Cant Get There from Here by Todd Strasser

Cant Get There from Here Reviews

• 
  sAmAnE

  من این کتاب رو از بخش کتاب‌های نوجوان یک کتاب‌فروشی برداشتم. ولی به نظرم اصلا کتابش مناسب نوجوانان نبود. کتاب در مورد بچه‌های خیابانی و چالش‌ها و مشکلاتی بود که هر کدوم باهاش مواجه میشن. نوجوانانی که از خانواده طرد شدند و گرفتار دنیای بی‌رحم بیرون هستند.
  
  نامزد جایزه کتاب نوجوانان رود آیلند سال 2006
  نامزد جایزه ادبیات جوانان آلمان سال 2005
• 
  سپیده سالاروند

  کتاب داستان بچه‌های خیابونی نیویورکه و داره فرایندی که خیابون بچه‌ها رو نابود می‌کنه رو برامون تعریف می‌کنه. به نظر من خوب دراورده بود داستان رو و کلیشه‌ای نبود جز انتهاش که راستش خوشحالم نکرد. منم می‌دونم هر بچه‌ای باید خونه‌ای داشته باشه ولی روند داستان تا بیست صفحه‌ی آخر خیلی درست‌تر بود، آخرش انگار یهو ناشر به نویسنده گفته بود: پیام اخلاقی‌ها رو بده و سعی کن بچه‌ها رو منع کنی از فرار از خونه...
  ولی خب من حتمن توصیه می‌کنم خوندنش رو. چون کتاب با این موضوع خیلی کمه و واقعا درست پردازش شده و بچه‌ها واقعی‌ان و داستان کاملا درگیرکننده است و مطمئنم رنگین‌کمان، خرمگس، شایدی و اشکی تا مدت‌ها توی سرم می‌مونن و با دیدن بچه‌های واقعی در خیابون یادشون می‌کنم.
  
  راستی اصلا نمی‌دونم چرا در سری نوجوان فروخته می‌شه کتاب، حتا پشتش هم نوشته «داستان جوان». به نظر من که برای همه‌ی سنینه و بیشتر برای بزرگترها.یا نوجوان‌های بالای پونزده سال مثلا.
• 
  Fatemeh Nazari

  «آسفالتی»ها از اون دست کتاب هایی بود که تو رو با دنیای جدیدی آشنا می‌کنه. دنیایی که تو زندگیمون خیلی کم بهش فکر می‌کنیم، دنیایِ بچه های خیابانی.
  داستان از زبان یه دختر خیابانی نوجوانه که لقب «شایدی (Maybe)» به خودش داده و ما در طول داستان باهاش همراه می‌شیم و با دوستاش که اونا هم تو خیابون زندگی می‌کنن آشنا می‌شیم.
  خوش خوانه و اگه کسی وقت بذاره یکی دو روزه تموم میشه.
• 
  Lisa Litberg

  "Maggot said we should go up to Times Square to watch the ball drop and pick some pockets, but we never got around to it."
  
  I have always been fascinated with homeless street kids, ever since I went to Portland in 1994 where there was an abundance of them. I became rather close to one named Dave, who used to wear safety pins in his eyebrows so that they hung over his eyes. They reminded me of tears. You see these "street punks" everywhere: Bourbon Street in New Orleans, The Haight in San Francisco, hanging out by The Alley in Chicago in the late 80s, and of course on Grateful Dead tour. Some were running from something, some running to something. All of them had stories, some real, some exaggerated, some completely fictionalized. But all of them were desperate for some kind of acceptance--even if it was acceptance through society's rejection.
  
  Can't Get There From Here illustrates the predicament of a "tribe" of street kids braving a New York City winter. Almost all of them have traded a dangerous, miserable life for one even more miserable and dangerous. Strasser tells their stories, and clearly shows what a dangerous world they inhabit. In some ways, this book may not be completely realistic, but in others it is very real. One aspect I liked was his interpretation of why these kids would turn down opportunities in youth shelters for the dangers of street life. It is a quick, enjoyable read, and certainly provides some food for thought.
• 
  Debbie

  A group of homeless teens band together to help each other survive on the streets of New York. The narrator, Maybe, left her abusive mother and feels that the street--dirty , cold, and brutal as it is--is the only place for a girl like her, a girl no one loves.
  
