Young Adult Books

I love this book and this is a perfect source of good learning of idiom for a small price its comes with. Perfect choice of gift for people that would love to read

Can anyone tell me what this book says about the idiom, "the calm before the storm"?

The graphic desciption and origin of the idiom are excellent. The explanation of the idiom is written in simple English that my 5 year old understands and loves. She read half of the book in one sitting. It's like a joke book to her. She was having a good time by herself. (She reads on a 3rd grade level.) I even learned a few things. It's a must have resource like a special dictionary that will also help to expand vocabulary. I now want all of the author's books.

I absolutely love this book. I am a teacher and this book really helped my students in 7th grade learn what idioms are. They really enjoyed learning about where the idioms came from.

Fairly good source for origins of idioms. Not all are here, but many. Some "conjecture" as to origin on many, but they do seem logical. A good over-all (particularly sufficient for elementary level) resource & nice leisure reading.

An entertaining and cute astrology book for teens. Easy to understand and has fun facts about each of the signs. It also has some info about each rising sign, which if you don't know it, you can't figure it out from the book (it comes out wrong), but it is easy to find out on the internet. It even has a little about Chinese astrology and numerology. A great starter for teens and pre-teens who are interested in astrology.

If you're into the stars, you've gotta read this book! I don't know if the author's a witch or something, but she really knows what I'm like, inside and out! I lent this book to my g-friend who knew absolutely zero about astrology and now she doesn't want to give it back to me! Help!!! Lots of books are kind of a drag...like a school assignment. But this one's fun to read. And the writer said that Libra and Leo are a match made in heaven. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

If you're into the stars, you've gotta read this book! I don't know if the author's a witch or something, but she really knows what I'm like, inside and out! I lent this book to my g-friend who knew absolutely zero about astrology and now she doesn't want to give it back to me! Help!!! Lots of books are kind of a drag...like a school assignment. But this one's fun to read. And the writer said that Libra and Leo are a match made in heaven. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

My friend bought this book and I love it! She and I spend HOURS looking at it and stand amazed that our signs, in some ways, match us perfectly! We have a great time!

I got this book for my birthday and think it is totally great! I'm learning about astrology & it's cool! My friends and me read it at lunch & use it to figure out which boys we're good with. I really recommend this book and think it's great.

Having been boxed up in Portugal for several years, only now are the British trying to get some real traction against the French, thrusting into Spain. And they're losing. Marshal Marmont, commander of just one of five huge armies Napoleon has put in Spain, is pushing Wellington back. The English take Salamanca, but only because Marmont pulls out tactically, seeking a better place for the battle he knows will destroy the English. Marmont threatens to retake the city, but the major battle never materializes. Wellington chases him east, but then his army must retreat to avoid being cut off from its Portuguese redoubt by the French.

Sharpe fights both the large war and a smaller, more private one. French assassin Colonel Leroux kills ruthlessly, hideously and often as he tries to break up an English spy ring and save his own hide. Caught by the British but escaping, he kills Sharpe's commanding and junior officers. Sharpe vows to catch him. Sharpe's pal, the intelligence chief Major Hogan, and Wellington both need him caught. Meanwhile they worry about intelligence leaks; the French have a spy too close to the high command.

Sharpe and every other British officer swoons when meeting the dazzling Marquesa who dominates Salamanca society, and we all know which officer the Marquesa will take a shine to, despite his poverty and lack of polish. And when Sharpe and Leroux cross swords, as they do, and do again, we know what kind of sparks will fly.

A friend referred to the Sharpe series as literary opium...he may be right. They are guilty pleasures, for sure....and I worry what will happen when I have read them all.

The thing is, drug or not, Cornwell is a wonderful writer. I laughed out loud a couple of times, was riveted by a love scene, and ran to the computer to look up the actual battle and scenes described. Great stuff.

And then I had the misfortune to read the new McMurtry novel....

"Sharpe's Sword" is a decent entry into the Sharpe series, but I happen to tend to prefer the Sharpe adventures that are primarily military rather than the ones with espionage plots. And, for my taste, "Sharpe's Sword" is a bit heavy on the spy angle and a hair light on the battles. But the book's action scenes, while failing to rival those in, say, "Sharpe's Rifles," "Sharpe's Eagle" or "Sharpe's Company," are still pretty satisfying. "Sharpe's Sword" is far from the weakest of the generally very strong Sharpe series (of the ones that I've read so far, I'd say that "Sharpe's Prey" my least favorite), but it doesn't quite rank among the very best, either.

