Playing in Traffic

This is essentially a novella about relationships between people with problems. It's exciting and a very easy read. I found it absorbing to just jump into and read through, and I finished it in a single sitting. The author's writing style is engaging. The ending was pretty dramatic.

Unfortunately, there were some problems. In general, the editing was good, but it's pretty much unavoidable that a couple errors will slip through for the first printing of any piece of long fiction, and one editing problem in particular of this book is accidentally using the name Jeremy where it should have been another character's name, which made for a very weird moment while trying to understand what was going on. The ending wasn't so much an ending as an show more attempt to leave the reader shocked. The way characters were portrayed made it feel like the meaning of the whole story was either about how certain stereotypes are bad (cheerleaders, fratboys, recreational drug users, and goths) or about nothing at all -- a sort of nihilistic refusal to convey meaning. I suspect the intention was more about the latter, not having any meaning, just being pure entertainment for the reader and revenue stream for the author, but even if it didn't have any real meaning behind it people will read meaning into it, and I don't like what this book says if I start trying to find meaning in it. It's a bit difficult at times to discern whether particular tendencies to judge and stereotype are features of the characters or of the author.

Thinking about what happened in the story, what I saw was that almost everyone was a bad person, and to the extent they were good people they all got screwed over. Thinking about the consequences, it looks like everything is about to get much, much worse after the last page.

I suppose there might be one other interpretation of meaning in this book: the whole world sucks, along with everyone in it, because if you try to not suck you're going to get screwed over the hardest.

I enjoyed reading it, all the way through it. I did not enjoy thinking about it after the fact. Maybe it'll give you a couple hours of enjoyment to read it, but I don't think it'll ever make your life better to have read it. show less

Matt, who has always tried to remain anonymous, has been singled out for sexual attention by Skye (a weird gothic girl). Skye wants to keep the relationship a secret, and slowly starts to reveal “secrets” about her life, such as being abused by her stepfather, and her down-syndrome sister taken to an institution. Matt wants to be Skye’s knight in shinning armor, and desperately wants to save her. However, when he is warned about Skye by her former best friend (Taylor Banks), Matt begins to notice the inconsistencies in Skye’s stories, and begins to wonder why she has chosen him, and lured him to her parents’ beach house. Skye’s allure is imposible to resist as Matt realizes that she is only using him as she attempts to show more commit a horrifying crime. This book is definitely a page-turner that offers a somewhat predictable ending (considering Skye’s mental stability). The ending is disappointing as it does not provide answers for the reader. Skye somehow resembles Lisa (Girl Interrupted). Recommended for high school students. show less

When weird goth girl Skye picks Matt as her new boyfriend; all Matt can think about is how to keep it secret. Luckily; Skye doesn't want anyone to know about their relationship either. But Skye has a dark side that Matt couldn't even imagine. The end is annoyingly unsatisfying as it doesn't answer as many questions as the reader would like but thats what keeps this face paced mystery moving.

This was a quick interesting read. The cover goes great with the book. High school students will love this book--although the ending will drive them nuts!

It wasn't one of her best but it still is a fast, compelling read.

This book will keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat! It's another psychological thriller by Gail Giles with an ending that will leave you breathless. There is mature content and language throughout the story so it's not appropriate for younger adolescents.

I didn't understand the book when I picked it up and I even more confused when I sat it down. Who did Syke shoot? Why didn't the stupid boy listen to everyone around him? Why did his sister have to be messed up by the whole who is really my dad thing? So many questions, but so little answers.