Schools Books

The artwork stands out and the book is worth the price for that alone. The story itself is also wonderful and gives a good starting place for talking about what happens to a person after s/he "dies." My daughter loves this book.

Although my 20 month old is too young to understand the story he definately relaxes from the calm that this book brings to me as we read it together. Beautiful illustrations too.

I checked this out of the library and read it when I was 4 and have loved it ever since. It's one of those "must-have" books. It's a children's book but adults can enjoy it as well. The idea of the book is very sophistocated but can be easily understood by kids due to the simple language and color artwork.

I asked friends who practices Buddhism about any books that they could recommend that I could gift to a young friend who lost a companion very unexpectedly. Although they said that the content does not strictly follow Buddhist principles they suggested it with rave reviews. I was intrigued by the delicate simple manner of the story and noticed an interesting element in the illustrations ( read it to discover for yourself!)The story seems to soften the sadness of losing a loved one, reminds the reader of how dying is a part of living and raises hope that there is life after. It also beautifully narrates how fulfilling and rich a simple life can be. The illustrations are soft and enchanting like the story and the ending is all embracing....

Gorgeous illustrations and a truly beautiful story make this book a rare treasure in Children's literature. A valuable addition to the book collection of Buddhist parented children. Explains the process of death and rebirth/reincarnation in a gentle and interesting way. Not weird at all and so suitable for children of non-Buddhist background as well as it provides an valuable insight as to how Buddhism/other belief systems explain death and the afterlife.

I bought this book for my Nicholas. I love it more than he does. What a wonderful book. You will enjoy reading it to your children.

I read these many times in French (I grew up in French Canada). My son, a native Californian, discovered them at the library in English, and now wants to own them all. We both loved these books...it's like reading about Calvin without his Hobbes. He's a funny kid.

With all due respect to Ms. Coogan, contrary to her Editorial Review published herein, there is an earlier English translation of Le Petit Nicolas; published under the title, Young Nicolas.

It was translated into American English in 1961 by Ms. Stella Rodway for Hutchinson & Company and published in 1962. I know because I received a copy of this book in 1967.

The Phaidon Press version, published in 2005, is actually a 1978 Anthea Bell translation into British English.

With all due respect to Phaidon Press and Ms. Bell, I much prefer the American English translation over the Phaidon Press' Anglicized version (which renames all the key characters, changes a key nickname, and includes British phrases like "He looks a right twit with that bunch of flowers!").

Personally, when I am reading stories about an adventurous French student, I expect to find French names and phraseology. And who could forget Monsieur Dubon, "the Potato", saying, "Look me in the eyes!"

Fortunately, the humor of Monsieur's Goscinny and Sempé transcends all these minor concerns and thus the book deserves the score given.

What a sweet and funny book! I bought this for my own Nicholas when he was about 8, and I read it to him aloud. During the chapter about Old Spud, we were both laughing so hard I couldn't continue! It is such a simple story of a little boy's everyday escapades, but I love its old fashioned charm.

Written in 1959, it almost pre-dates television (Nicholas is hoping that his father will buy a TV, but he has seen it at a friend's house). Nicholas and his friends play games that would now be politically incorrect, but back then were just good fun.

My Nicholas is approaching his 10th birthday, and he still re-reads it, and considers this his favorite book.

I have a young, mischievous son named Nicholas whose reputation is known throughout my family. My sister came across the Nicholas series in a book catalog and mentioned it to me. I checked the first book out at our local library and thoroughly enjoyed it, as did my 9-year-old daughter. Although the series was written in France in the 1960's, one can still relate to its humor today. I have bought the 3 available books, plus pre-ordered the fourth. Hopefully, my Nicholas will enjoy this series when he is a little older, too!

Whether you want a monolingual English dictionary to help expand the vocabulary of your intermediate or advanced ESL students, or you want to help a struggling beginning Chinese student make a link from their language to English, or you have five different language groups in the class and want to discuss with them the items in a kitchen or fruits or vegetables, the Oxford Picture Dictionary can be a great help. Since the subject-numbering for the pages in all versions of the dictionary are the same, all language groups can listen to the English pronunciation and read the same word in their own language without searching for the right page.
The indivisual students or the teacher needs to help control the rate that the oral words are introduced. Using Pause/Play on the computer for independent or group study or having the teacher or assistant read to the group are both possible. An Advance button on the computer would be much easier than Play/Pause. Maybe there is such a thing, just need to know.
A more accesable list of all the languages included in this publication would be useful. I can find most, but I never know if I've found them all. Over all, this is an extremely useful publication.

