Blake Books

The fates of those who sacrificed during the 60s to make America a more perfect union were varied; Some were cut down by assassins. Others re-defined the struggle by securing historic victories at the ballot box. Most simply returned to anonymity, choosing to bear the scars of battle in silence.
While many of these heroes remain unsung, the legacies of the more prominent among them have been well-documented in mainstream media outlets dutifully marking civil rights anniversaries as a way of gauging how far we've come since then. In some cases, these stories have now been re-told so often they seem dated and stale.
But John Blake's compelling new book, "Children of the Movement" traces those human blood lines forward and breathes life into these intimate -- but largely unknown-- family portraits. His interviews with the sons and daughters of those who fought for America's soul are at once inspiring, depressing, universal and utterly unpredictable.
Blake's sparing but effective writing frames each vignette, putting them in context without overwhelming you with tons of historical detail that might have detracted from the narrative. His book is not only a pleasure to read, but also informative, captivating and timely.
Most of all, "Children of the Movement" reminds us that while the struggle for civil rights has changed much in a generation, it is still far from over.

This is really one of the most fascinating books to deal with the civil rights movement in recent years. The author does not rehash old ground, but instead strikes out to see what happened to the next generation born of the activists, heroes, martyrs--and even the repulsive racists--of the 1960s. The older generation that we all know in another context turn out to have been parents ranging in quality from wonderful to awful--and those who knew them 40 years ago may sometimes nod their heads knowingly and say "Told you so!" It adds a human element to our knowledge of that great movement that shaped modern America and inspired the world.
I should add that I took this book with me on two hurricane evacuations this year (you can see that I am from Florida, The Hurricane State), and I could not have wanted for a better literary companion. I recommend it highly.
It does not pretend to tell the whole story of the civil rights movement--but it does tell an aspect of it that no one before John Blake has put between hard covers. No library dealing with that era is complete without this book.

As a child born in the late 70's, I've often felt, in some sense, that the Movement was something in the "past tense"...something that was really (according to History Books) only associated with MLK and other "icons".

After reading Children of the Movement, I realize I was reading the gaps of my childhood history books. I was also hearing the story told from the children...the youth of the 50s/60s...the ones that essentially "gave up" their fathers and mothers for the cause.

Wow...what sacrifice...John Blake makes you look at MORE than the leaders we often hear about, but forces the reader to face how the movement affected children of the time and how the pain and loss weighs on all of us today.

The only way to ensure this perspective is HEARD is to recommend this book to an educator you know...a History professor, a Social Studies teacher...someone who can truly ensure that children today absorb this rich perspective...

This book should be required reading for anyone from the age of 10 to 100, but particularly for those members of the last several generations who may take certain freedoms and rights for granted. For anyone who may be only slightly familiar with the struggles, sacrifices, pains and scars of those who fought for civil rights in America, Blake's book is a vital history lesson, presented in fascinating narratives that captures the reader's attention from beginning to end.
By focusing on the children of the movement, Blake gives a fresh and often unpredictable view of the civil rights movement. The extensive use of photographs was an important compliment to each and every chapter.

John Blake's book, "Children of the Movement," provides a powerful, if painful, glimpse into the heart and soul of the Freedom Movement of the Sixties, as, an insightful portrait of its legacy, through the lens of some of its children--one of whom is my own daughter, Ericka Abram. Blake's tenderly-written report reveals many common themes in the perspectives and lives of these offspring, the most compelling for me being that Movement parents seemed to have been so committed to our cause and protecting our children from the social ills we fought, we forgot to tell them what and why we were fighting. The resulting common disconnection between parents and children is more broadly reflected in the confusion and despair of today, in dealing with unrelenting racism and poverty and oppression, that stand in the stead of the clarity of purpose and commitment of the past. Blake's book opens the door to a healthy discussion toward healing familial wounds and easing generational divisions so as to bring us together in a new effort to finally find freedom in America.

I came across this book in the Spirit of 76' bookstore in Marblehead, MA. It is an enjoyable book of poems filled with various reflections and the history of New England. It is a light read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys poetry.

