Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything. So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to? Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.
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"Vera Dietz has spent her childhood trying to stay under the radar and not connect to others, but the death of her friend Charlie leads her to change her ways. I liked the short chapters and the multiple viewpoints at different points in the story. "
— Ma'lis (4 out of 5 stars)
" I had to get out my dictionary for the vocab words! I didn't picture Vera as being classy as Charlie described her, but it was a book I couldn't put down until the end. Then I got out the dictionary. Occam's Razor... "
— Darla, 1/29/2014" So, along the string of depressing stories I've been reading lately...*cough*. I have to say that I was actually rather satisfied with this story, however. Vera certainly isn't a role model that I would want students to emulate, but they could certainly learn a thing or two from her story. Some of the content was a little mature and blunt, so I would reserve my recommendation for older students. The use of the alternating flashbacks helped the story to fill out what might have been a very thin plot otherwise. Also, while I found it too easy to dislike the father, if we take into account that we are witnessing most of this story through Vera's eyes, it might be a little too simple to paint him with the brush of the heartless and disconnected parent. Vera herself realizes after one of her little screw-ups that he knows a lot more than she realized or gave him credit for. Is Vera a reliable narrator? I have to question her at times, seeing her attitude as a lens for the world around her. I don't think I could make this work in a classroom, but I would be willing to put it in the hands of interested young readers. I think it would connect with some of them, make them think a little, and maybe help them understand things in their own lives from a little different perspective. "
— Joshua, 1/28/2014" The ending of this book was lacking. I liked most of the build up and the mystery to what realy happened. I also liked that vera's dead friend had chapters to give his opion about what had happened. Howeever, the ending was not even an ending. The ending didn't conclude any of the story lines and fell flate. "
— Samantha, 1/25/2014" The narrator really made this one for me. Otherwise, just a weird story. "
— Heather, 1/17/2014" really liked it, liked the characters, disappointed with the ending. liked Vera's relationship with her Dad. "
— Marti, 1/16/2014" Love! Just read it. And enjoy one of the best father/daughter combos since Veronica Mars went off the air. "
— Cynthia, 1/15/2014" A bit long, but an interesting story, especially from all the perspectives, including the pagoda. This one is dark, for sure. I would not call it typical YA, which is a good thing! "
— Wendy, 1/14/2014" Dear title: done. Vera was such a loser. All she had to do was talk to a guidance counselor at some point and she wouldn't have these problems. "
— Stephanie, 1/4/2014" A really good story. I wanted so much more for Charlie. "
— Lorena, 1/3/2014" definitely one of the best books I've read this year. great character with personality and heart... prose = fantastic --- and the plot line unfolds at a good pace. I would very much recommend it. "
— Afton, 1/2/2014" Loved this book. Vera's voice and those of the others comes shining through! Kept me reading to find out how Charlie died and what the girlfriend did. "
— Barbara, 12/30/2013" Its interesting. I miss Charlie now. "
— Noorashikin, 12/3/2013" Just a few words: Charlie, Big Macs and Pickles!!! "
— Kristin, 11/7/2013" I can't decide if I "liked" this or "really liked" this. 3.5 i guess. It was definitely an easy read but I don't really know how I feel about the book in general. I don't know if i would recommend it. But it was good. "
— Shamika, 3/24/2013" A great novel about grief and how regrets follow us around. "
— Mutantreptile, 12/25/2012" It still haunts me. What a powerful read about the importance of speaking up for what's right. It was a hard topic to read about- and it was heartbreakingly amazing. Not for the faint of heart. "
— Hannah, 12/7/2012" Built from a 3.5 to a 4. It resonates. "
— Mary, 12/6/2012" i couldn't put this book down. i love how it's written - vera's attitude reminds me so much of my own in high school. "
— alli, 6/26/2011" Lots of bad language, some drug use, and a little sex. But still good enough that I'll give it three stars. "
— Andrea, 6/16/2011" I loved this story and think that anyone that is a fan of 13 Reasons Why would enjoy it. Looking forward to meeting/hearing Ms. King speak at the Printz Award dinner in NOLA. "
— Dawn, 6/16/2011" Vera Dietz you go girl. Vera is able to persevere through several unique challenges. These challenges help Vera and her dad move from the past to the present with a bright future for them both. "
— Diana, 6/12/2011" I really enjoyed this book, no surprise there as I find A.S. King very enjoyable.<br/><br/>Real characters with real feelings. Multiple view points. A story that draws you in a keeps you interested even when they are just folding pizza boxes.<br/> "
— Cherisa, 6/10/2011" I thought there would be more closure in this book. I really liked it though. Def. For high school due to language, drugs, sexual situations<br/> "
— Liza, 6/9/2011" Good insight into high school drama "
— Lisa, 6/7/2011" this was a very good book. "
— Alexes, 6/4/2011" 4.5 stars - wonderful YA fiction. "
— Tracy, 6/4/2011" I Loved this book, it was suspensful, and you never knew what was gonna happen next. the end was deffinatly not how i thought it would end. "
— Corrine, 6/3/2011" Fantastic. Loved the way AS King delivered the story...and the mystery...in bits and pieces mixed in with snippets from the past. "
— P.T., 6/1/2011A. S. King is the award-winning author of eight acclaimed novels for young adults. Her novel Please Ignore Vera Dietz earned a 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor and Ask the Passengers won the 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. The New York Times called her “one of the best YA writers working today.” King lives with her family in Pennsylvania, where she returned after living on a farm and teaching adult literacy in Ireland for more than a decade.
Lynde Houck is an AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator.