Series Books

Sophie Addison is suffering amnesia after an incident at a gas station. She thinks she is a Vegas Showgirl! She storms into Tranquility, Texas and turns the town upside-down! Including Gray McBride's life, goals and libido. Gray is a sexy, hunky cowboy that wants to become mayor to help his family. But he did not factor in the impact that "Sunny" haves on the town folks and him. Dianne Castell weaves a sexy, funny & heartwarming story that will have you saying" yeehaa". Great storyline and characters makes this one more of her share of great books.! Pick it up and have a happy reading!

Sophie is an attorney coming to town to sell an old saloon for her friend Sunny, who is a Vegas showgirl and is in trouble with a loan shark.
When Sophie arrives she is instantly attracted to the cowboy, Gray McBride, she meets while filling up her car at the gas pump. There is an explosion and now Sophie has amnesia, and believes she is Sunny, her showgirl friend LOL

This book is just so funny. Watching Sophie, an attorney, think she is a showgirl and go head to head with Gray.
Gray is running for Mayor of the town and wants to close down the saloon to expand the local firestation.

Dianne had me laughing out loud. It was just so funny reading about Sophie and Gray and the way they interact. This book is sexy, romantic, funny, everything you could want :)

...Sophie Addison blew into town. It seems Sophie has a small case of amnesia and thinks she's Sunny, the showgirl new owner of the local bar. Gray McBride is running for mayor, and trying to close the bar. Sparks are flying...but are they sparks of annoyance, or sparks of some other kind of tension??!!

Dianne Castell's A Cowboy and a Kiss is a story of love and laughter!

Dianne has another winner here on this her latest release. This is a must read for those wanting a neat storyline and a fun read. Sophie Addison gets a bump on the head and ends up thinking she is Sunny the showgirl , who instead of trying to sell the old saloon as a favor to a friend instead endeavors to keep the saloon going. Now bring Gary McBride, who is running for mayor and making his priority to shut the saloon down into the equation. Sparks and chemistry runs high between the two. Making this a sexy, fun read. I look forward to more books from this author as I have enjoyed all her books to date and feel she only gets better with each release

I admit to not being much of a fan of the cowboy stories, but Dianne Castell's talent for writing them is quickly changing my mind. If you have not read a Castell book, this is a perfect place to start.

Sophie Addison is a reserved financial attorney from Reno who makes her way to Tranquility, Texas to do a favor for her best friend, Sunny Kelly, a Reno showgirl: sell her recently deceased aunt's old saloon, the Smokehouse, so Sunny can settle some debts.

However when Sophie gets to Texas, she has an accident that leaves her without any memory of her previous life and is soon convinced that she is Sunny Kelly. Only instead of wanting to sell the saloon, she sees it as a great opportunity to help out a lot of people in town, especially the women of Tranquility.

The only thing standing in her way is the hottie cowboy Gray McBride who wants the Smokehouse saloon sold so he can build a bigger firehouse in its place and make good on a promise he made to the town if he was elected mayor, as well as a personal one he made to himself for his family. There's no way he was going to let this blonde, sassy showgirl get in his way.

Only sparks have a way of flying whenever those two are around each other, and as determined as they both are to succeed in their own mission, it becomes obvious that falling in love changes everything. Especially when the real Sunny shows up and Sophie's memory returns.

This book was sweet, funny, and sexy - a wonderful heartwarming story with enough heat to warm up those cold winter nights. Dianne Castell writes so wonderfully about small towns and cowboys that it sure does sound tempting to find one - the town AND the cowboyd. Each of Dianne's books gets better and better. I can't wait for the next one!

This series is a real favorite of mine. Great story line, great characters, and unique ideas. Now (as of Summer 2005) the latest Conrad book, "Conrad's Crusade" is now available from [...], on line! It is solid action on par with the best in the series. [...] and I recommend it highly.

