Anne Books

Fourth book in Anne McAllister's captivating New York! New York! series ... all six books in this series are not to be missed! I recommend reading them in order, although each can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel as well. Make room on your keeper shelf for the entire series: Finn's Twins, Fletcher's Baby, Gibson's Girl, Rhys's Redemption, The Inconvenient Bride, and Nathan's Child.

Description from the book back cover:

RHYS WOLFE HAD ONLY ONE RULE: DON'T GET INVOLVED! His demanding job left no time for romance - or love. He'd been there, done that, and he wasn't doing it again. Ever. Rhys was close friends with his gorgeous neighbor, Mariah. But that was all they were - friends. Then they spent the night together. Once. Rhys knew it had been a mistake. Rhys didn't know the half of it! It was bad enough she'd been in love with him for years, now Mariah was expecting his child! Of course she knew he'd been hurt. He'd loved and lost tragically, and Mariah understood his anguish. But their baby needed a father! It wasn't that easy, Rhys thought. But Mariah was determined. She would teach Rhys to love again - though she had less than nine months to try.

Anne McAllister proves once again why she is considered one of the leading romance authors today with her latest novel, Rhys's Redemption. This story features a fiery passion smoldering between two lovers, just waiting to ignite! Half the fun of reading this book is the anticipation of watching and waiting to put out the flames once the two hard-headed leads realize just how much they love one another! McAllister does a wonderful job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seat until the absolute end. I highly recommend this one!

It was nice to see two friends fall in love. It was cute to see how hard Rhys fought it. I've read the stories of the other characters mentioned and enjoyed seeing what's become of them.

I am quickly bored by stories where the lovers meet, argue, fall in love "forever" in a matter of days. Give me a break. I can never figure out why these relationships would last any longer than the ones that went wrong for them before. Guess that's why I like this book where they have known each other for several years and gotten to like each other. I can believe this love.

I've enjoyed every one of this series. Beginning with "Finn's Twins". I'm in the midst of re-reading "Rhys's Redemption" to get myself ready for Dominic's and Sierra's story in "The Inconvenient Bride". Nobody does series any better than Anne McAllister! Witness the many "Cowboy" books. Each one a gem. I always feel that I'm visiting old friends when I read a McAllister.

Go Anne!

After losing his wife and unborn child years ago in a fire, Rhys Wolfe swore never again to forge familiy ties. So when he crosses the lines of friendship by turning to neighbor, and friend, Mariah Kelly for comfort in a dark moment, he is determined to reestablish their friendship in the hopes that nothing has changed. Unfortunately for Rhys, nothing will ever be the same again.

Mariah Kelly has loved her friend Rhys for years and she dares to hope that having their baby inside of her will help him to confront his past and move on. Since she knows a child is the last thing he wants, however, she is fully prepared to care for their child on her own. But she isn't going to give up hope that he'll come to love her, and the child they made together, without a fight.

Anne McAllister has written an emotionally stirring tale of two friends who must deal with the ramifications of a long-developed, and mutual, passion. Rhys begins as a man who is determined to be a distant, even uninvolved, father, Despite his original intent, he can't seem to let go of his concern and affection for Mariah as a friend or his attraction to her as a woman. Mariah is a strongly drawn character who is unafraid to face the prospect of single parenthood even though it is not her method of choice. She loves Rhys but knows she is taking a huge risk by hoping he will come to love her and their child. In a story full of wit, humor, and hope Anne McAllister brings together two friends who eventually come to love the family they have created together.

My five year old daughter who is Chinese/American really enjoyed this book. It was a great for her to find a book about girls that she can relate to. We are looking forward to more books about Ruby Lu.

My eight-year-old daughter and I both love Ruby Lu - she is the funniest character to hit children's literature since Ramona Quimby. Since my daughter is Asian-American, she loves having literary characters that resemble her, so to speak, in their lives. But Ruby Lu is for everyone - so I recommend these books across the board for the 7-9 year old set.

