Bats Books

Disclaimer: it's been many years since I read this book. But I still recall it as a vividly painted, unpredictable love story/mystery that was very satisfying. I've also read Polar Star and Gorky Park: both wonderful, detailed, rich, as well. But I liked this one more. I concur with the reviews that call some of the plot twists a tad too fantastic, but I was willing to go along for the ride. For one thing, the love story is juicy, naughty, teasing -- delicious. I suppose this is a chick flick of a novel, and yet many of the details were shockingly grotesque and violent. Anyway, give it a try. If it's too slow for you, try an Arkady Renko book instead. Or, just let it sink into you and enjoy it!

Rose is one of the most evocative, beautifully written historical novels I've ever read. Smith picks you up and puts you down in a Victorian-era mining village where you can feel the coal dust in the air, as well as an undercurrent of danger. His descriptions are palpable and very sensuous, and you really crawl into the skin of his protagonist.

I give this five stars despite a major "Say what???" moment during the resolution, alluded to by some other reviewers. Yes, the plot turns in a completely unbelievable direction. It's a testament to Mr. Smith's writing that I still think of this novel as absolutely exquisite. It's the kind of book you find yourself picking up and opening at random every once in a while, just for the pleasure of returning to the world he created.

What a tedious slog through rainy, dim Wigan. Many years ago I had the pleasure of listening to Martin Cruz Smith discuss how Gorky Park, his most recent book, was fertilized by his reading about how faces could be reconstructed from bones and muscles. He liked the idea and wanted to write a book around that thought. He did, and a compelling book and fascinating book was eventually born. I've read several others of his, and enjoyed them all. This one has been on my shelf for a number of years before I dusted it off and plowed in. Oh, how much better if it had remained upright.

I cannot for the life of me understand all the 4 and 5 star reviews. As a sociological study of a coal mining town, it is interesting. I've read many books about this time, and this certainly added to my knowledge. But as a novel...sheesh! I'd guess the spark for this book was Smith's reading of a 19th Century memoir of a pit girl's life. He then researched extensively, and managed to write a story without leaving out any of the innumerable tidbits he learned. Details pile up like a 100 car crash, heaped and splattered in that annoying manner so common in historical novels. No one writing a contemporary tale would include these details, as they would be extraneous, self-evident, and slow the action. But here, in a foreign world, we need to be told just how much reading the author did. And the characters seem mighty modern. No overt anachronisms, but speech and attitudes that sound way too current for the setting. So we learn a lot about 19th Century coal mining, and the lives of miners, but the tale itself gets repeatedly stuck.

Or so I thought. Clearly, many folks believe otherwise. But this started unconvincingly, and never improved.

A complete change of focus from the gritty Arkady Renko mysteries set in Russia, this Martin Cruz Smith novel takes place in Wigam, a mining village in Victorian England. Jonathan Blair, formerly of Wigam but more recently of Africa, has been charged by the local bishop with the task of finding John Maypole, the curate to whom the bishop's daughter Charlotte is engaged. Blair is anxious to return to Africa, a place he'd found so comfortable in comparison to the staid and class-conscious place of his birth, that he'd been accused by others of having "gone native." The bishop will send him back to Africa only if he can find Maypole.

Though the setting and time are completely different from Cruz Smith's more familiar Russian novels, his sense of place and his ability to create vibrant settings, rich with details, are in full play here. The terrible contrasts between the rich landowners and the poor miners and the belief that this is the way God has intended the world to be create a bleak picture of life and a brooding sense of misery throughout the novel. The lives of the women, both rich and poor, examined in detail, are shown to be at least as miserable as those of the men.

As Blair conducts the search for Maypole, the author takes us into the mines, shows us how they are constructed, the dangers they pose, the methods the miners use to avoid methane explosions, the horrific working conditions, the cruelty of the most powerful pit workers toward the weaker, and the acceptance of these conditions by the mine owners, in this case, the bishop. Blair becomes acquainted with a pit boss who "teaches" him a local "game," in which miners wearing nail-studded clogs fight each other in a deadly combination of wrestling and boxing, and he befriends the mysterious Rose, a pit girl who, surprisingly, has books at her place of residence. The fact that she is also the girlfriend of the most powerful pit boss adds to the complexities of the action.

