baby and she was frightened to. Diana knew what was going to happen to the baby. It was going to die!
Why does Dunk want Tilltson dead so badly?
How does Ana Marie know Dunk?
The Important lesson I learned is if you think there might be trouble, get out of that place. Nothing good will happen there.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/14/11
Page 157-178
What happened is that a kid has brain tumor. He is in the hospital with both of his parents. They have not been seen by a doctor for a while and the mother is crying because she thinks her son might die. They have been waiting in the treatment room for a while. Later on, Seth sees a women and her daughter. The women told Seth my daughter got a asthma attack yesterday and this morning. While Seth was bringing them to the 7th floor, he used the wrong elevator and that elevator led somewhere else. While he was pushing her daughter on a wheel chair, she was getting a asthma attack. He quickly rushed to the Pediatric and he by accident ran over her mother's foot. Seth gave the girl on the wheelchair to a nurse and he covered his name tag so the mother can't file a suit against him. Dunk had his gun out in the Waiting Room. He was pointing the gun at everybody and the cops told him to relax. The nurse took Yasmin and hid her somewhere. Dunk took Val out of the stroller because she was screaming and he ran with her somewhere downstairs.
Why did Dunk pull his gun out in the Waiting Room?
Where was Seth when Dunk pulled out his gun?
Where is the rest of the officers or securities?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/17/11
Page 179-213
What happened is that Anna Marie thought to herself that the cops hate having children around when the bad guy has a gun. In the next chapter, Anna Marie quickly got the stroller and beat it. In the next chapter, Roo was thinking about Cal and espically Val. She said even though they drive me crazy, they still love me no matter what and I love them. In the next chapter, Seth entered a Green tunnel which was located in a Basement. He was walking around and then he bumped into a guy with a gun and a baby (Dunk). Seth said She needed a diaper change so he took her away from Dunk. Dunk asked where the exit is and Seth said keep going straight and make a right at the end of the tunnel. Seth walked with the baby and entered a door full of cops pointing there guns at him. Seth said Im just a volunteer. A guy gave me this baby and he ran to that green tunnel. All of the cops dashed toward that green tunnel with there guns. Next chapter, Roo was so happy to change Val's Diaper. She was never this happy before and she loves them both even more. The next chapter, Diana was so happy that Seth was really brave. Seth was her hero. Finally Seth asked her to a movie and a dinner and Diana said Yes.
Genre: Mystery
Author: Caroline B. Cooney
Page: 3-8
This book is about a girl named Jersey. She got accepted to her dads college and that college has a dorm. Her dad gave her hundred dollars because Jersey got accepted into her dad's college. With that money, Jersey wants to go to the mall to buy shoes. She really wants to go to the mall with her two best friends Mai and Susan but they had a lab on Mondays so they couldn't go with Jersey. Jersey to go to the mall so she got out of the college at night and went to mall. Suddenly, she heard gun shots and she was flung against the pavement. She saw her black clothes turn red.
This book made me realize that it is dangerous outside at night.
I recommend this book to people that like mystery books.
An Important lesson I learned is don't go outside when it is night. Nothing good happens at night.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/17/11
Page: 9-27
This two chapters is about a guy named Seth and a girl named Diana. They were both college freshmen students that were volunteering in a Emergency Room to learn stuff before medical School. He would be helping the doctor, nurses, etc. Seth and Diana really wanted to see a person come with a gun shot wound which makes them really happy for some reason. Later on, nurses decided Diana should work with the insurance people in the hospital. Diana was so furious because she did not volunteer so she could work with the insurance people and also Seth will be working with the Doctors and Nurses. Diana was really freaked out about the people that were in the waiting room. Seth was laughing at Diana because she had to work in the insurance place.
I think the author wrote this book to show you doctors and nurses work really hard.
I recommend this book to people who like mystery.
Why is Diana working in the Insurance Place and Seth isn't?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/25/11
Page 28-44
In the first couple of pages,it is about a girl named Anna Maria. She had one young brother named Jose and a younger sister named Yasmin. Anna Marie wanted to take them to the waiting room in the Hospital because it was air-conditioned, had a tv, full of people and thing to watch, Water fountain and they gave you crayons and paper while you waited. Jose was two, Yasmin was four and Anna Maria was eight. After this chapter, Diana needs to find out who is Miss Sczevyl. She goes into this room and asked a attendant who is Sczevyl. He pointed to a girl who is a fighting, kicking, screaming, swearing psychotic. Diana keeps asking her questions but she is not answering. Also Diana believes she is not really Sczevyl. She believes it was made up so the Insurance people marked her as Unknown.
