Ivy Ruckman

Hopefully, you won’t consider this statement to be a spoiler. Neither Rob nor Sara is an online predator. This story falls outside the media frenzy which warns of the dangers of talking to strangers on the internet. Wouldn’t it be nice to be valued by someone without concern for looks, fashion or finances? Rob has dealt with the circumstances of his life by running away – often resulting in harm to others – and now finds himself in a boot camp for troubled teens. If he doesn’t stay show more put at “Camp Feelgood” his next stop will be prison. Sara, an army brat, has lived all over the world but has no place to call home. Just when she gets comfortable, her father is transferred and she has to move again. Worst of all, high school friends don’t travel well. Rob, Sara and others meet in an online poetry chat room to critique each other’s poems. Rob and Sara connect when they find things in common other than writing poetry. Their friendship flourishes through online letters. With Sara as his confidant Rob resists the urge to flee and in so doing discovers ‘the real Rob’. Sara finds in Rob an anchor and confidant. Together they take on the challenges and angst of teen life.

Rob&Sara.com kept me up until the wee hours. I just couldn’t put it down! With plenty of surprises along the way, this book is a satisfying and enjoyable read. show less

Inspired by an actual event in Nebraska in 1980, when multiple twisters ravaged one town in a meteorological anomaly, 12-year-old Dan Hatch must protect his baby brother and tornado-newbie best friend Arthur, as both of his parents are gone when the tornado comes.

I read this book when I was younger, but only remembered a few details. I really enjoyed it even as an adult. It's realistic to how kids were back in those days, off riding their bikes or swimming in the local water hole during the show more summer, especially in a smaller town like this. No cell phones, no video games, and then they went home in the evening to watch Happy Days, which is a little before my time, but I still appreciate the overall feel the author paints of life in the early 80s, when this book was written and set. I also thought that, while the descriptions of the devastation caused by the storm aren't necessarily vast and detailed, they felt realistic to someone like me who's never been in a tornado but has seen the aftermath in pictures or videos. And most likely toned down due to being a book for kids.

There were not a whole lot of characters, but I liked the ones that were around much. Dan's feelings about his little brother throughout were pretty real for a kid his age who had been an only child until the age of 12. Arthur provided an interesting foil in multiple ways. The elderly neighbor Mrs. Smiley and her part in the story made me smile (no pun intended). My only complaint is that I would have liked to know how Officer Kelly ended up. But overall, the book was an exciting, suspenseful read that I think would be great for kids around age 10-12. show less

This book is writen completely through emails, which is a great way to read a book. Sometimes that style can be confusing, but not in this one at all. Sara is an army brat who is struggling with her father's constant moving, her best friend's cancer, and her poetry. Rob is a Juvenile Delinquent at "Camp Feelgood", struggling to keep from screwing himself over completely. Will Sara's correspondence keep him from bolting? Will Rob's notes keep her from breaking down? Will they ever meet under show more the arches at sunset? show less

This exciting tale, based on a real, devastating event, is thrilling from beginning to end. Twelve-year-old Danny and his best friend, Arthur, get caught at Danny’s home when the tornado strikes. They take Danny’s baby brother to the basement, but get trapped there. Arthur’s fourteen-year-old sister comes to look for them, and helps them out of the basement. But as bad as that was, worse things are to come. This book is good on so many levels. The characters are well developed and true show more to their age. There is a strong female character. There are loving relationships between family members, and strong friendships with the kids themselves and with adults and kids. Though written for children, it is certainly a book adults can appreciate. show less