This well-structured and nicely illustrated English/Spanish dictionary is a good resource which could easily have been made excellent. Where it comes up short is the lack of bilingual coverage for many entries.

Though the product description does flag the fact that the dictionary's purpose is to "meet the needs of today's English language learners," the layout of the dictionary gives the impression that it is for English speakers learning Spanish as the initial entries are given in English. However, many examples -- most notably the practice exercises -- are given in English only. This could prove frustrating for those wanting learn or expand their Spanish with it or vice versa.

I have been teaching French, Spanish and ESL for many years. I have tried every teaching tool I could find. I can honestly say, this book is the best language tool ever! My students take this book with them everywhere they go and they are the ones who started calling this their "bible."

Apr 5, 2008: Has all sorts of practical vocabulary for everyday situations: household vocabulary, garden care vocabulary, medical vocabulary and many other situations. Would be valuable to communicate with Spanish speaking employees who may have limited literacy, because it is a picture book aimed at adult immigrants. Has lots of words for tools, car repair and furniture that you don't get in high school textbooks.

I am an English as a Second Language Instructor. Every time we use the class set of Oxford Picture Dictionaries my students always want to purchase them. I get a lot of requests for these. I see the students using them all of the time. It increases their knowledge of English & their confidence. I highly recommend it for anyone learning English or Spanish!

Torie and her sis, Sara have to go visit their grandparents for the whole summer. Niether of them are jumpping for joy. They go and meet two cosins. One whom they haven't seen for five years. Elija is tall, quiet, and shy. They meet Reenie for the first time. He is a highschool drop-out, mean, and a JD (Juvinile Deliquent) Torie befriends these two boys, yet they shut Sara out because she is stuck up, snoby, rude, and a sissie. The four kids soon discover an old secret in an old house. Torie, Elija, and Reenie come closer together suffering though fights, bother verbal and physical, yet these very fights make these cousins as close as PB&J. A tragic accident causes them to almost loose Sara. This part is sad because they had just yelled at her. She pulls though. Then the secret to the old house is revieled. In the end, someone dies. I won't tell you who, you'll just have to read it for yourself, but personally, he was my favorite character. This book shows how family relationships can effect eveyone, including a dead boy who haunts the house nextdoor. This book should be made into a movie. I can just picture the characters and how they would look and act. I bought this book out of desperation today. I went to the 75% off Bookstore and got it just because I would have to do a report on a book and just gravved Rimwalkers. I finished it about ten minutes ago and cried at the end. If you love romance, mystery, science fiction, family reationships, and death as well as life, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!! I loved it and I highly recomend that you read it. It is very fast-pace and can easily be read in a day or two. Next time you are at the library, pick up RIMWALKERS BY VICKY GROVE. I KNOW THAT YOU'LL LIKE IT. I laughed, I cried, and I was a little scared. BELIEVE ME, YOU'LL LOVE EVERY FAST PACED PAGE OF RIMWALKERS

The book Rimwalkers by Vicki Grove is about two boys and a girl finding out who they are over the summer, which has its ups and downs, its goods its bads, they bond and figure out a mystery that has been haunting the farm for years.
I would recommend this book to fifth or sixth graders. It has just what kids this age are looking for: adventure, mystery, friendship, and danger. I am a sixth grader and I really enjoyed Rimwalkers. It has two hundred and twenty-three pages. It teaches an important lesson to never judge somebody by the way they act or the way they dress. One should take risks, and not always stand on the sidelines, but jump in the game.
The book Rimwalkers by Vicki Grove is an all around good book. Even though it might be aimed more for fifth or sixth graders, readers of any age would probobly enjoy it. So go ahead, get your copy of Rimwalkers, I promise you will enjoy it.

Rimwalkers was an awesome book. I would give it five stars.
Tory was older than Sara, her younger sister, yet she was always walking one step behind her. Until one summer vacation at her grandparents' farm and unexpected cousin named Rennie showed up. He was a daredevil and he helped Tory and Elijah, another cousin just as shy and quiet as Tory, to be more outspoken and to try new things. Tory, Elijah, and Rennie became really good friends, but they always left out the snobby little sister, Sara. Then on the last day of their summer vacation at their grandparents' farm tragedy struck and the tables turned.

