Schools Books

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY
MELISSA WALKER
Rating: 5 Enchantments

After being discovered by a high profile modeling agent at her after-school job at her local movie theatre, Violet Greenfield finds herself thrust into the New York modeling scene as the next hot `it' girl.

Violet's new model status elevates her popularity--especially at school where her height had earned her the nickname `green giant'--and the girls she always wanted to hang out with suddenly think she's cool. So who can blame her for testing out everything her new life has to offer? Its not like she's planning on ignoring her two lifelong best friends forever...she just wants to test the new waters she's suddenly found admission into.

Violet finds herself immersed in an entirely new world in NYC where her life in North Carolina seems so far away, especially her two best friends, Julie and Roger. When a new Violet starts to emerge, one who's confidant and more popular than she could have ever imagined, can Violet resist the temptation to let go of the `old' Violet?

Violet is a vibrant character who comes to life on the pages. I loved the scenes where Violet has her first go-sees and her newfound agent Angela tags along with her to one, and then basically throws her to wolves to fend for herself for the rest of the day.

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is an addicting debut novel by Ms. Walker. I was hooked from page one and look forward to reading more about Violet.

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008

I loved this book. I think almost every girl dreams of becoming famous or getting noticed. This book allows you to do just that. You feel yourself becoming Violet and you get to "become" her. Violet is someone you can relate to. You find yourself cheering her on and liking her. Her character felt real.You find yourself caring about what's going to happen next.The plot was great and the book was very well-written. I can't wait to read the sequel Violet by Design.
-Carol
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[...]

Violet Greenfield just sort of exists. She's not especially good at anything in particular, she doesn't have many friends, and she can't seem to shake the plain image she's been carrying around forever. Just before her senior year, Violet's main goals are to get into college, refrain from growing past her respective height of 6'1'', and to become a member of the BK, the most popular clique in school. Violet knows that they're petty bullies in nice clothes, and that her chances of becoming friends with them are nil, but a girl can dream, right? However, a chance encounter with an agent from Tryst Models will catapult Violet into a world of glitz and glam, and she'll find herself far more famous than she ever could have imagined...

Violet on the Runway is an unflinching, honest, and fascinating look into the seemingly fabulous life of fashion models. Melissa Walker unabashedly explores the more serious topics that are associated with celebrities, while at the same time creating in Violet an admirable, strong, and fun-loving character who is at the same time a very engrossing narrator. Though many of the plot twists are those you've been reading for years, Walker's unique style and vibrant characters will make them seem new in this wonderfully crafted and fast paced novel that wraps up perfectly...until a surprise ending leaves the plot wide open for another marvelous look into the world of Violet.

Violet is your everyday teenager. She is insecure with her body and unsure of the person she is. But all that changes when she is "discovered" working at the local movie theater. Angela her modeling agent is sure Violet is the next big thing!

Modeling comes easily for Violet, she simply can't help being herself, and the designers love it. The other models however don't particularly like being shown up by a newbie. When Violet takes the big step and moves to New York, she finds out modeling is more that walking around with pretty clothes. Violet tries to resist being swallowed whole by this new world, but in response she has turned into someone else. Will the new Violet win out, or will the old shine through?

When I started reading Violet on the Runway, I was hesitant. I didn't want another one of those books where the girl goes from zero to IT and all her dreams come true. I was for certain I had the storyline pegged, and I wasn't thrilled. Luckily for me I kept reading, because I didn't have this story pegged after all! Sure Violet gets the modeling gig, but it isn't a walk in the park. I know how she felt in the beginning, when she had to have people like her, because I was the same way. I was so happy to see her grow! She did make me mad when she ditched her true friends, but she made it up to them in the end. I actually enjoyed reading this book and I am totally looking forward to reading Violet by Design. I just hope I see some more Violet and Roger action!

Meet Violet, a tall, awkward girl who teeters in uncomfortable shoes on the road to stardom. While working at the local movie theatre - complete with horrible uniform - Violet is discovered by a model scout. Suddenly, her life goes from predictable and average to unpredictable and hectic, and she becomes famous and fashionable - but still feels uncomfortable.

Melissa Walker's first novel lets readers escape into the world of fashion and see both the highs and the lows of the industry. The sudden rise to fame is shocking enough for small-town Violet, and the separation from her family is hard to boot. Violet tries to keep her head on straight as she transitions from being a high school student in Chapel Hill to an international supermodel, but old friends, new friends, and the expectations of others often leave her confused. Rather than making her career a cakewalk, Walker allows her to slip up, both on and off of the runway.

Violet on the Runway is the first in a series. Read them in order - Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet in Private - to watch Violet grow up, dress up, and 'fess up.

Anthony Durham writes a beautiful novel called Walk Through Darkness, it's a slave trying to desperately seek out his pregnant love that was taken to another state, unbehold there's also a slave tracker that's on his trail that desperately wants to nab Lewis before others do. This novel not only show u how back in times slavery was, but it tells a story of courage, desperation,family, and true love. The characters were described & entailed that the reader feel every aspect of emotion from the beginning of the novel until the last tears you wipe away. Anthony Durham this was a wonderful story told and hope to read more by u in this genre.

This is an extreamly thoughtful and well written novel. It is a modern classic. This guy can flat out write.

David Anthony Durham does a masterly job here of recreating the experience of William, a slave of mixed blood, who knows nothing of the world beyond the limited confines of his plantation life but sets out, nonetheless, on a desperate flight to find the woman he loves who has been taken north to Philadelphia by her owner. Along the way, William discovers what it means to be marked by the color of one's skin in an era when being darker than others deprived you of all rights and left you prey to the pettiness and cruelties of the lighter skinned majority around you. Durham's tale is, at times, overwrought and overwritten and the first half tends to drag a bit. But the revelation of what it would have been like to live as a black man in such a society is vivid and heartwrenching.

Betrayed more often than he is helped, at least at the beginning, William struggles to make his way through a world he neither understands nor is welcome in, all the while pursued by slave hunters set on bringing him back. One, in particular, an old tracker named Andrew Morrison who seems more bent on catching him than any of the others, is a hard man with a bloody history all his own. As William finds himself repeatedly betrayed, beaten and chained, and is driven deeper and deeper into himself, Morrison's own story gradually unfolds in this parallel tale of hunter and prey.

The two are destined to affect one another's lives in a surprising way though Durham gives this away much too early in the narrative. Still, the experience of being a runaway slave in a society which granted you no more rights than a beast is so powerfully portrayed, the despair of living at the mercy of the cruelties and abuses of others so vividly recreated, that it brings tears to your eyes despite the sometimes overwritten passages. Too, the second half of the book is much stronger than the first, as we approach William's final effort to escape to freedom, the slave hunters and, especially, Andrew Morrison, hot on his heels. And yet even at this point, it has a dreamlike, almost nightmarish, quality to it, the narrative feeling forced at times and not quite real.

Though I found myself wiping tears away as William, battered in body and soul, finally discovers his mother's secret, the book seemed to end too abruptly. There is so much to forgive and yet it is all just pushed aside, while we are given no inkling of the fate of those innocent blacks ensnared by the slavers' net in the hunt for William. It seemed as though Durham suddenly ran dry and the near happy ending he gives us is rushed, almost forced and just too pat. Too much is left dangling in this tale of a fugitive slave adrift in a harsh and alien world for surely the damage done to William and to the others would not have been as easily forgotten as the epilogue seems to suggest.

But overall, the tale was powerful for its portrayal of the experience of slavery in pre-Civil War America and what this dehumanizing experience did to the people trapped within its web, though the story wasn't as fully realized as it seemed to promise at the outset.

On the other hand it doesn't add much to one's sense of pride in America.

SWM
author of The King of Vinland's Saga

I read this book because it was assignment in my boyfriend's English class. Usually I'm more of a non-fiction DIY self-help book person but this was definitely worthwhile.

