From: Robin L. Gibson <rlgibso2>
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 18:02:13 -0600

I just finished reading _Slot Machine_, and I didn't take any of the peer pressure as exaggeration. I haven't read many books aimed at young adult males (I've tended to gravitate toward female protagonists in the past), and if this book hadn't been scheduled for discussion this month, I'm not sure when I might have read it (not because it's not deserving, but I just wouldn't have picked it up on my own, I don't think). I really enjoyed Elvin's humor -- it seemed very juvenile (appropriately enough), and also very revealing and self-aware at the same time. Yet, at times I found the humor almost painful -- Elvin's defense against the teenage male world. I took all of the peer pressure literally, and was affected by all of it
(especially the scene at the end). I am surprised that someone would consider it an exaggeration -- that thought hadn't even occurred to me! How would a teenage male read it? As exaggeration? I'm really curious now! Do any of you work with middle-schoolers or teenagers, and how have they responded?

Hoping to hear more opinions . . .

Robin

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%%*%*%*%*%*%*%* Robin L. Gibson Graduate Student, School of Library and Information Studies University of Wisconsin-Madison rlgibso2 at students.wisc.edu
*%*%*%*%*%**%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*%*
Received on Wed 13 Mar 1996 06:02:13 PM CST