Clubs Books

This book will help my newly made 6th grade child's math class more understandable! It's what our school uses for their math program!

This is the best handbook I have found for parents or students. I recommend this for all middle school parents trying to help their kids.

Great Book! I bought it for a math class, but have already used it with my sixth grade son. Must have for anyone with children; great reference material for anyone who even needs to know how to help a child with math at home.

I have 4th grade and 2nd grade kids and It is nice to have a resource to show a different explanation than their textbooks. I like the simple set up. I am sure we will get much more use as the years go on. Wish I had it when I was younger.

My wife really likes this book. Good examples, however, wish there were more practice sheets for the child. It is a good parent reference book and easy to follow.

The Indian mutiny of 1857 sees the cantoment of Krishnapur besieged by sepoys. For three months Mr Hopkins (the collector) galvanises the British community in resisting the onslaught...
This book is superbly written and often reminds one of the style of George Elliot. It is both witty and profound and wonderfully researched and charactorized.Like the best of Elliot,Farrell uses his narrative to inform on other topics-the great cholera debate;the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace- and questions the basis of what culture actually lends to civilisation.
Books like this just don't get written these days.

Paul Scott wrote in his RAJ QUARTET that it was in India during the last days of the Raj that the British came to the end of themselves as they were. In this superb Booker Prize-winning novel written concurrently with the QUARTET (and which casts a similar cold eye towards the British imperial ambitions in India), J. G. Farrell shows how the Raj itself was formed and how it already carried within it in embryo the seeds of the destruction for the entire Empire. The novel takes place in a city in Northeastern India during 1857, the year of the Great Sepoy Rebellion: the British stationed in Krishnapur hear vague rumors of what they will call "The Mutiny" from faraway towns but are mostly unwilling to take them seriously. The ensuing siege they endure carries on for months as they wait for help to relieve them; though slowly forced to an absolute subsistence level--and then to even less--, they refuse to relinquish the habits of social conditioning that have made them already who they are. Social snobbery, physical modesty, gender segregation: all remain firmly ensconced even as their physical conditions start deteriorating so greatly they start dying in large numbers.

The novel's subject would seem to suggest that the novel would make for almost unbearable reading: oddly it does not, because the characters of the novel (who are almost entirely British) maintain such a droll and uncomprehending attitude towards their conditions, no matter how desperate things seem. Thus, since Farrell focalizes his narrative mostly through his thoughts, everything seems unreal throughout the entire siege and not quite so nightmarish as it might have been had he used a more distanced narrator. The work is in part a parody of old-fashioned "Mutiny novels," so you should know that the ending is very much in keeping with those kinds of novels (which proliferated throughout the Empire during the latter half of the nineteenth century); characteristically, however, Farrell puts his own intelligent spin on things, so even if the ending you had been expecting does occur it doesn't in the way you had expected. This is the second, and perhaps most famous, of the three superb works of Farrell's "Empire" trilogy which beautifully illustrates the conditions of Empire described in another nearly coeval work, Jan Morris's famous PAX BRITTANICA trilogy. It's exciting, amusing, intelligent, and greatly worth reading.

This is an excellent novel about the Sepoy Mutiny in India in 1857. The focus of the story is the siege of the British Civil Service enclave at Krishanpur (historically this was the siege of Lucknow). A group of Sepoy soldiers was given new rifle cartridges that were wrapped in greased paper, and the paper was removed by biting it off with one's teeth. The word spread was that this grease was animal grease, which was an insult to religion. The sepoys mutinied, killed their superior British officers, and started marauding across India.

