Adams Books

He has a perfect way of helping sales people seeing selling as a gentle conversation in the world and what they do that scares people and causes them to hide from us. He demonstrates that selling is not a killer sport... it's not about pushing and shoving people

You don't have to have the title of "salesperson" to get a lot out of this book. Anyone who has business development as a part of their job will find the techniques helpful. I'm a woodworker, but I still have to find and win new clients. This book has given me some great ideas that I'm already putting into practice. It also taught me quite a bit about fishing. It's a fast, fun read, but packed with helpful ideas and tips.

Joe DiMisa marries two age-old activities, sales and fishing, to come up with a guide that appeals to every person who makes their living by selling. Mr. DiMisa uses "life" advice from his successful fishing father-in-law to walk the reader through concepts from prospecting to closing. The Captain's Logs are successfully interjected throughout the guide to tie the two topics, sales and fishing together. By the end of the book, the readers wish they all had a Tarpon Willie to guide their boat and guide their lives. In addition, Mr. DiMisa calls on past experiences as a successful sales consultant in side-bars titled "This ain't no fish tale!" These anecdotes and examples are real-life experiences that allow the reader to match the concepts to reality.

Whether the readers are fishermen are not, each person will be able to take away several ideas to propel them in their sales career. Mr. DiMisa's guide should be required reading for companies that survive on sales and customer experience.

The book gives incredible insight into the importance of really understanding your customers and their needs. All managers and their staff should utilize this book as a fun and breakthrough way to better interact with clients.

As a sales director you sometimes can become removed from your front line sales reps. Reading Joe's book forced me to re-examine the traits of an effective sales rep and an in-effective rep. It helped me understand some things I could do in order to break down barriers for my sales staff so they could more easily "catch" new customers. I've made it required reading for my sales managers so that they can use some of Joe's experiences to better their sales staff. I've already seen great results!

Bobby Rice
Advertising Director

Chronicling human progress doesn't get any better than this. History: The Definitive Visual Guide (From The Dawn Of Civilization To The Present Day) does the subject justice. It's not going to replace your history textbooks from school but the visual and textual information presents human history in a light like no other source. It is told from the point of view of evolution and how we, as a species, have advanced physically, mentally, and socially through the years. The story unfolds as we begin as a hunter-gatherer species descended from the great apes to an agrarian society settling down to tame the land to creatures using machines driven by the Industrial Revolution to get more done in less time to a global society driven by knowledge gained from our exploits in space and our access to information via the Internet. It is more than just a volume about the rise and fall of great empires. It is more than just a list of dates or of kings, queens, and presidents. It is our story. It is about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. You'll be surprised to learn that there are histories about every nation today on earth in the back of the book. This is a must-have reference. If you don't already own it, consider buying it today.

I love DK books in general,and this book does not disappoint. The pictures and text compliment each other very well. It was a pleasure to read this well written and beautifully illustrated book. My only complaint is that my first edition book needed some editing. Several dates were off by years, but I found it to be 99% accurate.

This book is an excellent collection of everything and anything in History, from the beginning of civilization to modern day! I love it!!! I can't stop reading it!!! My favorite purchase of the year.

This book is very well organized, well written, and has great pictures to go with the text. The book is more then I expected. Would buy again.

This book is visually stunning, endlessly entertaining and educational, and explores history through every imaginable angle, holding it up to the clear light of academic exploration. You can read it from cover to cover, flip through it for quick, factual insights, or explore some area for specialized focus.

It is so well done, that it will (I guarantee) hold inexhaustable fascination for you and everyone in your household. Where did we come from and where are we going? Find your answers here.

Perfection! I adore it.

This memoir retelling the history of Boston's Warren Tavern is delightful. General Joseph Warren was an independence war hero, and his namesake bar carries stories worth telling. Jim Adams takes us through that history adding personal stories mostly from the 1970's to its eventual sale. Criminals dined with politicians as the tavern evolved into Charlestown's unofficial town hall. Life was not easy. Surviving meant knowing how to deal and who to pay off. The people (read Irish) on your side made all the difference. He's been robbed, bombed, and shot at. Strange locals abound. All are colorful and provide the tapestry for an era of restoration before it became cost prohibitive. Quite a story!

