The Fifth Rule

Leeza, in the meantime, is feeling stifled by her mother's "concern. And why can't she stop thinking about Reef, especially after all the pain he has caused her? Despite their best efforts to stay away from each other, circumstances quickly unfold to push Reef and Leeza closer. An eager political crusader wants to shut down Reef's former group home, and he will stop at nothing to get media attention, including manipulating news items about Reef. Before he leaves town, Reef must face his demons and make some tough choices or else risk losing everything he has worked for, including the only girl he has ever loved.

Don answers questions about The Fifth Rule: Did you write it because of requests from readers? What changed your mind? The death of a close friend. As I develop my characters further, of course, they eventually move away from the model and take on lives of their own, but their genesis is invariably my relationship with an actual person.

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Like Frank in the novel, Frank Pecora once worked with youths in the penal system, and he later became a teacher whose caring nature and commitment to social justice not only guided his professional experience but were hallmarks of his personal life, too. For instance, many years after his own sons were grown, he chose to become a Big Brother to a local boy whose father was killed in a tragic accident, just one example of how Frank made a difference every moment he lived. I was working on another novel at the time and, when I finally finished it, I found myself writing that funeral scene, which occurs more than two years after the event on the overpass in The First Stone.

• Fifth Rule by Don Aker?
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I stood beside Reef in the pulpit, listened as he described the extent of his loss, watched as he struggled to find words that would adequately sum up a person whose impact he would feel forever. How did you come up with the title The Fifth Rule? Did your editor recommend many changes to your original manuscript? Can you describe a major change that she recommended? Where did Sukorov come from? You wrote this novel using two different points of view, alternating between Reef and Leeza.

It was your story, right? Were some scenes in The Fifth Rule easier to write than others? How did you overcome the problem you were having with the courtroom scene? Do you think you might write a sequel to The Fifth Rule some day? The Fifth Rule would make an excellent novel to study in the classroom, both for its composition and for its themes and issues. Aker's treatment of troubled youth The Fifth Rule is a fine and satisfying follow-up.

Aker has delivered a fine cast of interesting and well-drawn characters that teens will be able to relate to, including some terrific secondary ones But it's the story that's the main reason this book is a winner The Fifth Rule has a plot that pulls you along to its heart-racing final scenes. It's also a morality tale told with authentic, gritty believability that will get you thinking whether you're reading it alone or in the classroom where it would be a great read-and-discuss book.

When I got to the end of The Fifth Rule , I realized how much I genuinely cared about what happened to Reef and Leeza, and you can't ask more from a book than that. Readers will find themselves holding their breath at an apparent abduction or a hand curled once again around a stone. It is literally a race to the finish as Leeza runs to save Reef, the young man who both wounded and healed her.

Very enjoyable, highly recommended for teen boys in particular. May 22, Mya Moniz rated it it was amazing. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. He has no intention of staying long — memories of Frank compete with memories of Leeza and the terrible way their relationship ended. And then there's the restraining order against him.

Fifth Rule

Which Leeza's mother has renewed The detail and description shows how truly talented and creative the author is, and the character and plot development is so thrilling and it keeps you turning page after page. The detailed writing style Don Aker has gives the reader the felling that they're right in the story with the characters themselves. He does really well when he describes how a certain character feels: It's clear that he has thought out everything about every character so the reader can imagine it and create their own visuals.

Who needs pictures when you have a description to follow and an imagination where the sky is the limit? The amazing detail and description truly makes the book's plot one of a kind. The story moves slowly enough for you to take everything in without you waiting and wondering when the next big thing will happen. The way the book is structured has two semi-different story lines that occasionally intersect, each chapter alternating between main characters Reef and Leeza.

When part in one story line ends, another starts just in time. It's hard to be bored while reading this book, it won't let you be! The characters are so strongly crafted and it's truly as though they were pulled from the world and put into the story. A great example of this is Reef Kennedy. A ways into the book, we're introduced to Reef's back story, how ruthless and troubled he used to be. We get to envision how much he has changed as a person, and the impact those around him have.

