Please Ignore Vera Dietz

By: A. S. King

Narrated by: Lynde Houck

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.

©2010 A. S. King (P)2010 Listening Library

One of my favorite books

It is a story of chaos and love and teen problems. It feels so at home for me because the story is based where I live. I bought this book as a teenager and have loved it since. It shows struggles between a single father and his teenage daughter. A girl and her bestfriend/neighbor/love of her life. so much happens.

interesting and engaging

loved being a part of Vera's rebirth. the narrator was perfect and helped the story which jumped around quite a bit

Teenage coming of age story at its best

What did you love best about Please Ignore Vera Dietz?

I loved the way the audiobook reader brought the characters to life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vera Dietz

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in which Vera finds herself delivering a pizza to her nemesis and goes through a confrontation.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Vera has a phone call with her mother after not speaking to her for years.

Any additional comments?

Definitely an enjoyable audiobook.

Moving, disturbing, and humorous

Please, don't ignore Vera. She has some amazing things to say. Wonderfully read by Lynde Houck (and a couple others not credited by audible - Mark Deakins, Ryan Gesell, and Arthur Morey). These multiple narrators are necessary because they help with some of the unusual formatting aspects of the print book. Anyway, they all do a fabulous job. The story won a Printz Honor, easy to see why. I have a soft spot for female characters standing on the outskirts of high school society - not the outcast, just the ignored. Vera takes her "status" and thrives. Her father is a great dad, if a little misled to the idea that he can help Vera avoid all the mistakes teenagers make. That's part of life and Vera knows this whole-heartedly! You will ache with her for her dead ex-best friend, Charlie. Learning their story is what this book is all about. A must read.

A very good contemporary

A very good contemporary (and extremely character driven). I can totally understand why some people might think it's a bit odd. If you're a hardcore contemp reader, I highly recommend.

There was more than just Lynde Houck for the voice actors and I liked that it was more than just her!

Okay but one of King's weaker books

I have read and enjoyed a lot of AS King books; I thought this was the weakest AS King book I had read. I just felt that it was missing the special magical realism of King’s other books and thought the story was a bit boring and typical YA.

In this book Vera is trying to recover after the death of her lifelong friend Charlie. As part of this she is trying to uncover the secret as to why Charlie’s behavior became so self destructive towards the end of his life.

This book is full of lots of high school drama and kids acting out. It also makes a strong commentary on people ignoring the misfortune or troubles of those around them in order to not “make waves”.

It’s fine for what it is; which is mainly a coming of age story in which Vera struggles with the tough life Charlie has faced and the fact that Vera and her family didn’t do anything to help or stop it. It just didn’t grab me like other AS King books have and didn’t make me feel wonder or intrigue...it just made me feel tired.

Overall this was an okay book. However, I felt like I had read many similar stories before in many contemporary YA novels. It was okay but not great and I could have taken or left it.

Not my cup of tea

What disappointed you about Please Ignore Vera Dietz?

There was an extreme amount of cussing. It was also a pretty depressing story line dealing with a lot of heavy topics.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Possibly Paper Towns by John Greene

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I suppose.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I think that there was some good to the story. I think that the main character had the potential to rise above her circumstances.