The conditions and motivations of the characters are fully revealed within the brutal social conditions of the day, as the mystery develops. Blair, thought "anonymous," to some extent, because he is not part of any of the social systems in Wigam, learns more than he wants to know about its way of life and its people. (In its gorier details, the reader, too, may learn more than s/he wants to know.) Intensely involving and grimly depicted, and filled with elements of social conscience and even romance, this novel is the equal of the Renko novels with which Cruz Smith readers may be more familiar. n Mary Whipple

Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel (Arkady Renko Novels)
Red Square
Havana Bay
December 6: A Novel

"Rose" is a novel that without question, I would never have seen or heard of without Amazon's listamania system. But as it happened, someone liked this book and listed it and made it sound interesting enough for me to read it.

Blaire is a mining engineer desperate-for person reasons-to get back to the gold coast of Africa, which, although he was born English and raised American is as much his home as anywhere. But with no money and no good reputation he is at the mercy of the Bishop Hannay who will fiancé Blaire's return if-and only if-he will return to the town of Wigan (where he and the Bishop share a birthplace if nothing of the same history) and find Hannay's daughter's missing fiancé, who was the towns curate, John Maypole.

Blaire isn't a happy but he takes the gig, only to find a town of coal blackened and unfriendly miners who seem to have no interest in finding the missing reverend-a sentiment his fiancée Charlotte seems to share. Quickly building enemies with miners and local nobility and at the same time a strange and poignant relationship with Rose, a pit girl who according Maypole's cryptic and coded journal seems to be at the center of the mystery, Blaire finds that the deeper he digs into the mess, the more likely he is to be the one missing.

This isn't the kind of novel I would have gotten into normally but thanks to the recommendation I did read it. While I can't say the first half was especially engaging (I had to keep returning to previous pages to recheck names and facts) the second picked up a bit and the ending was really pretty great. Maybe if I had more familiarity with the author I would have enjoyed it more because there was nothing with the plot, only the execution, which was as dim as the coal dust covered skies above Wigan.

But if you like mysteries this is a good one, even if it is a bit slow.

Three stars.

And if you're looking for something else about coal mining, I suggest A Place Called Freedomby Ken Follett, the first half of which has a lot to do with Scottish coal pits.

This is one of the best books for horse (and pony) crazy girls. My mom read it when she was younger and now I fell in love with it. It's a sweet story and really makes me want to go to pony penning day!

Book was advertised as hard-bound in very good condition. Book received was paperback in poor condition. This was very disappointing, as I intended the book as a gift for a young boy after describing to him that I had known Grandpa Beebe, a central character in the book. I did receive a refund of my payment and the seller chose not to pay for return of the mis-advertised item.

I kinda like Misty of Chincoteage books.They are not the best books ever.It is about a ship carrying ponies that wrecks and the ponies swim to Chincoteage.Awhile later these kids catch the Phantom and her baby Misty.They are ponies.Good book.

In a very real way, this book changed my life. I still remember the exact moment. I was 7 years old and went to a friend's house to play. She was reading when I got there. Reading? That was just something you did when your teacher's made you.... Well, she handed me Misty and from that moment on I was hooked. I have been an avid reader since that book showed me what amazing worlds could be found between the pages of a book.

We got this book for our 7 year old daughter for Christmas. She's a good reader and loves horses. She read this book to herself in three days and loved it! She told us she now knew how to "talk like a horseman!" We can always tell when she loves a book because she gets emotionally wrapped up in the story and tells us all of the drama. This book seemed to make quite an impression on her. I haven't read it myself, but can say that my daughter fell in love with it.