The novel maybe fiction but the story is truth, masterfully told. Truth may hurt and truth may offend but Durham has dared to tell the truth. He has fingered the pulse of America and touched the heartbeat of those years of infamy that have left a scar on the nation until this day.

Walk through darkness is a vivid portrayal of man's inhumanity toward his fellowman. It runs the gamut of the pathos of a people. If pain and suffering could be measured in miles, the agony of the black race would reach beyond the sun. Durham has skillfully conveyed the physical and mental anguish of a people; the strength, tenacity and faith that enabled them to endure the brutality and savagery of those years infamy and still carries them in its aftermath. Anyone interested in learning what it was like in America when it was a young land will find it in the painful pages of "Walk Through Darkness."

This is such a great book to go with such a great song! The illustration is wonderful as well. I definitely recommend it for little ones.

This book is wonderfully illustrated. The colors are so vibrant and shiny! My 6 year old grandchild just loves it and if you know the melody to the words, they'll love it even more. A wonderfully, positive outlook on life for children in such a uneasy world today! A must have for kids today!

OMG--this book is awesome... I first saw this book at my daughters preschool. the children loved singing it at storytime. I buy this book for my nephew/nieces, and friends children for birthdays. I also bought this for the Kindergarden teacher... Its very basic, and the illustrations are very colorful.. My daughter is 8 now and still gets it out..

My baby is 9 months old. A few weeks ago our teacher read this book to us in our mom and baby class and all the babies were mesmorized by it's beautiful pictures, accompanied by the music of Louis Armstrong that was playing in the background. I quickly found it on Amazon and ordred it for my baby. We've read it together several times and he always lights up and squeals excitedly when he sees it. I love how versatile it is because I can read it, talk about the pictures, "sing" it, or play the song and just follow along with him. I am planning to enjoy this book with my son for a long time to come. The only minor issue for us is that the book has regular paper pages (I couldn't find a board book version) so if I let my baby play with it he would instantly destroy it and he sometimes gets frusterated when I hold it in front of him but out of his reach.

As a K-5 music teacher, I use this book to provide a visual aid as I sing "What a Wonderful World" to the kids. They love it, I love it, and it is a wonderful way to learn song! The pictures are a little on the hokey side and illustrate a puppet show (Satchmo included!), but for K-3, it is age-appropriate and enjoyable.

I found this book not very helpful. It was an easy read, but not very informative if you are just beginning the writer's notebook.

Ralph Fletcher does more than just tell you to write about something in your notebook, he inspires you through story and example to be the best writer that you can be. Excellent book to use in the classroom from about 3rd grade onto high school.

Ralph Fletcher demystifies how to make a writer's notebook work for anyone who is serious (or even not-so-serious) about bringing words to life on paper. He has a way of making the the abstract concrete and the complex simple. A WRITER'S NOTEBOOK: UNLOCKING THE WRITER WITHIN YOU delivers what the the title promises.

I am a newspaper columnist and substitute teacher. I was subbing in a fourth grade class and due to a sudden shift in schedules, I had about 20 minutes to fill. I saw Fletcher's book on the chalk ledge and thought I'd read a chapter and make my own professional commentary. When I read the part about collecting ideas in a "ditch," I pulled my writer's notebook out of my coat pocket and shared all my little bits and pieces with the kids. It just so happened I'd recorded incidents that had happened in that school. What great support for my "real life" lesson.

I was introduced to Ralph Fletcher's A Writer's Notebook this during the Coastal Area Writing Project, Coastal Carolina University, Janet Files. This "project" is an intensive, 4 week writing "submersion" for teachers. We learn how to teach our students how to write. Really write. Not how to write an essay for test, but to write descriptively and passionately.
I now use this great book, which is very reader friendly and written in complete layman's terms, for my yearlong, high school creative writing class. I love the book, and the kids do too.

This book is called Wrong Number 2 by R.L.Stine. I'm 11 years old in the 6th grade. I think people ages 11-13 would like this book. The book is about 3 kids going into a house looking for some money. But they find themselves downstairs in the basement. A man came in and lit a candle. Will they ever get out? I guess you will have to read the book to find out. I like scary stories. I liked the part when they were in the house in the basement. And when the man tried to run them over but they got away.