Read this book (and buy it for your kids) because it is well-written, fast-paced, funny and sweet. Ignore any references to multicultural stuff. Ignore people who want to call it an "Asian-American" book. It is first and foremost an addictive read about some hysterical adventures that happen to happen to a Chinese-American 2nd grader. My 6-year old and I whipped through it this afternoon. We couldn't put it down--and when a Kindergartener is entranced by anything for that long, it must be pretty extraordinary. While it introduces some complex themes like immigration and living with the deaf--it is not preachy about them. In kids lives--many things happen that they only partially understand. So in this book, there is no attempt to explain or moralize--which keeps the story from getting bogged down. We just got it from the library today and I'm buying both of Ruby Lu books for my own "Empress of Everything" (and for myself of course, the "Mother of the Empress of Everything"). Many thanks to the author who has written a fabulous book. Please write more soon.

Pick up a copy of "Ruby Lu: Empress of Everything" and turn it over to the back cover. There you will find a blurb by author Megan McDonald that says, "I love Ruby Lu. She's just like an Asian-American Judy Moody!". That's McDonald comparing Lenore Look's character to her own personal creation, and as such I'm sure she's saying this as a very big compliment. As a reader, I feel a little torn by the quote. On the one hand, that line is going to go over very well with parents and grandparents that want to get books for their kids that are at all similar to the ubiquitous Judy Moody. On the other hand, Ruby Lu is so much better a series of books in terms of humor, pathos, and deft writing that I don't like anyone, even an author, equating her with anything less than Ramona. But if it gets `em reading "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything", I'll shut my trap and applaud with the rest. This second installment of the Ruby Lu series is filled with (as mentioned in the author's acknowledgements), "new, and preferably more harrowing, adventures". The lack of children driving cars (shudder) is just a nice plus.

When last we saw Ruby Lu she had just met her new best friend and cousin, Flying Duck, at the airport. Flying Duck and her parents are staying with Ruby's family and the girl just couldn't be happier. Sure, her cousin is still learning the language and she's deaf, but she's also absolutely the coolest kid in school, bar none. This year, however, may turn out to be a difficult one of our heroine. Between getting into fights with former best friend Emma, hiding some very important letters from her teacher, getting into trouble at school, and a myriad of other adventures, Ruby Lu's got a lot on her plate. Fortunately, there's a whole summer ahead of her and she's gonna tackle each and every problem with her usual panache, no matter what.
Let's talk characters. I loved the extent to which Ruby Lu adores her new cousin. Of course, sometimes that love manifests itself in sentences like, "Having a cousin from China who was deaf was just as good as having a cousin who had a third eye in the middle of her forehead". Ah well. But what really sets this book apart from others written in the early chapter category is how honest affection between characters is portrayed in a unique and funny way. When you read something along the lines of, "He loved his sister. He loved everything she made. And he drooled heavily over everything he loved", that right there is dead on good writing. It's conservative in its words, but manages a kind of all-ages-wit just the same. Most importantly, you feel the love between the characters. When Ruby sees her mother and just whispers, "I love you, Mom", and gives her a kiss, that's a real little moment. One that makes the book stronger for its inclusion.

Let's talk humor now. This book is awash in it. There are humorous misunderstandings that might honestly strike a child as logical. For example, Ruby Lu misunderstands the use of eye tests. It is her impression that if you "pass" an eye test, you get the reward of a pair of glasses. As such, she likes to practice eye charts at home, just so she can "pass" them later. Then there's Lenore Look's grasp of how kids put two and two together. At one point Ruby has checked out a video from the library on "Basic Lifesaving", and is trying to figure out why "someone would film a drowning person instead of saving him", as the movie has so clearly done. Again, I'd like to draw your attention to how well Ms. Look is able to convey interesting descriptions and ideas through very simple words. When Ruby finds a stray dog it is said that, "His breath smelled like the end of the world, and his fur looked even worse". Brilliant!