This is not the kind of book that I normally read, but I was intrigued after having the pleasure of meeting the author and hearing him tell some of the stories from the book.

I was not disappointed.

The book was filled with history and stories of the tavern after it's renovations, during a time of change in Charlestown and was both interesting and entertaining in the pictures it painted.

having recently read jim's account of the 5 years i spent working and living over the tavern,i can assure the reader of the accuracy of the many tales spun in this marvelous book. i was personally present when many of these stories unfolded.
jim was a great friend and i loved him dearly. the cast of characters he writes about are numerous and each has their own episode to which the reader will find entertaining.
evnn though it has been over 36 years since the tavern,s rebirth the stories ring true and are a living statement to the fun and merriment
that unfold in this masterful piece.
i strongly recommend this book and know everyone who reads it will be
thrilled with its authenicity.

The Warren Tavern is so beautifully described by Jim Adams that I felt that I was back there again. The memories for those of us who were part of Jim's wonderfully renovated tavern will always be part of the magic he created in dear old Charlesown. Fond memories, great times, good friends and especially Jim himself made this historic tavern unique. He wrote masterfully of an era and a place that many of us will never forget. Jim proved that he had the style as an author as he had as a person (and friend). A great book.

"The Immortal Tavern" is a wonderful book by Jim Adams, a developer bought and renovated the General Warren Tavern, and reopened it as a fine dining establishment.

It is not an architectural design book, but a memoir and a book on the history of Tavern, and the people that make this place great. It includes vivid stories of culture clashes, friendships, politics, and colorful characters.

"The Immortal Tavern" has 206 pages. It is a delightful book that retells the history of Boston's Warren Tavern.

Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

I can remember my school days when if someone asked "how do you spell that?";the teacher would say,"Look it up in the Dictionary." I always had a problem with that.How the heck do you look up a word when you don't know how to spell it in the first place?
If you are like me and enjoy Foxworthy;you'll get a real hoot out of this book.What really amazes me ,is that this gift of language of Jeffs,can actually be committed to print.Although the book is really good,and allows the reader to mull this "talk" over at ease;I still prefer the richness at the the actual live talk. When you listen to this priceless Redneck talk;these words go zinging past like stray bullets at the shooting reage.
I took notice of Brandon Simpson's review posted on July 29,2007 where this obviously sage student of language calls this sort of thing "morphophonemic alterations" .It seems Jeff overlooked this word in his Dictionary----anyone knows it's Redneck for "Mor fur dem hicks, and al' der relatshuns".
Everyone knows that English is a living language and changes with common use;and it don' git more common'r than dis!!

This was a funny book. It certainly isn't worth the price. You can read it in an hour.

For us rednecks this word is way too big. But I can't think of what else to call it. Jeff Foxworthy's three Redneck Dictionaries are full of "morphophonemic alterations."
On the other hand, we don't need to actually know the techincal definition to enjoy them.

Brandon Simpson

My 90+ year old mother loves to read and try to figure word meanings. It is a fun book.

I actually purchased this for my husband. But I'll admit, I just had to see what was so funny. This dictionary is hilarious! No wonder he was laughing out loud in the doctor's office. You know, you are never too old for just some good ole, down to earth redneck ribbing. It has been a long time since I have laughed this hard. I would recommend this to anyone who needs to just let loose and laugh harder than you have ever laughed before. Everybody deserves to just chill out once and a while, have some good ole fun, and laugh!!! Go for it...buy his book. And laugh yourself silly.

I bought this book back when I was graduating from College in 1994 and followed all of its suggestions. It gives you a great framework to follow for success and shows you all the basics. Since that first job, I have been working in the staffing industry, helping people find jobs all day long, and now reccommend this book to everyone I find who is looking for a job. It is worth every penny. Buy this book and squash the competition in your interview. Hint: Most hiring managers have read this book or a similar book (especially the interview questions part), so should you.