I loved the book Wrong Number#2. I am in the 6th grade and 11 years old. I think people ages 9-15 should read it. It is about two girls, Jade and Deena and these two boys Chuck and Farberson. Farberson got out of jail and went to go look for his hidden money. When he went to find it wasn't there. I love the book, it is a good book and at the end it is sad because someone dies. If you want to know how and who you will have to reed the book. And there is something scary. I did not like that part, you might. But the book was good. I hope you have fun with it.

The part of the book i read from Wrong Number Two was very good. The kids I think would like this book are 10-14 years old. Also kids who like mystery And suspense stories would like this book. I am in 7th grade when I read this book.This book was about 3 kids who get trapped in a killers world. Then after a year the killer got out of jail. One of the kids went back to find money the killer had hidden. Then the other two kids go to the killers house to go and get him but the killer is on his way. So, after they get there and get him they go to leave but the killer is standing in the doorway. I don't want to give too much away so read the book to find out what happens. I liked this book because it was a mystery and suspense book. That is what wrong number 2 is about.

The story I read was Wrong Number 2. It was about three teenag kids, Deena, Jade and Chuck.They had an enemy, Stanley Farberson. Farberson was a murderer and he killed his wife. Now he was put in jail and Deena and Jade are in school. Chuck is in college. One night Deena and Jade came home from school the phone rang Jade asked if she could answer it. Deena picked up the phone 'Hello' she said no reply. 'Hello' she said again. Then a low voice answered 'Is jade there' a man with a scary said.Then he hung up the phone. As soon as Jade walked in the room Deena said ' A man was looking for you' .'Then he hung up' Deena said. 'Oh well'. So all night Deena and Jade were talking about the basketball game they were going to on Friday. At one thirty a.m. Deena went up to here room and went straight to bed. At three a.m the phone rang 'Hello' Deena said. The same man called and he said 'I already called your friend'. This Review Was Written By Ashley Estrada

Can it really be Mr Farberson on the line? He has to still be locked up after trying to kill Jade and Deena last year. Maybe the calls are just someone's idea of a sick joke. But who else could possibly know the things the caller knows?

Then they realize that someone is nearby, watching them, close enough to know their every move. Someone who desperately wants revenge. Someone who wants to reach out... and kill them..

Christian parents would find this book great for their children 7-10. The message is encouraging. I don't know many kids who would seriously be worried about figuring out what they will do when they grow up. Still, the kids might be inspired to think about what they want to be. That might help them to try to get good grades in school. (It's a possibility.)
I also liked that the book says that God will help him and that God knows what his "it" is.
I did worry that children might get confused by what "it" is. I wish the author would have used a phrase like "my dream" instead of "it". The book does explain what "it" is when introducing the concept, however.
Regardless, I'm glad this one is in our library.

This is a very delightful book. It is a very good way to teach children how hope and faith can help you to achieve your desires and goals. It is very easy to read. I also had some small children read the book and they really enjoyed it.

In this story a little boy feels like he doesn't have a special purpose in life like his parents and brother do. His parents encourage him to pray and he does. Eventually, through prayer and life experience the little boy discovers his purpose, his passion. This is a true story and to this day the little boy, all grown up now, is working in the profession he discovered as a passion when he was young. What I loved about this story is that it opened up talking about "God" and praying with my children. This book is nondenominational. It is not religious. It simply illustrates the importance of prayer and faith through an interesting story. Believing in a higher power, but not necessarily "religious," I found this book invaluable as far as driving home the point of prayer, faith, and a higher power to my children. My kids are 9 and 5 and loved this book so much that they wanted daddy to read it too, as he was not home when we first read it. This is a quality story, one we can all feel good about reading to our children.

'You Can Do It' is a positive story designed for children about 4-7 years old.

