Young Adult Books

Hex is an amazing sci-fi trilogy that will keep you enthralled from the very first page. In the late 21st century, scientists created the Hex gene to improve human knowledge of computers. The project was later abandoned, but mutants with the gene, known as Hexes, continued to be sought out and exterminated.
Years later, Raven, a Hex and possibly the most dangerous teenager in the world, along with her brother, Wraith, travel to London in search of their younger sister, Rachel. There they meet Kez, a streetrat, and Ali, a popular and rich girl who has just discovered that she is a Hex. Soon the group becomes engaged in a dangerous mission that could cost them their lives.
Containing interesting characters with distinct personalities, excellent descriptions, and an imaginative portrayal of the future, Hex is one of the best science fiction books you'll come by and the fitting start to a great series.

I read all three books in the trilogy over a year ago and have recently come to pick them up again. The best feature of the book is the idea, I love reading sci-fi books that don't actually feel sci-fi - the books that I enjoy explaining the plot to friends and family. The reason I didn't give the book five stars was because there wasn't enough romance, and there is always room for romance - where are we without it? Also I would have loved to have more information about the way of life that far ahead into the future, on a more day to day level. The last reason is because i didn't like Raven, although i know why she was cold and heartless I think hope goes a long way but i never felt she would change - it is definitely a first for me to love a book and not love the main character. Despite this the book left me wanting to find out more so it definitely earned four stars.

if youve seen the old movie hackers, then you'll love this. I love the dysfunctional family life of brother and sisters, the way the main character is a female, who feels alienated from the world around her because everyone else feels inferiror to her talents. Its a well written series, ive read all three hex books, and i was compleatly satisfied...hmmm, well it woul dhave been good if there was a little romance, but you probably cant have that. You fall in love with Raven, and hate the people she hates, you find them utterly annoying :D its a gotta read

The book was very well done. A bit cliche, but a good read all the same. The characters are believable and the book doesn't make you want to gag with details and mindless information. The only real complaint I have is something seemed to be missing from the explanation. I couldn't finger it, but there was just something not there. But it's definately worth picking up.

The most dangerous person in the 24th century is a 15-year-old girl named Raven --- and officially she doesn't even exist. Why? Raven is a Hex --- part human, part super computer. In the late 21st century, Hexes were created by genetically enhancing human children. Hexes can reach into the Net and access information systems from around the world. They can move around the World Wide Web the way other teenagers stroll around a mall. Raven has awesome powers --- she can control computers with her thoughts. Raven is in hiding, though, and she would like to keep it that way. If the secret government finds out that she is alive, she will be killed.

Children with the Hex gene must either fight for their lives, hide away, or be exterminated. The government doesn't want its people to know that Hexes exist. The CPS, a secret government agency, is on a mission to seek and destroy all Hexes. Most die no matter what they do. Raven's sister, Rachel, is already presumed dead, even though she had never shown any sign of being a Hex. While searching the Internet for some sign of Rachel's existence, Raven runs across another fate that Hexes face. A fate worse than death. It is this discovery that will eventually lead Raven, along with her foxy non-Hex brother Wraith, to the place where Hexes die.

HEX is book one of what promises to be an outstanding series by Rhiannon Lassiter. Lassiter does a great job of making the people in her books as real as possible. Even the minor characters have great personalities.

There is a reference to a New York disaster and some talk about terrorism, which takes some of the fun out of this book. This is minor, though, and doesn't take away from the fact that HEX is a book that you are cursed to enjoy.

--- Reviewed by Kat, recent high school grad and young adult fiction diva

A dear friend of mine had this book and I was intrigued. Although he had an edition that was dated back in the 50's, it was very worn out with its brown loose pages. Depsite that, I read some of the greatest poems that you can imagine and some familiar ones that I knew but not in its entirety. They were some of the most beautiful words written on paper. I decided to get my own copy and got a new edition for my friend and was thrilled with emotion. I knew I gave my friend a renewed treasure that he can now read without worrying about the pages falling out of its binding. I truly recommend this book of poems to anyone who really wants to feel well written words in verses that are truly beautiful and memorable. Get this book!

