Fiction Books

I read this book years ago and I remember absolutely loving it. It's taken me years to find it again (I could never remember the title or author). I'm not sure I've ever read a book that has haunted me and disturbed me as much as this one.

A group of teens face an evil, deserted amusement park with rides and objects intent on doing them harm. Jenny, Dee, Michael and Audrey all set out to find Jenny's boyfriend, Tom and her cousin, Zach. Jenny constantly resists the charming Julian and proves herself as stronger than anyone ever thought her to be. Julian, who was introduced earlier in the series as the demanding and ruthless evil Shadow Man, shows that he has a much more caring and vulnerable side. Jenny and her friends face various obstacles and change along the way- their support, friendship and solidarity strengthening each other. The ending is bittersweet and, in my opinion, a tearjerker.

L.J. Smith should really consider writing a sequel to this series! The ending ends with some hope and really, I find the possibilities of what could be done now to be extremely interesting.

(Spoiler) What do you all think would happen IF Julian's name was carved once again? Would he be the same Julian with the same feelings, would he be as Julian was when he was first born, or would be another being entirely? These questions were never fully answered and I would love to know!

I do detest the ending however I don't think I'll spoil it for you but never the less still good story.

This entire Trilogy is just amazing. I was given a present of the first book when I was about 7 (10 years ago), and I immediately wanted the next two! I fell in love with Julian there and then, and was never able to understand why Jenny didn't just choose him! I've read these books over 20 times, and they're all falling apart. Everybody in the entire world should read them, because you're missing out if you don't. I highly recommend them. The last book is a nice finish, but it's incredibly sad. I wish it had ended differently! (...)

In the trilogy of the Forbidden game i thought that the first and third were the best books I've ever read, and although the second was good it didnt even compare to these. I thought the game was great but if I were jenny I'm afraid I would miss out on it because one look and a few words from Julian and I would run away with him straight away. The books were made to be so real that I'm still searching for my own door, call me sad but you have to admit if Julian wanted you, you wouldn't be able to resist!

This was the first LJS book I ever read and it awakened me. Never before had I realised what a book could truly do to a person. This, the final book of the Forbidden Game trilogy, really gives the reader an insight to all the characetrs. It shows how they have developed, especially Julian. It also brings out different feelingsof the main characetr, Jenny. She learns so much about Julian and learns to understand. This book is definatly the most important and is a wonderful way to end the trilogy.

This is my favourite book, only challenged by other of L J Smith's works. She is an amazing woman and it is well worth reading her stuff.

When I looked up Darryl Brock to see Havana Heat, I was thrilled to see that If I Never Get Back was rated 5 stars by *SO* many people. So I'm adding my own rave.

I read a library copy of this book shortly after it was published. I loved it so much that I immediately bought my own copy and some extras to give away. I even wrote a fan letter to Darryl Brock, who wrote back and included some cartoons & other items that were apropos to the story.

I love the entire book, but want to add special mention about the last page or 2. The ending is unique and charming and absolutely perfect. I can't help but smile whenever I think about it.

The book is like a grown-up fairy tale based on an actual historic era. If this appeals to you, READ THIS BOOK!!

"If I Never Get Back" by Darryl Brock has something enjoyable for everybody. It's a historical novel with adventure,danger,action,humor,fantasy and romance, but will be especially loved by those who love time travel and baseball(and train enthusiasts as well). You'll go back in time and escape to a time with no electricity,phones, credit cards, TV, radio or cars, but in the just post civil war era of 1869, there was our National Pastime - Baseball.

