Youth Books

This is the story of a young wifes love for her unloving husband. Her husband did not want children as his wife did. They did have 3 though. The husband was quite envolved with church attivities but at home was totally different. He made his young children do all kinds of chores from the time they were quite young. His oldest son was continually getting whippings from the dad. The wife always taught the children to always love their father even if he didnt love them, and to always trust in God. This book is quite thick, but you will find it hard to put down. I dont want to say anything else about the story as you will want to read it to find out what happens. It will bring sad tears and tears of joy to your heart as you read it. It is really an enspiring story. It made quite an impact in my life.

This is undoubtedly the most spiritually captivating book that I have read. I have read this book twice, a rare thing. Each time, it brings tears running down my cheek and a flood of joy and peace that take away the bitterness for the husband character. It is truly a light from heaven shining through a mother of courage, faith,determination and deep committment to God.

I have read this book 4 times, each time I read it, it is as moving as the first. It is an incredible story about an abusive home. It brings both joy and pain when reading, but is a story that truly touches the heart. I recommend this book for the young and old alike. Once you start reading it, you won't want to set it down.

My great-grandmother Stella gave me this book when I was 15 years old. I have read the book about 8 times in the last ten years. It is the best book that I have ever read. Very inspiring. All ages would enjoy!

This book is a true source of inspiration and information! For years I have struggled, wondering if hebrew school was the answer towards my childrens spiritual and educational jewish journey, always knowing something was missing. This book tells you everything that is missing, and is a great supplement, or replacement to any standard type of jewish learning. Besides Rabbi Goldie being a fabulous guide in this process, she also offers amazing resources of music, websites, software, and prayer books. I bought this book for myself and was so amazed and impressed that I bought more copies for everyone who is a part of my daughter's Bat-Mitzvah ceremony.

My rabbi just lent me Rabbi Goldie's book, "Make your Own Bar/Bat Mitzvah," and I loved it. It is so in sync with what we are doing in our community and a perfect compliment to our program. I will be tutoring our B'nai Mitzvah kids this year and this book will be so helpful. I am going to make it required reading for the families. This book is a fabulous tool not only for the child in preparation for this coming of age rite of passage, but also a wonderful way to involve the entire family. Now I need to order Rabbi Goldie Milgram's other books.

Thank you Reb Goldie for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah book. I am delighted with it! At last a book that really supports the work I have been doing with B Mitzvah students toward making the whole process a true rite of passage and personal spiritual reflection.

Thanks so much!

I take my Judaism seriously and wanted to be sure my son is getting the most out of his experience. This book freed our family from the bar mitzvah machine that our Temple has turned into and helped us come up with a bar mitzvah that is relevant to our Judaism. It is full of wonderful ideas - the only pitfall we keep coming to is keeping our "study sessions" of the schedule of things to do. Without having to make appointments, it's very easy to let things get pushed aside. I have already recommended this book to several of friends who are struggling with putting meaning into the process of bar/bat mitzvah prep.

I enjoyed reading the story of how Promiseland started. I appreciated how Sue Miller and David Staal broke down the secrets to their success. The part about thriving in ministry was a message I especially needed to hear because sometimes I try to do it all. Other inspiring parts had to do with recruiting volunteers and forming teams to do ministry together.

A well-written book which inspired me greatly.

I found this to be a great help in starting and focusing our children's ministry. Lots of good tips and ideas from experts!

I found this book be very motivating and encouraging. It showed through real examples of trial error how to truly make your ministry the best hour of a kid's week. Sue Miller has a way of providing insight and after I read this book I felt I had a better understanding of why areas needed to be improved. The end of the book provides an area for group and individual questions. I would recommend this book to anybody who is involved in ministry...it sheds light onto children's ministry and the importance of it!

I found this book be very motivating and encouraging. It showed through real examples of trial error how to truly make your ministry the best hour of a kid's week. Sue Miller has a way of providing insight and after I read this book I felt I had a better understanding of why areas needed to be improved. The end of the book provides an area for group and individual questions. I would recommend this book to anybody who is involved in any type of ministry...it sheds light onto children's ministry and the importance of it!