As with all anthologies, there will be a number of reviewers sniffing in an offended manner at the dearth (or glut) of Cummings, Yeats, Aiken, or Pope, but any 600 page anthology, by it's very nature, must be incomplete. I purchased this compilation three years ago for long flights and such and it has yet to disappoint. For the size and price of this work, one would be hard-pressed to do better.

As for content, all the major poets are more or less liberally represented. Cummings gets short shrift, and several of Yeats' most memorable pieces "An Irish Airman Forsees His Death", for one) are excluded. Yet I am certain novice and old hand alike will find this work passes the time admirably.

Having been with me through several housheold moves, military action, and cramped backpacks no self-respecting piece of literature should have to endure, my copy is now fairly falling apart. Yet when it expires, I will buy another copy. No other anthology, especially in terms of price, convenience, and memories, could ever compare.

As other readers have said this anthology contains selections from the great poets of the English language from Beowulf to the middle of the twentieth century. It is the kind of book which can be read and reread for years upon years. I would however take exception to the claim that it is the best anthology of its kind. It does not have explanatory material provides no introduction to the poets, no interpretation of their work. There are other anthologies ( Among them ' The Concise Treasury of Great Poems' by Louis Untermeyer) which do so. Nonetheless the bottom line is that this Anthology contains very much of the greatest poetry in the English language.

I too love this anthology. A passionate love of poetry has been part of my upbringing. Let me say that both my mother, Gene Derwood, and Oscar Williams, my biological father, contributed to the selection of the greatest of the great poetry of the English language. Thus we have the contribution of a husband and wife team. Reviewers have mentioned updating this volume, but what has happened is that modern poetry writing no longer follows a firm tradition. Modern poetry is a shotgun blast. There are no recognizable standards for universal selection. Plath is recognized because you cannot divorce her from her suicide. Ginsberg you cannot divorce from his beard and little clanging bells, a media invention. Bob Dylan you cannot divorce from his being a song writer and media invention. If you are not a media invention and only a poet, what chance do you have? So Immortal Poems represents classic taste before media took over the American mind. The media is immortal these days, not poetry. Selecting from contemporary poets not using traditional standards would be difficult to do. I would still love to do it. For those interested in Oscar Williams there is information now available on the web. Just search it with oscarwilliams and see what their world was like in the twentieth century.

I have several books of poetry at home, but this one is my favorite. It is a good collection of poetry from the time of Middle English to almost to the present. There are a few modern poets I would like to see included that haven't been yet. Maybe someday someone will update this wonderful volume.

It starts with Middle English poet extraordinaire Geoffrey Chaucer, with excerpts from the Canterbury Tales and other writing. I would like to have seen Beowulf and some Old English poetry included. There are excerpts from anonymous poets of Middle English leading into the "Shakespearean" times where English is becoming more modern.

Shakespeare of course is well represented, with passages from plays as well as poems and sonnets. This is true for some others like Marlowe, too.

By the time after the Elizabethean period, English poets were not confined to England. There are Celtic poets like Robert Burns of Scotland, Dylan Thomas of Wales, and several Irish poets and American poets well represented in the later part of the book.

The poets are arranged chronologically in the book, but there is are indexs of titles and poets alphabetically at the end of the book for cross referencing. This book has over 600 pages, but it is still a small paperback and will fit in a coat pocket, which is where my copy often lives, dog eared and highlighted all over the place!

I had heard of most of the poets in this collection before I got the volume, but there are some I hadn't heard of and am glad to know. This is an excellent beginning collection, easy to carry and easy to read. Being a mass market paperback, the printing is not the best, but the poetry certainly is.

From what we've seen of Inuyasha's half-brother Sessho-maru, we've been led to believe that he is bloodthirsty, heartless, and detests humans. In a brillant twist, Rumiko Takahashi deepens his character as he lies helpless in the woods after almost being killed by Inuyasha's newly mastered "Scar of the Wind". A cute little mute girl named Rin comes to his aid, even though he doesn't particularly want it, and brings him food and drink. In her village, she is looked down upon and seen as a tolerated nuisance. Nobody looks out for her or loves her since her parents were killed by bandits. When hungry wolves come to visit her village, slaughtering everyone in sight, Sesshomaru performs the ultimate act of kindness for Rin. The wolves are controlled and led by a demon named Koga, who has implanted Shikon shards in his legs and arm. When he finds out that Kagome can help him gather more, he plans to kidnap her and make her his wife! Over Inuyasha's dead body!

The moments with Sessho-maru in this volume are some of the best scenes in the series. Because this is the first moment, at least to me, where Takahashi adds another layer to some of the characters. On the surface, Inuyasha looks like a standard quest manga, but it's really about Takahashi starting with a blank slate, then adding details a little at a time that add up to an epic adventure with a vibrant supporting cast and lots of wonder, action, romance, tragedy, humor, and even a bit of horror mixed in. It's like a manga produced during the Renaissance, a manga that is all things to all people. Sessho-maru is one of my favorite characters in the series because of his quiet strength and the mysterious enigma of his unknown sense of honor. Takahashi writes and draws him in such a way that you don't know whether his act for Rin is kindness or whether he just wanted to test the power of his sword. Morally ambiguous is what I would call him. Inuyasha is a masterpiece.

Yes, yes, all Inu-Yasha fans, hold your weapons until I explain the 4 stars. This book was great! I loved it, seriously. But coming from the ani-manga (my friend buys them and couldn't wait another month for the next one), it's just not AS good. Though I love the creator of this series, I must admit I have seen better artwork (Takaya-sensei, the creator of Fruits Basket, is amazing!). Also, I don't like how they flipped the artwork (aka right-to-left format). Other than that, it was really quite good. But I would recomend the ani-manga more. It has color, sound effects in Japanese with a sound index at the back, and the art is better (shading and color; yay!). But don't look down on this book. It's still great! Well worth it.

Yet another Inu-Yasha volume that I am thuroughly pleased with! My favorite part being with Sessho-maru and Rin. Although the majority of this is about Kouga, Sessh fans will love the dog-demon's character development. And of course, how can anyone miss Kouga's introduction?

I am a big fan of every single charactor in Inu Yasha. Well , that`s not exactly true , I don`t like Kikyo,but she hardly counts. Anyway since I love all of these fabulous charactors soooooo much, I want to see each and everyone of them shine, and I want them to all be happy( as long as their happiness makes me laugh). That`s the only thing that was bad with this book. Miroku and Sango are sooo cool but they rarely get anylines in this here. Oh well they will get their fair share in book 15.
Other than that this book kicks @$$! I really like Seshoumaru and rin, It was kind of a pain having him show up in the other volumes, because, face it people, he had no charactor depth what-so-ever. Now that he actually has something he loves he`s cool, but I have a feeling he is`nt going to show it very well in the next few books.
Now(and this is the part everybodys talking about) Kouga(who I hate to High hell) shows up, and tries to steal Kagome. At first her "Shikon Kehei" finding powers, but then you start thinking he is in love with her. Later on I think he just makes passess at her to get Inu yasha pissed off.
But anyway I really love Rumiko`s writing . It`s hard making comics flow really well,you should try it sometime so you have to respect her fluencey,as well as her charactor development Illustrations and intruging storys. So just go out and buy this comic now even if you hate it, it`s still worth your money.And if you do hate it I will come after you because I know where you grandmother lives.

The more I read in this series, the more I love it. Takahashi does so well with character interactions that I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of it. In this book, Sessho-Maru, Inu Yasha's evil full-demon brother, is wounded but kept safe by a little girl. Also, Kagome gets kidnapped by a wolf-demon who wants to make her his mate and use her to find more shards of the Shikon Jewel. Okay, so I'm a romantic, but this part of the book just makes me sigh - Inu Yasha is just so cute when he tries to deal with the idea that Kagome might be falling for the Koga, the wolf-demon. It's probably posssible to jump into the series at this point, especially since there is a "the story thus far" section, as well as a character section that gives important information about many of the previously introduced characters involved in this book. However, you should really get around to reading some of the previous books, or you'll be missing out on a lot. For example, Sessho-Maru's treatment of the little girl won't be nearly as shocking unless you know what he was like in the previous books.