I think the author wrote this because some kids actually have to take care of their brothers or sisters even though they are all young.
Where is Anna Maria's parents?
Why is nobody taking care of her?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/31/11
Page 45-61
The first chapter was about a kid that ripped his palm open on the broken glass of a car window. Later on in this chapter, there is a women named Barbie and she basically ask questions about what happened to the people. One guy smokes crack, drinks vodka, does heroin, and takes pills. In the next chapter, it is about a guy named Alec. His cousin has a new motorcycle and Alec tries it out with no helmet. Alec drove really fast and each mile would take him a minute. He tried to make a hard right turn at top speed but he did not make it and was out of time. In the next chapter, it goes back to Jersey. Medics are right next to her and they are wandering why she got shot. She sees them but she is to weak to talk or even move. Finally she manages to tell them if she is going to be all right and they said they will do everything they can to make her feel better. The next chapter is about Diana hearing the GSW's (Gunshot Wounds). They describe the name, age, and the problem of the person on the loud speaker. Diana did not want to miss out on 3 GSW!
Why do doctors and nurses love gunshot wounds so badly?
Did the guy that smokes crack, drinks vodka, does heroin, and takes pills died?
Will Jersey ever go to the city because of this?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/4/11
Page 62-100
The first chapter is about the 3 GSW victims arriving at the hospital. They are trying to found out who was the one who shot them and the officers think it is one of the victims. In the next chapter, Alec hit his face head first. He was suprisingly unconsciousness. The ambulance were not coming anytime soon because the city hospital takes a long time getting to a place. Next Chapter is about Anna Maria. In this whole chapter, she just sits in the waiting room and finally, she leaves. In the next chapter, the ambulance finally arrived for Alec. In his mouth there is Gravel, Teeth, and Blood. They use a suction tube, they put it in his mouth and it sucked everything out of his mouth. He could not breathe because the suction tube was taking his air. The next chapter is about Diana. She told Seth that she thinks the guy in Bed Eight is her father. The next chapter is about a girl named Roo. She has to take care of her twins and her mother was five miles away from her but her mother could not help. She decides to bring them to the city hospital which is really similar to Anna Maria's case. The next one is about Seth telling Diana We should kill your father. Diana told Seth He left Diana and her mother when Diana was 4 and left them so he could marry somebody else. Diana is not sure what she should do.
Why do the officers think it's one of the victims that shot himself and another two people?
Who died because of the gunshot?
How is Diana sure that the guy in Bed Eight is really her father?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 11/7/11
Page 101-121
In the first chapter, it is about Jersey. She is losing so much blood and her blood color is yellow. Jersey was going into shock which caused her body to shut down. In the next chapter, it was about Alec. Alec needed oxygen so they took a 2 inch needle and poked it between the bones on his wrist. Seth was really close from puking near the doctors so a nurse took him out of there. In the next chapter, it is about Roo, a 15 year old mother with twins. She went to the hospital because her twins had a "fever." She went there because the hospital was air conditioned and had tv. Roo sat next to two girls and colored with them. She let two strangers hold her twins(not a smart mother). The two girls were Anna Maria and Yasmin. Later on, drug dealers came into the hospital and half the waiting room people left because they knew who they were. They were in the KSI and they are basically drugs dealers and they would murder people too. One of the guys named Dunk wanted to see Tilltson and Dunk said Im his brother. The nurse said your white and Tilltson is Black. Dunk then left.
Why did Roo let the strangers hold her twins?
Who is the father of the twins?
Why does Dunk want to see Tillitson?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 11/9/11
Page 122-156
In the first chapter, it is about a homeless women named Norma. She get brought to the hospital once a week because when she is drunk, she might hurt herself or another person. In the next chapter, it is about Dunk. He is trying to find a way to get past the hospital security so he could kill Tilltson. Dunk got in the hospital and he thinks now he could kill Tilltson. In the next chapter it is about Roo. Roo is thinking of abandoning her two twins because she thinks taking care of them is to much! She is deciding whether she should be with them or abandon them and never see them again. Next chapter, it is about Ana Marie. She knows she has to get her brother and sister out of the Hospital. She knows who Dunk is and what he does for living. If Ana Marie does not get out of there on time, there will be trouble. In the next chapter, Diana sees a women with a doll. She looks closely and says "That's not a doll, that's a Baby!" The women kept swinging the baby around and Diana was frightened. Barbie, one of the nurses told Diana to grab the baby and so she did. A nurse came quickly and took the baby quickly. That was the first time Diana ever held a baby and she was frightened to. Diana knew what was going to happen to the baby. It was going to die!