This book is filled with heart-warming poems. My daughter loved "A Marker by the Side of the Highway". I loved "Grown Up" and "Reflections". They brings me back to my childhood. Each poem has meaningful insight and you can relate to all the poems written in this book. It is a must read.

I just finished Down East time and again. It's a wonderful book filled with moving poems. It's a quick read in words, but had me thinking for hours. A creative collection of works like this is a rare find. The attention to detail through description is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and look forward to reading Dawes next work.

I just read Down East Time and Again and loved it! Reflections was my favorite. Seldom do you find a book of poetry that gives you so much sentiment and history all in one! I can't wait to share this book with everyone and to use in my book club--something for everyone to love!

This collection of Dawe's poems should not be missed by school or history buffs. The inspirational, regional and historical themes include; The Lighthouse, 1776, Seagull, Fisherman of Gloucester, The Frigate, and the Marathoner. Many of the poems and Hughes's pictures have been available as framed prints since 1776. I have seen the prints advertised in newspapers and magazines and am delighted to see all of these collected with their illustrations in this little book.

I have always been a spy movie fan. It's pretty hard growing up in the United States in the 1960's and NOT be one. I have always been been a fan of James Bond, The Saint, The Prisoner, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and especially The Avengers! But growing up in small town America, I had no idea there was a whole different spy genre going on... this one in Europe! I had hints of it over the years... I would pick up a 16mm film here of a French film called "OSS-117" here, a VHS of a Italian film "Danger: Diabolik" there, but that was it.
Then I was recently introduced to the world of the "Eurospy". It turns out each European Country had at least one major secret agent film series of their own, whether it was the French "OSS 117", the German "Kommasar X", the Italian's "Dick Malloy, C.I.A. Agent 077" just to name three. I suddenly found myself in a world of new Spy Film to watch and many Graymarket and Public Domain DVD titles to choose from. What to pick?
Here is a great answer! Matt Blake's and David Deal's "Eurospy Guide" is a wonderful reference book that lists and reviews these films. Even Limiting itself to the 1960's (When the whole Bond fad hit it's peak with the film "Thunderball") you'll find this book lists hundreds of films, sorted by their English-language titles (and how quick you'll discover how these of these films had multiple titles!). You'll also find Appendices listing Film Series, Biographies of Lead Actors and lots more! I keep my copy next to my computer at home, so when I find myself sorting through Ebay or even Amazon listings, I have a immediate reference to give me a sense of whether I should pursue that bid or not.
I've discovered I've been missing out on some great, (though low-budget),imaginative fun and with this book, I find I don't have to choose films blindly! Thank, guys!

Here it is, one of the most complete guides to Eurospy movies available anywhere! This guide is a must-have for fans of the genre and anyone who is interested in learning more about these delightful, if not occasionally silly movies. The authors of this guide really know their stuff and it is packed full of reviews, the low-down on the cast and crew of each film, and plenty of movie posters and other artwork too. It's all here, so enjoy "the exploits of suave secret agents, glamorous femmes fatales and increasingly demented villains" for yourself.

We were so young. This is a Boomer Book, reminding us of Bond and Helm and now, if we didn't know, our brothers (and sisters) across the pond. My 15-year-old son laughs at "Austin Powers" and now I can show him where the whole damn thing came from.

It doesn't matter if you're a fan. The reviews are quirky, enlightening, funny, and laced with references to what we remember even if we've let it slip a little. This is less a reference book than an overview of a difficult time when some really goofy things happened on film, some of them awful, some less so, some pretty magnificent. Even if you never rent or buy any of these films, you'll get hours of enjoyment from just reading about what it was. This is one for the library, or maybe the bedroom, or possibly the bathroom. The places you read.

I found the reviews very entertaining, with spicy language but dry humor. Even the movies that got dud reviews were fun to read about.

