Destroy All Cars |  | Author: Blake Nelson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
List Price: $17.99
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Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 441918
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 0545104742
EAN: 9780545104746
ASIN: 0545104742
Publication Date: May 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
James Hoff likes to rant against America's consumerist culture. He also likes to rant against his ex-girlfriend, Sadie, who he feels isn't doing enough to change the world. But just like he can't avoid buying things, he also can't avoid Sadie for long. This is a fantastic, funny, sexy, cool masterpiece from one of the best YA writers at work today, an anti-consumerist love story that's all about idealism, in both James's relationship with the world and his relationships with the people around him.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
Different and funny November 22, 2009
www.bookshipper.blogspot.com/ (Montreal, Quebec)
Okay, I had no idea what to expect with this book - except for the fact that I am a big fan of "no cars" as much as possible.
Yes, this YA is about banning, or trying to, ban cars, but its alot more than that - its really the thoughts, emotions and (at times) somewhat slithly foolish musings of a young man who seems to have lots of thoughts but a lot less willingness to put it all into action.
The book is a mixture of manifesto and journal entries, sprinkled with conversations and although I was a tad worried about the various formats merging well together, author Nelson does a great job of making it all seamless.
What we end up getting is a funny, sometimes touching picture of a young man who has a cause and isn't afraid to rant about it. However, the most interesting part of this book for me is the message behind the entries - which make me feel as though this book is about much more than just the obvious - but is rather of a young man who is insecure, unsure of himself and chooses to express himself in this somewhat odd manner.
Although some might think this book is militant, it really isn't - because most of the entires are either funny or a tad sad and touching. I especially loved the entry about bowling - when James explains why he dropped the ball....."my ball holes were sticky".... loved it!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.
 A moving saga October 20, 2009
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
Blake Nelson's DESTROY ALL CARS tells of James, who likes to rail against America's consumer culture and his ex-girlfriend who wants to just build more bike paths. It's as much about James' evolving, controversial choices with his girlfriend as it is about his environmental concerns in this moving saga.
 A Ticking Time Bomb with No Ka-Boom August 21, 2009
Captain Insanity (NY)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dear Mr. James Hoff,
As I was reading your manuscript something occurred to me.
Something disturbing.
Even though I was enjoying your somewhat misanthropic, albeit thoroughly amusing ravings,
even though your passion for the subject is evident in every word of your tirades & essays against
malls, frivolous consumerism, oil companies, gas guzzling, environment destroying automobiles, useless petitions,
the new kid at school who everybody thinks is so amazing because of his small acts of civil disobedience, etc.,
even though I'm sure you realize the irony of needing those things to attain every high school boys fantasy ... a high school girl
In your case Sadie Kinnell. The girl who got away.
Something very important was missing from your tale.
As I was scratching my scalp down to the skull, the missing ingredient exploded between my ears.
Conflict.
There was never any conflict.
All this steam kept mounting to..... acceptance? complacence?
It was like a Rottweiler with dentures.
All bark, no bite.
Please keep that in mind for any future manuscripts you might hand in.
Sincerely,
Mr. Cogweiler
MORAL OF THE STORY:
C+
Harmony Book Reviews July 23, 2009
Harmony Book Reviews
This book was LOL funny but also gave me some things to think about and in general, I like books that make me think. It's definitely a one-of-a-kind book and I loved that.
However, I wasn't too big of a fan of the narrative. It got on my nerves a lot of the time. This could be in part because it was told from the POV of a male and I'm not used to that but I just found it irritating and at times, that took away from the story. I also want to note that this is for older readers only. There is some...sexual references? I guess you could say, that young readers shouldn't be seeing. Even I would have preferred for them not to be there but it does hold to the authenticity of the book and it's just my personal opinion.
Overall, I recommend this one to mature readers. It wasn't the perfect book for me but I'm sure others will enjoy it much more than I did.
The best book I have read in a long time. July 18, 2009
The Rothwells (Irwin, PA United States)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am an avid reader. I am currently reading six books. Destroy All Cars is the best book I have read in a long time. I love James and his somewhat radical views. Everything he says is so true. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 35
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