  Maggot says that living on the streets is the only way to maintain your freedom. Country Club is the first of the group to leave. He dies of liver failure at 22. OG has a constant, hacking cough, but refuses to seek medical attention. He adopts an abandoned dog (Pest)after Country Club's death. 2Moro is beautiful and HIV-positive. Prostitution helps her survive, but for how long? Jewel is a male prostitute who dresses up as a woman and goes clubbing with 2Moro. Rainbow, Maybe's closest friend, does drugs to keep herself numb. Tears is only 12 and is the newest member of the group.
  
  As bad as life on the streets can be, they all agree that it is better than the lives they left behind. As Maybe watches her friends disappear one by one, she wonders if there might be another life for her.
  
  A powerful and realistic glimpse into street life.
  
  
  
  
• 
  Mahbod_Book Love

  پرده ها کنار خواهند رفت/همان طور که ماه از پشت ابر بیرون می آید.
  تا آخر نمیتوان جلوی واقعیت هارا گرفت.
  به نظر من آقای تاد لحن گرمی برای بیان داستان دارد/استفاده از واژه های خیابانی و در کل پیوستگی داستانی.
  گرایش های غیر انسانی بعضی ازآدم ها را یه تصویر میکشید.
  در این میان شاید کمتر از انگشتان دست نیز انسان هایی در این رمان حضور داشته باشند.
• 
  Fateme H.

  از اون کتابایی بود که تصوراتت رو کلا عوض می کنن. چیزی دقیقا بر خلاف چیزی که من یا امثال من، از زندگی تو نیویورک انتظار داریم.
  گرچه من شخصیت پردازی کتاب رو زیاد نپسندیدم و به نظرم کمی ضعیف بود.
• 
  Cait

  2.5
• 
  Janie

  This was ok. It was interesting because it was one of the first books about life on the streets as narrated by a girl. Not that it's really obvious, however, it was different. Much of the book was comprised of "I'm hungry and cold because I don't have food and it's cold". Strasser is very good at packing a punch with all of his books about difficult issues (school shootings, street life), and I think the most influential part was the reports about the death of several street kids that the main character knew (her street name is Maybe).
  The one thing that irritated me was how long it took Maybe to figure out that a warm bed and food was better than being "hungry and cold" as she complains about daily. But I'm not a street kid. I never was a street kid. I am, what they all would call, "a high ended middle class person who gets everything" et cetera. Yeah, this book made me a sense of survivor’s guilt somehow, like how come they get nothing and I get everything? Well, then comes the realization. What would I have done about her if I came across her? Take her home? The mistrust that all the street kids have with everyone NOT in their little tribe (their word) was certainly justified, as they spent most of their lives building it up in order to survive, however, they refuse shelter because of "rules that would take away their freedom" like curfews? Right. Freedom to do what? Be hungry and cold? I mean, she realizes it in the end, after all of her buddies are dead but why not before?
  Again, I really shouldn't judge. I've been fortunate enough never to have to deal with that sort of situation. I'm sure there may have been several reasons. Pride, need for independence (meaning like, "my mom sucked, so I don't need her. I don't need anyone! I'll show her." sort of thing), and maybe even slight commitment to the tribe. Plus, as said before, the blatant mistrust of any "non-street kid". This book was fine. and I love a *semi*-happy ending.
  
• 
  Jean

  The book talks about how is life on the streets and you see this group of people that are on the streets for different reasons (Got kicked out, escaped or simply they were tired of doing the same thing everyday forever).
  The main character is Maybe, he got kicked out of his house because his mother had 3 other kids and Maybe was the oldest one so he had to leave. Maybe suffers and sees how the gang tears apart, since 2Moro, Rainbow and Country Club die, Maggot and Jewel go home, OG is about to die in a hospital and his friend Tears is missing. He's left alone and lost without knowing what to do. He's friends with a librarian named Anthony who helps him find Tears. Anthony looks on the internet about Tears grandparents and he finds them. Maybe and Anthony look for Tears to take her back home. They find her about to enter a club with a grown man (Tears is 12). They take her back home and she's happy ever after.
  The book ends with Anthony and Maybe on the beach watching the Ocean.
  