Sam Fowler does not start out as the most likeable character. He's a drinker,has a bit of an anger management problem, and is brooding over the separation from his beloved little girls due to a messy divorce. On top of that he has just been notified of the death of his own absentee father(no great loss to Sam) but has the dubious job of burying him.
The boozing had led Sam to "milky" periods where things are just not quite in focus. While at the train station on his way back from dealing with his father, he is having one of his episodes and falls into unconsciousness. He awakes on the same platform but things are quite different. He hops the train - some old classic - and finds himself aboard with one of the first pro ball teams - The Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Not knowing at first, if he is hallucinating or just having a bad day, he eventually comes to realize he has somehow gone back in time and forms a relationship with the team. He travels with this extraordinary group of young men and becomes a big part of their world.On his transcontinental travels- using the early RR system, horse and buggys, etc)there is one adventure after another. He falls in love with a woman he feels a deep connection, gets in hot water with some real toughs who are after him throughout, befriends the great Mark Twain, has a spiritual connection with an apparition,and plays baseball 19th century style - a might rougher and faster then today's version of the game. He's even involved in a shoot out in a poker game in a western saloon! While searching for the reason he is there(an enjoying the change of pace quite a bit), he becomes a new man. One we can't help but cheer for as his life is in danger at so many turns.

The book is a page turner. You can't help but become attached to Sam and the boys. Brock puts you right there in the 19th century, with remarkable detail of each city,the trains,food,clothes,dress,etc and through Sam we are living the life of someone who has gone back over a hundred years(this book was published in 1990, so there are even more differences now!).The Civil War plays a small but integral part of the story too. And then there is Baseball - we are treated to a real look at how the game was played, and feel the intensity with which they played.Even then, the game was popular and the players heroes. But think of never seeing them play unless you were fortunate enough to actually be at a game.

Also available in hardcoverIF I NEVER GET BACK. A Novel. check for best deal and availability

I for one was having such a great time, I hoped he would never get back! Baseball, apple pie,old trains, wonderful colorful characters...and a refreshing look at historical America....enjoy!.....Laurie

I first read this in high school. I reread it recently and am happy to say that is still one my top favorite books.

This is a book I've read several times. I'd like to know where Mr. Brock found out so much about Charlie sweazy, Asa Brainard et al, to make these characters come alive the way they do. There were a few political issue editorials Darryl brought into the story. But these surely do not detract from the book. I wish I had Andy Leonard as a brother as well.
You will hate to see the end of this book as it is entertaining(and historically accurate) from first page to last. As I said earlier, it's my favorite baseball book and one of my favorite of any genre.

This is one of the greatest baseball novels ever written. If you like baseball,time travel,romance and "rooting for the good guys" this is a book that will never get old. I'm sorry they never made a movie if it. However I doubt Hollywood could do it justice. Superb!!!!!!!!!!

I don't need to summarize b/c of course the all powerful Scott "Pope El Siglerino" has done a beautiful job in an earlier review. So, what I would like to get across is that this book, this series of crime novel is what makes my day do-able. I am, like many, an unfortunate desk jockey (gotta' pay the bills b!$tch) and the only way I can do my work is with some quality story telling, which is exactly what this is. Characters that pull you in, they spawn emotion responses as the story goes, I love the good guys, I love the bad guys, I love this book!! Reading this book is so easy b/c the writing is so ridiculously descriptive that my imagination can instantly produce the mental movie I always can see as i read/listen. Great book, read the sequels and pray for a continuation of this story...

Seth Harwood introduces us to the world of JACK PALMS in his first novel, Jack Wakes Up. Jack, a one-hit movie wonder finds himself in a world of crime and drugs after a close friend turns up dead after a deal gone bad. Who's responsible for the death, and can Jack actually trust the policeman investigating the case after finding out that he was the one who helped destroy Jack's career.

A definite must read.

I could not put this book down! Jack Palms is richly drawn. You feel for this man and sense his world, like you do when reading Chandler or Cain. But Jack is contemporary, young, and fun, and his story is fast-paced and full of action and surprises. Whether it's the girls and the goons, or the dealers and the Ducati, Harwood lovingly describes everyone and everything that is keeping Jack up past his bed time. Don't let this book slip by if you love a good noir or crime story or are just addicted to the action. Jack Wakes Up will keep you up even after the last page.

