Seven Books

FOr all the fans also read
NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER...
both jordan sonnenblichs are in my top two favorites.
(i cant decide which one i like better)
this book is good for anyone
my friends and family that have read it
a jock,
grandma,
mother,
cousins,
father,
brother,
preppy girl,
girly,
punk,
as you can see this book is good for anyone so READ IT its amazing...... and quite sad

This is my favorite book of all time. I loved everything about it.. one thing is the fact that you can relate to the character so well, and it is like you are right there beside him.. but you can't help him in his time of despirate need. i feel so bad for him and his family, but mostly him.. i mean how hard would it be to have your little brother get sick and for a whole day think that it was your fault that you left him there on his stool alone, when you know darn well that you aren't suppost to, and then spacing out all day and having that be the only thing that you csn think of. i would be crushed. Then on top of that having your mom gone for weeks and a time and the first week her and your little brother are gone your father doesn't even talk to you let alone look at you.. and little did you know that your mother is calling him every night but your father isn't telling you the condition on your little brother.. that he really does have luekmia. But he deals with it pretty well with his music and stuff. that would be the way i would have to do it to.. because to Him and I music is everything. Anyway. i hope that everyone who can get their hands on this novel reads it... because this is truely an amazing book.

From the title, I was expecting a story about a hopeless junior high kid in a quest of girlfriend-finding. But the story turns out to be more about the relationship between the boy and his kid brother. And such a sweet story indeed.

The author manages to make the character realistic. I think the boy is a bit sappy at times, but hey, I never went through that whole experience of being a thirteen-year-old--having been born with a missing Y chromosome. Besides, the author is a middle school teacher. Dare I argue on how a thirteen-year-old boy should be feeling?

The little brother is so cute. I still laugh over the line: "Yeah, Steven! That's my brother!" (Or something to that effect.)

Overall, a very recommended reading.

It is unbelievable the response i received from my entire eighth grade reading class. This book was eaten up by all, including my very reluctant readers. As many of them said it was a book they could relate to. I used the book in all my classes and believe me many students were sad when we finished it. We did have one advantage. My students and I were fortunate enough to meet the author. He was an incredible down to earth person who freely shared his inspirations.

I'm a intermediate school librarian in Utah plowing through the Beehive Award Books before school starts, and although I have not read them all yet, this is my favorite so far. It has a wonderful message with great laugh-out-loud humor and real emotions. The situations are believable and although I was fearing a sappy ending, happily I was wrong! The book is great from cover to cover.

I loved this book!!! The introduction to me was GREAT! It kinda gave you a little hint of what you were about to get into!!! It's just wonderful! This book was really a great read and like it was being told by someone who actually has been through that!!

this book was really good,the main character is like my twin. i recommend this book to everyone 13-16

this book was ok but again another book that doesn't have a good ending, well a ending that excites you this was very boring and typically left me with no expression.

At first I doubted I'd enjoy Dymond In The Rough, I'm not really big on reading. But since I opened Dymond In The Rough, I believe that reading has definitely grown on me. I absolutely loved Dymond and her play cousins, Kera and Porsha.

I recommend this book to all young and curious teens like myself.

Reviewed by: Lauren
OOSA's teen reviewer

Dymond, at fourteen, has a pretty good head on her shoulders. Having a good, open relationship with her mother has been beneficial. But like most typical teens she's smelling herself. Sometimes what adults say go in one ear and out the other, particularly when cutie Kyle Banks enters the picture. Will Dymond give in to peer pressure?

I really enjoyed it. I liked the idea of it and it worked. I also liked the power words. Dymond in the Rough is simple, yet interesting enough to hold the attention of young adults. Dymond is them. She's dealing with common, everyday issues like boys, peer pressure, and coming into her own. I have scoured the bookstores for books geared towards our youth from infancy on up and it's been no easy task. I'm glad that I now have the Platinum Teen Series to look to. It reminds me of the popular series like Junie B and Ramona Quimby, but for us by us. Kudos to KaShamba Williams. No cussing, no violence, no sex and your child is reading. What more can a parent ask for?!?!

