Schools Books

I completely forgot about this book until one of my students had me read it. Such a classic with an important message about staying true to yourself even if you are off the beaten path. The Spanish culture and charming illustrations only make this all the more likeable.

What a lovely classical story of peace. Ferdinand is a peaceful bull who loves to lie in the meadow and smell flowers. He gets stung by a bee at exactly the wrong moment (when the bullfighters are coming to pick a bull to take to the fights). So he is, of course, carted off to fight, since he is obviously the feistiest bull in the field. When he gets to the ring, no matter how mean the bullfighters are to him, Ferdinand just lies down and smells the flowers on the ladies' hats. This is such a beautiful story of peace and hope. Even though bullfighting is not promoted or accepted in the U.S., I think this is a beautiful classic story and I do recommend it for all ages.

the book and the cd were in good shape and the story was
similar to the one i knew when i was a child but not the
same. i was looking for a copy of the one i knew in the
early 50's, it was fun to listen to and it was funny.
there is another story of the flying mouse at the same
time, that i am looking for.

I loved this book as a child and my four children (14, 12, 11, 8) all enjoy this book as well. A great story to remind everyone that there is someplace for you in this world and its not always where you thought you would be!

I was delighted to find this childhood book on Amazon. So easy! Great service too.

Louisa County High School recommends that you read Baby Alicia Is Dying. We all agree that if you read the book then you would think before you made a bad action like Alicia's mother did. Many of us cried in the end.

Baby Alicia is Dying by Lurlene McDaniel is a great book. Well I want to tell you a little bit about what this book is about.It's about a girl named Desi who is hiv free and is trying to stop smoking and who wants a baby who is hiv positive and who wants to take care of that baby.In my opinion i think this book is exciting to me because it tells you the problems Desi is having and what she does And how she's gonna stop doing what she is doing.I recommend this book to people who like exciting books about drama and that tells you about people's lives.

This book is the greatest book in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its happy and sad at the same time. i could read it 10,000 times and never get bored of it!!!

I liked this book bacuase is told me about a little girl that was born with HIV. Also that seh was born HIV positive. I liked this book also becasue it has great details of what the young girl went through since she was born. I mostly liked this book bacaue of the was it decribes the characters are doing, and what is on in their mind at that time and place in the book. The sadest part was that when i read this book that I have felt the same pain as Alicia does in the book because my grandma Burger died of being HIV positive back in January of 2005.

Alicia was a unique and really nice baby. I didn't really think she should of got putt in the hospital because her mom didn't want her. The book teaches us that anyone can help the hospital and help little kids. It also teaches us that even though you got put in a hospital because your mom didn't want you, don't mean you're not a nice person. One example was when people started to tease a girl because she helped the hospital take care of kids.

Alicia was a great baby. She loved everybody. She knew what was wrong and what was right. Even though, she was only two.

This is a great book for ANYONE to read!

All stories from Richard Paul Evans are wonderful and this is no exeption.Read the trilogy is forth it.

The reviews were uniformly quite good for this novel, so I decided to give it a try. The story starts out slowly and takes some time to work up a bit of interest. The central character is a twenties-something working in a nursing home. Not typically the setting for a compelling plot.
A quick read-not one of my favorites.

The old lady is one of the strongest female characters in modern literature. Evans is a very capable writer.

With The Locket, Richard Paul Evans proves once again that when it comes to feel good, sentimental stories that tug at your heartstrings, he has no equal. As with his previous books The Christmas Box and The Letter, he utilizes his unique blend of fiction and inspirational writing to convey valuable messages of love, faith, forgiveness and redemption. His words take us on an emotional journey that leaves us reaching for the kleenex box as well as motivated to incorporate these precepts into our daily lives.

After the death of his mother, Michael Keddington takes a job at the Arcadia nursing home, where he meets parient Esther Huish, a woman who is instrumental in teaching Michael many valuable life lessons concerning forgiveness, overcoming insecurities, second chances and never putting things off until tomorrow.