I loved this book, it read just like a great movie. Reminds me in a way of Die Hard.

I read this a few months ago and somehow wound up on the page again this morning. I saw that this book had gotten five stars from over 50 reviewers and the only other ratings are two four star reviews. That bothered me just enough that I felt like I'd better weigh-in for the sake of balance. C'mon guys, this was a great book and tons of fun, but on my meter a book has to be really special to hit five stars. Scott Sigler, the author of "Infected", and who pens the first review here, awards it five stars which is very kind of him and I know he is supporting a talented fellow podcast author. Yet Sigler's book "Infected" just blows away this book. Of course, it blows away most books. "Infected" is one of the most exciting and stunning novels I've read in years and if you haven't read it yet then don't waste any more time getting yourself a copy.

While "Jack Wakes Up" is a great book, I can't honestly place it on the same level as "Infected". Therefore I give the former four stars, maybe even 4.5 stars, and the latter five. Neither book is literature, but that's not what they are trying to do. They aspire to be edge of your seat entertainment and they both succeed. They're fun, enjoyable, exciting, packed with action, put a grin on your face, and are stories that will stick with you long after you finish the book. Maybe we just need more than five stars to work with so we can have more subtle gradations of quality and enjoyment. OK, that nitpicking over with, hey, please believe me when I say "Jack Wakes Up" is an extremely fun book and is done very well. If your a fan of action books in the Lee Child vein you're are definitely going to like this book. I bought it on a whim from Amazon based upon some good reviews, which it deserves, and was thoroughly happy with it.

Jack himself is a very well done character. A cast aside action adventure actor, wrecked by an ugly and publicly-messy divorce, down on his luck and short of dough, he let's a somewhat sleazy friend get him tangled up with some Czech guys looking to score some drugs. In the midst of the deal Jack finds his friend murdered in his house. Jack wants to stay away from the cops but also needs to make sure he isn't in danger too. The story hurtles forward from there with a cast of drug-dealers, cops, ex-KGB rogues, strippers and pissed off Colombians. Harwood writes well and doesn't fall prey to cliches, making his characters intelligent and believable. I enjoyed this book start to finish, admired the three-dimensional characters, and loved it that the plot refused to be drawn into stereotypes or any type of predictability. Harwood always happily surprised me as the story unfolded because people acted rationally except for when excellent reasons were provided for irrational behaviour. In other words his characters act in a self-beneficial manner except for when angry, stressed, or under the influence of hubris. Harwood does a great job of keeping things wildly fun but within the realm of possibility. The story was slightly more predictable than chaos theory, In other words, not very predictable at all. There was plenty of great action in this book, but it too was reasonably believable with the good guys getting their butts kicked as often as the other way round. If Seth Harwood publishes more books you can bet that I'll buy them. I'll also add another recommendation: if you enjoy this story, and you've already read "Infected", I'd suggest looking up Charlie Huston's "Caught Stealing" trilogy next. Those are great books in the same vein as this one.

This book is one of those that's been around for ages and it's still a great one for kids. They can add all kinds of info about themselves and they'll have it for years to come.

My mother bought me this book when I was a little girl (about 6 or 7). At the time I was learning to play the violin, but absolutely hated it. I tried in various ways to tell my parents this...even going as far as to tell my mom when she was pregnant that what I really wanted was a cello. None of my requests to switch instruments were heard until one day my grandmother happened to look inside this book. There is a page which asks you what your favorite instrument is. I of course had scribbled out the violin and circled the cello. Well, with the help of this book, and my grandmother, I finally had my wish come true, and started on the cello. I have been a cello teacher now for 19 years, and when I saw this book, (I was looking for a book for my own children), I remembered what a difference it made in my life. I also remember the book being a lot of fun to do as a kid, and I still have it!