Why does Dunk want Tilltson dead so badly?
How does Ana Marie know Dunk?
The Important lesson I learned is if you think there might be trouble, get out of that place. Nothing good will happen there.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/14/11
Page 157-178
What happened is that a kid has brain tumor. He is in the hospital with both of his parents. They have not been seen by a doctor for a while and the mother is crying because she thinks her son might die. They have been waiting in the treatment room for a while. Later on, Seth sees a women and her daughter. The women told Seth my daughter got a asthma attack yesterday and this morning. While Seth was bringing them to the 7th floor, he used the wrong elevator and that elevator led somewhere else. While he was pushing her daughter on a wheel chair, she was getting a asthma attack. He quickly rushed to the Pediatric and he by accident ran over her mother's foot. Seth gave the girl on the wheelchair to a nurse and he covered his name tag so the mother can't file a suit against him. Dunk had his gun out in the Waiting Room. He was pointing the gun at everybody and the cops told him to relax. The nurse took Yasmin and hid her somewhere. Dunk took Val out of the stroller because she was screaming and he ran with her somewhere downstairs.
Why did Dunk pull his gun out in the Waiting Room?
Where was Seth when Dunk pulled out his gun?
Where is the rest of the officers or securities?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date: 11/17/11
Page 179-213
What happened is that Anna Marie thought to herself that the cops hate having children around when the bad guy has a gun. In the next chapter, Anna Marie quickly got the stroller and beat it. In the next chapter, Roo was thinking about Cal and espically Val. She said even though they drive me crazy, they still love me no matter what and I love them. In the next chapter, Seth entered a Green tunnel which was located in a Basement. He was walking around and then he bumped into a guy with a gun and a baby (Dunk). Seth said She needed a diaper change so he took her away from Dunk. Dunk asked where the exit is and Seth said keep going straight and make a right at the end of the tunnel. Seth walked with the baby and entered a door full of cops pointing there guns at him. Seth said Im just a volunteer. A guy gave me this baby and he ran to that green tunnel. All of the cops dashed toward that green tunnel with there guns. Next chapter, Roo was so happy to change Val's Diaper. She was never this happy before and she loves them both even more. The next chapter, Diana was so happy that Seth was really brave. Seth was her hero. Finally Seth asked her to a movie and a dinner and Diana said Yes.
March 9, 2025
This book gives some insight into working in a hospital emergency room.
It reminded me of a 1980's soap opera.
At the end, the book drifted off and didn't resolve storylines.
I guess I'll never know....
***sigh***
Additionally, I do not believe the characters realized the gravity of each situation they were in.
They approached it with such a cavalier attitude.
.....Easily distracted by a butterfly (not a real one, but you get the idea)
It was a fun but frustrating read.
I empathized with the characters.
I became engrossed in their lives; that's why it was so frustrating when some of the stories were left unfinished.
January 7, 2015
How do we even start?
A friend and I have a tradition of re-reading childhood favorites aloud. After enjoying The Face on the Milk Carton, we picked this one up in hopes of finding more delightfully ludicrous imagery.
The book began with some promising passages. One of our favorites: "She did not realize that a bullet had shoved her down until she saw her black clothes turning red. Very red. As if she had suddenly decided to die them scarlet." (Because black clothes can definitely turn red. And dying something red is a good simile for being red.)
A little later, we found some similes that warranted the star in our rating: "Seth's grin remained in place like a computer spreadsheet." (Apt comparison. Those computer spreadsheets, they're not going ANYWHERE.) Incidentally, Seth also had "eyes that burned blue like some alien fire." (SO HOT.)
However, it took great effort for us to get this far. We almost gave up, and soon after, did. As Connecticut natives, we were able to identify "this college" as Yale and "the City" as New Haven, famous for its pizza. Though the portrayal of Yale students was cringingly accurate of the stereotypical pretentious Ivy League student, we were dismayed by EVERYTHING ELSE. This book was literally nonstop racism, sexism, classism, size-ism, and generally concerning ignorance towards people in non-white, lower class social standings.