We Europeans have produced many excellent B-movies, which seem to be unfortunately not so well known in the USA. They are the source of hours of fun and pleasure if you do not take them too serious. Matt Blake and David Deal have written an excellent book about the european spy-movies (without the 007-James Bond Films, which are covered in many other books). The encyclopedia is very complete and covers also the films with spys like Jerry Cotton, Agent 3S3, Lemmy Caution, OSS 117, 077, Harry Palmer and many others. Definitively a brilliant reference-book for the serious filmbook- or moviecollector !
other books about the same genre:
"spies & sleuth" from Cinebooks
"the great spy pictures" Vol. 1 + 2 from James Robert Parish
"les faux espions" from John Carnaby
"George Nader und seine Filme" from Dirk Brüderle

As someone who had never taken even a token psychology lesson before, I found this book very easy to digest. The author frequently gives real-life examples of what he is talking about, making it much easier to follow along with the sheer amount of jargon that the field employs. The modules are fairly short, making for reading sessions that don't leave you with a headache. Myers has a sense of humor as well, working jokes into the texts as well as including popular comic strips that illustrate what he's talking about.

This book is designed to be easy to read, and is really really interesting. If you're looking to expand your knowledge, i would suggest it. It's a real quick read.

This book does a great job of giving you information that you can relate to or apply to what you see in every day life. So far I've really enjoyed it.

For the beginning psychology student, or for someone who just wants to learn some of the basics, this is a good book.
I used to for a class and it is quite informative.

It teaches many of the psych terms and gives examples of how the ideas apply to real life. It also gets a little into the biological things having to do with psychology, but not real deep.
A few entertaining things are in there as well, like small comic strips to demonstrate their points in a humorous way.

It seems that many other books in psychology do not offer information in such a broad and defined view to the wide content that creates Psychology as a science. I would recommend this book to someone instead of the For Dummies or Complete Idiots Guide series. The logic behind many concepts are shown in cartoons, pictures, and presentations. I would say this book, in many aspects, is descriptive.

This book includes the following:

- Diseases and disorders

- Cognitive science (learning, developmental stages, etc.)

- neuroscience/neurophysiology (schizo mind, neural connections)

- Psychophysics, which describe how the human body interprets information through their senses.
(THIS IS NOT IN A LOT OF PSYCHOLOGY BOOKS, VERY NECESSARY TO LEARN)

- Psychobiology and evolutionary genetics

A Walk Through LifeThe Guv'nor is a great autobiography about a tough man who comes from the East end of London and gives you some good insight into the underworld of unlicensed boxing. One of the stories inside is how Lenny Mclean was flown to new york to fight the mafias top man, he beat him in the less than three minutes! if you like your tough men like Kimbo Slice, Mike Tyson and many others this book is for you to read!.

I always wondered who played the role of "John the Baptist" in the movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The name Lenny Mclean kept popping up in books on British gangsters. He is Lenny McLean. A man who grew up tough under hard circumstances. Showing a talent for fighting, he starts doing enforcer and door man work for the local mobs. Later, he fights for money. Totally fearless, he takes on all comers "I'll even fight King Kong," he states. "And I'll beat the hairy b....ard!" Some of his exploits and boldness had me laughing. Like when a group of tough guys approached him at a bar that he was managing and asked for his job. After soundly beating the lot, he tosses them out of the club. There is another incident where he beats up an opponent before getting into the ring.

There is no bragging or nonsense in this well-written biography. It is an honest, straight-forward story about one hard guy.

Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening

one of the best books i have ever read

a must buy

What an amazing book. The story of a kid, horribly beaten by his step father, who grows into the hardest bare knuckle boxer in the world. But what makes the story so great is McLean's ethic's and moral's. He clearly draws a line in the sand and if crossed there's trouble. Not just a hard man but a real character. This is a great read.

If you ever saw the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels , you probably noticed the mob enforcer character, "Barry the Baptist", who "baptized" his victims in trash-bins filled with water. While reading an article about the movie, a mention was made of the real mobsters and hard-edged sorts that were used in bit parts. One such role was played by Lenny McLean, who portrayed Barry, and was called out as "in real life, the hardest man in England".

