Twisted

Twisted centers on Tyler, the used to be nerd, now somewhat bad boy who bloomed into a full grown, six foot hottie over the summer. With his newfound ripped physique, he may actually have a chance with the hottest girl in the school, the girl of his dreams, but his feelings have to contend with his dysfunctional family and his slowly crumbling world.

Character-wise, Tyler is fantastic. I couldn't put the book down because I was just so attached to the guy. Anderson writes from the teenage male perspective and does it so wondrously. Tyler is the epitome of teenage boy. He's moody and angry and lustful and beyond hormonal, but he's also a real character.

Tyler's funny and cares about his mom and his sister and he tries so hard to be a good guy. The things that happen to him are a bit out of his control, but that's where the book gets so good. The escalating tension builds so much throughout the story that I found myself just waiting for the explosion and Anderson does not disappoint.

Tyler's inner thoughts are vividly raw with his emotions. His past mistake (just the one really) becomes the center of his world, the single factor that drives his senior year. Anderson probes Tyler's family life so we see way past the pristine surface to a family that is falling apart bit by bit; from Tyler, a high school senior on parole, to Hannah, the freshman who wants to express herself and break free from her parents rules, to the mom who is fast becoming and alcoholic, and finally to the dad who is overworked, easily agitated, and constantly verbally abusive. Like I said, the family is twisted, but their imperfections are what make the entire story so easy to just get.

The book is stamped "THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR CHILDREN" but it isn't really all that graphic, at least in my opinion. Sure, there's talk of erections and cold showers and a scene alluding to masturbation, but Tyler is 18 years old. If people don't think that teens know, think about, or have sex, then they're fooling themselves. Tyler's world doesn't even revolve around the opposite sex. The plot focuses much more on him as a person and how much he has changed and how his family is a little twisted. This is definitely not for the younger crowd, but with the warning right there in the beginning, I don't see how/why it needs to be challenged in high schools.

Twisted is an incredibly well-written book that's easy to relate to and impossible to put down. Filled with lusty thoughts an uproarious humor, Anderson taps into the teenage male psyche in a way few female authors are able to do. Take the time to read this book, you won't regret it.

Opening line: I spent the last Friday of summer vacation spreading hot, sticky tar across the roof of George Washington High. ~ pg. 1

Favorite line (I have two): I scared myself, because once you've thought long and hard enough about doing something that is colossally stupid, you feel like you've actually done it, and then you're never quite sure what your limits are. ~ pg. 95

The guy in the mirror looked like somebody had wrapped his heart in barbed wire and pulled. He wasn't just a loser. He was lost, no-compass lost, don't-speak-the-language lost.
I have screwed up everything. ~ pg. 189

Since I did not begin this book with any particular expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. Twisted touches on the issues of bullying, dysfunctional family, high school hierarchy, stereotypes, biases, drinking, sex, and suicide. This is the story of a teenage boy trying to define himself as a man while everyone around him is telling him what he is and what he can never be. Facing the twisted reality he now find himself in, Tyler tells his story with brutal honesty and a sardonic humor that will speak to anyone who has ever felt like the victim in unfair circumstances.

I just finished this book. I love reading Laurie Halse Anderson's books because they deal with the nitty, gritty realities that prove that few people look back at high school and see it as a "golden time." I also like her writing because it goes behind the facade of rich, suburban, successful family image and delves into the hidden abuse, mental illness, insecurity, and overall dysfunction within "perfect" families. So, I wish I could say this book was awesome, but for someone who is abused, bullied, romantically snubbed, suicidally depressed, and framed for a heinous crime, Tyler Miller ends up with quite a picket fence ending. The self-proclaimed bad boy has a moment of clarity where he threatens his father with a baseball bat. Then, thwack! His depression clears up, his parents become sane and supportive, he takes control of his life, and he becomes the golden boy we all knew he was. Anderson's message is clear - don't let life bring you down. Still, realistic? I think not! Only in fiction do people make such turn-arounds.

I love Laurie Halse Anderson. Her novels always have the perfect leading voice, capturing the personality of the character we're meeting and bringing us into their world for a few hundred pages or so. Her books are more often than not shocking, holding nothing back, and make the reader wince once or twice. But they're gripping, compelling, and tell the tale of the darker side of our society.

These scenes are very realistic. I could picture most of them happening right at my own school. I liked this element of realism. Though the terrible things happening to Tyler were horrible and blown out of proportion, they weren't totally out there and readers-especially those still in high school-can connect to his dilemma.

I liked this book a lot, and I think that you should also read it, along with other Laurie Halse Anderson books-Speak and Catalyst to name a few. If anyone wants a review on one of her books, comment below and let me know.

`Twisted' is a great book and gets 5/5 stars.

Brilliant. I really felt like I was reading a book in the male's perspective, so props to Laurie!

Tyler's life is definitely full of a lot of things: girls, family issues, police, friends, bullies, suicide, you name it. I felt like there was so much going on though, and I disliked the familial issues. Tyler's family has a lot of issues, with a tough, cold father. His mother just wants all to be fine. It all felt like too much to be happening to one person. Verbal abuse, school violence, it was a lot to read about. But I could see some of this happening, because people tend to jump the gossip train a bit too easily.

I honestly do not even know what to say about this book, just that it's powerful. Is it as great as Speak? No, but it's still a great novel.

Highlights: Anderson is a great writer. She thinks like a teenager, and her books sound real. You can't help but to feel her characters are real. She leaves you feeling what the characters feel, and thats a tough thing to do.

Lowlights: The way Tyler had to deal with his family at the end. I thought it was a horrible way to get your point across to someone. I also disliked some of the cliches in the novel (some of the things characters would say, do, etc). Fantastic novel, but her other novels are far superior (SPEAK, WINTERGIRLS)

The newest book to bear the Laurie Halse Anderson byline is TWISTED, the story of a teenage boy who somehow changed between junior and senior year. It isn't until senior year begins that he becomes aware of these changes, thanks to the reactions of his classmates. In one moment, with one glance, earns the respect of some and the contempt of others. When something happens which pushes both ends to the extreme, Tyler must decide what is worth standing up for, and determine how the truth became so twisted.