The only drawback to this book is it is in need of better editing. It's great that our teens are reading, but let's set an example and give them a good quality product, including proper punctuation.

Tyler and Lymie have know idea what trouble there getting in by just getting the chicken pox and imatating a famous local artits. The town is having a huge festival for the annversity, also they are dreding the local river to find heads that the artist made. As a joke the boys make heads of there own. If you like a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end then this book is for you. The boys are always getting into mischeif from running into the river with there clothes on to egging the infamous keepouts who want no one near there house not even the a little eight grade kid.Also they are always getting in trouble by there parents from being grounded uncountable number of times to having a gun to there head to riding home in a police car. From reporters chasing them to there home and calling there house you'll be on your seat untill the very end!!!!!!!!

This is a great book! It is so funny and so well written!

Tyler and Lymie had no idea that having the chicken pox would get them into so much trouble. It was about time for the centennial celebration of an artist named Badaglio. Badaglio was rumored to have made two heads out of stone and thrown them in the nearby river. Tyler and Lymie have some fun and make their own stone heads and they too throw them in the river. Theywere found just before the big Badaglio art fest. Two art critics declared that they were authentic. They fouled everybody. Tyler and Lymie were worried sick , because they thought they would get in trouble. Now the real fun begins. I really enjoyed reading this book, because it was very interesting and funny. I would recommend that one of my friends read this adventurous novel.

In this book EYE OF THE BEHOLDER there are two main characters Tyler and Lymie. All throughout the book Tyler and Lymie have you on the edge of your seats wondering what their next move will be. The story take place in a small town called Wakefield. Wakefield isn't really all that exciting but in just a few days the twon is going to throw a big celebration for the twon's hero the famous sculpter Badoglio,Tyler and Lymie cook up a plan to give the town a big surprise but they just don't know how their surprise will go. I really liked this book alot becouse, it had to do with kids. I could relate and understand also. I would recommend this book becouse it's really good and funny.

I just finished reading Eye of the Beholder.It is a very interesting novel. It keeps you very interested and you just don`t want to put it down. I liked the novel for the most part.The two main characters Tyler and Lymie get into a little trouble during the novel with their interests in art. I like the novel because of what happens during the novel. I would urge a friend to read this novel because it is a fun book to read,and if I liked it I`m positive that they would like it to.

The Flame Tree is a realistic fiction book by author Richard Lewis. This book takes place in 2001in a small town in Indeonesia called Java. Placed around the September eleventh terrorist attacks, this novel weighs Islam and Christianity in a way that makes you really think about both sides of this religious difference.
12 year old Isaac Williams lives with his parents in a Baptist hospital compound, where there is also a Christian boarding school holding hundreds of students. A giant flame tree towers over the compound. This is where Issac makes a discovery that should have been his first clue to realize something was wrong. In the bamboo forest that surrounds the compound, Isaac finds a gate that is hard to see from the inside and even more difficult to see from the outside. He thinks he has found a way to go see his friend Ismail without getting caught outside the compound, but has he found something sinister? He doesn't give a second thought to this. He slips out to go visit Ismail, a Muslim boy who lives with his family in Java. He and Ismail have a great time and Isaac slips back into the compound unnoticed... almost. His mother catches and then scolds him,but otherwise he feels pretty good. His life is that of a normal 12 year old boy. He has nice parents, a home, a loving God, a best friend, and a way to escape from his punishment sentence. Then, the twin towers collapse and kill thousands of Americans. Suddenly, Java's muslims are like a deadly cobra waiting to rear it's ugly head and release it's poisonous venom onto the Americans at the hospital compound.
This was an emotionly hard to read book, but it was very helpful in understanding Islam and maybe why he 9/11 terrorist attacks happened. Don't read this book if you are interested in stories from 9/11. Read this book if you are looking to understand them. This book also has a lot of religious issues and comparisons between Islam and Christianity in it, so if you are interested in that, this is also a good read. I would recommend this to 13 year-olds and older because it has some tough material in it. What will happen to Isaac? What do the gate, the flame tree, and Ismail have to do with it? Read The Flame Tree to find out.