The Locket of the title is Esthers gift to Michael. It serves as a symbol of the missed opportunities in her life and for Michael represents an opportunity to overcome a myriad of obstacles and begin his life anew.

This warm and beautiful story should kindle the flame of hope that burns in each of us. 4 1/2 stars

This was an excellent book! It wasn't just a typical romance, instead, it focused on what comes after falling in love. Devotion, kindness, and respect were themes in this novel. It was well-written, and kept my attention until the end.

I am an elementary school teacher and this book is great to read to the kids within the first few weeks of school. It teaches them about the differences between people and how differences are ok. It is just the right length and repeats for easy reading. The video is also a great buy! Play it as a listening center for reading!

Great story for a child in elementary school or approaching. It touches on many levels the challenges of attending school for the first time. The author highlights Chrysanthemum and gives her depth. The school children that she meets also are made to be a challenge for Chrysanthemum.
The problem solving and the love of her parents touch on family values.
LOVE IT AND RECOMMEND.

I love this story! It's a great story for children to talk about bullying and getting teased in school. My first graders love it!

I love reading this to my three year old daughter. "Chysanthemum, Chysanthemum, Chysanthemum..." It's a charming story with emphasis on the strong bond between parents and children.

As a teacher, I would always share this book with my new class on their first day of school. Its magic worked like a charm. I like to start off the year by letting kids know that their uniqueness is to be celebrated, not made fun of. Chrysanthemum is the perfect example. She enters school, wrapped in the love of her attentive parents, who have always told her that her unique name is perfect, just like her. Then come her fellow students, who, by the way, have simple names like Bill, Sue, Tom, and Eve. Of course, they all giggle at her peculiar name and one even points out that it scarcely fits on her name tag (don't laugh, that's a big thing for a kid). Every night, Chrysanthemum returns home to her parents who assure her that she is perfect and special, but she is beginning to doubt that. One night she even dreams that her name was Jane. It was (according to Chrysanthemum) an extremely pleasant dream (I love it!) The teasing continues until one day, the class is introduced to their new beloved music teacher, who is also named after a flower - Delphinium. Suddenly, everyone wants a long, unique name and Chrysanthemum gets her self-esteem back. There's a clever little epilogue that always makes my students smile. The illustrations are absolutely adorable, filled with cute little details. I highly recommend any of Kevin Henkes' books, especially this sweet tale!

Another excellent book by Homer Hickam, If you don't read the trilogy you're missing a true West Virginia experience

I'm not sure where the below reviewers are coming from. The Coalwood Way, although including the Rocket Boys, is very much different from the first memoir. And it is not a bunch of disconnected stories, not at all! The Coalwood Way opens with Sonny Hickam in a strange depression a year after the death of his grandfather who had lost his legs in the coal mine. It is a depression he struggles with throughout the book and is the core thread. How he determines what is causing that depression really fills out a part of the original memoir that was left out and provides us with insight as to how he ultimately succeeds. Hickam reveals how that last winter in Coalwood so much is happening to him and his friends. His rockets are starting to work, but nothing else does. He even lets Chipper, his mom's beloved squirrel, escape into the winter cold and snow. He also meets Dreama, a young woman also struggling, and wanting Sonny to be her friend. Dreama is considered something like white trash, and is living with one of the most detestable men in town. Sonny also falls for Ginger who dreams of being a professional singer and provides an interesting counterpoint to the coal miners' sons of Coalwood with their dreams of spaceflight. "Dad," or Homer, Sr. is also struggling, trying to open a part of the mine that has defeated previous mine superintendents but upon which the future of Coalwood depends. "Mom," or Elsie, struggles with her failure to win the annual Veteran's Day parade (Coalwood's float has always won before), as well as her continuing attempts to get Homer, Sr. to quit the mine before black lung kills him. Elsie also identifies very much with Dreama and wants to help her but is held back by the "Coalwood way". The story is told with Hickam's tradmark humor and there are as many laugh out loud moments as tears. The dramatic arc of these threads to the story all join in a night of murder and mayhem when Coalwood is also buried in a huge snowstorm and cut off from the rest of the world. This is followed by another night of hope and amazing redemption on Christmas Eve that will cause even the hardest heart to melt. In many ways, this is Hickam's Coalwood Christmas story and it's a great one. You will love it.