This is a great book and a great series - taking an excellent idea and executing it perfectly. It almost certainly is aimed at a male audience, but women should enjoy it too if they aren't too offended 0:)

Similar storyline to Twain's 'Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' - only this time, it's a Polish engineer in 13th century Poland.
It's a fun read, although I found it a bit convenient that the hero was an engineer - it would have been much more fun & challenging if the hero only had a rudimentary knowledge of how things worked.
A similar book to these that I'd also reccommend is 'Enchantment' by Orson Scott Card. That book and the Stargard series are the only time-travelling in Poland fantasy books I'm aware of.

The Cross-Time Engineer is among the best time travel books I have ever read. It leaves nothing to chance even displaying that properly placed geneticly enhanced War Horses can be found in 13th century Krakow. Conrad Stargard is plagued with moden emotions and ethics in a medieval world that holds life as worth little. It is a great set of books so be sure not to stop at number one.

Very decent sci-fi / time-travel / alternate timeline treatment. If you're at all technically minded, and if you can look past the author's rather abysmal treatment of anyone of the female persuasion, you'll probably enjoy this as a nice break from something deeper and harder hitting. It's fun and diverting to imagine what one expert engineer who (unlike most of us technical rabble) actually knows how things work could do with 13th century technology, culture, and a great deal of luck.
The first 2-3 books of this series are by far the best, as near the end the author seems to loose a bit of interest - or at least creativity - and begins to engage some serious Deus Ex Machina plot elements with Conrad's friends in the distant future. Still, worth a read to those not offended by the "women are property - and they *love* it" garbage scattered throughout.

This is a fundamental in a surgical education. Some changes since the last edition about 10%. It extremely well written.

This nook is an excellent review of the current surgical therapy. It provides quick and current references for both practising surgeons and trainees

This really is the best reference for surgical residents. The new version has had some fairly significant changes. Modern laparoscopic techniques have been added, the trauma section revamped, new chapters added, and certain chapters fleshed out compared to the last edition. In addition, a few colour chapter have been added, but if you purchase the online version, you get access to the colour images posted on the website. Nonetheless, a lot of the figures in the book have been reworked into a more user-friendly format.

This is THE book for a senior surgical resident to purchase. It is updated every 3 years, and reflects advances in techniques, preoperative and postoperative evaluation, and clinical management decision making for all of the commonly encountered problems in general surgery. The authors do not merely rehash the previous edition, but present the information in a clear, concise, and enjoyable text with good tables and images. It has been very helpful to me in my Chief year, and I expect it to help me pass my boards. A MUST HAVE!!!

A must for every surgical resident and surgeon. Great for studying for the oral boards these are safe and accepted answers.

"Dawn of a Thousand Nights" intrigued me about the WWII time period of our American history. This is a story about two pilots in Hawaii. Libby and Dan met in Hawaii before America was attacked. They fell in love and then Dan was sent out to the Philippines. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Libby joined the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, a civil service unit. The WAFS were used to ferry planes inside of the country. The Philippines was also attacked with thousands of troops being captured. Libby didn't hear from Dan but she never gave up hope on being with her beloved. Will their love survive Dan's captivity and their separation? Read "Dawn of a Thousand Nights" and you won't be disappointed. ~Shelly of Chadron MOPS

"Dawn of a Thousand Nights" is a touching story of new love and the war that threatens to tear that love appart. The main characters, both pilots, are separated by the war just as they decide to give their hearts to each other. The book follows the trials and truimphs of each person as they struggle to find their way back to each other and end up finding a part of themselves in the process. I found "Dawn..." a fantastic story of love, heartache, dedication and finding the way back to God.

This is a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down. The story woven in with the history was perfect. It couldn't have been better. I loved it so much I ordered a copy for my husband's grandfather who was in the pacific during WWII.

Tricia Goyer touches the heart of every reader who was in WWII or had a family member involved. I read this with my heart remembering my uncle who was a POW, and what he gave for each one of us to have the freedoms we enjoy today. This is a precious book that is exciting and breathtaking at the same time.

