Remembering the Good Times

Reader reviewed by Jake H.

Through my personal thoughts I didnt think the book was great, but it was an OK book. I thought it was OK because Im not a real fan of these types of books. Although its not my type of book there are parts that actually got to me and dragged me into the book. Some parts also appealed to my emotions a bit too. Some parts seemed like they lacked that real, wow I really want to read on, stuff. Still it was an OK book.
The story was great too. One thing I didnt like is most of the time they were jumping around in the story. It would be a day then the next period its a whole year later, after it says that it only tells so little things about what the characters did and sometimes it said so little things it made me think is that all they did for a whole year. Still the storyline was great and it worked up real well.
One more thing I thought crazy was a part in the book called suicide. One of the main characters who started out small and worked his way up to advance and everybody knowing him to suicide. It just seemed a little weird. He started out small then got into advance classes in school and becoming the schools best student. Eventually he got stressed then he just went of and died. To me thats a little weird.
Its a good book but I dont think its a great book but still, If this book sounds appealing to you, then go try it but its like I said I think its an OK book and not a bad book.

Reader reviewed by Michaela

I read the book Remembering the Good times by Richard Peck. Its about three friends in high school that go through a very troubling problem when one of the friends takes his life. Its strange how the friend that seems to have it all going for him is the one that takes his life. Buck is the narrator of the story and one of the friends. Bucks mom just got remarried and he decided to move in with his dad in the small town of Slocum in a trailer. Kate is also one of the friends that lives with her mom and her great grandmother, Polly. Her mother doesnt really take care of her and seems to not care about Kate. Then there is Travis or Trav. His parents really care about him and he is doing well with money. He also has awesome grades and has enough money to go to a good collage. Polly, Trav, Kate, and Buck start to hang out and become good friends, wasting away the summer days playing cards. When high school starts Kate and Trav become much closer and Buck fells left out. Trav fells unchallenged by high school and had some problems with growing up. When Trav takes his life Kate and buck become closer because they are dealing with the same pain, Polly also deals with pain because she became Travs friend over time. I was assigned this book for a school class. I usually dont like the books I am assigned although I did enjoy this book.

Reader reviewed by Jake C

I loved this book and its called remembering the good times

I liked remembering the good times because it was like if it was in real life. It had everything like if you were in the book. It was also a little sad when Travis had killed himself but no one knew why he did kill himself.

Bucks parents were divorced at the beginning of the book and Buck had to live with his dad in Solcum a town that he hadnt ever heard of.. Buck was new to where he now lives but he meet the girl named Kate and a few weeks later Buck meet Travis and they are all in junior high and a year later they are going into high school.

Travis was doing very well in high school he was smart, he won a award, he was nice to every and everyone wanted to be just like him. Buck was very joules at Travis party because Kate was hanging out with him more then he she was hanging out with Buck

I do like this book a lot I recommend it to people because it is very good has great information on what can happen if you do loss one of your friend in your life. I thought that the ending could of been more interested or more exciting of an ending for the reader to want to read the next book after this one. Remembering the good times is a very interesting and kind of sad book but I loved it so much I hope everyone else reads it.

Reader reviewed by Taylor N

I liked the book Remembering the Good Times because it reminds me of my friends and I and how things can change or turn around so quickly. Also how friendships change. But, I didnt like the part were Trav hung himself. He could have died some way else. Like in a car accident or some other less violent way. A good part in the book that I liked and was interested in is how jealous Buck was between Kate and Trav. I think they should have gone out because then Buck might have actually stayed in football and he might be popular like Kate and Trav were. I think Polly is a really interesting person because not many people in the world are quite like her. I liked her because she is old and says she is the meanest person around and will never die. She is also very sarcastic and funny. She is pretty bossy and mean, though. I also like the character Trav because he is extremely smart, but is so depressed because he thinks he is not smart enough and he is not like most people. When he dies in the story, it is like the climax. It was something that really caught my attention. He should not have committed suicide because then he could have had a good chance with Kate, and he could have a better friendship with Buck. There are some examples of why I liked and disliked the book Remembering the Good Times.

Reader reviewed by Charleston

Buck and Kate just met randomly. Then they go and watch a baby horse being born. They never really see each other for a while till school starts. Buck and Kate are at school, where the bully Skeeter is raising some anarchy by harassing the teacher Ms. Slater and the students. Then out of nowhere this kid magically calms Skeeter down somehow. So Buck and Kate start being friends with this kid and his name is trav.
So Buck, Kate, and Trav start hanging out at Kates house. Kate live with her grandma Polly Prior, and her mom but her mom is never really home so Kate has to take care of Polly. They would play many board games like monopoly and some card games. Polly would cheat to win no matter what the circumstances are. Trav would push himself way to much for school he was in all the advanced classes. Then they made it to high school. Skeeter stole Bucks Dads hardhat so Buck and Skeeter fight. Skeeter wins but Buck got the hard hat back. Trav and Kate came and yelled at Buck for a while then went to Irenes for help with the awful bleeding. Next there is a Halloween themed homecoming dance. Kate and Rusty have a plan for Mr. Slater to beat up Skeeter up and it works. Then Kates Play is coming up and Buck and Trav miss it because Trav is in jail for stealing toys. Then Trav does suicide and the book pretty much ends.
I did not like this book at all. I would of have never read it if my school didnt make us do it. I would never recommend this to someone.