Readers familiar with Anderson's narrative style will like Tyler's voice. He is notable for various reasons, the most obvious being that he is Anderson's first male protagonist. His journey is furthered by the introduction of Bethany, who is not only the most popular girl in his class, but also the daughter of his father's boss. Her interest in Tyler leads the near-ruin of the boy - which could, in turn, lead to his finest moment or complete downfall.

My favorite character in Twisted is Hannah, Tyler's younger sister. She is a bright-eyed freshman, youthful and vibrant, ready to brave the world. I could see and hear her vividly. I felt as though she symbolized the blurred lines that young women have to read between these days. For example, she dressed provocatively when she hit high school, but was not doing so to attract attention, nor did she ever do anything out-of-line. She was anxious to grow up and was doing so more quickly than her brother was prepared for - which is something parents feel all too often! Her storyline nicely paralleled her brother's story, and her advice often kept him afloat.

In short, another solid story from Laurie Halse Anderson which will please her loyal readers. Also recommended for fans of Alex Flinn (Breaking Point) and John Green (Looking for Alaska). Pair it with Good Girls by Laura Ruby.

Anderson finds ways to write about real teen issues without fairy tale endings that still satisfy. And she does it again with Twisted. This one doesn't measure up to Wintergirls and Speak, but still good enough that I read the last third of the book in one sitting (unusual for me).

I didn't find the characters as compelling as previous books. Something was just a bit off that I wasn't buying. Some things felt inconsistent with Tyler. I liked many aspects about him, but just didn't feel he'd have suicidal tendencies when it came down to it. And the catharsis between he and his father felt a little over the top. Anyway, that's minor stuff.

Anderson can still write very convincing scenes that ring true as she did with the house party and confrontations between Tyler and other teenagers. The interaction between characters doesn't patronize younger readers and still reads authentic.

I found myself speed-reading a bit more than I did with her other books (maybe that explains my disconnection with characters). But she's still one of the best YA writers out there.

I loved this book. Anderson has an incredible talent for presenting teen dialog and scenarios; her words ring true again and again. Speak is a popular book in my classroom with girls and I think Twisted will be so with boys. There are few books that teen guys can read which depict them in a true light, so I'll be happy to pass this book off to my guy readers (yes, even with the "foul language" and references to--oh dear me!--erections; that's their world right now).

One caveat: I was a bit distressed at the portrayal of the suicidal teen. It... just doesn't happen that way. I'm not saying teens don't have thoughts of suicide. To the contrary, they do at such an alarming rate that I believe we need to talk to them about this as much as we talk to them about smoking, drinking and drugs. But teens who become suicidal do so over a long period of time, thinking about, fantasizing about, joking about (as a cover-up) suicide long before they ever reach the gun-in-the-mouth stage.

I think, though, most of Anderson's audience will love this book as much as they have her others. When it comes to teen lit, she is no less than brilliant.

Look at the very best of literature --- young adult or otherwise --- and one theme re-emerges time and time again, lending an air of truth with each retelling: transformation comes at a cost. The Little Mermaid. Pygmalion. We cannot become something new without giving something up. Maybe it's part of our lives that we didn't need, like emotional baggage. Or maybe it's something more precious, like innocence. But what ultimately tests every person who goes through a transformation is how they deal with what they've gained in the process.

In TWISTED, Laurie Halse Anderson presents readers with Tyler Miller, whose transformation from a meek, social Mr. Cellophane to a chiseled, admired "tough guy" sets his world on end. As someone who spends his days unnoticed, Tyler finds himself with more attention than he wanted after he vandalizes school property and, to pay for his crime, takes a summer job doing landscaping. The unforeseen side effect is that he returns the next school year with a brand new bod that's turning heads, most notably the head of Bethany Milbury.

But not everything --- even Bethany's advances --- works out well for Tyler. As he struggles to contend with his angry father, a mistrustful faculty and the aftermath of a drunken party, Tyler comes to the painful realization that there's a substantial price tag for his newfound popularity, and juggling the consequences lead him to thoughts of suicide.

While the overall story tackles weighty issues such as identity, family and suicide, Anderson masterfully interjects wry humor that always seems to find its mark. There's something very genuine in the portrayal of Tyler's struggle, both as he seeks attention and as he seeks to banish it. His volatile family situation --- especially his relationship with his father --- is familiar without bowing to a stereotypical, dysfunctional family. Despite times when Chip Milbury (Bethany's brother and the bane of Tyler's rebirth) comes across a little cartoonish in his machinations, the characterizations ring true.

TWISTED, with its tip of the hat to black comedy, does what all good cautionary tales should do: leaves the reader with the certainty that something would be missing in their life without it. Don't miss out on this.

--- Reviewed by Brian Farrey

Twisted Review

"Twisted", by Laurie Halse Anderson is a really good book with many different problems that lots of teens can relate to.

Derek is a seventeen year old who used to be a complete dork. The year earlier he ended up putting graffiti on the schools walls to try and get noticed. Instead he got on probation and had a summer of community service. Through the community service he had to dig holes, and he ended up getting a lot stronger and muscular. When he got back no one thought of him as a nerd anymore. They thought he was strong and dangerous. Bethany, the hottest girl in school and hardest girl to get, is the girl he likes. Derek doesn't like his life; he likes to think of different ways to kill himself to help him relax. His father hates him and his only best friend is obsessed with Star Wars.

I liked this book because it has a bunch of various ideas and emotions. There are lots of problems and troubles, but she still makes it funny and thrilling.

The thing about "Twisted" is that it does house a lot of cliches. It has its fair share of stereotypical characters, predictable moments, and used concepts. On the other hand, all the "used" concepts used here are ones that feel so real and powerful (some stereotypes exist because they're true, let us remember), portrayed in such a clear and strong way that it seems almost irrelevant.

Tyler's character is a well crafted one. He feels entirely real - the way he thinks of things, his behaviors, his temper, and especially how he views the world. He is, perhaps, just another teenager, but he's a real, solid one. His voice is such that any reader can appreciate this book. He is both a nerd, a strong male figure, a worrying older brother, and a victim at once.

