Home and Family Books

This is one of my favorite series ever. Toddy is well written and you really feel the pain and love that the charecter has.

This was a wonderful story. It was very sweet and honest. Toddy finds herself put on the train to go out west. She ends up getting adopted by a rich widower who needs a playmate for her orphan granddaughter, Helene. It tells about her life and basically is one of the most heartwarming stories I have ever read. It also is great for you romance lovers because in a sweet, innocent way it has it's own meaning.BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Though probably intended for high school students, this book served as a great resource for my middle school classroom as well. Kudos go to the authors for creating such a pertinent and accessible resource for teachers, families, and teens.

This is a wonderful book that every parent and teen should have. I enjoyed this book very much and believe that it will truly help in the home.

I loved this book! Wizowaty's characters are so vivid - you can smell their coats and feel the dirt on their shoes. As we see the action from the heroine Alma's very wary eyes, the suspense builds and doesn't let up. I read it without stopping. The cathedral setting is so utterly creepy and the evil so palpable that I was riveted. Can't wait for my kids to be old enough to read it!

I picked this book up and it hooked me into the story on the very first page. Suzi is an amazing author for her first children's book. She has a writing talent! I realized by the end of the first chapter that this was going to be one of my favorite books. Suzi's way of hooking people into her story is like magic. I would think she had written more books for children.
Meghan, 10 years old, Vermont

Skye Nicholson has found love and security with Tom and Eileen Chambers at Keystone Stables. Skye had been shunted from one foster home after another had finally exhausted the patience of the judge who was ready to place her in juvenile detention and throw away the key. She is `rescued' when Tom and Eileen take her into their home and heart. And of course, Skye's "love affair" with Champ, the thoroughbred Quarter Horse upon whose back she won a blue ribbon has helped with her growth.

Sooze Bodner, a friend and fellow juvenile delinquent, is in trouble, and her influence threatens to pull Skye back into her old ways. Sooze lives at home with her indifferent mother who has given up on discipline, allowing Sooze to do just as she pleases-and she does. Faced with the same final destination of juvenile detention as Skye had, Sooze is placed in the care of Tom and Eileen. Sooze is a hard case, and even though Skye tries to tell her it's not so bad, Sooze plots to escape. She thinks she can do things her own way and doesn't have to obey the rules set down by Tom and Eileen.

With Sooze around, Skye faces some tough challenges. When Skye gets caught up in Sooze's attempt to escape the resulting crisis brings both girls to a realization of what it means to have a loving God and to learn to put their trust in Him, no matter how bleak or uncertain the future may be.

A TRUE TEST FOR SKYE is book two in the Keystone Stables series. We met Skye in book one, THE TROUBLE WITH SKYE. Marsha Hubler does another great job with book two, and I urge to get both of these books, especially if you have, or know of, a teen that is in similar trouble. Also, watch for book three, TROUBLE TIMES TWO, coming soon, and book four, TEAMWORK AT CAMP TIOGA, coming in spring, 2005. I highly recommend these books.

WOW!! This book is more than fantastic!!! You know what's coming but yet you don't!! Can't wait for book 3!!

and surprising at that.
Not stuffy or academic,
and covers a lot more information than expected

The Vacant Chair adds a personal element to the dates learned in history class. The words and feelings expressed by soldiers recounts a time lost - dedication to an ideal, and courage. Families during the Civil War lived day to day wondering if loved ones were alive, and Mitchell captures their turmoil and hope through the letters and thoughts of soldiers and their families. Although the book focuses on the Northern soldier, one can imagine similar sentiments from both sides. An excellent addition to the history buff's library.

Excellent color photos and descriptions of vegetables both common and specialty types. Includes geographic and historic origins of those cultivated. Also includes information on many plants eaten as vegetables, but primarily found in the wild. Broken down by vegetable. Very easy to read. Includes information on common pests and diseases for the home gardener and the pictures and flavor descriptions are great for planning your garden.

Vegetables by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix is by far the most informative book I have ever read and seen on the subject. It has been well researched with history of all the various vegetables, and contains excellent photographs. I found it in my local Library, but after a few minutes knew I had to own a copy. It could be refered to as the vegetable gardeners Bible.

As an anxious first time mother, this was a comforting read. Ellen's stories are personal and yet so relateable. A delightful read that didn't illuminate, so much as it generally warmed and made me feel at home with motherhood.

As a mom who has worked for the last six years balancing parenthood and a job, it's always nice to read true tales from someone in the same boat. With topics ranging from money (that dreaded subject) to spying on your teenager, this book touches on many of the issues that sometimes are hard to talk about. It's a book that really draws you in and makes you feel like you're actually part of a conversation about motherhood, but it's not preachy or the least bit judgmental - just honest and true. A great read.

This book is a page turning adventure! I couldn't put it down. The intense details make you feel as if your in the book. This is a book you don't want to miss reading!

The first book in the Walker of Time Trilogy was probably the best book I have ever read, but it wasn't until last year that I discover there was a second and and a third one in the the series and I was in a frenzy to find the sequels! When I did find them, I was far from dissapointed! Walker's Journey Home rivals Walker of Time in plot and strength. The first book leaves you wondering what might have happened and this one tells you, leaving you completely satisfied! I have never seen such wonderful characters, so much detail and care go into a book until now. If you are a fan of adventure and excitement, please read this book. You won't be dissapointed!

Walking One Another Home is a book not only for people dealing with Alzheimers in their family, but for everyone who has to walk a loved one home. Rita's openness in sharing her feelings on this pilgrimage, are not only touching but so very honest. It is in sharing her frustrations, and consequent revelations gained, that the author helps the reader learn how to let go of past and be present and aware of the gifts offered, often unknowingly, by their loved one. This book is a must for those who are caring for dying loved ones, for those whose loved ones have already passed and are struggling to make sense out of their loss, and for all of us whose parents are aging and soon will find ourselves walking this journey.

I cannot tell you how much this book has helped me. My own mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's four months ago. It's almost eerie how some of the author's own experiences mirror mine as well. I gave the book to my sister and brother who are with me "waking mother home." My sister read it all the first night I gave it to her. She cried through most of it, but it helped her and us so much. Thank you, Rita Bresnahan!

We often listen to audiobooks on long trips and it's rare to find one that entertains the whole family - Preschoolers, school-age and Mom and Dad! This one did just that. It's an interesting story with great characters. The narrator was OUTSTANDING; one of the best I've ever listened to. As soon as we got to the last disk, my son was asking me if there were other books by the same author. We just finished the Chaos King as well and are hoping Ms. Ruby continues the story.

We got this audio book to listen to during a family trip from Fort Worth, Texas to Michigan and it was great for our elementary school children as well as for us adults. A great story by Laura Ruby and an excellent reading by Renee Raudman. I always thought Jim Dale was great doing the narration for the Harry Potter books, but I would say that Raudman even surpasses him. Like Dale she shows the wide range of her acting ability, giving a distinctive voice to each character so that it seemed like it was being performed by a whole cast. The funny chapters were hilarious and the dramatic ones were very moving. A great book. I hope that Ruby writes a sequel and I hope that Raudman narrates it for the audio book.