I've always been fascinated by stories about World War II, and this one is great. Libby Conners, pilot trainer and Don Luken, hotshot pursuit pilot, meet on a beach outside of Honolulu. Although it's June, 1941, and the U.S. is sending scores of pilots to Hawaii and the Phillippines, they are young and unafraid. They're in love and for them nothing can change. Then Don is transferred to the Phillipines, leaving Libby behind. On December 7, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and launched a similar attack on the Phillipines, and now nothing will ever be the same. This book is an honest, gripping portrayal of one of our country's darkest times. The research is accurate and incredible. The reader has a strong sense of place, whether in a plane, on a beach, or in a prison camp. You'll come away with a greater appreciation of the men and women in the military who risk their lives daily in the service of their country. I had never read anything by Tricia Goyer before, but I'm looking forward to the next one. She's an excellent writer.

What kid hasn't listened in on the telephone? Bill Davidson's children did just that, but didn't realize they hold the key to their father's killer.
Alan York loves racing and left home in South Africa to follow his dream. When he emerged from the fog of a steeple chase race he didn't find his friend a winner, but dead in a manner that was no accident.
Greed and fixed races were behind Bill's death and leave Allan the owner of Admiral and fighting for his own life.
Dead Cert is one of the riveting reads of a long career. Enjoy!
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

I never know what to expect when I begin a new Dick Francis novel - but I always enjoy the ride. This one is no exception.

This is the first Dick Francis mystery and I like it the second best. I like "Nerve" slightly better, but only slightly. This "Dead Cert" contains several impressive scenes. The most impressive is the climax in which the star horse "Admiral" plays an unexpectedly spectacular role. It is definitely THE MOST SPECTACULAR scene in ALL Francis mysteries. Highly Recommended.

I was amazed to learn after reading this one that it was Dick Francis' first novel. Francis was a very successful jockey--racing for the Queen Mother in the 1950's--and after a career-ending injury, he penned his memoirs. Following that success, he developed and incredibly successful second act as a novelist.

I discovered Francis' work last summer--and I have plans to read everything he's done. In the 3 books I've read, his heroes are all gentleman sleuths--full of character, empathy, and wits. In Dead Cert, the trend continues with Alan York, a young amateur jockey trying to uncover the mystery of why a copper wire was intentionally hung to trip his fellow jockey. York is on his own resolving this caper, having failed to fully convince the police that this was anything more than an accidental death.

The writing is of a high caliber, the characters are wonderfully drawn, and I always learn a thing or two about horses--and England--when I read Dick Francis. There's also something quaint about reading a book set in an age before computers, cell phones, and DNA evidence. Grade: A-

In yet another gripping story of mystery, murder and British steeplechasing, Dick Francis continues his amazing streak of hit novels.

His real appeal is not racing or mystery however, it is his ability to create characters who are admirable, honorable and self-reliant. If you're looking for troubled, self-loathers who "somehow" overcome their weakness and become unwilling and unwitting heroes, don't look here. Francis' heroes revel in their abilities to withstand evil, overcome it, and end up smiling in spite of it all.

Kudos once again for Dick Francis and Dead Cert!

While I agreed with most of what this author had to say about our relationship with God, the topics covered in the book (divorce, eating disorders, sexual abuse)did not apply to me so it was difficult to keep reading.

This book is amazing! Cynthia really knows what she is talking about! You can tell from reading this book that she is a very caring, experienced councellor! The book hits home for me and I know for a lot of women, whether you've suffered from abuse, a divorce, a painful past, an abortion, or whatever, it will hit home for you!

There are so many self-help books out there, but this one stands above the rest. Cynthia, a counselor, speaker, mom, and wife, takes us on a personal journey as she shares her own personal story, as well as stories of others who have found themselves caught in the trap of shame. Cynthia doesn't just offer stories, but practical help through spiritual, emotional and tangible steps that take you from guilt, pain or emotional conflict to freedom. This book is a keeper as it contains a timeless message that will help all who want to start fresh and see themselves as they truly were meant to be.