Growing up in a Muslim country, you seem so used to the Muslim traditions and way of life. Just like 12 year old Isaac. The realistic events in this novel are very thought provoking. It opened up my eyes to an uglier side of people. When religion becomes a cause for fighting. When people take on their own meanings of their religion. I was very surprised to find,after reading this book, that it isn't popular. It provides such an insight into the world in which most of us are oblivious to. It is painful, because it is told through the eyes of such a young child. But just like To Kill A Mockingbird, maybe it is only through eyes of a child which true suffering can be seen. I hope that more people, especially Americans pick up the book to read. It is powerful, and provides such a ticket into seeing the complications there exists in this world.

The Flame Tree
By Richard Lewis
Set in post 9/11 Indonesia, this coming of age tale offers an intimate look at the culture of Muslims and their Christian neighbors through the eyes of a 12-year old American boy. While the story is compelling with the kidnapping of the hero (fair-haired, blue-eyed), Isaac, it is perhaps a little too gritty for most 12-year old readers with its graphic description of a brutal circumcision. While the realism of the tale isn't in doubt, once again Muslims' 'bad guy' status is brought into sharp focus. The author does attempt to "normalize" the view of the religion of Islam through the clever introduction of wise, old cleric Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Abubakar, among others, who ultimately helps Isaac and his mother with the tall order of reconciling their anger with friends, God and terrorists.

The book does a superb job of raising questions in the readers mind about the origins of the Judeo-Christian and Islamic faiths in its attempt to show their fundamental similarities, but most middle school readers are going to gloss over these details and get caught up in the "gory details." This book is better recommended for the high school student studying cultural diversity or comparative religion. It would be interesting to see if this author attempts another look at the subject from a Muslim boy's perspective, since that would also be a compelling read.

The divergence of the monotheistic religions came when Ishmael went to Mecca, and Abraham's other son, Isaac, stayed in Palestine. Richard Lewis's The Flame Tree, is the modern example of the continuing conflict that resulted from this divide. Twelve-year-old Isaac is the son of Christian missionaries in Indonesia. He watches the world from the branches of the flame tree and plays with Ismail, a local Muslim boy, along the riverbank.

However, when the Tuan Guru Haji Abdullah Abubakar appears, in their once peaceful town of Wonobo, accusing the missionaries of committing sin against Allah by trying to convert Muslims to Christians, it's not only the boys' friendship that is threatened but their beliefs, as well.

Lewis's depiction of religious conflict is honest, real, and objective. Though the son of American missionaries, his story is neither one-sided nor preachy. The violence portrayed in the novel is shocking and painful but tastefully written.

The Flame Tree is intelligent and thought-provoking. It is action packed and lyrical, a wonderful contribution to young adult literature, and an excellent read for older adults too.

A marvelously, wonderfully spun tale, steeped in first hand knowledge and laced with imagery so realistic, that you forget that it is fiction. As an American living in Indonesia who was deeply impacted by the Bali Bomb, I battled between not being able to put the book down and needing to put the book down to process my response. This is an amazingly informative book. Through it, one is engaged on all levels - intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. Lewis' clever whit, ability to lead the reader into intimacy with each of the well-developed characters, and well-balanced approach to cultural and religious issues faced by our current generation, provided a greatly satisfying read. This story cuts straight to the heart, while being full of such great fun, adventure and suspense, that one is able to easily press through what would otherwise be a slow go through amazingly huge issues faced by our world today.

A myth-like story about an ancient race of female warriors and one girl in particular who would be Queen, beautifully written. A fantastic YA novel for teens and adults. The best by Hoffman I have read so far.

One of Alice Hoffman's few YA books, this story of an Amazonian princess will capture you like no other read. The ways of the women warriors are brutally intense, and for the first time are questioned, by Rain, who vies for her mother's attention but still attempts to defy the ways of tradition. The characters are strong, each of them contributing to the choices made by Rain, for good or bad.

The Foretelling is a gripping book from beginning to end. Your care for the young princess grows as you learn more and more about her destiny, and her will to change the fate of her people to peace. Her strong connections with horses and bears seem spiritual, and make this story of pain and violence almost gentle and compassionate. I guarantee everyone will enjoy it.