Hearing about the mutiny the (tax) Collector in Krishnapur had ramparts built around the British buildings in Krishnapur. Shortly afterwards the Sepoys attacked in waver after wave for a period of several months. Surprisingly author Farrell describes the sufferings of those besieged with a good deal of humor, humor that pricks holes in the pompous beliefs and attitudes of 19th century British colonizers. We bring them progress, a superior civilization, yet they turn on us marvels the Collector. The condescension doesn't stop with the Indians. At one point the Collector speaks to the British women in the enclave, and silently thinks that in reality women are really useless creatures. It is the men of the world that shoulder the responsibility of getting things done. The padre runs around telling everyone that God is punishing them for their sinful behavior. A new school and an old school doctor constantly disagree over medical treatment. In perhaps the funniest scene of the book the old doctor contracts cholera, and instructs his aides to cover him with mustard plasters. The young doctor, who is aware that cholera victims die from dehydration, initiates a saline IV every time the old doc sinks into a coma. The IV brings him around, and he immediately pulls out the IV and insists on getting his mustard plasters, following which he soon sinks back into a coma. Back goes the IV and the doc becomes conscious again. This cycle goes on and on and becomes hysterically funny.

The British thought they were doing wonderful things for the Indians, but the harsh reality of it is they were creating harsh lives for their colonial subjects. The sepoys, for example, were paid near starvation wages. This is an important novel about the misguided philosophy behind imperialism. Perhaps there is a lesson here for us Americans. Should we really be focused on bringing our way of life to other countries?

"The Siege of Krishnapur', the second of J.G. Farrell's now classic works on the British Empire, (see also Troubles (New York Review Books Classics) and The Singapore Grip (New York Review Books Classics)) is a fictionalized account of the Siege of Lucknow during the Great Mutiny of 1857-1858 (aka the Sepoy Rebellion). The mutiny or rebellion, depending on one's point of view, was ultimately defeated by the British and led to the replacement of East India Company rule by direct British governance under the Raj.

Farrell masterfully recreates the insular British upper-class life in India - and the siege only intensifies this insularity. As the siege drags on and on, the inhabitants strive to maintain expected standards of behavior and decorum. Farrell populates his book with interesting characters who debate and dispute morality, religion, progress, and civilization.

Excellent introductions are a hallmark of the New York Review of Books Classics and the introduction to this volume by Pankaj Mishra places the book in historical and cultural context and adds significant value.

Highest Recommendation.

At the climax of this magnificent novel, the book's protagonist, Hopkins, the British civil administrator or Collector of Krishnapur, finds himself trapped in a Union Jack whose flagstaff has been shot down, knocking him to the ground. He recognizes it as the scenario of a persistent nightmare that had been troubling since his small enclave had been put under siege several months before. But it is also a symbol for the entire book.

The initial set-up here is similar to that of the author's TROUBLES: a group of British colonialists crammed together in a decaying building while the threat of native rebellion comes closer. But this is larger in scope, with a bigger cast of characters, grander themes, and a rebellion which is much more than some background disturbance. Unlike the violence in TROUBLES, which is seen at first hand only in the hallucinatory final chapters of the book, this one (the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857) takes center stage about a third of the way into the novel, leading to harrowing scenes of death, starvation, and disease. On the level of a simple war story, these events (based on the siege of Lucknow) make for a stirring story of heroism and courage -- especially where these qualities are unexpected, is in the formerly stuffy Collector who discovers hidden talents for generalship and strategy, and the young poet George Fleury, fresh out from England, who proves to have a strong practical streak and a remarkably cool head.

Also as in TROUBLES, there is a pervasive eroticism to this book, centering around three of the younger woman besieged in the Residency: the debutante Louise, chaste belle of Calcutta balls; Miriam, George's young widowed sister, tired of being assigned to stereotypical female roles, and Lucy, whom everybody knows as a "dishonored woman" although nobody is entirely clear as to the extent or agency of this dishonor. As the siege persists, the courtship conventions of colonial society are turned on their head by proximity and deprivation. There is one almost surreal scene in which Lucy, attacked by a huge cloud of otherwise harmless flying beetles, rips off her clothes and promptly faints, leaving two young men to scrape the insects off her, in the process discovering the differences between a real female body and a marble statue.