Dr. Werner von Braun once said, "Matters of faith are not really accessible to our rational thinking. I find it best not to ask any questions, but to just believe..." These words are truly conveyed throughout the second of Homer Hickam Jr.'s memoirs, The Coalwood Way, originally published in 2000. Although following his acclaimed, Rocket Boys, this compelling story does not continue where the last left off. Portions of the memoir take place during the same time period as the last, however, this tome portrays the life of Homer "Sonny" Hickam in a different light. This particular memoir focuses on Sonny's senior year in high school and the hardships he must go through when growing up. In addition to working diligently on creating improved rockets, Sonny must focus on achieving A's in school. Most importantly, he must focus on his family. In 1959 Coalwood, West Virginia is a ticking bomb and as it becomes more and more difficult to keep the mines running, the bomb seems to always be the verge of exploding leaving the people out of jobs, homes and, even worse, their town. Sonny must now try to keep his family together while the town falls apart and yet keep alive the dream of leaving in order to join his role model, Dr. Werner von Braun, at Cape Canaveral.
Sonny Hickam is on his way to fulfilling his dreams as the book begins. However there a few obstacles on the way. Troubles in his family prevent Sonny from leading an easy, carefree life. His mother, Elsie, is growing increasingly impatient with Sonny's father. Sonny's father, Homer, is the mine superintendent and with the opening of a dangerous new mine, 11 East; ultimately, he is home even less often than usual. The strain on the marriage becomes too much for Sonny's mother and she insists on leaving Coalwood to escape to Myrtle Beach in order to sell real estate. In addition to his domestic hardships, Sonny is having troubles with himself. Every so often, although only lasting a few minutes, Sonny will find himself engulfed in an unexplainable grief. This mystery baffles Sonny day after day. As he searches for the origin of this mystery grief, he learns more than he ever imagined. Sonny's emotions and adventures are vividly depicted through a truly sentimental story, splashed with humor in all the right places. The writing style of Homer Hickam in this memoir is once again captivating and absolutely unforgettable.
Although one may think memoirs aren't written well due to the lack of an experienced writer, The Coalwood Way reads like an old time fable. It is written in such a way that you are taken from your own world and thrown into the small town in West Virginia. Hickam depicts Coalwood in such a way that the image of every part of the quaint town is etched into your mind. His method of writing will bring you to tears when tragedy strikes and laughter when Sonny finds himself in a humorous predicament.
This memoir is all about finding yourself and realizing that whenever life trips you up, someone will always be there to catch you when you fall. Throughout this lucid story, Sonny tries to find himself, and while looking down on his beloved town, he finally realizes the answer to what he's being puzzling all along. He understands his feelings, thinking: "My parents, and all the people of Coalwood, had given me the only true gifts they could ever give, that of their wisdom, and of their dreams, and of their love. All fear, sadness, and anger inside me had vanished. I knew who I was and where I came from and who my people were. I was ready to leave because I could never leave." Once Sonny realizes he can let go of the past, he is able to finally leave his hometown with the closure he needs to succeed.

"The Coalwood Way" is the part 2 contiuation of the "Rocket Boys", AKA:"October Sky". I just really like the way Mr. Hickam tells his story in his books. I find them to be "Americana" like- a success story from a humble start. I think the series could be a must read for middle and high school students as a way to see their potential in their own future and not just the here and now. A great book (and series) to read!