This book is short and that's unfortunate because I think the story could have been made longer but regardless it was a very compelling story. I liked how it was written and Rain I instantly loved as a character. Amazon women I have always heard of and reading about them was really interesting and fun.

The characters were strong, the dialogue was always short and to the point, and the story telling itself in Rain's eyes kept you hooked. I also read Practical Magic and that's how I got to know the name Alice Hoffman and I'm glad I did because both Fortelling and Practical Magic were worthwhile books.

In this intense yet complicated fantasy story, Rain attempts to gain her mother's notice and acceptance by being the best of warriors in their Amazonian tribe. The product of a rape when her mother, Alina, wasn't much more than a child herself, it is hard to gain the Queen's approval. Although Rain knows that she's been raised by Deborah, the wise priestess, to one day be Queen herself, she also pays attention to Deborah's promises of a much grander destiny.

Rain doesn't totally understand the Queen's desire to so thoroughly destroy her enemies, even though her own cousins, Astella and Asteria, are two of the fiercest warriors in the tribe. When Alina takes Penthe as her companion, and Penthe's daughter Io seeks to be Rain's sister, matters become even more complicated. Rain wants nothing more than to ride her horse, Sky, to garner her mother's approval, to earn the place as rightful Queen that will someday come upon her.

On her first journey alone, Rain comes upon a bear cub, which she takes back to camp. She names him Usha, and together with Io the two girls raise the cub as if he were a horse. Although Rain and Io soon discover the mistake of doing so, it's too late--Usha is killed in battle, and Rain still doesn't have the love and acceptance of her mother.

THE FORETELLING is a coming-of-age story set in a fantastical land of the Amazons. Rain is a compelling character who, although she tries so hard to be vicious and fierce like her fellow tribe-members, always leans more towards peace for all men and compassion towards her enemies.

Not to be missed by lovers of fantasy stories!

My name is Doug Hiser, author of the 2006 novel,The Honey Bee Girl. I have been reading and collecting Alice Hoffman books since I discovered Turtle Moon. I have read them all and The Fortelling is my favorite. I loved her narrative and moving story. In some ways it reminded me of Clan of the Cave Bear and also of mystical ancient cultures that we see only in dreams. Alice Hoffman's prose is the main reason I fell in love with her books. She is the magic realism of writing the way Michael Parks is of the dreamlike reality of art and Frank Frazetta is the master of fantasy painting. The Fortelling is a short work of literary genius accessible to everyone. She has deep intense knowledge of the emotions and feelings that most people can only guess about. Discover her writing through this compelling work and then find your way into her other books. You won't be disappointed. Doug Hiser

This product showed up speedily and in very good condition. I am very happy with it.

This epidsode will make you want to continue on to the next issues. Its fun, its sad, and it's entertaining.

I own this series in Japanese, and it is a wonderful read! It has all the important elements of a good shoujo manga: it is romantic, twisted, with a shoujo (in the traditional meaning of the word) involved in finding a new family and love triangles galore. It is just a very fun read, no matter the language!

This volume was definately one of the best so far. It was so good, it surprised me! No part of this volume is boring. I loved the parts with Kureno (he's one of my favorite characters), and the class trip was the best! This volume raises LOTS of questions, those of which you'll have to find out for yourself. But trust me, this volume is so worthy of the $10 you'll have to spend, that I'll read it again after just reading it yesterday! Take my advice, you will love this volume. Fruits Basket really does put all else to shame!

I absolutly love this series. While at first it may seen strange you just can't help falling in love with the characters (<3 kyo) and their whole story. Before you know it you end up rooting along with the characters on their journies. While they are aimed at a teenage audience my mom aunt and 12 year old brother even enjoy them! This series was the first Manga I had ever read and its what actually got me started on reading manga and enjoying it. I Absolutly cannot wait until the 14th book comes out...
I highly recommend this series to everyone of all ages.

I don't usually write reviews, but I found this book too enlightening to not. Getting Into Character is full of excellent ideas and excellent examples. I am in the process of editing my National Novel Writing Month novel using Collins' ideas. Her examples are clear and illuminating. The recommended reading at the back of the book is extensive and well-explained.