For, despite the bloodshed, Farrell's characteristic tone of comedy is present here too, but now his targets are as much institutional as personal: the hypocracies of colonialism, trivia of class and culture, and Victorian attitudes towards faith and science. As we meet the cast of characters, we find many different points of view: the Padre who believes that the rebellion is God's punishment for sin, the cynical Magistrate who is a confirmed atheist, the Opium Agent who believes only in profit, rival doctors from older and newer schools of thinking, bluff soldiers who do not think much at all but who can yet be excellent at their jobs, the aesthete Fleury whose first reaction to being under fire is to assemble phrases for an epic poem, and the Collector, who believes in progress, but attempts to strike a balance between all points of view. And to a remarkable extent, the author also manages to retain that balance. The siege is a crucible in which every kind of received attitude may be tested, and for the most part found wanting. But Farrell is never preachy or polemical; he does not make everything subservient to a single point of view, even the anti-colonial one. His great gift is to keep you thinking, even as you turn the pages with bated breath. A brilliant achievement!

This book was an awsome book.I might be a guy but all these stories just fills your heart with good things. This book has fantastic real life stories that mean alot of things. It was so good that i read this book in 4 days. This book is great for any chicken soup lovers or people who likes touching stories.

I read this book in 2 days flat!! I love it. Brought back some memories of times in my life... made me cry mostly. Who doesn't love a good cry? I'm on track to improving my personal development and have since changed my reading material to awe-inspiring stuff. I encourage all women ages 21-100+ to read this book.

I have grown up with Chicken Soup For The Soul Collections. I can remember buying my first book at a book sale while I was in elementary school. I than moved on to Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul. I recently took a box of books to a book exchange shop and that's where I saw Chicken Soup For The Woman's Soul. I than remembered how much I had loved these heart warming short stories and since I had just turned 20 years old, it was about time I exchange my teenage collection in for the woman's collection. I am 20 years old, married and in college so sometimes I find myself stressed out and emotional so I like to sit down and enjoy a few of these stories. These are great books to own and there is a large variety so that anyone can find one that fits them. My husband and I like to read Chicken Soup For The Couples Soul together and I am looking forward to the day when I can read Chicken Soup For The Mothers Soul.

There are so many Inspiring and touching tales that fills our hearts with emotion. One wonders 'why' things happen as they shouldn't or 'How' do miracles change the course of our lives. There are moments in everybody's life where at a point you encounter obstacles, where your self esteem gets low, attitude differences opine or whatever be, awe-inspiring stories of this book glues you to stir your heart to be more wiser. It rekindles the spirits undoubtedly when we read the emotional narrations of others and wonder - We too come across lot of experiences in life. Should we not pen it down? Easy it may seem, needs inspirations like these stories to share alike tales. This book sure is a great 'light up spirits' book for woman, self inspirations you can say. Topics on Love, Attitude & self esteem, Special moments, Dreams, Truth & wisdom n more are widely covered which makes it a special read. I cherish this book and read n re-read at times. Good pick

I read this book in 2 days flat!! I love it. Brought back some memories of times in my life... made me cry mostly. Who doesn't love a good cry? I'm on track to improving my personal development and have since changed my reading material to awe-inspiring stuff. I encourage all women ages 21-100+ to read this book.

I'm sharing this review with the intention of being particularly helpful to parents of toddlers and preschoolers. I found that having a very young child with the attention span to sit through chapters of a novel left me scrambling a bit to find novels that were appropriate in theme and content for her age. I am reviewing each novel we have read or tried in the hopes of being helpful to other parents in the same situation.

We read Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne in this collected volume, moving from one book right into the next until we'd completed the entire volume. This was a great beginning for us because it is a glossy-paged, color illustrated version. Moving into novels from picture books is a transition, so having pictures in full color was still very much expected by my daughter when we started reading this at two and a half years old. The edition is something of a monster, a heavy lap book, but it was well-suited for bed-time. Well, with the exception of the extremely long chapters - you'll definitely need to start the bedtime routine early. But another thing that makes this book an ideal transition book is the fact that each chapter is a self-contained story. You can read any of the chapters in any order without upsetting the plot line of the novel (as there really isn't one). This is good because Meridian was accustomed to picture book length stories that move through a plot line in a relatively short period of time. This way you can read a story as a chapter, but still have the continuation of the larger work to introduce the idea of reading longer works of fiction.