I was slightly disappointed with this book, as it is really a compendum of Gifford's previous books: "A Good Man To Know," "The Phantom Father." "Wyoming," "The Stars Above Veracruz." There is very little that is actually new here. It's semi-autobiographical memoir about his childhood growing up in the south and mid-west in the absence of his father (who died when he was 12). Having said that, I liked the stories here all the same, as I am an avid Gifford reader. Reading these stories a second (or third time in my case) reminds me what a genius he is.

Most enjoyable! On a recent road trip, a friend and I listened to the entire 2-CD recording and put many a mile behind us while absorbed in the growing-up experiences of Roy, a kid in 1950s-era Chicago. People are what they are in Roy's world -- no apologies, just the facts, and Roy is watching every move. As the stories take Roy from age five to 17, what he observes and expeirences is sometimes sad; sometimes it's hilarious. It's told in Mr. Gifford's clean and direct style, and in a way that's unsentimental but essentially kind. If, as other reviewers have said, this book repeats material that is in other books (much of it autobiographical, it would seem), this is the one to get. Or maybe it's time to hear them in this context, where each story stands on its own, and at the same time all are linked in tone and chronology to form a single narrative.
Some authors are better than others at reading their own work aloud, and Barry Gifford is one of the good ones. He avoids putting an emotional spin on the material, in keeping with the unjudgmental way the stories are written. Instead, his calm, matter-of-fact tone lets the listener decide how to think about the stories.
The production is seamless. One thing I'm really curious about is the snippets of wonderful music beween the stories. They are most evocative and my friend and I agreed we'd like to hear a compilation of the complete songs. The liner notes say it's all original music from producer Oscar Bucher, so next I'll have to find some of his recordings.

I've been a fan of Barry Gifford's work since I was introduced to the beautiful "Wyoming" and "The Phantom Father" some years back. Both of these had a tone and tenderness I don't come across very often, though I read a lot of new fiction. Gifford's new collection, "Memories from a Sinking Ship", was just released this year, and if you liked the two earlier books, you'll be happy to slip back into Gifford's childhood world of 1940's and 50's America. As far as I know, this is the first time an audiobook of Gifford reading his stories has been released, but it's a great companion to the novel. For people familiar with the stories, it's a real treat to have, and if you're new to them, this is a unique introduction.

Memories from a Sinking Ship
Wyoming
Phantom Father: A Memoir
The Stars Above Veracruz
The Rooster Trapped in the Reptile Room: A Barry Gifford Reader

This collection of Barry Gifford's stories from his "Memories from a Sinking Ship," is a perfect introduction to Gifford's work and a must for his many fans. The double CD, excellently produced by Oscar Blucher, has Gifford reading his own work, a treat since we can hear the nuances of tone and timing and the continual dead pan humor straight from the author's mouth. The stories were always alive but now they seem almost to have been made to have been read aloud. Of all of Gifford's books, this is the best. We follow Gifford's alter-ego Roy as he attempts to grow up in a world that Frank Sinatra would have been perfectly at home in- gangsters, ballpayers, blues singers, hip hotels, Chicago, New Orleans, Havana, Miami, Key West, a world of loneliness, violence, and surprising tenderness. ("Say hello to Mr.[i.e. Meyer] Lansky, Roy.") Between driving around the country with his mother as she goes from one boyfriend to another, Roy sometimes attends school, but his education comes mostly from other arenas, movie theaters, hotel lobbies, Wrigley Field, cheap paperbacks and classic novels- Ernie Banks and Ernie Hemingway. Joseph Conrad and Joseph Cotten. In paintings from the middle-ages children are portrayed as miniature adults and Roy is treated this way by the adults in the stories. They confide in him, speak to him like an adult, and are forever leaving him waiting alone in theaters and hotel lobbies or at his grandma's rat infested house, while they go off to their crooked businesses and assignations. Yet somehow we see that Roy is going to make it out of this world, he will grow up on his own, and all these crazy and violent and touching street people will become a rich source of characters and life experiences for him (and perhaps for his stories if, like Gifford, he becomes a writer.) Gifford began by telling Chicago stories and we have reason to be grateful that he has come full circle, for, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot, now he knows the place for the second time. He's an excellent reader as well as writer and all I can say is: Move over Nelson Algren, Barry Gifford is back in town.

We have really enjoyed The Memory Bible. It comes with 2 CDs each containing 26 songs (one for each letter of the alphabet). Lots of the songs are upbeat and have fun tunes that even I catch myself singing. Great purchase!

