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What a great beginning! I'm a sucker for interesting worlds, and this seems to promise a well-thought out and well-developed one. I generally don't read noir, and so I can't yet feel for the characters, but the chase scene and the little details made for a fast and engrossing read. I hope to read more of this!

All in all I'd say I am very impressed by what I've seen so far in this book. Be that as it may, one gets the sense while reading that all Subspace needs to bring it to the forefront of modern science fiction is a thorough pass by a talented editor.
The characters and setting are clearly top notch, but unfortunately the pacing - particularly the rate at which invented words are introduced - tends to bog the reader down. A little jargon here and there can pique curiosity and draw the reader in; but introducing four, five, six new terms before the reader has time to figure out what the first three mean for page after page is simply asking us to juggle too many balls at once.
To conceive of a new and vigorous universe is the mark of a good writer, and Justin Robinson has clearly achieved that. Is there a great novel here? Yes. Absolutely. Unfortunately one has to dig a little more than most casual readers would be comfortable with.
That said, I must be fair to insist that once the setting is established, once the politics of the era is set in perspective, once the new lexicon is metabolized, there is one hell of a story here.

Blending genres can be as risky as performing oral surgery on a cranky Sarlacc that declined the anesthetic. Chances are you're going to get bit, and it's going to hurt something fierce. In his debut novel "Subspace", Mr. Robinson has woven a seamless blend of Noir and Science Fiction sure the please the fans of well written stories set in either milieu.

The beginning of this excerpt is tense and fascinating. I was eager to know why Montoya was moving so quickly and who was chasing her. The description of the corridors in Santiago was vivid and interesting, and the author managed to reveal details about this world without slowing down the action.

There are some excellent details about how a world without gravity would function, as in the description of the bar that included where the bar was, where the tables were, and how the patrons would stay where they belonged.

I was a bit lost in the slang of this world. Some I could pick up through context, but other words I thought could have been saved until later, when I would have been able to get a better idea of what they meant.

Ramirez's inner conflict about Montoya's plea is interesting, and his character is obviously very complex. I liked him and would be interested in learning much more of his story. The history of Ramirez, Montoya, and Calderon is enlightening and creates the opportunity for a great deal of tension between the characters of Ramirez and Montoya.

So far this was a fascinating story, and I was disappointed not to have the opportunity to read more of it.

The author of Subspace has created a richly believable zero gravity world. Vibrant descriptions and colorful details draw the reader in, and make him believe - I could smell the odors of the world. The pace of the story is perfect; it keeps moving while continuing to impart interesting information to the reader. The description of the bar is excellent, completely adding to the zero gravity feel.

The slang adds to the story; however, I did feel that it needed some accompanying explanation. Most of it I was able to puzzle out, but this did slow down my comprehension and enjoyment of the story as a whole. Also, some of the characters need the same depth and detail as the world the author has created. At times, they felt a bit shallow or underdeveloped.

All in all, this is a fun, fast-paced read.

If you work with or study psychopaths you are familiar with the term Anti-Social Personality Disorder (ASPD). There are not a whole lot of biographies written from the perspective of what it is like to grow up in a household with Anti-Social Personality Disorder parents. Gary Gilmore (author's brother) was ASPD, but the Mom & Dad are just as much a piece of work as their crazed killer son. This is one of the finest autobiographies about what it is like to grow up in a family of Psychopaths.

The book covers the little things and everything about the day to day life with a nuclear family headed by people who fit the bill as Psychopaths. It's chilling. Gary ends up to be a crazed killer but the other sibling appears to have adjusted without the disorder. You wonder if what we are reading portrays a congenital mental disorder or an acquired one. And if the disorder is acquired, why did Gary get it and not the other sibling?

ASPD at the levels portrayed here mean that the patient will typically be unable to maintain housing, a job, a relationship, their health, stay out of institutions (prison or nuthouse), stay sober, have a pet, maintain a vehicle, raise a child, or not drift from city to city. People this disordered typically die prematurely from Trauma (in this case execution by firing squad), neglected health, or substance abuse. They just don't make it - the disorder is deadly at this level.

This story is harrowing and is a great read if the reader is heading for a career in social services, prisons, mental health or law enforcement. When you read how these people treat their kids you can imagine what they can do to a stranger.