KEISHA'S DILEMMA is a short yet very meaningful read about a girl named Keisha, whose life changes dramatically before her senior year of high school. After starting to date Derek Cole without the knowledge of her strict father (who thinks Derek is a thug), Keisha is faced with many difficult decisions.

Not only does she have to lie to her father, but she must choose whether all the difficulties are worth the relationship with Derek. Should she keep lying to her father about the relationship or give up the boy that she has come to love?

This is an honest story that deals with some very important issues of teenagers today. Pregnancy, drugs, relationship problems, and friendships are all brought up in this book, and the issues are discussed in a very effective way. Keisha is a very down-to-earth character, and readers find themselves hoping that things will get better for her. Also, the book has a very clear moral message that never gets too preachy.

KEISHA'S DILEMMA will not disappoint readers who like realistic stories that will move and inspire them to do great things in the world.

Reviewed by: Amanda Dissinger

I recently purchased Keisha's Dilemma from Willie Spears when he made a personal appearance at his former college, NWOSU. I read the entire book that night because it held my interest and I wanted to see what would happen next. I am a senior citizen, but as soon as I finished the book I loaned it to my youngest who is 22 and she came away with the same feeling. It is rare that you will find a book that can hold the interest of all ages, but this one is definately that book. Keisha's Dilemma took me back to stages of my own life as well as my children's lives. I can't wait until my granddaughter learns to read because I think there are good messages for young kids that may turn their lives around or at least keep them on a good path of life. Thanks Willie, I can't wait for the sequel.

I found Keisha's Dilemma to be a very honest, creatively written book of what young people are going through in their lives today. The main character faces real life issues and overcomes them with strength and resolve to do the right thing. The target audience will find the book written in a common language format and to a level that should stimulate continued reading of this genre.

As an educator I believe that "Keisha's Dilemma" should be read by our young students. The book would benefit teens who are going through or may experience crisis in their lives. It is well written and touches the heart. I wish the author would write a few more or maybe a series of books.

Poignant protrayal of the lives of two teens in a northwest Florida resort town. Many teens and parents will identify with the decisions and choices of these teens and young adults. Serious circumstances that would force any teen to think more seriously about making life's decisions. Must read for teens!!!!!!

Wonderfull stories actually written by Elinore Pruitt Stewart. The woman was a tireless worker with a special kindness to her fellow man. You can picture in your mind just what she lived. Her descriptions are as good as they can be. Her kindness will melt your heart. She makes me wish I had lived in the area at the same time. It's such a world of difference from todays progression. I'm not so sure we have progressed to a better life. Even though it was a hard life and a short one I think it may have been a slice of heaven back in old Wyoming. She will tug at your heart at times and make you smile at others.
A great easy enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
Steve from Boulder Creek, Ca.

The audio version of this book is so well read -- it is well worth the cost. You cannot help feeling cheerful and energized about your own life, as you hear it. I gave the paperback version to a couple of discouraged women friends who prefer to read rather than listen to books. Both women loved it, and were inspired to face their own hardships more buoyantly. The very gifted author has blessed us with a wonderful history and narrative!

Dear fellow Book-lovers:
I found this little gem at the local library today and I can't put it down. It is so good--easy to read (perfect for a busy Mom of 5 like me), inspiring, wholesome, funny, and informative. I am fascinated with this woman: her love for people, her giving heart, and her passion for fun and for life. I'm only on page 81 (out of 282) but I can already sit here and tell you to buy this book and enjoy it! I'm buying myself a copy and also one for my best friend. Christmas is coming!

Genuine substance and sincerity describe Stewart's letters from the early twentieth century while homesteading in this remote corner of Wyoming. Whereas most women would not even consider putting down roots in such an isolated area, Mrs. Stewart was determined to make a life for herself in this territory. And she did just that. It took a special kind of person to live in this far-removed landscape.

Her writing, subject matter and approach to life were most admirable. Hard working and always enthusiastic for adventure, she writes of various encounters with surrounding neighbors and experiences into the countryside. If she had any dull moments on the ranch they must have been few and far between.

Very optimistic about life, Mrs. Stewart affirms, "...all my own efforts have always been just to make the best of everything and to take things as they come."
To further quote, "It has always been a theory of mine that when we become sorry for ourselves we make our misfortunes harder to bear, because we lose courage and can't think without bias."