Cynthia Spell Humbert has written a powerful book on shame. It offers hope to those who suffer from shame and gives understanding to those who relate to someone who is dealing with it. She describes shame as an extremely painful internal wound that can cause a woman to believe she no reason to exist. The desire to cover the shame from people and God leads to various hiding patterns in behavior. She identifies places and circumstances that lead women to put on masks to cover their shame as inauthentic churches, dysfunctional families, addictions, sexual abuse, sin, eating disorders and loss of love. Cynthia points out that a woman has great worth in the Lord's eyes and that He used broken, weak and sinful people in the past to serve Him and that He will continue to do so. She also points out that it is never to late to come to God and allow Him to heal and to change the destructive patterns brought about by shame. She balances truth with grace as she covers the need to forgive in such a way that the reader does not feel beaten down but drawn to God's love. Her honesty about her own struggles with shame and how God's using that in her life will also make it safe for the reader bound by shame to be real about their own struggles and to seek help. Thank you, Cynthia, for addressing such a widespread issue.

Many thanks to Cynthia Spell Humbert for writing a book that has been much needed in the church. Working with women in ministry over the past 12 years, I have found that there is a deserate need among women to understand who they really are in Christ and how much they are desired by God. "Deceived by Shame, Desired by God" is the book I've been waiting for.

Cynthia brings to the table a wealth of wisdom gleaned through years of counseling in a clinical setting, but more importantly, she brings the wisdom gained from dealing with the issues of her own heart. Cynthia helps us understand our human condition and then takes us to the cross of Christ to find the power to break through to the life God wants for us.

Cynthia pulls no punches as she explains how the enemy can decieve our hearts, choking out the love from God that we so desperately need. Thankfully she doesn't leave us there, but takes us straight to the truth that will indeed set us free. We are desired by God!!

The real life stories will intrigue you, the truth of God's Word will liberate you, and your heart will be drawn to the God who desires to lavish his love on you.

This book is an excellent adjunct to use in studying for Step 2 CK. By challenging you with a gut-reaction recall type format, you will actively learn and reinforce important topics and associations. It's best used for a quick review in the final days of Step 2 studying to refresh your memory of all the high yield associations.

I found this book to be extremely helpful along with doing questions. It has high yield facts and it's easy to read. However, unlike other reviewers I wouldn't use it as my only source. This book does not go into a lot of detail, so you have to start with a solid background.

First thing first. I scored a 247 on Step 1. As many of you know that have taken the exam. The key is to know what to study for the exam since there is an infinite amount of information. Once you find the "tested" information you have to sit down and MEMORIZE. That is the key to these USMLE exams. For those that have trouble memorizing the necessary information, the best thing to do is to "do questions" so that way you can remember the key concepts. For Step 1 all you really need is First Aid for Step 1, Goljan audio, and Kaplan QBank + Qbook. That's it....

Now for Step 2 it is much different. First Aid is not as high yield as it is for Step 1. Even if you had First Aid for Step 2 in the exam room with unlimited time there will be information that is NOT IN THE BOOK. First Aid lives off of its Step 1 reputation.

For Step 2, I scored a 241. Which isn't spectacular BUT I studied for the exam during my interview season in January. I studied for 3 weeks. I memorized this book and did USMLE World questions. That is all you need. Most of the high yield information that is TESTED is not found in First Aid. Use your time wisely. My advice is to memorize this book, Step 2 Secrets, and do ALL of the questions (and read every answer explanation) in USMLE World. Keep in mind though there will still be questions that you have never seen but these will be fewer and far between if you use the "right" resources. Good Luck.

"Deja Review" was the reason I aced my USMLE Step2. Aside from doing practice questions, this is the only other resource you need to conquer the boards. It is extremely high-yield and concise... perfect for many students like myself who only had 2 weeks to study for the step2. The question-answer format of the text helps the reader actively learn and more importantly remember the material. I wish I knew about DejaReview back when I was studying for Step1. I highly recommend it to all medical students.