Female characters were almost exclusively described in terms of physical attractiveness and body type, urban patients were casually dehumanized, typical "manly man" and "girly girl" stereotypes were reinforced and romanticized, and the city itself was criminalized for containing racial, ethnic, and class diversity.
If the social and moral subtext of this book are as easily internalized as its graphic imagery, we are frightened for its impact on impressionable readers.
Seriously, we wish we could give this 0 stars.
A friend and I have a tradition of re-reading childhood favorites aloud. After enjoying The Face on the Milk Carton, we picked this one up in hopes of finding more delightfully ludicrous imagery.
The book began with some promising passages. One of our favorites: "She did not realize that a bullet had shoved her down until she saw her black clothes turning red. Very red. As if she had suddenly decided to die them scarlet." (Because black clothes can definitely turn red. And dying something red is a good simile for being red.)
A little later, we found some similes that warranted the star in our rating: "Seth's grin remained in place like a computer spreadsheet." (Apt comparison. Those computer spreadsheets, they're not going ANYWHERE.) Incidentally, Seth also had "eyes that burned blue like some alien fire." (SO HOT.)
However, it took great effort for us to get this far. We almost gave up, and soon after, did. As Connecticut natives, we were able to identify "this college" as Yale and "the City" as New Haven, famous for its pizza. Though the portrayal of Yale students was cringingly accurate of the stereotypical pretentious Ivy League student, we were dismayed by EVERYTHING ELSE. This book was literally nonstop racism, sexism, classism, size-ism, and generally concerning ignorance towards people in non-white, lower class social standings.
Female characters were almost exclusively described in terms of physical attractiveness and body type, urban patients were casually dehumanized, typical "manly man" and "girly girl" stereotypes were reinforced and romanticized, and the city itself was criminalized for containing racial, ethnic, and class diversity.
If the social and moral subtext of this book are as easily internalized as its graphic imagery, we are frightened for its impact on impressionable readers.
Seriously, we wish we could give this 0 stars.
July 6, 2017
So this was a book I read a million times in middle school and is hilarious to return to now when I'm working as a chaplain at a Level 1 trauma hospital, often on call for the ER. Cooney got a lot right; the ebb and flow, the weird little world unto itself that the ER can be, the interplay of personalities and hierarchies within the ER--all of that is pretty close to what I'm experiencing, which made it a little jarring when I would leave work to read about work. Cooney also nails the brevity of ER patients; just like most of the characters here, you don't get to know them and you don't get to see the end of the story. Life and patients move on.
The structure is great, the setting is solid, but the characters, unfortunately, are ridiculous. Cooney suffers from her own melodrama, to an extent, and I hated both of the main characters are flat fools slotting neatly into gender expectations with little fuss. I do appreciate the ways Cooney gave us both sides of a scene and the interplay between Seth and Diana, but especially at the end I was absolutely on the side of the nurses who found them insufferable. The subplots were really quite good, but Seth and Diana kind of spoil the whole thing. There were also a number of ethnic and socioeconomic stereotypes that just felt too easy for this, although many of them are often true.
Good for a foray into ER culture (though dated), but not something I'm going to keep around.
The structure is great, the setting is solid, but the characters, unfortunately, are ridiculous. Cooney suffers from her own melodrama, to an extent, and I hated both of the main characters are flat fools slotting neatly into gender expectations with little fuss. I do appreciate the ways Cooney gave us both sides of a scene and the interplay between Seth and Diana, but especially at the end I was absolutely on the side of the nurses who found them insufferable. The subplots were really quite good, but Seth and Diana kind of spoil the whole thing. There were also a number of ethnic and socioeconomic stereotypes that just felt too easy for this, although many of them are often true.
Good for a foray into ER culture (though dated), but not something I'm going to keep around.
Read
May 10, 2022Reminiscent of Diane Hoh's young adult fiction series 'Med Center,' Caroline Cooney's Emergency Room was both an abrupt slap in the face and a tantalizing window into MY possible future.
Miss Cooney provided a startling peek at reality for me, a girl who's head has been filled with sugar-plum fairies laden with syringes and dramatic, beautiful doctors ever since I was a child. No more would hospitals be mentally recorded as nice, sweet places for clean people to get treated for their natural illnesses; no. They were, in fact, buildings riddled with people who desprately needed that twenty-fifth hour; who tried to save people but couldn't be bothered if they didn't; who called themselves doctors and weren't people, exactly, but machines with only one purpose: cure.