My almost 5 yr old loves this. The music is catchy and repetitive, and the reading is done very well-passionately and makes it interesting for kids. The music isn't filled with base and guitars (as my son prefers of course) but this is more relaxing (for the car and on in the house without the nerve racking twangs,etc) yet still interesting for them. He's trying to sing along as we speak! I'll be using this in my 2-3 yr old class at church as well as the 4-5yr olds. The songs seem to be sung by girls, so I put a 4 as my son prefers to hear other boys and more "jamming out" tunes...but we love it.

At ages 5 & 2, my children will sing & dance along with these CD's. I look at the book with them, as they are not old enough to read all of it yet. I actually just started using it to teach memory Bible verses to them as a part of our kindergarten homeschooling curriculum. I like how the stories/songs correspond to letters of the alphabet, making it easy to use along with a letter of the week. I love it because I find that these scripture songs are fun & easy to remember.

I HIGHLY recommend this excellent book and CD's! Kirk Cameron does a nice job with the narration. The songs are sweet and uplifting! The illustrations are cartoonish but appealing to my children. I love listening to the CD's myself!! Just a wonderful tool to uplift the Lord!

This book makes you take a new look at those individuals that are homeless and how God calls us to serve them.

used this for a team that went to the union rescue mission in los angeles. team members were moved, convicted, transformed.

it's not a deep devotional, but it is biblical.

Great book my students seem to enjoy reading the book.

A mere 30 day journey with this book as a navigational guide and one will find not only conviction but encouragement for one's own "mission field" in life. Through the many personal trials, challenges, and victories of the author will shed new light on just what may define the term "missions or missionaries". This devotional is, just as it says, not your ordinary devotional. It offers reasonable and doable simple acts of kindness that can be carried out each and every day by the least of people to the greatest of people, people just loving and caring for their family, friends, neighbors and strangers.

Love this book..... so well done... A++ to the seller too for fast shipping !

This is a straight forward, compassionate, informational story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. His sister tells their story simply and provides perspective where Martin Luther King Jr. got many of his ideas and courage - from his dad! It is a quiet appreciation for the life the family led. I really appreciated the story and it brings a new more realistic meaning to King's life.

I loved this book because whenever i read a biogaphy I always want to hear from someone who really knew the person and in this book by Martin Luther King's sister, Christine King Farris, I get that perspective. Farris writes beautifully and poetically about their childhood and sheds light on the experiences and influences that shaped MLK to be the great inspirational leader that he was. I highly recommend this wonderful biography!

I LOVE this book. It is a well-written, personal account of a family. It spans from fun carefree days to the realization of prejudice. It is not about the man, it is about the boy. It was not graphic in it's description of violence and hatred, which made it completely appropriate for my six year old (who also really enjoyed the book). And the poem at the end was the perfect ending. GET THIS BOOK!

I stayed up reading this book and then stayed up another night re-reading it. Often, I felt the pang of something so profound and felt on the verge of tears, even in its funniest moments. The book is hilarious, and yet heartbreaking. It offers a glimpse into a time and the people and the bit of America that seems filled with dreams and nostalgia. It's an addicting read.

I loved this book. It was about where my mother as born a raised. We readed it aloud to each other. We laughed all weekend. I could just see all the people he wrote about. My mother knew some of them. I readed it a couple of times. Laugh every time.

Mr. Swift has written a humorous, pathos filled and somewhat haunting view of a young man growing up in a very remote cultural part of Texas called 'The Big Thicket'. The stories of his family members, characters within the community and his journey with all these people in becoming the individual author that he is today are compelling and touching. The photos by Lynn Lennon are reminiscent of Eudora Welty's during the depression. This is a must read for lovers of Southern literature. Ed Swift presents a riveting study of this uniquely classic portion of Texas.

This is a poignant memoir but not at all in the sappy, cliched way. Mr. Swift eloquently brings a sense of place and culture for this area of the South. His portrayals of his characters are entertaining and are real tributes to their individualities. Even if you don't know eccentrics like these, you will finish reading this story deeply appreciating unique traits of those who are influential to you.