Reader reviewed by sam

I dont think that Remembering the Good Times was a bad book for several reasons. First I hate how almost all of the events leading up to Travis suicide are so dull and boring. All the book talks about is Bucks mom moving away with her boyfriend. Also they go to high school.
The only interesting parts in the book are when Buck and Skeeter fight. Then when Trav gets arrested for breaking into a toy store. I suppose the best part in the whole book is when Trav commits suicide; I think that is one of the best parts in the book.
I think if the author would have put some more interesting events it would have been a pretty good book. I dont think it is all bad though. He has good characteristics in writing. I mean he has really good describing words. I think that he used too much dialogue. It just takes to long to read, only because it is too lengthy.
Overall I do not like this book and I would not recommend this to anyone. Also I think this is the worst or at least one of the worst books I have ever read in my whole life. I am so happy that we are finally done with it. I think that the teachers should recognize how boring this book is. So, this is why I think that this was a very bad book to me and anyone if youre smart.
By: Sam Paulson

Reader reviewed by Kelsey N.

I enjoyed this book becuase its tells how three people became friends and out in the world you might hear how some friends became friends like them. I thinkBuck is a good story teller becuase he tells it in way no one else would. But I would hate living in a small trialor like Buck but he has a good life where he lives and he doesnt want to move with his mom and stepdad to a town he doesnt know anything about. Buck has all his friiends in Solcum. I'm remind myself of Buck but I moved to a different twon and went to the same school in my old town. Now Trav has some big problems at home. He always gets beat now I would never do that to anyone that is plan old mean. His dad not that mean about when he went to jail. I would talk to him about it and ask what he did to get in jail and Kate has a good life she lives with her grandmother and mother. This book shows the friendship you should learn somethings about friendship. Buck's really shpws you how you can keep a friendship. Buck's friends meant the most to him. He was really sad when Travis killed himself but Travis didn't went to be in the world anymore. Kate and Polly were sad as much as Buck was. I hope you learn something from this book.
By: Kelsey Nerison

Reader reviewed by skye

RTGT wasnt that very interesting to me, probably because I dont have much interest in non-fiction books. I cant say that there were no fairly incredible parts, I had pictured Pollys room quite easily and I was able to picture Kate in the used-to-be-pink dress. Polly was the one who had interested me the most, she isnt like most grandmothers I know or Ive seen in books. Kate had also interested me since she wasnt like all preppy, and she is such a loyal friend to Buck and Travis! Buck was actually seriously boring to me, and was such a downer. Trav was worried mostly about everything and it got quite annoying! I mean, I can understand to be scared that the world will come to and end, but its probably the end of the world when its a way later year. In the book, when Kates mom came to that party with all that make-up on her& I honestly pictured a clown wearing a tight, gut-sucking dress. Oh, and not to mention Bucks dad& I pictured him in a brown suit, with his stomach hanging out. I must admit, there were few emotional moments with crying. When Buck decided to live with his father in Slocum, I pictured his mother sobbing her eyes out, with like huge globs of mascara running down her face, and that she was almost dead from not enough air. Another sad part I can think of is when Scotty was laying in the hospital bed, with the meter, Irene next to him crying her eyes out, and Scotty was dead cold. So honestly, this actually wasnt that bad of a book, but it still wasnt that interesting to me.

Reader reviewed by ciara f

I thought the book Remembering The Good Times was an okay book. It was just okay because it explains a friendship. Also it lets you know that even if someone acts like everything is alright maybe its not.
The book is about a group of three kids becoming friends. The narrator is named Buck. Bucks parents are divorced. His dad lives in a trailer. While his mom got remarried and moved to Cleveland. He lives with his dad in the trailer behind a convenience store. They are good friends with the owners Scotty and Irene. Buck and Kate met in Pollys orchard. Polly is Kates great grandma. Polly and Kates mom take care of Kate. Kates mom acts like a teenage and it bothers Kate. Since Kates mom is hardly there she a lot of responsibility. Travis moves to Slocum after Kate and buck meet. Travs parents have a house warming party and Mrs. Kirby invites buck and Kate. That bothers Trav. Bucks dad and Kates mom end up going to the party together. Bucks dad interests the other guys so Trav gives buck Kate and Kates mom a tour of the house. When they get to his room they see a bunch of little kid toys. Later he gets caught stealing more toys. People think it was to get back at his parents. His parents decide to send him to his uncles in rural Iowa. The part I didnt like about the book was the fact he took his own life and never explained why. He seemed happy and had it all. He was handsome, good grades, and a big house. He was also born into a rich family!

Reader reviewed by taylor L

Taylor Lowe
Period 6
11/18/08


I didnt like Remembering the good times because of many reasons. A few reasons why I didnt like it are, one is that it wasnt very original. Another reason why I didnt like was because why did Travis have to die? Why couldnt it be a happy story instead of a murderous killing story? One more reason for me hating the book remembering the good times is that they could have described the story a little bit better and mad it a little longer than what it originally was. But not everything in remembering the good times I hated. One example in the story is, the activities we did in the group, like one specific project we did which was showing examples of Kates family.

Some more reasons why I didnt like the book are that there was not any picture in it. The pictures do give a good description and if a person cant visualize the event happening in the story then how are the people suppose to get remembering the good times? A few more reasons why the book wasnt the worst and they are, every now and then the book would actually give enough detail about something. An example of the book was when the narrator was describing Pollys room to the people and the costumes that Travis, Kate, and buck wore on Halloween. All in all the book was sort of enjoyable you could get into the story and visualize a few things and details. If I had to recommend the book Remembering the good times I would say it would be an alright book for someone to be doing on there free time or as a graded free reading book.