Missouri Books

The Western Writers of America awarded "Leaving Missouri" the 1998 Spur Award for Best Paperback Original! Since only 6 or 7 Spurs have been given to female authors of book-length fiction in the past fifty years or so, I thought this was worth mentioning. "Leaving Missouri" is a hoot! It's funny and charming and scary and sad, a book you'll want to read over and over. Bring Kleenex!

A good story of "Hush Up Clutie Mae Chestnut" Initially, the dialect was a bit overpowering, but the storyline soon puts that out of mind. The book reads quickly and well; I found myself amazed at the number of events occuring within a short period of time. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Recknor's works.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It made me sad and made me laugh- what a good book! Clutie Mae is quite the character and her story is unique

Ellen Recknor's "Leaving Missouri" has surpassed standard western fare and shapeless pulp fiction, and has earned the right to keep company with the great literature we remember from the good old days (the quality of which we were sure would never again be found in the new release section). The lushly detailed characterization and slick-as-a-whistle comedy, go hand in hand with an immensely moving story. This young heroine moves not only beyond the state line, but beyond her small-town ideas and limitations, as she gains wisdom and strength on the journey to adulthood. You will laugh, you will cry, you will cheer. And by the end, you will have lived a lifetime through the eyes of Clutie Mae Chestnut.

I've bought copies for everyone I know who's interested in westerns. Leaving Missouri is a genuine hoot.

Wasn't sure what the title meant when I picked up this book ... but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was a busy weekend in New York city, but each time I could get to it, I started reading again. I bought ten copies this Christmas to gift to good friends so they could enjoy it too.

The Logic of a Rose is a wonderful read. Lombardo weaves together stories that are not only entertaining but also beautifully written. He describes his characters and environment so simply yet manages to capture every moment with such detail that the reader feels that he is a part of the story, standing right next to Petey in the Wallace Playlot or watching Petey's father load the bakery's delivery truck. Lombardo is a gifted writer, and the only way to better experience his narrative is to hear him read his marvelous work aloud.

There are many passages of beauty in this brilliant first book. A "Winesburg Ohio" of the Italian working class enclave of Bridgeport on the south side of Chicago, Lombardo's book is written with tenderness, humor, and deep affection for people he knows well and a city he loves. Lombardo recalls the work of Stuart Dybek, but he is not as relentless, objective and hard-edged. This is gentler fiction, but it is very fine on its own terms. Funny and touching passages about his moralistic and loving father (not unlike the bus driver father in "A Bronx Tale") ,about his father's emotional reaction to a Tony Bennett recording, about Italian working people, and about a chance meeting with a first love in a laundromat are haunting. There is a sense of wonder to these terrific stories.--David Evanier is the author of "Roman Candle: The Life of Bobby Darin," "The One-Star Jew," winner of the Aga Khan Fiction Prize, and a former senior editor of The Paris Review.

This is a great book of stories. Lombardo lavishes loving attention on the details of Bridgeport, and this attention will be a joy to readers who know the area and those who don't. Like the author Stuart Dybek, Lombardo finds beauty where others are too jaded to see it. This compassion and heart is also with him as he explores his characters, and Petey Bellapani above all. Whether the characters are living up to their ideals or whether they're muddling their way through, they are touching, understandable, perfectly real. This collection really stays with a reader, like the most important memories of childhood.

This collection of short stories balances perfectly between the perspective of its child protagonist, Petey Bellapani, and the wisdom and understanding that comes of age. Lombardo portrays Petey with tenderness and understanding without ever sentimentalizing or idealizing him. In other hands, Petey's evolution might have led to disillusionment, but Lombardo brilliantly captures Petey's internal voice, a voice that never loses its wonder even as he learns the codes of Bridgeport, his tough neighborhood. Lombardo's collection defies the flat characterization of masculinity too common in contemporary popular culture. Petey, his father, and even the punks of Bridgeport are three dimensional, outwardly posturing but inwardly real, devoted to the toughness expected of them while holding within extraordinary loyalty, affection, courage, and their own brand of honor.

Ella Jo Sadler tells her true story, which kept me on the edge of my seat, while I took in each word. I use to live in a small farm community, and can relate to the feeling of comradery and security that one has without ever entertaining a thought that bad things happen to good people in the country as well as big cities. This book is very suspenseful, wonderfully written with the author sharing her heart and personal faith in God. Through all the tragedies in her life, she gives us the answer to our Why's? and that is Trust God! I thank Ella Jo Sadler for her willingness to share her life.