I got this book when I was 9. I recently bought it for my niece who was 9. It's still in print 20+ years later. It's a fun book!

I had this book when I was young and recently found it in a box up in the attic. It was a grand trip down memory lane and I want my boys to have that same experience. What a great little book this is.

This was one of my favorite books growing up; I hope it will be one of my sons favorites as well

Very unexpected twist - time travel to tzarist Russia to save Anna Karenina! Bravo! Very brave and imaginative! And it works.

I enjoyed the first chapter of Yanina's novel...Intriguing start...Looking forward to the rest of the book.

I'll be buying it. With action propelled by tight accessible prose, interspersed with thoughtful rhetorical flourishes, what's not to like? Especially appealing is the prospect of revisiting Tolstoy's stomping grounds as both contemporary and historical settings. Looking forward to reading on.

The writer provides us with a very descriptive, philosophic and literate view of Moscow present day and near past and then smoothly guides the reader into the far past. Smartly written, but her personal obsession isn't all that interesting after she gets to her point. She ends the chapter flat. There's no hook for me to read on although the quality of her writing might get me into more chapters. I hope that she continues to compare/contrast the old and the new of Russia an introspection not that common to we Canadians.

This felt alienating. I'm not sure who the narrator is speaking to; I'm not sure when it's taking place. I felt distanced from the story in this small excerpt.

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.

Rox and her boyfriend leave their hometown and when they return, they find the world abandoned. They find three other kids. These kids soon realize that they are all related to Betty Sue, a girl who killed herself three weeks ago.

This book is great, it deserves the five star rating it has, it's one of Pike's best books. The story itself, very intriguing. It's about five people in a world where everyone has all of sudden disappeared. And it all seems to be caused by a girl named Betty Sue, who supposedly is already dead.

The ending, can be confusing for some, but for me it made prefect sense! It is a beautiful book, sad but beautiful, creepy and haunting. I highly recommend this to those who love suspenseful novels.

Read "The Season Of Passage" too. That is a great Christopher Pike book!

wow! did you ever have the feeling that since you'd never heard anyone else talk about a book (or something else) you loved, you were the only person in the world that loved it? i had always felt this way about this CP book! it is by FAR his best YA book, leaps and bounds above the others. i was way into reading his books when i was about 12 or 13 (a little young for the material but i was an avid reader!) and this is the one that has always stuck in my brain like a piece of bubblegum. it is just everything a good book should be- creepy, imaginative, well-written, descriptive, eerie, memorable. i have looked far and wide for this book and just thought to look here and i ordered it! being 24 now it's been a long time since i've read it and i can't wait for it to get here. please read this book! i would recommend this book to people of all ages, it's that good.

I'm 30 years old now and this book still gives me chills. It is literally a groundbreaking book you will never forget.Pike's master form of writing scares unlike any other.
It is symbolic and creepy at the same time.Quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read~and I have read hundreds!

Whisper of Death has an intriguing premise. What if you woke up and all the people of the world had vanished? That is what happens to eighteen year-old Roxanne (Rox) and her boyfriend Pepper. All the stores are open and stocked with goods, and eventually they find three other teens: jerk Helter, nerd Stan, and beautiful Leslie. The teens soon find that the situation has something to do with Betty Sue, a classmate who killed herself three weeks ago.

The premise was great, and so is the writing in the first third of the book. I keep a journal, and if I see a quote I like from a book, I jot it in my journal for future inspiration. I wrote three sentences from Whisper of Death. The writing was that beautiful.

But as the story progresses, and the true horror of the situation is revealed, the story is too bleak and depressing. I didn't feel the end wrapped things up. I do not agree with the reason for the dead world - Pike said some statements about God that suggest He is not All-Powerful.

Last, there was a lot of sex in the story, and suggestions of incest. I don't think teens should be having sex. However, Pike discusses abortion a bit, which I feel is well-done.

Character development is great here, as well as the eerie setting. I don't feel the plot development built to a strong middle and powerful ending. It just kind of petered out.

Sam just came back from San Francisco
after two years. She fell of her colt blackie
and she got a concussion. Blackie was never found.
But Sam is sure a wild stallion every one calls
the phantom (because he's a gray) is her Blackie all
grown up. Especially when he shows up at the ranch.
pretty amazing scenes. Really good.

I really loved the Phantom Stallion books, and I recommend you start with the first one so you can follow the series. It's a great story, and hard to put down. My mom and I read it together and she thought the writing was great. I liked it because it really tells a lot about how Samantha loves horses and gets over her fear of them after a fall.

I read three more books in the series after this one and will read more. Highly recommended.

IF YOU LOVE HORSE'S YOU WILL LOVE THIS SERIES! IT IS GREAT FOR EVERY AGE GROUP AS WELL! I AM 27 YEAR'S OLD AND COMPLETELY CAPTIVATED BY THE CHARACTER'S BOTH HUMAN AND HORSE ALIKE!!!!!! THE AUTHOR TERRI FARLEY HAS AN SUCH AN ABILITY TO DRAW HER READER'S IN AND GIVE THEM A WILD, DRAMATIC, AND EMOTIONAL RIDE!!! THE CHARACTER'S REALLY COME TO LIFE AND YOU FEEL FOR THEM ( AGAIN BOTH HUMAN AND HORSE)!!!!!!

Phantom Stallion The Wild One is about a girl named Sam. When she was little she fell off her horse Blackie, and was injured very badly. Her dad sends her away to live with her aunt in San Fransisco for two years. When she comes back home Zanzibar (Blackie) has run away and didn't come back. That night, Sam sees a silver horse walking around outside. It has been appearing every night. It has also shown Sam a secret place in the desert where there's a whole herd of wild horses. When Sam, her dad, and some cowboys go on a cattle drive, Sam meets Linc Slocum who wants the phantom for himself. Can Sam stop him?? I really liked this book because it's about horses and I love horses. It is also a great adventure, and the author really describes it well. I hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I did!

There is a very simple way to sum up my review. This book, and the rest of the series, is fantastic. In comparison to other horse series, this series ranks the highest, far above most others. This is my favorite horse series.

Here is a list of other horse series I've tried:

The Saddle Club - The books were pretty good. I read the first two, but since the books were never avaliable to me, I never read any more. However, the two books I read were pretty good. The television series was a little too corny for me. The acting and script was awful. There were some decent actors, but some over-acted. Dialogue in the script was not well done. There was a lot of, "Oh, will my horse be okay? Whatever will we do?!" One hundred plus books in a single series is not recommended, either. The main reason this series was a turn-off.

The Horseshoe Trilogies - I read one of the books in this series. It was pretty good, but it didn't make we want to read the rest. The book was too short and lacked a certain zing.

Thoroughbred - I think I read one of the first ones in the series, and I thought it was good. So, I friend went out and bought one of the books further into the series. A different author had taken over and I stopped after the first couple of pages. Not much in comparison to the original author, even if I only read one book that she wrote! Besides, this wasn't the series for me anyway. I don't have the feel of horse racing, because I've never been to a race and it has never been a huge thrill to me. Of course I love watching gorgeous Thoroughbreds race around a track, but I'm biting my nails at the same time, worrying that one will trip or break a leg. Take Barbaro for example. So this series didn't cut it.

Heartland - I liked these books. Many people say the books were too dark, but I disagree. I think they were scary at times, and made me worry, but that kept me reading. Best of all, these books were realistic, unlike other horse series I have come across. The events, characters, dialogue, ect. all seem real. HOWEVER, the books sometimes veered off the subject of horses. I felt there was too much romance and not enough horses. Problems with the horses seemed realistic, though. This series still didn't hit, but it was better. At least it kept me reading.