A story told first time can be fasicnating. As Rocket Boys was. The same story told second time is just boring. The first one had a backbone: boys trying to achieve the goal despite the circumstances. The second one - ranomly selected stories about this or that - I simply don't care. Meaningless and boring

love this book. it gently opens a discussion about what being a mom to a child really means. we dont always "look" like our children and this book addresses that. specifically good for adopted children.

I love this book and my adopted daughter loves this book. Granted she is about to turn 2, however, she still will pick this book up for me to read regularly. I have recommended this book as well to the adoption forums I belong too. Great message we are all different and it is about the love.

My three-year-old adopted son from Ethiopia loves this book! Warning, though, the grumpy Mrs. Walrus has kind of freaked him out. I have to read her line with a really happy lilt to my voice. Depending on how sensitive your child is you may want to edit Mrs. Walrus's words/tone the first time you read it to your child. I don't think my son can imagine how/why an "adult" would say to a child, "Now go away. Leave me alone."

I bought this book a couple of weeks ago and he has, a few times since then, talked about being sad when he had no mommy and no daddy in Ethiopia. He was just a few months old when he was adopted and was in excellent care while living there so I'm guessing that this book has put that idea into his head. Not a bad thing...just be aware that it might bring out emotions in your child that he or she hasn't discussed before.

It is a great adoption book that both the parents and the children will enjoy. It is a simple but well done story about a bird that is looking for his parents. My daughter loves it.

I absolutely adore this book. My sister gave it to us before we traveled to China to adopt our daughter. She's just over two now and has read this book with me dozens of times. We both love the illustrations, and even at a very young age, she "gets" the idea that Choco finds a mother in Mrs. Bear, regardless of the fact that they look nothing alike. (I confess I still get misty every time I read it.) The message is delightfully done--not schmaltzy, not overdone. I would recommend this to any family--adoptive or not.

This third installment in the beloved Anne series is one of my favorites. Having just completed two years of teaching in Avonlea, Anne, along with friends Gilbert and Charlie, is ready to leave the Island and make her way to Redmond College. Her four years there offer quaint-seeming insights into college life a hundred years ago. After spending her freshman year in a boarding house, Anne and chums Priscilla, Stella, and Philippa move into a little house called Patty's Place. Even though they are committed to their studies, life is never dull. Anne has no lack of suitors, turning down no fewer than five proposals during the course of the story. And her summers are full of adventure, whether it's back in dear Avonlea or teaching as a country schoolmarm.

I've read Anne of the Island each year I've been in college, and as I finished it this time, I couldn't help but relate to Anne's excitement for the future, mingled with regretful nostalgia about the college life she was leaving behind. College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Having attended a small Christian university, I relate to Anne's old-fashioned values and the safe, wholesome environment of Redmond.

Montgomery has such a pungent writing voice, alive to the quirks of human nature and the beauties of outdoor nature. She brings spice, optimism, and a touch of cynicism to the story and the characters. Anne's most personal experiences are recounted with poignancy, and are rooted in reality, although they may seem whimsical to modern readers. The ending is sweet and satisfying. I just love Anne, and especially this tale of her college experiences. Don't miss it.

Anne of the Island is the third installment of the smash Anne of Green Gables series. The book begins with Anne leaving for college to further her education the second time. When she arrives, she encounters a slew of minor domestic problems, a new group of friends, and Love. All of which she deals with using that famous atypical personality of a "Kindred spirit"



Although the book deals with more serious subject matter than the preceding books, as a reflection upon Anne's growing older, the book starts with the lighthearted catchy fun that made Anne famous in her prequels. Most of this fun is centered on the Anne's encounters with her roommate cats Rusty, Joseph, and Sarah-Cat. Anne's exclamations of fear at being stalked by the docile house cats is classic Anne and delicious fun.