Mary Higgins Clark is a fantasic writer who always manages to capture her readers' attention. The only book of hers which has disappointed me a little, was "The Lottery Winner", which I think was not up to the usual MHC standard.

"Remember me", however, is a thriller which has it all. Fascinating, intricate and believable plot. A wide range of players at the stage. Excellent characterization. Well researched historical background with detailed information about events having taken place three hundred years ago.

Seemingly a psychological thriller with heroine Menley's PSD/madness playing a central part, the pieces of the puzzle are slowly falling into place as the story unfolds. Strange co-incidencies are revealed and reality takes over. The (not so surprising) bad girls and guys are caught and Menley, her husband Adam and daughter Hannah get their life back and a beautiful house in which to enjoy it.

So, even if I suspected "who did it" a bit before the end, that did not keep me from enjoying every word of this page-turner to the full.

Five stars given, the book is highly recommended and the Queen of Suspense given her much deserved due.

A fantastic but very slow plot. Could be much more a pleasant reading if the narrative was faster. Not as good as "Pretend You Don't See Her" or "On the Street Where You Live".

This is my favorite MHC title. This is, in my opinion, her all time best. Set on Cape Cod it is a story of a young woman who fears she's going crazy after the death of her son. The backplot of the house along with the suspense of the current plot is wonderful. The characters are people you would want to meet. Definitely a book to read!

I have read like all of the mary higgins clark books and this one is my all time favorite!! The plot is so well thoughtout and you can't stop reading it. I read it in one night. If your going to read a MHC book then you have to read this one. It is her best. my fAvOrItE book EVER!!!!

From the moment I opened this book, I was hooked. It just did not feel right if I did not read through the entire book. So I spent the entire night reading this book since 1AM. I was captivated by the characters and how the main character, Menley, gets through the horrible experience of losing a child.

Mark Higgins Clark wrote a powerful book. There were times where I was even afraid to get up and go to the bathroom. I was questioning my own self throughout the book. And the portrayal of post-traumatic stress disorder was amazing. I was feeling what Menley was feeling and at times, I wanted to scream with her and cry with her and be angry at the characters in the story with her.

I did figure out the truth behind the story halfway through but that doesn't mean that the ending wasn't a surprise. At the very end of the pages, you'll find quite a nice twist thrown in. I'm not going to ruin it for you. You just got to read it to find out.

If you enjoy mystery books as much as I do, then you will definitely enjoy this one. Plus, this book isn't just about a good mystery.. it's about a failing marriage, love, getting over a loved one, learning to move on, and so much more. It's a beautiful work and all of the characters were also so well-written.

This book deserves some serious recognition.

This book is an example of why Batman is so great. Much like the current Captain America run the story goes on even thought the main character is MIA. The best part of Batman, in my opinion, is the Rogue Gallery. And this epic tale features a majority of the Rogues and most of Batman's allies and is pretty much a who's who of Gotham. One of my favorite Batman tales and highly recommended

I would not pay 18 dollars for this book. The 12 dollar price seems more appropriate especially with free shipping. This book contains 2 different stories in the No Man's Land saga. I preferred the first story over the second but they were both enjoyable. The first story has a lot to do with the Gotham City Police Department which I liked. The second story was very much about Huntress which probably isnt a bad thing for a lot of people. I personally want to be reading about Batman in a Batman trade, not Huntress, so I didnt enjoy it as much. After reading I bought Vol. 2 and plan to see it through to Vol. 5.

This is a great ending to this epic tale. I highly recommend it for any Batman fans. It has a shocker of an ending and things in the Batman universe are changed forever. Great writing and art make for an enjoyable tale even though the changing focus on different characters can be a little distracting.

Great read. I left the comic book scene right after this happened in the comics and was able to catch up easily with this graphic novel!

First of all, I found volume 3 far better then volume 2.
This Volume is worth a read and those missing Nightwing and Robin will be glad to see their return. Also, there is a great story involving poison Ivy and Clayface and even Superman makes an appearance. Very enjoyable.
If you found Volume 2 to lack some of the qualities of Volume 1, as I did, Volume 3 renews faith in where this epic story is going.