The material was the perfect transition into novels in it's fantastical tour of the imagination through the eyes of stuffed animals come to life. At this time I don't think my daughter really got the concept that these were all just imaginary stories going on in the head of Christopher Robin as he played with his toys. To her Tigger, Pooh, Piglet and friends were almost more real than Christopher Robin who comes and goes from time to time. It's neat to think that when she rereads these stories in a few years, she'll discover a whole new layer. I don't think we could have found a better match for the level of suspense needed than we did. Though we're now reading books that are far more suspenseful than these are, it was perfect to start out with these gentle stories which so expertly navigate young readers through the concept of emotional characters (gloomy Eyeore, grouchy Rabbit, cheerful Piglet, etc). At her age, my daughter was just beginning to really explore emotion and give name to it. Seeing it in characters on the page could have been overwhelming, but Milne doesn't over-do it. He really understands that what constitutes catastrophe to young readers need only be something as small as a balloon popping prematurely. In fact, the only edit I did in the entire course of reading the book was to eliminate the part where Christopher Robin used a gun to pop a balloon. We don't do guns as toys, and it was easy enough for me to have him throw a rock. But now, so many months after completing these and so many books later, I can say what value there is in having a book you can just read from the page without having to worry about acquisition of inappropriate language or attitudes.

For those who already know these tales and poems and those who have never been introduced to them THIS is a sublime edition of A.A.Milne's work. I regret the Disney's works on Winnie the Pooh. THIS is the "real deal"known a the Classic Pooh. The colored illustrations by Ernest H.Shepard make it even more delightful! Also included are the two books of enchanting poetry. This anthology should be part of everyone's library young and old and revisited often!

This is a wonderful colletion of all the tales of Winnie the Pooh....I have had a copy for more years than I care to disclose, but recently bought a copy for my secretary's new daughter....It is a classic and something all children should grow up with, even today!
May Winnie the Pooh remain in your heart forever!

It doesn't matter which Winnie story or poem one loved most when growing up. They're all here to share with new generations of children and grandchildren, together with the the original art work (albeit colorized).

Personally, I'm rather fond of the poems--especially "Rice Pudding" and "The Mirror," from When We Were Very Young. But of course all the favorite Pooh Bear stories are here, too, one of my favorite being "In Which Pooh Goes Visiting and gets into a Very Tight Place."

This is 557 pages of pure delight, and at used prices, it's hard to imagine finding a better value for a gift, or simply for reliving a bit of childhood fun with your family.

Words cannot express the joys to be gained from reading Milne, over, and over, and over....

I have reviewed all of the books in this collection individually, and let me say that trying to read only one of them without reading the other three is like digging up only one leg of a completely intact Tyrannosaur skeleton - neglecting buried treasure when you know for sure it's there. Who would do such a thing? Who COULD do such a thing? And imagine how much worse it would be if the skeleton were that of a Heffalump instead of a Tyrannosaur! Even the frightened little Piglet would come hunting you down.

As a mom I love Mouse Paint! There is depth to the story. In addition, the innovative introduction of concepts with primary colors is just plain fun. Reading for reading is always good. But reading to teach information opens up new horizons for lifelong learning. The whole book has me smiling all the way through. It is short so when it becomes a beloved favorite -- and it will be a favorite guaranteed! -- you can easily get through it to the satisfaction of all. This is the type of book I tell my friends about.

This edition in hardback would be nice as a gift.

Mouse Paint is a great book for early childhood. I use this book for infant toddler storytime. The colorful pictures make easy eye contact for young children. The book was in excellent condition and delivery was expeditious! Thank you Amazon.

Great book for learning colors. My son just loves it and it teaches how to mix colors as well. Very educational and entertaining.

This is an adorable book, a real must have for kids of any age. It talks all about colors, primary colors, mixing colors, etc.. And the mice in the story are so cute. Simple but entertaining.

This is a super source of creative inspiration for young children. Start them out working with an adult or older child, and they will absolutely take off with creativity and use of colors!