A wonderful read furthering an appreciation for life in the homesteading era.

I listened to the audio version of this book and after the first part, I went online to check to see if this was actually taken from real letters or just a modern novel. It was so interesting and so well-written that I couldn't believe it wasn't the creation of a novelist. But no, they are the authentic letters of an incredible woman. Ironically, she apologizes in her letters, for writing too much. If only she could have known that a century later, people around the world would be wishing she wrote even more.

If you choose the audio book, try to get the Sound Room Publishers version, narracted by Kate Fleming. It is far superior than Blackstone Audio's version read by Rebecca Burns (who does a good job, but whose voice is too much like a young girl's to express the wisdom and experience that Fleming projects).

While wandering aimlessly in my hometown library, I caught a glimpse of a brightly coloured book. I picked it up and it was none other than "Spy Girls:Licence To Thrill". (...) I started to read it and was blown away! This is one of the best books I have ever read!

When i first read the back of the book i thought, boy this is totally a write off of Charlie's Angel's. But i was wrong this book was sooooo much cooler. Plus the girls were younger so yyou could relate to them more. All in all this book was great!!!!!!!!
I definatally (pardon my spelling) recomend this book to anyone.

well, i thought there might be a little romance in there because the three spy girls are gorgeous ladies... but too bad, no romance... no relationships between the superfoxy jonathon... should add some romance in those books. looking forward for that in her next book...

There is probably no word to describe this series, so i just chose awsome! It's got sassyness, class, sensitivity, witt, fashion, wildness, flirting, and SO much more! This series is truly one of my favorites:-D! Although the cover may make it out to be a tad bit childish, it very much is not. Elizabeth Cage is a trully gifted writer, and has a ton of creativity! (thats what makes Cage's books sooo great!)

Basically, if you liked Charlies Angels or an other Spy type things, then you'll totally love this book!

This is the girls first mission, but do they have enough witt and cleverness to pull it off? you'll never know unless 'ya read it.:-D haha.

This series is great! I found these and thought they looked sappy- but I started reading and my view has definitely changed. There is no swearing or any inappropriateness at all. They are full of action and fun, and they are very humorous. I can't wait for more.

This book is based on the hangings that happened in 1883 in McDADE Texas. Marion Beatty was a real person. And this is book is based on my family. I did alot og family researching and people told me about this book that it was based on my family. Well I really don't know if it is true that this book is based on them, because I haven't read it. But like I said Marion Beaty was was an in-law of my great great great grandfather.

I first read this book when I was in sixth or seventh grade. At first I was surprised to find it in my middle school library, but I fell in love with it. This was the first romance novel I ever read and remember it with a lot of love even though it was seven or eight years ago when I first read it. When I finished reading it I told my friends about it and most of them ended up reading it and also loving it.

this story is really really great and Lily is simply a great lady.. =) At first,my sister told me it was a great one and i wasn't really interested in her kind of love novels but now, I am simply in love with it =) Lily is a unique lady, one you just cannot help but love and Marion is... well, as bad as he is, he's really a great person inside =D A real heart-gripping, pure and captivating love story.... read it and you'll love it, no doubt =)

I loved this book so much. I was able to get into the book so quickly and the author's descriptions made you feel as if you were inside the book. This is definitely one of my favorites!

This is not a formula romance. It is deeper, better written, and more realistic than most so-called romance books. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it highly. It is written in the first person, and with such charm and honesty, I immediately cared deeply for the characters. I hope this auther writes more novels. She is an extremely gifted story-teller!

Awesome book.Very well written.Eddie is full of courage and spirit as a war hero with disabilities from his war injuries who continues on thru life with an uplifting and positive attitude into a very successful life he makes for himself and others.He touches our soul and makes us proud to thank him and all the others who give their all for our freedom and our country.
D.Firth

This book is written from the heart, and tells the story of an incredible Marine and his family. Don't start reading it late at night, you will keep reading until you finish it! Ed and Connie Beesley are wonderful people, and this book is a keeper.

