The Last Safe Place on Earth

by Richard Peck

Todd, 15, thinks life in the quality community of Walden Woods is perfect, until Laurel, his dream girl, comes to babysit for his sister and reveals the forces of fundamentalism and censorship at work in the town.

A provocative new novel by a highly honored author that speaks to today's issues of censorship and fundamentalism.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Contemporary, High School, Friendship

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Richard Peck was an American novelist known for his prolific contributions to modern young adult literature. He was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2001 for his novel A Year Down Yonder. For his cumulative contribution to young-adult literature, he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1990.

Reviews

[Vsw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I worry a little about posting this as my first contribution to our class discussion because, in general, I think that reviews should be "critical" in the balanced sense of the word. This is hard when you didn't enjoy the book and you had concerns about its message!

I read The Last Safe Place on Earth because it was described in our textbook (p. 203) as a good book to use to help students think about issues of fundamentalism and censorship. I thought this might be a book that people in our class would be interested in reading, maybe in conjunction with a discussion around book selection and responding to challenges to books.

Unfortunately, I wasn't drawn into the story. Some of the language seemed outdated and, with the exception of Marnie, I didn't really connect with the characters. I think the problem was that I found the characters to be fairly one-dimensional, which also worked against developing nuanced representation of the politics of book selection and censorship in schools. I think what I was looking for in the book was a story that would complicate the idea that there are reasonable people who believe in freedom of speech ("us") and unreasonable people who foist their religious views on others ("them", especially fundamentalist Christians). There are some interesting messages about "community" near the end, but I was still left with a sort of hopelessness about the possibility of working with people of different beliefs...

As an aside, I was also concerned by the representation of "C.E." who Peck characterizes as overweight and a compulsive eater. I kept wondering why we didn't know more about this character who Todd considers to be his best friend. (We do eventually learn that there's a reason behind his eating.) At the end of the book, C.E. suddenly dates one of the popular girls, presumably because he is self-confident. Was this supposed to be a lesson to readers--weight/appearance doesn't matter? If so, it would have been more convincing if his weight wasn't his defining characteristic in the book.

[Megan Franks · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book touches on a lot of topics: censorship, hypocrisy, freedom of religion, domestic abuse, etc. While it's not the most fantastic piece of literature I've ever read, we are going to use it for our high school book club because it should be an excellent discussion starter.

[Hugo Arevalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is called "The Last Safe Place On Earth" by Richard Peck. I really didn't like the book because I couldn't understand what was happening in the book. Everytime I read the book, something would be happening and then it would go off to something else and I get so confused. The main idea of the book is pretty interesting.

In the book Todd, who is the main character moves into this suburbs. He feels very safe in this neighborhood and who happily celebrates halloween. They go to church and they want to be a regular normal family but finds out that the girl he has a crush on is fundamentalist Christian who brainwashes and terrifies the child by telling her about evil witches and devils.

The only part that I liked about the book, was when Todd finally finds out that his crush and sisters babysitter is a fundamentalist Christian. I cannot relate to this book because I don't have evil neighnors who want brainwash my sister, but I do live in a nice neighborhood and I live in the suburbs like his neighborhood.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "The Last Safe Place on Earth" by Richard Peck. It takes place in a small town high school called Walden woods. The main characters are Todd and his family. I found this book by looking in the library.
The book is about Todd and his family having to leave their home because of the violence and evil that has made its way into the school. The gangs are as heavy as ever in the town.
I really like the way the book ended. The way their family made the journey to their safe haven was cool. My favorite part of the book is their intense need for a routine.
This book was pretty good I'm not a big book reader but this one was good. I recommend this book who likes books who talks about one persons life thoroughly.

[Rose Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made absolutely no sense to me. Everytime I thought I had the storyline figured out it got even more confusing. Through the synopsis I assumed this story would be a little bit more mysterious, maybe even fantastical in a way. However as I read, I kept waiting for that "AHA!" moment where everything got interesting and reached its climax and finally made sense. I waited up until the very last page. The characters were dull, the "intense" moments were completely random and disappointing, and the ending was abrupt with no real closure. Although this book took about a couple hours to read, I still feel as if I've wasted my time.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot developed into a kind of eerie quality, but at first I assumed it was because it was near Halloween and there had been an accident. But half-way through, I really began to get spooked. One of the characters turns out to be really creepy and as a reader, I certainly didn't expect it. Then the realistic part comes through and I realized that this is how people are and this is what life is like and became even more scary! I liked the themes of judgement and censorship and I think Todd's English teacher is awesome!