Anyone involved at any point in the public school food-chain should be required to read this. It is a masterpiece. The first chapter describes the hell of it all in such a vivid way that I was crying to hard to keep reading. It's a short read, but life-changing.

This is the book that youth groups should mass order. Peretti recounts his own childhood growing up as a victim of both cystic hygroma (causing stunted growth and a speech impediment, among other problems) and bullying. He shares with painful detail how constant bullying effected his self-image ("I thought I was a monster") and how the school system typically does little or nothing to protect the weak. Even further, he illustrates his view of the world as governed by a higher system of rules, explaining why "Might makes right" is both a dangerous and a flawed philosophy. Peretti even confesses his own faults as an occasional bully, his failures to stick up for those weaker than himself. This is a super-quick read that will challenge adults to a new awareness of the bullying problem and will benefit every teen/pre-teen reader, whether he is a bully, a victim, or someone caught in the middle who doesn't know how to change "the way things are."

I was moved beyond words after reading this book. Peretti has a way of touching you and challenging you to meet the issues of our day with the love and compassion of Christ.

This is such an awesome book and maybe one of Peretti's best. He speaks of the dangers that our words and actions have on the outcome of ones personal as well as emotional life, if our society and schools keep going the way that they are. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who feels they are 'different' inside. Actually, everyone still in highschool and college should read it before it is too late.

As the author I am not going to review my own book except to say that it was written because colleagues requested that I share and describe the activities I have developed as a youth leader since the early 1970's. Some of the described activities have been used annually since then.

What I really wish to share is a note I received from Junior High Sunday School teacher, Cathy Murray, who purchased the book last fall, not on Amazon.com, but at a local book signing event. Cathy writes ...

I have recently purchased the book Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings by Tim Ferguson. I picked up the book the day of Tim's book signing. My purpose for purchasing the book was two fold:

* Tim is a member of my church and I wanted to support his endeavor

* I planned on thumbing through it and perhaps pick up some ideas to aid me in teaching Sunday school.

Little did I realize what an invaluable Christian youth resource this book would become to me. As I was looking through the book, I realized how it tied in with our curriculum (I teach the 6th, 7th and 8th grade class). The best part of it is the concrete examples and the step-by-step lesson plans that I just have to follow. I use this book, the Bible, the curriculum and a book on parables and I have one solid, exciting curriculum. Tim did all the work and I just have to follow the lessons he prepared. Currently, we are making our way through Who Do You Say I Am? The kids are interested and so am I as I hear their feedback and their understanding of who they think Jesus is.

I cannot wait to use some of the Christian youth lessons and activities Tim has put in the book. I think this would be a great addition to any Sunday school as well as Christian Youth program.

Cathy Murray,

I've been a Sunday School Teacher since 1998 and have assisted during many youth group activities. It is always a challenge to discover ideas that are not only simply for fun but which also teach the gospel message and engage the imaginations of our young people.

"Not the Same Old, Done-it-Before Youth Meetings" does this. It has lots of fun activities but, much more importantly, it addresses the need to challenge the minds and hearts of our young people. I was impressed by our young people's response to several of the scenario's in the "Jury Speaks" chapter. The Cosmology and Genesis One lesson opened the minds of not only our young people but of myself to the remarkable similarity between the first chapters of Genesis and the most modern of scientific theories.

With 350 pages of ideas, youth leaders may wonder where to start but the multiple indexes by topic and by bible verse - really help us focus on finding the right activity for the meeting at hand. So far, everything has worked. I recommend this book for any Christian educators but particularly for youth group leaders.

The book begins - youth want to make friends, expand their horizons and find ways to "make a difference". This book will help any youth leader, as it has helped us, attain these goals.

As a 10 year youth worker, I am always looking for new ideas. Not the Same Old, Done-It-Before Youth meetings is full of ideas that are more than just fun - they convey a message of faith. I particularly like the activities in The Jury Speaks as well as the ideas in the chapters on the Holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentines Day. The indexes are very useful and help me pinpoint activities for upcoming events this fall. I highly recommend this book for both beginning and experienced youth workers.

As a youth worker of about three years "Not the Same Old Done-it-before Youth Meethings" is just what I needed. Lots of variety in events, all with a reference to scripture. The indexes make it easy to find ideas and I've already tried "Flashlight Sing" and my youth had a great time! Looking forward to trying some of the more serious activities.