This is another entry on the Sharpe series. It is fun, entertaining and very readable. Cornwell's research is as excellent as usual. He takes some licenses for the shake of the story and continuity, but this is OK. Some people are outraged by the portrait of some of the real historical characters, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides, usually a more serious account of these characters is given at the end of the book on the Historical Note.

Many people insist in compare this series with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. I don't think this is fair for any of the series, they are different entities. What they have in common is that once you start you may get hooked and devour one book after another...

And in the literary world today that is a rare and marvelous thing.

Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series is one of the most beloved collective works in the sub-genre of historical fiction. Spanning over twenty novels (and counting!), Cornwell has treated his readers with thrilling battlefield and bedroom exploits from Flanders to India to Spain and France. While the novels have a definitive formula, they never grow stale.

"Sharpe's Sword" is among the best of the Sharpe novels. Sharpe is a captain of the 95th Rifles, attached to the South Essex regiment as a light company. As fans of the series know, Sharpe has made himself indispensable to the British army (including his patron, Lord Wellington) by being the most lethal rogue in an army full of cut-throats and vagabonds. But in "Sharpe's Sword," Cornwell has created a foe worthy of Sharpe - the French spy-hunter Leroux, a lethal aristocrat whose charge from Napoleon is to topple the British spy network.

Leroux is captured by Sharpe early in the novel, but takes advantage of a foolish British officer's notion of "parole" (in which a captured officer may keep his weapons and freedom if he gives his sworn statement that he will not try to escape). Acting quickly, Leroux murders his way back to freedom, but in doing so he earns Sharpe's undying hatred . . . and envy. Sharpe hates him for being a backstabbing liar, but Sharpe envies him because Leroux has the most magnificent sword Sharpe has ever seen, and Sharpe wants it.

And so Sharpe and Leroux are caught in a duel to the death while the French and British armies slug it out in the gorgeous city of Salamanca and also on the plains of Spain. "Sharpe's Sword" has it all - humor, romance, intrigue, friendship, betrayal, and battles. And what battles! Nobody writes a better battle scene than Bernard Cornwell, and he tops himself when describing a suicidal, insane cavalry charge by Wellington's German heavy cavalry against formed French squares. The reader is flung into the wild madness that is Napoleonic warfare, and it is a glorious madness indeed.

Well-researched and lovingly written, "Sharpe's Sword" exemplifies all that is good in the Sharpe series.

This book was very good. I liked just about all the characters in the book. Jenna the main character had a way of taking you off, i fealt realy bad for her in some parts of the story. The only thing that i dident quite like about the book was that after a "story" it then told you the truth behind it... It was sometimes a bit difficutlt to udnerstand or get through... But it was intersting... Now if only i can get a coppy of White Jenna to spur my minde a bit more....

I read the book about a year ago and still remember it in detail. A wonderful read!

This book was really cool. I liked the simpleness of it. I liked how she got to the point and didn't describe everylast detail. I also liked Pynt. She was my favorite character. She was mischivious, yet she had a loyal quality to her.

"Sister Light, Sister Dark" and its sequel, "White Jenna," hold places of honor on my bookshelves.

The story is about Jenna, a thrice-orphaned girl of the Dales (a fictional region) being raised by followers of Great Alta, the Goddess. These women--mostly unwanted daughters of local peasants--train for years to call up their "dark sisters." Jenna, who was born with completely white hair, may be the Anna foretold in prophecy.

Stuff happens.

Interspersed among the actual narrative chapters are ballads and myths of the Dales, as well as a pretentious contemporary historian's interpretation of the events of the story. Through his impeccable application of scientific method to historical research, he manages to get just about everything completely wrong. It's hilarious.

The third volume in this trilogy, "The One-Armed Queen," was a disappointment to me. While it was a good book in its own right, to me it didn't feel related to the other two--it worked on its own, but it was not part of the series. It concerns Jenna's one-armed adopted daughter Scillia, who seemed much less interesting than Jenna. Oh, well.

I highly recommend the first two books.

