Thomas Jane Books

Jane Whitefield, half-Seneca "guide" who takes in hand those who, for various reasons, need to disappear, and finds ways for them to escape into the cracks in American society, is naturally secretive about her occupation. Those who need to find her do it through rumor and word-of-mouth. But now someone else presenting herself as "Jane" seems to be encroaching on her territory -- and fleecing the helpless, and often killing them as well. One of these, a renowned surgeon who trained Jane's new husband, has been set up and didn't quite make it to Jane's door before being wounded by the police, and Carey -- who got his wife to promise she would give up the guide business -- has asked her to help his old teacher, to do what she's so good at just one last time. Jane takes on the job not only for him but because she has to save her own semi-secret reputation -- only this time, the FBI is also involved. This fourth novel in the series is rather better than the last two, showcasing the author's knack for constructing an intriguing and believable back-story and introducing Special Agent Marshall, a thinking man's Fed, whom I think is likely to show up again.

Thomas Perry is a fine writer and his novels are very well-constructed. I think the conceit of an Indian woman who knows how to make people in danger 'disappear' is clever, and his explanations of just how she does it are always interesting and believable. Jane Whitfield is not, however, an entirely believable character. She is just too good: she is never petty or venal or self-indulgent or anything but wise, judicious, strong and virtuous. Thomas Perry makes up for that with his intelligent prose, intricate plotting and his wit. Altogether worth reading.

I've read all of the Jane Whitefield novels so far and this is the first one I found just a bit tedious. However, that said, Perry is still a better mystery writer than 90% of the authors of this genre. My feeling was the book went on a little too long. I like, and have always liked, the utter competence of Jane Whitefield. There doesn't seem to be much that fazes her or puts her off her stride. Not a bad book but the others in this series are just a little tighter and more suspenseful

I didn't think it possible, but with each new Jane Whitefield book, Thomas Perry creates an even more frightening and exciting scenario than in the previous book. The characters are always fleshed out and believable. Mr. Perry is always worth the time you spend reading his works.

Native American (she's part Seneca) Jane Whitefield has stopped guiding people in danger to safe locations because of a promise she made her new husband Dr. Carey McKinnon. She'd spent the better part of a decade helping those in danger disappear and take on new lives, getting them new papers and teaching them how to stay hidden, now she's finished with that. Or is she?

Now it's her husband of all people who wants her to get back in the saddle and take up her dangerous work once more. His mentor, a famous plastic surgeon, is close to making a medical break though, but he's wanted for a murder he didn't commit. While helping him Jane learns that a group of face-changers are using her name, techniques and underground reputation to prey on innocents in trouble and destroy their lives rather than save them. Jane has to unmask them and put them out of business before they harm anyone else.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

I am a parent of a son with SPD. I have read other books on the subject, but this one provides so much practical information. I have recommended it to many other parents and professionals.

Great book. Weather you have a child with SPD, ADHD, autism. It touches on them all!!!!! Written in plain terms not alot of medical mumbo jumbo!

We have a grandchild with sensory integration disorder. This disorder has only recently been defined and not a lot of studies have been done. We did not understand what it was and why our grandchild was acting the way he did until reading this book. The authors do a wonderful job of not only describing behaviors and probable causes but have many practical and alternate methods for parents and teachers to help the child. This book is written by professionals that also have children with sensory issues. Their style is descriptive and useful; not like an academic text. Most parents, teachers and Occipational Therapists do not yet seem to have a good understanding of this disorder and the many ways that they could help. It should be required reading.

This is by far the best book I have ever read about sensory processing disorder. It explained the different classifications, the symptoms and the current research very well. I wanted to get a better education about SPD so that I can find the most appropriate services and clinicians for my son, who is on the autism spectrum. This book really helped me get a clear idea of how to do that. I highly recommend this book for anyone who cares for a child with sensory issues.

I wanted a book that would give my child tools to live in this world. However, this book talks about how to make this world conform to my child. What happens when my child is in an stimulating environment and Mom is not around? I was looking for - wear earplugs while doing homework - something practical I can use. I can't always make my other two children be quiet for long periods. This world is a distraction; my child must cope with reality.. somehow or not be successful in accomplishing his hopes and dreams.

There are people who will wish to discredit Norma McCorvey (nee, aka Jane Roe of "Roe v. Wade"), because she now maintains a Faith perspective. It is always difficult to counter bigotry. You will miss an extraordinary amount, if you dismiss Norma because of her faith.

In this 1997 book, Norma provides an incredible insider's look. Here is a sampling:
*"As Sarah Weddington presented my case, she used the fact that I had claimed to have become pregnant through a gang rape. The public had certain misgivings about abortion in the early seventies, but there was much greater acceptance of abortion in cases of rape, so even though I wasn't really raped, I thought saying so would garner greater public support. This means that the abortion case that destroyed every state lasw protecting the unborn was based on a lie" (Chapter 31).
*"Some clinics were such a macabre mess that you wanted to do drugs just to escae. Most people do not realize how unregulated abortion clinics are. The legal-abortion movement has hidden behind the slogan, 'Keep abortion safe and legal,' but the truth is, the only thing we fought for was legal abortion, not safe abortion. In fact, we fought tooth and nail against any attempt to impose even basic medical regulations, arguing that the very nature of choice was being attacked when pro-lifers suggested the most modest of requirements" (Chapter 17).

In regard to Norma's religious conversion, this 1997 book does not capture the complete story. While the video, "Reversing Roe: The Norma McCorvey Story" (from Norma's "Crossing Over Ministry" web site) may be slightly more current, you won't want to miss Norma's "My Journey into the Catholic Church" (also on her web site).