The Book also dives into more serious matter, with Lets be friends-Lets be more than friends-Lets be friends-I hate you-Marry me! Gilbert abandoning his indecisiveness and aggressively courting Anne. Although this relation is of little interest to male readers, it is made a key plot element, most likely because it is attractive to the books target demographic, pre-teen girls. Luckily, most of the content on Anne's romance does nothing to affect other parts of the story much and as a result are harmless to skip when they become drab.



Anne of the Island is a solid installment in the Anne series. Although not equaling or surpassing Anne of Green Gables, "Of the Island" leaves little to be desired besides not having a near constant usage of the word "eh". If you an Anne fan, pick up her third book. Eh.

"Anne of the Island" is my favorite Anne book, and the last chapters of my copy are worn and torn because I have read it so many times. I loved it as a young girl, and I loved it again when I read it from my college dorm room (in fact, I think it's time for another rereading!). Plus, of course, a college education makes many of the literary references more relevant than they were at age 11.

Anne fans already know how wonderful are these chapters of Anne's life. This book outlines an important epoch in the series and answers the all important question of whether they will or they won't--a turning point on which the next five books hinge. And since you must start at "Anne of Green Gables" to appreciate any of it, this review cannot convince to you read just book three. It is just one more love letter to "Anne of the Island" added to this review panel.

The story of Anne continues with this work and the author stays true to her style, story line and character developement. This, like the other books in this series, have a rather timeless nature about them and a comforting charm. The reader, of course, must remember the time they were written and the style and syntax used at that time. From my own point of view, this is great. I enjoy this type of writing and certainly enjoy Ms. Montgomery's story telling abilities. In this work, Anne goes off to Redman College and her adventure continues. Recommend these books for readers of all ages. Wish there were more works out there like it.

this book never gets old. i've had it for so long and now i'm off to college and i still enjoy reading it cover to cover. anne is a great character, one who is easy to love and who explains herself well. the other characters are also quirky. something about this book is very universal, which i think explains why even in this century i still find myself being able to relate to Anne. the plot, while essentially a love story, is not overly sappy. and while most people would probably expect the ending, the twists and turns throughout the novel keep you entertained and engaged.

Every 'Valdemar' book I've immersed myself in has taken me to a wonderful world that I wish really existed.

Kerowyn, like her grandmother before her, is a strong woman, but still very much a woman, as her attraction to a certain Herald shows. She is also a woman not led around by her hormones (Thank goodness.)

A book that should be recommended to all teen and pre-teen girls as a role model.

One of the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey, this is the story of Kerowyn, why she became 'famous,' and how she became one of the Heralds of Valdemar. I am a big fan of Lackey's Valdemar stories, good versus evil with the use of a little mind magic and some very hard work. I think a teenager would like these stories if they would read long enough to get 'into' the story. I high recommend this series.

By The Sword is part of the world of Valdemar which Mercedes Lackey has fleshed out and detailed over many novels. This one is not actually a part of the series but it is connected to the series that precede it and it lays the groundwork for some of the stories that evolve after it.

In essence, this book is the story of Kerowyn and her life and development from the age of 16 until she approaches 40. Kerowyn is a very appealing character. She is a very strong woman who has significant skills that are typically not encouraged in the somewhat archaic world that she inhabits. She is the daughter of a minor noble so the world expects her to be married off to some other minor noble to breed children and act as the hostess of the manor. Unfortunately - or fortunately for this story - Kerowyn has no interest in that kind of life. Kero (as she prefers to be called) is a high spirited woman who has her own mind and logic about how things should be and seeks to be appreciated for who she is. The manor-lady role is not for her!

The story starts as Kero is running the kitchen in her father's household which is celebrating the upcoming nuptials of Kero's brother and his chosen bride. While the feast is going on, a band of bandits, led by a mage, attacks the keep, kidnaps the bride, kills her father, and disables all the males who are part of the party. Kero takes it upon herself to ride after the kidnappers and retrieve the bride. To do this she needs help and so she turns to her grandmother who is known to be a mage and was a mercenary band captain for help. We are now given the first magical item that will figure prominently in this story and several others in the future. Needless to say, Kero succeeds in her quest of saving her brother's bride.