The detail makes it feel so real and Reef's thought process remains true to his role, a year-old former young offender who has changed. When something happens to Reef in the story, his strong, opinionated, heartfelt personality shines through and proves to the reader that he has something important to say. Reef is the one who got the biggest character growth out of everyone, which really makes you feel for him if something happens to him.

At a certain part of the book, things get pretty rough for Reef which cause him to start to turn to his old ways for comfort. This particular section made me turn page after page for hours on end, reading and reading until Reef got a solution. This is the affect that any author wants to have on his readers, and Don achieved that. The Fifth Rule is an amazing book that always keeps you on the edge of your seat, and I can't wait to read the rest of it.

I need to make sure everything ends well for Reef! Oct 11, Canadian Children's Book Centre added it. Now 19, Reef has been working in construction in Calgary and continuing his outreach with street kids. He returns to Halifax to speak at the funeral of Frank Colville, his mentor at the group home for young offenders where Reef turned his life around. But the home is threatened by a crusading politician who casts Reef as a failure.

Aker is a master at creating appealing characters and powerful relationships. Leeza works to free herself from her over-protective mother. To complicate matters, her father, who had abandoned the family years before, has now re-entered her life for his own reasons. Aker is also a master at creating plots with multiple but believable coincidences and almost unbearable tension. Readers will find themselves holding their breath at an apparent abduction or a hand curled once again around a stone. It is literally a race to the finish as Leeza runs to save Reef, the young man who both wounded and healed her.

Jan 10, Maryam rated it liked it Recommends it for: I was going to read this book because of White Pine, but then I learned that it was a sequel to the famous The First Stone. So of course, I had to read that first, because I can't stand things not in order. I have to admit, I did like the previous one better, but not by a landslide. It's the same characters as before, except Alex is gone.

I was really disappointed when I finished reading because I really liked Alex, he was a funny, unique character. Brett was in it as well, being her usual aweso I was going to read this book because of White Pine, but then I learned that it was a sequel to the famous The First Stone. Brett was in it as well, being her usual awesome-self. Bigger and Jink were funnier and less serious in this book. I felt that this book focused more on Reef's and Leeza's relationship then any other thing, and I was hoping for more action instead.

In the begging, we learn that Reef is trying to protect kids from a youth centre from a drug dealer guy. But that's all you hear. They don't even mention it later, and if the problem gets resolved or not, or how. That was really annoying.

I expected it to be a big part of the book, because it was in the first chapter. We just have to make up what happened ourselves because there is no mention again. Overall, it was a good read, but it would suck if you haven't read The First Stone, because it won't make much sense otherwise. I feel that he Don Aker wrote this book only because of how majority of people didn't like the way The First Stone ended.

Oh well, I laughed out many times in the book, and I liked how Leeza stood up to her controlling mother. May 06, Allie rated it liked it. It's when his mentor dies that Reef is yanked back to Halifax, where he spends a couple days contemplating Leeza, his rep, and the accident. Through the course of this wholly interesting, though placid, story readers witness as star-crossed lovers finally get together in what has to be one of the world's most disappointi THE FIFTH RULE by Don Aker is the second installment to the Reef Kennedy series, upon which, now 19 year old Reef has moved out on his own and finally is doing good for himself.

Through the course of this wholly interesting, though placid, story readers witness as star-crossed lovers finally get together in what has to be one of the world's most disappointing climaxes. I was required to read this book because, well, my teacher made me. I'd been required to read the first book and I didn't wholly enjoy it, the pretense was good, but the execution was sucky and wasn't overjoyed to read the second book.

Summary of "The Fifth Rule" by Fatima - THE FIFTH RULE by Don Aker

That's why I nicked a star. I didn't want to read the book in the first place and had already formed an opinion of it. The story was slow moving, and I felt as though Leeza was stuck in a runt and I wanted her to just move and do something.

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Her pain was enlonged for me, and I felt like Aker could have cut a few chapters of her running. It seemed that was all Leeza did. And felt sorry for herself.