Let's talk illustrations. More specifically, let's talk about one Ms. Anne Wilsdorf's illustrations. Aside and apart from being a resident of Switzerland, Ms. Wilsdorf's images are once again perfect complements to Ruby Lu's tale. What's more, they're funny. Honestly engaging and amusing. There's a shot of Ruby Lu and Emma covered from head to toe in swimming gear (snorkels and all) floating in a pool as their swimming instructor looms above them that's worth the price of admission alone. Wilsdorf doesn't limit herself to mere snapshots of action, of course. For example, when Flying Duck begins a new trend of wearing only pink (and Ruby, in conjunction/imitation, does so in green) there are adjacent diagrams of each girl with descriptive sentences like, "Green glow-in-the-dark-see-you-a-hundred-miles-away sweater".

Finally, let's talk about the little extras this book offers to kids. The multicultural aspect of following the adventures of an American born Chinese girl is nice (joining such other recent publications as "The Jade Dragon" by Caroline Marsden and "The Year of the Dog", by Grace Lin). "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" also teaches kids words like, "moong-cha-cha" which means out-of-focus or confused. There's a "Ruby's Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words" in the back that translates everything from GungGung ("Grandpa on your mother's side") to liver ("One of your guts. Looks like the bottom of a shoe"). After that there is also a passage that shows kids how to do Chinese sign language with helpful illustrations to aid in the motions.

I hereby declare, "Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything" to surpass its predecessor in everything from prose to politics. The fact that there is not a section akin to the one in "Ruby Lu, Brave and True", involving Ruby driving the family car (a sticking point for more than one concerned parent/librarian) only makes it that much more enjoyable. A fine early chapter book and an excellent purchase. I recently recommended it to someone at a wedding I attended and I'll continue to do so for quite some time. Top notch.

In this peppy sequel to Ruby Lu, Brave and True, Ruby helps her deaf cousin from China, Flying Duck, acclimate to the U.S. Readers will relate to Ruby's adventures, although some vocabulary is over the heads of the intended audience.

I love the anecdotes from some of the veterans of improvisational comedy. The almanac itself is scattered throughout the book (seven parts) and outlines what it means to play, or be a player, in an ensemble. This book is a great addition to your reference library if you are a student of the art, or are just interested in this type of comedy, and will definitely increase your appreciation of the art.

Item shipped promptly and in the condition as advertised. Would do business again and highly recommend this seller.

Every 20 years or so a new book comes out that sets itself apart as the definitive book of improvisation. Not since "Truth in Comedy," have I read such a useful and practical guide to improv by some of its greatest leaders. With more specialized authors and obviously more contemporary contributors Libera has written and compiled a work that is sure to be the improv industry standard for at least the next 20 years if not more. It has definitely helped me get more laughs on stage.

Written by a long list of some of the most talented minds in improv comedy, both past and present, The Second City Almanac is a scrapbook of useful and often contradictory information about improv and sketch comedy. Leading new comedic actors through how to start a group, direct, and maximize your improv potential, it is required reading for comedians, actors of all stripes, or anyone interested in live comedy. I found portions written by Tina Fey and Mick Napier to be the most revealing.

A word of warning, though. At times this book can feel disjointed. It's not a bad thing, just a disorienting one.

You can skip around in this book as much as you wish. There are gems of information all through it.

I decided to take a day to just relax and read, and I opened up this novel that a friend recommended just to have a quick peek. Oh my goodness! I literally could not put it down. I don't remember when I have enjoyed reading a book as much as this! It is a fantastic book. The characters are so well developed and interesting, and the subject matter is so apropos to the hectic and stress filled lives most people live today. I relished reading this book so much that I almost didn't want to finish it.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book, especially to anyone who enjoy books by Anita Shreve, Elizabeth Berg, and Anna Quinlan as I have read everything they write, but this book by Sarah Edwards entertained me as much as any of their works, and I hope she writes a sequel, as I want MORE!!!! Pat B.

I am in the process of reading this book, almost finished. It is SO hard to put down. Ms. Edwards has written a wonderful story about the lives of several different characters entertwining and evolving around community. It is very well written. It is full of life lessons we can all relate to and use in our everyday lives. I can't wait to get to the end, but also don't want to get there. It is such an enjoyable ride, and I don't want it to be over. Perhaps a sequel to this novel would be in order! Thank you Ms. Edwards for this incredible work of art! God bless!