I've taught at colleges where graduating students were offered placement services as well as having to interview people myself for a job. The contents of this book are of more value than the entire program at the college. Filled with brilliant ideas for how to organize and prepare your resume as well as how to get an interview and how to answer the interviewer's questions it is a valuable resource for the job seeker.

I especially like the way that the book details how to handle situations where the interviewer asks right up front how much you are expecting to make, or when your years of experience don't match the number they are looking for, or when your education is not at the level they are looking for and similar situations. Things that are an interview killer are covered in detail as well as how to get past them unscathed.

Better than any placement program I've seen, some of the most detailed advice that you will find anywhere, and up to date with modern technology and techniques, this is your best source for competent advice on how to actually get the job you want. Don't send another resume, make another phone call or go to another interview without reading it first.

It's not every day that you run across a book that actually lives up to its reputation. This one does, and more. Martin Yate's Knock `Em Dead series has spawned numerous bestsellers. Here's the original, in an all-new, updated edition. The core of the book is a catalogue of strategies for answering the wide array of questions you could be asked during a job interview. The book also includes plenty of other job-hunting advice. If you don't get the job after following this book's advice, it can't be because you flunked the interview. We from getAbstract recommend this book to all job-hunters and to those who think they may be out looking anytime soon.

I had a different attitude in interviews and meeting with CEO `s during my life.But this book changed my style, made me look different , answered a lot of worrying questions and opened my eyes on so many hidden tactics in winning a job.

I read the book during applying to a job and when I was placed second best I used the last chapters techniques & advise and was ranked first.So I got the job I always dreamt of!!!

Thanks to Martin Yate.

I tried to contact him on line to his address in the book but could not reach him.If you ever reach him send him my regards.

I beleive this book is important to every one who is looking to get a job and to every one who is hiring people.

Abdelfattah Toukan
00962-77883123

I bought my copy in 1995 at a low point in my job hunt -- 10 months looking (I was already employed), a few interviews but no offers yet. I happened to have an interview lined up for the following week and did not want to blow it -- again! I used the information on how to answer common interview questions and was offered the job. I actually wrote the author a thank you letter afterwards. Two years later I was promoted and had to start hiring people. I turned to his book "Hiring the Best" for help and would also recommend that to anyone job hunting to get inside the interviewer's head. Now, I am getting ready to job-hunt again and plan to use "Knock 'Em Dead" once more.

Wow! "Men Head East, Women Turn Right" provides great insight into how men and women cope with change. Plus, it offers guidance and practical steps that each of us can use when facing change. With examples of how others have successfully dealt with change -- as everday as a new bus schedule for a child or as life-altering as retirement or the death of a spouse -- authors Sabra Brock and Joseph Dooley give us all hope that we can successfully transition the changes in our lives as well. The Brock Method for increasing your change skills provides a valuable framework for addressing life's challenges. The practical examples give that framework reality. Friends have asked to borrow my copy. I won't let it go; I'm ordering additional copies to share.

Having read this book, the author has put a great deal of effort in researching many individuals who have experienced several life changes and the way they have coped and responded
to different circumstances.

I was surprised to learn of the different ways men and women handle situations.

I did come across familiar episodes which have proved that many of all react in the same fashion.

I have enjoyed reading this book and have been enlightened by it. It has helped me look at life in a whole new way.

This is a refreshing new view on relationships and helped me look at men and relationships in a differnt way! Men Head East, Women Turn Right takes a look at how the two sexes approach life. The idea that men and women see things in different ways is not new, but the authors present it in a stimulating way. This book helped me look at the men in my life with a more productive framework.

This easy-to-read manual on how differently men and women approach change helped me refresh my life. I now give it to friends who are in the midst of change, and I use it often in my executive coaching practice.