It's a big call, but Mikal Gilmore's heart wrenching memoir of his family has to be one of the most moving reading experiences I have ever encountered. To tell you the truth, I found this book in a second hand store here in Melbourne, Australia without a cover! I could not put this down as Mikal's words just ripped me to pieces. It drowns in sadness and despair at times, but there is a flicker of hope and redemption in it's conclusion.
Amazing stuff.

This is an extraordinary book. Gives tremendous insite in to why some crimals lead the path they do. Phenominal read.

An incredible book. Raw. Brutal. Honest. Heart-wrenching. Profound. A well-written and amazingly conveyed story of a families personal tragedies that ended up affecting the world.

Mikhal Gilmore is a stellar writer.
His understanding of his family life, and of the Mormon influence in the laws of Utah, gives credence to the saying "violence begets violence".
The sad legacy of his brother Gary still haunts me to this day and I read this book years ago. I recently reread parts of it and I continue to be impressed with Mikal's introspection and ability to find hope from such a tragic life.

Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul; 102 Stories to Give Kids Courage, Hope, Laughter

This book is more than just a book. My friends and I have read it and we agree that it's an awesome book.

My wife loves this book. I get tired of the same fables with pictures. It's nice to read something that peaks the child's curiosity and allows discussion about meaningful things.

I bought this book for my little daughter, but I ended up reading it, too. It had good, inspirational stories about kids. I really enjoyed it.

Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul
JAck Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger, Mitch Claspy
K. Gan
P. 6

This book is what everything a kid goes through. They go through love, friendship problems, family problems and attitude a justment. Every kid should get this book because this book has the answers to your problems. No matter what situation, good or bad, this book does have the answers. This book shares a lot of problems a kid goes through and a lot of good times in their childhood. For me, i don't dislike the book, i really love it!
As I was growing up, I had a lot of problems. One of my problems was the fact that my bestfriend was moving. In this book, it says "But the more i thought about it, the more I realized I wasn't really losing her. The person taught me so much in life and laughter, the person who had helped me grow to be myself, was just going away for a while, to do some growing and learning up of her own." This quote is really true. The person who taught me so much is still here with me. I think that he just needs to keep learning. He was always there for and he made an impact in my life that no matter where he is, he is always going to be apart of me.
This book teaches a kid not to take things for granted. Lately, I been taking time for granted. Me and my brother has been really distance in the last few years. Me and him are seven years apart and we and him never really talked. In one short story in the family section it says " Hey Tova,It's me Sara. I just called to tell you I love you." This quote is a good quote. In this story, Tova is travaling to Egypt to study by herself. Her sister, Sara, is a few years younger then her. Sara wanted to be everything her sister is, so she copied everything she did. On the night Tova left, Sara noticed how quiet it is without her older sister so she cried all night. She then got the courage to call her and say I love you and she did. I wish that I could do this, so this short story gave me the courage too.
I have no favorite part in the book because everything in this book is really usefull in a kids life. This book covers every aspect in a kids life. Turning from a kid to a teenager, this book has it all. I advise every kid to read it because it's really handy when your in need.

I have not read this book, but my nine year old daughter has read and enjoyed most of it. Last night though, she cried herself to sleep after reading graphic stories (near the end of the book) by an incest victim whose father was sent to jail and the daughter of an injection drug user who woke up one night with police pointing guns at her. I'm sure the inclusion of these stories was well-intentioned, but there's no way they are "chicken soup" for the average kid's soul.

The story is engaging and interesting from the start. I was drawn immediately to the realism of Honor's character, absorbed by her thoughts and feelings, and intrigued by her challenges. I enjoyed the psychological nature of the story and I am curious to find out more about Instil and the healing dreams. Also, did Honor really dispense with her Instil stocks or would she try them herself?

I like the conversational style of writing and the integration of dialogue and activity as Carrie and Isabelle make the find in the attic. I would like to discover more about the links between the women of the past and the future.

I got into the story very quickly due to Voula's descriptive and conversational style of writing, the interesting characters and intriguing content and I really am curious to find out more... 2 chapters is not enough!

An intriguing start. I immediately related to Honor, at many levels. The novel's style begins with descriptive story and dialogue, which introduce us to the characters and the themes of; family, spanning time, psychology, relationships, aspirations , forgiveness..........
Voula Grand manages to involve the reader as if they are part of this extended family.
The story is told at a fast pace with a crisp, clear narrative. And develops effortlessly, weaving in the characters as they are introduced to us. I so enjoyed reading about the creative possibilities of, for example, Instil and the YiasYias. I truly look forward to rejoining this family dynasty and reading the full story of "Honor's Ghost".

It's clear even from this excerpt that Ms. Grand has tied together a number of both timely and forward-looking themes. The notion that a pharmaceutical company would cancel a new drug because it works too well to be profitable certainly rings true in this cynical age.

She then extrapolates a plausible near-future in which to explore the direction of our society, and the way that same drug would impact it. The foundation set in these two chapters promises a good read.

The prose is smooth, and the dialogue flows naturally. I look forward to the rest of the book.

I really enjoyed the chapters for the review and it left me wanting to read more. How will the connection with the 2 generations develop? I wanted to find out more about Honor and her part in the story. The characters were engaging. When we jumped forward I liked voula's 'future'. The 1st chapter was informative without being too complicated with psychology. I look forward to reading the rest.

Why did the drug company halt clinical trials when the drug was such a raging success? The patient, a woman who had been abused by her father, reported being visited by her grandmother in a dream and was now able to heal and move on. The attending psychiatrist, Dr. Honor Sinclair, is stunned when the drug company decides to withdraw the drug.

Then the story skips two generations into the future. Isabelle Raith, Honor's great-granddaughter, finds Honor's picture as she is cleaning out the attic...

This is an exceptionally well-written excerpt, with a fine mystery set up in the reader's mind. An intriguing element is the interaction passing down through generations of women, adding a touch of tribal myth to this very modern story. Although this is billed as a psychological novel, there are futuristic and science fiction elements here that should make it attractive to sci-fi fans as well. One really hates to see the excerpt end.

The best reading experience is being taken to a different time and place by a protaganist who captures your heart. Possum propels you into her world with a unique voice. Her feelings become your own. Grieving and spunk combine in this rich character. No, not a character, church truth Possum is living, breathing real. I look forward to the rest of her story.

This tale has the ring of truth to a Southern girl who also experienced deep grief as a child. Ms. Laso shows her impressive talent not only by writing in the voice of a 10-year-old girl, but also by sprinkling in clever sentences that zing with insight ("Plus the big rock stuck in the throat ... it's hard to get past, words out or food in." "And the people left behind have to find the way and the will to crush the quiet before it crushes them."). Ms. Laso has accurately conveyed the dialect, successfully captured the sensations of grief and carefully balanced pain and humor to produce an honest, bittersweet account of an emotionally charged phase of life.

I loved keeping company with Possum and her Southern friends. The setting brought me back to the hours I shared with Lee Harper's Scout and the evenings I spent with John Boy on Walton's Mountain. Possum's narrative and Maria Lazo's lyrical voice told a tender story about painful life transitions- a timeless theme that's relevant in any era and local. In Possum's words, "I was so full of sorrow, I don't guess I would've had the strength to blow the dander off a danderlion." And yet, remarkably, eventually she was able to go "back to doing the things that needed doing, like shooing crows out of Momma's pecan tree, helping Daddy in his woodshed, and naming cloud animals, among my other chores and daily travels. Felt like I had a good hold on things." Learning how to get a 'good hold of things' despite loss and pain is a lesson for not only Possum, but everyone who loves.

Maria D. Laso's ability to draw in this reader to Possum's world was evident from the story's first line. Ms. Laso paints a vivid, textured portait of an earlier time and place that breathes with authenticity. Possum speaks as a child but with a wisdom not found in many of the adults in her world. I was truly sad the excerpt ended when it did. I long to find out what happens with Possum, her dad and the brown lady. "The Morning Come" is a first-rate work by a talented writer.

From the first sentence, Possum's engaging voice and perceptive nature drew me in. The "down home" language lends a rhythm to the sentences, creating a charming first person narrative of this coming of age story of a young girl growing up in 1930's Appalachia and coming to grips with loss, loyalty and love. Her mother and new baby sibling has died in childbirth and Liz Betty "Possum" and her father are left with "sorrow storming inside" and must, as Possum says "find the way and the will to crush the quiet before it crushes them." Possom's humorous turns of phrases resonate with the naive wisdom of an observant, quick-minded, self-confident young girl, and make for delightful reading.

The first chapter introduces Possum and her father each dealing with grief in their own way and the Crow Ladies who come "...fixing to stick their beaks in our business." Possum handles the Crow Ladies with resourceful mischief. In the course of the narrative of the next two chapters we meet Miz Justice, a near-blind old lady with a touch of the Sight, Possum's friend June May, who is ten, a year younger than Possum, and whom Possum describes as having "a coon's compass for a brain," and a Yankee lady, newly come to town, whose charm Possum mistrusts right away. In three chapters, skillfully written, Maria D. Laso presents what promises to be an entrancing coming of age story.

Lynn C. Lewis has entered new territory with Dissonance. Although it's classified as a mystery/thriller/suspense here in this contest, I would've thought otherwise if I hadn't read the synopsis and Publisher's Weekly review. Or glanced at the black and yellow box on the top left of her Amazon page!

Most genre fiction is plot driven, and what distinguishes literary fiction is that it's motivated by character(s). Ms. Lewis has accomplished both a plot- and character-driven masterpiece in only 5,000 words. As Randi Craig noted in her review, you can't help falling in love when you read that the main character, Dee Wrightsman, is "pissed off and also pissed." I know I'm not in the minority when I say that I'd take a dirty deed and a memorable one-liner from a charming character over an elaborate description of a beautiful landscape any day when choosing whether or not to continue reading a novel.

What also distinguishes literary fiction is its "Cliff's Notes" potential. Will it be a work that young and old students of literature alike can dismantle, analyze to pieces, and talk till the death in classrooms and creative writing workshops? And yet again, Ms. Lewis accomplishes this in her title alone, Dissonance, which actually refers to "cognitive dissonance." Dee Wrightsman explains it as "More the wish to believe you made the right choice, no matter what. So even if the choice you make isn't the right one, you convince yourself that it was. This generates certain effects when the next choice situation comes up. We don't tolerate dissonance well, so our choices become constricted."

Yet, Ms. Lewis keeps reminding us it's a murder mystery. Her character cleverly engages in a conversation with her colleagues about dissonance and has the gall to give them an example of a murderer planning "her" crime.

Then, when she finds Mr. Guinness's body, here is what she says:

"The back of his head was a mess of blood and brain matter. I grabbed hostess towels from the porcelain towel rack, dropped to my knees, and pressed them against the matted hair. They soaked through slowly, as if the blood had already all run out. His body did not move. Not a breath in him. I couldn't think what should come next and looked up to see Clifford Bacon, Jennings Pick, and a slew of other faculty staring in at me in horror. Bacon's eyes widened and when I turned my head I saw what I had missed at first. Sitting on the toilet tank was a small bottle of apricot brandy."

She manages to avoid overdoing the scene here, describing the back of his head as a "mess of blood and brain matter," and she cleverly ends it with a bottle of her favorite brandy sticking out like a sore thumb at the scene of the crime.

It's as if Ms. Lewis purposely created a new genre for everyone to eat up. She interweaves literary fiction and mystery/thriller elements with ease, making her readers actually care about the character, yet still being able to take them on the ride of their lives, hopefully closer to the conclusion of whodunit.

I was sorry to see this entry not among the top 100, but I am most certain it will be on many best-seller lists before you can say "I'm pissed off and also pissed." Thank you, Ms. Lewis, for having the courage to break new ground in the tough-as-nails world of writing. Success is just around the corner. My best to you.

I found this short to be compelling. The author throws us quickly into the quirky situation that has befallen our immediately likeable heroine and takes us on a fun (at least for awhile) journey. Then when she has provided much entertainment in the plight through which Dee Wrightsman leads us, she confronts us with a very dire situation - a situation that brings us to wonder about our heroine's unpredictable behavior. The first line gives us a clue to Dee's unusual mental processes. "Even for a social psychologist like me, predicting behavior is elusive.

For isn't "predicting behavior" what the "game" is all about for readers of this genre? Can anything complete the circle in Dee Wrightsman's own life and afford her some harmony?

The last part of this excerpt is set up wonderfully as we feel the tension as Dee enters the party. We wonder if we would have had the wherewithal to attend after the incidents of the previous night and how we would handle it. Also at the party-"It was Mags Grossenheimer, Sociology." Nice touch in describing how a person can be thought of by their discipline to the extent it almost becomes part of their name.

Another funny turn - the police chief who carries Jamaican Blue coffee in his work thermos.

I await the next chapter.

Dissonance promises many wonderfully witty insights into faculty life and politics in a liberal arts college (and I'm one who's been there). I don't read many mysteries but I found the blend of satire and murder mystery very compelling, reminding me of some of the classic British authors that blend social satire with their mystery plots. The character profiles leave the reader wondering and hoping for character development as the plot unfolds, and the dialogue and descriptions are very well crafted. On top of everything else this opening excerpt delivers, we get hints that we're in for some lessons in human psychology and why we tend to "wish to believe [we] made the right choice, no matter what." In short, there's something for everyone in this, and I'm sure a publisher will snap it up!

Dissonance by L.C. Lewis opens on Dee Wrightsman's worse month ever. After being denied tenure as an associate professor of Psychology at Southbury College, she lands up a couple weeks later on the lawn of committee lead, Karabelle Poker. She's drunk and spreading horse manure around.

This early portion of the excerpt does a lovely job of engaging the reader with the character. Though Dee is an intelligent and academic woman, she' prone to moody retaliation for perceived wrongdoings. Rather than paint Dee as plain old psycho, the author does a wonderful job of maintaining levity in the tone of the story as it moves forward.

Next we move on to the President's (Quincy Guinness) Summer Solstice Lawn Party (though a few lines later mentions a beautiful Vermont Spring evening). Despite Dee's hesitation to go, she lands up with a trusty bottle of peach brandy in her pocket. As Dee mingles, the reader meets other committee members and faculty with an array of colorful and fun names, though the characters aren't cartoonish.

I truly felt for Dee as she made strides to keep her chin up throughout the embarrassment of having to stick around. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, President Guinness is found dead. A number of eyes turn to her.

This is a clever bit of foundation work for the overall mystery. Not only is the story appealing, but I actually care about the lead character. This latter element I find missing a fair bit in mystery stories. Overall, I'd love to read this book through and see how Dee's situation plays out.

"Dissonance" is a murder mystery with a sharp eye for the humor in human behavior. Dee Wrightsman is a social psychologist at Vermont's Southbury College. After being denied tenure, she got drunk and dumped manure on the lawn of the person she felt was responsible for that decision. The President's Solstice Lawn Party is an opportunity for Dee to rehabilitate her reputation -or not, so she attends, peach brandy in pocket. As she mingles, some colleagues imply a hidden motive in the tenure decision, then a murder victim is discovered, and Dee looks like a suspect.

Dee narrates her story with upbeat sarcasm toward her fellow academics. She drinks too much. She bears a grudge. She's an imperfect character with a sense of humor about her own foibles and those of the people around her. Her field of study is "dissonance", the desire people have to believe they have made the right choice, no matter what they must do to convince themselves. This might make Dee the perfect candidate to investigate a murder.

Dee's humor and directness endeared her to me. Real emotions that are implicit as much as explicit in her narration give Dee dimension beyond her quips and idiosyncrasies, as her state of mind turns from anger and annoyance to grief and fear in the course of these first pages. Skillful, polished prose moves the story along at a pleasant pace and grounds "Dissonance" firmly in the character of Dee. I expect she will have some funny things to say on the serious subject of murder -and the less serious subject of academic infighting.

I actually enjoyed this 2nd installment more because by now I had developed a "trust" with the author and allowed myself to invest more in my hopes and dreams for the characters. I enjoyed that I knew these characters as the book opened and started with a depth that allowed a deeper story. The power of love, patience, and allowing God to work even when He makes no sense to us at the time was heart-wrenching and fulfilling!

As with the 1st book in the Mark of the Lion Trilogy (Voice in the Wind), this 2nd installment is extremely well written, historical, spiritual, adventurous, romantic, with characters you love and those you don't ... you will ponder it when you set it down, find today's reality is revealed in a story from 2000 years ago, and be challenged with lessons for your own life. This is a trilogy that brings inexplicable deep meaning and growth in your heart.

If you don't yet have an amazon kindle ebook reader, it's books like this that make it all worthwhile ~ only 60 seconds to download the 2nd story after you finish with the 1st - woo hoo!

Bon Appetit!