This is one of those rare books that's fun to read and that has an important, uplifting message. It is timely, too. It seems that so many of us are now longing for a true sense of community, and that experience is at the heart of Ms. Edwards' story. Her tale illustrates the refining process that doesn't come easily but that is available when we reach out and cross the barriers that reside outside of us AND within us.

I loved this book, and got so involved I didn't want to put it down. Through her characters and their story, Edwards engagingly expresses the angst/ennui/longing of modern day humans in Western culture-and proceeds to share a simple, natural cure. Sitting with the Enemy has stayed with me in many ways and has impacted some of my personal decisions-- the mark of a truly good book, and proof that fiction can have a powerful impact on Life!!

A WONDERFUL NEW ECOPSYCHOLOGY NOVEL!

California ecotherapist Sarah Edwards has completed a wonderful new novel, "SITTING WITH THE ENEMY" that tells an inspiring story of people who have left the consumer-driven rat race and created the kind of community we all long to live in. The novel is published by the Pine Mountain Institute www.pinemountaininstitute.com I've recommended it to all my readers at the Ecotherapy newsletter (http://thoughtoffering.blogs.com/ecotherapy)
Linda Buzzell-Saltzman, International Association for Ecotherapy

This book that is great to give to new families starting out their library. The rythm of this story makes it so fun to read and for the kids to listen to- over and over and over again. Its simple enough for the youngest child to have fun with and fill in the fun sounds, or a life lesson in getting, or not getting, your work done for older kids.

My 7 month old loves this book. His face lights up when he hears the rain "plinka, plinka" and the wind "Wooya, Wooya". He also loves the pictures. I know this will always be one of his favorites.

The talents of the prolific Nancy Van Laan ("In a Circle Long Ago," and many others) and illustrator Yumi Heo ("Sometimes I'm Bombaloo") combine in this cheery retelling of a Brazilian folktale about blackmouth monkeys. The monkeys frolic through the Brazilian rainforest, swinging from vine to vine, and, most importantly, climbing the thorny tall trees:

Still they climb, UP-UP!
And they slide, Down-Down!
They sing, "Jibba-jibba-jabba."
swinging round and round

JUMP, JABBA JABBA,
RUN, JABBA JABBA,
SLIDE, JABBA JABBA,
Tiny monkeys having fun!

But these same trees keep them from having a comfortable home, unlike their neighbors the armadillo and the toucan. The monkeys SAY they're going to build a house, but fun and delicious things (e.g., bananas!) keep them from doing it!

The short rhymes and wonderful animal and nature sounds make this a very fun book to read out loud. The rhythms are musical, and the capitalized sounds (e.g., PLINKA PLINKA, WOOYA WOOYA, GURR-YUH GURR-YUH) are your cue to turn up the narrative volume for your little one. They'll eat it up. Slightly older toddlers may also enjoy the monkeys' priorities of fun and food over practicality. Yumi Heo has an unusual palette: I love the blues in her bubbling river and stormy sky. Her repetition of the playing monkeys nicely complements the repeated sounds of the text, and her flat, "folkish" drawings, filled with repeated designs and iconic imagery, evoke the teeming rainforest. The book was included in "The 3rd Edition of The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children." A simple but superb performance by van Laan and Heo.

Both my three year old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's rhyming verse is fun to read and the pictures are captivating. The actual story of how the carefree monkeys avoid making their night-time nests is light-hearted and amusing. My daughter and I borrowed this entertaining book from our local library. We liked it so well that I intend to buy it for her collection of favorites.

Never mind the review that says this for age 3+. My 14 month old won't go to bed until we've read this at least three times. He's barely talking but he picks up the books and says "Whee!" And his older brother (age 4) chimes in with the "Jibba Jibba Jabba" every time!

