Young Americans Books

In my book, Black Storm Comin`, Colton, the twelve-year-old boy who is the main character, is very responsible and knows everything he needs to know to travel by himself and knows how be a man. One example of that is that Colton has to work with his dad every day. Colton has to wake up at 6:00 a.m. in the morning he doesn't stop working until 8:00 p.m. And he has been doing that for 5 years straight. Another example of that is that he has good manners. Colton calls a lady ma'am and a man sir, he is really polite and he says please and thanks you. Colton also became the man of the family. After pa left after shooting Colton accidentally at the leg while he was asleep, Colton had to stand up and was forced to take responsibility for his whole family and he was doing everything. Colton helplessly needed a job so, he thought he could get a job at the Pony Express because it would cover up the pay and it would take him and his entire family to Sacramento, California that everyone needed to go there and he got the job. At the middle of the story Colton's ma gave Colton a letter to give to her half sister, then at the end of the story, Colton gave it to the half sister, but then ended u running for their lives meaning his pa and himself. Colton was the perfect kid at his time as I have already told you how.

A 12-year-old boy, Colton, tries to get a job with the Pony Express in this unusual "western". There are no Indians in the story, but race plays a part with the hero as a son of a white man and a free black woman, but who can pass for white. The family is moving west with a wagon train but is beset by the troubles of the trail--no doctors, difficult childbirth, broken wagon wheels, lack of food. A gun accident while in Nevada precipitates it all: the depressive father accidentally shoots the son in the leg, then takes off in apparent remorse, leaving the family to fend for itself. Racism is a theme of the story, but it is also about a boy's doggedness and the importance of cross-country communication on the eve of the Civil War. The prose is easy, in a colloquial style. Those who like horse stories and action-adventure will appreciate this one. I could hardly put this book down, and despite having to go to work I finished it in less than 24 hours. This book is heartily recommended, and should appeal especially to middle schoolers studying the pre-Civil War era as well as to horse enthusiasts, male or female. It would work well as a read-aloud for middle school, since the audience will be anxious to know how it turns out. It is devoid of love interests, but despite that it should serve a high school audience well, too.

I'm not usually a fan of westerns. I don't get that whole prairie, horse, dirt thing that many find appealing.

But this story is not a typical western.

It's the story of a 12 year old boy and his family - a 12 year old who's forced to take responsibility for his family (an occurrance common enough in the past).

There's a lot of historical information and environmental vibes packed into this book - it fairly places you in the shoes of a biracial child who, quite guiltily, can pass for white in a time right before the civil war. It gives you an insight into the Pony Express - a wonderful group of kids who kept the country connected and informed.

In all, this is a good read, especially for young boys, which will open the mind and the heart.

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Like all of Diane Lee Wilson's books, we get some excellent historical background to a great story. Her characters are always interesting and nuanced, not the stock character so often found in young adult fiction. Her stories are set in interesting times and we always learn something we didn't know. In Black Storm Comin, we get an insiders look not only into the Pony Express but also the challenges faced by the bi-racial rider. And the horses! Wilson can write about horses like no one else - she's taking over where Marguite Henry left off. This is a great read and I look forward to her next one. I recommend it for any reader, young or old, male or female.

Based on Wilson's research about the pony express, this story is filled with fascinating facts and tidbits about the old west. But what is so delightful is the intensity of the story, excellent horsemanship, and relationship of a small boy and his horse. It kept me on the edge the whole time. The young protagonist is also bi-racial, adding an interesting twist and subtheme to the entire story. I learned much about the pony express and its riders, as well as the challenges of being bi-racial in early America.

I read this book a while back. I was looking for another book by the same author and I noticed that Blood Father only had 4 reviews. You've got to be kidding! This was a great book! It was very different from what I usually read, but so well done that I want to read another one by the same author. Something different. Something good. Go for it!

John Link is an ex Hells Angel, his mission in life is to find his runaway daughter and reconnect, keep his life simple and stay clean. One phone call from that runaway daughter, Lydia, and his life is changed forever. Go on the run with Lydia and Link as Link accomplishes what must be done to keep Lydia alive while she is being chased and hunted by a drug cartels thugs. Throughout this wild drama Lydia is finding out for herself just what kind of mess she has gotten herself into and the realization that Link has always wanted to be there for her and how far he is willing to forsake himself. This book was awesome and in some ways hit close to home to the point it was scary. I look forward to going back in time with Craig's previous titles and to whatever he has planned next.

Set on the streets of LA among the violent gangs who mete out their own unforgiving brand of vengeance, this is a story of survival, regret, fear and hatred. Blood Father plunges fully into the twisted psyche of a twisted part of today's society, visiting with the seemingly hopeless plight of the drug addicted kids caught up in the LA street gangs. Peter Craig has given us an absorbing story featuring an estranged father / daughter relationship that has been brought back together in a grim fight for survival.