I live in Potosi, about 15-20 miles from Quaker, where this took place. This book is the 100 % truth of what happened. My aunt is a family member of one of the victims and has told me about it. The book is available at the Washington County Library in paperback all of the time. I think many readers do not realize how small these towns are, Quaker is just a bunch of farms where everybody knows everybody and just about everyone is related. It was a shock that something like that would ever happen because even today, it just doesn't happen here.

When I was younger my mother bought me this book signed by Ms. Ella Jo Sadler, I was a little scared to know that this could happen so close to home (only about 45 minutes away) I think it is a very good book, and I think it takes great courage to be able to write about something this tragic especially when it has happened to you and your family.

Ella Jo Sadler has written a touching story of her experience with the brutal attack on her family which resulted in the deaths of her father and her best friend. She herself was beaten beyond recognition and left on the brink of death, and her mother was shot but not killed. The book kept me riveted to my seat until I finished it! The family showed such faith in God through the entire ordeal that it was an encouragement to my faith, as well!

This book tells it like it is. This is a true story, and it happend in a small town in Missouri. the older guy that committed the murders just recently died in prison. And the younger guy is out on parol {which should have never happend}. The lady who wrote the book "Murder in the Afternoon" is still suffering, She is 95yrs old and still lives on the property where this took place. She witnessed it all first hand, and was in a coma three weeks prior to the murders.

A book for treasure hunting in Oklahoma is long over-due (even though this was done several years ago). Precise information along with very well done maps and easy to follow stories. There is no other book like this nor can any other book compare with it's information. Money well spent for this interesting Oklahoma book is a treasure hunters dream come true. A must read book.

I thought this book was really interesting! It provides the stories of lost gold mines, buried outlaw loot, old Spanish mining efforts, and more. Includes lots of pictures.

For the serious treasure hunter, this book may provide a place to start looking for sources, but it doesn't contain any detailed maps or secrets.

Nonetheless, I would strongly recommend this book to people with an interest in lost treasure or with an interest in the history of Oklahoma. (I found out from this book that I grew up about 20 miles from a lost gold mine area!)

Steve captures the essence of the Wichita Mountains in an inspiring way. As someone who grew up in these magaical mountains, I appreciate the insight he brings to the book. The photos, maps, and stories offer great depth into an area that I've enjoyed exploring since I was a young girl. Thanks to Steve for sharing the stories of Oklahoma with the world. He's a great storyteller, an amazing author and photographer.

Although this book was originally published several years ago, it remains "the best" reference book for authentic treasure leads ever published, particularly for Oklahoma.

Many of the old west treasure stories recorded here would now be lost to history if not for Steve Wilson's thorough detective work.

I was shocked to read one review here stating "there are no detailed maps" in the book. I beg to differ with that opinion. This book contains several authentic treasure maps. It is an absolute fact that treasure was recovered using some of those maps. (Read "Shadow of the Sentinel" or "Rebel Gold" for the story of one treasure recovery). I'd go as far as to predict, that in the near future, other treasures will be found using the maps in this book.

Every day another treasure hunter enters the ranks of those who seek buried gold. They can do no better than to read, and read, then re-read the OKLAHOMA TREASURES AND TREASURE TALES.

To truly understand the way treasure maps are actually drawn and how they work this book is a must. Study these maps paying careful attention to the codes and ciphers hidden in them, then with some luck and lots of hard work you might be the next person to get rich from Steve's work.
Bob Brewer
Author/Historian/Cache Hunter

This is the definitive work on lost treasure in Oklahoma. The author gives an excellent survey of most of the lost treasures in the state which are commonly known (and some which are not so well known). The author seems to have researched the treasures in the western half of the state, particularly those in the Lawton area, more heavily than the treasures in the eastern half of the state. Nonetheless, on all of the treasures surveyed, there is sufficient information in the bibliography for the serious student to start researching any of the treasures.