Most people think about sharecropping and poverty in historical terms. When I read Eddie Beesley's account of his childhood, as the 18th of 21 children, the first images that popped into my mind were James Agee's and Walker Evans' book 'Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.' Mr. Beesley's story is different. First of all, with the exception of the photo of his wife Connie, the photographs are not as good. To be fair to Mr. Beesley, Walker Evans was one of the most famous photographers of the past century, while Eddie Beesley is just a lucky enough Marine. Second, Agee and Evans tell a story of families living in historic poverty, but the story Mr. Beesley tells is his own, and while it begins in adversity it ends, considering all the circumstances, in personal triumph. And third, Mr. Beesley's book is better written. It's direct, open, gripping, and funny.

Yes, funny. It's one thing to laugh out loud when you're reading a book, but when the writer is telling the story of how he enlisted in the Marines, got his legs blown off and his brother Marines were killed by a land mine, then finally overcame his feelings of guilt and tracked down the widow and orphan daughter of his lieutenant, and he can STILL get you to laugh out loud, well, I just think that takes a doggone good writer. And an unusual individual, too, to find the humor in the first place in a difficult life. It's not too much of a surprise that most people read Eddie Beesley's book straight through, even though it's a hundred pages long.

Other reviewers here have said plenty about the Vietnam War Memorial aspect of 'Lucky Enough', which is quite moving. (You won't laugh at those parts.) I need not repeat what they said here. This book is a classic. But you're going to have to buy it yourself to read the funny parts, 'cause I ain't giving a single one of them away.

Eddie Beesley epitomizes being a Marine, revealing their stick-with-it trademark from cover to cover in this journey about service and commitment. His positive attitude remains through the most troubling or best of times, in relationships, and whether in battle or carrying the torch in a wheelchair at the Olympic Games. Leadership and love are apparent as you turn each page of "Lucky Enough."

Eddie meets his wife Connie in recovery after his legs are blown off on his tour of duty in Vietnam. They have a magnetic attraction with the reader through their use of positive forces in character we all admire and should strive to use. Remarkable experiences of an unusually gifted but modest man are condensed in this memoir, and Eddie's stories keep rolling in like powerful storm waves and seem bigger than life at times. Duty, faith, loss, love, hope, family, recovery, and success are admirably addressed throughout this strikingly interesting adventure. Beginning as an Oklahoma farm boy - the eighteenth of twenty one children - Eddie guides through his eventful time as a teenage Marine and describes the everlasting effects of war. His story is a successful one, and it culminates with a decades delayed visit to the Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. Covering other issues such as disability discrimination and coming out on top in business and marriage, Eddie's faith will rub off on you. It is odd to imagine a Marine not putting on dress blues for thirty years; but such is the precarious life of Eddie Beesley. For many reasons including these, I felt lucky enough to read this book!

Sometimes you follow someone's life in the media and you wonder if this guy is all what he seems to be. For those many veterans and handicapped people out there who have been helped because of the personal efforts of Eddie R. Beesley, then reading his short memoir will make you a believer, once again, in heroes. His book "Lucky Enough" is about a doing something positive regardless of what life deals you.

Eddie tells his story of growing up poor on a farm and going on to become a U.S. Marine. He talks about his tour of duty in Vietnam and about the events that lead to his losing both legs to a land mine explosion. But this is not the main focus of his tale. Once you dig a little deeper into his book you find how he used what life has presented to him to help himself and others. He has become a champion for the handicapped in this nation. He fought for public awareness and accommodations for those in wheel chairs at a time when he was one of the few lone voices speaking out.

His story is one of great physical and emotional pain. But he leaves you upbeat. He inspires you by his attitude to be of service to others. I was enthralled with his life story. My only regret was that it was not any longer as there were still things about Eddie that I would have liked to have learned about him.

He writes it simple and straight forward to the point. His pains and suffering are understated and briefly exposed. He was not writing his story looking for pity or to win any symphony but as a proud man--no, make that a PROUD MARINE! He is a fine example of that special bread of veteran that wears the USMC uniform with honor!

I think this book will give many additional insights into PTSD and related veteran issues. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to read something about war and want to become inspired. It will make you want to give Eddie both a hug and a salute. He is a true American Hero!