One of the best reprints produced by Starscape books has been the reissue of Jane Yolen's Alta trilogy, the first of which is "Sister Light, Sister Dark." While it takes awhile to get going, this unique and imaginative fantasy book introduces us to a fantasy story that's both familiar and innovative.

Jenna was orphaned three times: Her mother died in childbirth, the midwife died while taking her away, and the warrior woman who adopted her was also killed. She's taken in collectively by the follows of Great Alta, a benevolent goddess. They're somewhat Amazonian -- there are no men in their "hames," they are warriors, farmers, priestesses, and everything else that they need to be.

But Jenna is different from the rest. There's a prophecy that a white-haired child who lost three mothers is the Anna, a savior who will change everything. Events are set into motion when Jenna and her friend Pynt encounter teenage prince Carum in the woods, who is being hunted by a vicious warrior. Killing the warrior and saving Carum leads to destruction for Jenna's home and family...

Jane Yolen crafts a wonderful, believable place in the Dales. Not only is it very detailed and plausible-sounding, but she also sprinkles it with songs and historical studies. While the Alta series is often labelled "feminist fantasy," there's no preaching or two-dimensional male characters. Yolen simply shows us Jenna and Pynt operating on the same level as Carum, and leaves it at that.

Her writing is earthy and has plenty of detail without bogging itself down. The concept of "dark sisters" (sort of a nighttime-only spiritual twin) is an unusual and well-crafted one. The only problem is that it takes quite some time for the plot to get moving, and it's a jolt when it finally does; we go from no action to all-action in an instant.

Jenna is an excellent reluctant lead. Her mixed feelings (she both wants and doesn't want to be the Anna) are quite plausible, as are her strength and gutsiness. She's not some sort of supergirl; she cries, feels pain and loneliness like anyone else. Pynt is a good sidekick, with her mischievous attitude. And Carum is a strong counterpart (and romantic interest) to Jenna.

Since "Sister Light Sister Dark" ends on an unfinished note, readers will want to check out the second volume of the trilogy (also available from Starscape) "White Jenna." A unique epic fantasy.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson tells the story of Callie Smith, a teen girl who's been moving from town to town with her mother for as long as she can remember. As far as Callie is concerned, the story seldom changes - her mom meets someone new, falls in love, they move in together, life is normal for a while, and all too quickly normal ends and they are packed up and on their way again. As she starts high school in a new town, Callie dares to make friends and has hope that this time things will be different.

As the story unfolds, Callie realizes her mom is keeping a secret about their past and Callie's father, and the mystery becomes a great part of the story. A thread running throughout the narrative is the song journal that Callie keeps. It's like having a soundtrack of her life, and I found myself thinking about the songs that would go in my own song journal, and what the soundtrack of my life would be.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad explores many issues that are of interest to teenage girls and their moms - when is it okay for parents to withhold information they think is harmful to their children? What obligations does a child have to a potentially abusive parent? There's a lot to discuss in this well written book.

Ms. Culbertson really knows her audience. These characters become alive as the story unfolds. It's the type of book that's hard to put down because you become so involved with every character in the book.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad was a great, amazing story for pre teen and teenagers! It had fabulous descriptions that made you feel as if you really were in Calli's unique theatre troup or walking at the soft, sandy beach with her and a football player, whom she fell in love with. Her dad was a character who came in and out of the story, leaving young Calli to figure out whether she wanted her dad to be in her life, or if she just needed her mom. Calli the main character moved so often, and had to adjust to new cities, and make new friends which was especially harder for her to do. Even though Calli is just a regular teenage girl she has a sweet, funny personality and is determined to find her dad who wrote music for her when she was young, but ended up leaving her mom. The story captures passionate emotions and is truly a sorrowful, yet wonderful story of love, dissapointment, and excitement.

Calle Smith is a teenager that you've seen standing outside of a high school, or sitting on rocks at the beach. Lucky for us, Kim Culbertson gives us the privilege of knowing Calle, who has been forced to wander through her childhood, moving constantly, never really feeling a part of a community, or a school, or a group of friends. Music lyrics link the chapters to memory and place, the magic that melody and song give Calle, the constant she has lacked, and she records these moments in her journal. I have two teenagers who both read this book at a record pace, which is a testament to the phenomenal writing, compelling dialogue, and relevant emotion that prevails throughout the story. You will love this book, as Kim Culbertson makes everything about it feel so natural: this story of a girl who seems very real, who is familiar and new, who has a unique voice that is worth hearing.