A MUST FOR ANYONE WANTING TO CHANGE THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. Every woman I know puzzles about how men are so hard to predict. Men Head East, Women Turn Right has helped me create new ways to approach the search for finding interesting men... and it's working! I've been giving it out to all of my friends...Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this!!!!

This book has given me a new (to me) hero. Adams was a great man. The book is well written. I had trouble putting it down, couldn't wait to get to the next page. On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 15. If you like history, don't miss this one!

John Quincy Adams is one of only 2 former Presidents of the United States to have held public elective office subsequent to being President (Andrew Johnson served in the Senate after his term as President). In fact, Adams served for 17 years in the US House of Representatives, from 1831 to 1848, representing his home district in Massachusetts. Instead of quietly fading from public life after being ousted after only one term as President by Andrew Jackson, Adams became increasingly popular and polarizing as a champion of the people's right to petition congress and a number of other causes; most related, however tangentially, to the issue of slavery. Wheelan concentrates mainly on Adams's support of the abolitionist cause, although he shows how Adams came slowly to this position and it was not until very late in his life that he considered himself "officially" one of their number.

Wheelan's book gives an overview of Adams's life before Congress in the initial few chapters. These serve mainly to set the stage for the descriptions of Adams's post-Presidential career. Overall the tone is very respectful and supportive of Adams, whom Wheelan obviously regards very highly for his principles. More than once Adams is referred to as a "man of the whole country," a title he personally used to describe himself and a succinct summarization of his political philosophy. Adams's career spanned the decades where the old, 18th century gentlemanly politics gave way to the new, rough-and-tumble "politics of party" that Adams despised. While he was always a member of one political party or another, he frequently took positions that violated his party's official "platform" and often earned the enmity of erstwhile allies.

Wheelan makes extensive use of Adams's personal diary, a journal he kept almost his entire life from the time he was twelve. There were few periods in his life where diary entries were absent or spotty. The picture drawn is of a man who struggled to always do what he felt was right, who honored God and his country, and was all too well aware of his weaknesses and failings. Adams comes across in a very sympathetic light throughout the work.

Wheelan clearly admires Adams for opposing party politics, although he makes no bones about Adams's failure to change with the times that led to Jackson's landslide victory and Adams's ouster as President after only one term. The book gives a very interesting window into a time when "negative campaigning" was vicious and prevalent, something we tend to forget about in our day, thinking negative campaigning is a recent invention. This book shows it's certainly not.

Wheelan also casts the slaveholding states in a very unflattering light. He interprets their politics as nothing but a cynical defense of their "peculiar institution" and shows how they attempted, in his opinion, to trample on the people's constitutional right to petition congress by suppressing open debate in the House on the issue, and suppressing even the acknowledgment of petitions received.

Overall I think this is a book that is respectful to the founders and tries to understand their successes and failures in their proper historical light. Some parts of the book are truly moving, especially the chapter on the death of Adams. At his passing, the last of the first generation of revolutionary heroes was gone, and the link to the founding of the Republic was severed. Nothing more could be said for him than that some of his most inimical enemies in Congress gave moving eulogies at his passing. He is represented as a man who did what he thought was right without personal regard for his own welfare or prestige. Recommended.

This is a highly readable book about an Extraordinary man that most of us know next to nothing about! It is the fascinating story of the post-presidential life of John Quincy Adams. This is a man who fought with all his moral fiber in Congress to abolish slavery, well into old age. He was a lone voice in a large hall. Yet, while living a life doing great deeds for others, he consistently sees himself as a failure. This book is inspirational for anyone needing a perfect example of the power of persistence. Having always been glossed over in history classes, I had no idea that this gem of a man was sitting in our American past. Our children should be learning more about John Quincy Adams in school as a genuine example of Great Character.

Wheelan has written an excellent book on the post-presidential career of John Quincy Adams. Some attention is given to Adams as our nation's sixth president, if merely to conform to other historians' assessments of the Adams presidency, who have mainly considered it a failure. The one problem with books like these is the obvious effort to throw the most favorable light on the author's subject. That being said, I found much to admire in John Quincy Adams and the author makes a good effort in bringing those qualities to light.