Norma is a gifted writer. Like her first book, this one is interesting and thought provoking. I didn't want to put it down once I got started.

However, I was disappointed at her portrayal of the abortion debate as a simple conflict between the "good guys" and the "bad guys." According to Norma, most everything ever said or done by the pro-choice camp is the result of malicious motives. The pro-lifers on the other hand are saints who, by definition, never do anything wrong.

Some of her criticisms of abortion providers seem legitmiate. She correctly notes that abortion is not subjected to the same regulations as other similar medical procedures. She accurately points out that pre-abortion counseling is often perfunctory and slanted in favor of abortion. Patients who go to clinics for counseling are not encouraged to consider other options.

On the other hand, Norma's claim that all pro-choice advocates are child-haters who want to live in a childless world populated only by adults is simply absurd. She also claims that the legalization of abortion is the cause of all the tragically "empty playgrounds." She makes this claim after observing an empty playground at a school which she acknowledges was closed for the summer. She makes it sound as if everyone stopped having kids when Roe v. Wade was decided.

According to Norma, most, if not all, doctors who perform abortions do it out of pure greed and for no other reason. She refuses to recognize that many abortion providers and pro-choice advocates sincerely believe in the moral correctness of their actions.

I also question the accuracy of some of her claims. She reports one incident where a woman came in and had an abortion at 6 months gestation because she found out she was carrying a girl and she wanted a boy. I suppose it could happen but it sounds far fetched.

It is also clear from the book that Norma is often prone to volatile behavior and angry outbursts. She gleefully recounts one incidents when she stood next to a heating vent in the office of Operation Rescue. At the time, OR shared a wall with the clinic where Norma had been employed. She turned on a vacuum cleaner and shouted comments to the clinic doctor about "killing babies." This from the woman who claims she was "Won by Love" and that the pro-lifers always treat their opponents with nothing but love and kindness.

Norma correctly notes that she was often manipulated and treated badly by the movers and shakers of the pro-choice movement. I'm not saying they drove her to the other side, but it is obvious that Norma was desperate for compassion and community. When she started hanging out with the folks from Operation Rescue she was seeking friendship and love.

I keep wondering if there isn't some reasonable middle ground concerning abortion. Most of the folks on both sides are good hearted, sincere individuals who truly want to do the right thing and make the world a better place. I wish we could find some kind of compromise where abortion would be truly safe, legal, and rare. Where unwed mothers could get the help and support to make adoption a more viable option and where 2nd and 3rd trimester abotions would be unheard of except in cases of true medical necessity. This book won't do anything to advance such a compromise. But if you are troubled by the issues and want to explore different viewpoints, I recommend this book.

I also feel compelled to point out that Christian is not synonamous with pro-life and pro-choice is not synonamous with anti-Christian. Pleanty of Christians are pro-choice and some non-Christians are pro-life.

I didn't know much about Norma McCorvey ('Jane Roe' of Roe v. Wade) until just a couple years ago, and I knew absolutely nothing of Sandra Cano ('Mary Doe' of Doe v. Bolton - the case which extended abortion rights to the ninth month of pregnancy) until I read this book.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about abortion in this country - anyone who wants to know the history of it, how we could go from the Hippocratic Oath to willfully taking the lives of 40+ million (and counting) innocent babies.

There are facts and insights which this book revealed which will forever be written on my heart - life-changing and mind-changing information.

I am thankful that Norma McCorvey was willing to tell the good, the bad, and the ugly - that she was willing to be honest and transparent. She is to be commended for not pulling any punches, but simply telling it like it was and is.

This passage from her book stood out to me:

"In the abortion movement, we always assumed that Christians were mean-spirited, judgmental, pleasure-hating radicals. If they opened their mouths at all, we thought, it was only to condemn sinners and deliver a sermon about the wages of wickedness.

In fact, I found out we [the abortion movement] were the ones who were mean-spirited, self-righteous, and judgmental. It was those in the abortion movement who were ruled by hatred and spite. My entire frame of reference had changed."

page 168 - Won by Love, by Norma McCorvey

This book is a good read. It discusses the whole issue of abortion in very detail begining from its roots. Its also about abortion and how Norma McCorvey's life revolves around it. Pro-life vs Pro-choice is a never ending controversial debate. But Norma is a good writer. She is sometimes very humourous (she uses a lot of her dark funny side). She also discusses how she fought with pro-life leaders in the begining and eventualy became their friend. The debate between pro-life and prochoice is written so that a layperson can understand. She has clearly depicted how abortion industry has killed babies. Nonsensical abortions should come to an end in the States.

After reading S. Fatina's review I was compelled to write this in response.

Why must people make hateful remarks such as " rabid abortion-rights activists " and " Feminist-in-Chief Hillary Clinton ", as highlighted here? Its rude and discriminatory. Hillary Clinton doesn't represent the feminist movement, which isn't a outlandish idea at all. Feminism is derived from the (at the time) radical idea that women are people too. That we have hopes and dreams that aren't limited to running a household or being a parent. That we want the option of independence and opinion in society, just like men. That's all feminism is based on. And, FYI, there is no stance that I know of that is "pro-abortion" as you put it. That says too me that people haphazardly believe every pregnancy should be terminated, and thats just rediculous. It's called pro-choice for a reason. Women have and should continue to have, in my opinion, the fundamental right to choose a life of happiness whatever that may mean to them, under our laws and be free of persecution for that choice.