I gave it 3 stars simply because at the same time...It didn't blow my mind. Sure there were some great twists to the story,
The new Batgirl and so forth but generally this is still a build up to the
next Volume.

Also, another reason why I took a Star away from this is because this volume does not include Nightwing #35-39 which deal with Nightwing going to BlackGate, It's simply mentioned in this volume but not shown at all.

Hope this helped!

This is a pretty good autobiography. Not a five star in my opinion as a 5 star book review leads to a timeless classic that will be read over and over again. Chuck Yeager is an interesting character one that probably doesn't get his full dues since the age of NASA.

Breakdown Review:
Storyline: 4 out of 5 It would have been good to hear some input from his children what they thought of their old man. I find it out that they had no commentary on the book.

Writing style: 4 out of 5 stars. The book is written well and in such a way as to make the book difficult to put down. Nothing creative or insightful into the writing style.

Depth: 3 out of 5 stars. It is fairly shallow in places.

Entertainment/Education value: 4 out of 5 stars. The writing is extremely biased and opinionated which would not make this a very good book for instructional purposes. If believe what is written there as being accurate, however, it is written in such a way as only to describe the facts from the eyes of Chuck despite the comments from his friends,wife, and co-workers.

This book is mostly entertaining, it may be interesting to compair it with other pilot biographies, but it is definitely more a bestseller than a history book.

Chuck Yeager's book was just fun to read. It is one of the books that I hated to put down once I started reading it.

Many of the reviews have called Chuck Yeager a hero. I believe that he is simple due to what he has accomplished through his military career. From humble beginnings in backwoods America to an enlisted man and then on to be a general. Yeager has shot down enemy planes in combat, been shot down and evaded being captured. He shot down a German jet fighter with a propeller drive fighter. Yeager shot down five enemy aircraft in one mission. He was the first person to break the sound barrier. He has flown most jet aircraft while in their testing phase where many pilots have died. I think that makes him a hero in that he took the risk of death over and over again while serving his country in peace and in war.

I have read a few reviews of the book that are unflattering. Maybe he had a racist background, maybe he didn't like people from India, maybe he was this or that. I never saw that in the book but I guess you can take out of it what you look for. Many great men in history both military and civilian were not perfect humans. Maybe Yeager was one of them but maybe he wasn't. This book is not about the Nobel Peace Prize, it is about a combat veteran and his exploits in the air.

If you are looking for a book an easy to read book of a true American experience that shows a man that faced death over and over while serving his country and lived to tell about it, then Yeager should be on your list.

Yeager: An Autobiography

His book starts with his early life in West Virginia where he learned many activities from his father, grandfather, and teachers that would be important throughout his lifetime. The book then picks up around 1940 when he became involved with military aircraft, with which he was involved until he retired after he became a one-star general and before he became a two-star general when he could no longer fly high-performance aircraft. He became the best pilot in the AF, ready for any eventuality with old or new aircraft. Their were many sections written by his superiors, friends and his wife. He knew many aircraft-oriented people including Bob Hoover, Pancho Barnes, and Jackie Cochran. Chuck and Glennis retired to Grass Vally, California. It took a while for Chuck to adapt but adapt he did.

This is an outstanding book on several levels. It is a compelling presentation of the development of supersonic jets and the race to break the sound barrior. It is also the story of perhaps the best pilot ever to fly a plane and the Alpha of all Alpha males. If you like the movie "The Right Stuff" then you should really enjoy the story behind one of the main story line of that movie.

This is just a great book containing letters from some of this nation's finest people. It's all about WWII heros, not only on the battle field but also on the home front. It's all about a generation that faced the depression and then WWII with bravery, character, and resolve rarely seen.

I was terrifically moved by this recording, and Tom Brokaw was the least of it. The supporting cast really throws themselves into the letters from The Greatest Generation. Nothing is hokey or excessive, but the honest human sentiment is tough to resist.

