Sports Books


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Sports Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Sports
28 Days Behind Bars
Published in Paperback by AuthorHouse (2001-10-17)
Author: Harold Wagoner
List price: $23.95
New price: $14.97
Used price: $15.33

Average review score:

What a trip!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-04-11
Reading this book was like driving by a car wreck - you know you probably shouldn't keep looking, but somehow you just can't stop. First the good stuff: Harold can ride. Bigtime mileage. Everyday. He also appreciates nature and doesn't let things like wind & rain bother him too much. Now the downside: while the guy claims to work in a missile factory, he's no rocket scientist. Heavy drinking, fast food gluttony, lechery, and latent bigotry were all mildly amusing if somewhat annoying, but his ignorance of bike mechanics was just plain hysterical.
I definitely admire the guy for his feat, and I admit the book was entertaining in a Jerry Springer kind of way, but if this guy can sell a book for $23.95, in the words of Al Pacino,"Somethin's really wrong here!"

A FUN BOOK TO READ!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-03-05
I thoroughtly enjoyed reading 28 Days Behind Bars. Wagoner knows how to bring things to life with words. It was as though I were right there with him throughout his tour.

Not that great.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-14
I found this book disappointing, especially after reading the rave reviews of others. This book tells the story of Harold Wagoner's bike ride from Seattle to New York. While I admire him for the adventure, most of the book is just reporting mileage, temperature,and meals. It is more a log book/journal than a travel story. We see little insight or growth from the author as he makes the trip and when it is offered, it is all Archie Bunker and bumper sticker slogans. By the end of the book, I was ready for the trip to be over.

I gather this book is published through the modern day version of a vanity press. There were some enjoyable moments and the author has writing talent. But jarring typo's, punctuation errors, and spell check errors like using "they're" for "there" reduce the enjoyment. He could have benefitted tremendously from the help of a good editor.

I don't think this book was worth the price.

A EXCELLENT BOOK!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-24
I have just finished reading Wagoner's book and I LOVED IT! It is the best bicycle touring book I've ever read. It really is a first rate adventure. A must read for every cyclist.

Will Rogers on wheels!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-05-05
Bravo to Harold Wagoner for both an amazing feat and a great story. A must read for any touring cyclist or for anyone interested in the triumph of the human spirit. Wagoner details his 28 day ride from Seattle to NYC dispensing self-deprecating humor and homespun wisdom along the way. Wheel wobbles, headwinds, tailwinds, crosswinds, bears and bees can't stop him, nor can the roadside Sirens he encounters along the way. His eating habits provide an instant cure for anyone concerned about their diet. A heart-warming and life-affirming tale, well told.

Sports
Alpine Sierra Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Ski, Bike, Fish and Drive from Tahoe to Yosemite (Trailblazer)
Published in Paperback by Diamond Valley Company (2004-02-01)
Authors: Jerry Sprout and Janie Sprout
List price: $15.95
New price: $6.00
Used price: $5.97

Average review score:

An excellent supplementary resource for anyone seeking to see Sierra Nevada's natural beauty
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-02
Authors Jerry Sprout and Janine Sprout have explored the Sierra Nevada for more than twenty years; Alpine Sierra Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Ski, Bike, Fish, Drive from Tahoe to Yosemite is the culmination of their combined experience. Written for families and veteran hikers alike, Alpine Sierra Trailblazer covers 88 different trailheads suitable for assorted levels of experience, 51 cross country ski and snowshoeing spots, 72 places ideal for fishing in lakes and rivers or creeks, 6 driving tours, 148 black-and-white photographs, 7 maps, and much more. Organized primarily by site - each ideal location to visit is listed successively, along with notes about its highlights and extensive directions - Alpine Sierra Trailblazer is an excellent supplementary resource for anyone seeking to see Sierra Nevada's natural beauty and wonders for themselves.

Wildflower city
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-16
My first visit to Lake Tahoe last week and not knowing where to go I picked up this travel guide. Off trail and on trail the seepsprings were alive with yellows, blues, oranges and it's only going to get better. Some of the hikes at the higher elevations are still snowbound but there are plenty of listings around the lake to keep me going. The list of dayhikes in this book is staggering and since it's written by locals has real credo. You can't beat all the clean air up at Big Blue.

Best All Around Guide for Tahoe south
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-03
Since I live downslope from Yosemite and Tahoe I consider it my backyard recreation area. Cross country ski trails, hiking trails, trails bordering the Great Basin, they're all in here. I like to fish and this serves as my river guide too. It's very user friendly and has a real personal touch. These guys are trail experts and list all the good ones and those less traveled. My son and his wife have gone to Hawaii with their Kauai book and tell me it's also a winner.

Excellent resource
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-28
This is the third guide we've used in this outdoor series. The Kauai and Golden Gate books have become mainstays in our hiking collection. I like their system for organizing their activities according to region and this one follows the same format. It spans the area from Yosemite's Tioga Pass, takes in Ebbetts and Monitor and Carson passes and covers south Lake Tahoe's turf. This is the author's home base and they certainly have the credentials for knowing all the best trails and sightseeing backroads.

There aren't many adventure guides that feel as personal or are multi-use like this one. We cross country ski, fish, hike, camp and mountain bike so for our family it's a perfect fit.

Two for Tahoe
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-22
Two books you most definitely need if you're hanging out at Tahoe is this one and the Tahoe Rim Trail guide. This area has some of the best hiking in the western U.S. We found both books to be extremely current and clearly written.

So far we've used them for both dayhiking and and overnight backpacking trips up at the north end of Lake Tahoe and due south around Carson Pass. Having two to compare has given us extra ideas for sidetrips. We're a family of four and have gotten alot of use from these top notch trail resources.

Sports
Armed and Female: Twelve Million American Women Own Guns, Should You?
Published in Mass Market Paperback by St. Martin's Paperbacks (1993-03-15)
Author: Paxton Quigley
List price: $5.99
New price: $20.94
Used price: $15.83

Average review score:

Makes you think
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-22
Interesting book really makes you think about self defense in todays world. I grew up with guns, hunting and target shooting so I might have a different perspective than most. Having a loaded gun readily accessable is a huge responsibility that can either save your life or ruin it forever.

Great book, very objective
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-03
If you even thought about owning a gun you should have this book. It is full of factual information regarding crime statistics, dos and don'ts regarding gun ownership and use. It is written by a women for women and I bought it for my wife but I read every page. I recommend it highly.

Larry C

Armed and Female
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-04
Informative
Great to give your lady if you would like her to consider arming herself

a must read if you are considering a handgun
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-01
Thoughtful, informative and written in simple language for the woman who has, or is intending to own/carry a concealed weapon.
Covers types of handguns, true life experiences, other means of self defense and consequences of using lethal force.

The Wife Read It
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-08
I bought it for her and she thought it was worthwhile. So much so I ordered some similar titles. These books aren't crazy. They're for women that refuse to be victims.

Sports
Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 (Caldecott Honor Book)
Published in Hardcover by Handprint Books (2000-10-01)
Author: Ernest L. Thayer
List price: $17.95
New price: $7.16
Used price: $3.79
Collectible price: $17.95

Average review score:

Must have book for kids of all ages - whether you like baseball or not.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-08
As an admitted father of two toddlers, book lover, history buff and baseball fan, my review may seem like the most biased you could read. Yes, I do love this book on many levels.

But I have shared this book with children and adults of all ages -- many that care less about baseball, sports or history -- and all have been captivated by the illustrations and unbelievable level of detail Christopher Bing brought to this book.

Indeed, it is "copiously and faithfully illustrated" by the author. Every time you pick up this book you will be rewarded for your attention: it is filled with interesting little images of ads, money and baseball-related items from the period.

This book will surprise and delight you, again and again. Nice job, Mr. Bing. Very nice job.

Home run!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-11
Anyone who loves baseball, poetry, or amazingly intricate illustrations will love this book. I've used it in the classroom as part of units on poetry and baseball and it's always a hit. Great stuff!

Best book ever
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-18
I loved this book. I loved how they took a old poem and put it in to a book!!! So if could 1,000,000 copies of one book Cassey at the Bat would be it!!!

WHAT A WONDEFUL, WELL DONE WORK!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-29
What a wonderful rendition of one of my favorite (and many others) poems! Not only do I like this book my self (I actually own the thing), but I have found it to be very useful in school and in teaching young grandsons. The author has taken the classic poem of Casey at the Bat and turned it into a piece of art and a history lesson all in one. He has used old newspaper clippings of the late 1800s as a back ground to his wonderful illustrations. A close look at these clippings reveal that they enhance and go along with the story quite well. Not only do the kids (I use this for 3rd graders through 6th graders) get to hear, as I read the book to them, one of our classic "fun poems" but they get a great history lesson as we discuss the context of the story with the newspaper background. It is rather amazing, upon close examination, just how much extras information the author has packed into this book. Now I realize that this is classified as a juvenal book, which I think is a real shame as it will possible divert the attention of older baseball fans and they will miss out on quite a lot. That is a pity. This book is actually quite suitable for a baseball fan of any age. I know I treasure my copy at well over sixty years old...of course I must admit to still having a lot of little boy in me, still. Highly recommend this one.

Mudville Strikes Again: A Version for Older Kids Who Love Baseball
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-25
Christopher Bing's version of Ernest Thayer's "Casey at the Bat" is a must for serious baseball fans of any age. He presents the Thayer's classic ballad in a scrapbook/folio format, the poem superimposed against a "yellowed" and torn newspaper. For authenticity--and baseball fans are sticklers for details--Bing uses period font from the era, draws black and white line pictures resembling hand-engravings (it wasn't until 1890 that newspapers replaced engravings with the speedier photoengraving technique), and layers the whole effort with printed ephemera, including "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware) medicinal ads, newspaper clippings about baseball, and memorabilia such as money, tickets, and medallions. I know about the birth of newspaper photoengraving only because Bing includes a lot of interesting history (and copious acknowledgements) in the newspaper-formatted endpapers.

The strength of the poem is unquestioned; "Casey" is so firmly engrained in the national psyche that the Library of Congress lists him as a real person, complete with birthdate. Dozens of authors mimicked or enhanced the piece, and the ballad's illustrators include Leroi Neiman, Barry Moser, and Patricia Polacco. Bing's choice of (mostly) drab colors will probably lose a younger audience; Patricia Polacco corners that demographic with her warm and wonderfully loopy style. Nor does Bing add any overt story features; Polacco changes the setting to a contemporary Little League game, and frames the story with some family dynamics between Casey, his sister, and the game's umpire-his dad!

Where Bing excels is context. Obviously, he displays the style and format of printed materials in his pseudo-engravature, and his fictionalized but historically accurate newspaper clippings. More importantly, however, he shows how the tight interweaving of baseball and society. Baseball, like the Constitution (Scalia and Thomas dissenting) and the performing arts in general, changes with the times. Back in 1888, baseball had one umpire, used one ball throughout the game, and lacked fences (one amusing clipping tells of a fan absconding with a ball so that the opposing team couldn't field it). In 1888, African-American players played alongside Whites, but the writing is on the wall, one telling clip hints at the eventual banning of all but Caucasian players.

Bing makes a few errors (one of his newspaper accounts praises Casey's hitting in another game, but the box score shows that he went 0 for 5), and he normalizes Casey--his face shows reasonable emotion, not the overwrought feelings that Thayer describes in his grand, faux-epic style.

However, the book casts an impressively broad net over an entire era, and look ahead towards the inevitable change. It's a great model for similar classroom projects, and Bing's research and color illuminate the reciprocity between society and game like no other. Still, this is not a book for young kids (except for those who are really, really into baseball, and who have the attention span to pour over the ephemera). The overall look is a grayish/yellow drab, with specks of color, and Bing packs in a lot of information. I believe Bing would agree that it's not the definitive or even the best "Casey" version for all ages-what could be?--even with its Caldecott honor and a legion of fans.

Bing's "copious and faithfully illustrated" achievement (and ultimately, much of the book's following stems from its achievement in research and illustration, as opposed to its entertainment value for kids) is impressive, educational, and maps neatly onto Thayer's poem. It's easy to imagine kids from older elementary school through middle school, as well as adult fans, pouring over every background detail as Casey's sneers one more time.

Sports
Deadline
Published in Hardcover by HarperTeen (2007-09-01)
Author: Chris Crutcher
List price: $16.99
New price: $5.88
Used price: $9.93

Average review score:

Sad but fabulous
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-17
DEADLINE's Ben Wolf knows he is dying. An aggressive blood disease will kill him within the year if he isn't treated. With treatment, he might extend his life some. Ben chooses to refuse treatment. He also chooses to keep his condition a secret from everyone except his doctor and the therapist his doctor forces him to see. He throws himself into his last year of life. He finally tries out for football. He pursues the girl he's in lust with. He tries to sober up the town drunk. He acts up in class because what does it matter if he doesn't graduate?

Crutcher, as usual, doesn't fear including issues in his story. There's sexual and physical child abuse, alcoholism, and bigotry. At some points these issues threaten to overshadow Ben's story, but Crutcher keeps them under control.

The diminutive Ben feels fear. He feels sad and he doesn't want to die. Every time his brother or girlfriend talks to him about the future he feels guilty for his lies. But, at the same time, he's a happy narrator. He's doing things he loves and making the most of his final year. He does not regret choosing not to fight the illness with drugs nor does he regret the relationships he makes. (He should regret some of his jokes.)

I don't regret reading DEADLINE. I cried at the end, yes. Ben dies. There is no miracle cure. But I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in his head, watching him do some things so right while still making large mistakes. I cried, but I felt happy. Ben worked hard to make sure the people he affected most would be able to handle his death. He made a choice at the beginning of the novel and defended it to the death. I respect him for that. I will also continue to read Crutcher faithfully, no matter how many of his books get banned.

Excerpted from In Bed With Books

A fine read.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-10
This is the first Chris Crutcher book that I have read, at least I cannot remember another at this time. I am confident that I will read more of his books. He is an exciting and captivating writer. I find it very interesting that he writes in the first person of his main character, but then adds this interesting dialogue with a spiritual character. There is great depth in the dialogues and interactions between characters. The book moved me.

This book would be appealing to oler adolescents. I would package it as follows: Have you ever wondered what you would do if you were told you had a limited time to live? This novel introduces one way that a person may choose to live a limited time. The characters are believable and come alive in this well written novel. I think you will enjoy this book.

Good
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-26
The book was really good. At times it can get slightly boring and slow, but Crutcher always brings things back up to pace again.
It's written very, very well, and the ending wraps it up nicely. Few parts are predictable, having many surprises throughout.
I would definitely recommend it.

Deadline
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-28
If you have ever read the book A Walk to Remember, or even watched the movie, then you know the feeling that you get when you find out that your favorite character is dying. Intense sadness; anger; desire for change; hope that it's not true; and then finally, you just give up. You know it's true, but in the end it doesn't make it any more bearable.

In Deadline, you know from the very beginning that Ben Wolf is going to die. It is inevitable... even on the front cover it says it. The evidence is everywhere. But, since it's introduced so early in the story, you don't really think about it as more than a plot point.

So, what would you do if you were going to die? Well, I'm sure there are different answers for different people, but I know Ben's answers. He wants to make a difference. He wants to stick out. He wants to live life to the fullest; and he does. He goes out for football, despite the fact that he weighs less than a hundred and thirty pounds. He befriends the town drunk. He starts arguments in class, trying to get people to think about life and the way things are. And he finally gets the guts to ask out that perfect girl he's had a crush on.

And throughout all of this, he is the only person (besides his doctor and his therapist) who knows that he's dying. But obviously he can't keep it that way.

This book was truly amazing. It's a real page turner, from the very first sentence. Chris Crutcher isn't one to waste words; he doesn't write anything that doesn't mean something to the story, so this book isn't full of pointless banter. It has feeling. It has meaning. I can truly connect to the characters in a deep way. I felt like there was just the right amount of sarcastic humor and life messages to make this a really enjoyable book; you will laugh, you will cry... and you will also fall in love with this book.

Great Read for Older Kids
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
I am a middle school teacher and read this book over the holiday break. I really enjoyed it but would recommend it for high school-aged readers. There is some cursing and references to sex, which I'm not saying is bad. As a teacher, I just know I'd have some unhappy parents to deal with if I assigned this to my 6th graders (although they would have really enjoyed the story). Great themes of loyalty, friendship, and courage.

Sports
Deerskins Into Buckskins: How To Tan With Natural Materials - A Field Guide for Hunters and Gatherers
Published in Paperback by Treasure Chest Books (1997-09)
Author: Matt Richards
List price: $14.95
Used price: $7.00

Average review score:

Excellent book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-12
This book was well written, entertaining, and motivating. I'll definitely be tanning some hides this fall, and I plan to keep the book close as a reference. I appreciated the level of detail and the photos & drawings which answered all my questions about the tanning process. It also contained a healthy dose of humor to lighten things up a bit. I couldn't be happier with the book!

Best book to turn "Deerskins to Buckskins" *****
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-03
I bought this book wanting to learn how to make buckskins and that is exactly what it does. I received the book in the mail and could not put it down until I finished. Matt Richards' takes you from the raw skin all through the steps to the finished buckskin. I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you didn't wish to make buckskins you will learn a lot about the history and the process of how buckskinning works. Once I bought the book I had to buy the video, which is also Great! I enjoyed it from the visual point of view, by being able to actually see the process, while Matt goes step by step. Love both the book and Video!!!

worth every penny
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-13
Deerskins into buckskins is a wonderful resource. Matt Richards completely breaks down the science of tanning into an understandable form that even newby tanners can utilize. This book only covers the wet scrape process, but he provides insight as well as alternative methods. I would definately recommend this book to anyone interested in making their own buckskin as a hobby or small scale company. Matt also keeps it fun, this is not a dry list of things to remember.

Deerskins Into Buckskins: How To Tan With Natural Materials, a Field Guide for Hunters and Gatherers
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-03-09
I had been brain tanning for many years when I first read this book. After trying some of Matt's ideas, my hides came out softer the first time and had very few hides that needed re-softening.

Matt's book is simply written, his ideas and techniques are solid, and if you follow his instruction, you WILL make great leather. I once met a young lady that showed me her first four hides she ever brain tanned. They were great, and she learned how to do it from this book. In fact, I use his book in the brain tanning classes I teach. It is that good.

the best available resource for anyone interested in the craft
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-25
Without much success, I stumbled around for a while trying to figure out how to brain tan deer hides. Then I came across Matt's book, Deerskins into Buckskins. Simply put, there is no better resource available for anyone interested in learning how to tan. The reader is carried step by step through the process in a way that makes it easy to understand. Each and every step is thoroughly explained in language that is easy to follow. Beyond the basic process, there are sections that cover variations to the standard tanning method, making stuff with your finished hide, the history of tanning, trouble shooting, and more. I picked up the book dubious that I cold learn a seemingly difficult process from a book alone. I was pleasantly surprised. I highly recommend Deerskins into Buckskins for anyone interested in tanning. There is also an instructional DVD companion. Between the two, it would be impossible for anyone not to become a successful tanner.

Sports
Heaven Is a Playground
Published in Paperback by Bison Books (1995-10-01)
Author: Rick Telander
List price: $15.95
New price: $5.00
Used price: $1.00
Collectible price: $15.95

Average review score:

2ND Best book on inner N.Y.C. baketball
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-28
This book is about a hot bed of baketball in inner N.Y.C. namely Bklyn in the mid 70's When the King wasn't called Lebron James, but King Albert (Albert King) averaging 44 a game in H.S. he was hailed & christianed the greatest ever to come out of New York City (although his pro career did not live up to the billing Albert & brother Bernard will always be fondly remembered). This book is about Albert and his come up through Bedstuy and so forth. It also gives you an inside look at some of BK'S playground legends circa 1970's and some of their tragic downfalls. The best N.Y.C. ball-book ever written will always be "The City Game" by Pete Axthlem, but this is a close 2nd.

All the Great Themes of Basketball
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-09-12
Rick Telander brings all together all the great themes of basketball in this unforgettable book. He stays true to the sport and never strays too far from it (or its many characters). With great books, readers say they never want to see the characters potrayed in the movie because it will never live up to the image/character they've envisioned. In "Heaven Is A Playground", I never want to see Fly Williams or Albert King play ball because I'd rather keep the court wizardry, provided by Telander, permanently embedded in my brain.

This will be a short book review...
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-04
This is the best book on basketball I've ever read. First read it when I was a kid in the late '70's, and it still rings as true today. Just about the best sportswriting ever.

A Great Story of Spirit, Struggle, and Escape
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-12-29
I read this book around '93, just after having read the "white version" in both Larry Bird's biography and autobiography. What was interesting was these two very similar yet distinct experiences and how they related to my own experience, growing up it what would seem like a very safe and socially adjusted rural town.

Heaven is a Playground was a departure for me in to a world where basketball had the utmost symbolic and cultural meaning - where legends were born and died and everybody else was willing to take the gamble. Was basketball more a sacrifice of a better future (missing school) or a one shot escape from certain poverty? Telander would probably argue the latter. What I found interesting was that only a few of the characters in the story actually had the potential for professional basketball, yet all the other young men seemed (unconsciously) willing to sacrifice their own futures for those players. Not so much blinded by their dreams they were living them.

As interesting as social commentary as it is about hoops
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-11
Certainly some other reviewers have me beat in the department of basketball-related literature, but I count "Heaven Is A Playground" amongst the many social science books that I have read. And indeed, it matches up quite well with the best reads of the past few decades. On the surface, the book seems to be about inner-city basketball, but within the pages, it is a complete dissection of the (one segment) inner city African-American man.

The amazing book "Tally's Corner" managed the same feat in its analysis of street corner men. Both have achieved great feats with their respective works. For basketball fans like myself, "Heaven Is A Playground" not only reads as great/sad/true/mystifying social commentary, but also as plain sports entertainment. Rick Telander, as a sports writer, was really able to hit home with the writing, really giving readers a feel of the 1970s game - which has many similarities and differences to the game of today.

Another great aspect of the book is that it reads as if you there. Telander makes only the necessary analysis in the pages about what went on, and basically leaves the facts as they are. The book could have easily become a textbook lesson on sociological concepts, a lofty preaching on the ills of inner city life, or a rambling 200+ page play-by-play. Fortunately, the easy going style of writing is great journalism. Telander's style fit me well.

Thanks Rick for a great read.

Sports
The Magnificent Seven: The Authorized Story of American Gold
Published in Hardcover by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (1996-10-01)
Author: N.H. Kleinbaum
List price: $19.95
New price: $6.93
Used price: $0.46
Collectible price: $19.95

Average review score:

A Truly Fascinating Book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-02-10
After the Magnifecent Seven's wonderful performance at the '96 Olympic Games, I decided to read this book to find out more about these talented young women. I thought it was terrific! There are biographies of each of the seven members along with really cool pictures. This book was awesome. These seven are really magnificint and it shows!

good information, most wanted information
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 1999-10-11
The book was pretty good for writing a book. Gave good information but it was a hard book to just sit down and read but I would for sure buy the book!

Very Very Good
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 1999-01-20
A must read with lots of good pictures. Gives good info. on all the athletes, with quotes.

This has got to be one of the best books ever
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2004-05-12
This book is what really got me interested in gymnastics.

I had gotten introduced to gymnastics through a book about Mary Lou Retton I had picked up at a thrift store, but I didn't become too interested until I saw a picture of Kim Zmeskal in an Encyclopedia Annual. I looked her up on the Internet, and the rest they say is history.

Through the Internet I discovered the Magnificent Seven, and I found this book at our library. I couldn't have been more satisfied!

The Magnificent Seven was a team of US girls that consisted of Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Jaycie Phelps, Shannon Miller, Dominique Dawes, Dominique Moceanu and Kerri Strug. These talented gymnasts won the very first Olympic Gold team medal in US. Gymnastic history.

This book has very informative biographies about each girl, complete with full color photos. It is very well written, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the Magnificent Seven, or just want to see some great pictures about them.

A must for gymnastics fans.
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 1999-03-22
If you like gymnastics you'll love this book! It tells about the lives of the seven gymnasts on the 1996 gold medal winning U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, Shannon Miller, Dominique Moceanu, Kerri Strug, Dominque Dawes, Jaycie Phelps, Amanda Borden, and Amy Chow. There are pictures of each girl from their very young life to the 1996 Olympics.

Sports
Prep
Published in Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (2005-03)
Author: Jake Coburn
List price: $15.25
New price: $11.90
Used price: $33.52

Average review score:

"Prep" is an education
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-15
This book totally sucked me into a world I knew nothing about. So vividly written I was practically hung over after Jeremy Prescott's party. Real, gritty, and sweet.

Great book to learn something
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-21
This book showed me that changing is not always easy. Nick is a great character and i love that he's trying to leave his past and start a new life and especially with the girl he loves, Kris. And i was so happy wen he finally told her that he loved her and all. It gave me the point of view of a guy in love. I rarely read books like this one. Plus the title made me want to read it too by the way. So its a cool book and everyone will like it just like i do. I recommend others to read it cuz its a great book and ull love nick and rute for him.

Masterpeice
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-15
This book is great for ppl of all ages. It gives you a look at what's underneath the preppy private-school world. It takes you to a place of parties, drugs, casual, sex, and gangs. Nick is trying to change his old habbits after a bad accident with one of his friends. Yet still in this crazy world he manages to fall for his best friend. And when her brother becomes a gang target he finds himself in the middle of it all. Jake Coburn creates a world full of lies, drama, danger, and suspense. Although it was short, it is a book that will leave you in thought. It Makes you think about the lives of the privileged while also creating a dramatic Manhatten theme.

Prep
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-22
This book is about a boy named Nick who was part of a former prep-school gang. Nick and his friend have every advantage: expensive clothes and beautiful apartments. But underneath the private-school education lies the chiling gang world filled with drinking, heavy drugs, and graffiti. Nick tries to put his past beind him and pay more attention to his best friend Kris whom he is secretly in love with. But when Kris's younger brother becomes a gang target, Nick decides to help him even if he had to risk his own life.

I really like this book because it really happens in life and the author witnessed New York's teenagers form some of the most vicious gangs in Manhattan. This book has some very vivid fights and it shows what goes on in a gang and i thougth that was kind of interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes realistic-fiction, some action, likes to know what really goes on in gangs and how gangs are started. If you decide to read it. I hope you like it.

This book is basically telling you that if you start getting in trouble there is alwasy someone out there that pulls you back on you feet. I guess their sort of like your guardian angel and that was what Kris was portyrayed as.

Real teen drama
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-02
As a former prep-school kid myself I was compelled to read Coburn's novel to see if it lived up to the truth about the secret (or not so secret) lives of New York city teens--and it did. This book kept me reading, and reading until I was disappointed to have reached the end. I would recommend it too both teens and not teens anymore.

Sports
Prep
Published in Turtleback by Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media (2005-03-14)
Author: Jake Coburn
List price: $14.55

Average review score:

"Prep" is an education
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-15
This book totally sucked me into a world I knew nothing about. So vividly written I was practically hung over after Jeremy Prescott's party. Real, gritty, and sweet.

Great book to learn something
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-21
This book showed me that changing is not always easy. Nick is a great character and i love that he's trying to leave his past and start a new life and especially with the girl he loves, Kris. And i was so happy wen he finally told her that he loved her and all. It gave me the point of view of a guy in love. I rarely read books like this one. Plus the title made me want to read it too by the way. So its a cool book and everyone will like it just like i do. I recommend others to read it cuz its a great book and ull love nick and rute for him.

Masterpeice
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-15
This book is great for ppl of all ages. It gives you a look at what's underneath the preppy private-school world. It takes you to a place of parties, drugs, casual, sex, and gangs. Nick is trying to change his old habbits after a bad accident with one of his friends. Yet still in this crazy world he manages to fall for his best friend. And when her brother becomes a gang target he finds himself in the middle of it all. Jake Coburn creates a world full of lies, drama, danger, and suspense. Although it was short, it is a book that will leave you in thought. It Makes you think about the lives of the privileged while also creating a dramatic Manhatten theme.

Prep
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-22
This book is about a boy named Nick who was part of a former prep-school gang. Nick and his friend have every advantage: expensive clothes and beautiful apartments. But underneath the private-school education lies the chiling gang world filled with drinking, heavy drugs, and graffiti. Nick tries to put his past beind him and pay more attention to his best friend Kris whom he is secretly in love with. But when Kris's younger brother becomes a gang target, Nick decides to help him even if he had to risk his own life.

I really like this book because it really happens in life and the author witnessed New York's teenagers form some of the most vicious gangs in Manhattan. This book has some very vivid fights and it shows what goes on in a gang and i thougth that was kind of interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes realistic-fiction, some action, likes to know what really goes on in gangs and how gangs are started. If you decide to read it. I hope you like it.

This book is basically telling you that if you start getting in trouble there is alwasy someone out there that pulls you back on you feet. I guess their sort of like your guardian angel and that was what Kris was portyrayed as.

Real teen drama
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-02
As a former prep-school kid myself I was compelled to read Coburn's novel to see if it lived up to the truth about the secret (or not so secret) lives of New York city teens--and it did. This book kept me reading, and reading until I was disappointed to have reached the end. I would recommend it too both teens and not teens anymore.


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