There's hours of educational entertainment inside this slim volume!

Vaishali's book asks a simple question to the reader, "What do you love?" Throughout the book the reader will continue to ask this question to themselves, and the book helps to guide the individual to find honest answers. If you know what you love, then you know who you are and what you are looking for. Without observation, life will pass you by and leave you with regrets later. Everyone should read this book to help spark their soul journey in the right direction.

Vaishali has the ability to cut through all the extraneous stuff straight to the heart of the matter and make everything so clear!

GREAT READ!

As a personal friend and colleague of Vaishali's, I find her unique infusion of humor and willingness to address the darker aspects of human nature to be a refreshing alternative to most of the Pollyanna fortune cookie platitudes that tend to dominate this genre. "You Are What You Love" is actually a very forthright declaration that each of us must love whatever it is that most occupies our thoughts, even if we are complaining about it.

Vaishali answered so many questions in this book, I wish I had understood this life changing wisdom earlier, it would have made my life so much easier. I feel so much better about how to deal with challenging people and circumstances now. This is one of the most personally empowering books I have ever read, I highly recommend this book. I also loved it is printed in purple ink.

Vaishali's exquisite You Are What You Love reminds me of a stimulating conversation so juicy it is worth staying up all night to enjoy. The subject matter bridges the metaphysical with the practical and makes the subject matter an exciting adventure for both the mind and the heart. The choice of subtopics reflects the wisdom of the author; and her humility and love shine through on every page. Lighthearted without being lightweight, this is a book I'd recommend to the neophyte as well as the spiritual sophisticated. You Are What You Love is an excellent read: I'll look forward to Vaishali's future works.

For the first time, I, and you will too, know how to "be" in a relationship. After having tried so hard in different ways in the past, Iam's (the author) way just lead me there in no time, and with ease. The book is thick and I thought that it maybe pack with "fyi, or good to know" but it's nothing like that. I read every single word; this is too unreal.
This book is a gem amongst books teaching about NOW WHAT? After WE said: I LOVE YOU, it teaches "how to be love and loved" not just descriptive information.
I am surprised that more people have not found this book...it is excellent. You could use the concepts of the book to create the relationships of your dreams. I recommend that book to everyone!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MUJO4VDU1KKJ Just to refresh your memory, a Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. The Americanized form consists of three lines. The first line contains five syllables; the second line seven syllables; the third line five again.

I hope you enjoy watching this Haiku Review. After writing reviews with hundreds of words, it can be challenging to sum up a book with a mere seventeen syllables.

Brian Douthit
Author Of Perfectly Said: when words become art

When I thought there were not any more sex "techniques" or "tips" about love I could learn from a book, this book just amazed me.
This book literally blew me away with its freshness, compassion,expert solutions and clarity. This is the relationships book I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn'tI had been waiting for a long time. From the first page I could put it down
This book just transformed my relationship and it is never going to be better than after reading it.

This book is full of eroticism, joy, tips about sex and love. This book is a manual comprising great knowledge for a wonderful relationship with your partner and, most fundamentally, with yourself. In the first part, the book offers solutions in the form of techniques, testimonies and advice to help people to grow spiritually and psychologically, and feel loved. It will also help you understand, change and transform the negative feelings you have about yourself and your partner, for the sake of harmony. The second part of the book is dedicated to different very creative sex techniques that can contribute to improve a relationship, be it a new flame or a well-settled relationship.

I really think it is worth your money, and more. This is a book that works. Try putting any of the suggested
techniques into practice... they do work, and wonders at that too. Everything's clearly explained with step by step guidelines. Iam makes you aware of things I'm sure you've never even imagined were relevant. It's a real epiphany, mindblowing. Guaranteed to make you change. And the approach is just so great I was going through a stage in my life when sex had become boring and routine and my relationship was on the rocks. This book is one of the reasons I got myself going again. Simply, it makes you want to try things out, which is something that cannot be said of many of the books of this type.