Songs for a Teenage Nomad was a great, amazing story for pre teen and teenagers! It had fabulous descriptions that made you feel as if you really were in Calli's unique theatre troup or walking at the soft, sandy beach with her and a football player, whom she fell in love with. Her dad was a character who came in and out of the story, leaving young Calli to figure out whether she wanted her dad to be in her life, or if she just needed her mom. Calli the main character moved so often, and had to adjust to new cities, and make new friends which was especially harder for her to do. Even though Calli is just a regular teenage girl she has a sweet, funny personality and is determined to find her dad who wrote music for her when she was young, but ended up leaving her mom. The story captures passionate emotions and is truly a sorrowful, yet wonderful story of love, dissapointment, and excitement.

This was the first book I read on the subject. It was clear and informative. It is meant for teen agers but could be enjoyed by any beginner.

This is the best book i have ever read it is the best way to begin witchcraft. This book is mostly for teens but adults may enjoy it also.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Lilith and still try to keep in contact with her.

This book is one of the best books I have read that is geared to the younger set. Also I feel this is a must-buy for beginners or just the curious.

It was a very welcomed addition to my library! It is also one of the books I often recommend to people contacting me for more information on Wicca.

This is an excellent book for young people, written with a sense of humor and style. McClelland refuses to talk down to her audience, and offers ethical advice without preaching. Don't take my word for it - I'm just an old grownup. Real teens love this book: I lent my copy to a teen-age neighbor and he carried it everywhere in the inside pocket of his coat for a month!

I purchased this book for my 9 year old son, a second generation Witch, and was fully expecting that I'd have to edit it for his consumption. After reading it I joyfully handed it over to him with no censorship and said "Go for it!" He is thrilled to have his first magick book and he has spent hours reading aloud to me from this text - an unexpected bonus. Leave trash like Teen Witch on the shelf, purchase this book and pass it on to your young ones, you won't regret it. Blessed Be

The Stones of Mourning Creek is a really good book. It's about a girl in the 1960's living in Alabama. Her mom dies in a mysterious accident one night when the girl (Francie) is about 13. Francie is left with just her and her dad, who has a big drinking problem. One day Francie meets a girl named Ruthie and they become best friends. But, Ruthie is black and Francie is white and in Alabama in the 60's that was almost unheard of. As the girls become closer and closer and the community tries harder and harder to pull them apart, the mysterious death of Francie's mother begins to unfold and things are linked together like they never imagined. People they've known and trusted all their life become complete strangers. Francie also meets Ernest, a guy a little older than her who is also connected in the mystery. He contributes greatly to Francie's life.

My favorite character was Mama Rae. She is Ruthie's mom. I liked her the best because she seems like one of those people that just being in the room with them make you feel good and happy. She is funny and always has good advice. Her cooking sounds really good too.
The only part I didn't like was part of the end. It makes chills go up your back because you think, I wonder if that could actually happen to me.
The only question I have after reading the book is what happens with Earnest and Francie?
My favorite passage in the book is when the girls are at the creek:
"'I wanna go home, 'I told him. He told me to shut up and raised his hand up over his head like he was going to hit me hard. That's when I saw the angel." she(Ruthie) said.
"Do you remember what she looked like?" I(Francie) asked. She nodded her head.
"Like an angle," she said, "with red hair, like you."
You sort-of have to read the book to get that part though. The book makes you think about the 60's and it's really cool how it's all linked together, and 'it makes you laugh and it makes you cry' like they always say.

Wow! I just finished reading this book today. I started yesterday, but I couldn't put it down. I loved how it took place in Alabama in the 1960s. I think that that time period showed the segregation between blacks and whites. The story was magnificent and I hope Diane writes a sequel. Uhhh, it's so good! Anyways the story is written from Francie, a white girl's, point of view. It showed how hard it was to be friends with a black during the '60's. I cried a few times during this book especially during the end. I don't have time to write anymore, but if you have a question, just email me at Spangs234@hotmail.com

When the mother of thirteen year old Francie allegedly falls and hits her head, Francie is grief striken, and her life changes drastically. No one is home to cook her and her father dinner, no one is there to look after her father when he drinks, except her. She wishes her mother was still alive, and it is a blessing when she meets Ruthie, the girl who saved Francie's life when she was bit by a rattle snake. Ruthie and Francie become friends, but will they be able to remain close as the mystery in the past of their lives becomes more clear? Between family, rumors and neigbors, the girls no longer know who to trust. Racial division in thir town may tear apart their lives, and their friendship.