I doubt that anyone having to make a choice of this magnitude is exbuerant or enthusiastic about having terminating a pregnancy, however, I also don't believe that a child born to a mother who is ill-prepared for the serious undertaking of becoming a parent before her time will have the opportunities or life that it deserves. The life and happiness of not ONLY the mother are at stake, the potential child must also be considered. The problem with doing away with abortions in our society is that we haven't addressed the issue at hand or the driving force to terminate a pregnancy. There is for some women no other forseeable option. When we as a nation are allowing government cut backs or the complete elimination of federally funded family planning organizations, which help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies to begin with, where we teach 'abstinence only' sex education, which is proven many times over not to be effective, where we cut wellfare programs for un-wed parents, we ignore reality and leave no fit option in many peoples lives. It's not a tax issue. The amount of money we are spending supporting a war that kills many innocent civilians and young soldiers is by far more than is spent or has EVER been spent supporting family planning organizations or wellfare recipients.

How do you suppose, if all fetuses were born, they should be cared for? A teenage mother with no high school diploma has very little chance of gaining decent employment. Walmart and fast food restaurants in most parts of our nation don't pay a living wage. Many young, single fathers aren't held responsible for their actions and if they are, $200 a month for child support doesn't buy much more then diapers. So other than writing a check every month, he's off the hook. There is no such thing as forced visitation and I certainly don't see many young men jumping from their seats, biting for the responisiblity of caring for the child on their own. The parents of the unprepared or unwilling mothers should not be forced into having to financially, and most likely physically, care for these unintended newborns. Adoption is an option but the trauma of giving birth and moments later not seeing the child again is heart wrenching and pregnancy has far more potential health risks then receiving an abortion from a licensed provider. In addition, the average cost of a hospital delivery and 24-hours of care to the mother and a healthy child ALONE is around $9000, double that for cesarians. The average cost of an abortion and after care is $300-600. Besides if every child was born and placed for adoption in similar circumstance there would be far too few willing families to take in these children. The foster programs would be more overwhelmed than they already are. In my county alone there are multiple hundreds of children in the foster system available for adoption or placement with no person or family to take them in and thats just to put a roof over their heads. Those are just the monetary issues.

Should a child, born to a young mother, have to bare the guilt or shame that is often associated with the life they had no choice in creating? Who will love and care for this child emotionally? Will they be doomed to repeat the mistakes of their parents if they are raised in situations where their mother has to compromise what's best for the family vs. what is feasible? Until society, individual states and the federal government address the reality of unintended pregnancy and come up with acceptable programs to address those issues, I feel that it is a choice of the potential mother or both parents that matter most and not the choice of a man, standing behind an alter, preaching about an issue he would never have to face, nor that of a man in a suit on capital hill. It is the decision of the potential mother and father; end of story.

One last side note: "Jane Roe" never had the opportunity to have the abortion that she fought for. Her pregnancy came full term and she delivered the child during litigation. As for her not being invited to attend major pro-choice functions, perhapse being that she used a fictional name during her court battles it was believed that she wished to maintain her anonimity and privacy, not becoming a poster child for the issue. Though her opinion on the matter at hand has changed as she "found god", she still never had an abortion. I believe that the vast majority of women who terminate a pregnancy continue to believe in a womans right to choose, even years later, and do not regret the decision they made. Though the circumstances themselves are regretable, at the time, it was their decision to make and was made so they might be better able to achieve their hopes and dreams.

I love "The Englisher". It's a wonderful book, just as good as "The Preachers Daughter". You really get to 'know'the characters. You see Annie's struggle with loving and wanting to please her parents, but still wanting to follow her own heart. You also see how Esther handles being persecuted for her faith, and how Louisa tries to find out where she really fits in. Also, what really happened to poor Issac? Things aren't always what they seem to be. Beverly Lewis is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. "The Englisher" is a great story and I highly recommend it!

I purchased this as a Sequel to "Annie's People" which was given to me as a gift. It prompted me to purchase the rest of the series.

Well wrote book Beverly! I enjoy reading your books! I am looking forward to getting as many books out as others have in time. Continue the good work!

Author of When God unfolds the rose,

Peggy Headings

The 2nd book in the 'Annie's People' series, I loved this one! I liked it a wee bit better than the first. There is more movement, more emotion, more drama going on in this quiet Amish community.

Beverly Lewis weaves the different storylines in and out beautifully. The characters are so well developed that you feel like you know them personally. I was intrigued following Annie as she struggled to do what was "right", in order to please her father and the community, to denying what her heart and soul desired - namely, her art and the honorable and appealing Ben (the Englisher).

I can identify with some of Annie's experiences as a young woman. Always trying to please others and short-changing yourself at the same time. The other characters were a mix bag. Some you embraced whole-heartedly, others you wanted to kick in the tushy. All-in-all an excellent read.

In this sequel to the Preacher's Daughter, Annie has fallen madly in love with Ben, the english man. Of course along with her art, this poses a terrible problem as it is against the Amish rules. She sneaks out with Ben whenever she can but there is always a risk of being caught-which later happens when her Dad's carriage breaks down and Ben pulls over to help Preacher Jesse. Of course, Annie is in the car.

Louisa's friend Courtney comes for a visit. But that is only because she is trying to convince Louisa that her old boyfriend Michael wants her to return to Denver and get hooked up again. This is the last thing Louisa wants to do as she has begun falling in love with Sam, an Amish man. She wants to start teaching art at a school-applies for a job, but then suddenly as it approaches Easter time, decides maybe she ought to return to Denver to her modern life. She is afraid of hurting Sam by committing to a relationship with him. Annie is heartbroken to see her go, and becomes depressed for a long while.