The side characters are a joy as well. Hannah and Yoda are vivid and real both in their behavior and in their dialogue. They balance Tyler out well. Tyler's parents, too, are characters you can believe. Even a dragon occasionally sheds tears. Bethany, Chip, and the "upper-class" section of the book may be considered cliched "rich teens", but they still feel like real people you know. They do not act snobbishly because they have more money, but more because of dislike, plain arrogance, or, in something I appreciated several times in the book, out of protection. They felt as real and plausible as the others.

"Twisted" is not like LHA's other books. I felt that it is more welcome to male readers thanks to Tyler, but also available to any reader. Readers seeking a good story will find it here. It handles issues that are all too common (think teen depression, lust, parental trouble, arrest, etc...) There is intrigue, difficult issues, family, and school pressure mixed together. It is has strong characters, a solid plot, and LHA clear, readable writing. It is a difficult book to put down.

While there are aspects of this book that can be considered cliched, used, and predictable, things don't turn out quite the way they "should". There are plenty of twists and turns along the way. I found that even though I did at first feel (for a moment) like this would be some trashy book on teen romance between classes, it definitely did not take that route. It's a deep book that deals with things that most high school students will tell you DO happen. Kids get beaten up, there is drama... Aspects may bother some readers, but the overall book is so good that I felt like the few minor flaws didn't actually detract from the overall read.

I liked this book quite a bit. Enjoy!

Tyler Miller was getting ready to start his Senior year in high school. For years, he had been the quiet, geeky kid that most of the football team had picked on. Then a couple of somethings had happened. Tyler had grown taller and filled out. A summer of working at the landscape company had pumped up muscles he didn't even know he had. Now he was taller and stronger than most of the football players. And of course, the "foul deed". Tyler had spray painted a couple of thousand dollars worth of damage at school and had gotten caught. Now he was "dangerous", a bad boy. The kids at school were definitely looking at him differently. Including, Bethany Millbury, only the most beautiful, popular girl at school. A girl Tyler had a crush on forever. Oh yeah, and the daughter of his father's boss.

Tyler's dad was tough and cold. Working for Millbury trust, he spent so much time at work and traveling that he wasn't around that much. But when he was, tension at home was unusually high. Both Tyler and his sister Hannah had to walk on eggshells around him. And Tyler's mom spent a lot of time with either a migraine, or a gin and tonic in her hand.

When Bethany started eating lunch with Tyler, he couldn't have been more amazed. And neither could Chip, Bethany's brother. He was Tyler's mortal enemy and hated that his sister was interested in Tyler. When the Homecoming Bonfire came around, Bethany invited Tyler to go to a party with her and her friends. Since he didn't have his car any longer, Tyler had to walk to the party. Showing up late, Bethany was around drunk when he got there. She practically threw herself at him.....and Tyler being the good kid he really was, tried to sober her up instead of taking advantage of the situation. But Bethany took it as an insult and got mad. She started making out with one of Chip's friends, and left Tyler alone at the party.

Tyler figured this would probably be the end of his dreams with Bethany. But when pictures of a half-naked Bethany got posted on the Internet, Tyler became suspect number one. Now his new found popularity is gone. And he has to prove to everyone, including his dad, that he isn't the kind of person that would do something like this.

Laurie Halse Anderson has this uncanny ability to think like a teenager. And not only that, she can WRITE like a teenager. Twisted is told from Tyler's point of view, and it's hard to believe it wasn't actually written by a teenage boy. Anderson tackles some really deep issues including sex, depression, and teenage suicide. And she does so with such realism and honesty that it's scary. I haven't been in high school for a long time, but I remember a lot of those raw feelings. Anderson just puts them all down on a page. And it's gut-wrenching to read.

It makes me a little frightened to read books like this. My son will be in 7th grade this year, and I just want to hold him and protect him from all the bad things that High School can bring. I know that I can't. I can give him love, encouragement and the tools to try to do the right thing. Then I have to let him go and trust that he will be ok. It scares the hell out of me, it really does.

Even if you don't have kids in school, this book will take you back to the torturous days of high school. It's honest, insightful, and at times, very bleak. But, in the end, there is hope. And that's all that anyone can ask for. This book is definitely not for children (and it plainly states that on the opening page of the book). But for older kids and teens, it's a wonderful look at the world of high school, and the pitfalls and temptations that could possibly face them. Highly recommended.

Twisted is, pretty twisted in terms of the plot and the themes it addresses. Though not nearly on the level of Speak, the novel is still very powerful, hurling waves of depressing and sadness upon the reader like typhoons. You immediately like Tyler, and Anderson does a good job of telling you who to like and dislike...then making you like or dislike them appropriately. Definitely a worthwhile read. Just don't expect quite another masterpiece like Speak.

After a lifetime of invisibility and bullying, all Tyler Miller wants is to be noticed -- and quickly. One "Foul Deed" later, Tyler has earned a reputation as a borderline criminal, has a tanned, muscular build from community service and is suddenly noticed by his classmates. Returning to school after a summer of manual labor, Tyler has changed -- and everyone seems to notice.

Including Bethany Milbury, the gorgeous senior girl of Tyler's often inappropriate dreams. Tyler's bad boy reputation catches Bethany's attention for the first time, but her twin brother Chip isn't going to sit back idly and watch any affection between the two of them. Tyler has been dodging Chip's bullying and punches for years and, starting the school year at a new height of 6'3", Tyler finally has the advantage over him -- not that Chip would ever admit it.

And neither of the boys would ever acknowledge, or appreciate, how much they actually have in common. Tyler's father is a verbally abusive minion of a man, reviled by his wife, son and daughter Hannah. The Miller family portrays the classic "cookie cutter," white-picket-fence on the outside but can't always conceal the cracks in their "perfect" existence. After Tyler's "Foul Deed," Mr. Miller cracks down even harder on his son. Likewise, Chip and Bethany's parents seem to push them both to a near breaking point, always demanding more and more -- and perfection.

Like Speak and Catalyst, two of Anderson's acclaimed novels, Twisted is outstanding -- nuanced, powerful and unforgettable. Tyler is an excellent, multi-facted character who grapples with a difficult and frightening relationship with his father, the weight of holding his family together, lust and despair at loving and losing and the general pangs of growing up. I was sympathetic for him throughout the novel, but I never felt sorry for him. I didn't feel like he would want me to! Despite all of the adversity and the "twist" (no pun intended) in plot about halfway through, Tyler never seemed to be totally out of control . . . until he was. The scenes in which he grapples with death -- the meaning of it, the release of it -- are unforgettable.