Chestnut Hill - I read the third book in this series and it was wonderful! Again, realistic characters and horses. However, in the first book, why would Dylan do something so stupid? If she was experienced with horses, she would know riding at night and taking a bet from one of those girls would lead to trouble. In the third book, there wasn't as much romance as Heartland, so that was an improvement. And this series seems more on my age level. Plus, the characters dealing with the horses seemed realistic. Lauren Brooke is a very good writer, but again, this series wasn't the best in the world. All of these series seemed to be following a pattern. They were all in the English style and some of them either spoiled their horses rotten, or veered off the subject of horses too much.

Phantom Stallion - That's when I came upon this series. From the first book, I was instantly attached. The author has such realistic characters, plots, dialogue, events, and settings.

Samantha Forster was in a riding accident two years ago. She fell off her colt, Blackie, while riding through a gate. In Blackie's attempt to escape, Sam fell from his back and catapulted to the ground. As she was falling, Blackie's hooves caught her head. Jake Ely, Sam's friend, galloped back to Sam's family's ranch to get help. Two years later, Sam is returning from living with her Aunt Sue in San Franscico, California. She was in a coma and, deciding that being closer to a hospital in California then two hours away in Nevada would be better for Sam, Sam also lost Blackie during all this. He had galloped for the range, the wild blood from his mustang father, Smoke, carrying through the tough events that life on the range can bring.

The night Sam comes home, a stallion comes to her and she knows it's her beloved horse grown and gone wild, with now earning the name of the legendary Phantom. Sam's horse was no longer the midnight-black colt named Blackie, he was now the silver stallion known as the Phantom. But along with every good friendship, their are tough times thrown at them. The antagonist (bad guy) named Linc Slocum, is determined to get the Phantom off the range and own the stallion himself as a "trophy". Sam won't let that happen. She knows the Phantom wants to be free, but how can she guarentee his freedom? Linc Slocum pulls a totally horrible and very realistic stunt that threatens to take the Phantom off the range. Only Sam can help him. But how?

The rest of the series is fantastic. All of the books are packed with adverture, realistic events, exciting plots, believable dialogue, and horses! And the subject does not veer off horses. There is the occasional couple of pages with Sam being in school at Darton High, which is always interesting and fun to read! Every book is a pleasure to read and the best horse series I have ever come across.

The idea for the series is also original. This series, unlike most horse series, features the Western style of riding. It also includes ranch life and mustangs, unlike the usual stable-bred, glossy horses in a fancy riding stable with girls running around pampering them and slipping them horse cookies every second. Sam and her family treat the horses on River Bend Ranch where Sam lives with respect, but they don't spoil them rotten. Sam tries to see through the horse's eyes, but she doesn't make a big deal out of petty things. She uses the same saddle for years, and never complains, she doesn't polish her saddle every time she spots a speck of dirt, and she makes her horse Ace work for his food, a nice warm bed, and a long curry-combing session.

Character personalities, actions, and dialogue are also what keep the series moving. Sam has two best friends, Jennifer Kenworthy and Jake Ely. Jen is extremely intelligent, but is always cracking me up with her sarcastic sense of humor! Jake is the quiet, silent type and is a cowboy through and through. He is always teasing Sam and it's always fun to read about what this mysterious, quiet, and horse-loving guy will do and say next! Another antagonist, although not as big as Linc Slocum, is Linc's daughter, Rachel. She has perfect clothes, hair, and is popular in school. But she has a horrible personality and is determined to make Sam's life miserable every chance she can get. Whether that's by dissing a horse, questioning Sam's clothes, embarrassing her, or flirting with Jake, Rachel will do anything to make Sam want to sock her. Terri Farley depicts all of her characters well and realistically.