Written by Indianapolis Colts' coach Tony Dungy, this book has a positive message and is filled with beautiful illustrations. The basic gist of it is to dream big, trust God, and pray. It makes the point that God has a plan for each person's life. This narration also focuses on family values, highlighting the close relationship between the author and his younger brother, Linden.

This would be a great gift for any young child.

Super-Bowl-winning coach and bestselling author, Tony Dungy, tries his hands at a children's book. It is a book that I think many children will enjoy. Written and illustrated for children in approximately 1-3 grade, Dungy tells a true story from his childhood. Linden, Tony Dungy's younger brother, didn't know what he wanted to be when he grew up. He only knew he liked to make people smile. The Dungy's dad would regularly tell them, "Whatever it is that you want to do, you can do it. Trust God and dream big!" Tony knew he wanted to be a football player. His sister's knew what they wanted to do, be nurses or doctors. But Linden didn't know. His dad told him to pray that God would help Linden find his dream. The next day, while getting a filling at the dentist's office, his love of making people smile found its dream: Dentistry. The Dungy's dad told them to dream big and they did: Professional football and dentistry. And years later, both dreams came true.

Dungy writes in the afterword, "I'm glad I had parents that helped us to dream. I'm glad they taught us to pray about things that were on our mind. And I'm really glad that God answers our prayers...Our parents taught us to dream, but they also taught us something more important. Whatever we dreamed about, we should tell God because He is the one that can make those plans succeed."

It is good and right to teach children of a Christian household to pray to God, to tell Him what's on their mind, to ask him for things. God says in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." My concern for this book lies in what is left unsaid and with how, without further guidance, God is made to look like His primary concern for us is to give us our dreams. God cares so much for His children that He died to save us from ours sins and reconcile us to himself (see 1 Peter 3:18). God is the greatest gift we could ever desire, and if you delight yourself in Him, He gives you Himself. But nowhere in the Bible does God promise to give us what we dream or everything we ask for (see James 4:3). The God of Dungy's You Can Do It! may give children the impression that God lives to make them dentists, professional football players, and nurses. It is true that the one who seeks to glorify God in everything (Colossians 3:23-24) will likely succeed, and the children should be taught to work hard and honor God in everything, even ask him for wisdom and guidance and blessing. However, the answer to these prayers is not always, "You can do it!" Sometimes, often it will be to say "no" to worldly success and the things that seem to matter here, and instead give trials. The message to a child who is being taught to honor God should be, "Seek first the Kingdom of God" (Luke 12:31) and then even in the face of losing everything, Jesus says to those who have trusted in Him, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).

I recognize that this book had a different aim than that I described in the paragraph above, and I suspect Dungy might even agree with my paragraph. He was emphasizing something different. Something I think that without qualification or explanation is dangerous or even wrong to emphasize. My fear is that much of Christianity today takes the statement "have faith" to mean little more than "have faith that God will bless you [in this world], and He will." Dungy makes many statements similar to this (For example, Dungy's dad when Linden was wondering if he would ever have a dream says, "Just keep having faith."). It is right to ask of God and have faith that He will do what's best. But if getting what we want is the focus of where we put our faith, we are missing everything of Christianity. Have faith in God to save you from your sins and give you Himself. Because of misplaced priorities and a high likelihood of communicating unbiblical and ungodly priorities, proceed with much caution; if it is to be read to a child, do so with much discernment and emphasis on what is missing from this picture of God.

This is a timeless treasure of mathematical understandings generated by Marilyn Burns and her associates. These activities, coupled with hands-on training for teachers, can make a tremendous difference in the mathematical understanding of elementary and early middle school teachers. Most important in this edition are the addition of Burns' revised thinking on Teaching Arithmetic (part 3), and her compilation of discussions for 40 activities (part 4). These two additions have rounded this meaningful math resource into a powerful tool for on-going staff development.

Book was on my doorstep in a flash! Excellent condition. Very satisfied!! A++

I received the text book in a reasonable amount of time. The information in this book is extrememly helpful for those who are in the teaching field, or even for those who have children and want to help with math homework.