  
  
  
  
  I really liked this book, I like how they have different problems but also different personalities. But every book I read has an ending that leaves you hanging. In this case we don't know what's gonna happen to Maybe, is he gonna live with Anthony? is he going to the homeless project? is he gonna die? We don't know. But the main point makes this book realy good.
• 
  Kara Walker

  In Can't Get There From Here, Strasser tells the tale of a homeless girl named Maybe who lives in New York City. Her life is full of abuse, mistrust, and sadness, but she finds a way to persevere through all the pain. Maybe considers herself a part of a "tribe" (others who are homeless with her). In this tribe, the members try to look out for one another and act as a makeshift family. Unfortunately almost all of the characters have a sad ending: "They were gone. Tears, Rainbow, Maggot, Jewel, 2Moro, OG, Pest, and Country Club. Two to homes where people loved them, two to hospitals or the nut house, and four to unmarked graves in places where no one would ever find them" (193).
  
  Strasser writes clearly with a purpose here: do not give up and let yourself live on the streets. He plays well into the hands of adolescents as most of the adult characters seem to take advantage of the tribe. However, there are a few adult characters that show teens that not everyone is out to get them; in fact, people have the tendency to be much nicer than one would expect.
  
  Overall, a good read for young adolescents. However, as an adult reading it, I felt the characters were not as believable as they could have been and the ending didn't seem realistic.
• 
  Angeluismanzueta

  this amazing book is about a group of homeless teenagers known as the asphalt tribe. and they have ran away from their personal and other situtations and came to liv on the streets of nyc. they survive by dealing drugs, washing windshields, and being prostitutes. most of the kids in the tribe have ran away b/c of they're mothers, and drugs. they do whatever it takes to survive the cold winter in nyc.
  i can connect this to the world b/c their are actually people in this world who are homeless even children. some probalbly for personal reasons or others b/c poorness.
  i would give this great book 5 stars b/c it is very catchy and has a great plot that keeps the book moving and very connected to real life. the book strongly shows how the characters are affected, and seem to regret running away.
• 
  7706cloe

  this book is amazing!!!
  its about a girl named maybe who lives on the cold streets of NYC. she has a friend named Tears who is 12 years old. maybe figures out after a bunch of experiences that the streets are really not the place to be so she tries to help tears get home.
  i loved this book because it was a happy-unperfect ending. it gave you a shock to what life on the streets is like and what innocent people are dealing with...
  i would recommend this book to everyone but more likely to readers who enjoy suspenseful books and stories on kids who have to deal with tough things.
• 
  Temoca

  This is a book I will add to a literature circle because it is a subject I think will hook kids. The story was a little repetitive giving a play by play of events in the live of homeless kids and then the ending just all worked out for everyone but the main character and we really don't know what happens to her.
  
  Still, it's new and something that would get my kids talking and even parts they may relate to unfortunately.
• 
  Merle

  Wie seine anderen Bücher auch finde ich das Morton Rhue einen echt guten Job macht die Thematuken gut rüberzubringen. Ich fand nur das Ende nicht allzu gut, da mir das ganze zu offen war und nach dem man so viel Zeit mit dem Hauptcharakter verbracht hat, ich mir ein endgültigen Abschluss gewünscht hätte. War aber denoch ein super Buch
• 
  Heather

  I enjoyed this book Todd Strasser has this mind that just seems to captivate my interests. I loved living the life of the streets in New York.
• 
  Syd

  One of my alltime favorite books I've ever read. i loved how REAL the story was, i read it in 1 day it was so good.
• 
  Richie Partington

  27 January 2004 CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE by Todd Strasser, Simon & Schuster, April 2004, ISBN 0-689-84169-8
  
  "Come says Jack let's knock him on the head
  No says Guy let's buy him some bread"
  --Maurice Sendak, WE ARE ALL IN THE DUMPS WITH JACK AND GUY (1993)
  