The sad thing is? There won't always be enough time, enough people. There won't always be enough funds to ensure everyone gets the help they need. Miss Cooney opened the door in this fashion, let me see what goes on in our not-so-perfect world.
Without ruining anything further...read this book. Not only is it harsh, philosophical and challenging, it's also a story about romance, trust, and coming of age. Enjoy the wonders of literacy.
Miss Cooney provided a startling peek at reality for me, a girl who's head has been filled with sugar-plum fairies laden with syringes and dramatic, beautiful doctors ever since I was a child. No more would hospitals be mentally recorded as nice, sweet places for clean people to get treated for their natural illnesses; no. They were, in fact, buildings riddled with people who desprately needed that twenty-fifth hour; who tried to save people but couldn't be bothered if they didn't; who called themselves doctors and weren't people, exactly, but machines with only one purpose: cure.
The sad thing is? There won't always be enough time, enough people. There won't always be enough funds to ensure everyone gets the help they need. Miss Cooney opened the door in this fashion, let me see what goes on in our not-so-perfect world.
Without ruining anything further...read this book. Not only is it harsh, philosophical and challenging, it's also a story about romance, trust, and coming of age. Enjoy the wonders of literacy.
December 5, 2014
“Emergency Room” by Caroline B. Cooney was an okay book in my opinion. There was a lot to follow throughout this book. Many stories were taking place and it was hard to understand. I would most likely not read this book again.
The book started out with some college students. Jersey, one of the three friends, decided that she would go to the mall when the sun was starting to set. It would be dark out on her walk home. The city was not safe at night. On her way to the mall, she was shot and taken to the hospital. When this is taking place, there is a man named Alex, who decided to take his cousins motorcycle for a ride. He was going too fast and he wiped out. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. There are a couple families in the waiting room when a gunman comes in and takes a child from one of the families. He tries to escape with the baby. Will he be caught? Will the patients be okay? Read “Emergency Room” to find out.
I recommend “Emergency Room” to ages 12 and up. I personally didn't relate to this book because I am neither a college student nor a volunteer. There were a lot of things going on throughout this book that only people ages 12 and up would understand.
The book started out with some college students. Jersey, one of the three friends, decided that she would go to the mall when the sun was starting to set. It would be dark out on her walk home. The city was not safe at night. On her way to the mall, she was shot and taken to the hospital. When this is taking place, there is a man named Alex, who decided to take his cousins motorcycle for a ride. He was going too fast and he wiped out. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. There are a couple families in the waiting room when a gunman comes in and takes a child from one of the families. He tries to escape with the baby. Will he be caught? Will the patients be okay? Read “Emergency Room” to find out.
I recommend “Emergency Room” to ages 12 and up. I personally didn't relate to this book because I am neither a college student nor a volunteer. There were a lot of things going on throughout this book that only people ages 12 and up would understand.
February 19, 2019
What a different, jaw dropping perspective. I love medical thrillers, true life books about life in the ER, OR & books that tell the stories of the doctors & nurses & their daily battles to save lives so when I saw a book called “Emergency Room” while searching through my online library app, I immediately rented it. What I got was a behind the scenes look at an inner city ER through the eyes of 2 teenaged Med school hopefuls volunteering in the ER.
Author Caroline B. Cooney masterfully brings to life the chaos & desperation of an ER & it’s waiting room while throwing volunteers, Diana & Seth, into real life. Through their eyes you see the death of a teen just younger than them, the shooting of a fellow student & the realization that as much as they think they know of the world, they know very little. They are exposed to the sadness of babies w/ AIDS & the hopelessness of psychiatric patients. & as they end their THREE HOUR shift, the arrogance of Seth & the confidence of Diana are shaken as they come to realize what being a doctor really means.
Author Caroline B. Cooney masterfully brings to life the chaos & desperation of an ER & it’s waiting room while throwing volunteers, Diana & Seth, into real life. Through their eyes you see the death of a teen just younger than them, the shooting of a fellow student & the realization that as much as they think they know of the world, they know very little. They are exposed to the sadness of babies w/ AIDS & the hopelessness of psychiatric patients. & as they end their THREE HOUR shift, the arrogance of Seth & the confidence of Diana are shaken as they come to realize what being a doctor really means.
November 15, 2010
Emergency Room
If you like a book with weird ways of getting hurt or surgery type of things, this is your book. In my opinion the book is ok but not really an attention grabber.