I thought that it was a touching story made with realistic characters. The details were amazingly beautiful. Every thing about it was either dramatic or excitingly *daredevilish. I would definitly let a lot of my friends read this. I think most of them would really enjoy it. My favorite part was when Tory and Sara was on the bus and Tory was day dreaming about her and Elijah's past times together.

I thought that it was a touching story made with realistic characters. The details were amazingly beautiful. Every thing about it was either dramatic or excitingly *daredevilish. I would definitly let a lot of my friends read this. I think most of them would really enjoy it. My favorite part was when Tory and Sara was on the bus and Tory was day dreaming about her and Elijah's past times together.

Jennifer hits the Real Estate nail right on the head with this book. If I ever had thoughts of writing a Real Estate book I don't think I'll be able to now as Jennifer has already put everything I've learned to be true about this business in this book. This should be required reading for every Realtor.

Steve Stoddard
Suburban Realty, Inc.
Manchester, NH
www.SteveStoddard.com

I am a new agent and found this book very helpful. It is an easy read, with very down-to-earth advice about how to start your business.

I read many books written on the topic of how to be successful in real estate. This book was by far the most practical, helpful and fun! The style is engaging and easy to read. Many of the other books had a very negative approach to the business and (in my mind) had a creepy air to them. This book was different. I honestly loved Jennifer's approach to the business of real estate. Her approach is positive, client centered and respectful. She defined how you can be successful in RE and still hold your head up high! If you want to have a successful career that focuses on helping people instead of the negative stereotypes associated with the profession of realtor, this is the book for you. I definitely recommend it.

As a green bean real estate agent who just passed her exams, I was going through an "oh no, what am I doing????" phase when I read this book! (Brian Buffini's websites list of top books to read). WOW. SO GLAD I PICKED IT UP! The gut honest input to multiple situations was so appreciated and actually helped restore my excitement and enthusiasm for this next step in my life. I'm a "take the high-road" girl and reading how you provide ethical-do-the-right-thing-always-extraordinary customer service resonated deeply with me. Thanks for sharing the personal ouches as well as the professional ones. I'll read this book again and again--and can't wait to get started in my new career!

As I read the first couple of chapters, I started to wonder if Jennifer had been somehow monitoring my progress in real estate sales! I got into it for the same reasons she did, made most of the same mistakes, and came up with some of the same solutions. Somehow I muddled through my rookie year and became successful. But if I'd read her book then, I would have made fewer mistakes (and wasted less money on just-sold postcards!). Even experienced (and extroverted) agents can benefit from the creative ideas in Jennifer's book. I am glad I found it now, and I heartily recommend it.

Some people may shy away from this book because they think its about basketball. Wrong -- it's about life, about a person who happens to play basketball.

I think every girl should read this book, because it deals with Cooper's issues with self-esteem and confidence, overcoming poverty, and her pursuit of excellence. I also think every mother should read it, because the book shows how effective a role model Cooper's mother was to her. Maybe mothers and daughters should read this book together, and have discussions about it.

This is not an overtly Christian book, but Cooper is a Christian and does not hide her faith. It is not really an evangelistic book, though one can say it is pre-evangelistic.

This autobiography is one of the best, if not the best, that I've read. It's amazing how Cynthia Cooper writes her own story to motivate and make readers have more confidence. She's a real example of a true athlete hero, someone that can be a role model to all. Thanks to her and her success in the WNBA, she's given Women's Basketball a new meaning. Her determination and motivation to become successful is admirable. This book is really an inspiration to those who lack self-esteem and self-confidence. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone because is really interesting and inspirational. I'm proud of Cynthia Cooper because she's a real good representative of Women's basketball and a great example of determination and success. She also proved that with God's help, anything is possible.

Cynthia Cooper could be a role model for anyone. She knows how to play the game of life as well as basketball: when to hold, when to fold, and a whole lot more.
What impressed me most? Signed to play in Italy, Cynthia didn't hang around being homesick. She took the opportunity to learn and grow.
My favorite scenes:

(1) New to Italy, she'd never even heard of famous cathedrals that someone asked her about. Later, she could have discussed the architectural history and features -- in Italian.

(2) She asked Ford to give her a marketing internship -- and she felt right at home with the men. I use this example a lot when I talk to parents who are concerned that their daughters are more interested in sports than school.

(3) She takes us behind the scenes of the championship Comets.

Hard to put down, well-written, honest -- the perfect gift for any WNBA fan or any young woman looking to her future, in or out of basketball.

Cooper's book has made me relieze that nothing can turninto something. Also Cooper provides a positive role model for anyonewho wants to better themselves and improve their way of life. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all. There was problems growing up, college, overseas (work) love, and death of loved ones. This tells the reader that everyone faces problems at many different stages of life. Also how they could be overcome with the correct outlook. END

This book is about the story and life of a great know person and athletic. It has its good times and bad times. It tells you what happened in her life till the time she published the book. It tells you from her first time she touched a basketball until she became the leauges MVP. If you want to read a great story about a player and her good times and bad times this is the book you should read. It is for sure the best book I've read about a great person and a life she lived. You should get this book no doubt.

I picked up this book based on a recommendation from a friend and once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I finished it in one day. It's was well-written and witty and just an all-around fun book to read. You don't have to be a teenager to enjoy this book. If you are looking for something light-hearted and entertaining this is it.

Title: She's So Money

Author: Cherry Cheva

Rating: 4.5/5

Good:

This book was extremely good. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this... I knew it'd be funny, but that was basically the extent of my knowledge.

I was extremely pleased to see that this book had even more going for it than hilarity.

Let's start with the main character. Maya was extremely believable, extremely flawed, and extremely real. She's the type of person I could probably meet walking down the street, or in a bookstore, or just anywhere. She's someone I could imagine having a conversation with. Which just makes her so easy to relate to.

And then there's the plot. What a crazy, wild scheme that Maya comes up with! And Cherry Cheva found a way to make it believable! I couldn't imagine something like this happening in my school, and yet somehow reading this book it seemed entirely plausible.

Finally, you have the ending. Semi-cheesy, but still entirely perfect for this book. Things didn't necessarily end how I expected them to, but that's only because I wasn't sure what to expect. This book was so crazy and fun, I never knew what would happen.

I am really really looking forward to reading Cherry's next book.


Bad:

The only bad thing I can think of was the cheesiness. Because, I'll admit, there was a lot of cheese. But for this book, it just worked. So I'm not going to complain.

High school senior Maya is a good girl. She works in her family's Thai restaurant after school every day and on weekends. She takes several AP courses, tutors and prays daily that she gets her acceptance to Stanford. She knows she's a straight arrow, and she likes it that way.

Things begin to change, however, when she is asked to tutor Camden King, a popular hottie and super-obnoxious wealthy senior. Their first meeting does not go well, as he leaves after a cell phone call and she throws away the backpack he forgot to take with him. He even offered her lots of cash to do his homework!

One weekend Maya's parents leave her and her brother in charge of the restaurant while they go to a wedding. Finally she is treated like the adult she knows she is. But she loses her cool when she encounters a set of miserable customers. They leave among threats, and she and her brother are too tired and crabby to clean up properly, vowing to do it the next day. The patrons follow through on their threats, and the Health Inspector leaves notice of violations and fines for Maya totaling $10,000! She is given only three weeks to pay the full amount.

Maya knows her family doesn't have that kind of money, so she takes Camden up on his potentially lucrative offer. He also has her do homework for a few friends, but not too well, so teachers won't be suspicious. She doesn't need sleep, right? Between spending time at the restaurant and doing her and others' homework, Maya is reaching the end of her rope.

Then Camden kisses Maya! It's her first, and now she's really confused. She won't make her deadline, so he proposes that she line up more tutors to join in and they will take a cut. Maya almost makes it, but of course someone figures out what's going on and threatens her. She needs more money, so they pull in students from another school. She thinks she's Camden's girlfriend now, but when she sees him with other girls, doubts creep in. In fact, Maya isn't sure of anything anymore.

Cherry Cheva, a writer for "Family Guy," brings readers a cast of realistic characters who make a few bad choices that spiral out of control. While the magnitude of this cheating operation seems crazy, it's easy to see how nice girl Maya gets sucked in. SHE'S SO MONEY will have readers turning pages quickly to find out what happens next and if Maya will be able to pull herself out of this mess.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

SHE'S SO MONEY
CHERRY CHEVA

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Maya could never imagine a little freedom could cause so much trouble. When her parents leave her in charge of the family restaurant and her younger brother, Nat, she never thought the restaurant would end up with a hefty fine thanks to two bitchy customers. But in order to keep the 10K fine a secret from her over-controlling parents, she needs to pay it off before they can find out about it. And that's where Camden King comes in.