I found Blood Father to be a particularly moving story that is a modern day tragedy about a former Hell's Angel who is just putting his life back together after a long stretch in prison and his daughter, a wild child rebel whose addiction to drugs and danger have thrown her into trouble way above her head.

This character-based story is dominated by Link and Lydia Jane, the father and daughter who have to learn and accept each other as they also try to evade an array of pursuers.

Link was a member of the Hell's Angels, a biker who lived life on the absolute edge, often through a haze of drugs and alcohol. There can be no doubt, he was a loser on a one way ride to self-destruction and his imprisonment for manslaughter was not only inevitable but also partly his salvation. The other part came before he went to jail when his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl. She was born very premature and it seemed unlikely that she would survive her first week. She did and Link named her Lydia Jane. Although Link loved her, he and her mother moved apart and he fell into trouble and a long prison stretch.

Through a series of marriages, Lydia's mother turned herself into a high society woman, part of the rich set leaving her days as a biker's woman well and truly behind her. Lydia however was a rebellious girl who was occasionally abused by her stepfathers and she turned to drugs at a young age. Gradually, she moved in with a smooth talking dealer, unaware just how dangerous he was until she made one mistake too many and had to run.

When Lydia joins Link they head for open country with the initial fear that the police were after them and then later, the cold realisation hits that someone with a grudge against Lydia was also on their trail. But this seems so much more than a simple grudge, her pursuers leaving behind a frightening trail of devastation leading Link to wonder what she had left behind her and how he was going to protect her.

Blood Father is a grim story oozing with hopelessness with both father and daughter in desperate need of support with one either picking up the pieces of his life and the other strung out on drugs. They are a couple who are simultaneously fighting their own demons, learning to love and respect each other while distracted by the terrible danger that seems to be a mere step behind them.

Although the second half of the book steams ahead with the frantic thrill of the chase, the pace is a lot more leisurely at the start with a great deal of groundwork put in place regarding the character backgrounds. I appreciated the background detail finding it gave a greater feeling of depth and understanding for Link and Lydia, not to mention stark insight into the type of people who would be coming after them later.

Peter Craig has done an outstanding job of creating an extreme situation with a strong leaning towards tremendous violence and has made it seem entirely plausible. He has written a powerful story, filled it with flawed heroes and then has made us care about them. It gets into the dirty cracks of society prising out the greedy, the needy and the vicious who thrive on the blooming drug culture. The focus for us is whether two people will be able to escape from that life unscathed.

Well-written and provocative, this is an excellent modern noir thriller with relevant themes that are portrayed all too realistically. Because happy endings are never assured in real life, nothing can be taken for granted her either other than the certainty that this book will move you.

Peter Craig's Blood Father follows on the heels of his hugely entertaining literary crime thriller Hot Plastic. And while his prior work drifted closer to Thompson's noir territory, this book finds him in an Ellroy sort of mood, reveling in the criminal underground seething through the streets of LA and the baked nowhere deserts of Nevada. You can check out the plot synopsis above, so I won't recap it here, but it is a fairly traditional setup. The difference in Blood Father is the way Craig carefully crafts each character so that they transcend their thriller archetypes and become living, breathing people whose interactions drive the plot as much as the fast-paced machinations of the setup. And Craig's research into the dynamics of prison life, early Hell's Angels crank-trade, and the workings of the AFO and Mexican Mafia are all fascinating.

The elements for a classic thriller are here. Fully realized characters (including intensely brutal bad guys)- Check. Unexpected twists which redefine your perception of the depth of the story- Check. Awesome insights into prison life and aspects of the criminal underground- Check. Hard-boiled dialogue- Check. Gonzo pace, rich setting, and a hugely satisfying resolution- Three more checks.

There are moments in the book where it feels like it was being written for eventual film adaptation (i.e. cutesy quips during intense action scenes, or action scenes that occasionally defy physics for the sake of "something really cool happening"), but the pace of the book and the overall quality of the writing make these elements negligible. I can only hope that the eventual film of Blood Father will convey the richness of the prose and the wonderful relationship between Lydia and Link.

I'm not alone in hoping that Craig will soon craft a crime novel of epic proportions. He's clearly proven his ability with character-based road thrillers (and, really, the intense drama of familial relationships). Now I'm looking forward to an American Tabloid or Traffic-type sprawl. If any new crime author is up to it, it's Craig. Meanwhile, Blood Father comes very highly recommended.