Francine Rivers paints a detailed picture of life in the Roman Empire. She gets into who her characters are inside rather than just how they appear on the surface. The book is Christian fiction, in the best sense of the word. The main character is a Christian Jew who is taken captive when Jerusalem falls to the Romans. The story is very much about how her faith effects her life and the lives of those around her, and it is shown not by sermon snippets but by her actions. I highly recommend the book. Much of what is sold as Christian fiction couldn't be sold to those without faith because the stories are trite and the dialogue preachy. This book could be enjoyed even by someone who didn't care a bit about religion

I agree with the other reviewers that Francine Rivers has done an outstanding job with this trilogy. If you like historical fiction you will love this book. But read the first book first!

This book was an amazing sequel to A Voice in the Wind. Rivers has a remarkable way of envoking emotions with her writing. I have adored every book that I have read of hers and I will continue to read all of her books. She is, without a doubt, the best author I have ever had the priveledge to read. I highly recommend any and all of her works!!!!!

An Echo in the Darkness is the second book in Francine River's Mark of the Lion triology. The book wastes little time recapping from the first book (A Voice in the Wind).

Spoiler alert: Since the last book, we discover that life has changed for the characters in 1st century AD. Hadassah is surviving with disfiguring injuries, Marcus is seeking to make sense of the world as he knows it, his sister suffers from an unidentified and dangerous illness and his mother Phoebe has turned to Christianity and does good works in the community.

To make sense of the tragedy and abominations of the people, Marcus travels to the holy land to find this "God" to whom Hadassah prayed. His journey, is a good metaphor for many people's journey into Christianity. Through his journey, as well as Hadassah's into forgiveness and Julia's into redemption we get a good picture of life in Rome, Ephesus and Israel in the 1st century AD. However, my overall issue with the book was that the talk of God and faith was quite heavy handed. I much preferred a Voice in the Wind because there was a better combination of history, faith and humanity. I know this is probably an unpopular sentiment, but there was so much talk of God in this book that it became overbearing at times. For me, it was to much, for others, if you enjoy a substantial focus on God in a book besides the Bible, then this book is for you.

I haven't actually read this book in many years but it was a favorite of mine as a child. I remember my mother reading it to me night after night after night and then taking a trip into Boston to see all of the places mentioned. It's a great story and the illustrations are beautiful. I now use it as a gift for new moms to read to their children.

Prior to a planned trip to Boston, I purchased Make Way For Ducklings for my grandchildren who were three and a half and five and a half at the time. Their mom was running in the Boston Marathan. Knowing that we would be taking them to the Public Gardens and they would see the "ducklings"..this was a perfect history lesson written so well for little ones and adults to learn...Highly recommended

This book is simply sublime. I had it as a child, got it for my own children over 25 years ago, and now am buying a copy for my new grandson. Everything about this book is wonderful!

This classic picture book details the lives of the Mallard family in the Public Garden of Boston. This is an excellent read for kids of all ages, and is a good introduction to Caledecott books.

Make Way for the Ducklings by Robert McClosky has become a classic in children's literature since it was first published in 1941. Children's books have changed a lot over the years, but this particular work is substantial proof that change is not always best and more importantly, that quality will always stand the test of time.

The work has a lot going for it. First there is the story. Two Mallard ducks, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are trying to find a safe home to start a family; one that is safe from foxes and turtles. As they fly, several locations are considered and after a lengthy journey they settle upon a small island in the Charles River, Boston, Mass. Before settling here and starting their brood, they visit the Public Garden in Boston, where at first the find food rather hard to find, but after they encounter the "Swan Boats" and the people riding these boats throwing peanuts to them, they decide that the park is a good place. After checking the area out, the settle on the small island in the Charles River where Mrs. Mallard hatches a number of ducklings; eight in all. At that time, Mr. Mallard decides to take a short trip to check the area out. In his absence, Mrs. Mallard cares for her young and one day, after the little ones can walk, swim and learn to line up in a straight line, she takes them to the park.

The story of the friendly policeman and his coworkers, the journey through the city and their eventual arrival at their new home makes for a wonderful tale. Actual place names are used in the story and are depicted quite accurately in the illustrations. Louisburg Square, Charles river, Mount Vernon Street, Beacon Hill, The Book Store and several others sites allow visitors to more or less trace the journey of the duck family.

The second thing this story has is the marvelous art work. All is done in charcoal, with wonderful shading and great detail. The buildings, cars, people, dress and stores all are accurate to that particular era. This does not distract from the story in the least, and indeed, adds to the charm.

This is a wonderful read along book and is suitable for ages four through eight. I have personally "kid checked" it with these age groups and get asked for many rereading.