I've always liked mysteries but I'm not too fond of sappy "let's all have a good sob" novels. So when I read THE STONES OF MOURNING CREEK, I was puzzled. What was I to think of this emotional novel entwined with a mystery? It turns out the novel wasn't what I expected.

Francie is a quiet girl with brilliant red hair. Since her mother's death, Francie lives alone with her father and has few friends. It is the 1960s, when racism is rampant, but when Francie meets Ruthie, a young black girl, the two become almost inseparable. That is until the rest of Spring Gap begins to notice. As the town grows more conscious of the tight bond between the girls, people become more intent on splitting them up.

Meanwhile, new developments about the death of Francie's mom keep popping up. How did she die? Nobody is really sure about that night, and not many people want to find out. So Francie embarks on a journey --- with Ruthie, of course. The two become trapped as they try to untangle themselves from a web of lies. They find that nothing is safe and they can turn to no one in their quest for the truth.

In THE STONES OF MOURNING CREEK, Diane Les Becquets shows the reader what life in the '60s was really like. She also reveals aspects of the mother-daughter relationship. It is clear that when Francie's mother was alive, the two were almost inseparable --- much like Francie and Ruthie.

The mystery got the best of me, and I felt myself falling for the "lets all have a good sob" part, as much as I didn't want to. If you're fond of mysteries, and you don't mind sappy novels, then read THE STONES OF MOURNING CREEK. You just might like it.
--- Reviewed by Lisa Marx

This is an excellent book. And our town is very supportive of Diane. I know who she is, she lives in our town of Meeker. Diane is a great auther and she has done an excellent job writing this book. Its definitely a book that you are not going to want to put down.

My daughter is a homeschooled 6th grader. Her passion is horses or anything that has to do with horses. I have her on a reading regimen with the Heartland series. She is really enjoying them. I am also excited that they are age appropiate with much detail. She is getting a lot out of them.

THis book is amazing! Amy fleming's mother died and now amy has to run a farm called Heartland for problem horses along with her grandapa Jack, older sister Lou and the only stablehand Ty. Amy cured Lisa Stillman's horse and now she has sent her nefhew to help them around the stable and she is also paying for him to be there. Lisa is a famous Arabian breeder and makes alot of money. Her nefhew's name is Ben. Ben has a secert that Amy knows and isn't supposed to know or tell anyone. 't tell anyone she is not allowed to tell Ty which angers him and may leave Hearland to work at Amy's worst enemy's farm. Ben and Ty don't get along and since Ben's past has been rough Amy doesn't want to have to fire him and also his aunt is paying for him to be there. In the end they become happy and stop fighting, and telling lies but inbetween alot of things happen read the fantasic book to find out what.

I am 11 years old and i just started reading these books. The book is about Amy and Ty. They are haveing an over flow of work so they hire Ben. Ben is not how he seems. He abuses is horse and treats Ty like dirt. Amy goes against Ty's wishes of firing him for one reason. The afull truth about bens life is somthing Amy has to keep from Ty no matter how hard it is. If you are a horse lover than you will love this series.

when in book 3 amy cures Lisa stillmans horse promise ,she sends her nephew ben to help at heartland .He has a faboulos show jummper RED he has to come to with ben ,ben takes things to far as working him to much ,when ty sees him he goes mad and trys to get him sent back but amy woun't tell lou becaues she knows bens dark secert which ty doen't near the end amy goes past the kitchen and hears ty on the phone to ashleys mum who owns the ruivel stable asking about a job ,amy walks away and trys carries on like normal ty sees something s wrond she start shouting i hate you and storms out,.later s out inthe traing ring with red geting angery now AMY had enough she jumps out in fornt of a jump to stop him then ty grabs red andstops him .fealing ashamed of him self ben takes red back but some things the mater with red,will amy help red or will ty leave heartland for good youll have to read it to find out