I would have liked a little more on creating a good "Level A," but that is my only complaint.

If you write and are in the market to raise your writing to the level of such literary greats as Twain, Austen, Tolstoy, Dickens, Siddons, Dumas, Hugo, Mitchard, Foster, Waller, Martini or Saul, then this is a must have for your research library. From the fingers of Brandilyn Collins comes the experience of a best selling novelist and her adaptation of Method acting director/instructor, Stanislasky's words. Included are samples of contemporary and classic novels teaching you how to push your writing higher. You can learn how to draw the reader to your characters as their story unfolds. Don't miss this one!

An interesting analogy of how writers are like actors and must get into their characters' heads in order to portray them in a convincible style. Filled with good ideas.

This book seemed to be one-half Lajos Egri (The Art of Creative Writing) and one-half John Cleaver (Immediate Fiction). Like both of these authors, Brandilyn Collins explains how to create well-developed, compelling characters that you can let loose in your stories.

All of the author's techniques tie back to Stansislavsky's "Method Acting." Each chapter starts with an analysis of one of techniques of Method Acting. Then that technique is summarized in terms of ficiton writing. The remaining chapter fills in the details and gives examples.

In addition to the techniques of character development, the author presents several narrative frameworks for the overall plotting of the story. She also discusses crafting each scene using character objectives that flow from the character's Inner Values.

The chapter on dialog was interesting. Here, the author shows you how to link the hidden-message of dialog (sub-texting) back to the richly-developed psychological profile, or inner values, of the character.

I liked the book very much - particularly her conceptualization of Method Acting back to narrative writing and her well-explained examples. This book is different than many others describing character development. The author also includes exercises that the reader can pursue.

John Dunbar
Sugar Land, TX

The reviewers have said it all, and yet I feel the need to add my two cents as an author and a 'how-to' book collector.

I struggled with my characters from the beginning and since reading Brandilyn's book I can understand why. Never before have I read a book that gives such explicit examples of how to create characters of depth and motivation.

My copy is dog-eared, highlighted, scribbled, and has lovingly earned a spot on my shelf as a book I could not write without. I can't recommend GETTING INTO CHARACTER enough for new authors and those who think they have nothing more to learn.

I stumbled onto Norma Johnston and "Keeping Days" when I was a mid-aged teen and my parents would drop us off at the neighborhood Episcopal church on Sundays (so they could have some kid-free time; I was one of five). The church library carried these books. I loved this series so much and, mea culpa I'll admit, I actually, um appropriated one from the church library.

I had always wanted to be a writer, was over-sensitive, and well, you get the rest. If I were (my thinking at the time) to be able to have a "Fantasy Island" type of experience (remember that creepy show?) I wanted to be Tish.

I concur: these books are marvelous and I re-read them every year. And yes, I did turn out to be a writer and in a big way I know these books propelled me into that direction. Even more interesting: when I was starting out in my career, I worked for a publisher in NY and had a chance to meet the author. She was...warm and encouraging and frankly just marvelous. Wouldn't it be nice if she saw a bit of Tish in me, as I'm sure Tish was in her. Doesn't really matter but I will never forget her kindness.

This was my favourite book when I was in junior high. I read it dozens of times, yes dozens. I do have paperback copies of the entire series and have read the series several times as an adult as well. These books should appeal to young girls with a literary nature. Other books I was passionately found of were the L.M. Montgomery books and these are of a similar nature.

I read these books in junior high and instantly fell in love with them. I even took to looking in my highschool library and found them and reread them even though i was 17. I think they should reprint them i know i would buy the whole series and enjoy them even though I'm 22.

When I was oh...13, 0r 14 I stumbled upon these books in my Junior-High school library and absolutely fell in love with them. Ever since, I searched for copies of them. Couldn't find them so I kind of gave up the search. A few years later, I realized there was more then 2 books to the series and have continued to this day to look for them, but to no avail. I really wish they would bring them back. They are obviously loved by many. (It's very comforting too, because there for awhile I swear I thought I was insane. No-one else seemed to know what I was talking about when I asked for the books)

This series should never have gone out of print-I've never introduced them to a student yet who didn't love them! Unless you find a copy in a library, you are out of luck, and forget E-Bay, unless you want to pay a fortune for a copy that looks like it was dragged through the mud. Someday...

este libro es muy bueno, como todos los de la serie, por supuesto. se lo recomiendo a los padres que quieren tener a sus hijos leyendo libros en lugar de estar pegados al nintendo wii!