This book received the Caldecott medal in 1941 and it was well deserved. Other children's books by this author include Lentil, Blueberries for Sal, One Morning in Maine and Time to Wonder. All of these are excellent choices and should be included in any child's library.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

First, I want to be clear that this review pertains to the CD that comes with Runny Babbit. My 7-year-old son checked the Runny Babbit book from the library, and we read it and loved it. We'd pause to figure out what the words "should be." When he received money for his birthday, he wanted to buy a copy of the book. I made the mistake of suggesting he purchase the book that comes with the CD. THE CD IS AWFUL!!! The narrator sounds like he has a head cold and should have called in a sick day, but showed up at the studio anyway. There are only 12 poems on the CD, and it only runs about 10 minutes. (I know, that's like the joke about the restaurant that served lousy food, and such small servings!!! But it adds to the feeling of being completely ripped off by the CD.) It is not worth buying!!! Just buy the book without the CD and either read it to your child aloud or have your child read it; the experience will be much more worthwhile.

This book is the last that Shel Silverstien wrote, it took him twenty years.When you see how this book is written, you will understand why it took him so long. After he died his family compiled the entire thing as a project of love.
I highly recommend this read, my children love it and it is eduactional. Since it is all backwords, it forces children to think about every word and how it should be instead of how it is. It is fun to read as is and switch around and read as it should be. I had to add this to my children's collection, since it is a one of a kind and Shel's final book.

This book had my son rolling on the floor with laughter. There's one poem in particular that we have to read every time we open the book. It never fails to get his funny bone. I would recommend this for children who are reading. Younger children will probably not get the humor intended.

Do you like jokes? Well I've got just what you're looking for. READ Runny Babbit. It is the funniest book ever. Instead of saying all the right things he says all the wrong things like "here is my bat" insead of "where is my hat". It is so funny. Read to find out why the book is funny. You will love this book. So READ IT! Recommended for kids who love jokes.

In a wave of nosthalgia, I bought this Shel Silvertein book. As a little kid I loved "Where the Sidewalk Ends" and the other works. This has to be the best, though.

While obviously it is a children's book, adults love it, too. It tickles the tongue and the spirit. When I took it to the office we took turns reading from it and laughed silly. It really lightened the atmosphere.

Also a warning: You will me tompelled, no cempted to wange you chords after beading this rook.

and very dull and slow. My daughter loves mystery books. She read this aloud to me. Neither of us were impressed. My daughter kept asking why they continued to enter the house without the owner's permission. She also kept asking where the mystery was. We read more than half of the book and decided to give up on it. I was disappointed since I had heard such wonderful things about this series and was looking forward to it. I'm glad that we only ordered this one and none other.

Like some of the other reviewers here, I grew up on the Trixie Belden books, and I also dreamed of being a member of the Bob-Whites! Being a horse-lover, too, the fact that they all rode horses was an added bonus.

I agree that Trixie and the gang were "real" characters: they teased each other, had spats, screwed up at times, and each had a distinct personality, yet all were extremely lovable. I especially always enjoyed the bantering b/t Trixie and her know-it-all brother, Mart. Yet for all the teasing you knew they really loved each other. I was an only child, and although I did have a close friend like Honey, I would've loved to have brothers like Trixie's Brian & Mart, and Honey's adopted brother, Jim.

I am so happy that Trixie and the gang are not considered too "old-fashioned" to appeal to a new generation. These books are truly ageless and timeless. I still have my original collection from when I was a kid (won't say my age, but that was many, many moons ago). I cherish them, will never part with them, and I STILL re-read them every so often, and STILL enjoy them immensely.

There were many Trixie Belden books after the original six by Julie Campbell, but IMO the ones by Julie Campbell are the best.

This was my first time reading a Trixie Belden book and I enjoyed it immensely! In this book, Trixie meets a new friend, Honey, who moves in next door. While exploring an old mansion with Honey, they discover a runaway boy. He has runaway from his stepfather, who treats him cruelly.
These stories are cliffhangers! I love them and advise you to read them all, as I plan to do.

This story is one of my fave series because I love misterys so much. This book is about a girl and has nothing to do in the summer time in till she meats Hunny her best friend and thats the begining of the misterys! READ IT NOW!

This book is the best book I ever read! It is a wonderful book to start off the series of Trixie Belden.