At the time I read this book, I thought that this would be a romance, but it was nothing like that, just dramatic. This book is about Amy, still trying to get over her mothers death, has had one person to always lean on, Ty, the stable boy, but everything just gets thrown! A new stable boy (Ben) comes to Heartland to help Ty out but that doesn't happen. Between Ben beating his horse and Ty anger against Ben nature, Amy is forced to be an enemy to Ty because of the secret that Ty shouldn't know about Ben's life. Amy knows that her relationship with Ty is burning and she never realized before how much she took him for granted. Read and find out what Amy should do!

This book helped me a LOT. The style and writing explain everything clearly, so it is an easy reference for me if I need a quick idea for lunch, or if I need to look up nutrition information. By having this book, it has helped be me able to defend myself when I get questions thrown at me about staying healthy, especially from my parents. I would reccommend it to anyone, not just teens, and not just beginners.

This is a great book for teen vegetarians, or teens thinking about becoming vegetarians. This book has 13 chapters, each full of information.
1. What is a vegetarian, anyways?- This gives straight forward answers, and describes different kinds of vegetarians and why people are vegetarians.
2.For The Planet- About how being a vegetarian benifits the planet.
3. For The Animals- You guessed it, all about how being a vegetarian helps animals.
4. For Your Health- About how being veggie helps you. This part also dispels many myths not-vegetarians have about a vegetarian diet.
5.Making The Switch- About going from meat-eater to vegetarian.
6.What will your parents say?- I think this is one of the best chapters, as it gives lots of information about what parents may be thinking and how to convince them without being rebelious.
7. What will your fiends say?- Yet another concern to teens, this chapter deals with dealing with friends.
8. Sticky Situations- This is another great chapter for teens, that answers all those nagging questions. What about at friends houses? How about when I'm traveling?
9. Surviving at School- All about cafeteria blues, science class diesection, and ways to make changes in your school.
10. Some Nutrition Basics- Another great chapter. All the nutrition you need to know, written in a clear way for teens to understand.
11. Fabulous Vegetarian Foods- All about vegetarian foods to try.
12. The Makings Of A Meal- About what to include in yummy and healthy meals.
13. Some Recipies To Get You Started- I'll be honest, I haven't tried any of the recipies yet, but they sound great. They are written in a ay great for beggining cooks.
This book is written in a non-judgmental, just facts way, but after reading it you will probably want to be vegetarian, if not vegan. I love the way the author talked to real teens, and included their quotes, knowledge, and tidbits of information about being vegetarian. This book includes a good concrete basis on all information nessecary to a teenage vegetarian, and is written in a engaging, interesting, funny, and informative way. I wish I could give this book 10 stars, it is such a great reference for the teenage vegetarian.

I first read this in junior high, when I tried being a vegetarian the first time. I loved it and I learned a lot from it. When I returned to vegetarianism as a young adult, I read it again. Although I'm not a teenager anymore, I feel the book is still a handy guide for making the difficult transition to being a vegetarian a lot easier. When people question the food you eat or don't eat and challenge your beliefs on the subject, it can be hard -- this book offers advice for what to do and say in all sort of situations, educates you on nutrition, and gives you basic ideas for meals. "A Teen's Guide to Going Vegetarian" doesn't assume you have a lot of money, time, or resources for food shopping and meal preparation (as teenagers and adults alike usually don't), so it's great for anyone who needs to be frugal or doesn't have a lot of time to search for unusual ingredients. But it does introduce you to foods you might not of heard of or tried before, which is important.

I have been a vegetarian for almost two years but I had never really read any books about it. Before I buy something, I always read the reviews, and this book had such good reviews. It is so helpful and fun to read. It has a lot of information such as what they really do to animals at slaughterhouses. It is really sad and it made me become a vegan, but it is necessary that aspiring vegetarians/vegans are aware of it. In every chapter, it has things that you can do to help. It also gives the titles of other books that you can read to find out more. I would definetely reccomend this book to anyone who wants to be a vegetarian or who already is one.

I became a vegetarian almost ten years ago, and this book was released soon after I made the switch. It could not have come at a better time. I originally found it at the library, but I checked it out so many times, I knew I needed my own copy. The book really set me on a great path, and helped me deal with a number of different situations.

