Me, Myself and Ike

By K.L. Denman

After watching a tv program about Otzi, a 5,000-year-old Ice Man, Kit's friend Ike becomes convinced that Kit's destiny is to become the next ice man -- a source of information for future generations. Together they obtain artifacts they think will accurately reflect life in the early twenty-first century and plan their journey to a nearby mountain. Kit gets tattoos similar to Otzi's, writes a manifesto and tries to come to terms with making the ultimate sacrifice. As he grows more and more agitated and isolated, his family and friends suspect that something is terribly wrong, but before they can discover the true severity of the situation, Kit and Ike set off on what could be their last journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Oct 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9781554690879

K.L. Denman

K.L. Denman a écrit de nombreux romans pour la jeunesse, notamment Destination Human et Agent Angus publiés par Orca. Bon nombre de ses ouvrages ont figuré aux palmarès des meilleurs livres de l’année, et Me, Myself and Ike a été finaliste au Prix littéraire du Gouverneur général. K.L. Denman vit à Delta, en Colombie-Britannique.

Reviews for Me, Myself and Ike

[allyss-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this when I was a little too old I think (late 20s), because the twist was a little too obvious to me right from the start. That being said, it was a solid portrayal of a teenager struggling with mental illness. The author pulled off writing from the main character's perspective, and his perspective of what he thinks is going on very well.

[librorumamans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Me myself and Ike would make a valuable addition to any YA collection because of its sensitive portrayal of adolescent schizophrenia. Denman's decision to write in the first person has the double effect of creating a mystery story that the reader can eventually figure out and thus helping the reader experience the viewpoint of the book's schizophrenic narrator. The addition of an afterward with further information about the disease and suggested references is a valuable bonus. The novel is a good read on its own terms while also providing important educational information.

[bellydancer_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kit is embarking on a life ending adventure. He has been inspired by a T.V. show on the Ice Man to make himself a human time-capsule. Kit is collecting all the things he deems worthy of a place in history. Only, his friend Ike is becoming increasing a contributor to the friendship. But this is no ordinary friendship, Ike is not ordinary friend, so who is Ike?Written in the first person this is a fast paced novel about a teenage boy’s daily struggle with mental illness. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Kit. I found it an intriguing read and wanted to see where Kit’s story went. A good read that contains no sex or bad language. A must read for any teens with mental illness in their family or friends situation.

[ninarucker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very interesting view into the life of Kit, a schizophrenic teen on a strange adventure. I thought it was a good, quick read, and would definitely be a good read for a young teen, figuring themselves out.

[prop2gether · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Essentially a study of a schizophrenic teen who tells the story himself of how he plans to become another "time capsule" cave man, this novel is both too long and too short for its audience. The author's statement that she chose the disease appears to say that it sounded interesting, so she researched it and then wrote the book. Denman's writing is elegant, and she is quite skillful at telling how her main character feels and reacts. However, the ending was so abrupt that it seemed as if she did not know how to tell the story of the next step in this disease. I would read other works by this author, but this is not a book I would recommend as an "introduction" to schizophrenia for the teen audience to which it is being marketed.

[mzonderm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first, this book seems to be about two teenage boys embarking on one of the stupidest plans ever. Inspired by a documentary on the Ice Man, one has convinced the other to climb up into the Canadian Rockies and freeze himself, along with examples of modern technology and culture, as evidence for posterity. The book is largely taken up with Kit's preparations for doing so.Fortunately, for both Kit and the reader, the book is really about much more than this moronic scheme. As we follow Kit through his preparations, we begin to see that perhaps all is not what it seems. Through his interactions with others, we learn that Kit used to be a good kid - he had friends, got along well with his family, did reasonably well in school. But a few months before the start of the action, everything changes. We get a sense of this only in the way that others react to Kit, but this is a startlingly effective method of portraying this change. Throughout the book, we also get a feel for what others noticed in Kit that caused them to change their perceptions, although, in a first-person narrative, the changes are only subtly observable to the reader. It isn't until almost the end of the book that we begin to understand what is really going on with Kit, and how dangerous it potentially is.

[sutherhd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book allows the reader to get inside of the mind of Kit, as he spirals deeper and deeper into schizophrenia. You will feel Kit's loneliness, his heartbreaks and disappointments as his story unfolds. A page-turner from the start, as you try to understand where it all began and where it will lead.