UCSD makes us take step 2 early on in the year and time is defintiely a limiting factor. If you are in the same boat, I would highly recommend this book. Even if you are not under a time crunch, you should still read this book to re-enforce facts you already know. The Q&A format is similar to that of Surgical Recall. I used a question bank and read this book to tie everything together before I took the exam. This book is very high yield, and works well as an adjuvant to a more cohesive detailed review source like usmle world q-bank.

After I took step 2, I passed the book onto a fellow panicked classmate going into derm and after reading the book, lets just say he didn't need an ativan or xanex hook-up before the exam. I read the book in 1.5 days (w/ several breaks) and my confidence defintely went way up afterwards.If you are worried about step 2, buy this book and you will realize that you know more from 3rd year than you think.

On radiology, my resident asked me what books I used for step 2 review. Being the slow person that I am, I didn't put two and two together. John Naheedy is now a radiology resident at UCSD and he is a nice guy. So besides donating to feed the "John Naheedy Foundation," your USMLE step 2 score will be higher than your step 1 score after Deja Review: USMLE STEP 2 Essesntials, guaranteed! Good luck on the exam! =)

There will always be one and only one Jacques Torres.I love this book actually made a few recipes from here.Its not everyday type of deserts but true masterpieces. Can you tell I am one of his biggest fans.I truly miss seeing him on food [...]

This book is autstanding. Although, the book that I was sent by your dealer is a black and white photocopy of Jacuqes original book since I've used his book before and I am great admirer of jacques.I love his book DESSERT CIRCUS BUT THE COPY THAT YOU SENT ME IS A CHIP COPY THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANY PICTURE OF THE ACTUAL DESSERTS AS THE ORIGINAL COPY HAS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE BOOK TROUGH YOU OVER THE INTERNET IT WAS STATED THAT IT WAS A USED COPY OF DESSERT CIRCUS BY JACQUES TORRES BOOK. I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE PHOTOCOPY THAT YOU SENT ME. IF YOU LIKE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS PLEASE DO SO @ HEBERESTRADA@HOTMAIL.COM

"Dessert Circus" is the companion cookbook to Jacques Torres' television series, filled with step-by-step instructions and photos to help you recreate all his delicacies at home. After flipping through the book, I had my doubts.

Every recipe I tried was delicious. My favorite recipe has to be his "Chocolate Cornflakes". Delicious and fun to make.

Things I noticed about these recipes: They seem designed for parties and less for home cooking. Yields were large, with servings for 8 seeming to be the magic number. If you want to impress, you'll love this book. There is a fair amount ingredients that may be hard to find.

To recreate many of the recipes listed will require: time, talent, and a little prayer to pull off. This is not to say that the results aren't worth it. Desserts like the impressive "Nougatine Basket with Fruit Sorbets" (three diamonds) can be accomplished, you simply have to take your time and be prepared.

If you've ever looked at an issue of "Chocolatier" or "Pastry: Art & Design" magazines, you have a good idea of what you'll be in for with this cookbook. Cooks looking for a challenge will find plenty of recipes to choose from.

The author clearly loves what he does. I love the fact that there is a picture along with each recipe. Very detailed. I would buy ANY book by this author!

Jacques is an excellent teacher who doesn't seem to try to omit an ingredient or a secret technique as some chefs do. He is eager to share his thoughts on how to make each recipe a success and even includes the decorative touches that make people ooh and ahh. I've tried, and with great success, the desserts involving Jacques' light puff pastry and the tender flaky tart shell recipes and they please both the eye as well as the palate. I entertain frequently, making twelve course Chinese meals and always ending with a French dessert, most of which now come from 'Dessert Circus' or is inspired by it. I especially enjoy watching my guests' delight over the desserts. Thank you, Jacques.

I bought this book quite a while ago and I absolutely the format. It's a great resource to just pick up and get great ideas, verify that you are on/off the right track and generally learn how to get to the next level with XML. Highly recommended

The flexibility of XML can often mean that there's a gap between using XML and using XML effectively. Elliotte Rusty Harold's book Effective XML - 50 Specific Ways to Improve Your XML (Addison Wesley) is an excellent way to move towards the latter condition.