I became a vegetarian while I was still living at my parents' house (where every meal revolved around meat) They initially dismissed my new vegetarianism as a "phase". I was so happy to prove them wrong! This book really helped me gain confidence, and gave me the will-power and drive to stick with the vegetarian lifestyle.

I was half way through the first volume of Foote's epic 3 volume "The Civil War: a narrative" when I paused for a breather and read Catton's Hallowed Ground.

So, compared to Foote's 3 volume The Civil War, Catton's Hallowed Ground provides a good overview of all the major battles in the Civil War. He had also included quotes from letters soldiers had written to family which I thought was a nice touch as it provided a different view of the civil war and illustrated how tough things were for them. What I also liked about Catton is that he had referenced the quotes and pointed to other books if you were interested in that particular regiment or battle.

For someone new to the civil war, I would definitely recommend reading Catton's Hallowed Ground first then refer to Foote for more detailed description of the more interesting battles. However, as another reviewer here points out, there is a hint of bias in favour of the confederacy in Foote.

Bruce Catton is one of the best history writers of the Civil War. He writes in a fashion that is easy to read yet leaves no doubt what he is saying. Very good way to enjoy history. It is almost like reading a novel.

I have been a reader of Bruce Catton's Civil War histories for years (I own 10 of them). I agree with the reviewers about Catton's vast talent as a storyteller and as a narrator of events. It was through reading his works that I first became aware of some of the lesser known colorful characters of the time, such as Gen. Phillip Kearney, Gen. D.H. Hill, and Robert Toombs. In fact, it was the writing of Bruce Catton that first turned me into a Civil War buff.

I have a rather strong objection to the subtitle of this work, which the late historian would never have approved were he alive today. This book is not "the Union side" of the Civil War; it gives BOTH sides. In fact, the author is more sympathetic to men like Gen. Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis than I would have been. For many years, some influential historians have sought to label any history that seems to hint that the right side won the Civil War as biased. (Over four score and seven years, actually.) This work is a balanced account, and one of the best one-volume histories of the war ever written, both on the battle front and at the home fronts. It deserves to be thought of as such.

If you're interested in the Civil War enough to browse this book, go ahead and snag it. To get a grasp on this period of our history, you must read Catton. He tells the overall story in the style almost of a novel. He is accurate and factual. Never fear. But this isn't reading history as you might remember. Catton will get your attention, draw you in and help you to feel some of the myriad of emotions that coursed through our ancestors on both sides of this conflict. He made me understand that wherever they trod was indeed hallowed ground after their passing.

Of all the heartbreaking, sacrificial, and exhausting wars that the United States has encountered, the Civil War is the most upsetting of all. Bruce Catton, part of the last wave of a generation of romantic historians, paints a vivid portrait of the Union side of the conflict. Like all war historians, he is impressed by the elements that are found in the crucible of a long fight: the pageantry, brilliant tactical moves, feats of individual courage, and the inexhaustible source of stories. But on the other, he has enough judgment to temper his own writing with accounts of casualty lists and useless battles.

Catton's main thesis is that although the war did not begin over slavery, it became so through the force of the war's tide, and that the tide only became inexorable after a series of poor decisions on the Union side. He is especially adept at tracing the threads of the various campaigns - the Army of the Potomac's stalemated situation in Virginia, for instance, is contrasted with Grant's quick thinking out west with the Army of the Tennessee. As the title would imply, the book focuses on the to and fro movements of the Union side. Lincoln, Lee, and the particularities of the situation prior to the war are not dealt with in any depth.

Nor is this is a book with a list of laundry items for the typical soldier and a slew of footnotes, although it is well-researched and thorough. Catton is more interested in quickly sketching an army as they march through the heat of the Mississippi and the lush countryside of Georgia. He unabashedly plays favorites with his "cast of characters" - Grant and Lincoln are praised, McClellan is not - but in most cases his biases are justified.

One could argue Catton's taste for drama and humorous anecdote overrides his ability to assess rationally the Civil War, but perhaps his romantic/realistic view of history is more in keeping with the age it is describing. The Civil War was fought by stubborn men who refused to cede a tenet long past its due date - and that in itself is the true tragedy.