Camden King needs help with his homework. His first encounter with Maya as his tutor doesn't go well at all, especially when he comes across as a bit of a jerk. In fact, she quits when he offers to pay her to do his homework. But Camden is anything but easily deterred.

I have to admit I thought the first chapter or two of the book felt a little slow to me. It wasn't until Maya was left on her own that the story began to pick up. One of the scenes that stuck with me takes place fairly early in the book. Maya and Camden are talking in the school hallway, having just come to an agreement about the `homework' issue. He starts asking her about having a boyfriend and she says she hasn't had one and when she says she hasn't been kissed, Camden leans over and kisses her. I absolutely loved Maya's reaction to the kiss!

Cherry Cheva is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan and currently lives in Los Angeles where she writes for the animated series, Family Guy. SHE'S SO MONEY is her first novel. Visit her online at http://www.myspace.com/cherrycheva

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
June 2008

Although I had quite a few issues with this book, I couldn't help but feel myself reeled in. I stayed up reading it really late and even though I wasn't satisfied with all of the aspects of the book, I think it was a very good read. Now about those things that I had issues with...I think that the characters weren't developed enough and that the plot was a little too predictable. Don't get me wrong, I like me some nice, fluffy, and predictable books every now and then, but I definitely think that Cherry Cheva could've have worked to throw a few more twists into it than she did. And I also would've loved to be able to get to know the characters better. I think that that aspect of the book was rushed and not filled in very well. Also, the ending came a little too fast for my preference. It was very sudden and it just kind of ended. All that stuff probably makes this seem like a horrible book, but it really wasn't. One of the things that I liked was the unique plot. It might not have had many surprises, but it was a new and unexplored concept which was neat. I also liked how the side characters got to shine along with the main ones and we got to see the alternate sides of many of the "popular" characters in the book. And overall, I think that Cherry Cheva did a great job writing She's So Money. Even with all of the faults that I found with it, I really couldn't stop reading it. She just has the kind of writing style that leaves you wanting more and I am completely satisfied with this book and I would highly recommend it as a very fun and light read. Perfect for summer! Which, by the way, has arrived without me even noticing. I swear, I woke up last week and I was like; woah-there are only two weeks of school left! When did that happen? And since then I've been in a huge fog because of lack of sleep from studying for finals. I'm amazed that I'm having time to read at all. I probably shouldn't be reading...but oh well. Can't pull a girl away from her obsession, can you? And enough with my rambling already. :D Go read She's So Money!

Sid is a favorite at our house! Even when my daughter is in a foul mood, by the end of Sid we're all laughing again. The pictures are extraordinarily expressive and the story is endearing. We've even taken to call one of our cats who likes to overeat Sid!

My kids and I both love this book. The art is pretty without being distracting. Sid is drawn very expressively, and as a real character, without being a talking animal. The message of sharing, openess, and flexibility are important and come in handy in our lives.

The book, Six-Dinner Sid (Aladdin Paperbacks, purchased in 2008) included an advertisement for Cheerios printed on the inside back cover of the book. So every time you read the last page of the book, your child will see an advertisement from a cereal company. No, thank you. We prefer not to have advertisements in our children's literature.

This is a delightful story of a friendly cat! My students like to listen to this book over and over again!

Sid likes six different kinds of dinners, being scratched six different ways, and he sleeps in six different beds. He's just that way!

And... when everyone talks to each other... everyone knows, so no one minds.

An awesome polyamory fable, great for kids and adults.

When someone tries to blow up Jack Knight, and in the process gets some of his family, he will slowly come to the realisation that he has some growing up to do.

He kicks against this for some time, but his father, a couple of local cops, Opal City herself, and the need to do something about The Shade and The Mist start to move him in the right direction.

Starman, written by James Robinson,with art by Tony Harris, Peter Snejbjerg and others, details the exploits of Jack Knight, the son of the aging 1940's Starman, as he struggles with the family business, his personal business and Knight's Past, his, um, business business. It's got science, mystery, romance, cowboys, pirates, and some of the most pure heroism that was presented in the grim and shallow world of 1990's comics. This is one of those great series, Sandman-style, which is loved by comic and non-comic readers alike. This is where I first saw the pencils of Ex Machina artist Tony Harris. I had such a man crush on this creative team, when I met them at a convention in 1996 I giggled Japanese schoolgirl style and averted my eyes. I palpitate at the thought! James Robinson complimented me on my shirt, which I had cleaned especially for the occasion. This is the comic that made me love DC comics, made me embrace my inner collector, and kept me returning to the comic store.