Before the novel even begins, a title page warns that "this is not a book for children." I've never seen a caution like that before, but it was certainly warranted. As I was reading, Twisted didn't feel like a "dark" story, but it was. Verbal abuse, sex, victimization and school violence/bullying all have starring roles in this one, but I never cringed or roled my eyes at any of the plot points. Everything felt authentic to me. And the fact that a woman author so clearly wrote from the perspective of a 17-year-old young man is amazing to me! Having known plenty of teenage boys, I totally bought it.

And compulsively readable. I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish the novel -- on a work night! But it was worth it. Anderson is an amazing, detailed and powerful author who understands young adults like no other author I've read. Like all of her books, I'll be thinking about Twisted for quite a while.

Tyler Miller has always been among the oppressed, from the time he was in middle through all his high school years. Until one day when he decides to make a statement by spray painting the school; suddenly, through arrest and a summer spent doing hard labor for community service, Tyler's transformed into one of the dangerous crowd. When he finally catches the eye of Bethany Milsbury, he thinks things are at last going to go well for him. Unfortunately, his home life and doing the decent thing bring his world down around him, and choices must be made.

Gut-wrenching at times, Twisted follows Tyler as he comes to grips with who he is as a person and what he's willing to sacrifice. Anderson is a gifted storyteller and she gives Tyler a strong voice as he faces more arrest and becoming an outcast in his school community. Twisted is dark, and many teens will recognize the typical high school cliques. My biggest gripe is the lack of closure; Anderson gives us a realistic tale and leaves us hanging as to how it will all turn out. Good writing, though, and definitely an interesting plot that will engage. I'm not sure that enjoyed is the correct word, but I did find myself unable to put it down. Recommended.

Basically, in a nutshell, if you took the dark tones of the movie "Observe and Report", and mixed them in with the dramedy of "Degrassi", and the teen genre of "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet", you'd have the book "Twisted"- which is not only an excellent thriller, but also a very interesting character study. Twisted was written by Laurie Halse Anderson, and surprisingly she manages to capture the dark life of a normal teenager who's become very popular!

Twisted, as the warning at the beginning of the book states, is not a book for young people. There is a great deal of violence, and it is a very twisted (pun intended) depiction of teenage life. There is quite a bit of swearing (but not as much as Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet), and some strong sexual content in it- no actual sex, but lots of sexual themes too. Also, the last act of the book is incredibly harsh and brutal, and may disturb something. I normally never get disturbed. But this book sure did it for me.

Tyler Miller is a teenager who is just a normal nerd, but got arrested for vandalism. He chooses community service as opposed to jail and spends his whole summer doing it, thus resulting in a physique that attracts several of the girls in the school. This opens his life up to several opportunities, including the invitations to parties, several activities, school dances, etc. His life seems to be going along just fine when school starts.

That is, however, until an unfortunate incident. One night, at a party, he turns down a girl who wants to have sex with him. Later in the week, he finds that he has been accused of a sex photo scandal- that exact girl had nude photos taken. He seems to be an easy target for the simple fact that he was arrested for vandalism. Soon, it seems that things are about to take a downhill slide for him- breathtaking heights become devastating lows, and soon, he could very well lose one thing- his life.

I will not spoil any more of the book. This book is so good that it's hard to spoil, because you end up liking it so much you want others to read it. I am personally not surprised if this book wins in its YRCA division- it certainly deserves that very award. Laurie Halse Anderson has made me an instant fan- something that does not often happen! I am a very harsh critic when it comes to literature and movies. But I enjoyed this book very much, and in that regard, I recommend it 100%!

Twisted is about Tyler Miller. Nerd, unnoticed, and uncool until, he decides to graffiti the school, which ends badly for him. Set on parole, Tyler Miller suddenly becomes the mysterious, tough guy who secretly loves Bethany Milbury, sister to Tyler's arch-nemesis Chip Milbury, and daughter to Tyler's father's boss. When Bethany starts to take an interest in Tyler, everything spins out of control when they go to a party together: a drinking party. Bethany decides to drink and tries to push things with Tyler. He wants it just as much as she does, but not like this. He refuses, and Bethany decides to run off to her brother's friend. Laurie Halse Anderson illustrates the difference of being a boy, to becoming a man.
This book was one of few that came from the guy's point of view. Tyler gets stronger everyday as he's tested in school with his grades, his social life being strongly disliked, and his family being ripped apart.
It was a good book:good plot, good characters (ish more on that later), and humorous. The only giant annoyance for me was that I couldn't tell if this was meant to be imagined as a real life scenario, or a action-cartoon-comedy. The book opens with Tyler spreading tar on the roof of his high school with "Dopey, Toothless, and Joe." The book never gets around to mentioning their real names (so far as I remember), so we are left to suppose that those ARE their real names. In the next few paragraphs, it mentions Tyler's reaction to seeing Bethany washing cars at a car wash and it say's that his tongue drops out of his mouth and sizzles on the hot tar. Also, we don't figure out that Tyler's best friend's name is actually Calvin, but is referred to as Yoda in 70% of the book. I didn't believe it wasn't supposed to feel like a cartoon until I was well I was pretty far in. But good points on it were that at moments, Tyler would have a conversation inside his head with certain people or would think of how he would want a scenario to play out, and I really got inside his mind.
I also didn't really like the characters in general. Individually, I could pick out many great traits, but when they were all put together they didn't work as well as I'd like. Tyler, the bad boy who cares under it all. He wanted something genuine with Bethany, which is why he refrains, wanting to save her for a more meaningful moment instead of wasting it when she is drunk. I thought that took a lot of will power because he's been lusting over her, yet he did that for her sake. And Bethany, the super-ultra-popular girl. Nothing about her struck me as positive, I just really didn't like her. Even after her "issue" with Tyler is resolved, she ignores his as if he wasn't even born, she doesn't even apologize, and that made me want to crawl into that book and slap her silly.
But anyway, I think it's an okay book, not something I would spend a lot of effort reading, maybe a light "for-fun" reading opportunity, but if it doesn't stick for you, it's okay.