Leon Sanders: at times you hate him, at times you love him. Most of the time you are frustrated by his decisions and then he does something wonderful to redeem himself. He's the lead character in Brian Katcher's Playing with Matches. Leon isn't the smartest, best looking, most popular guy in his high school, he's just average. But he wants above-average Amy Green to be his girlfriend. What he doesn't plan on is falling for Melody, a girl scarred on the inside and out. Melody and Leon become close just at the time that Amy Green notices him. Will Leon choose beauty on the inside or beauty on the out?

Brian Katcher does an amazing job of creating these multi-dimensional charcters that most people can relate to. I related to Leon's struggles to fit in and be popular and his struggle of finding that one person that completes him. He acts like a typical teenage boy, obsessed with beauty and the superficial. Of course, he then redeems himself by falling for a girl that is far from being pretty or popular. His journey is at times heartbreaking and triumphant. At one part in the book, I was so disgusted with his actions that I just quit reading. I didn't want to live through the consequences with him. But the book is so readable, I soon picked it back up and read some more. It really sucks you in from the beginning. I must caution, there is language and sexual situations. But it's a great read! And it's only Katcher's first book! Lots more to look forward to!

The book is certainly entertaining, but what I most enjoy are the insights about human nature in general, and about adolescence in particular. The author has either an amazing memory or an astounding capacity for observation and empathy.

The characters, their motivations, and their actions are entirely believable. The pacing is even, and the plot a perfect recipe for absorbing readers' attention.

The humane, respectful, and accessible manner in which Brian Katcher approaches his characters--and his topic--will win readers' hearts.

Several of my students are choosing to read this book, and they admire the way the author describes the events, personalities, and emotions of high school life with accuracy and compassion.

I hear them laugh aloud as they read, and I see their reluctance to put the book away. This behavior is quite an endorsement.

As I read this Young Adult novel I was brought back to my own years in high school with all the angst and emotions that entailed. I was rooting for Leon so strongly that it was painful to see him make the inevitable teenage boy mistakes. I was also constantly reminding myself that it was written by a man. The writer was able to capture the emotions of both the male lead and the female characters which was fascinating to read. This is more than YA fiction. It is a seriously good read for anyone.

I am a teacher of young adults and a YA writer, myself. I ordered the book because I'm also writing a story about a burn victim. When I picked it up, I thought it might provide me some research material that may be useful, but what I got was much more. I literally read it in one evening, because I was dying to know how things turned out with Leon and Melody. Katcher's voice is astounding, and I was instantly rooting for Leon. The empathy and seriousness of the topic regarding burn victims is touching, but the author wrote the book in such an entertaining manner, that I didn't feel preached to.

Katcher understands popular teen culture and language. His use of slang is right on the mark, and he describes the high school experience quite effectively and believably. I am very impressed by Katcher's first novel. I believe he will be a YA writer to watch. Although his protagonist is male, I feel that girls will love this book. In fact, it may be more geared to a female audience because of the romantic elements. This is quite a feat for most male authors--to close in on an opposite gender audience. I feel that males will like the book as well. They will undoubtedly relate to Leon and his dating dilemmas. The sexual tension in the story is also right on the mark for YA. Katcher's voice reveals this tension...the male yearnings for sexual experience and its preoccupation.

The characters are diverse and enjoyable, and the book is a delightful and insightful read. I will definitely encourage my students to read this book, and I'll look forward to more from Brian Katcher. Bravo!

With his debut novel, Brian Katcher has successfully crafted the bittersweet tale of a teenage boy's quest to find love in the tragicomic world of a typical suburban high school.

The novel's protagonist, Leon, is one of a new breed of literary subject: the iconoclastic and self-professed nerd, comfortable in his own skin, but yearning, ultimately, for something more than his circle of male friends can provide. While his long-held crush on the popular cheerleader Amy Green blossoms into something more real (and inconvenient) than he could've ever dared imagine, it is the budding relationship between Leon and Melody Hennon that forms the beating heart of the book. Melody's character is a marvel. Mr. Katcher manages to write a profoundly scarred young woman with such depth that you often forget, as does Leon, that she is scarred at all. While the reality of Melody's disfigurement is always acknowledged, it never overwhelms what is a truly astonishing character. The reader never questions why Leon would be drawn to Melody's wit and warmth, nor do we question her interest in him.

In the end, the plot resists easy answers to the many questions it poses about self-esteem, trust, love, and the great yearning all young people feel for acceptance by their peers. The author mixes laughter and tears in equal measure to produce a nuanced and deeply heartfelt look at young love in all its complex glory. Bravo to Mr. Katcher for a fine debut to his literary career.