I have to admit I like the new Starman alot. But I donthtink everyone would.

Great stories, great art, coloring...I have all the 7-8 volumes in the tpb format. The character is written very well. The Sandman stories are especially good, as well as JSA related and even the filler stories with Starman's brother, and Opal City's historical characters. Bank robbers, pirates, aliens, poets, fantasy, sci fi, tattoos, etc...what more could one want?! Also the substitute/guest artists are as good as the regular artist.

However I am a little dissappointed that DC never mentions any ratings for their books similar to Marvel. The new Starman Series by James Robinson is NOT FOR KIDS. Although not overly gratuitous visually, there are bedroom scenes, with semi-nudity(no full frontal), drug use(only one issue), as well as homosexual characters(which is not overly emphasized or distracting to the comic. only noticed this rare&few times. no sex, just words of "love forever")but it may offend some people, and confuse or harm children's moral upbringing. As an adult, they dont get in the way of the main characters virtuous and heroic qualities but they may cause some people who are offended by that kind of thing to miss the overall well-crafted story plots. For others it may cause them to imitate those scenes. I dont like them in a comic book. Personally the parts of the story that show those scenes really dont add that to the plots very much. But I dont believe the writer was trying to shock anyone, just make society more comfortable with this type of relatonship. I would have rather those ideas/characters remained out of the books, or "faded to black" (as one homosexual scene was). I still give the books the highest marks for overall artisitic presentation.

Starman has since departed from the superheroe scene(i think?) but this run of stories has many many great moments in the modern super hero context. Just be careful if you are scensitive to the "adult" situations. They show this Starman superhero and related friends, associates, as very human persons, equiped with fallen human nature, and have to go through their own personal, yet in some cases, universal, spiritual and vocational superhero trials and tribulations. These trials are moral & emotional, that many people can relate to on a down-to-earth level. I tend to think of these stories as kind of modern greek mythological hero/fable stuff anyway. But just because greek stories have all the sex and stuff doesnt mean I like to read, or see, in contemporary novels. I pretty much find it insteresting how Robison included the adult situations, but ignore it overall. However, there is more to emotional maturity then sexual relationships, or positions. At least Robinson provides enough character depth & developement to overshadow these unnecessary plot developments. That is where his writing talent really impresses in dealing not with physical strength, but virtuous strength, in terms of acquiring courage, and in some cases, emotional & spiritual growth. Interpersonal relationships between family and friends also play a strong part in the stories as well.

But if you are senstitive to the adult themes maybe the original Starman Archives is your style. There are moments where Harris's & Robinson's modern Starman stories really are the best I have ever read. All though there is alot of art deco, art nouveau, and film noir symbolism throughout their work that allows their style to be respectful of the past. Some of Harris's visual treats could make terrific posters. The inker is especially sensitive to his style. The modern Starman handles the adult themes well in many instances, but they couldve been done even better. If you look at film noir, alot happened that you didnt need to see to help create drama. I am afraid Robinson couldve been more graphic, but he also couldve been less so. For instance issues about adultery(not shown in this particular issue) had wonderful, morally and spiritually uplifting conclusions, with effects that run throughout the Starman series, but he didnot have to show the adulterous act to make us know it happened. For me the resolution was marvelously handled, that it overshadowed what was "shown", however many people might have missed the great ending because of being "shown" too much. "One does not have to see the sin, to learn from it." However, I must restate, Robinson didnt necessarily cross the line of decency, but got right up close to it...even dance over it...to close for me, but still accomplished a great piece of story telling.

No offense meant by my comments, just some thoughtfulness that I think DC should include in its packaging, or on its website. Right now one would think Starman is just like any other comic for kids, when SOME issues, NOT ALL, are more like R rated, G, or even PG.

I hope DC puts out the remaing issues. I believe about 20 more need to be released in tpb.