Summary: Tyler, tired of being a picked-on nerd, spray painted his school earning a bad-boy reputation and community service. His academic life goes down the drain, his social life is in the gutter, and his family life is upset by his alcoholic mother and his abusive workaholic father.

I've believe I've read all of her other books but I missed this one when it first came out. So I picked it up now. I was interested to discover it has a male protagonist, as I've been mostly reading books with females in the main role(s).

Tyler's home life sucks-his dad frightened me and everyone in the family. He works constantly and terrorizes his family the few times he's home. His mother is a pet photographer and an alcoholic who excuses his father. He blames Tyler for problems at work, for being unable to handle a difficult academic schedule, for being interested in girls, for everything. But slowly (mirrored through his progress in a computer game) Tyler pulls himself out of his depression and stands up to his father, ending with change as he gains more control over his life, his mother quits alcohol, and his father promises reform.

I was uncomfortable with some of the language used to describe his crush and the other girls although he has a point about how little clothing some high school girls wear-I remember being appalled by what some felt was school appropriate. There are also extensive passages about suicide as Tyler hits rock bottom.

Overall: 4/5

Though littered with the typical clichés of a YA book (teen parties, booze, sex, etc.), TWISTED transcends the genre by being a solid father vs. son book of some sensitivity. Teenage boys should especially enjoy the protagonist, Tyler Miller, who pays the price of a graffiti escapade by doing forced labor with the school's janitors and becoming buff despite himself over the summer. Thus, the perennial loser at least scores a "winner's physique" and attracts the high school beauty queen, Bethany Milbury (who of course values appearances above substance). Too bad her brother, Chip, is his nemesis.

The plot is fast out of the gate and readers will quickly take to the voice of Tyler who is a mix of lovable loser and humorous Everyman. Like the rest of us, his decisions sometimes pan out and sometimes don't. The realism holds the reader's interests, and though Anderson's quick start bogs down a bit in the middle, she gains steam again once she leads our hero into another round of legal trouble -- this time worse than the first transgression.

Freeing itself of familiar clichés, TWISTED eventually rises above "fun slum read" status and becomes a morality of tale of redemption worth reading. Beyond Tyler's central conflicts, it touches on issues of what it means to be a brother, a son, and a citizen of the world. The book is well worth the trip because Tyler's journey through the Valley of Self-Doubt so resembles many of ours. Laurie Halse Anderson shows her versatility once more.

Gilbert Bravo
Period 4
12-3-14
The story Twisted is about a boy named Tyler trying to fit in with the crowd in his high school. He decides to pull prank on the school by graffiti it. During the summer he is put on probation, and he is working most of the summer. During the time he got muscles and Chip his middle school bully now cannot scare him. Tyler’s dad does not have a good relationship and Tyler goes to his boss’s house for a party. Tyler’s crush happens to be the daughter of his dad’s boss. Chip and Tyler have an arm wrestling contest. After Tyler letting him win Chip gives him a slap on his back which cause him to run into Bethany have glass pieces stuck in her foot. Tyler’s mom forced him to take a cake to Bethany after the incident with her foot. After Tyler visited Bethany they started to talk more and she invited Tyler to a Halloween party and a bomb fire. After the party, pictures of Bethany naked are posted on the internet. Tyler is the police main suspect; but he does not have a camera. Tyler does not have a camera; however, the police took his computer away. As Tyler is punished by his parents for something he did not do the police made sure Tyler did not attend classes. Tyler attempts to commit suicide. Tyler also tries to run away from home.
In the first couple of pages the reader thinks chip will play a bigger role in the book but am really not sure if he does play a big role. The author could have used him in different situations in the book. The author does a great job metaphorically referring him to a dragon. The family bond is not there, it causes problems for each one in the household rather than helping the bond they run away from it. The message is trying to say that the author is trying to convey is put family before school because Tyler is worried about his school that when he gets home his family is out of control I could be the dad fault but also Tyler trying to fit in and putting his family in situation with the police shows that Tyler feels fitting in school is more important. Even though Tyler does not respect his family, his family was able to prevent him from running away from home. Tyler was going to kill himself, until his dad showed he loved him. The author does a good job because he uses imagery of the rough times they been through. After Tyler realized his dad loves him, they enter the house, and shared a nice meal together.
This book should be required for high school students because the problems Tyler is facing is typical problems that happen in high school. Since teenagers want to go to crazy parties, they can relate to Tyler, because teenagers always want to fit in. Family is also important and people relate to this because not every family is perfect and people do have problems communicating with their parents. Tyler especially with his dad due to work and him not treating the family with respect. The story goes through events that brings the family together.

Although the title “Twisted”, by Laurie Halse Anderson, sounds like a great book, the real truths can only be found once the reader actually reads the first few pages. It is a great story, but the reader can only know that when he/she is fully endorsed in its wonderful and awful backdrop. The story is great for a big view of an unfortunate teenager’s life. In fact, the book takes place in the general range of an unfortunate school flooded by the cruelest of people. Since everyone at the schools wants to be the best, students literally fight for the top order, but only people like Tyler emerge as a prominent view. Tyler is indeed born out of a lawyers’ family, but his bad attitude completely hides that fact out. Tyler’s mother is kind and generous; however, his father is extremely harsh around the house. Tyler’s secret crush, Bethany Milbury, is perhaps the only reason why Tyler would not simply kill himself. However, Tyler is put on the pedestal by being held responsible for a crime he knows he did not commit. Offensive photos of Bethany were found on a temporary website, but still was enough to spark an entire school to hate on Tyler. Even after Tyler is cleared by authority, the family’s bad luck persists, which leads in the near-suicide and escape attempt of Tyler. But of course, there is the option to restart, and this exactly the decision Tyler chooses.
If a man had to rate the book by its cover, he would simply refuse the offer. But even so, reading alone does not provide information. Therefore, it is the very reason why the reader should also think thoroughly. The choice of setting is a surprising decision overall, mostly because readers do not expect a book such as this one to be placed, in all areas of the world, an educational trash can. Tyler learns from more than just community service and bad luck in school, the reader can also see how Tyler interacts with his family, which is known to be somewhat ignorant of Tyler in favor of unimportant tasks. The conflicts, however, are heavily focused on. For example, Tyler’s father, Bill, clearly does not appreciate Tyler and puts promotion in business on top priority above family.
Even though the book is partly set for a mature audience, the story should be reading material necessary for education since it gives good hint of what a teenager’s life could look like. As well, the story contains many key functions of a story, including the use of figurative language. It also teaches many people, both young and grown adults, that overcoming many great obstacles leads to a well-deserved reward. While the story is set in a school overflowing with sins of people, the more prominent focus is on Tyler himself. Laurie Halse Anderson displays numerous cases in which rumors cannot be trusted, as Tyler was put in deep trouble for an offensive crime he did not commit. In conclusion, “Twisted” by Laurie Halse Anderson is a great story because of many of the life morals and English content you can gain from one troubled person.