This book takes place at a city hospital. The hospital is a public hospital, were people can come off the street and get treated no matter what the problem.
The doctors just need to know where you live and you be able to get help. A few people argue with the doctors because they think their addresses are top secret and don’t wont to tell their addresses.
The staff is always busy whether its helping a patient or in the surgery room. They also move extremely fast to help emergencies.
Another aspect of this book is there is a lot of people who get shot and bleed badly.
This is my book overview.
If you like a book with weird ways of getting hurt or surgery type of things, this is your book. In my opinion the book is ok but not really an attention grabber.
This book takes place at a city hospital. The hospital is a public hospital, were people can come off the street and get treated no matter what the problem.
The doctors just need to know where you live and you be able to get help. A few people argue with the doctors because they think their addresses are top secret and don’t wont to tell their addresses.
The staff is always busy whether its helping a patient or in the surgery room. They also move extremely fast to help emergencies.
Another aspect of this book is there is a lot of people who get shot and bleed badly.
This is my book overview.
October 13, 2017
7:what is the most interesting scene in the novel? what did the writer do to catch your intrest?
A- the most interesting scene in the book is when when alec is brought in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, because i like motorcycles and i like to watch on youtube bikes and motorcycles accidents and i was thinking about how harmed he could be, like with his hip broken or his back fragmented into a thousand pieces of bones, and what the autor do for get my interest is that he used dramatic words for explaining this event and the accidents.
8: what would be out of character for the main character? in other words, what would he or she most likely never do?
A- what diana and seth would never do is to leave their patients in theemergency room like giving up their work, they never would leave the motorcycle accidented boy, the gunshot wound victim, and muchless the baby.
A- the most interesting scene in the book is when when alec is brought in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, because i like motorcycles and i like to watch on youtube bikes and motorcycles accidents and i was thinking about how harmed he could be, like with his hip broken or his back fragmented into a thousand pieces of bones, and what the autor do for get my interest is that he used dramatic words for explaining this event and the accidents.
8: what would be out of character for the main character? in other words, what would he or she most likely never do?
A- what diana and seth would never do is to leave their patients in theemergency room like giving up their work, they never would leave the motorcycle accidented boy, the gunshot wound victim, and muchless the baby.
August 19, 2016
The book “Emergency Room” by Caroline B. Cooney is a fantastic book! The novel follows Seth and Diana, two college students who are volunteering in the emergency room at the hospital. I really liked the book because it was full of action and suspense, which is expected in a book that takes place in an ER. This book appealed to me due to my interest in the medical field. It was interesting reading about the characters because they seem realistic, and had to deal with problems without the knowledge of an experienced doctor. The one thing I didn’t like about the novel was how short it was. Aside from that, it was great. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the medical profession.
May 30, 2008
Seth and Diana are college freshmen who dream of being doctors. They are not in medical school yet, but they volunteer at City Hospital, a famous teaching hospital in a large city. Their reasons for volunteering are mixed--they want to help people, of course, but they also want to make themselves look good to medical school admissions officers. And, they want a front-row seat to the drama of serious injuries. On this particular day, Seth and Diana will get more education about medicine and themselves than they ever dreamed.
Definitely a page-turner and fans of medical drama or suspense will enjoy Cooney's face-paced, realistic style.
Definitely a page-turner and fans of medical drama or suspense will enjoy Cooney's face-paced, realistic style.
Read
November 10, 2011Caroline B. Cooney is one of my favorite authors and she hasn't disappointed me yet. One thing i really liked about this book was how intense it was with all the accidents and stuff. It had that creepiness to it. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that in the beginning half of the book, I got confused a couple times because this book jumps to another even and person every chapter. The biggest event is a young mother getting her baby taken hostage in the hospital but she gets it back later. That really got interesting.
January 25, 2018
I thought that this book was really good. This book was really interesting and made it really easy for me to connect to this book. The reason that it was so easy for me to connect is because I really want to work in the medical field when I get older. So, for this book there was a few things that I didn´t like about it, for example, when it would switch the charters from one chapter to another got a little confusing for me. But, in the end this book was really interesting and made me want to read more.
June 2, 2018
This was a pretty good book. It centers around two college volunteers, Diana and Seth, and their experience in an ER. It also tells of several other peoples stories, Jersey a college student, Roo a young mother and her twins, Alec a seventeen year old and Anna Maria and her two younger siblings. It really a incite into an ER.