This product is pretty good. When I got it, everything was here, and I was very eager to start making things. The book has instructions on how to crochet before learning to knit with the spool. There are tips on how to tie ends together, seal ends (you use nail polish to keep the ends from fraying), and a couple others. Then it shows how to knit with the spool, and has different patterns you can try with the many different colors of string and beads it provides. It doesn't have enough string to make many bracelets with the 4-spoke stitch, which was a disappointment to me. It was very hard to choose which string to use with the certain colors of beads. 8) All in all, it's a (as I've said before) pretty good kit. 8)

I received this book for Christmas, and so far I love it. The instructions are so simple and well laid out, anyone can follow them. This book teaches a very basic crochet stitch and later, you use the spool included with the book to makes any type of jewelery you want to. I recommend this book for teens and crafty 'tweens'. This is also fun on long car trips... trust me, I've tested. :)

My 9-year old daughter absolutely loves this. The instructions were easy enough that she learned to spool knit by herself. She has made beautiful rings, bracelets, and choker necklaces as gifts for friends and family.

Amazon offers this at a great price; I've seen it in several stores for $20. If your daughter enjoys making jewelry, this is one of the best; it's much more fun and challenging than the usual "bead stringing" jewelry crafts.

I think this is a great book, I think it's worth every penny. Although one might become tired with the bead inserts and the struggling to properly handle the spool while at work, I think it's not really the book's fault, so I can't say I've got any complaints about that. As far as the quality and selection criteria for the materials provided along with the book, I think they're rather satisfactory. The book pages themselves are fun to read and look at, from ingenous drawings of every existent step to making each piece to pictures of how the bracelets and rings will look like in the end. Overall, I don't think I have complaints about this instructing book, and i exhort all those interested to buy it.

I love this book because it has easy to follow instructions and it is very interesting.

This book covers pretty much all the stains you are likely to deal with at home.

I bought a copies for my daughters. One has a toddler and the other is expecting a baby soon. I told them they don't think they need this now, but wait.

Great shape and timely arrival.

I have found this book to be a great addition to my laundry room for quick reference. I have given several away as shower gifts, a high school graduation and birthdays. I like the size and the easy reference.

This seems like a great little book and should be very useful for many years. I trust it because it is published by Good Housekeeping whose test labs do a lot of testing and research.

This is a very readable and understandable book about the problems associated with being creative, and how to overcome these blocks and fears. The insights in this book can also be applied to parenting and other relationships. A new approach to psychology and the creative experience. Wonderful!

Artists, writers, and other creative individuals know that our passion tends to bring with it great ups and downs. One day, we are on top of the world. The story, the painting, or the healing flows like we are simply channeling the work. There is no effort, no thinking, and no worrying about the end result.

Then, seemingly for no reason, we get stuck. Just getting to the computer to type is more than we can handle. We find ourselves fixating on a single aspect for hours (or days or even months). At some point, we begin to judge ourselves as lazy and question our talent. Forcing the issue only seems to make the problem worse.

Standing at the Water's Edge is a must have for any creative individual. In her counseling work the author has come to understand that there is a real psychological reason that we choose such creative endeavors. Essentially, we are trying to immerse, engage, or otherwise make connections with other human beings. This is something that we both unconsciously yearn for but are also terribly afraid of achieving. So we start writing completely open and willing to make that connection. Then, we start to analyze: will the reader like this, what will my publisher say, will this book sell as well as my last book, etc. Basically, the fear takes over and disrupts the flow. In knowing this cycle, we can learn ways to keep the creativity flowing, particularly by seeking out relationships that serve our immersion needs in various healthy ways.

Though intended as a tool for professional artists immersing in the creative process, Dr. Paris' book has universal appeal as a profoundly revealing guide to understanding the human condition and teaching all of us how to immerse in healthy relationships with our children, our parents, our partners and others. As a single mother, I only wish that I had been able to read this book 18 years ago when my sons were first born. Dr. Paris puts herself out there, sharing not only her professional therapy experiences with gifted artists but also by exposing her own creative hopes and fears and highly personal dreams.

It has profoundly opened me to a new understanding of my own early childhood relationships (dysfunctional and otherwise) and given me guidance and hope for healthier relationships with my own children. I have always believed that creativity is our soul calling, and that nurturing a child may be our greatest masterpiece though I have made mistakes in the pursuit of both. Dr. Paris' book has given me hope that it is never too late to heal ourselves and our relationships whether that be in pursuit of an artistic endeavor or in the raising up of our children to know boundless joy.

