Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 811.54
EAN num: 9780060004811
ISBN number: 0060004819
Label: HarperTeen
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 160
Printing Date: June 01, 2002
Publishing house: HarperTeen
Age index: Young Adult
Release Date: May 28, 2002
Sale Popularity Level: 989518
Studio: HarperTeen
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Everyone has an image of Laura Li, the most popular girl in school: 'stone hearted', 'warmhearted', 'conceited deceiver', 'humble achiever', 'a virgin', 'the hottest girl in the world'.
Award-winning poet Mel Glenn weaves a brilliant web of authentic voices in this riveting story, told in poetry, about what happens when one teenage girl is denied the freedom to determine her own identity.
2001 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA) and Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL)
Amazon.com Review:
Laura Li seems perfect in every way--beautiful, kind, smart. At her job in the school library she is smiling and helpful to everyone, and at home she cares for her ailing brother like a dutiful Asian daughter. But after midnight a very different Laura Li secretly sneaks out to wild dance clubs--desperate to escape from the pressures exerted by her cold, demanding mother and her absent father. Her teachers and the other kids reveal themselves in these short poems as they wonder about Laura, and two boys even write her love poetry, but a few people are beginning to suspect she may be on a collision course with herself. 'It is time, perhaps,' Laura thinks bitterly, 'to dance without stopping at the bar of heaven's gate.'
Mel Glenn adds another tale from Tower High to his growing list of verse novels: Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?, Jump Ball, The Taking of Room 114, and Foreign Exchange. A veteran high-school English teacher, Glenn draws on his own experiences with thousands of students to produce these collections of short poems told in many different multiracial and multiethnic voices. With just a few lines of verse, he is able to create unique characters whose lives extend beyond the page, characters in which teens will recognize themselves and their friends. (Age 11 and older) --Patty Campbell
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Rated by buyers 
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Laura Li came over from China when she was little with her parents and her older brother, who is disabled. Since then her life has been difficult. Her father travels all of the time and Laura wishes with all of her heart that he would take her with him. She can't seem to do anything to please her mother, who thinks she's become too Americanized. And she is expected to devote her entire life to her brother, to plan her future around being nearby to take over his care when her parents get too old. There is a lot of pressure on Laura.
At school nobody really knows Laura very well, partly because she is always too embarrassed to invite anyone home with her. And her mother doesn't let her date or even talk to boys on the phone. Laura is very desirable, though, flirting with the boys who come to the library where she works, and breaking hearts left and right. Sometimes on weekends she sneaks out of her house and goes to a dance club to break even more hearts.
On the surface Laura's life seems to be okay to most people. But no one ever asks her what is going on in her mind, and so no one is able to see the pressure building up inside of her and threatening to boil over.
I liked that there were so many characters, each with a story to tell and a different point of view of Laura. I would have liked more insight into the functioning of Laura's family, though. It would have been nice to know what, exactly, was wrong with Laura's brother and why he couldn't communicate with her. I also would have liked to have seen what Laura's father was thinking about his family.
Rated by buyers -
Ever wonder what everyone thought about you? This book collects the thoughts of Laura's classmates, teachers, and faculty members. Some love her, others loathe her. Laura struggles with how others perceive her. You as the reader are privvy to everyone's honest opinions of her; had Laura herself know what they truly thought, things may have gone differently for her. The ending may shock you, and the writing style will encourage readers to look at events from more than one perspective.
Also recommended for multiple perspectives: Leap Day by Wendy Mass and The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan.
Rated by buyers 
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This book explores the life of one girl and the perceptions others have of her. The layout of the text gives the story more power and immediacy. The points of view change quickly from one character to the next. This book could be used as a springboard for some interesting discussions about duty, race, love, appearances, suicide, etc. A short read, but highly recommended.
Rated by buyers -
I thought that this book was very good, but also very interesting. It was neat how the book was written in poems, but I thought that there were too many characters. I would definately read this book again for a short read. I thought it was awsome.
Rated by buyers -
"Split Image" By Mel Glenn. Laura-Li is a romodel for all. Shes smart, funny, pretty and works at the library. Everyone looks up to her, some are even jealous of her, others admirer her. But after dark its another story. Laura-Li sneaks out at night to loud banging clubs and is introduced to the 'world of drugs'. Here she forgets all of her troubles at home, taking care of her brother, her strict mother, and her father being away. Laura-Li thinks that she has to solve her problems with taking her own life "It is time, perhaps to dance without stopping at the bar of heaven's gate". Shes not the perfect angel we all thought."Split Image" was really sad, but life changing.
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