Along with everything else is poor Esther and her abusive husband Zeke. Esther was put under the bann in her last book for taking Jesus as her savior, and so is shunned by everyone in her household when she finally returns from her stay with Julia. Zeke is better at first-but then goes back to his old ways. His brother Isaac 16 years before this time was murderesd, and Zeke caught the blame from his father his whole life. No one knew for sure where Isaac's body was, and when it was finally found, a lot of questions arise. In fact the police arrest Zeke when this finally is reported, and will keep him in jail until many questions are answered.

A great sequel, and I look forward to book 3, the last of this trilogy.

This is second novel about Jane Whitefield, half-Seneca (and half blue-eyed) "guide," whose specialty is helping those on the run disappear into the cracks in society. Most of these fugitives are innocent -- women fleeing from abusive spouses, etc. -- but not all of the. Mary Perkins is one of the latter, a successful practitioner of S&L fraud who was caught and served her time in prison. The thing is, she still has a very large amount of stolen money tucked away that she never admitted to, and if that fact becomes known, her parole will be revoked. So she has no one to turn to when the Really Bad Guys go looking for her hidden wealth -- except Jane. At the same time, Timothy Phillips, whose parents died and left him a huge trust fund, really is one of the innocents -- but he has been targeted by the same Bad Guys. What makes these stories fascinating, at least to me, is the detail Perry brings to the business of convincing society you don't exist. Many of the things Jane does in the mid-1990s wouldn't work today, of course, not in our security-happy post-9/11 world, so it will be interesting to see how she updates her methods. As always, Perry is strong on characterization and back story, and the action seems to flow naturally -- most of the time, anyway. In this case, he appears to have rushed the ending. Earlier in the story, Barraclough demonstrates that he understands how dangerous Whitefield can be, but he seems to have forgotten this in the climactic scenes. And we're never actually told how Jane sets up her final encounter, though it's hinted at. Nor does it seem quite in character for her to coolly take a shotgun to those who are hunting her. Also, Perry seems to think it's necessary to bring in a boyfriend whose existence was never hinted at before. Why?

I really enjoyed the first Jane Whitefield book and was eager to read the second. Yuck. Jane was totally unappealing this time around; the plot was incredibly contrived. She has, all of a sudden, a lover. Their conversation is contrived and stilted. She acts like a teenager about his phonecalls. What gives?

I was bored by the long descriptions of how money was stolen from savings and loans. The descriptions of sadism were unnecessary. Jane does all kind of illegal things and gets away with all of them, including killing people. She performs tasks such as climbing fences and running for miles that seem impossible to me. She sees people from long distances away in office windows and can tell whether they are bosses or secretaries.

In the first book, the Native American sequences were woven in seamlessly. Here they were a mere add on.

And then, just when I thought I would make it through to the end, I'm stuck in the head of this sadistic guy who's after her. Yuck again. This will be my last Jane Whitefield.

I love books that are both exciting and actually teach me something--trusts and banking--without slowing down the story. Jane is a fascinating character, a Native American whose culture and history are provided through visions and dreams, who is capable and inventive. This is a very good book in a fascinating series.

You know when someone is cooking something on the stove and they want you to taste it? You take some off the spoon and it tastes good,but it needs a little something to make it better. Maybe a dash of salt? or pepper? That's the way I feel about Thomas Perry's books. He writes interesting characters, I love Jane W.,and his plots are plausible and engaging, but there is just something missing that I can't quite put my finger on.

I found the romance with Dr. McKinnon to be rushed and contrived. It's not unusual to develop romantic feelings for a long time friend but it is unusual to propose marriage to her right after making love for the first time. It would have read much more realisticly to let this relationship develop over two or more novels.

Dance for the Dead, was my fourth or fifth Perry novel. So far, I haven't been blown away like many other reviewers have. Until Perry finds that dash of something, he'll always be a 3 star writer to me.

I have read all of Thomas Perry's books. He is a great author! He manages to combine huge amounts of action and suspense with literate writing and well-developed, sensitive and interesting characters. "Dance for the Dead" is about Jane Whitfield, my favorite Thomas Perry character. Jane is a Seneca Indian who grew up near Niagara Falls, and the book is loaded with Indian history. Jane saves people by giving them a new identity and helping them to hide from whatever trouble they are in. This puts her in a lot of danger and provides plenty of opportunity to meet interesting people. Since her life is so dangerous, she keeps a very low profile and doesn't have much of a social life. In this book, she begins a romance with a doctor from her hometown who she has known for a long time, but thankfully this series really sticks to the action and adventure, and never veers too far into romance territory. As other reviewers have noted, it makes me really happy to find a male author who chose to write about such a take-charge, capable woman. I would recommend this whole series to anyone who likes well-written action adventure.

The book has a good story line, but is based on circumstances that just don't ring true. Who would take home a strange woman{a hit woman no less), give her a house key, his wife's clothes, allow her to make phone calls, search and bug his house, while he lies sleeping in the locked master bedroom? And the list goes on. Jane needs to shed that [individual] and get someone with a brain. I just didn't think the details supported the story line enough to make it believable.

This is the second of the Jane Whitefield books I've read. They've both been exciting - real page-turners.

But I keep coming back to one question: How does Jane justify what she does morally? While I'm all for rooting for the underdog, the clients she takes on seldom seem like they're worth risking her life over.

Speaking of risking lives, several innocent bystanders get killed BECAUSE she's doing such a good job of hiding her clients. How is that justifiable? Why are the unspoken rules of her unique "profession" more important than the lives of others?

Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed the book, and will gladly read more. Maybe I'd just like to see Jane grapple with the external consequences of actions a bit more. Otherwise, I just keep asking "why?"

I enjoyed the first two books in the Jane Whitefield series, but this, the third, was even better. Jane has helped a client "disappear" and now she thinks she's going to stop helping people get away and settle down with her new husband. But the client, Pete, is being hunted by some very clever, very persistent bad guys, and Jane finds herself having to help him elude them yet again. Meanwhile, someone is trying to find Jane by getting to know her husband . . . It's a good book and Jane is a very likeable heroine. I highly recommend it.

In the first few pages, Jane disables a very large bad guy in an elevator. He grabs her ankle as she exits (He's 'lying down.'). She says to him, "Think about it. Do you really want me alone with you in that elevator?" He lets go.

I'm in love.

Nobody outsmarts, outfights, or outlasts bad guys like Seneca adventurer Jane Whitefield. The first three books in Perry's wonderful series--Vanishing Act, Dance for the Dead, and this one--are the only books that can stand comparison to Tony Hillerman's "Navajo mysteries." And in some ways, Perry is the better writer. Don't miss these books.

Native American (she's part Seneca) Jane Whitefield has stopped guiding people in danger to safe locations because of a promise she made her husband Dr. Carey McKinnon, who thinks what she does is much too dangerous. But Pete Hatcher, a Las Vegas casino executive she helped disappear because his bosses thought he was about to blow the whistle on their illegal activities, calls for help. His ex-employers have set an assassination team on his trail and he's made a couple of foolish mistakes that blew his cover. Jane feels responsible for him and goes on one last job, promising her husband this will the last one.

This thriller ranks right up there with all of Mr. Perry's fine books. Five stars from me.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

After reading (and thoroughly enjoying) The Queen's Handmaiden by Jennifer Ashley, I chose this book. As I read this biography I enjoyed the portraits, explanatory drawings and maps included throughout the book. I referred to the "Cast of Characters" many times, much easier than making my own list, it had all the information I wanted. I easily finished this book in time for our monthly meeting. After recognizing the depth it added to our discussion, several of my book club friends borrowed the book and also enjoyed it. Begin with this book if you are reading biography, continue with this if you are reading historical fiction, change genres with this if you are watching films.

This woman was the greatest monarch England ever had. Ever. The book, however was a bit disapointing. It is a bare-bones just-the-facts telling of a great women's life and didn't near do her justice. I wanted more.

If general facts and a fast read are all you want, this book is perfect. Just not for me.

While the publisher touts this book as appropriate for children 10 and up, I think the School Journal recommendation of Grades 8 and up is much more appropriate. My eight year old wanted to read this book for a class project. I mistakenly thought it would be an excellent choice, but by page 17, I'd forbidden her to continue. By that time, I'd been asked to define ýprostitute,ý ýcastration,ý ýdisemboweling,ý ýliaison,ý "skin ulcer," and ýdeformedý as she read passages that included subjects like the corruption in the priesthood (priests living openly with prostitutes), the adultery charges against Anne Boleyn (including explanations of how the fact that her third child was born stillborn and deformed might have led to rumors about Anneýs morality, as deformity was believed to stem from the woman participating in witchcraft or sexual intercourse with the devil) , and Henryýs persecution of those who refused to accept his new authority as head of the Church of England (including the execution, castration, and disemboweling of priests who defied him). While all the information is accurate and well-researched, this gritty detail (much of which I didn't have to deal with until I was a sophomore in college) seems inappropriate for a child's introduction to the fascinating life of Queen Elizabeth I or Tudor England. It is much more likely -- especially for a sensitive child -- to put them off both subjects forever!

Take a look at the cover of this book for just a moment. Just a single solitary moment. Maybe the last thing you want to do is read a young adult biography on England's greatest queen, and I can understand where you're coming from. But take a good long look at the image presented on the cover here. This portrait of Queen Elizabeth was fashioned in her time and is commonly referred to as The Rainbow Portrait. It is, to my mind, the most flattering painting ever made of the ruler and it hasn't been touched since she posed for it. When you first look at it, it seems pretty standard. There she is with the high forehead (considered attractive at the time), the bright curly red hair, and the ostentatious finery. In fact, let's take a closer look at that finery. If you look carefully you cannot help but notice that her gown is covered in ears and eyes. You heard me right. Honest to goodness ears and eyes are all over this thing! You don't notice it at first, but once you've seen it you can never forget it. Such is the case with Thomas's book itself. It may not look like much at first, but once you take even a glance at the text you immediately become transfixed by the lives of Elizabeth, her crazy family, suitors, and enemies.

Elizabeth was born the second child of the (in the words of the great comic Eddie Izzard) "big fat hairy king", Henry VIII. Fond of killing off his wives when they either displeased him or couldn't produce male heirs, Elizabeth was the daughter of the soon-to-be beheaded Anne Boleyn. Her life was touch and go from the start. One minute she was treated as a prized pet and the next she was sent to royal grounds far from court. What followed soon after was a series of deaths and accessions to the throne. When Henry VIII died he was followed by Elizabeth's little half-bro Edward VI. When Eddie died he was followed by the Lady Jane Grey (for nine days). After she was tossed out came Elizabeth's older half-sis Mary (Bloody Mary to you commoners). Finally, Mary kicked it and Elizabeth rose to the throne. She was only 25 or 26 at the time and extraordinarily canny in the choices she made. Refusing to marry (and thereby give up her ruling power) Elizabeth remained sexy and single. Over the course of her life she dealt with assassination attempts, the continual threat of Mary Queen of Scots, an invasion of England by the Spanish Armada, excommunication, and all sorts of fun stuff. The result? Elizabeth remains perhaps the best remembered Queen of them all, making her an excellent subject of bios and bio-pics.