As an American fight fan, I'd never heard of Lenny McLean. So I did a bit of Internet research and happened upon his autobiography -- this book -- over at Amazon.co.uk. I bundled it with a few other UK-only purchases (at the time, certain AJ Quinnell books were only available there, too) and received it days later. It was a captivating, compelling read -- the working-class, Cockney nomenclature notwithstanding -- that details McLean's rise from an abused child to the top of England's unlicensed fight game.

An unlicensed fight can take place anywhere: a warehouse, tavern, gym... wherever there's enough room for two willing fighters and a plethora of bettors. The rules? Let's just say there aren't many. Head butts, hair-pulling, elbows, knees, and the like are all part of the game. One might consider UK's unlicensed fights as the logical ancestor to today's UFC or mixed martial arts.

Over time, McLean proved himself the most dangerous man in the fight game. He participated in thousands of these no-holds-barred bouts, and it can be argued he lost only once. And in a rematch of that fight, he handily won. McLean doesn't shy away from describing his experiences on the seamy side of things. He details his role as a real-life mob enforcer willing to do anything -- except kill -- to collect or intimidate. Even his tangles with the law -- including a murder charge for which he was found innocent -- are fully described in colloquial, yet entirely satisfying, prose.

The book's ending is filled with promise for a new life as an actor: McLean appeared in several TV and film roles. But during the filming of LS&2SB, McLean was stricken by a bout with the flu. Subsequent testing showed that he was suffering from advanced lung and brain cancer and he passed away in July 1998, just days before the release of the film. The book is a fascinating testament to a hard man who lived a hard life, but was equally dedicated to his family and destined for great things no matter the odds.

I was recently in London to hear Dr. Diamond speak and was astonished at the literary intelligence of the English. They really loved this book! I think it's such an important work, and wish that every student of literature could look at the classics in the way Dr. Diamond looks at them- for their life energy raising properties.

Blake is always beautiful, and more profoundly so in the style Diamond has laid his words out.

I have always loves Blake - in particular the facsimile editions with Blake's watercolor designs bordering the beautiful copper-plate text, but nowhere have I been struck by the power of his writing to the extent that I have by this volume. The layout that Dr. Diamond has chosen adds immeasurably to the force of Blake's words. The imagery in these passages leaps off the page, and the reader is given a compelling sense of the creative visions that must have inspired Blake to write.

This is a wonderful collection of Blake's later poems is specifically edited to enhance their therapeutic power and comprehensibility. This anthology, more than any other I have come across, helps to make these obscure works accessible; and the layout and punctuation has deepened my experience of them.

What a wonderful book! I highly recommend it as an introduction to Blake. I had read his "Songs of Innocence and Experience," but I did not know his prophetic writings were so powerful. I also enjoyed the humor found in extracts from Blake's letters and other writings. Phrases from the poems come back during my quiet moments, inspiring me with their beauty, imagination and fire. Dr. John Diamond has done a beautiful job in selecting and laying out the passages. His introduction is also stimulating and insightful. In addition, the book is well produced -- it is put together with friendliness and care. (And the cover is exquisite -- worth the price by itself!)

I love this book. I keep it by my armchair and open it when there's a quiet moment. And when I do, the power of Blake comes to me and helps me throughout my day. Only Blake speaks with such passion and strength, and his poetry is presented here unadulterated by titles, footnotes or page the poetry in landscape format so that Blake's long lines need not be broken. Whatever your previous experience of poetry, this book will enhance your life in a way that only such a distillation of Blake could achieve

I recommend that any fan of William Blake buy this volume and the other 5 in the series. The books are beautiful, large, and handsomely bound. Each book is reproduced in full color, using a six-color printing process rather than the standard four. The pages are heavy, opaque and have a gorgous lustre indicating very high quality paper. The text of each book accompanies the color reproductions in standard typeface with very competent commentary to boot.

I am drawn to this work. When the British Museum at Yale held a special Blake exhibition my family and I were lucky enough to attend and see all 100 plates of this book on display. They were breathtaking. This edition is a very fine reproduction and deserves the highest praise. It isn't the real thing, but amazingly close for the price. It is so good that it rewards study with a magnifying glass. Obviously, the real gold Blake put into the original (at what must have been staggering expense for a man that was so poor there were times he couldn't afford food) doesn't duplicate its brilliant sheen, but this is pretty good.