Yankstar

James Robinson shows his brilliance in crafting vivdly fleshed out characters in his highly entertaining revision of the superhero genre in the 'Starman,' series. This first volume opens up in typical anti-hero fashion with a mortal character reluctantly thrust into the role of superhero and his subsequent struggle to assume such a larger then life identity. While the story and plotting in vol. 1 is decent and perfectly serviceable, the strength of this series is ultimately found in the wonderful character development that takes shape through dozens of chapters. Jack Knight, the hero of this tale, comes across as an everyman with a fascination for kitsch collectibles and pop culture while constantly struggling to find comfort from his transformation to super-being. Good heady stuff without taking itself too seriously.

Almost everyone in comics got the wrong message from "Watchmen" and "The Dark Knight Returns." Rather than learning that superhero comics could be about more than adolescent fantasies they simply embraced the violence of those books and created comics that catered to a darker set of adolescent fantasies than the old Superman or Spiderman comics did. Comics didn't grow up; they just went from being geeks to juvenile delinquents.
I say almost everyone because there are a few notable exceptions where people have written superhero comics for grown ups, or to use Neil Gaiman's words comics that are "about something" (about something other than muscles, spandex, and maiming and killing "evil doers" that is). Kurt Busiek of course, and strangely enough Alan Moore himself are the examples everyone knows about. Unfortunately, James Robinson's work often falls between the cracks, and that is a shame, because "Starman" is a comic that is truly about something.

Aptly enough a good bit of what the comic is about is growing up. Early in the series Knight mocks things like family, duty, and honor, but Jack coming to embrace those things as well as responsibility is the heart of the whole series. Spiderman and Superman are great metaphors for adolescence, "Starman" is a story about coming out of a prolonged adolescence. Jack Knight isn't an obsessed Rorschach or Batman driven by internal demons in a near psychotic quest for vengeance. Rather, he's a self-centered hipster who gets in the superhero racket out of duty, family oligations, and loyalty to his beloved home town.
But really I make it sound all stodgy and positively 19th century Prussian, and it isn't. As well as being about something the series is a lot of fun. Robinson clearly loves all those old guys in tights and all the baggage that goes with them, but in his hands it really isn't baggage. You get explosions, evil plots, crime waves, superhero team ups, and everything you expect in comics, but you get meaning too. On top of that Robinson has a knack for creating characters and enough attention to detail to bring them to life. The O'Dares could have degenerated to Irish-cop stereotypes, the Shade a mere metropolitan killer, or Knight a hipster with superpowers, but none of them did. They all seem like living breathing people, and that's not something you can say for characters on a good many acclaimed television shows.
"Starman" was one of the best comics of the 90's and the best place to start is at the beginning.

jenny and cameron were all they had in each others lives. they were both outcasts in school, and both had bad families. cameron had an abusive father and jenny's mom was never home. then one day cameron leaves without telling jenny, making her believe he died. jenny moved on with her life, going to a new school and changing her appearance. until one day, 8 years later cameron returns.

i never had friendship the way these two had. their unconditional love for each other is so pure and amazing, making me question all my friends. my only disappointment was the ending. i couldnt stop crying. i had such high expectations about them both, i was rooting for them to be together. i hope that there could be a sequel to this book, maybe 15 years later. i want to see if they will end up together. i would really want to read it, if there was a sequel.

i love all the characters, and i really love this book. the ending is sad but its worth reading.

SWEETHEARTS
SARA ZARR


Rating: 4 Enchantments

Jennifer Harris' life has undergone a serious transformation since the last time she saw her childhood best friend Cameron Quick. Gone is the shy, chubby outcast Jennifer and in her place is Jenna Harris, a teenager who is popular, happy and dating one of the most hottest guys in school. She is in fact everything that `Jenna' knows Jennifer never could be. But when her long lost friend Cameron suddenly reappears in her life, a friend she thought dead, both are faced with the stinging memories of the past that no transformation can truly leave behind.

Confronted by her past and the truth about Cameron's disappearance, Jenna struggles to come to terms with who she was then and who she is now, all while rebuilding one of the most important relationships of her life.

Full of emotion, SWEETHEARTS is a beautifully written story about the power of friendship and its ability to transform. Anyone who's struggled to fit in will be able to sympathize with Jennifer's desire to transform herself into someone else.

This is Ms. Zarr's second young adult novel.

Reviewed by Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
February 2008

As a child, Jennifer Harris was a social outcast. She was nicknamed the Fattifier, because she was chubby, and made fun of for her lisp. Her only friend was another outcast named Cameron Quirk. They were always there for each other, and Cameron made everything bearable for Jennifer. And when he suddenly leaves without even saying goodbye, Jennifer is devastated. She thinks that he is dead, and no one tells her otherwise.