  " 'I'm so gross! I'm disgusting! I can't stand it!' Rainbow laughed crazily as she pulled me down the sidewalk about a block from Canal Street.
  " 'You look beautiful to me,' I said.
  " 'Oh, Maybe, what would you know? You're even smellier and dirtier than me.'
  " 'I am?' Even though I knew that all of us street kids were dirty and smelly, it still made me feel bad to hear Rainbow say it. That wasn't the way I wanted her to think of me.
  " 'Aw, look, I hurt your feelings.' Rainbow stuck out her lower lip and pouted. 'I'm sorry, Maybe. But I'm dirty and smelly, too. We're the dirty and smelly twins!' She hooked her arm through mine and started to skip. I tried to keep up with her. It made me happy when she wanted to be with me. Then she let go and did a cartwheel right in the middle of the sidewalk. The regular people looked at her like she was psycho."
  
  Each of them has some real or imagined story about how they got there. But here they are: a small tribe of street urchins hostage to the natural and human elements of a winter on the streets in Manhattan. The story is told by Maybe, a girl with a highly visible skin condition, vitiligo, who has been here since last summer.
  
  " 'Exposure,' Officer Johnson said over his shoulder without stopping.
  " 'To what?' I asked.
  " 'To the cold,' Officer Johnson said as he pulled open the car door. 'To drugs, drink, disease, and hunger. Basically to life on the street. If you kids had any sense, you'd go home.'
  " 'What if you don't have a home to go to?' Maggot asked.
  " 'You've got no parents, brothers, sisters. aunts, uncles, relatives?' asked Officer Ryan.
  " 'You think I'd be living like this if I did?' Maggot said."
  
  I rode the school bus on field trips to Manhattan. By high school, the teacher would let us loose for a couple of hours after we'd taken the compulsory tour of the museum du jour. Thirty years later I can still recall that sample of being a kid off alone on a frigid winter day with slate gray skies beyond towering granite buildings and fierce winds ripping west to east down the streets, whipping up grit and garbage and probing its way inside my clothes.
  
  "There's a thousand shades of white
  and a thousand shades of black
  But the same rule always applies
  Smile pretty, and watch your back"
  --Ani "Every State Line"
  
  CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE provides a vivid portrait of being there all the time, on your own, on the street, in the filth of alleys and doorways, with the nightly fear of being preyed on and the daily tasks of survival.
  
  "Cold wind ripping
  down the alley at dawn
  And the morning paper flies,
  Dead man lying
  by the side of the road
  With the daylight in his eyes."
  --Neil Young "Don't Let It Bring You Down"
  
  As you could imagine this is an unforgiving environment where twenty-somethings are perceived as old and worn out and there are plenty of kids who don't make it:
  
  "Country Club was lying in Piss Alley next to a Christmas tree someone had thrown out a window of the apartment building next door. The Christmas tree was lying on its side; Country Club lay on his back. His eyes were open. Glassy and dull. Like he was staring straight up to heaven. Sometimes on sunny days Country Club's eyes looked green. But on this cold gloomy day his eyes were as gray as the clouds overhead.
  "Under a film of dirt Country Club's skin was pasty and almost green. He had a wispy light brown beard, thin so you could see through it to his jaw and chin. On his left cheekbone was a long, crusty brown scab. On his right cheek was a small black tattoo of a spider's web. His long, tangled brown hair was spread out on the ground, mixed in with the torn papers and candy wrappers and bent straws that littered the alley. Bits of paper and dirt and a single strand of silver Christmas tinsel clung to his beard. His arms were spread out. One hand turned up, the other turned down. His hips were twisted sideways, his legs bent at the knees like he was running.
  "But he wasn't going nowhere."
  