In ten chapters, Anne Paris explores the creative impulse, what may block it, and how to avoid the pitfalls. I admit to skepticism at first, as so many books on this subject fall into the pop psychology category, but the author has navigated these shoals skillfully, offering coping skills, insight, and impetus to readers who strive to create.


Writers, artists, and businesspeople should benefit from this book. As a writer, I found it particularly intriguing, especially the chapter on family dynamics, in which the author explains that roles are often thrust upon us without our knowledge. Paris addresses what can occur when one is viewed as "the baby" (even when we are older). With intriguing insight, she points out that when such a person achieves success, she upsets the applecart because her siblings "could not tolerate her change in position in the unspoken family hierarchy; her siblings could no longer feel better than their sister (an experience they needed to boost their self-esteem)..." When experiencing this situation, some writers even give up their craft, perhaps feeling the price of success is too high to pay. Paris urges, "Take back your dreams of childhood and then reach for them!"


The author acknowledges that the creative process does not have to be a lonely, solitary endeavor, as we have heard so often. Feedback, interaction and encouragement from friends, co-workers, and colleagues are useful and beneficial. Being positively seen by others when we are young is important. But if that is not part of our history, Paris suggests we can turn to "positive fantasies of a perceived audience," thus affirming that imaginary supporters, even ancestors, can bless and enrich our creative endeavors.


As I read, thoughts of my personal experiences surfaced, and I realized that each time before I make a public appearance, I summon a memory of my first poetry reading decades ago at a Women's Voices Writing Workshop in Santa Cruz, California. My audience applauded, whistled, stomped, and sent me home with an empowered feeling that I resurrect each time I get up to read my work. I don't know where any of these women are now, or if they are still writing, but I hold them in my memory as a gathering of compassionate souls whom I summon to bless my efforts when I need them. It was and is one of the principles Paris explores in Standing at the Water's Edge.


Having read Csikszentmilhalyi's Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, I was delighted to see parallels in Paris' content. Flow explores the mental and emotional state in which an artist, if she is fortunate, finds herself in order to bring the creative process to its highest level, a condition the ancient Greeks referred to as Kairos.


At the end of each chapter, readers are offered "Guides" with helpful suggestions. So much of this book spoke directly to me. Multiple quotes sprinkled throughout the book enriched it. In short, Paris' entire theme seems to echo a quote from one of my heroes in the art world, Vincent van Gogh... "I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart."
For people who create or who would like to create, for those who have struggled with fears and blocks, this book is more than helpful. Paris will move you toward understanding yourself as an artist.

by Joan Shaddox Isom
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Standing at Water's Edge by psychologist Anne Paris is an exceptional read for everyone. The author brilliantly examines our fears that prevent our access to our ultimate creative potential. She highlights that our deep connection with self and others is a powerful tool that can encourage inspiration and creativity. Whether you are an artist, musician, author or simply someone who is interested in facilitating your creativity in every day situations, this book is a valuable guide.

Throughout this book, the author offer practical "Guides" that are questions and exercises that shift us beyond what we perceive to be our fears and blocks so that so that realize our potential.

"Standing at the Water's Edge" is well documented with footnotes, a Bibliography, and most helpful Index, so that you may conveniently refer to subjects presented in the book.

Good read and highly recommended.

Katie Davis, Awake Joy: The Essence of Enlightenment

This story had me from the beginning. Of course, who can resist puppies. But even so, a very clever way to introduce Izzy's family through the way they interacted with the new puppies.

Then Izzy is abandoned by her father, and left with a cold, distant mother. At this point she seems almost oblivious to what has happened, yet at the same time she is very independent. It's an interesting mix of strength and immaturity that does well in characterizing adolesence.

I have to admit the blurb sounded a little cliche, but the writing is good enough and the characters interesting enough to keep me reading and wanting to know what will happen next.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this excerpt. The writing is terrific -- ironic, without being detached -- and the story is compelling. Leaves you wanting to read much more.

This is an endearing sentimental story about monumental loss. Izzy Chase has great spunk. She makes your heart get all fuzzy as you wish you could just hold her in your arms and say everything is going to be OK.