I think it would be exciting to be apart of such a fast past world but I don't know if I would be able to keep up.
I think it would be exciting to be apart of such a fast past world but I don't know if I would be able to keep up.
February 10, 2011
This book is just a bunch of crazy actions that are pieced together in just one place. A hospitable. Gunshot wounds, motorcycle accidents, asthma, drunks, and a lot more are there, where it is a hectic place to be. Yet, it is pieced together so great that I would love to read it 20 times over, in a row. Well, not really, but it's good. Read/reread. It is worth anyone's time. ☺☺☺
February 2, 2019
I bought this at a public library book sale, looked interesting. It was a short tale, with a college girl getting shot in the first chapter. But to me, the really interesting part is that inside the covers the words "Greenbrier junior high" were stamped. This was a Jr high book? It wasn't graphic, but I'm not sure I would like my 11 or 12 year old reading it. I really just thought that was odd.
August 15, 2016
Fun fact: This was the first book I ever picked out myself (at a Scholastic event in grade school no less) and read all on my own. It wasn't for school or a reading group, I read it because I chose it. For some reason, I just remembered it today and might have to reread for the nostalgia.
January 1, 2019
This was not what I expected - it felt more like a documentary style or TV medical drama like ER. It was great - and heartbreaking in parts - and terrifying in parts (NO MOTORCYCLES!), but much different from the typical CBCooney books.
March 15, 2019
I loved everything going on in the story but it did leave me feeling like I needed to know more about what happened to the other patients.
March 20, 2020
I usually hate giving negative reviews because I know the time and effort spent in writing, publishing etc. is not easy. But as a reader, I have to say that I hated reading this book!
Back in the day, I loved watching medical dramas like ER, and I feel like the author wanted to write a book reminiscent to it. In the beginning, the story has a lot of potential as there are multiple characters introduced and you wonder how it is all going to get connected.
Unfortunately, the story goes all over the place and is a big disappointment. Firstly, multiple plots and characters are thrown in the story and no conclusion is provided for most of them. Sure, there are some high adrenaline scenes like when Dunk takes Roo’s baby hostage. But other than these short moments, nothing really happens that we don’t know about a hospital. Similarly, there are characters like Anna Maria who get a lot of focus, yet we don’t get to know what happens to them.
The main characters Diane and Seth are also so clichéd and I didn’t like them much. They are completely superficial and want to become doctors, but are lazy to even be volunteers. Moreover, they don’t do anything for the most part and suddenly realize that being in the medical field is tough. Also, I did not understand why there was so much buildup in Diane trying to find out if Richard Searle is her father. What a surprise, even that plot did not have any positive outcome and leaves the reader hanging.
The only character I was remotely interested in and felt bad for was Alec. I felt sorry for him and wished he was more prominent to the plot. His plot was somewhat standalone and not related to the drama of the hospital. Meggie, Barbie and all the other hospital staff are completely boring and forgettable. Overall, “Emergency Room” by Cooney is not worth reading even if you are a fan of medical drama.
Back in the day, I loved watching medical dramas like ER, and I feel like the author wanted to write a book reminiscent to it. In the beginning, the story has a lot of potential as there are multiple characters introduced and you wonder how it is all going to get connected.
Unfortunately, the story goes all over the place and is a big disappointment. Firstly, multiple plots and characters are thrown in the story and no conclusion is provided for most of them. Sure, there are some high adrenaline scenes like when Dunk takes Roo’s baby hostage. But other than these short moments, nothing really happens that we don’t know about a hospital. Similarly, there are characters like Anna Maria who get a lot of focus, yet we don’t get to know what happens to them.
The main characters Diane and Seth are also so clichéd and I didn’t like them much. They are completely superficial and want to become doctors, but are lazy to even be volunteers. Moreover, they don’t do anything for the most part and suddenly realize that being in the medical field is tough. Also, I did not understand why there was so much buildup in Diane trying to find out if Richard Searle is her father. What a surprise, even that plot did not have any positive outcome and leaves the reader hanging.
The only character I was remotely interested in and felt bad for was Alec. I felt sorry for him and wished he was more prominent to the plot. His plot was somewhat standalone and not related to the drama of the hospital. Meggie, Barbie and all the other hospital staff are completely boring and forgettable. Overall, “Emergency Room” by Cooney is not worth reading even if you are a fan of medical drama.