Laurie Halse Anderson is the author of 5 novels and 3 picture books. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards and many recommendations. Each of her books that I have read has been excellent and this one is no exception. The dust jacket states "Everybody told me to be a man ... Nobody told me how." Anderson captures the essence of the journey from a boy to a man.

Tyler Miller had been caught defacing school property, and now he is a hero to some, and an outcast to others, and is trying to find his way in the world. He has done community service all summer at the school, and worked for a landscaping company.

Now he must return to school and face the students and teachers who know what he did and the punishment he received for it. The school year begins badly; at a party he is knocked into a tray of glasses and cuts the feet of the Alpha female of the school, who happens to be the women of his dreams, Bethany Milbury.

Tyler is forced to take Bethany a cake as an apology for the accident. They become friends, and seem to be sort of dating. Then Bethany gets trashed at a party, and Tyler does the right thing. Yet Tyler broke his curfew from the court and that is just the beginning of some serious problems in his life. Unfortunately someone takes advantage of Bethany while she is drunk and most people think it is Tyler because of his reputation.

Most people think he did it. The cops keep coming by. He is attacked in school and out of school. He struggles with what to do, how to be a man. Can he learn how to be a man; can he take control of his life that seems completely out of control?

This book does an amazing job of capturing the angst of growing up, of finding your place in the world. It shows clearly the transition from boy to man, and then end of high school and moving on to the rest of life.

Anderson, as a woman, surprised me with he ability to write about becoming a man; her insight and clarity are awesome. This book should become a classic. Much like her earlier novel Speak I believe this book should be on the reading list for every high school or university Children's Literature course.
The book leaves you wanting more. The reader will want to know what happens next. Where is Tyler in a year, 3, 5 or 10? These questions will haunt you after you finish the book.

(First Published in Imprint 2007-09-28 as 'Short Titles With Varied Depths.')Speak

TWISTED is a novel from Laurie Halse Anderson (author of SPEAK) that examines the mindset of the typical American suburban teenage male. The story is told from the point of view of Tyler Miller. Tyler was just an average, overlooked high school student until the end of this junior year. He did well in his classes, but because he didn't play sports, come from a wealthy family, or have a great physique he was a just one of many nameless faces at George Washington High School. Tyler was tired of being a nobody and decided that he would do something to get the entire school to recognize him and at the end of his junior year committed the Foul Deed. The Foul Deed gained him high school infamy, but it also forced him to sell his car and earned him a summer of community service working with the schools maintenance and janitorial staff and six months of probation. He spent most of his summer tarring roofs and doing landscaping work. By the end of the summer he had ended his growth spurt topping out around six feet and his flabby frame was as solid as chiseled granite.

Tyler likes his new look and isn't the only one. The most popular girl in school, the queen bee, Bethany Milbury suddenly starts noticing Tyler. Tyler's sister, Hannah, who begins high school as a freshman also notices Tyler's new physique and uses it to her advantage on the first day of school. Tyler had liked Bethany since grade school. She is his dream girl. But there are some big obstacles. Besides the obvious, that Bethany and Tyler are from two completely different worlds, there's also the fact that Bethany's Dad is Tyler's Dad's boss and that Bethany's twin brother Chip is Tyler's worst enemy. Somehow Tyler is able to overcome these obstacles and the school year begins as the best of his high school career. But events at a rowdy party after a football game turn everything upside down and Tyler finds himself looking at a possible jail sentence for a crime he didn't commit. He thinks about committing suicide and he plans to run away. Everything in his life is all screwed up and the only thing he is sure about is how complicated and twisted life has become.

I know that Laurie Halse Anderson gained a huge amount of public and critical acclaim with her novel, SPEAK. I haven't read that book, yet, but knew from recommendations from friends who have read that book what an excellent writer she is. TWISTED just reinforced everything I had been told.

The story is a very honest and brutal examination at the inner struggles that a typical suburban teenage American male goes through. I work with teenagers on a regular basis and I was once an American teenage male myself (though I wasn't from the suburbs) so I can relate a great deal to the character of Tyler Miller. However, I also found the novel to be rather disturbing because in reading about Tyler and his struggles I see how far we (as people) have changed in the past ten to fifteen years and it frightens me.

We live in a culture and society that is constantly changing. Some people would argue that these changes are for the better. To an extent, I would agree. But only to an extent. Change can be good, but it isn't always good and change just for the sake of change is very seldom a good thing. Traditions and the status quo can sometimes become a barrier to creativity and originality, but they have their place in society and culture even though they are unfortunately systematically being erased little by little. In such a culture, boys no longer know how to become men. Physically, many boys appear to be men, but their emotions and mentality remain that of a boy. Advertising saturates us with messages that conflict with our innermost sense of self, yet appeals to the most primal urges within each of us and this causes old boys and young men to have a mental life full of twisted confusion and frustration.

Then there's the public education system itself. I'm a committed teacher, but I'm also a realist when it comes to educating secondary students. Anyone who doesn't want to acknowledge that our public education system is messed up is living in an imaginary world. In the United States we have attempted to do what no other country in history has ever done before by providing the same basic education to everyone regardless of ability. It's a noble ideal. Unfortunately the ideal will never be realized if the current system remains the way it is. Extremely talented and creative children are being left behind, their gifts and talents unacknowledged and unrecognized while someone who is able to fill in enough little circles properly in the right amount of time is lavished with praise. Then there's the whole issue with how public high schools in America have become little more than semi-restricted centers of social experimentation instead of the pantheons devoted to education, civic training, and morality that they are supposed to be.