I haven't finished reading this entire valuable resource, but it has a great conceptual framework followed by creative ideas. I teach 7th Grade Mathematics overseas where my students have not had a great basis in analytical thinking and I look forward to using these ideas with my classes this year.

I love this book! It is a great resource with ideas for getting kids interested in math and what questions teachers should ask themselves as they teach. It also points out common mistakes students make and their thought processes for getting there. It is divided into sections by mathematical topics and also has dozens of lesson plan ideas, both for full lessons and those quick time-fillers. This is the most reader-friendly textbook I've ever had to read for a class--it's so easy to read!

MY kids liked this book pretty good. It is a bit hefty in pricve but it is good.

Book arrived when expected and how expected - can't expect much more than than!

My four year old daughter and I love this book. If you're looking to buy a preschooler a story for Halloween--this is the one. It has witches, magic, and some not too scary mischief. It's quite satisfying and teaches that what goes around comes around. The book is even endorsed by former President Jimmy Carter!

Alice and Greta arrived serendipitously the same day that my son got in trouble at school and therefore lost privileges at home. Until we read this book together, he was having a problem understanding why talking too much at school meant he lost TV at home. Once he learned "The Brewmerang Principle" from the book, however, he got it. Now, he begins each day stating, "I'm going to be like Alice and do good things for people so that good things happen to me. I'm NOT going to be like that bad Greta." In addition to the great moral, the illustrations are very attractive, and kids who are interested in magic will love the story just for that aspect. Highly recommended for young readers.

Magic and wizardry are just some of the thing's you'll find in the book called Alice and Greta by Steven J.Simmons. This story is about Alice who is a wich and does nice thing's for people and girl named Greta who is also a wich and does mean thing's to people.
So if you like magic, you'll like this book. I like this book because everything that Greta did to people comes back to her in the end. So the lesson you learn is it doesn't matter what you do to people it will always comes back to you.

Love it Love Love it! It was kind of sad when Abby didn't get the part she wanted. But then she helped rewrite the script(she's a great writer) so that made me happy and that definitly made her happy.

Have you ever been in a play? Abby had! This book is about Abby wanting to star in the play " PETER PAN ". ( Her teachers had planned it. )But she found out that she was only the Narrater. Miss Bunder told her to rewrite the " PETER PAN " so it would be less old fashion. ( If you want to read more ...... Read The Book!!! )
And I forget to tell you, this is also a very great book!

I love this series. It is apropreite for all ages from 1-100. It teaches morals and is funny at the same time. This book is about a girl named Abby Hayes who wants to be in a play to perform at her school when her grandmother is visiting. Most of the book is about her practicing for auditions but the end at the play is one of the best ending of any book.
I suggest that you read the first and second book of the series so you will understand it a little bit more.

I had fun reading this book. Ms. Bunder and Ms. Kantor are putting on a play. They let Abby do the job of rewriting the script.

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes Reach for the stars is a great book. It is about a girl that is in fifth grade girl and her name is Abby. Abby has a writing class every Thursday. She loves the class because she loved to write in her journal. Abby's writing teacher decided to do a play. The play was Peter Pan. Abby got to rewrite the play. She was so happy about that. She practiced and practiced for the part that she wanted but she did not get it. Her teacher gave her the part of the narrator. Everyone loved the show she rewrote.
All of the Abby Hayes books are written in two kinds of print, black print and purple lettering. The black print is the author telling us the story and the purple lettering is Abby writing in journal. I love this series because I can relate to what she is going through. I think girls that keep journals would like this book a lot

Cute title but the book was a little too old for my two year old grandaughter. Not sure she got the concept of animals wearing or not wearing clothes.

I work in a Nursery and I bought this book to read to the children. They loved it! They thought it was hilarious.

We use this book in our kindergarten class. The students just laugh and laugh over the pictures of animals wearing clothes.

This book is very short and the pictures just make me and ny son laugh. Well done

I enjoyed this book as a child, although even then I remember thinking that the 1970s clothing looked goofy on any one, not just animals.

This book is a classic, right down to the vintage illustrations.