Reviews

Driver's Ed by Caroline B. Cooney

samarie04's review against another edition

5.0

I started this book expecting just the usual ya fluff. While it does start that way, it packs such a beautiful message of grace, mercy, and love in the pages.

erincies's review against another edition

4.0

It’s been probably more than 20 years since I read this book but I remember really enjoying it at the time

theperksofbeingmarissa's review against another edition

3.0

I honestly did not expect the ending. I thought Budie was going to finally admit he took part in that terrible death...I like the fact that the parents' reaction to their mistake is realistic.

aperfectmjk's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

charlottesometimes's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

This is presented as a teen horror, but secretly it’s a 200 page lecture. Apparently some schools in the USA use this as a teaching aid, which is worrying.
It also features some genuinely horrible parents; physically threatening people at a teen sports game, and bullying their child into taking part; commenting on the sexiness of their daughter’s potential boyfriend, which they noticed as soon as he passed puberty; smothering their daughter, whilst forcing her to basically run the household on their behalf like a mini-mum; deciding that they no longer love their children the moment they do something wrong, and telling them so; just being terrible, self-obsessed people with zero empathy and a tendency to drama. Just very poor. The best thing these kids can do is leave this oppressive small town and its creepy church folk behind as fast as possible.

eliser217's review against another edition

4.0

I thought this book was one Cooney's creepier works, just because of how grounded in reality it was. I've always felt guilt keenly, so this book really wound its way into the pit of my stomach. I think this is a good example of what a teen novel can be: it deals with relateable situations that are terrifying in their possibility. It teaches a lesson without being preachy. I remember not being able to put this book down, but really really wanting to do so.

bronsonmh's review

emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
This book was really good. I like how this goes throught the different POV of the characters. This is a tradgic, but kind of true story. I mean most teenagers do stupid things and have no idea abou what kind of results they might get. Plus I couldn't put the book down once I got started. I wanted to see if Remy and Morgan were going to tell that they were the ones who stole the sign 

modalmle's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

annemariecoutu's review against another edition

1.0

This book was just a pain. Teenage kids always complaining about how they made crappy choices. No thanks.

shereadsmysteries's review against another edition

I have decided to no longer use star ratings. They are too arbitrary to me. Instead, I will be ranking an author's books against their other books. This does not mean that I do NOT like their books, just in what order I enjoy them most.

1) Wanted
2) Fatality
3) Hush Little Baby
4) Driver's Ed
5) Enter Three Witches
6) Flash Fire
7) Burning Up
8) Twins
9) Code Orange
10) Losing Christina Trilogy
11) The Terrorist