Downsiders

Downsiders is both funny and compelling. But while Lindsay and Talon's observations of their distinct environments is humorous (Talon compares Lindsay's French braid to a "gator's tail" and, despite Talon's explanation that "time is of low importance," Lindsay still thinks it's strange that Talon wears his watch around his ankle), Neal Shusterman also uses their relationship to illustrate how much a particular culture both shapes our identity and affects how we view people from backgrounds other than our own. This call to look beneath the surface is cleverly and subtly woven through an original story with broad appeal. (Ages 10 to 16) --Jennifer Hubert

---

All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Amazing Classroom Read, 2008-05-13
Downsiders
By, Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Reading Level: 7.2
Number of Pages: 256
Genre: Science Fiction

Plot Synopsis: Neal Shusterman's Downsiders is a fun, and exciting science fiction adventure in which very different two worlds try to intertwine. The world as we know it is only half of reality. We are the Topside, but beneath us, in the hills and valleys that lie beneath our surface is a whole society, they are the Downside. The two worlds co-exist fine, the Topside knowing nothing of the Downside, and the Downside's sneering the choices of the Topside until a twelve year old boy's curiosity and tenaciousness prove burdensome. Talon Angler risks life and limb to travel Topside to learn of the curious ways of Topside culture. In his adventures he manages to peek the interest of a Topside girl who finds little interest in her current world. Fourteen year old Lindsay sees the Downside as the world of exceptions and possibilities she's been looking for. Talon and Lindsay's relationship blossoms as both the Topside and Downside continue in their prejudice ways.
As Lindsay and Talon grow closer Talon makes a series of bad decisions that land him in trouble with the Downside laws. Ironically, it is his best friend, Railborn, who turns him in. Talon's bringing of an outsider Downside will cost him dearly. As he is sentenced to execution, bigger problems begin, and as the Fates would have it the Topside begins "discovering" the Downside world. When the two worlds threaten to collide not everyone is as accepting or happy at the prospect of living together. Or will their long held biases get in the way of harmony? Will Downsiders become Topsiders? Will Topsiders become Downsiders? Whose world was first? Whose is better? And where would you want to live?

Negative Aspects: The vocabulary and concepts of this book can be quite challenging. The themes are deep and require extensive communication. That said Downsiders makes a great classroom novel as students can easily be discussed and discovered in literature circles, sharing their ideas while learning from one another. Even if you're not reading it as a class stick with it. Buy one for both you and a friend to read and discuss together. Ask yourself hard questions. What would you have done in each of the characters shoes?

Personal Appraisal: As a sixth grade teacher I chose this book for my classroom based on its challenging vocabulary and complicated themes. The overwhelming theme of personal bias and cultural biases are easily discussed throughout the context of the book. We've had great classroom discussions and unveiled many of our own biases as a classroom and as individuals. It easily integrates into Character Counts curriculum, or any character education program as each character presented is easily scrutinized and evaluated. My students have experienced advancement in reading fluency, increased vocabulary, and have also grown personally through their own self-reflections. I highly recommend Shusterman's Downsiders as a classroom novel for sixth grade and up, or for individual student seventh grade and up.



0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Worlds Collide, 2007-02-12
Underneath the streets of New York City, there is a whole other world. It is a world filled with buildings and tunnels and animals--and an entire society of people, who call themselves the Downsiders. These people have a sort of innocence and a simple society based on goodness and community. They think that those who live above the ground--the Topsiders--are evil or misguided. The Downsiders are very secretive about their world. They are afraid that if the Topsiders knew about them, they would destroy the Downside. They are probably right.