The author also doesn't talk down to her readers. For some unfamiliar phrases, she'll take a moment to explain, but she'll expect you to know horse colors, breeds, tack, habits, ect. Terri also goes in vivid detail when describing a horse, a herd of mustangs, or a new character, which keeps me reading. This is a fantastic series. It's adventerous, exciting, realistic, heart-wrenching (but not dark), the horses are treated with respect, but not spoiled rotten, the dialogue is interesting, the characters are fun to read about, and the series is one of the most realistic series I have ever come upon. And most original!

Keep up the FANTASTIC work, Terri! And every horse lover should read this series!

This is a truly excellent version of Lewis Carroll's classic. The 7 two page spreads are gorgeous. The first spread contains Alice reading, the White Rabbit, and the tree that the White Rabbit is walking away from; its dimensions are 11 inches wide and tall, and 8 inches deep. The full text is contained in a mini-book embellishment with each spread. These mini-books are astonishing! They're very colorful with additional pop-ups. This is simply a stupendous book that I recommend highly! Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation

This book is a wonderful adaptation of the famous tale.

It is art as much as a book, and like others I would recommend reading this book to younger readers (as oppossed to letting them handle it)

I have always loved pop up books since I was a child, and this one is one of the best.

the book is so beautifull, as a huge "alice" fan- its the top of my items!!! its like having something taken out from a museun in my house!i highly recomend

I purchased this book as the first pop-up book for my three-year old son and two-year old daughter. I knew it could be a risk, due to the fragile nature of pop-up books, however this one is truly a treat for my children, my wife, myself and everyone else who has seen it!

I'd recommend the book (for self-reading) to older children who know how the fragile the pop-ups can be, but if you read to your kids I recommend this to anyone. It's a classic story which inspires a child's imagination and has an excellent graphical presentation of the story which really captures my children's attention while they're read to.

I only gave this book four of five stars due to the small portions through-out most of the book which actually has the written text. These are also created with mini-pop-ups, but are not incorporated into the whole width and length of the book. Instead the main text of the book is grouped into small 3-4 inch wide pages with small text. Not something you want if you read to your children at bedtime with minimal lighting.

However, don't let this prevent you from buying the book! It is worth the price and has some of the most fantastic pop-ups I've ever seen!

I purchased this book because of the last page. I had seen it at my Book Club and knew my grandchildren would love it. They love peaking down the rabbits hole and finding the additional pop ups on each page. A book you will definately want to pass on down the family. Truly a classic come to life.

Great book! The book's wonderful illustrations complement the valuable message about how one can face an overwhelming problem and win. Great lyrical rhyme!

The classic Golden Book story is back in print in a new presentation for new generations telling of one Jennifer, who just doesn't care that she's a slob. Les Gray provides fun drawings for a rollicking rhyme about a too-messy little girl.

Finally "The Big Tidy Up" is available again for those of us who did not have the hundreds of dollars an old copy cost on line. This was my daughter's absolutely favorite book when she was about three years old. She had it memorized. Her twin girls now have their own copies from "Nana." We'll see how their rooms come to measure up compared to hers in terms of absolute messiness.
Patricia Wood
PS: WE still love the "pie under the pillow" detail.

I am so excited that this book is back! My sister and I, children of the 70s, went searching for this memorable book to share with our kids. And like apparently hundreds of others were shocked to find that it was out of print and that used copies were selling at very high prices (I saw one listed for $395!!). My sister just e-mailed to let me know it's really back. She already bought me a copy. What are they thinking selling it for only 8.99? I'm going to buy a dozen. Seriously! This book should be featured on the Today Show. It's a true gem. I have only two criticisms -- what took you guys so long to rerelease this!!! AND with the next reprint, because this one is going to sell out, make it into a larger format because the illustrations are worthy of a bigger size.

I, like many reviewers, loved this book as a child. During a recent move, I lost the pages (still have the cover) to the book. I was shocked at the prices listed for used copies and thought I would never be able to replace it for my children. Just found out it is being rereleased in May of 2008 and Amazon is taking pre-orders! I have already placed my order and can't wait!