Now Jennifer Harris is Jenna Vaughn. Her mom got married and Jennifer changed her name and her personality. She's got friends, a first boyfriend, and a loving family, all that she could ever want. But she can never forget Cameron, and memories of him haunt her constantly. So when Cameron just shows up one day at school, everything is changed for her.

Throughout the story, Jenna has flashbacks to when she was Jennifer. And Jenna is not quite sure if she likes who she is now, and not sure if she wants to become Jennifer again. When Cameron was her best friend, she could be anyone she wanted to be, but as Jenna, her whole life seems to be a lie.

Sweethearts was a beautiful story about how the strongest bonds of friendship can span any distance or amount of time. It was one of the saddest and most romantic books I have read in a long time, and it made me cry. It was filled with such raw emotion that I felt I was inside Jenna's head, living her life with her. And while the ending isn't perfect, it is filled with contentment and hope.

I highly recommend Sweethearts to everyone, especially girls who can't let go of their childhood sweethearts. It was a beautiful story, and I am glad I took the time to read this incredible story. I hope all of you get to read it too.

[...]

This is an excellent growing-up novel for any teen. Jenna Vaughn is a senior at a small charter school in Utah who, on the outside, has it all - friends, a boyfriend, a great body etc.

What Jenna's friends don't know is her rocky childhood or the one boy who helped ease her loneliness.

Peppered throughout the book are memories, little things that Jenna remembers about Cameron Quick and her own childhood. She remembers the day he snuck a ring and a note into her lunchbox saying that he loved her. She remembers being teased by the popular kids and being called Fattifer. She remembers the week Cameron spent at her house and how hyped on sugar he got after eating chocolate chip pancakes. She remembers the dollhouse he built for her birthday and escaping from his father. She remembers compulsively stealing food.

One day Cameron doesn't come to school and then he's just not there for a few months. When Jennifer finally gets her courage to ask the teacher says that he's moved away and the kids at school tell her he has died. Either way Cameron is gone and he didn't even say goodbye. Eight years later on Jenna's birthday Cameron shows up again to place a birthday card and a cheap plastic ring in her mailbox.

Jenna is thrilled Cameron is alive and hurt that he never contacted her before this. She's never forgotten what he meant to her but she's not sure how to incorporate him into the new life she's built for herself.

There are aspects of the book I really related to and I really felt some heart-tugs for Jenna and Cameron. The book was well-written in almost a journal style with randomly interspersed memories and completely from Jenna's point of view. The reader only knows what Jenna knows and sometimes this is helpful and sometimes it hinders the whole Cameron picture since it's based on her childhood information.

I felt the end was unfinished but even that felt right after I thought about it. Jenna's mother said she always felt there was something unfinished about Jenna and Cameron and Jenna reflects later that that unfinished something was love. The book felt unfinished because their love is unfinished and that made me feel infinitely better about the ending and not really KNOWING how the two of them end up and if it all works out.

All in all an excellent book.

What attracted me to this book initially was the cover (I saw it at the Little Brown stand in Bologna) - doesn't that frosted cookie look yummy? I also liked the jacket copy: "Sweethearts is about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts." So yeah, not exactly high concept, but I like to read "quieter" books every now and then too. And this one was just lovely.

High School Senior Jenna Vaughn has a cute boyfriend Ethan, tons of friends and seems to have it all together. But she still carries the scars of a solitary childhood - one in which her harried single mother didn't seem to have time for her and she only had one friend - fellow outcast and first love Cameron Quick who disappears one day without explanation.

When Cameron suddenly reappears years later, Jenna must come to terms with a traumatizing event in her past, confront her mother about her abandonment issues, and figure out what place Cameron, Ethan, and her new friends have in her life.

I found the story and Jenna's character arc to be very authentic. I have to admit, my first instinct was to scoff when I found out how relatively tame the "traumatic event" was - I mean it is very far from Cupcake Brown's childhood as she describes in her memoir A Piece of Cake (I urge you to check it for a great true story of triumph over adversity). Upon further reflection, I realized that within Jenna's scope of experience and from her narrow point of view, this one event was in fact earth-shattering.

The writing is top notch throughout and I'd be hard pressed to come up with a last chapter that is more beautifully expressed than this one. This book really makes you think about how certain people have touched your life and left a lasting mark in your heart.