Just like in real life though, being successful in a task that you are not even expected to attempt leads to both good and bad things. The good is that the wedding can proceed; The bad is that no one is willing to deal with this strange being (Kero) who did something that many men would have failed at! So, Kero decides to leave her life behind and moves in permanently with her grandmother and her friend who train her for the life of a mercenary.

A new complication arises here as Kero is paired up with the younger brother of the heir to the throne in her land. Darren is sent to Kero's grandmother for similar training as he will likely become that country's army commander in the future. As the two teenagers learn the basics of fighting, they also manage to explore each other's other feelings - and they also explore the meaning of lust and love. After three years together, Darren is recalled to the capital following his father's death, and Kero goes off to seek her fortune.

The next portion of the book details Kero's experiences as a mercenary and briefly chronicles her movement through the ranks and ends with her taking command of the company and running it successfully for ten years. A main feature of the early part of this portion is that Kero meets up with a Herald of Valdemar, rescues him from the Karsites, falls in love with him, and has to give him up to ensure his rescue.

In the final portion of the book, Kero takes her mercenaries to Valdemar to assist in the fight against Ancar. This portion ties all the disparate parts together as Kero gets to meet Talia - the Queen's Own Herald; Queen Selenay; and more Companions. It is no surprise that the book ends with her remaining in Valdemar but I will not divulge the various plot twists and turns so you can enjoy them yourselves!

It is easy to see that Kerowyn's story is the story of any strong-willed and capable woman who has succeeded despite the normal "conventions" of what a woman's place in the world is. Despite the thin veneer of a fantasy, sword and sorcery kind of world, Kero is determined to be judged based on her merits and accomplishments and she succeeds in her chosen career. The story details the struggles that ensue because of this and lays out how she juggles her career, her loves, and her positions with her family and others. It is a very positive story as Kero manages to get all she wants in the end, but the struggles she goes through are a fascinating read.

The story is also skillfully interwoven into the Valdemar storyline. Kero meets some characters that were featured in earlier Valdemar series' like Talia, Selenay, Dirk, and Elspeth. Kero introduces some plot points that will obviously be addressed in future tales from Valdemar like Selenay's marital status and the magical sword Need. While this is quite a good standalone story and book, it is clearly part of the Valdemar storyline and should be read as part of that sequence.

The story telling is at times fast and furious and at times slow as molasses. For the most part this was good as major personality developmental points deserve a very slow and methodical treatment. About the only complaint I have along these lines is that Lackey employs the internal dialog device far too frequently with Kero. It was not necessary, in my opinion, to constantly have her describe her internal debates and thoughts. I highly recommend this book!

One of her best, and a nice long book to boot. While she does get bogged down in some typical Lackey weaknesses (excessive internal dialogue, for one) the action keeps coming and the central character, Kerowyn, goes through a great deal of realistic personal growth.
I read this around the same time that I read the Paksenarrion series by Elizabeth Moon (also fantasy featuring a female mercenary soldier), and wondered if Lackey had been inspired by Moon. Moon does it better, thanks to her own military background, but Lackey deals inventively with her fantasy world and the ways in which magic can aid soldiers in their daily endeavors.

I have read just about every book Mercedes Lackey has written about Valdemar and the Heralds. It isn't possible for her to write too many of these tales. And the more she writes, the better the story becomes. There is such a richness of detail that you feel you are right there in the story. When you put the book down, you still wish you were there and can't wait to find out what happens next.
Kerowyn's Tale is just one more piece of the wonderful puzzle that is Valdemar and all the surrounding countries and cultures.

Another classic to add to the list of beloved library books we had renewed so often we decided to buy it. It is a timeless classic. My 3 year old son loves it. Also see the sequel- circus caps for sale.