I'm easily bored. If I pick up a children's book that won a Newbery Award pre-1950 to read, you'll probably find me curled up in a corner fast asleep in five minutes time. Non-fiction is therefore one of the banes of my existence and I heap large helpings of praise onto any author that can make a realistic subject even halfway interesting. Not being familiar with Jane Resh Thomas, I was understandably nervous when I confronted this tome of a book and its 16th century subject. To my vast relief, my fears were more than unfounded. Here is a history book that has plumbed every interesting tidbit, rumor, factoid, and story for the eager ears of the reader. Want to hear how Queen Elizabeth would expose her chest to foreign diplomats (to put them on edge, you see)? Read it here. Curious about her six foot tall rival who was a queen that disguised herself as a boy to gain English sanctuary? It's a great tale. None of this is to say that Thomas neglects actual informative facts about the Elizabethan era and its people. In fact, this kind of information is so plentiful that it fills each and every page without ever drawing undue attention to itself. I think I learned more about ancient court life within these pages than I could have hoped to anywhere else.

In addition to fabulous factual storytelling and a wonderful ear for narrative, tension, and intrigue, Thomas has filled the book with numerous paintings of the characters involved, even going so far as to include Elizabeth's life in portraits as a color filled section of seven portraits that follow her through the years. To help the easily confused (like my pretty self) there's a fabulous opening section that names and describes many of the book's major players. There's also a portrait gallery of Henry VIII's wives and description of their mostly shortened lives. The back of the book contains a useful chronology of events, a well-cited bibliography of every source Thomas used or even thought of using, and an index. You're in safe hands with this thorough researcher.

Thomas attempts in this book to show the life of Elizabeth without commenting on her too much. Yes, Elizabeth could be as cruel and calculating as her predecessors and she wasn't afraid to "Off with their head" a couple of her closest compatriots. In the end, however, she comes off as a remarkable woman. Thomas leaves plenty of room for speculation on lurid topics that cover everything from Elizabeth's sex life to her love of sweets for dinner. Nothing here is written in stone, but this is probably as good a teen biography of this great woman you're going to get for at least another one hundred years. As someone who looked upon reading this book initially as a chore, I can tell you honestly that it was a joy to go through. A biography that deserves remembrance.

This is a wonderful and very detailed book on Queen Elizabeth I of England- it explains everything from the divorce from Catherine of Aragorn to her reported affairs with Robin Dudley. If you want to know more about English history, this is definitely a great place to start.

This is the best biography on Elizabeth I that I've read so far, and it has pictures of the portraits that she appeared in in her life. And you'll learn pretty much everything you ever wanted to know about Elizabeth the First- from what her three nicknames were (Gloriana, Good Queen Bess, and the Virgin Queen) to the last lie that she every told her sister, Mary.

This is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone!

Very ilustrative book. Fun to read. Excellent Photographers. But I would like to see more Digital Camera chapters and more studio pictures.

Parents love to take photos of kids, but too often the results are blurry and amateur. HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH CHILDREN: SECRETS FOR CAPTURING CHILDHOOD'S MAGIC MOMENTS is newly revised and updated and includes a new chapter on the latest digital photography trends, providing parents with clear advice on how to shoot indoors and out, and how to work with children at different age levels. Especially invaluable are series shots that explain the pros and cons of different techniques. Parents will find these examples lead to a better understanding of not just how to shoot better pictures, but the elements that make for a superior composition. Any general-interest collection catering to parents or amateur photographers will find this a popular choice.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is an easy to read and useful book if you're either a parent trying to get good pictures of your children, or an aspiring photographer. It covers a wide range of topics such as lighting, props, location, equipment, etc. After reading this I find myself much more able to critique other's work because I feel I have a better idea of what goes into taking a good portrait. The tips in the book, as the authors even state, are applicable to adult subjects as well. I will say though, that the information is probably a little too low level for anyone who is already doing professional photography.

This is a nicely done book by Lisa Jane and Rick Staudt. If you have children to photograph and already understand the basics of photography, this is the book you should have. The photography is outstanding from both a technical and artistic standpoint. And, the ideas for making memorable photos are excellent.

An especially nice feature of this book is that it does not contain an excessive amount of technical information. It's more about impact and emotion (some call it vision) of the photos. This is a nice change from the typical book on photography which usually places the emphasis on the technical side of photography.

The only aspect about of the book of which the reader should be aware is the inclusion of several very high quality images that apparently were taken with a medium format camera and high-quality studio lighting. Because of this, an amateur photographer using a 35mm SLR camera (the typical situation for which this book apparently was written) might be given some false expectations about what is possible with their own equipment.

The above situation brings up an issue that I have with many photography books (most of which, incidentally, are not worth the paper upon which they're printed). This is the use of mostly medium- or large-format images in a book written for the 35mm SLR crowd. Apparently, the authors and publishers like to direct their books towards these people because this is the audience that can provide the largest volume in book sales. At the same time, however, their books incorporate mostly images taken with, for example, a 4x5 view camera, color transparancy film and a $2000+ lens. After all, great-looking images also helps to sell books! Flipping through the pages, the unfortunate reader is given the false impression that he'll be able to learn how to make the same type of wonderful, high-quality images after buying and reading the book. Unbeknownst to the reader, however, is the fact that those photos where not made with a 35mm SLR camera! And, no matter what brand of 35mm camera the reader uses (especially if equipped with a zoom telephoto lens and loaded with 400 speed color negative film) the image quality they can obtain will never begin to approach the clarity, sharpness and impact of those presented in the book they just bought!