Not only are there the 100 plates of copy E (the one in the Mellon collection in the British Museum at Yale), there are some sample plates from other version and all of the text in printed form with commentary.

This is an incredible work that is bewildering in scope in a joy to lose yourself in. Extremely recommended if you love Blake at all.

Jerusalem is Blake's monumental final work, 100 densely filled large plates/pages. It also seems the most Blakean (it begins with a friendly address to the reader that has had all the friendly words gouged out); not surprisingly, Blake produced only one color copy (reproduced here), which he never sold. The book overwehlms, presenting essentially all of Blake's very complicated questions about authenticity and creation through particularly abstract mythology. It is therefore a good idea to have some experience with Blake's earlier books before attempting J. The text does not exist without Blake's awesome illustrations/illuminations. While this edition is excellent, I give it only four stars because 1. the transcription of the plates does not occur on opposite pages, but rather in a separate section, and 2. the editorial assistence is scarce, and when present, oblique. These faults are noticable mainly in relation to other outstanding titles in the Blake Trust series (published later), and are hardly fatal. You're unlikely to find a better edition.

This is one of the most truly incredible books I have ever read. Every page is gorgeous.

It is a "modern" retelling of Revelations through the eyes of Blake using characters and a world essentially created by Blake himself. For instance, the Holy Land is now England.

You'll want to study the accompanying notes for each plate. For as you're reading the story, you're also researching how it came about, why certain characters act the way they do, and what the images on each plate represent. I was wondering why it was taking so long to complete the book, then i realized I was taking 5-10 minutes per page. First, reading it. Then examining the plate's art. Then reading the text's notes. And finally, reading the author's notes.

The way the book was put together is perfect for modern presentation. I haven't seen any of the older copies of this story, but I can't see how much better they could have done. It has a special spot on my bookshelf, unparalleled.

I recommend that any fan of William Blake buy this volume and the other 5 in the series. The books are beautiful, large, and handsomely bound. Each book is reproduced in full color, using a six-color printing process rather than the standard four. The pages are heavy, opaque and have a gorgous lustre indicating very high quality paper. The text of each book accompanies the color reproductions in standard typeface with very competent commentary to boot.

Gumprecht's _Los Angeles River_ is a well-written history of the Los Angeles River, from Native American and Spanish/Mexican pueblo days to the present.

Looking at the concrete-lined flood control channel that the LA River has become, it is hard to believe that the LA River once was the main water supply for the City of Los Angeles. As the city grew, though, its water needs outpaced what the river could supply. An alternate source (which turned out to be the infamous Aqueduct), was eventually developed. With all the Owens Valley water coming into the city, the river became simply a dumping ground for wastewater and other undesirable things.

The LA River, more or less also determined the expansion of the city. Since farmers in the San Fernando Valley had no rights to the LA River water (it all belonged to the city), eventually, the San Fernando Valley had to join the City of Los Angeles to access any water.

The river was also known for flooding and changing its course unpredictably. These floods became more and more of a concern as areas near the river developed, first with agriculture, later with residences. After a particularly devastating flood in 1934, officials called on the Army Corps of Engineers to help with flood control. This led to the concrete channelization of the river.

After that, no one thought much of the river. Occasionally, the concrete channel inspired uses such as movie shoots and vehicular uses. It looked so much like a road, that several people proposed making the riverbed into a freeway.

Meanwhile, the river was starting to get some attention. Lewis McAdams founded the Friends of the La River, which is trying to get the river restored to its natural state. They have run into opposition by the Army Corps of Engineers, and other parties concerned about flood control issues. The future of the river becoming more than it is now (a paved channel with a trickle of water in it most of the time) remains in question.

The book started its life as a masters' thesis, but the prose is accessible, not overly academic. Recommended for anyone interested in the history of Los Angeles.

