What You Don't Know Can Kill You

by Fran Arrick

Book Overview

Recently graduated from high school, Ellen's life and future seem perfect as she looks forward to college and eventual marriage to her wonderful boyfriend--until a blood test shows she is HIV... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553074717
• ISBN13: 9780553074710
• Release Date: February 1992
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

a great book

Debra Geddes is 13 years old and thinks everything in her big sisters life is perfict she is a senior graduating and prom is coming up,but when the Geddes find out that ellen is hiv positive they are shocked ellen is a good girl and bad things don't happen to good girls . what you don't know can kill you portrays the Geddes family as they struggle each day to reach out and comfert one another in the face of uncertity and tragdity

Having Fun is One Thing but Going too Far is Another.

Thirteen year old Debra Geddes thinks of a clever idea to have a blood drive for the Cogburns after she finds out they need blood. The Cogburns were in a car crash a few days before and lost a lot of blood. Debra's family and other friends of the Cogburns donate blood. A week later Mrs. Geddes receives a phone call from Dr. Merlini. He tells her that he found something in Ellen's (Debra's older sister) blood. Mrs. Geddes takes Ellen to the doctor's office. He tells them Ellen's blood turned up possative for HIV. Ellen explains there is no way she could have gotten it. Dr. Merlini says sametimes this particular test isn't accurate in some cases so the blood would have to be retested with a different test. I thought this book was exciting, because it is about something that could really happen to someone if they aren't careful. THe characters seemed like real people that went through this tough time. It was just like a true story. I recommend this book to all teenagers, because it tells the consequences for being unsafe and too in love to think anything bad can happen. Having fun is one thing but going too far is another.

Very enjoyable and entertaining!

I really liked this book because it got me thinking about many things. It is really comforting knowing that you are not the only one that thinks about having relations with guys.It is interesting knowing that this can really happen in the real world.The book talks about physical contact within people,by the way the book is written it makes it more realistic.This 1900's book is a great example of what can happen to teenagers if they do not have safe sex.I really thought this book was awsome.

bibliography of fran arrick

I have not yet read this book, but my friend is a hs teacher and is teaching this particular book by Fran Arrick, "What You Don't Know Can Kill You". We were trying to search the Web for information on the author. Is it possible for any information on her bibliography?

This book teaches some important lessons!

This story is full of surprises. I only wish the cover and title were not so revealing because it would be more suspenseful for the reader. I think this is the best book I have read so far to really appeal to both male and female readers when it comes to young adult fiction about AIDS transmitted sexually. It really shows how, no matter how in love you are and how much you trust your boyfriend/girlfriend, you never know where that person has been. The most "perfect relationship" can be destroyed by just one temptation, and the brightest of futures can be shattered because of one wrong decision. Although the book has some weaknesses in the exposition, the plot is full and carries the reader's interest further and further, page by page. The ending is a little frustrating, but it's OK because it would be a great writing assignment to finish the story. (Could you tell I'm a teacher?) The best companion to this book as a "sequel" of sorts would be It Happened to Nancy. What You Don't Know Can Kill You is a great gift for a parent to give to a teenager who might possibly be about to date or dating already. Read it first, so you can discuss it with your child!