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The conflicts in the story were okay: The themes of this book were: All together the story was okay. A bit too realistic for my taste. But that's about it. Jan 12, Angeli M. Today's been a lazy Sunday and I accidentally finished this book all in one go, but I'll definitely go back to it before book club on Thursday. I don't normally go for teen fiction novels, but the book club at school consists of those White Pine novels and I have to admit I'm glad. I didn't know The Fifth Rule is a sequel to The First Stone, and even if it wasn't Aker's purpose, I really loved how the novel worked as a stand-alone story.

At Today's been a lazy Sunday and I accidentally finished this book all in one go, but I'll definitely go back to it before book club on Thursday. At first, I had trouble believing some of the plot, but I definitely believe that to have been caused by my sheltered up-bringing. The novel tells the story of a former young offender, the death of his mentor, and his closure with the one he hurt. A lot of the emotions and reactions of the characters are completely accurate and remind me of people I know who have experienced situations similar to that of the characters'.

I don't think I have much else to say except that I recommend it if you enjoy teen fiction. On a different note, and I'm not sure if this is a "thing" with Canadian authors, but I noticed how a lot of specific brands or names were mentioned, such as WestJet or Bacardi or Captain Morgan.

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I can't remember which other novels I've seen this in, but I specifically remember them being Canadian and teen fiction. This is just an observation though, it didn't take away or add anything to my response really. Nov 21, Sarah rated it really liked it Shelves: I just wish I had read The First Stone first! I should definitely work on my research skills. That said, The Fifth Rule stands well enough alone. Don Aker has this simple straight-to-the-point kind of writing that I haven't seen in so long that's totally great because it gets the job done. This novel has plot, solid character development, and lots and lots of drama, all stirred in a pot of realism that was totally appreciated.

I don't know if it's my reading choices, but it just s Pretty good. I don't know if it's my reading choices, but it just seems I've been reading too many pretty books lately that didn't focus as much on plot--not that that's necessarily a bad thing, I just think I should change things up more than once in a while--which is probably why this book seems like such a revelation. Wait, I don't want to trivialize Don Aker, nor do I mean to do so. He's just a really good writer, and he knows how to tug at your heartstrings. Normally, I hate dramas because I don't like the sensation of being emotionally manipulated for really petty reasons, but in this case it works.

Reasons aren't petty it's pretty weighty subject matter, actually and it just felt like emotional manipulation to me because the characters were so finely drawn that I really did start to care for them. Totally recommended, and will be looking for other books by Don Aker in the future. Jul 02, Rica rated it really liked it Shelves: After finishing the First Stone with a major cliff hanger, I was desperate for a sequel, but there already was one thank goodness! I don't think I would've survived without one. Unfortunately, the sequel was definitely not what I expected, but good in some ways.

It starts off with a funeral for Frank and I'm like, okay? So time passed from the last book. Later I learned that Aker wrote this book because of his dear friend I like how Don Aker seemed to give us a fill in on what happened to each R After finishing the First Stone with a major cliff hanger, I was desperate for a sequel, but there already was one thank goodness!

Later I learned that Aker wrote this book because of his dear friend I like how Don Aker seemed to give us a fill in on what happened to each Reef and Leeza after they stopped hanging out. They both seemed to have pretty bright futures Reef not as much. There are the 'bad' guys too. The Russian guy who's name I forgot, the guy trying to destroy the group home, and Leeza's mother in a way.

But I can feel the overprotectiveness of a mother in the way she speaks and reacts. The only thing about this is the interaction; it was a bit too late between Leeza and Reef. I wanted to read more about what happened after, after the book. There's so many good aspects about this book too.

The emotions mostly though that Reef feels, I can really relate to him. Even when he gets wasted, I clearly know why he did it, and the hurt feelings he had in the moment. Definitely still waiting for a trilogy!! Oct 21, Rachel Seigel rated it really liked it. It's a novel about second chances, about living up to or down to expectations, about self-worth, healing and love. Reef grabs hold of your heart and doesn't let go, and by the end of the book you'll be his champion.