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job of focusing on the issues of censorship, addressing book bans, and holding a lens up to society. However, with that said, it doesn't stand the test of time so well. A great deal of the book focuses on 80s-90s lifestyles and their associated tech, which just plain doesn't translate for kiddos today. (Tested - kiddo was bored and found the book unrelatable). All in all, while there are those who may find the ending unsatisfying, if one remembers that the focus is not the characters, but the issues, then the book closes quite nicely.

[Makaila C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this in about 3 hours. Some may be turned off by how straightforward this was but I enjoyed the simple writing style of a 15 year old boy. Some of the language is outdated but again, I kind of enjoyed that style. In general, I enjoy the main topics of censorship, teaching, relationships, teenagers, etc. I can see how the ending was abrupt and unfulfilling for some but I thought it worked. Finally, while the characters do not always seem like the most dimensional and complex, I think that makes sense given Todd is the narrator and we’re only seeing things from his perspective.

[Oxalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for YA books on censorship and banned books, and this particular story did not disappoint. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did and that's probably why I think it's earned a place on high school library shelves. While some of the content is dated, the rest is actually quite relevant to current events and will probably continue to be as long as some people want to control what others read and how they think. This is one of those titles I'd recommend to someone who thinks certain books should be censored.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mediocre book for Peck, but still an interesting take on censorship and fundamentalism. I agree w/another reviewer that the characters needed more complexity rather than simply creating a typical "us" v. "them" dynamic. One theme it illustrates well is how insidiously these beliefs can creep in through the most innocent of sources.

[Drmkk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have loved Richard Peck’s other books - A Long Way From Chicago and had been anxious to read this having to track it down from a used book seller. Although I like the voice of the main character the book lacked a plot and a resolution. It was billed as evil come to town but the “evil” turned out to be fundamental Christians - not even sure what point he was trying to make? Disappointed…

[Stephanie A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember this, but Past Me's reading list only says "community, censorship, 15 y/o boy" and she allowed half stars, so giving this a flat 2 makes it pretty clear that for whatever reason, I did not have a good time.

[Joy Slykhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellently-written book about the perfect town of Walden Woods, and Todd's discovery in grade 10 of how much is hidden. It's supposedly about book banning, but really about so much more.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was well-written like all of Richard Peck's book, but the message is counter-productive when you look at what's going on today in schools.

[ash]

i read this in 3rd grade & it freaked me out bad

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tobin family had moved to Waldon Woods because of gang activity in their school. They feel safe in this peaceful neighborhood - but what's underneath the surface? Laurel comes into their lives to babysit Marnie and soon Manie is having nightmares. There is a rash of car thefts, and suddenly a vocal parent group is talking about the immorality in the books their children are reading for class. In the middle of it all, the close knit TObin family try to make sense of the circumstances.

[Brayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am done reading the book, The Last Safe Place on Earth. I gave this book 4 stars. It had 161 pages in it. The author of the book was Richard Peck. I thought this book was trilling and unpredictable. My favorite part of the book was when a boy named Billy hur this mom. She had to go to the hospital. Their dad wasn't homebwcause he was looking for a job. I think this book is good for kids that like to read mystery/adventure books.

[Brennan Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of the book The last safe place on Earth would be changes because in this book a boy name Todd starts to find out about what goes on in Lauren's family, so his prospective on her and her family changes. The conflict in this book would be when Lauren's Christian group tries to ban Halloween so they try to brainwash the kids who participate in Halloween (mostly younger kids). The sign-post used in this book would be again and again because Lauren and her group keep trying to brainwash the kids and they won't give up until they achieve that. The resolution in this book would be when Todd and his family fight against what Lauren and her group are trying to do and they finally stop what they were trying to do to the kids. I would rate this book 4 stars out of 5 stars. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5 because I think that it is a great book but in some parts I think that it could be a little better but other than that I think that The last safe place on Earth is a great book, I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strictly on a bell curve, in comparison to other Richard Peck books, this deserves only three stars. The first half of the book depicts a family who has moved to a newer, more upscale neighborhood with the goal of finding a safer place for the children and a better school. Based on appearances alone, the family seems to have accomplished those goals. However, just after midway in the book, the appearances begin to unravel to show the underlying and unhappy truth. The book addresses insidious prejudice, censorship, and a false sense of security. The book contains none of Mr. Peck's usual lyricism. There were moments, though. One of my favorite quotes from the book is from a supporting character named C.E., who gives his review of Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. He states, "You know, Julius Caesar isn't too bad. Shakespeare got all these famous quotations together and made a play out of them."

