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listen_learn's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the story as much as I did when I first saw the movie, but regretably even this young reader's edition is still much too mature for my classroom.
pebbles1984's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I watched the movie a long time ago but remember really enjoying it. I've wanted to read the book for a long time. I absolutely love the concept of paying forward, but unfortunately for me the book was too much about Arlene's relationships which I quickly got tired of, and too little about the actual paying it forward. The ending nearly had me in tears though.
I watched the movie a long time ago but remember really enjoying it. I've wanted to read the book for a long time. I absolutely love the concept of paying forward, but unfortunately for me the book was too much about Arlene's relationships which I quickly got tired of, and too little about the actual paying it forward. The ending nearly had me in tears though.
theoglibrarianmom's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 A quick read and it moves fast, but something was lacking for me to be able to give it 4 stars. I found myself not necessarily connecting with the characters, even the main ones. And it was jarring to go back and forth between perspectives, especially with very minor characters too.
Overall all nice message though.
Overall all nice message though.
flfl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jacqui_des's review against another edition
4.0
This was a nice endearing book that was easy and enjoyable to read.
Memorable Quotes
Memorable Quotes
"He was, by his own admission, a man who should stay in one place. But the same factors that made it hard to start over made it hard to stay."
"How do you explain to a guy that until you met him you didn't know you'd been getting a raw deal?"
alexavi's review against another edition
4.0
I read this at the request of an old teacher with whom I keep in touch. This book evoked more emotion out of me than I thought it would. I brushed the book off initially thinking that the concept is fantastic, but this book is for middle schoolers, so what am I doing reading this? Yet, here we are.
For me, it was slow in the beginning, so I put it off for a long time. It felt inactive and uninteresting, which is why it lost a star. But at some point, the pace picked up, and I met new characters, empathized, invested in relationships/outcomes, chuckled, etc. Here we are, and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It wasn’t the smoothest read and was written in a … unique.. style, but I don’t think it took too much away from the story.
Wayyyyyyyyyy more intense than I thought it would be for a kids book (it says for ages 8-12). Most people have issues with books like this that have serious topics, and that it’s still for kids. And, hey, I get it. However, personally, when I was 8-12, I could have handled this. Not to say I wasn’t like other kids (well I wasn’t), but many kids would not understand the full severity of each problem that arose in the book, so, in a sense, this book would be “wasted” on them. I feel like waiting for them to be somewhat older or on the older spectrum of the 8-12 would be best for them to understand it better and treat it with more.. reverence(?) I guess, though each kid is different. I also don’t think it’s right for parents to rate this book so harshly for that aspect. Having serious real-life topics does not take away from its literary merit nor “goodness” (it can sometimes quite possibly add to it).
I would recommend a reflective approach to this book. Rate and review it based on yourself- you can add at the end a PSA of your OPINION (key word there) on whether [your] children should read this at a younger age based on its content (don’t ban it from them forever- they should be choosing what they do and do not read freely). After this book gives you a positive idea of how the world could change and maybe some hope, remember.. to pay it forward ;)
For me, it was slow in the beginning, so I put it off for a long time. It felt inactive and uninteresting, which is why it lost a star. But at some point, the pace picked up, and I met new characters, empathized, invested in relationships/outcomes, chuckled, etc. Here we are, and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It wasn’t the smoothest read and was written in a … unique.. style, but I don’t think it took too much away from the story.
Wayyyyyyyyyy more intense than I thought it would be for a kids book (it says for ages 8-12). Most people have issues with books like this that have serious topics, and that it’s still for kids. And, hey, I get it. However, personally, when I was 8-12, I could have handled this. Not to say I wasn’t like other kids (well I wasn’t), but many kids would not understand the full severity of each problem that arose in the book, so, in a sense, this book would be “wasted” on them. I feel like waiting for them to be somewhat older or on the older spectrum of the 8-12 would be best for them to understand it better and treat it with more.. reverence(?) I guess, though each kid is different. I also don’t think it’s right for parents to rate this book so harshly for that aspect. Having serious real-life topics does not take away from its literary merit nor “goodness” (it can sometimes quite possibly add to it).
I would recommend a reflective approach to this book. Rate and review it based on yourself- you can add at the end a PSA of your OPINION (key word there) on whether [your] children should read this at a younger age based on its content (don’t ban it from them forever- they should be choosing what they do and do not read freely). After this book gives you a positive idea of how the world could change and maybe some hope, remember.. to pay it forward ;)
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 STARS
"Pay It Forward, is the moving story of Trevor McKinney, a 12-year-old boy who accepts his social studies teacher's challenge to come up with a plan to change the world.
Trevor's idea is simple: Do a good deed for three people and ask them to "pay it forward" to three others who need help. He envisions a vast movement of kindness and goodwill spreading beyond his small California town and across the world.
However, when Jerry, a bum to whom Trevor gave his allowance, returns to a life of dissolution, the project seems valuable only as a lesson on the dark side of human nature. But ultimately Trevor is vindicated. At first people don't know how to explain the odd dip in crime rates across the nation, but a journalist with a story of his own tracks down the source of the epidemic of random acts of kindness and makes Trevor a celebrity.
Yet Trevor has problems closer to home: He wants his pretty, hardworking mother to see the softer side of his beloved teacher, Reuben St. Clair, a scarred Vietnam veteran who seems to come alive only when he's in front of his class.
Anyone who has ever despaired of one person's ability to effect change will rejoice in Trevor's courage and his determination to see the good in everyone." (From Amazon)
Don't know why i read it as I did not care for the movie. The concept is cool though!
"Pay It Forward, is the moving story of Trevor McKinney, a 12-year-old boy who accepts his social studies teacher's challenge to come up with a plan to change the world.
Trevor's idea is simple: Do a good deed for three people and ask them to "pay it forward" to three others who need help. He envisions a vast movement of kindness and goodwill spreading beyond his small California town and across the world.
However, when Jerry, a bum to whom Trevor gave his allowance, returns to a life of dissolution, the project seems valuable only as a lesson on the dark side of human nature. But ultimately Trevor is vindicated. At first people don't know how to explain the odd dip in crime rates across the nation, but a journalist with a story of his own tracks down the source of the epidemic of random acts of kindness and makes Trevor a celebrity.
Yet Trevor has problems closer to home: He wants his pretty, hardworking mother to see the softer side of his beloved teacher, Reuben St. Clair, a scarred Vietnam veteran who seems to come alive only when he's in front of his class.
Anyone who has ever despaired of one person's ability to effect change will rejoice in Trevor's courage and his determination to see the good in everyone." (From Amazon)
Don't know why i read it as I did not care for the movie. The concept is cool though!
sheritolley's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. I still find myself thinking about it.