This book was more than I had hoped. I bought it from another Amazon member and was pleasantly pleased at the response and customer service (having never bought from an individual online before).

When the book arrived I could not put it down. It was filled with great information and tips on photographing children as well as BEAUTIFUL photos. The photos were not only great shots of children, but also provided some posing samples to use as well.

I love this book and wish I could find more like it on adult posing.

My Shining Beacon


It may seem odd that I, a man, should write that this book probably saved my life, but it's my very stong belief that this is the case.

In April 2005 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, advanced, inoperable, and my prognosis was very bleak - perhaps 2 or 3 years to live. I had only just celebrated my 54th birthday two weeks earlier.

All I can say is thank heavens for the internet.

After leaving the hospital, still reeling from the shocking news, I sat at the computer and began to research the illness. I spent every waking hour delving through research papers and any new treatments that might possibly be available to me.

Within a few days I discovered the work of Prof. Jane Plant, and her theories on cancer shone out like a beacon in my darkness.

I'm not from any type of scientific background, but she writes about causes and prevention - and diet factors which can stimulate (or destroy) cancer cells, in such a clear, simple way, that I found it incredibly easy to follow the logic of it all.

I immediately ordered this book, read it thorougly, and made the most important decision of my life - I completely changed my diet, totally omitting any dairy produce, red meat, processed foods and harmful chemicals from my lifestyle.

I have waited over 3 years to write this review, because as a cancer sufferer you are filled with fears and doubts, such as "Were the doctors right? Will I not see 3 years?" - but I feel I must share with everyone the results of my lifestyle change.

I combined conventional hospital treatment (37 radiotherapy sessions and 30 months of hormone therapy) with strict adherence to Prof. Plant's diet recommendations.

My results have been spectacular. From a starting point in April 2005 of a T4 tumour and a very high PSA level of 182, I have now been free of any cancer medication for 9 months. Indeed, I was able to stop hormone therapy at 30 months rather than the planned 3 years.

My doctors are amazed that my PSA reading on 3rd June 2008 was a very low 0.9, while my testosterone levels are back to those of any normal, healthy male. An added bonus is the fact that I suffer no erectile dysfunction, and I went through all the radiotherapy with ease.

I am CERTAIN that following Prof Plant's program has brought me to this happy outcome. I know for sure that I will never waver from the path I've chosen, I don't miss dairy produce at all, and consider myself to be one very lucky guy. Thank you, Jane Plant!



George Hardy
11th June 2008

Dr. Jane Plant's suggestions are safe, healthy, and well worth a try. I've put myself on a similar program even though I've not been diagnosed with cancer.

It's a very interesting book.

Jane Plant's book is ground-breaking and courageous. Every woman who's had breast cancer should read it. This is information no-one else will give you. Breast cancer is a huge industry, with expensive chemotherapy treatments that benefit only about one in ten women. Conventional medicine is limited in what it can offer breast cancer patients, and tends to camouflage the picture with pink ribbons, "look good, feel good" programs,and the like. I agree with the reviewer who suggested that the dairy industry doesn't want this information out there (remember the Mad Cow scare and the beef industry?)Women in Holland (high dairy intake) and farmers' wives have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Breast cancer patients need to help themselves in any way they can. I have read many alternative-therapy books but this one is tops, and is a must-read not only for women but also for men who wish to avoid prostate cancer, which is now one in eight, same as breast cancer. By the way, I'm an MD and a breast cancer patient.

I live in Spain, and some friends from the UK sent me a cutting on the book, which I ordered. I read it while I was in treatment and it helped me no end in many ways. I have followed the diet and I am now still in complete recession almost four years after I finished my treatment for breast cancer and secondary liver metastasis. The book is excellent and well-documented, and Jane Plant makes a convincing case very well indeed. For me the book is like a bible, and I have recommended to it to numerous friends and fellow patients.

I had suspicions that dairy promoted my own breast cancer and found this book through a friend. I had stage IIB, non-metasticized, ER+, node negative. I am now working on prevention. I recommend this book to anyone with ER+ breast cancer.
I firmly believe the too-strong artificial hormones in milk aggravate & promote hormonally-responsive breast cancer.
To the contrary, in my experience phytoestrogens (the weaker but more numerous plant estrogen-like substances) are marvelous...when eaten as actual foods. I don't take supplements or eat any processed soy (ie.tofu, soymilk, isolate.) Soy for me is edamame, miso and tamari, as in Japan.
I combined the ideas in this book with traditional Chinese Medicine and am feeling better than ever before.
Phytoestrogens and plants, yes!
Also of interest to readers here may be Susun Weed's "Breast Cancer? Breast Health!" She covers the topic of phytoestrogens quite well. [..]

this inspiring book was written by a friend of mine...who i've known since he was shorter than i am now! i'm very proud of him and he did an awesome job of showing both sides of this extended family and in including all kinds of views of the situation. brilliant...he also happens to be an alum of Hughes Center High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. GO BIG RED! I love you Shan-Shan!

I am a Lutheran church librarian in Florida who bought this book for our church library. I feel it has very important things to say about the definition of family. A family can be a traditional nuclear family with a mom, dad and 2.3 kids. It can have two mothers, two fathers, step-parents, and grandparents. The people in the family can be of all different races. They do do not even have to be biologically related since they can be adopted. I want my parishioners to realize all this. A family is defined as "a group of people who love and support one another." If a particular family does not match your traditional particular concept of family, GET USED TO IT!