I love Dorothy Garlock. I think this was her last great series of books. Her writing is not as strong as it used to be and that is very sad. Read this whole series you will not be sorry!

What a well-written, engaging novel! Dorothy uses just enough description, but doesn't over-do it. She uses the river and it's potential flooding as the backdrop, building suspense behind all the sub-plots. Loved the characters she creates. My fave book of the year!

April Asbury leaves a big city hospital where she worked as an emergency room nurse to work in the small town of Fertile as Dr. Forbes office nurse. On the surface Fertile seems like a serene little town where neighbor helps neighbor survive the Great Depression. She meets Joe Jones when her car breaks down forcing her to walk until she finds herself in a field with a bull. Joe rescues her and takes her into town where she rents a room at Mrs. Poole's and starts work in Dr. Forbes office.

She begins to sense that the postcard prettiness of the town masks secrets that people want kept hidden. Dr Forbes is in love with a woman most people would consider black and is not allowed to legally marry her. Mrs. Poole's brother Fred spies on April when she is naked in her room and Mrs. Poole is going through with a diabolical plan that could destroy innocent lives. April is afraid to give her heart to Joe because she thinks he is a flirt while Joe thinks April would not want to get involved with a poor farmer. When the river threatens to flood the town many secrets and feelings finally see the light of day.

Dorothy Garlock is the queen of Americana tales and RIVER RISING is a perfect example of her superior writing talent. The romance of April and Joe plays out against the manipulations and actions of the secondary cast who are drawn very realistically. There are multiple sub-plots that all tie to the main storyline that enables readers to feel what it was like in small Missouri town during the Great Depression.

Harriet Klausner

River Rising is an excellent book with great subplots. I couldn't put it down. Dorothy Garlock's stories are always so real and emotional.

My attention was captured by the rural farmhouse art on the novel's cover, Dorothy Garlock's name, and the word "Americana" in reviews.

Been analyzing various types of mysteries and needed a relief from the clue focus. Was definitely refreshed returning to my old haunt of Early-American, 1930's romance. In that genre I live with the characters and plot in warm, family settings, yet I'm removed enough from the heavy work loads and financial horrors families shouldered in the depression era.

The prologue was a chilling, mesmerizing lead-in to the plot's contrast of emotionally heated grit around a good cast of strong, feisty characters weaving wit into wherewithal.

Say what?

Okay. Re-wording:

The prologue gave an accurate profile of a rapist, and the psychological response to the discovery of that profile (after 5 years grieving her husband's death) by a wife who had no clue to his dark side. The easy, quipping banter among characters in the ongoing plot gave a good contrast to the pain in the prologue.

I enjoyed the easy reading rhythm of slipping through a plot without the necessity of applying memory retention techniques to hold onto an intriguing horde of details, clues, and diversions. My recent reading tastes have been craving cozy culinary mysteries, with other genres and mainstream novels temporarily shoved off the back burner onto the floor behind the stove, where greasy dust bunnies abide and multiply. Even within a craving frenzy, though, one needs a break. This was mine.

How refreshing to live through the pages of a book with no underlying game-board beyond the simple elements of a good story. Not that simple stories are empty; with a balance of plot, characters, and setting, enough is most often enough. And, there is clearly thematic and psychological depth here.

I cheered the cunning contrast between the enduring country values of the Jones, and the un-elegant, empty ethics of a few snobs in town. It was refreshing to see redemptive evolutions of youth (Sammy) and of more mature characters (Jack). Of course the conflicts, tensions, and resolutions were predictable, as they're expected (desired) to be in this genre. If these anticipations are altered too dramatically, the drama sometimes descends into a literary category, and (for me) can too easily go sour in that miasma.

I was refreshed by the formulas met, yet literarily satisfied with this warm story's easing gently and sagely into and through difficult issues.

Surprisingly, the exposure (and healing) of a mild sexual perversion was artfully and tastefully done within this plot, edging the work almost into a literary gestalt, without leaving the appealing warmth of healthy romance

Loved the scene of peeping Fred snapping his backbone to stand up against bitter Shirley. Once backbone is acknowledged, perversion has an option to dissipate. What I enjoyed most in that first scene of Fred's spirit surge was that he accomplished this initial shift in his sibling relationship simply and gently. This situation occurred earlier in the story, giving characters the opportunity to begin healing dark tendencies, and the reader the regenerative benefits of "taking cues" from realistic character growth.

Woven naturally into the action were Lots of interesting bits of info for dealing with various types of emergencies, including medical. The fitting manner in which these "how to's" were delivered increased my involvement in the reading.

This book is not only entertaining and educational for kids, but for adults, too! The artwork is lovely to the eye and I'm looking forward to getting more of these books.

What a wonderful idea for a series of books. This is one of 50 alphabet books; there is one for every state. This one is packed with beautiful illustrations which contain hidden symbols, poetry, and tons of "unique to Missouri" facts. Don't just buy this one....collect them all. They are sure to be a valuable resource for teachers and parents alike. Despite it's ABC format, it is intended for all age groups.

This book is GREAT! As a school teacher, I'm delighted to have this book in my classroom. As a parent, I'm delighted to have it at home. It's an alphabet book, a poetry book, a textbook, and an art book all in one! Though I have lived in Missouri all my life, I sure learned some new things by reading S is for Show Me. I learned about the Kimmswick Bone Beds where mastodons used to live. I learned that nearly all corncob pipes in the world are made in Washington, MO! I learned about caves, springs, animals, ice cream cones, the Pony Express, the Civil War and so much more. This book should be read over and over because there is so much information that it just can't be absorbed in the initial reading. The illustrations are beautiful. Many of the paintings contain hidden details that my kids love to search for. The poems are fun to read aloud to young children and give them just enough information to spark their curiosity. But each page also has a sidebar of text that provides more in-depth information for older children and adults. S is for Show Me crosses all age barriers. I highly recommend this book to young and old alike, to anyone who is interested in the great state of Missouri!

This book is simply well done. I must say though, it is a bit misleading as it is not a simple ABC book even though it is set up in that particular format. It is so very, very much more. The author and illistrator have given us a wonderful oversite of a wonderful state, starting with prehistory and working forward to the present. The emphasis is on the outdoors of course, as Missouri, if nothing else, is an outdoor kind of place. The cities too have been well covered though, so there is something for everyone here. This book contains some pretty sophisticated information so, for the younger child, it might be a good idea to use this as a "read-a-long" book. The art work is great and quite detailed and fits the text perfectly. I have to admit, even though I am a native of this state, have lived here many years, I too, learned quite a few facts that I was unaware of. For an informative, well designed and fun to read book, I do recommend this one highly.

S is for Show Me fulfills a need of which librarians have been aware a long time. Finally here is a book that provides a great amount of information about the state of Missouri in an easy-to-read format all ages can enjoy. The magnificent illustrations develop great interest in the excellent poetry and interesting research material. Adults as well as children will gain much knowlege of Missouri from this informative and enlightening book. I cannot praise S is for Show Me too highly!

This is what you would expect a history of any period to be like, but unfortunately few are. Bowen has done a masterful job in explaining what happened, why it happened, who made it happen, and who didn't. Almost every situation is explained as to the political, economic and military impact of what happened as well as thoughts on what different could have been done and what the effect might have been.

By keeping Spain out of direct belligerency, Franco protected Spain for the post-war era. Though his dictatorship was brutal, it was homegrown and homemade (except for the help of the German Air Force-Condor Legion) and for the most part, kept home. With belligerent armies in the millions, and forced labor in the millions; Spain contributed at most seventy thousand troops and workers all told, with fewer than 20,000 at any one time.

If you want to know what happened in Spain during WW2, this is your book.

This is an important new volume, filling a major gap in the recent history of Europe. But in addition to that, it is an engrossing and entertaining read!

For several decades after World War II, historians of the various fascist and semi-fascist movements tended to focus on the leaders, the party structure, international diplomacy, and issues related to the war. Only recently have historians begun to focus on the "little people" who supported these regimes. (This is in stark contrast to the historians of Marxism, who have much more often written about the devotion of the individual party members.)

Franco's regime was a complex one, combining elements of military dictatorship, fascism, and reactionary monarchism. Although Franco succeeded in steering a middle course between these elements, there were many radical members of the Falange who wanted closer ties to Nazi Germany. The motivations behind these people -- mostly young radicals -- have not been explored in any English-language history book until now.

In "Spaniards and Nazi Germany," the author (Wayne Bowen) examines the various individuals who advocated closer ties between Spain and Germany between 1933 and 1945. Germany aided Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War, while the Soviet Union was aiding the Republican forces. When the Civil War ended, many observers expected Spain to become a close ally of Germany. But when Hitler struck a deal with Stalin in 1939, this changed. The Spanish Right had always seen Communism as their greatest foe. So when Hitler and Stalin gleefully carved up Catholic Poland, most of the Spaniards loyal to Franco realized that Hitler's ideology was not at all the same as theirs.

However, radical elements in the Falange refused to break ties with Nazi Germany. Many of them formed Spanish-German friendship groups, and even tried to undermine Franco's control of Spain. Finally, when Hitler double-crossed Stalin and invaded the USSR in June 1941, many young anti-Communist Spaniards volunteered to fight on the Eastern Front. These volunteers of the "Division Azul" ("Blue Division") ended up fighting alongside the Germans between Leningrad and Moscow.

Dr. Bowen does an excellent job of chronicling the activities of the pro-German Spaniards, as well as the controversies surrounding them. On a political level, Franco was trying to steer a course between the neutrality he desired for Spain and his tactical preference for whichever side seemed to be winning the war at any given time; on the other hand, the radical Falange saw politics in terms of the National Socialist "New Order" which they believed was the future of Europe. On an ideological level, most of Franco's supporters respected the Nazi Party's opposition to Communism, but distrusted its radicalism and its neo-paganism; again, this contrasted with the Falangists who saw Nazism as admirable. Even in the face of explicit German disdain for their "Latin allies", many of these radicals persisted in their loyalty to the Nazi ideals.

This is an excellent book which really opens a new chapter in the history of 20th Century Europe.

I enjoyed this book, which is very well documented with lots of footnoes and bibliography. The Nazis come off looking pretty arrogant about Spain, which they thought was at their beck and call. This book has everything a good history should: adventure, war, diplomacy, economics, conspiracies, and unexpected results. Excellent.

I really liked this book! My boyfriend is a real history buff, watching the History Channel all the time and everything, so I wasn't convinced I would enjoy it when he kept pushing me to look at it, but after I started reading Bowen's book, I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of amazing stories in it, like when Spaniards fought to defend Berlin at the end of World War II, and when Franco said "no" to Hitler -- and got away with it! For a history book, it's a pretty fun read!

This is an exciting story about my country's history during the Spanish Civil War and Second World War, when my grandparents endured starvation and political warfare. Professor Bowen has written a very interesting book, finding archives and research materials that no Spanish historian has used, to create this history which reads like a novel. I had no idea so many of my people were enthusiastically pro-Nazi, fighting in the German army, agitating for Spanish entry into the war, and volunteering, even after the war was lost, to help Hitler win. I had heard of the Blue Division, but thought these were soldiers Franco forced to go to Russia, not tens of thousands of volunteers who wanted to fight Stalin. Sometimes Bowen seems to go a little too easy on Franco, who contributed so much to making life difficult in Spain during this period, but I still recommend this book for everyone interested in the Second World War or Spanish history.

This is a story that should reach all ears. For young adults, thinking about careers, this puts a different spin on what "success" means. Tom is up front about how his financial security gave him options to make choices that might be more difficult for others. At the same time, he convinces the readers that the payback for this kind of commitment is greater than a paycheck. The education of all of today's children has to be one of the most significant issues we face. With an educationed population, economys tend to be strong. Lets give some kids a chance and see what they can do. My guess is ANYTHING!

What happens when you have everything, and it doesn't make you happy? Tom Bloch had a wonderful family, health,
wealth and was the CEO of his families tax preparation business.

But he decided that he could do more by being an inner city math teacher. So that is what
he became, and helped start a charter public school in Kansas City.

Whether you are an educator, parent, business person or someone thinking about your future, this is a GREAT book.
Bloch is tough on himself, recognizing that he had a strong support system.
He knows it was easier for him to walk away that it could be for others.

Bloch writes a strong defense of terrific teachers (some of whom he
describes, who he thinks should be paid a lot more money). He is explaining why the charter public school movement makes sense.

And he gently urges us to follow our heart, and to live the kind of life
that will most serve others, and make us happy. Wealth did NOT give Bloch what he wanted.

Walking away from a top corporate life, and walking into an inner city school to teach math, where he continues to
teach math, that's what added up for him. An upbeat and very encouraging book.

Joe In Minnesota

This book is both compelling and insightful. The narrative is engaging -- how many young CEO's quit million dollar a year jobs with giant family businesses (H&R Block) to teach in the inner city?! There is a lot more to this book than boy goes to work for his Dad and leaves to teach. Tom explores the hardest and deepest decisions we all have to make, and on his road to self discovery, presents quite a road map for us to follow. In doing so, he also gives the reader a view into the world of inner-city education and charter schools. Bravo - a great read!

Bloch's story is very uplifting. How many people in his position would leave it all behind to try to make a difference in the world? He readily admits he could afford to do so, but he has truly walked the walk, rather than just talking about it. This book puts it all out there--his internal struggles, the path he took and what he learned along the way. He underscores the importance of the teaching profession and makes a plea for society to give it more respect. This book will appeal to people considering a career change who aren't sure they have the courage to do it, teachers who question their significance, and just anyone who wants to be inspired.

This is a good read. Tom Bloch's personal story is riveting and he is brave enough to share some very private emotions. But this book is more than a collection of anecdotes from the classroom where backpacks leak pickle juice and children regularly lose family members to shootings. Bloch has taken a thoughtful look at the herculean challenges before America's urban teachers and the universal human challenge to find purpose and meaning in our lives. He is also brave enough to offer some suggestions for institutional improvements. Worthwhile reading for anyone worried about America's schools and its students. Knowing that the book profits will go back into teacher training makes it easy to pay the hardback price.

The Tri-State tornado is the deadliest tornado to affect the United States since weather records have been kept. Since this event took place in 1925, survivors with a clear memory are becoming few and far between. Fortunately, the author has clearly documented not only the stories of survivors, but the atmospheric conditions that existed during the event and the struggles of attempting forensic meteorology. Considering how sparse the data is for an event so far in the past, I'm pleased that the author was able to accomplish this much. Events like this will happen again and, much to my disappointment, there is no way to determine if the Tri-State tornado was one single tornado track (which it appears to be) or a family of large, violent long-track tornadoes.

I first read this book while taking a class in severe & unusual weather at the University of Illinois a few years ago. If you're into jaw-dropping weather phenomena, you really need to get this book. There are great interviews with survivors, a few astounding pictures, and some good basic science to back it all up.

There are quite a few stories, books, etc. about this event, but this book is different in a way, with newspaper accounts, and direct information from the survivors and their kin themselves.It's an easy read and one most weather buffs will enjoy.

Tornadoes are the most powerful storms on Earth. They may not be the biggest in size, but the destruction they can cause is insurmountable.

The Tri-State Tornado gives the readers the perfect example of how devestating these storms can be. Even in this day in age with our advanced technology, meteorologists have a difficult time understanding the true nature of these storms.

This was evident back in 1925 when that fateful day came when one single tornado had struck three states, killed 689 people, and traveled 219 miles at a rapid pace anywhere between 60-73 miles per hour. No one saw it touch ground or disappear.

The author does a great job of interweaving interviews from the actual survivors. Who better to explain that day than the people who saw this mile plus wide tornado barreling down in front of them.

The Tri-State Tornado remains one of the most bizarre and deadliest tornado to have ever hit the United States.

At around 1:00 p.m., March 18, 1925, a tornado touched down in Reynolds Country, Missouri. But, this was no ordinary tornado. This was an F5 multivortex tornado that proceeded east-northeast across 219 miles, 13 counties and three states (Missouri, Illinois and Indiana). By the time the tornado dissipated, it had destroyed a number of small towns, erased a number of farms, and killed some 689 people. This was one of the worst tornadoes in U.S. history, and this book tells its story.

This is quite a fascinating book. The author does an excellent job of telling the story of the Tri-State Tornado with factual reporting, but yet brining alive the horror of what happened. The book is an interesting mixture of Mr. Felknor's narration and accounts from some fourteen survivors of the tornado.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and highly informative book about a little known subject. If you are interested in tornadoes, then you simply must get this book about the granddaddy of them all! I highly recommend this book.