Lydia Carson, on the run from her boyfriend Jonas' gang, calls her long estranged father for help. Her dad, Link, is an ex-con and ex-Hell's Angel. Lydia doesn't know it, but Link has been trying to find her for years, ever since he went to prison and she disappeared with her mother. Link jumps at the chance to help Lydia, and thus begins a wild adventure across the southern California desert. Link must use all of his wits to keep himself and his daughter alive.

Peter Craig's third novel builds on the themes he explored in the previous two--particularly, the adult child's relationship with the father. Although his work is primarily character-driven he has achieved a new level of storytelling with Blood Father. His navigation through back story is particularly skillful, he has the knack of writing flashbacks which do not distract and give emotional depth to the characters. The language in this novel is beautiful, and bestows a quality of grace to these characters who the reader comes to care about deeply.

In 1970 Gabriel Geismar travels from New Orleans to far away Swarthmore in hopes of escaping his domineering Rabbi father. By providential accident, Gabriel encounters fraternal twins Danny and Marghie Hundert in a communal dining hall; and while Marghie falls for Gabriel, it is he and Danny who enter into a love affair documented in a candid, though sensitive manner.

Once Gabriel is taken home for summer vacation he ingratiates himself to the rest of the family, a Noble Prize winning scientist father and a cultured nurturing mother, who quickly become surrogate parents. As drawn by Taylor, the Hundert's represent a fantasy of domestic bliss, a familial wish come true: loving, attentive parents, sibling confidantes, and a lover always eager to please. There is an idyll created which intoxicates the reader: one wishes to enter the story and join this family (if only for an evening). The writing is both exceptionally wise and emotionally pure.

Things fall apart. no family is perfect (though almost none is wholly past redemption or forgiveness). Old wounds heal, new wounds sting. People judge one another without have all the eveidence. Some suffer from with the burden of their secrets, while others are consumed by self-righteous anger. People grow up and learn to accept what life has to offer and make the best of it - or the worst of it. Parents, children, spouses and lovers - no one is exempt.

Benjamin Taylor takes us on an odyssey of self-discovery in this coming of age novel. There is a huge story contained in this slim volume and an impressive fluidity in the telling of it. The final pages mange the miraculous in being both elegiac and cathartic. "The Book of Getting Even" is a tour de force.

Beautiful and dense prose brings this character-driven tale to life. The relationships the protagonist forms are original and real. I love how Taylor conveys the process by which Gabriel insinuates himself into the Hundert family -- it's both heart-warming and humorous.

This beautifully written novel, certain to win over readers and possibly a few prizes, movingly portrays the blessings as well as the burdens of adopting, as it were, the parents one wished for. Tracing ten years in the life of a young man from his freshman year at college to his emergence as a gifted star-gazer, The Book of Getting Even is best read the way one reads poetry, phrase by gorgeously crafted phrase. Its luminous final pages in particular reveal just how fine an artist Benjamin Taylor is. I could read him forever.

Fleeing New Orleans and a despotic father, budding cosmologist Gabriel Geismar attends Swarthmore College in 1970 and meets twins Daniel and Marghie. The initial upshot is a hopeless love triangle, with Gabriel and Daniel together while Marghie is doomed to the sidelines, entertaining guests with her one-woman performances of classic movies. But a far more enduring relationship results when Gabriel meets the twins' Hungarian immigrant parents, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Grisha Hundert and his wife Lilo.

In truth, the Hunderts' family dynamic is hardly the stuff of paradise: "The professor lectured Danny, but gave Marghie the benefit of the doubt. Mrs. Hundert did the reverse." An even more troubling undercurrent is Danny's mortification of his father's participation in the Manhattan Project three decades earlier; his ominous pacifism is as much oedipal as moral. Yet Gabriel has found a new home, and the Hunderts eagerly incorporate him into their cheerful if strained camaraderie and their inevitable heartbreak.

A large number of supporting characters appear on the familial stage, but one deserves special mention: Ned Dunallen, the "fiction editor at a famously high-nosed magazine" that publishes authors suspiciously similar to Updike, Welty, and Nabokov. Those in the thick of New York literati will recognize Dunallen as the writer and editor William Maxwell disguised by the thinnest layer of cellophane; Dunallen's wife, like Emily Maxwell, was once involved with "the nation's best known movie critic ... a married man and drunkard and a law unto himself" [James Agee]. Melded effortlessly into the novel, this mini-biography is packed tight with catty gossip and bookish trivia and wink-wink references to Maxwell/Dunallen's sexual history ("That's a lap a girl can sit on, without fear or favor," quips Marghie), although I was left with the distracting feeling that there's a back-story here to which I wasn't privy.

This synopsis doesn't even begin to do fairness to the world that Taylor crams into 166 magnificent pages--in fact, in spite of the author's larger-than-life portraits, achieved with lyrical pithiness, my one criticism is that the book is far too short. It's to the author's credit that I greedily rushed to the finish and was greedy for more.

This book will become part of your essence. It is smart, funny, touching, literate, literary, and compelling. The desire to turn pages to see what happens next is offset by the need to savor each sentence. (Best to plan on rereading.) Benjamin Taylor has written a book essential for anyone who wants to experience a piece of the latter part of the 20th Century while gazing into the depths of the universe and the eyes of an insect (you'll have to read the book to know what I mean).

I was a tutor for a 5th grade girl this past semester, and I asked her to choose a book that we would read together as a way to work on her reading comprehension. When she chose this book, I groaned to myself, thinking it was going to be about on the babysitters club level.
Well, it was. But it contains a historical background appendix in the back, and a character list in the front. These two tools helped to boost my reader's background knowledge and confidence in her reading.
Lesson learned: useful books are not always "great literature." Sometimes pop cannon fodder like this book can be of enormous use as a teaching tool.
All in all, I would recommend the American Girl series to you readers- but I'd sure make sure that their intellectual diet was a little bit richer than this, as well.

I bought this book for my daughter, but I both read it on my own and along with her. (She also read it on her own.) Though the writing itself isn't very spectacular, we both found the story and characters engaging. It was the right about of challenging for my daughter - the plot and sentence construction being fairly simple, but using larger words she's not use to reading in children's books. I read it myself while I was sick and unable to follow more complex adult books, but stuck in bed and feeling like reading - it was perfect for that. My daughter has all of the Kit books and has enjoyed them all, probably most of all of the core American Girl Historicals.

The moment Margaret Mildred Kittredge "Kit" walks into her home that blustery February afternoon after school, her best friends Stirling and Ruthie alongside her, she knows that she's in for some changes. Wonderful changes. And she's absolutely right, for her mother presents her with a refurbished coat to keep her warm during the winter months, which instantly sets the wheels in Kit's mind moving. Kit decides that a homeless child at the nearby soup kitchen could probably use her old winter coat, and soon finds that her kindness has left a cold young girl quite happy. However, her own happiness is compromised when ornery Uncle Hendrick and his spiteful pup Inky come to stay with Kit's family as his broken ankle and wrist heal. Sadly, Kit is left with the responsibility of taking care of the cantankerous old man, who orders her to take dictation regarding letters about unemployed drifters, and hoboes, in general. It is while helping Uncle Hendrick that Kit comes up with the idea to write her very own letter to the editor of the local newspaper. A letter that doesn't put down drifters and hoboes, like the ones Uncle Hendrick makes her write. But, rather, one that informs Cincinnati residents of the misfortune and hard-times that these people have fallen on, and the hardships they must endure each and every day. Kit even goes so far as to illustrate how young, innocent children are being sheltered at the soup kitchen, owning less than a warm coat and shoes that keep their toes warm from the harsh wind. It is through this letter that Kit hopes to make a difference, and with her nose for news, there's no telling what she can do!

While I love the fact that I have finally reached the end of Valerie Tripp's KIT series, I have to admit that I'm a bit saddened, as I really enjoyed the time I spent delving into Kit's world. From learning about the Depression to seeing the hardships Kit and her family had to succumb to. As with the previous tales in this delightful series, Kit is as spirited and good-natured as always, and it was a privilege to have the opportunity to see what a difference she made in her community. As well as how interested she was in helping those less fortunate than herself. Kit is a marvelous character, who will live on in my heart, as well as any reader who has had the opportunity to step inside her world. Kit's tales may be told, but her adventures will live on for generations, making readers of all ages interested in learning more about this wonderful young girl. An inspirational conclusion that will leave you cheering!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

This is another in the American Girls Short Stories series about Kit Kittredge, a ten-year-old girl living in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is 1934, and Kit and her family are struggling to make ends meet as the Great Depression deepens. Kit's life seems to suddenly get much worse, when her dour Uncle Hendrick is injured during a fall and moves in with the family. However, it's not her own plight that hurts Kit, it's that of the children she sees in the local soup kitchen. She wants to do something, but what? Perhaps she can steal an idea from her Uncle!

As with the other Kit books, this is a great story. It succeeds brilliantly in teaching history while also teaching a life lesson. The book is wonderfully put together, with great illustrations. The final chapter is a short history of the Great Depression, which makes the book even more informative. This is a great book, one my daughter and I highly recommend.

In Changes for Kit, Kit outgrows her old red coat she got for a Christmas present and her friends and family make her a new one with old materials that came from their own clothe. Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie decide to donate Kit's old coat to the hobo jungle where there were a lot of children who were cold and hungry. However when they get to the jungle they learn from the few remaining hoboes that most of the families had gone to the soup kitchen for the winter months. So Kit, Stirling, and Ruthie continue their journey to the soup kitchen. The children are all alarmed when they see the poor condition the children at the soup kitchen are in. Kit sees many children who need coats and many who need shoes. She feels very helpless when all she can donate is ONE winter coat.

Meanwhile, back at home her parents get the news that Uncle Hendrick broke his wrist and ankle and is coming to live with them accompanied by his dog Inky. Kit couldn't be more annoyed that mean and crabby Uncle is coming again, and guess whose job it is to look after him? Kit's. She hates how her uncle make her write letters to the newpaper editors and complain about the president and his programs which Kit knows has helped her family get through the hard times. Such as her brother Charlie who worked in the CCC and earned money for the family. However Kit learns from Uncle Hendrick too! She could write a letter about all those kids who need clothing and shelter in the soup kitchen! So she, Ruthie, and Stirling go to the soup kitchen and took pictures of the poor condition the children were in. However Kit knows that since she isn't rich and doesn't have a reputation like Uncle Hendrick she probably won't get her article printed. Well, is her family and Uncle Hendrick in for a surprise when they recieve the paper one morning. Not only are they surprised but Kit's letter affects the whole city of Cinncinati!

The conclusion to Kit's story was another great one in the American Girl's Collection. I can't wait for the next girl's story to come out! They are really beautiful books with their pictures and the Peek into the Past. Lastly I have to say Hooray for Kit!!!

Cherokee Sister is a historical fiction story about two girls from different backgrounds that form a lasting friendship. Allie McAllister is white and comes from a farming family that is struggling to make it during hard times. She has only one dress to wear and has difficulty reading. Leaf Sweetwater is a Cherokee Indian. She is raised by her grandmother who owns the trading post used by the Cherokee people. Leaf can read and has manyy nice clothes to wear. Despite their many differences Allie and Leaf become the best of friends. The two girls like to play in the sunshine, Allie doesn't hed her mother's warning to wear her bonnett and is getting "as brown as your dog". One Sunday, Allie slips out of church to visit Leaf at the trading post. While at Leaf's house Allie notices the beautiful white animal skin dress Leaf has in her closet. Allie puts on the dress and here is where the adventure begins. While wearing the dress an army captain comes to the door to take the Cherokee Indians away to The Dark Land. Allie is mistaken to be a "half-breed". Allie is taken along with Leaf's family down the Trail of Tears. Allie and Leaf's friendship strengthens as they make this journey together.

Cherokee Sister is a historical fiction story about two girls from different backgrounds that form a lasting friendship. Allie McAllister is white and comes from a farming family that is struggling to make it during hard times. She has only one dress to wear and has difficulty reading. Leaf Sweetwater is a Cherokee Indian. She is raised by her grandmother who owns the trading post used by the Cherokee people. Leaf can read and has manyy nice clothes to wear. Despite their many differences Allie and Leaf become the best of friends. The two girls like to play in the sunshine, Allie doesn't hed her mother's warning to wear her bonnett and is getting "as brown as your dog". One Sunday, Allie slips out of church to visit Leaf at the trading post. While at Leaf's house Allie notices the beautiful white animal skin dress Leaf has in her closet. Allie puts on the dress and here is where the adventure begins. While wearing the dress an army captain comes to the door to take the Cherokee Indians away to The Dark Land. Allie is mistaken to be a "half-breed". Allie is taken along with Leaf's family down the Trail of Tears. Allie and Leaf's friendship strengthens as they make this journey together.

Cherokee Sister is a historical fiction story about two girls from different backgrounds that form a lasting friendship. Allie McAllister is white and comes from a farming family that is struggling to make it during hard times. She has only one dress to wear and has difficulty reading. Leaf Sweetwater is a Cherokee Indian. She is raised by her grandmother who owns the trading post used by the Cherokee people. Leaf can read and has many nice clothes to wear. Despite their many differences Allie and Leaf become the best of friends. The two girls like to play in the sunshine, Allie doesn't hed her mother's warning to wear her bonnett and is getting "as brown as your dog". One Sunday, Allie slips out of church to visit Leaf at the trading post. While at Leaf's house Allie notices the beautiful white animal skin dress Leaf has in her closet. Allie puts on the dress and here is where the adventure begins. While wearing the dress an army captain comes to the door to take the Cherokee Indians away to The Dark Land. Allie is mistaken to be a "half-breed". Allie is taken along with Leaf's family down the Trail of Tears. Allie and Leaf's friendship strengthens as they make this journey and endure many hardships together.