I was raised to appreciate and enjoy history, and I first visited Monticello as a middle-schooler. This book is particularly interesting in that it fleshes out the individuals who made up the family of Monticello, white, black and every shade in between. Thank you, Shannon Lanier, for writing this family history. It is a very important historical statement besides being a fascinating family genealogy. Since we have no photos of Jefferson, I especially enjoyed studying the faces of his descendants in these photos--one or two seem to be the spitting image of him.

As to whether Jefferson was a god or not, no he was not. He was human and had failings and gifts just like anyone else. He was a product of his time. That meant he did certain things indicative of that time. So what? It just makes him a more interesting person to me. Does it really help us to try to judge him by today's standards? All we can really do is to examine the man in the context of his time. This book can be enjoyed by both teens and adults and will especially interest those who liked Jefferson, the colonial era, or who like genealogy.

The recently published paperback is an update of the original hardback. It adds 16 pages of interesting happenings, including a visit to the White House. Additional, outstanding artwork is also included. Many different areas are identified where educators have used the original, hardback publication for academic studies. Shannon Lanier prefaces the new pages with a statement of hope for the future of his kids, his entire family and for America. Near the end, Jane Feldman extends this as a challenge to live up to Thomas Jefferson's legacy, especially: "All men are created equal".

"Jefferson's Children" is a true story of racial togetherness. It starts with Shannon and Jane off on a cross country journey. This is a model in itself, for their backgrounds and colors are substantialy different. The journey concludes with the writings of many people of different colors and backgrounds, including some who do not claim to be descended from Thomas Jefferson. This projects one loving and caring family - all of which is a unique and outstanding model of racial togetherness.

The paperback represents a step forward in American history. As readers recognize this, they may find both the hope and the challenge for the future as Shannon and Jane have.

Those who are interested in the question of who fathered Sally Hemings children may find an analysis by the National Genealogical Society of interest. It is JEFFERSON-HEMINGS, Quarterly Journal, volume 89, number 3, published in september 2001 and is available...at subscribing libraries.

I bought this book for my 12 year old nephew who wanted to understand "passing."

He had heard that people "passed into the white world" and wanted to understand this concept as he comes from a mixed race background where his Grandmother scandalised many English people when she married a Bengali in a time when Black people were still being murdered for just whistling at a white girl in the USA.

So I have got him this book which talks candidly and in a language that a twelve year old will understand about "Jefferson's Children", both legitimate and illegitimate."

All of whom walked many paths, some down the road to embracing their Anglo-African roots, others to never know their slave origins as they slipped away into the embrace of their "white roots", and just as many who would never doubt their racial purity because they were descended from the two legitimate daughters of Thomas Jefferson.

This is an excellent book for teens and adults alike; it looks at the proud descendents from this illustrious lineage as well as those who see such a bloodline as curse rather than a blessing.

I liked the fact that the book wasn't over syrupy, it was down to earth yet proud with a healthy dose of cynicism from some people both Black and White, I liked that and I think my nephew will like that too.

Of course there are many people, who will continue to deny that Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson ever had a relationship, and this is reflected in the book.

I find this curious as DNA has proven that the children of Sally Hemmings were Thomas Jefferson's offspring, and their excuses such as "Thomas loved his wife Martha too much to take up with a slave," made me smile. Sally Hemmings was his wife's half sister, and probably looked a lot like her, I leave the rest to your imagination plus the fact only Sally and her children were freed upon Thomas Jefferson's death, and also the fact that
Sally followed Thomas Jefferson back to the USA when she could have stayed in Paris a free woman of colour.

All of this is expressed in this wonderful book that should be on the shelf of every school in the USA.

I just wish we had books like this in England because we too have a secret history like the Hemmings and Jefferson relationship, born from Britain's colonisation of Africa, India and the Caribbean, we too have a legacy that needs to be told and perhaps one day it will be.

This story is catalogued as a book for teens and young adults,
but I found it great reading for an older audience. It was
written as a result of research done by twenty-year-old Shannon
Lanier, a direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson and his slave
Sally Hemings. With slavery as the backdrop, this book is an
attempt to combine the history of one American family. Amidst
the controversy surrounding the biography of Thomas Jefferson
and his offspring, Shannon shares his family's story.

Many descendants of Martha Jefferson and several generations of
historians have resisted the claims of kinship to Jefferson by
Hemings' offspring, and they feel these claims will tarnish his
legacy. But the information collected by Shannon is not a myth,
and it is his belief that he has found the final piece of puzzle
to complete the search for the the Hemings' family tree. Shannon
never intended to bring shame to Jefferson's legacy, but he is
aware that his research will show an unveiled look at a man many
feel is beyond reproach.

The story is told with a collection of historical essays,
interviews and family photographs, and is wonderfully illustrated
by Jane Feldman. This is not the Thomas Jefferson we studied in
school and there is the strong possibility that this particular
information may never appear in history books. Since there are no
written records of the slaves' birth, and of the period after
slavery was abolished, to substantiate Shannon's claims. The
history during these periods was memorized and told by oral
historians. But in 1998 DNA tests produced evidence that there
is a link between the Jefferson and Hemings families.

If nothing else, this story should produce sensitive discussions
on how we define our country based on the color of our skin. The
introduction by Lucian K. Truscott IV, a fifth generation great-
grandson of Jefferson through their daughter Martha
Jefferson-Randolph, shares his hope that this story will show us
that the worth of a person should not be determined only by what
we see.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers