Fran Arrick (1937–2007)
Author of Chernowitz
Works by Fran Arrick
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Gaberman, Judie Angell
- Other names
- Angell, Judie
Twohill, Maggie - Birthdate
- 1937-07-10
- Date of death
- 2007-09-09
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- young adult writer
children's book author - Short biography
- Fran Arrick was a pen name of Judie Angell Gaberman, an author of books for young people ranging in age from 7 to 14 years and older. She also used the pseudonym Maggie Twohill. She began her career as a writer for children at the suggestion of a friend. One of her books, Tunnel Vision (1980), on the theme of teenage suicide, was chosen by the American Library Association as one of the best children's books of the year. Steffie Can't Come Out to Play (1978) and God's Radar (1983) were named ALA Best Books for Young Adults. Most deal her other books also dealt with sensitive subjects such as AIDS, gun control and anti-Semitism.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- South Salem, New York, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- New York, USA
Members
Reviews
This book is about the exquisitely painful aftermath of a teenage boy's suicide. Anthony had seemed sad and angry for a long time, but then he seemed to get better and his family and friends felt relieved. Then, at the age of fifteen, he hung himself. The noose was made from one of his father's neckties. He didn't leave a note.
The story isn't really about Anthony, although the reader does get to know him through the memories of the other characters. It's about the impact his death had on his show more loved ones: his parents, his sister, his teacher, two friends and his would-be girlfriend. Everyone is blaming themselves, wishing they'd tried harder to help Anthony, wishing they'd noticed the signs that seem all too clear in hindsight, remembering little transgressions and disagreements and wanting to take it all back. Everyone is angry -- at Anthony, at each other. Everyone is bewildered -- why? All the characters were fully developed and I thought Jana, Anthony's love interest, a refugee from Czechoslovakia whose life had already been touched by death, was particularly well done. The reactions of the characters also rang true.
Speaking as a person who has been suicidal before, I think this book might actually be useful in suicide prevention. Many suicidal individuals believe they are a burden to their loved ones and won't be missed much, but this novel shows as well as any nonfiction study or memoir how much a suicide tears the survivors apart. If a person considering suicide reads Tunnel Vision, they might think the better of making their own loved ones suffer like this. show less
The story isn't really about Anthony, although the reader does get to know him through the memories of the other characters. It's about the impact his death had on his show more loved ones: his parents, his sister, his teacher, two friends and his would-be girlfriend. Everyone is blaming themselves, wishing they'd tried harder to help Anthony, wishing they'd noticed the signs that seem all too clear in hindsight, remembering little transgressions and disagreements and wanting to take it all back. Everyone is angry -- at Anthony, at each other. Everyone is bewildered -- why? All the characters were fully developed and I thought Jana, Anthony's love interest, a refugee from Czechoslovakia whose life had already been touched by death, was particularly well done. The reactions of the characters also rang true.
Speaking as a person who has been suicidal before, I think this book might actually be useful in suicide prevention. Many suicidal individuals believe they are a burden to their loved ones and won't be missed much, but this novel shows as well as any nonfiction study or memoir how much a suicide tears the survivors apart. If a person considering suicide reads Tunnel Vision, they might think the better of making their own loved ones suffer like this. show less
Ninth grade, that’s when it all began for Bobby Cherno. He’d never minded school, and he’d always had friends to play soccer or go sailing with. Emmet Sundback changed that. Big, mean Emmet—nobody liked him, but everyone followed his lead. And Emmet, well, he just didn’t like Jews, especially the one he called Chernowitz.
Classic, lurid YA of my childhood. Kind of makes sex work seem glamorous, which I doubt was the goal. Was the pimp really named Feather?
When fifteen-year-old honor student and star athlete Anthony Hamil hangs himself, his family and classmates all ask themselves if they are to blame.
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Statistics
- Works
- 8
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 195
- Popularity
- #112,376
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 6
- ISBNs
- 25
- Languages
- 1