TWISTED deals with all these issues and at times it can be quite bleak. Yet, the book is a book of hope. Tyler has to face his inner demons but they don't ultimately conquer him. Not only that, but he's not alone. Outside of his family he has his best friend, Yoda. At school his favorite teacher is his English teacher, Mr. Salvatore who is concerned for Tyler and his well being. These characters in addition to Tyler's mother, sister, and the high school janitorial crew help Tyler realize how unique and special that he is. He recognizes this, but doesn't fully understand it for quite sometime. Every teenager needs people like this in their lives and I weep for those who don't have anyone or think that they don't because I've seen first hand what happens to kids who don't.

TWISTED is prefaced by a short warning that declares "NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR CHILDREN." I'm glad that warning is there because though TWISTED is marketed as a young adult novel, it's a novel not written for children and is aimed at adults. There is a lot of crude and foul language, there is a great deal of violence, and the book is filled with images of sexuality. I know that there are many teenagers will read this book and I hope that when they do they can take something positive away from it. However, I hope that more adults than teenagers will read it. However, TWISTED is so insightful and powerful that it's a book that any adult who works with teenage boys should require themselves to read.

As always Laurie Halse Anderson keeps us on our teenage toes with this thought-provoking novel of the trials of finding our own identity in the face of conflict. I was deeply moved by the reactions of Tyler's, the main character, family and how their dynamics shaped his perception of self. Physically abusive relationships, especially in YA novels, are more likely to be depicted, but here the abusive is verbal, emotional, and mental but just as easily scarring. I highly recommend this stunning novel to those interested in coming of age stories, issues of abuse, bullying, and self preservation.

The problem today with teenage geared books, is the obsession with rinky dink romance and vampires. This book has none of that, it has an actual story line that makes you never want to put the book down. The author does a great job of making you feel the emotions going through the main characters head. This is a great book, I read it as a sophomore in high school and I am now a junior in college and I am about to read it again!

This book is an eye brow arching, mouth dropping, and knee slapping thriller(drama). Tyler is a torn troublesome teen who is just trying to find his way when one of the most fine a** girls wants his bod. He soon is going from social Suicide to surreal Suicide when photos of this teen beauty are found. Which contain her drunk out of her mind passed out on a bed and some pretty dirty pics. Tyler is blaimed because he hooked up with her that very night.

My absolute favorite part of this book is when tyler hooks up with bethany at the party. I had a lot of respect, but was slightly dispointed, but more impressed when tyler refused to take it all the way with her cause she was too drunk to even move her tounge. But in this descions comes Consequences. Bethany was so mad at him she hooked up with her a-hole of a brothers friend.

I recoment this book for kids 11 up. This book rocks it pretty hard. When you start reading it it grabs you like a hungry hulk who finds you scrumdidlyumsiouc. The book has everything everybook should have a jacked guy who sorta akward and a super fine hunny who has the hots for this juvinial delinquent . But just as you think thats great they through a curv ball at you and have tylers best friend fall for his little sister who is a freshman.

Earlier this year, I read Twilight simply because a friend raved about it. I was very surprised that I would enjoy a young adult novel so much. I liked it so much, I decided to join the young adult challenge. I saw Twisted reviewed on another blog and decided that it would be the first book in this challenge. I enjoyed it very much.

As a high school teacher, and the mother of a teenage boy, I found the character of Tyler to be very realistic. Anderson has managed to capture the indecision and longing for acceptance that every teenager experiences at this age.

Anderson also manages to infuse the characters her novel with a sense of humor. Some parts of the book deal with sensitive subjects such as suicide, drinking, and sexual assault. Tyler's subtly humorous observations make it easier to get past the ugly topics and concentrate on the lessons he is trying to teach us.

Tyler is a character that will remain with you long after you close the book. His obsession with the queen bee Bethany (who happens to be the daughter of his father's boss), his antagonistic relationship with Bethany's twin brother, his apparent 'no-win" relationship with his own father, and his ongoing struggle with his own identify problems all combine to make for a powerful and poignant drama. Highly recommended but definitely not a book for children!

I loved Speak.

Anyway, this wasn't anything like it, and it was actually pretty boring.

Tyler gets a hot bod, then queen bee bethany pretends to like him. He refuses her advances at a party. Then he's accused for the nude pictures of her that were found on the internet.

I liked Hannah and Yoda. They were very believable characters. Tyler's relationship with his family was somewhat interesting.

Overall, this book was just boring. No real climax or anything. Just skip it, it's not a good read.

Michael Kelly
04/29/2011
Period 1
Review on "Twisted
This new novel, "Twisted" there is a boy named Tyler Miller. Tyler Miller is an upper-middle-class public school student. This school can get a little crazy because it is ruled by an iron fisted society. In the beginning of the book, before Tyler can even get to the first day of school he is already in trouble! During the summer, before his senior year of middle school started, he was finishing up his community service hours. These were not normal community service hours; they were imposed as a punishment! The judge gave Tyler a full summer worth of community service, because of his, "Foul Deed" which involved spray painting the school!
Tyler did not want to go back to school, because he thought that people were going to make fun of him or even pick on him for doing what he had done! In the book it actually says that he would have rather done more manual labor than spend his time in school (or should I say prison)! In the story it shows evidence that he liked doing manual labor, because of a few different reasons! One reason was that he would not have to participate in school! Another reason is so he could impress a girl named Bethany! He was basically in love with her in the beginning through the middle and until their fight!
The judge did however make him go to school as planned! Even though he may seem dumb he was enrolled in three A.P. classes and a calculus math class! With all the drama of getting in trouble with the police he decides that he is going to stop doing well in all his classes! Tyler's father is always in a bad mood this book! His father runs a very tight shift and does not have room for flaw! Tyler's father is now working with Bethany's father which would create tension for Tyler, because if he does anything wrong his father might be out of a job! Although Tyler was warned that if he did anything bad he would, "Not see the day of light ever again"! He decided that he was going to drop down to the bottom of the floor and bring his grades along with him! (Not a good idea!) when his father learns about his grades he gets very angry! Only to find himself exploding with rage the next day!
The next day at school Tyler was accused of posting photos of Bethany while drunk and naked! This is not only serious, but they found the pictures on the internet! This is just the beginning of what seems to be the end of Tyler Millers world!
I really enjoyed this book, because I believe that books don't pick up until the middle and for some readers that's hard! This book caught me and took me until the end, which was great! My overall rating of this book would be a 4 star book, because I believed that it showed great personality and it also showed great detail! I would purchase this book for people who go to high school, because I believe they can relate to the book!