The opening scene with the puppy being squashed sets the stage for the impending seperation of Izzy's parents. I like the contrast between Izzy's pain over her parents spilt and the warm, wonderful relationship she has with the other puppies and her friend Jolene.

It was such an original coping mechanism when she started dying everything orange after her Dad leaves. I wonder if she'll ship him his orange clothes. I can't wait to see what other whacky and clever things she does in the wake of her parents spilt. I look forward to reading more of Elliott's endearing family story.

Izzy Chase is my favorite kind of heroine, a tomboy who toughens rather than crumbling in the face of tragedy and loss. We see glimpses of the trusting, happy girl in the young woman who's reinventing herself among performance artists, poets and drag queens in New York, but we mostly see the mask. Anne Elliott's writing has a beautiful compression and specificity, and this touching story is never sentimental or predictable. A writer who needs to be read by all!

Really love the opening scene with the dog. Izzy is very much a sympathetic character, especially as we learn more about her family background. The author's realistic style is highly readable, and we get a real sense of Izzy's thoughts and feelings although the book is written from a third person point of view.

The author's synopsis for what happens later in the book makes me want to read more--there is so much going on! I do feel bad for Izzy, though, for the "romantic disappointment" and "drunken date rapes" (Elliot)...

I really enjoyed this book, and read it in 2 sittings. The author was a courageous young woman and I'm amazed what she accomplished in such a short life. It is written in a pleasant conversational way that I felt like I knew her a bit when I finished.

The one thing I wish it had was a more in depth study of the authors family (Theresa also had a sister who had CF, and died a few years after she did). Her family went on to have a few more children (were her parents aware of the risk?) after her and her sister were diagnosed. I was also curious to how it affected them emotionally, I wish maybe her parents could have touched on this a bit more, just because it was so interesting I would have loved to know more, particularly how her sister struggled as well.

I also recommend Breathing for a Living by Laura Rothenburg, my favorite book.

I think Teresa Mullin achieved her goals in writing this book. It's a truly eye-opening account of what it's like to grow up with a severe chronic illness---how much she had to fight to be able to even be given a chance to do things we all take for granted. I was especially horrified by the account of the sadistic sounding head nurse at her prep school, who seemed to enjoy making her feel out of place. It was sad but telling to read about her delight in very ordinary things like pulling an all-nighter with friends studying and then going very early to Dunkin Donuts---something most of us would not count among life's big events.

I also realized how the emphasis on finding the genes for genetic diseases might distract those who would otherwise work to make everyday life for people with the diseases better. Mullin felt it might have been not that hard to find a way to better fight lung infections and loosen secretions, but so much of the time and money went into finding a cure, and not into finding new treatments. That must be a huge dilemma.

I don't know anyone personally with CF, but I do know quite a few children at my sons' inclusive school that are living with severe chronic conditions, and this book will affect how I see them. I wish the best for Mullin's family. I think her parents should also write a book. They would have much to tell about their life with two children with CF---their younger daughter Susan's story is overshadowed here, naturally, as Teresa was away from home so much, but I would love to know more about her, and about how the parents decided to have more children, and about their work on the behalf of CF. I want to thank them for having this book published.

The book is full of brio, and evinces an emotional maturity that may come only from an early intimacy with one's own mortality. Teresa comes alive again on the pages, with a rare, first-hand account of life with cystic fibrosis that will earn her immortality among her readers.

Teresa's book about her life is excellent. She's a strong-willed, brilliant person who conveys her experiences without a hint of self-pity. She's articulate and honest, and she opened my eyes to the shortcomings of preventative medicine and its neglect of those who are already living with disease. She also reminded me that you can't take a break from fighting injustice. Every day she fought it, through exhaustion and other people's ignorance. Teresa seems to have had a tireless spirit, and I hope this book helps people remember to continue Teresa's fight against medical complacency and the marginalization of chronically ill people.

Teresa's words are filled with insight, purpose, and pure honesty. The Stones Applaud offers the healthy an eye-opening account of life as we've constructed it, and offers the chronically-ill a champion for their cause. Highly recommended.