|  | Author: Blake Nelson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $5.61
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Seller: flyhigher88
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 456275
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
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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Showing reviews 6-10 of 35
 Doesn't deliver July 17, 2009
Jonathon D. Burns (USA)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
Picking up Blake Nelson's book "Destroy All Cars," I thought its premise sounded interesting. I liked the thought of trying to weave fictional narrative with thoughts of environmentalism to be something worthwhile, possible even engaging.
I was wrong.
Much of this book is composed of essays by main character, James Hoff. Supposedly he is in a junion AP class. I say supposedly because the essays aren't really that well written. They're not even essays, but rants. Now, I understand this was intentional, but I don't like reading a bunch of bad "essays." Second of all, the teach is a wimp at grading. He'll give the papers decent grades for good arguements, when they aren't deserved. An essay may preface itself noting that it is 4 pages, and it may barely take a page and a half. Why list the page numbers?
On top of that a teenage romance is thrown in, which seems to be the main story line, only I thought that destroying all cars was the main story line. As it turns out, James doesn't really do anything about his view point but write nasty essays about why other people are destroying the world. Never once does he do anything positive for his view.
This book promises much, but delivers very little.
2/5 stars.
 Destroy All Cars July 7, 2009
K. Butler (Colorado)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
James Hoff is not an average teenage boy. He likes it that way. James is a bit of a radical whose main goal is to destroy all cars. He believes that cars are what are ruining the earth and that consumer Americans are the cause.
James is one of the few people in his school who worries about the environment. One of the other people is his ex-girlfriend, Sadie Kinnell. Sadie is very goal oriented. She does everything she can to help the environment, the school, and anybody else she can think of. When James first met her he couldn't believe his luck. And when they started dating, he was speechless.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and their relationship didn't last. Now Sadie has just broken up with her latest boyfriend and things between her and James are looking up. James will do anything to get back with Sadie and if it involves helping the environment at the same time, all the better.
While the story to this book was both humorous and realistic, the writing style put me off. The whole book is told in essays and journal entries written by James. The idea is good but some of the entries didn't feel complete to me. I felt like I was left hanging at points.
The essays were my favorite part. James' viewpoints are hilarious. All his essays were very radical and involved quite a bit of profanity. It was also quite funny to read what his teacher's comments were about each essay.
While James is definitely a standout among normal high school boys in his environmental views, he is also very normal in many ways. One of his main goals of the year is to finally have sex and it was always funny to read about his many encounters with different females. The mind of a teenage boy is very clear in this book and I loved that about it.
Blake Nelson did a wonderful job portraying a teenage boy who doesn't really want to fit in, if it means he can't be himself. Overall, I liked the story and James as a character and I would still recommend this book, especially if you are an environmentalist of any sort.
 DESTROY ALL CARS is a Stunning Work of Art June 29, 2009
Teenreads.com (New York, NY)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
A PARTIAL LIST AND DESCRIPTION OF REASONS WHY YOU WOULD ENJOY DESTROY ALL CARS BY BLAKE NELSON
COOL FORMAT
You have the privilege of reading about the main character, 17-year-old James Hoff, through his thought-provoking essays that are (sometimes) turned in to Mr. Cogweiller for Junior AP English. These essays are sprinkled throughout and explore much of what drives James. They cover anything from topics of choice to reflections on a place or location. Providing a nice counterbalance to the required schoolwork are timely personal journal entries from James. Here you get the chance to see what really is going on with James and his ex-girlfriend Sadie, which leads to the next reason why you would enjoy this book: teenage angst.
TEENAGE ANGST
James and Sadie Kinnell haven't dated since sophomore year. James is disgusted by the "perfectness" that Sadie exudes on a daily basis and naturally finds fault with everything she does. While James and Sadie are both into saving the planet, they take different approaches in trying to accomplish this. James would rather destroy all the cars in the world to combat lame, weak consumers from killing the planet. It's called walking people. Sadie, on the other hand, is all about raising awareness and getting people to sign petitions. Her latest efforts are focused on saving one of the last natural swampland ponds in the area. Of course James agrees to help since he has never really gotten over Sadie, despite the fact that she has dated that annoying Will Greer guy up until a few weeks ago. You can't just say no to Sadie.
TEENAGE LOVE
Like any teenage boy, James is trying to make sense of the whole business of love. He realizes there is no better way to learn than by responding to any signal a girl may give. Sure, there may have been a little kiss with an eighth grader on an ill-fated family vacation, but the movie date with a girl who waved at him once in the hallway was way better, right? Perhaps, though, Sadie still feels something for James like he has envisioned in his mind, among other things. Could getting back together be the answer to all of his problems?
THE FUTURE
The future is always lurking behind you propelling you forward. When you're a junior in high school, it sometimes slaps you in the face. Sadie has major plans for a big college, while James has resisted even writing for the school newspaper because it would take too much effort. James's father offers to buy James a car if he goes to college, but has apparently missed the memo on how cars are ruining society. With so many decisions to make, James struggles to figure out where he fits in at school, in his family, in society, and with Sadie. Sometimes it would be easier to destroy things --- especially cars.
MASTERPIECE
To put it simply, DESTROY ALL CARS is a stunning work of art. At least that's what James thinks. Blake Nelson has created a character who we can all relate to and root for. Where else can you probe the inner workings of a teenage boy who takes himself and life too seriously? I laughed throughout as James wandered from topic to topic and girl to girl only to end up hopelessly confused and clueless, yet utterly optimistic at what would happen next. What other reasons do you need for this fast and clever read?
--- Reviewed by Benjamin Boche
Become a Blake Nelson fan (if you aren't already) June 22, 2009
Julie (Florida)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you haven't gotten hooked on Blake Nelson yet, now is the time. Pick up any of his books and get going. There is nothing fancy about his prose, yet it is incredibly artful in its precise commentary. Main character James manages to skewer everyone--friends, peers, parents, teachers, himself--without alienating the reader. Several of his papers for AP English class anchor the novel, and his interaction with and observations about his teacher are pitch perfect.
From J. Kaye's Book Blog June 18, 2009
J. Kaye Oldner (http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Can a book be too funny? I would have said no until I read or made several attempts to read DESTROY ALL CARS. I made two attempts to read the book at night. Both times, I woke my husband up from laughing so hard. So I put book away until one night I knew he'd be up late. I made it three-quarters of the way through before I realized there was no way I was going to be able to go to bed after reading this book. It was making me too excited for nighttime use.
I ended up completing this book in the afternoon. That's a great time for a pick-me-up. I never knew how I felt about the main character, James Hoff, a junior in high school. He definitely had a negative outlook, but the way he expressed it on paper had me doubling over in laughter. The reader got to know him through essays he submitted to is English teacher, Mr. Cogweiller as well as his journal entries.
James is all against Consumer Americans. He believes if we do away with all personally owned vehicles, we could save our planet. There is more going on with James though. He is trying to find his way, but it's pretty hard.
DESTROY ALL CARS is his coming-of-age story. It's endearing, hilarious, and a must read book!
Showing reviews 6-10 of 35
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