[Adi Muhtarevic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had just finished "The Last Safe Place On Earth" and I thought it was okay. It is about a boy named Todd that is 15 years old and he think Walden Woods is a really nice place to live. In the book it is based around Halloween, during this time many people's houses were getting vandalized. Also many planned car crashes were happening plus people were dying and getting sick, it was ridiculous. Then one night Todd was driving home and spots a random person walking in the street. Todd pulled up next to him and it turned out to just be his friend C.E. C.E told Todd that he was just walking to dinner. Todd then drove E.C home and started to think if he was the one vandalizing people's homes. Also Todd's dream girl, Laurel, came to babysit his sister. Then figures out the real things and work that is done and happens in the city they live in.

[kaitlin ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best I have ever read.Its based around the months before and after Halloween.Many things start to happen peoples houses are getting vandilized and many people are dying.People are dying from planned car wrecks and just getting really sick.Well one night when Todd was driving home with his dad he sees someone walking along the street.He pulls over and figures out it was his friend C.E. he asked C.E. what he was doing out so late his response was im walking off my dinner.So Todd drives his friend home and gets back to his own house that night Todd layed in bed and thought..........what if C.E. is the one that vandilized my house along with his friends to help him with everyone elses....I am this far in the book i hope to do another review everyday.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought this book was a slog, not nearly as entertaining as some of Peck's other books that I've read. But as I got into it, I really began to appreciate its content much more. The story deals with one family's suburban experience with censorship, intolerance (and discrimination), fear and fundamentalism. A good literary intro for these topics in classroom discussion. Peck's language is richly descriptive and paints a believable story--nothing too extraordinary--and the stakes for the young protagonist are real. For humor, i definitely prefer his works like A YEAR DOWN YONDER, but this was very satisfying.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Drab. Dull. Daft. Not the best adjectives for book characters. Yet I found myself goading my spirit into reading this one - just to finish it - just to get to that point where surely it must turn the corner, cross over into the light, do something worthy of a recommendation. Instead the plot twisted far too late into the pages and in a form that was at best contrived and completely missed the beat. The lead-up was, quite simply, boring. The characters completely without attachment. The plot missing any sort of mark it may have been shooting toward. I'm no book burner, but if I were I would probably be okay with sneaking a copy of this one into the pile. Just. That. Bad.

[Shaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't particularly like this book. The characters seemed very one-dimensional. It dealt with a family that moves to a "safe" suburban town. Some memebers of the town start protesting certain books that are read in the high school. The group has strong religous beliefs about the devil and don't want any books read that even question that Christianity is the only true religion. One theme of the book is that there are problems everywhere.

I've read A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago and loved them. This didn't come close to those two.

[Jaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joey Mlejnek
The Last Safe Place on Earth
Todd is a normal high school student but when his dad was promoted from his job they had to move so they moved to a nice little quiet town. Todd was on the swim team his older sister was on the newspaper editor and his little sister was still in second grade. Todd finds the perfect girl she’s quiet mysterious and his little sister’s baby sitter at Todd’s point of view beautiful. Then something weird happens something that will change everything.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wesley read this book at school and commented how weird but good it was so I requested it from the library. Also, I read another Richard Peck book to Wesley when he was younger and we both loved it. Anyway this is a bold topic for a kid book. Themes--censorship, religions that frightened children with tales of evil forces, alcoholism, coming of age stuff. This is a book for young folks but provides great topics for a family or classroom.

[Aditya / · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially, I thought this book was deplorable. However, as you read in further, you find that the author has some well written lines here and there, and further develops their style for writing what is going on in the protagonists mind. The characters have depth. The story relays real life with nostalgia, realism, and emotion. The intricacy of the characters, the small details and cultural refernces, and the capriciousness of the plot make this an excellent book.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gracefully told story of how easily well-meaning individuals can move to take away our Constitutional freedoms. At first, it all seems remote and separate, just a concept being taught in Todd Tobin's social studies class, until the danger slips into the Tobin household, via an invited guest who seemed innocent on the outside.

[Kayli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Peck has a set of books that are teach-teens-a-lesson, and this is one of them. They're not nearly as good as some of his others, but I thought this one was actually quite good for that genre. I got a little freaked out when you find out what the babysitter was teaching the little sister. Anyway, quick interesting read.

[Ms. Heres]

This book takes a look at censorship and religious fanatacism. Though their parents feel they have moved their family to a very safe town, the kids find themselves in situations where they are basically being brainwashed to think a certain way. This is a thought-provoking story about the dangers of censorship and fanatical beliefs.