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March 10, 2020Ok, I decided not to rate this because... I’m not entirely sure why.
I read this book shortly after graduating high school and about a month or so ago, I just remembered it and knew I wanted to reread it soon. Reading this now has made me very glad I did not pursue a career in the medical field; quite frankly, I don’t think I’d be able to handle it.
This book was very fast paced and to be honest, I wish there was more but at the same time, I think it’d be a pretty accurate description of what happens in an emergency room. You see the beginnings of many emergencies but you rarely see what happens and that’s what happened with a few of the people who’s cases you read about here. It’s a bit unfulfilling and yet, I think it makes the story.
It’s a book that I’ve thought about from time to time and I think it’s one I’ll still think about.
This was read for the Backlist Readathon
I read this book shortly after graduating high school and about a month or so ago, I just remembered it and knew I wanted to reread it soon. Reading this now has made me very glad I did not pursue a career in the medical field; quite frankly, I don’t think I’d be able to handle it.
This book was very fast paced and to be honest, I wish there was more but at the same time, I think it’d be a pretty accurate description of what happens in an emergency room. You see the beginnings of many emergencies but you rarely see what happens and that’s what happened with a few of the people who’s cases you read about here. It’s a bit unfulfilling and yet, I think it makes the story.
It’s a book that I’ve thought about from time to time and I think it’s one I’ll still think about.
This was read for the Backlist Readathon
November 15, 2018
This is my small review to remind myself more than anything that I’m writing before work!
I don’t usually rate books but I found this one especially painful and uncomfortable to read. I felt like the characters didn’t have their really awful and pretentious perceptions challenged enough for it to be a learning experience for kids. I only got it from the library because my library audiobook selection is so small that I’ve reached kids books at this point and I was disappointed because I think children’s books are just as valid as adults books for adults to read and if they’re good I’ll recommend to my younger sister but yeah I’d be uncomfortable passing this on to her and it should probably stay in the era it was written in.
I don’t usually rate books but I found this one especially painful and uncomfortable to read. I felt like the characters didn’t have their really awful and pretentious perceptions challenged enough for it to be a learning experience for kids. I only got it from the library because my library audiobook selection is so small that I’ve reached kids books at this point and I was disappointed because I think children’s books are just as valid as adults books for adults to read and if they’re good I’ll recommend to my younger sister but yeah I’d be uncomfortable passing this on to her and it should probably stay in the era it was written in.
June 23, 2021
I guess that for a YA title, Emergency Room is fine.
It’s super thin in both page length and plot, and it leaves a ton of unanswered questions for basically every single character, but it was at least marginally entertaining.
I’m sure had I been 12 or 13 when this one came our way back in 1994, I’d have lost my mind over it, so no doubt it hit all the right spots for the target demographic.
It’s super thin in both page length and plot, and it leaves a ton of unanswered questions for basically every single character, but it was at least marginally entertaining.
I’m sure had I been 12 or 13 when this one came our way back in 1994, I’d have lost my mind over it, so no doubt it hit all the right spots for the target demographic.
January 12, 2024
I remember reading this in the waiting room of an ED as a kid after breaking my foot, I pen this review as I walk to my shift as a nurse in the ED. Has this book permanently altered the course of my life? Has Caroline B. Cooney shaken the sands of time to bend my destiny? Why are these books such a fever dream that dominated my young impressionable mind? Who are you Cooney?! Why won't you lossen the grips you have on me?!
I remember this being a real page turner though
I remember this being a real page turner though
June 30, 2021
This one was okay. My only real problem is that it feels like a rerun-- Caroline has already done the "teens helping in a crisis while we get vignettes of various individuals they're trying to help" thing with Flight #116 Is Down!. Nothing inherently bad here, it's just familiar ground. (It also brings to mind Diane Hoh's Med Center series a little bit.)
June 1, 2017
4.8/5 stars
the plot is good but the p.o.v. sometimes confuses me cuz there are no names for each start of the chapter to determine who's p.o.v. it is.
the plot is good but the p.o.v. sometimes confuses me cuz there are no names for each start of the chapter to determine who's p.o.v. it is.
July 8, 2018
Couldn't really get into this book, spelling awful in places.
September 26, 2018
Maybe this is a good book for a teen reader, but definitely NOT for an adult.
June 15, 2019
Left unsure what had happened and wish I hadn't wasted my time. Lack of believability of characters and completion of story lines
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