Okay, I admit it. I'm a sucker for golf stories. This is the first one I've ever seen dealing with the college golf scene, which all by itself practically guaranteed I'd read it through no matter how rough the mechanics of the writing were. Happily, the author is very competent. Errors were few and far between, and none were of the "I'm a rank beginner" variety.
The narrator, whose name is Otis, is also on the team and his acute eye for detail drew me in from the first word. This opening is long on tell and short on show, but what the hey, Otis is watching the final holes of a qualifying round preceding the weekend's match, and the players aren't saying much. They're too busy trying to win.
On the green is Otis' friend and roommate, Roberto. Roberto lost confidence in his putter and hasn't made the last three matches, but here he somehow drops his lame duck putt to win by a stroke and it's off to Las Vegas for the weekend match.
To date, the entire cast hasn't been on stage, but those who have are well drawn. There's arrogant team captain Paul Sloan, whose convertible has a motorized trunk and who's as obnoxious as you'd expect a rich preppie to be; laid back coach Stony, whose idea of how to settle conflict is to drop two balls and whoever hits it closest gets things his way; and of course Roberto and Roberto's club pro brother Cesar.
The excerpt ends too soon, but I'd bet a bundle John Ochwat has a sizzler of a plot waiting for his readers. I'd definitely pick this one up if I saw if on a newsstand.

because I want to keep reading this this elegant, spare novel that probes the emotional costs of class in the U.S. during late capitalism. The gaming tables and the game of golf represent two faces of class mobility (or the lack thereof). Will Roberto golf his way out of the working class? If so, will his victory ring as hollow as the trunk slamming on the narrator's aged Honda? The American Dream is alive, but not well.

While not a golfer myself, I find the sport interesting to watch and enjoyed the characters here. The words are well-written and the story is engaging. It was descriptive enough to put me into the story while using my own imagination, too. I look forward to being able to read the entire novel.

Not being a die hard golfer like so many, I was a bit apprehensive about what the book would be about. But love the writing style (love the wit)and has already made me smile. Looking forward to reading more as the characters are amusing and seems that this will be a fun read.

I was intrigued by the title of John Ochwat's novel and expected to read about society mavens in search of the ultimate clubbe experience. Of course, the title refers to a golfer who hasn't got the exact club for the precise distance needed to reach the green on his/her next shot. The particular golfers involved, Otis and Roberto, are presented in opening paragraphs in a way that makes the reader want to know more about them and be a part of their efforts. Trapped 'between clubs' requires adjustment to achieve a goal...perhaps Ochwat's metaphor for the struggles Otis and Roberto face in their young, uncertain lives. The writing style is flowing, natural and women readers will not be put off by a lot of posturing and testosterone one might otherwise associate with male athletes whose efforts (early on) simply 'skate past the hole' like a wayward three-foot putt. I look forward to learning more about how their lives unfold and the game of golf is Ochwat's perfect venue from which to view a well-written 'slice' of life!

I was supposed to read one of Jordan Sonnenblick's books this summer as he is coming to visit next year. I wasn't too excited at first as I had never heard of him and that usually means a red "X" in my book. But this book is one the best I have read so far this summer. I almost cried several times, like when Jeffy sent Steven that note and when Samantha had died. Jeffery was such a cute and generous brother, yet I still understood how he was annoying. Steven was an engaging character with a ton of wit and sarcasm up his sleeve. I enjoyed how he and Annette got together at the end(but who didn't see that coming?)and liked how Renee (who had a really big ego)became friends with Steven and cared about him. I found the scenes where Steven was suffering and crying the most painful to read, and I began to ponder about life and how lucky we all are. This book really opened a window for me, and I'm thankful for that. I only have one problem,and that is how much the author uses "rents" in his book. I have never heard any kid my age use that in reference to their parents. But I think that Mr. Sonnenblick caputured the speech and actions of the teenager well, so that's a plus, considering how little I can relate to a lot of the teen/real-world fiction books that pervade the market. In all, this book was so enjoyable and so good that I'll probably read all his other books. Well done!

Sorry, I just didn't find this book realistic at all. The author tries very hard, but does not succeed in writing a well written book about childhood cancer.