I first saw the Los Angeles River in TV shows and movies like Terminator 2 and have ever since been interested in learning more about this strange, concrete encased urban waterway. Blake Gumprecht's book does a great job of providing the history of the Los Angeles River from its pristine condition two centuries ago into the modern era as a "Freeway for Water" in the book "The Los Angeles River."

The author balances his coverage of the river and fairly represents both sides of the struggle to restore it back to a more natural appearance versus the need to provide flood control protection with concrete fortifications.

The book is extremely well researched and documented. Extensive maps and photos shed light on the topic and make the historical changes easier to follow.

My only wish is that a future edition will include color photos.

If you've ever wondered why Los Angeles is in the middle of a desert (hint: it wasn't always), what the river looked like before there was a city, and why the river was buried in concrete, this is the book. An excellent description of the origins of the river and the city, with insights into the modern revitalization movement.

Among the things I learned:
--The river starts in the San Fernando Valley, but the city of Los Angeles has claimed the water as its own since at least 1810, a claim eventually known as the Pueblo Water Right.
--Not all of those concrete beds in L.A. are technically the L.A. river, which starts along the south edge of the San Fernando Valley, dodges a number of movie studios, and makes a right turn through downtown before heading for the Pacific. The others are creeks and washes that feed (fed) the river.
--The area's light rainfall was sufficient to keep the river flowing year-round until suburbia took over. Concrete and asphalt reduced the water that soaked into the ground to be released slowly into the river. Now, the primary source of flowing river water is the what's been reclaimed from sewage treatment plants.

Worth the read for all Angelenos or anyone who is interested in Los Angeles.

Reading this book was an assignement for a geography course I was taking in college. My first thoughts were "A book on the L.A. River? How can they write an entire book on a river that flows a couple of days per year?" My indifference to the subject was quickly dismissed after the first few pages. This book is very insightful! It gives a detailed history on L.A., from it's foundation as a tiny pueblo to the sprawling metropolis it is today, with the river & water in Southern California being the central themes. I always wondered why L.A. was built in the area it's in & Mr. Gumprecht answers that in fine detail along with many other interesting facts regarding the annexation of neighboring cities, water rights, deadly floods and ultimately the concrete channel built to contain this unpredictable river.
Whoever is interested in the histroy of this region will no doubt greatly enjoy this superb book!

This fascinating book is packed with information about the history of Los Angeles. Not many present-day Angelenos would know that the location for the city was chosen because of the once-abundant flow of the Rio de Porciuncula, or Los Angeles River. Blake Gumprecht pulls an amazing feat in researching the River's many incarnations alongside the history of the growth of Los Angeles. In addition to providing detailed reports of the River's former courses, and devastating accounts of some of the River's infamous catastrophic floods, Mr. Gumprecht explains the River's role in shaping the course of Los Angeles city politics in greater detail than any previous study.

Once an ample stream that sustained all of the city's water needs for over 100 years, the Los Angeles River was then pumped dry, smothered in concrete, and almost pushed out of the city's consciousness. Incredible photographs appear throughout the book; many of these photos will make nature-loving Angelenos yearn for the Los Angeles River of yesteryear, with its bubbling, meandering stream, and its banks lined with willows and sycamores.

Long before you approach the end of this book, you realize that, in an over-zealous attempt to control flooding, the Los Angeles River was essentially raped, depleted, and buried. The fact that, at present, most of its 51 miles are cement is a shame -- especially in a city with so little park space. Amazingly, the River still provides up to 15% of L.A.'s drinking water, albeit from subterannean pumps that tap the River's flow before it ever reaches the surface. And millions of gallons of River water were diverted to the Silver Lake reservoir.

People who never knew that there was a Los Angeles River should go see the few surviving River greenbelts in the Glendale Narrows and the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area to appreciate our city's River as it used to be.

P.S. - I encourage other Los Angeles River buffs to look at Kevin Roderick's book "San Fernando Valley: America's Suburb" to see other beautiful pictures of the River in its natural state, before the concrete obscured it.

This is a tale about a family, love and compassion, facing the fragile nature of life we all share. It is a story of addiction, the monster heroin, the battle for a life. And it is the story that we all know, if we dare to read our own lives at the depths.