This book gets the MWSA's top rating of FIVE STARS! It also receives my personal endorsement. Buy it and read it!

This book is a joy to read. It inspires anyone to enjoy all of the little blessings in life.

Mama fell in love with San Francisco as soon as she and her husband arrived in the city from Norway. Five children were born to her there, and she raised them with love and wisdom that daughter Katrin - who Americanized her name to "Kathryn" in early adolescence - would always remember.

I won't call this classic collection of real-life stories charming, because it's got too much solid and at times downright unpleasant reality in its pages. Instead I'll call it inspiring. Money, education, and influence Mama's family didn't have; but everything that really matters they had in plenty. Good food, meticulously clean shelter, solid values, and most of all - of course - love. Recommended for all ages in the highest possible terms!

This is one of my favorite books to read aloud. I taught junior highers for many years and this was a book they loved! Many times I taught sisters and brothers in later years and they would invariably ask when I was going to read Mama's Bank Account. The story appeals to both boys and girls and though Mama is the central character, I appreciated the fact that Papa was a very strong, loving support to the family. After you have read the book, watch the video! It is one of the few books that made the transition to the screen and is delightful!

I won't give away the spoiler that ties together the whole plot, but needless to say it's right up there in the title of the book and it's still a surprise even after sixty years or more since the novel was first published. Kathryn Forbes must have been a delightful woman and her book is one of the finest achievements ever to have been written in San Francisco. And that's saying something, considering what a rich and cultured city ours is. One episode that will stick with me forever is the time when the little girl and her brother are talked into providing food for their whole class at school, and "Mama" saves the day by cooking up some of her good old Swedish (I guess Norwegian) meatballs. When I first read this passage I was but a little boy and had never heard of any kind of meatballs but Italian ones! Next thing you know, my mom and dad took us to dinner and the waiter asked me what I wanted to eat and I surprised them all by asking for "Swedish meatballs on little tooth picks."

It's a family book for people whose families are no longer with us. And it will rekindle the spirit of hope in everyone, with its message of universal tolerance and mother love.

As an author, I bought this book to use as a reference book while writing a fictional story about a similar type of family. I read this book as a young woman and saw both the stage play and the movie. It is a touching tale of a more simple time and a remarkable woman. Rosalie Kramer, "Dancing in the Dark: Things My Mother Never Told Me."

I read this book several years ago because I knew the author. I thought it was a fabulous first novel. I was particularly impressed by the great spiritual tones that were very subtle and did not appear "preachy" or "hit you over the head." I do think it is must reading for young people to inspire and guide them on a successful path. I can't wait to see the book in a movie!!!!!
Pamela Payne Foster, author of "Is there a balm in Black America?"

Dr. Bailey has captivated an audience of adults and youth with "The Dream Merchant". Each page is just as exciting as the previous page. The pearls of wisdom that he has incorporated into his book have stuck with me. I even find myself using some of them when I am in discussions with youth.I have given so many away that I feel that I am the publicist! Whenever I take a nap, I just imagine myself meeting Junior and participating in the adventure! My hat is off to Erroll and the exciting future of "The Dream Merchant"! A movie would be fantastic!

I read this book over two years ago, and I still feel it is one of the best books I have ever read. If you can, give this book to a younger brother or sister and be inspired yourself. It shows how a young man who is in a troubled home, meets a figure who is between real and mythical,yet he teaches him lessons that would take him throughout life. The best part of the book for me is when Junior taught the young man about intimacy. Very enlightening.

All out, my FAVORITE book! Mr. Dream Merchant was one of those novels that you could not put down and once you did, you wanted to read it again, and I DID! It touched on being human and being spiritual, one with God, and understanding life's parellels of being accepted. This book touched me in a way that I thought could never happen. I understand how one's dreams can come to life by the words written in this novel. I would highly suggest that you get this novel TODAY and READ IT. Thank you Mr. Bailey for putting together such a WONDERFUL and SPIRITUAL book. I have highlighted certain areas in the book to remind me of WHO IS IN CONTROL!!! May God Continue to BLESS you on your Journey's END......

A wonderful, inspirational and insightful book. This is a book to sit and read as a family, especially those with males. Truly awesome in my opinion.