Chapter List: Syntax; Structure; Semantics; Implementation; Recommended Reading; Index

There are obviously a large number of books that will teach you the semantics of writing and using XML. But just because you can create an XML file doesn't mean that you've done it well or effectively. Harold's book provides a bridge to being able to create XML files that will be usable in nearly all situations. The book starts out in the introduction with explanations of terms that are often confused (element vs. tag, text vs. character data vs. markup, etc.). Then there are four parts of the book that include a total of 50 tips that will improve the quality of your XML usage. Some tips are pretty basic, like "Include an XML Declaration". Others are more complex like "Verify Documents with XML Digital Signatures". But every one is practical and useful for making sure that your XML is widely useable by all potential applications.

Excellent bridge book to read after you've learned the basics of XML. This is a book that, when taken to heart and used, will cause your coworkers to thank you.

Effective XML is a collection of about 50 tips for working with XML. Although XML seems is simple and easy to use, it's also easy to get wrong. I've often scratched your head and wondered why things like XML Schema, for example, just doesn't feel right. But it wasn't until I read Effective XML that I understood what was really awkward with it.

Because the book is so diverse (an amazing feat considering the small page count), it is hard to single out any specific part as being a reason to read the book. The book doesn't just talk about schemas, the infoset, etc..., it digs down and really explains what is good and bad about the technologies and what the best ways to apply them are. All I can say is that I use XML day in and day out and have learned everything I know by trial an error. I've made many mistakes along the way. I've tried my best to learn from them, but Effective XML was the book that made everything click for me. The best part is that the book went well beyond just helping me see my errors. I've already applied some of the ideas to new work I've done recently and have been able to head off some of the problems I would have encountered.


Effective XML is by far the best XML book I've ever read, and quite possibly the best tech book I've read all year. I might even have to add it to my favorite tech books list. If you work with XML to any significant degree, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Elliotte Rusty Harold states in the introduction of Effective XML that the book is neither an introductory book nor an XML tutorial. Rather, it is a distillation of the author's experience using and teaching XML and how to use it effectively. The book does a great job of explaining how to use XML and its related technologies.

The book is divided into four major sections: Syntax, Structure, Semantics, and Implementation. Each of the fifty Items packs a lot of information into a few pages. The Items span topics such as why you should Include an XML Declaration (Item 1), Make Structure Explicit through Markup (Item 11), Program to Standard APIs (Item 31), and Write in Unicode (Item 38). Even the Introduction is valuable because it sets the definitions for XML-related terms used in the rest of the book that the author has found to be used interchangeably or inconsistently.

Item 24, Choose the Right Schema Language for the Job, provides a typical example of the great information contained in Effective XML. This Item discusses the strengths and weaknesses of four schema languages: W3C XML Schema Language, DTDs, RELAX NG, and Schematron. The use of programming languages to handle situations that the schema languages can't handle is also discussed. The Item ends with a set of questions to think about when selecting the schema language to use.

I found the book very readable and like that the information is presented in digestible chunks. Effective XML isn't meant to hype XML but to identify what the actual capabilities of XML and its related technologies are and how best to use them. The book does an outstanding job at this task.

Full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book for review.

This is not a book explaining XML. This is not a book that goes into any depth on XML APIs. It is not a book explaining any one XML format like XSLT, RSS, or XSD.

Instead it is a book on how to work with XML. How to design an XML application to take full advantage of the facilties of XML: schemas, processing instructions, XSL transforms, namespaces. It is all structured to slowly introduce you into the complexities, and deserves to sit up on the bookshelf with Effective C++, Java and Enterprise Java.

If you already know the basics of XML, it is actually quite a good way to learn about some of the more esoteric concepts -from the pragmatic perspective. Too many XML books rant about how wonderful some feature like XML schema's extension stuff is, why XML is the most universal format ever, SOAP and WS-* the best protocol for distributed systems ever, and XQuery everything you need for an XML database.