By contrast, Tom Brokaw sounds like he's phoning in his part of the script. But he has comparatively little to do here. The heavy lifting is done by the professional narrator and actors. A stunner. It's impossible to recommend this edition too highly.

I thought The Greatest Generation was an American treasure and could not recommend it higher. But this book tries to mine more of that gold and not quite as well. The Great Generation told stories by Brokaw. This book is a sampling of letters written based upon reading the Greatest Generation. And while many of the letters are touching, it doesn't read as professionally as the first book and in many cases becomes redundant. A worthwhile read but not nearly as good as the first.

In this follow-up to "The Greatest Generation," the members and children of the generation that came of age during World War II describe their experiences, in their own words. This is a first-hand look at the hardships faced and overcome by these individuals, as well as the impact these experiences had on them and their children. Many of these letters were written during the war, and are invaluable in connecting us to that period. I can't help wondering, though, how our age of e-mail, cell phones and instant messaging will be remembered without a permenant record of letters to speak for us to future generations...

As the daughter of a Korean War Marine veteran, I must say it was the best gift I ever purchased for my father. This book brought light into the eyes of those who lived during this incredible time and who understood the consequences of war. I believe my father felt relieved to read the stories and letters-to see the images and to realize that his experiences as a soldier and a civilian were very similiar. I am so glad our children have a book of reference such as this; especially after the tragedy of 9/11.... it will help them to understand and appreciate the price of freedom and to better understand the stories of their grandparents. Hats off to you Tom Brokaw!

I'm a college student that has read plenty of classic American novels and when a teacher gave Kokoro to the class. I was kinda intrigued but the first 50 pages made me feel like i was wasting my life away and i convinced my friend to read me a couple pages so i wouldn't have to look at it. I read the book in four days and I'm ready to torch it because i could sell it back to the bookstore for $3 but I don't want anyone to suffer like i did.

This is an absolute classic in Japanese literature & full of truth and wisdom. This is a bible.

this book is a classic in japan, how eer i think its kind of dull, I had to read this book for a history class, it gives a good perspective of japan during the 1900's.

A young student befriends an older man in Tokyo. The older one's intellectual abilities, and his sophistication gains him the title of 'Sensei' - roughly approximating 'teacher' or 'master' - from the younger one.

Though he likes him well enough, Sensei does nothing to encourage the young man's growing attachment to him. This only increases the student's interest in Sensei's life, who responds finally to his overtures of friendship and respect thus: 'I do not want your admiration now, because I do not want your insults in the future. I bear with my loneliness now in order to avoid greater loneliness in the years ahead. You see, loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern age, so full of freedom, independence, and our own egotistical selves'.

The novel is structured in three parts. The first two are narrated by the student, and the third is a 'testament' in letter form by Sensei, outlining the story of his life, and explaining why he has for so long withdrawn from the outside world.

Sensei's testament is a profound self-examination and self-criticism, mostly revolving around his selfish and manipulative actions, in his own student days, when he and his friend (a fellow student) were both in love with the same girl (now Sensei's wife). This behaviour leads, in the end, to catastrophic results for his friend. From that period on, though Sensei has appeared outwardly normal and happy, his life has been completely blighted.

What makes the novel such a significant work for Western readers (other than its literary excellence) is the distinctly Japanese point of view it brings to an old story. This new perspective brings up a large number of worrying (because unanswerable) questions. How much, for instance, does Sensei's failure to forgive himself for his earlier mistakes arise from his culture's sense of 'honour', and how much from human nature?

Kokoro translates as 'the heart of things', a perfect title for a book that delicately, subtly and finally disturbingly, probes the mystery that is the core of human life.