Twisted

Author: Anderson, Laurie

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

ISBN: 0670061018

Life as a normal teenage guy isn't easy. Especially when everyone hates you. the protagonist in Twisted, by Laurie Anderson is an 18 year old teenager who has nothing going right for him. In the beggining of the book, Tyler is doing community service for a "Foul deed" that he did the previous year. Tyler wasn't very popular so to boost up his popularity he thought that spray painting the school would do the trick. But, he accidently left his wallet and was forced to do mandatory community service. There was an upside to this though. Because of all of the construction work he had to do, he gained an abundancy of muscle which he used to show off. But everyone still hates him because they are all afraid of what he might do. As we follow Tyler throughout the story we see life through his eyes, how his dad is verbally abusive to him and his sister and mother. Also how everything thinks he is hopeless and would like him to die. Tyler doesn't really care about this or anything though because the only thing on his mind is Bethany. Tyler has liked Bethany all throughout high school but never had a chance to talk to her, but now with his muscles Bethany can't keep her hands off him! Until, of course, something happens to her and everyone blames Tyler. Tyler is excluded from his peers by his principal because he too believes Tyler is responsible. with these mutliple troubles in his life Tyler tries to find an easy way out but desides to take the hard way and eventually solves all of his problems. Through his determination and courage, he turns his life around and starts a new.

Twisted is a very interesting book with twist and turns. I fell in love with this book when I got to the the second chapter. It is the funniest and most heart-breaking story. A great read for anyone looking for comedy, suspense, and twists. It's funny because the main character has so many screwed up things in his life because he gets blamed for thing he didn't do. I find that funny.

Laurie Halse Anderson continues to raise the level of what she does best which is write. This is an intense story that is a "must read" for anyone knowing or working with young people. Many adults have expunged their own tumultuous adolescence, preferring to forget the daily roller coaster. Ms. Anderson reminds us what it is really like to be a teenager in today's world of judgments and unreasonable expectations. Two aspects of our protagonist's life are especially effective: his video game escape and his self medication with cough medicine. We need to be more aware of and more sensitive to the young men around us as they try to navigate their way through a challenging time.

Truly a must read; you won't be able to put it down.

Anderson does a great job telling the story of Tyler Miller. I felt as if I was living his live along side him. His journey of ups and downs made the book far from predictable. I was always interested to see what happened next. This lead to a book that was very enjoyable and hard to put down.

well said. gets readers to actually seek into an male teenager life. the big issues are drugs, alcohol ,and sex. he must overcome peer pressure and just know that "no" is the one word that can stop all bad doing. we know that high school is big deal so its best to not get in trouble.

After reading Anderson's most famous book Speak, and a few other titles, I expected more. Twisted has a plot line that could be made into a truly amazing story, but Anderson fails to delve into any emotion. While reading you feel like you barley know the main character. Instead of connecting with him, you feel like an outsider catching only a few blurry glimpses of his life.

I really enjoyed reading the book. The Anderson did a good job at keeping the readers attention. However, I felt like there were some unanswered questions. But just like life we don't always get to know the ending to everyone's story, we can only guess and write the rest in out head. Plus when we get to write the rest it ends how we want it to.

I enjoyed the story of Tyler. I was definitely rooting for him to get the girl but a string of bad luck hits him.The author is pretty good at showing what emotions teenagers go through especially depression. I'm an adult so I don't think it spoke to me like it would a younger audience. All in all I found it very easy to read and it held my attention.

Yes, SPOILER ALERT.

I cannot fathom any parent who accepts this as material suitable for any child - "troubled, high-school senior" or not; certainly, not for the 8th-grade library our school allowed to slip in before I raised my concerns.

I will catch flack for this scathing opinion, I strongly suspect. I really couldn't care. If one parent reads this and similarly investigates what exactly is being proffered, perhaps it will have done some good.

Please. A young girl likely raped, her nude pictures posted online. Boy puts his father's gun to his mouth, close to the trigger, and to the precipice. Sorry, NO. That's what a parent does, or should do - says, NO, when it calls for it. ACT, and not simply say, "well, it's the world as it REALLY is." I don't need my son to read the graphic details of a gangland random-murder as rite of initiation into the life to know there are children who come from troubled homes, who desperately need help, who will end up in misery or death without it. The world is in many ways bleak, and ugly, and some would say, dying. Childrens' literature should ennoble our kids to make them want to make the world better - not be so drummed roundly, incessantly, how dark it is, now, that they just give up. They don't need the help.

Sorry - and yes, this is a value judgment - GARBAGE. It belongs in the trash, not on a childrens' library bookshelf.

My middle schooler brought this book home and showed it to me. I couldn’t believe all the sexual references, bad language, references to porn,nudity, drunkenness and partying. Completely inappropriate, I’m glad my son shared this with me before he started reading! Unbelievable and sad. #beinvolved

Captivating is overused when it comes to describing books-- except for this one! I didn't think that Anderson could top "Speak", but she did!I read it and could barely give myself time to sleep. I loaned the book out to several of my high school students; they, too, read it in a couple of days, loved it, willingly discussed it with me and other readers, and kept passing it on. A wonderful book to "hook" high school age kids on reading. My only caution: buy two copies. If you loan one out, you will not get it back.

Reading 'Twisted' after having read several other of Anderson's novels, I was slightly disappointed. It was a good book, but the conclusion was lackluster compared to her other novels, and it didn't really feel complete. I think she could have done more so far as story sooo... maybe another one?