Talon is a teenaged Downsider. Each teen must make rotations through the different jobs in their society. One of these jobs is "Catcher." The catchers watch through sewer gates or subway tunnels, looking for Topsiders who are despondent and ready to end their lives. The catchers then adopt these people into the Downside. While on catching duty, Talon meets Lindsey and falls in love. She finds him intriguing and exciting, and is thrilled when he takes her on a tour of the Downside. Unfortunately, bringing a Topsider into the Downside is a crime punishable by death. Talon is sentenced to death, but his execution is unsuccessful. What will he decide to do now that his life seems to have been pardoned? Is there a way for the Downside and the Topside to coexist? Now that Talon has experienced both, will he be able to save his world?

I loved the descriptions of the Downside, both the location and the society. I thought this was a great story, with a great ending. I found it a bit hard to believe, though, that no Downsider had even been drawn in by the allure of the Topside before Talon.


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

AMAZING!, 2006-07-26
"The Downsiders" is nothing less than the work of a genius, intertwining fact and fiction to create a complex world beneath ours. This book is, at the least, an imaginitive and riveting tale that gives you a whole new look at the things around you. Breathtaking imagery and imagination. A must-read for people that enjoy romance and science fiction... yes, this book will no doubt appeal to both.


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

What Lurks Below, 2005-11-29
Underneath the streets of Manhattan lies a network of forgotten tunnels and passages. Unknown to the city's residents, these tunnels are inhabited by people who call themselves Downsiders. They keep to themselves and do not mix with the surface people except when catching the fallen who can join their ranks.

But the forces of change are upon both worlds as a Downsider boy becomes fascinated with a surface girl and a new water project begins to dig deep into the foundations of the city. Talon has always been somewhat of a wild child but now he has committed a great crime by letting a surface person know about the Downside. This act propels him and his friends through a series of events that lead them to unforseen acts and ideas.

This is a fascinating book about young people beginning to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. It also ties in some interesting true history of the world under the city although like many that deal with the subject, they miss some of the other facts (i.e. all of the water in Manhattan has to be brought in and comes through pumping stations located 900 feet below the surface). But despite such omissions this is still a wonder-filled book that will have readers paying a little more attention to the darker places in the world.


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Downsiders, 2005-10-04
My book was Downsiders. It is a book by Neal Shusterman. The story is based in New York City. It is somewhat close to winter and there are four main characters. The first main character is a girl named Lindsay Matthias. She is on her way to New York City to live with her dad for the next three years and her mom has gone to Africa. The second person is a boy named Talon Angler. He is a boy that lives beneath the city in the old subway tunnels. The third person is Todd, hwo is Lindsay's old stepbrother. Last there is Lindsay's father.
While Todd is having a New Year's party Talon secretly sneeks in the hole in the wall in the middle of the hallway. He secretly hides in Lindsay's bedroom and is startled when she finds him. Talon lives in the old subway tunnels and knows this different way of life called the downside. The downside is a secret place that the regular life people of New York never knew exsited. Until the night that Talon showed up in Lindsay's bedroom. Lindsay noticed that while she was walking home one day that she was being followed by Talon and got pulled down a storm drain. This is when she finds the downside exists. One day while her father was working, they suddenly find the downside. Then from there on out it was war. The "topside" was cut off from all major utilites.
There is probably a buch of major plots, but I will pick out the main four. The first one would be Talon going into Lindsay's room and she attacks him with pepper spray. The next would be Talon taking Lindsay to the downside and showing her everything. The next to last thing is Railborn and Gutta, Talon's best frinds are cought in this explosion, so Railborn take Gutta to the topside to get medical help. The last thing is the topside breaking down into the downside and it was declared war. Soon after that everything almost was fixed. Talon became "most-beloved" which for us would be like being the mayor.
If I would recommend this book to read I would recommend as a very good book. I loved it. Although in the end I was kind of disappointed because it kind of left you hanging. If I were the author then I would surely make a sequel. The ending cane of a surprise because they ended up living on the roof right beside the water tower. I choose this book because it sparked my intrest by the name of the book. I would recommend this book to other people. I think anyone who likes a book that you can't put down, then this is the book for you.

Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.