By using his experiences living in the late Meiji period of Japan, Natsume Soseki wrote an insightful novel entitled "Kokoro," which was translated in English language by Edwin McClellan. The book is broken into three sections, "Sensei and I," "My Parents and I," and "Sensei and His Testament." The first section reveals the first interaction between the Student and Sensei at the beach, their conversations, and the college graduation of the Student. The second section deals with the life of the Student's home in the countryside of Japan, his father's illness, and the receiving of Sensei's last letter. And the last part of the novel is a letter from Sensei to the Student in which he discusses his dark past and why he decided to meet his end. From reading "Kokoro," one can get an understanding of how modern social transformation influenced Japanese life.

To show as an example: when a person lives through two different eras, it can alter his feelings and his sense of living in the Japanese society. In a sense, the transformation can alter one's sense of identification with his country. In Kokoro, the character Sensei has a lack of identification with Japan in terms of where he fits in the society, which partly leads to his deep loneliness. Since the fall of Tokugawa Japan and the Samurai class, there may have been number of people who refused to change their ways or move on toward the new Japanese society, which was the Meiji era.

But, toward the end of the Meiji period, the new change called the "modern era" was approaching, which created an effect on people who were already born in the Meiji era. As a man filled with guilt, fear, and loneliness, Sensei felt that he should leave the world physically due to the fact that he had no place in the new modern Japan. One example in the novel which best explains loneliness as a result of the modern transformation is when Sensei expressed his insight to the Student: "loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern age, so full of freedom, independence, and our own egotistical selves," which was a comment that made the Student stood speechless and kept silence (p. 30).

The novelist Natsume Soseki wrote an insightful work, with a clear read as translated by Mr. McClellan. With a humble opinion, this book is given as five stars and to be recommended.

This series always satisfies the hunger for revenge that we won't usually execute in real life. This book didn't disappoint. :-)

Love the series, would recommend to start with the first in the series, "Weekend Warriors"

How I missed this one when it came out I have no idea. Thankfully Amazon had it and I received it in excellent condition in a timely manner.

Another Revenge of the Sisterhood series.I've read them all and can hardly wait until April 08 for the next one.
The revenge part on a couple of the series is a little extreme, but all in all they do have a comedic effect on me.
I only wish Amazon.com,where I buy my books would give a
short introduction what the story is about, That way I wouldn't be buying two copies of some of these books. The dust jacket changes somewhat-so naturally one would think this is another of the series. Doesn't have to be very long, just a note who and what is fine with me.

If you are reading the Sisterhood series and have made it to this book, let's face it, you are a fan. This book will not disappoint. The series is entertaining and touches that part of our psyche that likes to see the good guys (or women in this case) triumph. The women of the Sisterhood have been wronged by the justice system. They are not entirely wrapped up in their own problems though, their experiences have made them even more sensitive to the plight of others. With Myra's billions and Charles's expertise and resources, there is seemingly nothing these women can't accomplish. Relax and enjoy the world of the Sisterhood.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I READ THE WHOLE THING! IT WAS WORTH IT AND ENJOYABLE. THE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE OF TEXAS IS PART OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AND CULTURE. ONE CAN NOT UNDERSTAND THE EVOLUTION OF THE UNITED STATES WITHOUT KNOWING THE HISTORY OF TEXAS. MICHENER IS A GREAT HISTORIAN AND CAN TELL A STORY. WHILE READING THE 1300 PAGES I WAS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH THE LITERARY QUALITY.

SEE They Have No Clue: The Ultimate, True Left Behind Story FOR THE CONTINUING AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Although I haven't read Michener's classic, "Hawaii", "Texas" is my unquestioned favorite of Michener's works. Yes, it's formulaic but it's a formula that works. Some of it is so accurate it hurts. The part where the two friends go together on a hunting ranch and wind up enemies is way, way too close to home.

I won't try to synopsize what is a long and fascinating novel but I learned [I think I learned] things I hadn't known before. Did you know that the Texas longhorn became extinct in Texas and had to be reintroduced from some remnant herds in Mexico? No? I didn't either. It might not even be true but if the reader THINKS he was learned something new, he'll probably be interested. Did you know that only the longhorn steer gets really long horns? Me neither. As a matter of fact, it really isn't true but it's a fascinating falsehood.