English is my first language and as an adult I love reading the Harry Potter books. Because I'm learning Spanish, who better to practice on than Harry?! I purchased all 5 in the series available. The book arrived in excellent condition and very quickly. Quite pleased with my purchase experience.

I just LOVE this book, and all the harry potter books. I wanted to say to Eric J Justice, who wrote a review above, that your review was incorrect. It DIDNT have a mistake; saying QUE TE TENGO DICHO es right. In fact, im pretty sure what you said was right too. But anyway, anyone who hasn't read this should, but read the SORCERER'S STONE first, because it's really best to read them in order.

I'm a high school student taking Spanish as my foreign language. I decided one day to buy Harry Pooter y la Cámara Secreta to help with my Spanish. Though some of the words aren't what I'm use to I still understood it and it helped my Spanish greatly. Many of the higher level Spanish classes are reading this also. For students taking Spanish this is a great way to help with your Spanish. It puts your knowledge to use and it helps you to remember things better. They're just as great as the English version!

Aconsejo no prestar demasiada atención a las críticas que se quejan del vocabulario castizo en contraposición al vocabulario americano. No hay prácticamente nada que un lector castellanohablante educado no pueda entender, y el castellano utilizado en el libro es adecuado para la trama.
La traducción en sí, exceptuando algún resbalón con el subjuntivo, es gramaticalmente correcta. No conozco el original en inglés.

El argumento abunda en lo descriptivo, con un ritmo de la acción lento durante casi toda la obra, concentrando la mayor parte del desenlace en los últimos 3 o 4 capítulos. La sensación de desasosiego que algunas críticas mencionan en este sentido es leg?tima.

En general, la obra es medianamente entretenida y contribuye a adquirir vocabulario.

I was hooked after I read the first few pages! A true story, that reads like a mystery! Laurie Anthony has captured the reality of homelessness through her experience with a homeless man. She tells his story (and hers) in such a honest, soul-searching way that I also examined my own beliefs and misconceptions about the homeless. In addition, the research she sites about homelessness, poverty, mental illness, shelters, welfare, and unemployment was informative and helpful. This book can be read as a memoir, a self-help book, or an introductory text to the problem of homelessness.

With remarkable skill and resolve, she managed to whittle away at J.C.'s paranoia and distrust, and the resulting chronicle, "Have a Great One!" is a triumph. Stirring and joyful, it's a perfect seasonal example of heartfelt benevolence - and manifesto for extending year-round kindness to fellow strangers everywhere. The Boox Review

Have a Great One! A Homeless Man's Story is about a panhandler named J.C. struggling to survive in New York City. But it is also the story of a womanon a journey of self-discovery. It is the story of the bond that can form between two people who make a connection by chance, and find enough courage to tell each other the truth. It's about coming to an understanding: that some mistakes in life can be rectified, while others never will. Yet, the message in the book is uplifting. If you let go of blame and let in compassion, you can grow and make a difference in the world...

I would recommend this book, especially for students. It would be a great way to introduce them to this whole issue. The book is written in an easily readable style, with many resources listed at the end of the book for further research. Diane Morgan, Editor in Chief, New Books Review

Have A Great One!: A Homeless Man's Story is the personal account of Laurie Anthony's encounter and subsequent experiences with J.C. Simmons, a homeless man residing on the streets of New York City. This is a compelling exploration of the psychology of homelessness and a journey of self-awareness, knowledge, trust, and compassion as Laurie learns about a homeless man's plight and strategies for survival on the streets. Have A Great One! is a carefully researched and sensitive account of the problem of homelessness and an inspiration to anyone wanting to make a difference, wanting to deal with this growing American phenomena of the homeless in our urban cities.