As would be shown later in this book, John Quincy Adams would come to represent one of the last vestiges of the founding generation. His father's career needs no mention from me. Any student of the American Revolutionary War period and the early republic will (hopefully) know about John Adams for his influential role. His son became a well-traveled and educated young man who would serve later administrations, perhaps most notably as James Monroe's Secretary of State.

I found it interesting how John Quincy Adams played with political parties; he didn't really follow any party line completely. He was a principled man who seemed to be moved more by his conscience than partisan politics. His ambivalence towards political parties, as the author mentioned, was one of the factors that inhibited his presidency. Adams, as the author mentioned, just could not adapt to the changing political realities. His ascendency to the presidency was certainly controversial enough, being he did not win a plurality of the popular vote and his electoral victory was decided by the Congress.

His post-presidential career was marked by 16 (roughly) years in the House of Representatives. In this capacity he fought for the right to petition, attacked slavery, gave vocal support to women and Native Americans, and opposed the annexation of Texas as a slave state and the resulting events leading to the Mexican-American War. Adams displayed a fearlessness in confronting his opponents in the House with often very little support. He fought a censure motion and won, and he eventually helped overturn the Gag rule, which had limited the right to bring petitions to the House. He became hated by many, seen as a champion by others, but usually won the respect of his colleagues through his forceful intellect and character.

It was during this period that Adams assisted the defense team for the black crewmen of the Amistad, who were trying to regain their freedom after being taken from their homeland illegally to be sold into slavery by Spanish authorities. Eventually, the U.S. courts decided for releasing these Africans and allowing them to return to their homeland.

It wasn't hard after reading this book to come to have a sympathetic view of this man. It is indeed a remarkable story of a remarkable life. Even if this book is overly praiseworthy of its subject, I think John Quincy Adams probably deserves some favorable press. A really good read.

John Quincy Adams was the son of John Adams, the second President of the United States, and a critical Founding Father. The younger John went to Europe with his father as a youth, hobnobbing in the courts of King George III, Empress Catherine II (the Great), and King Louis XVI. As an adult, he served as American ambassador to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom, negotiating the end of the War of 1812, was sent to the US Senate from Massachusetts for one term, and spent eight years as Secretary of State to President James Monroe. Then, in the controversial election of 1824, he was elected the sixth President by the House of Representatives. His tenure was highly flawed, and, after one term, he lost reelection. Thereafter, he spent his remaining years in the House, never having lived up to his potential.

This is Adams' traditional biographical narrative, as Joseph Wheelan sees it, with the emphasis placed on his failed presidency, and his 17 years in the House of Representatives largely an afterthought (albeit one wherein he acquitted himself adequately). Wheelan devotes about sixty pages to his career up until his election to the House of Representatives in 1830, and then spends the remainder of the book on his 17 years ther, ending with his death in 1847 (in the Speaker's office, no less). Wheelan here proposes a different narrative: in Hollywood terms, the failed presidency is the big setback the catalyzes the hero's final triumph. And "hero" is the key word, because Wheelan explicitly states in the introduction that he believes we can take from Adams' example in the 21st century when looking for leaders. Herbert Butterfield would undoubtedly have clucked his tongue at this, but as I've always thought Butterfield was being far too severe in discouraging people from trying to find lessons and heroes in history. I find Wheelan's thesis very attractive. The result is a profile of Adams that focusses on his many positive qualities; it is not a hagiography, as it makes allowance for personality flaws, but these will not have much impact on how the reader sees Adams. Most relate to his presidency, and a lot of that, through this presentation at least, results from Andrew Jackson's bitterness and Adams' own overly-developed sense of fair play in the face of political reality (which most people would think as much a virtue as a flaw).