  Yet every time CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE threatens to totally veer toward the hopeless and morbid, we are reminded that these are kids. Real kids. Silly kids. Sensitive kids. Stubborn kids. Questioning kids:
  
  " 'Are you serious?' the man asked, nodding at Maggot's 'Money for Maryjuana' sign.
  " 'Why not?' Maggot answered. 'If the sign said, "Money for Food," would you believe it? Least I'm honest.'
  " 'At least you ought to spell it right,' said the woman.
  "Maggot turned the sign around and looked at it. 'I spelled "money" wrong?'
  "The man smiled. 'He's got a sense of humor.'
  " 'Not for long if I don't score some pot,' Maggot warned them."
  
  A quick online search finds estimates from a few years ago of 12,000-20,000 homeless youth in New York City. Nearly two-thirds are black or Latino. A disproportionate share are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, because adolescents in those groups are routinely jettisoned by their families and are frequently unwelcome in their schools or in foster homes. Many homeless teens are children of the victims of the mid-1980s crack epidemic. A study found one-third of those street kids surveyed engaged in prostitution in order to obtain money. There is a high expectation among street kids that they will contract AIDS.
  
  "Hang on to your hopes, my friend.
  That's an easy thing to say,
  But if your hopes should pass away
  Simply pretend that you can build them again."
  --Simon & Garfunkel "Hazy Shade of Winter"
  
  CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE is one of those books to grab me by the throat and slam me against the wall. Like Spaz from Rodman Philbrick's THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE, Maybe's "defect" is her savior. That highly visible skin condition ironically leaves her as a less visible target than 2Moro, Rainbow, Tears, Jewel and so many other kids in her position, thus allowing her to be the perfect observer and narrator for the story.
  
  Homeless teens have no voice, no vote, few choices, and zero power. By melding remnants of childhood joy and innocence with the bitter bleakness of life and death in filthy alleys and dumpsters, Todd Strasser has written a story that will be the root of nightmares, prolonged discussions and, hopefully, change.
  
  Richie Partington, MLIS
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• 
  Kita Ookami

  (((Please be patient with grammar and spelling I am Autistic )))
  
  Another tear-jerker that most troubled teens can relate to. I used to whisper the phrase, 'can't get there from here', when I was trapped in my hell of a life. That phrase of course changed just like Maybe's did. Everything about this book makes you grateful and gives you the street view that many unfortunate teens find themselves in. Many not even by choice, but by desperation. God, each chapter that started with the death of one of the kids got me bawling. To imagine how much they suffered and they never deserved any of it. The emotion of misery living on the streets is written perfectly and not a detail is skipped. I felt like I was back in my tent with my siblings, shivering away winter while our parents hid us and went god knew where. Maybe and the others portrayed everything and didn't glorify the notion that running away is the answer. For some, it may be the only choice and yes help is hard to find, but it is out there for young children who need it. I just hope that they all find it and never end up like the characters in this captivating story.
• 
  Negin mousavi

  An awesome read that takes you upon a sad yet thought-provoking journey, delving into the concepts of social structure, family, meaningful bonds and sense of belonging all through the eyes of a so-called 15-year-old, unruly outcast.
  This book offers A perspective less willingly taken.
  What do we look like to a "dysfunctional teenager"? One that we think of as no good and damaging to our precious rituals.
  How often do we stop in our track and actually listen instead of giving a lecture to teens?
  More importantly, what's the right approach that those with good intentions yet mis-guided mindsets could have in order to actually make a difference?
  These vulnerable, brave, witty and untrusting characters might have taught me a thing or two both about my life and others.
  You might not get there, but you definitely don't have to stay here.
• 
  Vero

  Tough, aber hat die SuS sehr gepackt :)
• 
  Natasha Marks

  the book Can't Get There From Here is about a family of homeless teens lives on the streets of New York City, and their struggles of their lives is, clear early on when Country Club dies of "liver failure due to acute alcohol poisoning." His brief life is summarized in a one-page" he states. As they soon realize there is a new girl named maybe she has been sent there because of her family not trusting her. As she meets her gang they know she is not fit for the streets. Convinces Maybe to get off the streets. They convince her to get off the streets because they want to protect her from drug abuse and alcohol poisoning. Like their dear friend country club died of. This reminds me of a time when i was watching the news and saw that their was a group of homeless kids who died from a gang of people for stealing drugs from one another. I thought this book was great!