It is extremely hard to do and the author was very unsuccessful with this book.

Skip it!

As if being a 13-year-old, eighth grade male isn't bad enough, (there's girls to impress, homework to catch up on, drums to practice), try finding out your five-year-old brother has leukemia. It started the morning Steven left his little brother, Jeffrey, on a stool while he made his "moatmeal." Jeffrey fell and the bleeding started. Their mother races out the front door to take Jeffrey to the emergency room with an ice pack on his nose. Steven dreads the lecture he knows he'll get once he's home from school. Instead he's told his mother and brother will be leaving for Philadelphia and tests.

Steven tries to hold it together. But before long, he's feeling invisible, left out, guilty, angry. lonely, helpless, and wondering "what's the point?" His mother is totally wrapped up in caring for Jeffrey, his dad has become a worried zombie, and there's nothing Steven can do to help. Or is there?

For me, the single most important criteria for a gold star book is that it must make me "feel". It must make me reevaluate life as I see it, and wonder if I'm doing all I can to 1)appreciate my own blessings, and 2)make life better for others. This book does that and more. Jordan Sonnenblick gives the reader an honest, gritty look into the life of a family dealing with childhood cancer. He does it with amazing sympathy and humor. My 13-year-old son recommended this book to me. Two of his friends read it as well. If you haven't had the chance to read DRUMS GIRLS & DANGEROUS PIE, I highly recommend it.

This book is about an 8th grade kid trying to deal with life: school, girls, and playing in the band. He is the lead drummer for the all-city band. However, this all changes when his brother gets cancer. His whole life is turned upside-down. now he has to deal with school, girls, band, and a brother with cancer. It is an intriuging book and easy to read. I would reccomend it to someone in middle school or, maybe, in the early years of high school.

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie is a realistic- fiction book where a kid named Steven finds out his little brother has leukemia. On top of that Steven has school, drums, and girls to think about. I gave Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie a rating of 5 out of 5 stars because it was one of the best books i have ever read. It makes you cry and laugh at the same time. I like books were i can not predict the ending and this was definitely one of those books. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is a heartwarming book that left me thinking about the difficulties of having someone with cancer in your family. I mean imagine having cancer or the medical bills that need to be paid. What about the family falling apart? Find out about this and much more in Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.

The Moosepath league series are fast becoming my favorite books after a lifetime of avid reading. The characters are joyfully delightful and woven into a yarn that is amusing, enchanting and at times magical. Take Charles Dickens Pickwickians, add some "Three Men in a Boat" charm, a liberal sprinkling of P.G. Wodehouse's comic situations, a little Jane Austen romance, a dash of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"'s magic; mix well and spread over a 19th century Maine landscape and you'll end up with this wonderful book. You must read it - however many stars I had to give, I'd give them all.

This book is sheer fun. I discovered it in a used book store and am buying the rest of the trilogy immediately. Before I was through with the book, I was looking into a vacation in Maine. Excellent.

Van Reid is an amazing story teller. There are many great stories within the larger story. This book was great, albeit a little slow in places. If you liked it at all, you should continue on to the other two books in the triology which just keep getting better.

Van Reid has a magic way with words. In "Cordelia Underwood" he has created each character (and there are many of them)with wit and insight. His characters understand the importance of kindness and respect. They are also, with a couple necessary exceptions, game for adventure, especially when that concerns helping a friend or rescuing a "damsel in distress" (who turns out pretty good at helping herself). There are stories within stories and intersecting adventures, and I found each a delight. They all fit together into as pleasurable a novel as I have ever read. You won't regret reading this.

Van Reid has crafted a delightfully charming work. CORDELIA UNDERWOOD actually made me, a deep-fried Southern Belle, dream of adventuring in the very New England setting inhabited by the members of the MOOSEPATH LEAGUE. I look forward with great anticipation to reading all the books in the series and sincerely hope that there will be many more escapades to read about in years to come. If you are a fan of Miss Read's English villages, Jan Karon's Mitford, and L.M. Montgomery's ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, then Van Reid's Maine missives are for you!