Wheelan's John Quincy Adams is a tremendously appealing figure: dedicated to being a man "of the whole country" (though he, by the point Wheelan focusses on, has really become a man of "the abolitionist North", because he revels in antagonizing the slaveholding Southern states, not that they didn't deserve it), with a very old-fashioned (in the early 19th century!) view of public service, and a strong devotion to the ideals of the Constitution's framers (he knew most of them, after all). Wheelan singles out his various causes championed during his time in Congress:

1) The First Amendment - through his nearly decade-long campaign to repeal the Southern-backed gag rule in the House that quashed the right to petition the House against slavery.
2) Womens' rights - through his defence of women involving themselves in politics (though he was not so far ahead of his time as to argue for giving them the vote).
3) Science - Adams was a lifelong proponent of the sciences, and of government sponsorship of them, and Wheelan spends some time detailing his role in the creation of the Smithsonian Institute, whcih I was not aware of.
4) The big one, his campaign against slavery. Indeed, he was perhaps the first great political opponent of the Slave Power, a friend and inspiration to future player William Seward (Lincoln's Secretary of State), and astonishingly foresighted in predicting the Civil War decades in advance (and, ultimately, welcoming it as a necessary bloodletting to purge ill from the land).

Adams is remembered today mainly as the son of another president who squeaked into office via a "corrupt bargain" (a fiction of his opponents that Wheelan spends some time arguing against) - Wheelan makes a very persuasive case for his worth as a principled politician. Certainly it makes one wish for eight years of John Quincy Adams over another son of a one-term president we are all too familiar with.

It seems to me that magic is just another form of positive affirmations/prayers/spiritual practice. I enjoyed reading this and still refer to it every now and then.

Just when you think every possible book on Wicca had been published already.Along comes this fine book on Wiccan spells and interpretation.This spellcraft book is ideal for camping sabbaticals and day-hikes in the wilderness.It's not weighty enough for a serious ponderous look.Yet,it can not be dismissed as a feather-weight either.You can't even use it as a 'Pagan Breviary' really.You can use it as quick resource for your heathen inspirations and ideas for Wiccan devotional ritals.Do yourself a favor,and read a copy of this excellent wicca-craft book.Bright Blessings & Blest Be!

I really like this book. I begun reading last week and I'm really interested in the topic. I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to know about white magic and how it works. It provides information about (I think) everything your need to know before making any spell:

C1. The philosophy and Ideology of Wiccan Spellcrafting.
C2. Belief, Intent, and the Magickal world around us.
C3. Creating Sacred Space.
C4. The witch`s Kit: Tools and Symbolism.
C5. Spellcraft Fundamentals.
C6. Types of Magick.

All this before you get to the second part where there are the spells. This is not a bible... is not super-extended about each topic, but delivers enough information for you to understand what you are doing.

I`ve just finished the first part last night. So I still can`t say much about the spells, but as I`ve read some before... I can tell you that are practical, easy to perform and completely natural. That`s what I love about this book, it lets you bring the magic inside and gives you tips for doing your own spells.

If you are new to this, I recommend you buy it. You`ll get a general idea and an easy understanding about magic and wicca.

It's great wiccan manual for spells, solitAary wicca as well as you can
find many useful tips and explanations for starting with wiccan rituals.

I bought this book for my daughter who chosen the wiccan path. She really enjoys it almost as much as I do being a green witch. She said it is great for those who are new to the craft as well as to those who have been practicing it their entire life. I often see her reading this book when I go to visit her, infact she has opened it so much that the cover is wore out!

I am a DBA and wanted to work on building a warehouse for PeopleSoft HRMS along with generating reports for the client. This book really helped me and my team to understand the hr/payroll concepts quickly. If you are a DBA/developer working in Peoplesoft environment, good to have this book in your library.

This is a good book for familiarizing yourself with the reporting capabilities of Peoplesoft, and is also a great reference material. I will recommend it to my friends

This book is a treasure for anyone who needs to get quickly up-to-speed on the PeopleSoft HRMS data architecture and the most common tables against which queries and reports are executed. This alone would make the book invaluable because of the confusing PeopleSoft documentation and the thousands of tables. However, the author goes well beyond by breaking down the most important tables, grouped by function, into attributes and explaining how to create highly useful business reports from them.