This book bursts the bubble of hype with rational analysis of what makes sense, and what doesn't. Item 28: Use only what you need, is my favourite: A review of the main XML specs and analysis of what really matters, which comes down to #35, navigate with XPath.

If you are designing an XML schema/system/application, you need this book. If you have to put up with architects telling you about WS-MetadataExchange, WS-Transfer and RDF, you need a copy to roll up and hit them over the head. And, if like me, you are involved in standards bodies that produce XML related things, you need to buy a copy for all the other participants, so that what you produce will actually work.

Remember that XML is a language designed for use by people and machines. The machines have the upper hand. But with this book, and some thinking, you can design XML applications that people can use.

The thing I didn't like about Elijah of Buxton is that I was having trouble with the slang... I understand that it added kind of a uniqeness to the book, but what's the use if you can't even READ the book? So that was a little bit bothersome. And also, there's not as much dialogue, (which for my prefrance, I enjoy lots of dialogue) and Elijah sometimes rambles a little bit throughout the book, which can sometimes get boring and endless.
I had to read this book for book club, and I ended up just skimming it, because I just really didn't like it... This is only my opinion. The one good thing about the book though, is that it's religious, and sends a very positive message to stay strong in tough times.

Christopher Paul Curtis is one of my favorite adolescent authors. I read Bub, Not Buddy to my 8th graders every year (Great Depression) and The Watson's Go To Birmingham: 1963 (during a Civil Rights Movement unit). This school year I discovered Elijah of Buxton and read it to my students during my unit on American Slavery. None of my students had read the book and we were all on the edge of our seats together. This book has great voice and I especially enjoyed the dialect. My students and I throughly enjoyed this book. I would highly recommend it to students to read, parents to read to their kids and teachers to read to their students! I cannot say enough good things about this book.

Like Christopher Paul Curtis' other books, Elijah of Buxton is full of emotions from laughter to tears. It is a touch of history with a surprise ending. I loved the adventure, the suspense, the humor, and the characters. As an educator I highly recommend this book for adults and older children to enjoy.

*Elijah of Buxton* is an exciting historical fiction book about a boy named
Elijah who is the first child born free in Buxton. It is about the Preacher
who doesn't care for anyone in Buxton and who lies about everything. He
tells Elijah that one type of snake is outrageously dangerous and when his
mom plays a trick on him he finds that they are harmless. He still trusts
the Preacher so he goes to a carnival in a neighboring white town. The
preacher takes a boy in slavery from the white town and brings him to
Buxton. Then a single wife in Buxton finds out that her husband has died so
she gives her wood cutter Mr Leroy the money she was saving to buy her
husband out of slavery so he can buy his family out of slavery. Mr Leroy
gives the preacher his money because everybody still trusts him and because
he has contacts to buy people out of slavery. Elijah goes away from Buxton
and comes back with a slaves baby he found. The book ends with many
questions and is open to lots of predictions and questions.

Elijah of Buxton captured my interest on the first page. It is emotional,
dramatic and leaves you wondering at the end of each chapter. If you are
going to read a historical fiction book start with this one. I would
definitely recommend this book to 4th grade and up.

This is one of the most amazing historical-fiction books that I have ever read! How the author mixes in survival, action, and comedy into the theme is absolutely wonderful. What adds to this already fantastic book is that it touches on how most free slaves in Buxton would never go back to America. That just shows how bad things were. One of the many shocking things is when Mr. Leroy back-hands Elijah to the ground. It was so fast and unexpected. Personally, I find it unsurprising when Mr. Leroy's money is stolen. Also, the fact that Elijah uses chunking stones to fish and defend himself from a vicious dog is very unique to me. The only thing that I did not like was the ending, that is it. There is a lesson to be learned from this story: with persaverence and an iron will you can make it happen. The climax of the book is when Mr. Leroy's money is stolen. The most exciting part is when Elijah and Mr. Leroy go after the thief. That is one more thing people will never forget about Elijah, along with being the first freeborn in Buxton and throwing up on Mr. Frederick Douglas as a baby. This book also shows how much different Canada and the U.S. were back then, and maybe even today.