I remember a teacher reading this book to the class (a long time ago!) and now I read it to my 27 month old granddaughter. She loves the story and likes to immitate the monkeys. It's one of her favorite books. Our book is a soft cover, which I didn't realize at the time of purchase. With all its use, I wish I would have purchased a hard cover or even as a board book if it's offered that way.

Caps for Sale is a wonderful classic that young readers love to hear. There is enough repetition to encourage children to "read" along. This can also be "acted out" to engage different learning modalities.

Captain Kangaroo read me this book some 40 years back. I remember laughing then. My kids, all teens now, liked the book which is not meant to be read so much as performed. Reading becomes action as one verbally plays the parts of the pedlar and the monkeys. My theory, at least, is that children will enjoy reading when it has more vitality than a pre-bedtime drone and learn that books are not dead repositories of information, but interact with our imaginations and become alive. Little books like this, a few moments of funny story, make a good impression on young minds------and are fun to read in their own right. This is cute and clever.

This vintage book is fabulous to act out as you are reading it. Kids love to mimic the monkeys and feel the frustration of the "peddler"(a new word for the current generation to learn!)In our family the third generation to read this book loves it as much as the first two generations did.

The thing I will remember most about this book is that, surprisingly, it was a deeply touching tribute to his mother. The military stuff is all extremely interesting, to the point where you won't be able to put it down. But the book goes far deeper. It's a timeless story from the heart -- one that every son wishes he could write for his mother. On the outside, the author is a tough-as-nails soldier. But on the inside, he's still a little boy who continually reaches back to his mother's love to guide him through life. This is as it should be. God bless all the good mothers of the world.

I haven't read this book yet (sorry for the 5 star rating), but have picked up on his online magazine (blog). Michael Yon has and is travelling all around Iraq - mostly in the hotspots with the U.S. Army (Strykers), where he does his reporting. I find his weekly dispatches informative and interesting, and will definitely be picking up his book. If you liked his book, please go to http://michaelyon.blogspot.com/ and start reading at the bottom (where he started writing) and work your way up. New dispatches posted weekly (mostly). Also, it seems he's doing this out of his own pocket, so donate towards his blog if you can. From his online magazine:

Michael Yon, author of "Danger Close," is currently in Iraq. Email: [...] Michael Yon is an independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize Iraq. His dispatches have the benefit of his life experiences without drawbacks based on deadlines or demands of marketplace. The cost of these dispatches is borne solely by Michael. Readers who enjoy these dispatches and want to support Michael's mission in Iraq, can make a contribution using the PayPal links

This poignant biographical work hits you in all places of your heart. At times laughing with him and at other times feeling the heartwrenching pain with him, this book captures your attention from page one to the end. While retelling his captivating adventures of being a Green Beret with the US Army, he also includes the less exciting and heartwrenching details of his life--including the untimely death of his mother. I picked it up and couldn't put it down until I was done with it. This book is great for military and civilians alike! If a submarine-hunting P-3 flier can enjoy this book, so can you. Mike Yon candidly opens up and relates life--as is. If you relish the adventure of fiction with the down-to-earth punch of reality, this book is for you!

Mr. Yon is currently in Northern Iraq and writes periodic pieces on the web about his experiences with American forces. He is a very dedicated and personable guy who is just trying to do the right thing. I enjoyed this book very much but would have liked to know what happened after the car wreck. How did his SF career end,etc. Anyway those of you who are interested in personal military type accounts will definetly enjoy this book. It received an award for his writing style.

Although Mike Yon and myself both graduated from Winter Haven High School it was years apart and I never had the pleasure of meeting him. I found the book enjoyable because I could relate to some of the local places that he mentioned. But the story was well written and interesting besides being informative despite that fact. Charles E. Gist author of the historical fiction novel "The Other Side of The River"