In addition to the thorough coverage of the data architecture, the book also provides an excellent compendium of information and tips for using SQR to its fullest potential. Although my main interest is in the tables, I considered material on SQR to be a bonus and learned a great deal from this section.

If you are working with PeopleSoft on either the technical or functional side this book will probably be your most used reference. The author deserves the highest accolades for clear writing, technical knowledge and the ability to distill the essentials into one of the best references and tutorials I've read in a long time.

This was a good book for me because I work with PeopleSoft HR7.5 converting to 8.0, I'm resonsible for the interfaces to payroll and extract data from the PeopleSoft tables for various vendors. This book covers all the important tables and has very good SQL samples. This book does not cover the online or PeopleTools but did very good job covering batch/reporting.

I have been working with Peoplesoft product since last five years,I have seen may books in the market but this is the only book I have seen which has very usefull information which helps the begenners a lot to understand main tables and also gives overview of HRMS functionality.

I strongly recommend this book for Begenners and is useful as a reference book for any one.

This book gives insight into the plight of children who live with domestic abuse, alcholism, and other "hidden" issues. Sometimes it isn't obvious to people what children are living through. Rachel is a perfect example of how children will go to great lengths to protect their families from outside scrutiny. It also gives insight into the feeling of waiting for "the other shoe to drop"! Unless you've lived in a environment with substance abuse and violence, you may not be aware of this feeling and the struggle for the other family members to predict and/or prevent the next outburst. I recommend this book to counselors, teachers, and anyone dealing with children. It is also a great read for children because it may let the other "Rachels" in the world know they are not alone.

This book makes me want to be a teacher just so I can include it in the curriculum. The author handles the deep and sensitive subjects of domestic violence and alcoholism with compassion and care. When I read this book I shed a tear, but it was one of hope. Highly recommended to all ages.

If this is the first in promised series about a group of children from a single classroom, then the series is off to a very strong start. This is not your typical "issue" book, because even though Rachel has a terrible family secret she is hiding, the book is less about the secret, and more about Rachel's ways of dealing with it. The author really captures what it is like to be a kid in a troubled home: if you can find anything else to focus on, you will, and Rachel does, delightfully. The school scenes, with Rachel's very cool teacher, Mr. Juarez, capture the power of a great classroom to help a student through bad times. Rachel's friendships and school projects are every bit as engaging as the more suspenseful family plot line. I found myself wanting to be in her class. The book also deals with an obviously gifted child, and without resorting to the "nerd" stereotypes found in so many books and movies. The book moves at a very fast pace and is over far too soon. I'll be recommending it to my own students!

Thank you Cindy Lovell Oliver! What an incredible book. After reading it, I couldn't wait to share Rachel's story with my class. I'm always looking for books that will help open the lines of communciation about topics that are not measured on a standardized test but are real life. This was it! Several kids in my class related to Rachel's life, and this book helped them realize they were not alone. Cindy Lovell Oliver is a gifted and talented writer whose insight and wisdom have created a story that lends itself perfectly to a myriad of lessons and class discussions. I cannot wait until the sequel comes out! If you are an educator, you owe it to yourself and your class to read about the life of Rachel Mason.

That's what Mark Twain said while he was on that steamer traveling the world~ and these pages...Jimmy Buffet sings it as he follows the equator...and Rachel Mason feels it...deeply...as only a child can...Rachel Mason is good...and she knows how to keep a secret...a terribly painful, embarrassing secret...consequently, she is lonesome...for anyone who has ever loved a child, this penetrating book is one of the most beautiful stories of gentle courage and childlike goodness you will ever read...Cindy Lovell Oliver respectfully addresses dificult themes through the eyes of a wonderful little girl who never deserved her fate...be good and you will be lonesome... be lonesome and you will be free...there's a gift for everyone in Rachel Mason. This book deserves a quiet afternoon and some tea, an easy chair and a footstool...every moment spent with Rachel is a worthy moment...but don't just take my word for it...allow yourself the experience.