Historical fiction about the Trail of Tears describes the friendship of a teenaged Cherokee girl, Leaf, and her Georgian 12 year old best friend, Allie. When soldiers arrive to drive the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma in 1838, they mistake Allie for a Cherokee and take her with them. The reader sees the forced march through the eyes of Allie. Allie's Dad finds the trail of beads she has dropped like Hansel's pebbles in Hansel and Gretel and rescues Allie and Leaf. Leaf's grandmother is a strong female role model, a businesswoman, knowledgeable about medicinal herbs, and courageous and generous. Her love pervades the novel, providing strength to herself and everyone. Provides insight into Native American and "white" pioneer American family values, and customs of the time. Includes an explanatory author's note describing the historical background and her connection to the Trail of Tears.

This is a wonderful way for a child to learn about a time in our history that is not taught the way it should be. The beautiful friendship of Allie and Leaf was touching. This shows children that although racism has been around for a long time, even then there were people willing to stand up agoinst it.I would encourage any child that is learning about this part of history to read Cherokee Sister. It gives an extememly realistic picture of the way life was at that time, the lack of medical knowledge, communication, and the importance of family. Keep the tissues close!

The book Children of the longhouse is a great historical fiction book by joseph Bruchac. Even though i'm only eleven years old it is a greatbook for all children, even adults. My mom read the book with me and thought it was a great book too! Well the Children of the Longhouse is about a boy and girl twins, like me. Other Native Americans and the boy love Tekwaarathon (Day-ghaah-la-lot), also known as lacrosse.I gave Children of the longhouse four stars because it was not the best book of all but it was the best book I ever read!

I read "Children of the Longhouse" aloud to my fourth grade classes each year as a wonderful springboard to teach NYS Native American history in alignment with NYS Social Study Standards. The story-line holds the interest of the students and is packed with historical information and Native American customs and culture that the children are interested in and retain. It also peaks the students interest to investigate present Native American issues. Reading this book is a pleasant way to learn about a valuable topic.

The Children of the Longhouse is a great historical fiction book by Joseph Bruchac. The Children of the Long house is about twins. The main two characters are the to twins they are boy girl twins. The boy loves love Tekwaarathon also known as lacrose. Even thuogh I;m only ten years old, my mom and I read children of the Longhouse together. my mom and I loved the book so I gave it 5 stars.

If you like books about Native Americans, I recommend this book. In the Iroquois culture they would play a game called Tekwaarathon, which is lacrosse, for people who are sick to make them feel better. In this book it works!

Children of the Longhouse is a thrilling book about a Native American boy named Ohkwa're and his twin sister Otsi:stia. Ohkwa'ri overhears some boys planning to start a battle with the Anen:taks, a neighboring tribe. He told on them and saved his village from a war. Wanting revenge, the boys bully him and soon put his life in danger. You should read this book because it's exciting and I couldn't put it down when I started reading it. Also, I learned about the daily lives of the Mohawks. It was interesting how they played sports, how they used plants to make medicine and how they celebrated holidays. The end was suspenseful and I would recommend this book for kids to read.

This is an excellent book and it was written so people that did not read German Boy can understand. German Boy was written in a different style and I enjoyed it slightly more than this one. It basically leaves off in January 1963 and leaves you wanting more and wondering if he will write the third book.

I was amazed at how open he was in writing about his life. I highly recommend this book because it is a rare opportunity to hear the next part of the story of his life. Too many times you read a book about someone only to have questions, this answers most of the question you have.

His son becomes a 2nd Lt. and wears the same bars he purchased when he began to form his goal to become a pilot. This book is an example of the US became great, through people who worked hard to better themselves and become Americans.

I purchased this new and am happy I did.

I feel glad that I read this one last from the five books by Wolfgang Samuel. But I suspect that I might have felt the same way if there had been a different order. I have traveled a long way with the author, first as a German Boy and finished with a tower of strength well-rounded American boy Captain Wolfgang W. E. Samuel, later to retire as a Colonel in the USAF. The Colonel certainly gained my trust, my loyalty, and my admiration as a boy and then a man, Air Force Officer and author. His use of simile is very clever. And he can paint a detail and beautiful picture of anything perceived by the eye, be man, beast, or scenery. I found Coming to Colorado as worthy as the other four titles. I must confess that I felt a pervasive melancholy because I was about to lose contact: the end of a fine movie, an enjoyable trip of the human spirit overcoming obstacles, its wisdom. Holy, holy, what a tremendous experience! THANK YOU.

Wolfgang Samuel has been one of my very favorite authors since I picked up his exceptional book, German Boy, in a London airport several years ago. This book was a page-turner, poignant and beautiful, the story of a young boy filled with a dream. I have bought every book he has written, and Coming to Colorado brought his story forward to show how much he loves America and flying. His is a continuing story of hope, innocence, familial love, courage, and overcoming whatever obstacles stood in his path. It is a testimony to good overcoming evil. I highly recommend both these books by Wolf Samuel.

Coming to Colorado, a sequel to German Boy, is another outstanding work by this talented author. A breath taking account of a young man who suddenly finds himself in America. Poor and Illiterate in English, his lifelong dream of becoming an American Pilot drives him to earn his college degree which was a prerequisite for flight training. His story is living proof that courage, determination and strength of character can overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. This book, like his other five, is beautifully written, and takes the reader beyond where "German Boy" ended. A story that touches the heart and emotions, because it brings to mind some of the fears and experiences that we may have felt when growing into adulthood. For the young reader, this story is an inspiration and a beacon of hope, and at the same time it is a tribute to the remarkable ability of the human spirit to prevail - a poignant reminder that "No dream is impossible"

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed "German Boy". Those put off by Samuel's seemingly photographic memory may find his relentlessly detailed account of life in the United States to be a bit unbelievable. I, however, find his writing style very compelling, and although I am not a native speaker of German, the word "deutlich" kept coming to my mind as I read this book, meaning "articulate, clear, lucid, and precise" and presumably also fundamentally very "German" ("Deutsch").

Samuel's own life-story is so carefully chronicled that on one rare occasion when he says he doesn't remember exactly where his mother was at that moment it is actually a little disconcerting.

There is enough flashback to events in "German Boy" that this book can stand on its own: there would certainly be nothing wrong with reading this book first. His focus here is of course on the immigrant experience, and anyone specifically interested in that topic need not read "German Boy" to appreciate "Coming to Colorado".

I particularly enjoyed reading about life in the early days of the U.S. Air Force, and I find myself now motivated to read his other two books "American Raiders" and "I Always Wanted to Fly". Samuel's book is also a reminder that for those who experienced it first-hand, Communism was, and is, a very bad thing, and not just some kind of alternative political lifestyle.

The age span between my oldest son and my youngest son is 20 years! This was a favorite book of my oldest but had disappeared into oblivion from many years of good use and reading. I was very happy to see that it was still in print and when we received it, my youngest son, now 4, loved it as well. My only complaint is that the illustrations in this newer version are not as "cozy" as in the version my oldest had. These are fine, but busier, brighter and more confusing to look at. The illustrations in the older version were more focussed on an actual day in a child's life with familiar and recognizable settings, which I believe was easier for a child to relate to and the experience of reading that book was more understandable and relaxing.

This is a *magic* book--whether reading or listening, it makes people yawn, makes them sleepy, makes eyes droopy and little heads rest against mom's shoulder. I love reading this book out loud to my kids--it is a long book (takes about 15 minutes, if you read it nice and slowly, which is part of the magic), but it really does evoke cozy, warm, cuddly feelings. Great with a cup of tea and some animal crackers before bed! I love the illustrations, which weave the words into wonderful, soothing images of all things comforting from childhood; it's fun to play "I spy" with the detailed illustrations, counting the different kinds of cookies or the number of puppies. This is one of my favorite read-aloud-books of all time!

A must for reading out loud with your favorite toddler. One of my all-time favorite children's books, now enjoying it with my 3-year old niece. Delightful, playful and textual rhymes and illustrations that conjure up memories for parents/grandparents. And that provide opportunity to share personal favorite cozy things and people and feelings! Ann Hoberman's other title - A House is a A House for Me - will also delight you and yours.

This book is wonderful! I don't think it's left out a single cozy person, place or thing. The illustrations are cozy too.

My son received this book as a gift when he was a few months old. Since then (four years ago), I have given this book as a gift to everyone I know when their child is born. This book is perfect at bedtime, naptime, cuddle time, any time. My son still asks for it at story time and now my younger son is enjoying it, too. The book may seem long at first, but you will enjoy reading this book to your child(ren). This book creates wonderful "cozy" memories for both the parent and child.

If you could have only one Mark Twain reference guide on your shelf, this would be the book to choose. This two volume set could more properly be titled EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MARK TWAIN BUT NEVER EVEN KNEW ENOUGH TO ASK. It is a massive desk dictionary whose first volume provides plot summaries of all of Twain's works, describes each of his characters, and includes critical background materials. The second volume is a desk dictionary of every person, place, and topic pertaining to Twain's life and writings, along with a very useful chronology of his entire life, and an extensive index. Mark Twain lovers will read these volumes cover to cover with pleasure and then refer back to them for years to come. Those seeking a more informative detailed analysis of this work may go to the Mark Twain Forum and read the review written by esteemed Mark Twain scholar Alan Gribben.

Mark Twain is justly regarded as the first modern American novelist, but he was also a fabulous character; one of the most prominent figures of the 19th century, who seems to have gone everywhere and met everyone, and wrote about it all.
The present work is a fitting introduction to his life and works for those new to Twain, and a boon companion for those deep into the pleasures of one of the original minds of American literature.
Rasmussen has alphabetically arranged the major works with synopses, analyses of characters, people, places, and events Clemens knew, and more, with illustrations, chronology, list of Twain's works, reading list, and an admirable index.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in Twain, American writing, humor, or 19th century life and times.
(The numerical rating above is a default setting within Amazon's format. This reviewer does not employ numerical ratings.)

This book helped me extensively during my search for biographical information about Mark Twain. It gives great insight to the life and times of Mark Twain. It contains anything and everything one would care to know about Samuel Clemens and his metamorphosis to one of the greatest writers ever known; Mark Twain.

I cannot add to what has been stated. But I can say that any person who seriously reads Mark Twain, including getting his/her hands on any works available by Him, will want, no, need this volume. Encyclopaedias are wonderful sources of detail, and to have one specifically centered upon an author and his works, life, friends & acquaintances, etc. is actually even better, for all effort has been placed in detailing everything possible rather than only bits and pieces.

I enjoy just reading this book from the beginning. Having been to Twain's places of residence (including his grave site), this volume simply makes such a trek more interesting and intriguing.

Elvis, the Beatles and Marilyn Monroe have received the A to Z treatment in which every aspect of their lives and works have been reordered alphabetically, so it was only a matter of time that the mania would spread to lesser figures, in this case Mark Twain, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf. This series of three books, originally published by Facts On File and now updated and reprinted by Oxford University Press, combines facts culled from the writers' lives and works, shakes them up thoroughly, and recasts them into easily locatable entries. The result is an addictive pleasure, a page-turning odyessy for anyone interested in learning more about their favorite writer. Mark Twain's fans will rightfully go ga-ga over this 500-page slab of scholarship, research and story telling. All of Twain's major works are discussed, as well as many of his short stories, speeches, newspaper articles, essays and unpublished works. Photos of the great man himself and his contemporaries are thrown in alongside illustrations from the novels. A year-by-year multi-columned chronology charts Twain's personal, professional and public lives. In short, the breadth and depth of this book is astonishing.

We have loved this book for years; it is a great tale of friendship and perseverance. Recently. our seven-year-old young reader rediscovered it, and he now loves it, too. So, I wondered if it was still in print, and discovered that it is. I urge any reader who is interested in mythic tales that teach basic life lessons to add this book to your library. And I urge any parent who is looking for a quality story, and something different, to get this book for your young reader. You will not regret it!

I have given more copies of Crow and Weasel away than any other book in recent years. It is the most beautiful portrait of male friendship available in any genre for children or adults. I most often give copies to young men facing some important transition in their own lives...graduation from high school or college when they too will be asked to go beyond what is familiar, and in doing so, will learn more about themselves. This is a story to share with those you love again and again. As Lopez says, "If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed..." This is just such a story.

This is a good book that can be read to or by children ages 7-15. This book could be read in 2-3 hours and has natural breaks that allows you to return to the book a number of different times. The story is interesting and keeps the listeners or readers attention. I teach special education for behavior disorder students and this book is useful in teaching a variety of different social skills. I also have to sons that have enjoyed the story line and the messages that the story contains. The illustrations are colorful and add life to the books content. I highly recommend this book for any youth library.

This is a good book that can be read to or by children ages 7-15. This book could be read in 2-3 hours and has natural breaks that allows you to return to the book a number of different times. The story is interesting and keeps the listeners or readers attention. I teach special education for behavior disorder students and this book is useful in teaching a variety of different social skills. I also have to sons that have enjoyed the story line and the messages that the story contains. The illustrations are colorful and add life to the books content. I highly recommend this book for any youth library.

...and a crow, and many other insightful characters within "Crow and Weasel" have stayed with me since I first read it almost 10 years ago. The story itself is vibrant, almost to the point of actual narrative. Beautiful landscapes and dialogue throughout lend themselves to the imagination; I feel very much a part of what I'm reading-a true escape. And I like that it teaches me by surprise. Everytime I finish this book, I find that my joy in diversity, my desire to be kind, and my reverence for the natural world have grown. Tom Pohrt's illustrations are each works of art, and complement the story perfectly. I wish they were available as prints. Share this book with the young, and then go share it with everybody else.