Hey, Michener, at his best, can really write, twisiting fact and fiction into a tale worth reading. If you like Michener and you LOVE Texas, you can't miss this one.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God" on the Conquest of Mexico

This is a good overview of Texas history. It was written by Michener, so is, as one would expect, very long. It is a slightly different format than others of his novels, though. It flips back and forth between the current day and stories of history. Current day has folks from a representative set of backgrounds. The history story takes each of those people and frames historical tales around their ancestors. At various points the histories of the ancestors intermingle and the current-day folks realize that they are linked with each other.

An enjoyable book but don't bother reading the last two chapters. I don't know what the author was thinking. Maybe he had seen too many episodes of 'Dallas'! Ransom Rusk was a little too 'JRish' for my liking.
Apart from that glitch the rest of the book is a great read. Some of it extremely hard to come to terms with from all sides, Mexican, Anglo/German, Black and Native American. But nevertheless very worthwhile if you have the time to read it.

James A. Michener manages to educate you a little while also creating interesting enough stories around the State of Texas United States of America. He covers the natives, the influence of Mexicans in the area, and more modern issues like the obsessions with oil and gridiron. Pretty interesting book, in general.

Got to be a lot of research in something this long. This is a pretty cool trick to pull enough. I wonder how many library chairs he wore out back then while working on it.

Love the pace of this book. We STARTED the Magic Tree House series with this one, which is odd. It was the one I saw first at the store and they didn't have #1, and after trying the Junie B. Jones books and hating them, I had to get something else. This was recommended by my best friend, a 4th grade teacher. She said the kids love them. So I tried. My girls are 4 and 6, and they LOVED when I read this chapter book to them. Animals, protective brother and sister - it's just cute and easy.

In The Amazon



Will Jack and Annie survive in the Amazon?



In the book Afternoon in the Amazon, Jack and Annie set off on a trip to the Amazon and try to find a rare fruit.

My favorite part of this story is when Peanut helps Jack and Annie get to the tree house.

The author's purpose is to tell kids you can be adventures.

I think that kids who don't like to go outside should not read this book. It is a book filled with adventures. I give this book five stars because I like to go outside.
by:Jordan

Mary Pope Osborne is a brilliant writer. She captivates the audience to whom she writes for in a magical way. Anyone who critizices her is just jealous and wishes that they had thought about writing the Magic Tree House Series themselves. I volunteer at an Elementary School Library in California, and I must say that the most seeked for Series by students is without a doubt the Magic Tree House Series. Mary Pope Osborne is able to charm children of all ages, even those who normally are not really interested in picking up a book. I have to say that I, myself love reading all her books. My grandchildren love the magic within them, and I love how they learn tidbits of information that no child would go out of their way to learn. Furthermore, the introduction to those subjects always inspires them to ask questions and talk about the books that they read. I hope that she continues writing for many years to come. My youngest granddaughter has the entire collection, and we look forward for future books.

Do you like the rain forest? If you do then this is the book for you. It is about a brother named Jack and a sister named Annie.They both travel to the rain forest. It is a really good book. Some parts are funny and some aren't. If you love the rain forest and want to know more read this book . Recommended for people who love suprise endings. Does Jack and Annie survive the rain forest? Read on to find out. Will they be attacked? Read on. You have to read this book. Recommended for second graders and up. By Hayden

These tiny Magic Tree House books
Promote imagination
Reading's better for your kids
Than games on a PlayStation

A tree house filled with many books
That's like a time machine
To travel to another place
Just wish, and choose a scene

This book takes on the Amazon
Upon the mighty river
Snakes and ants and crocodiles
May make your backbone shiver

They have to find a special thing
To take back to Frog Creek
A furry friend helps them to find
The object that they seek

Through the eyes of these young kids
The reader soon discovers
Learning can be lots of fun
Just open those book covers!




Amanda Richards, April 7, 2007