This is a fine book, well-written and heartfelt. The death of a young adult child, according to Darwin (who experienced this) is the hardest of all life's hard things. Worried parents of troubled children will have to ante up some gumption to read it. Non-Jews will envy the Waxlers' faith in their tradition, which seems to come from the inside, unmediated by a pastor's instructions or by the stiff martini resorted to by lonesome predestinarians. English majors and professors will be reminded of the deeply moral underpinnings of their vocations. People without children, once visiting this terrible story, will understand their friends with children better than they may understand themselves. Parents will see their children as never before, vulnerable in a hard world, today in an unnecessarily hardnosed American version of it. For parents who have lost a child, this book and the strength of this family may offer consolation-but the Waxlers advise never to give advice to people in this terrible position.

Soul-wrenching and life-changing. Robert and Linda Waxler, with their incredible faith and love for their son, find a way to articulate what it means to be a parent. Through their loss and subsequent struggle to survive it, Robert Waxler beautifully and powerfully gives us a much greater awareness and consciousness of our own love and committment to our children. This book also drills home the absolutely terrifying reality that everyone's children are vulnerable to the dangers of drugs. I knew Jonathan personally and went to school with him throughout high school. He was an intelligent, witty and extremely nice guy. He was one of those people that everyone liked and assumed would be a success in life. The face of a potential addict is every child - not just those who had a hard childhood or who were unloved. Jonathan was loved and the Waxler's ability to give us the gift of his and their story is possible because of the power of that love. Read it and become a better person and parent.

This is a beautiful, heart-felt story about family tragedy and love. It is a story that should remind everyone that the stereotypes we have about drug addiction and parental grief are wrong and too simple. It shows the complexity of human experience and gets us to face our own mortality.It is a story that could happen to anyone--and it does!!

This book gives the reader a sense of the wonders of Jonathan - the aliveness and excitement of his life and the positive effect he had on everyone he touched. Through the eyes of his mother and father you see beyond his terrible struggle to the light that glowed around him.

Read prom in one sitting, alot of fun and was laughing out loud through some parts. Some of it was close to the bone and I was blushing in embarrasment but smiling throughout. Not much more you can ask for from a book. The characters are real, are smart and there is something grand and timeless going on behind the situations and comedy. have not yet read paranoid park and heard good things about it but this one deserves a prom reunion!

It's amazing how successfully Blake Nelson captures the thoughts and feelings of your average teenage girls! Not only does he take you inside their minds, but all of his characters are true to life. Nelson's writing style is also very commendable. Loads of times, he had me laughing aloud, even on the train. The language that he uses fits perfectly with the content, and he doesn't overuse slang, like some contemporary writers do. I love how he shows what lies past the stereotypical American high school scene.

(And I promise that I'm not biased because Nelson's married to one of the best English teachers I ever had.)

This book details three best friends' very different experiences with a landmark American high school event... the prom. Laura is pstched to go for the second time (her boyfriend of 14 months is a senior so she went last year). Jace is nervous/excited about finding a date and hoping to go with the cute, Californian, tennis-playing Paul. And Chloe... she got "convinced" by Jace and Laura to go to the prom. She's bringing a blind date. How will these three girls' experienes pan out? Read this TOTALLY AMAZINGLY SUPER-COOL book and you will find out!! Side note: This book was just so amazing that I read it in under 24 hours (while still putting in a full day of school)... that's how good it is. I'm so excited because Blake Nelson is coming to my school in FOUR days to talk about it!

Step One: Dates

Laura has a date for the prom, because she and her boyfriend have been together practically forever. Julia, aka Jace, thinks she might have a date for the prom, if she can ever get up the nerve to put a coherent sentence together in front of Paul, the hot new tennis player. Alternachick Chloe has no intention of going to the prom at all until Laura decides that not only will Chloe go to the prom, she will also pre-screen possible dates for Chloe.

Step Two: Prep

Everyone knows you can't just show up at your prom in any old thing. The dress has to be spectacular, and Laura is going to have that spectacular $349 dress even though she's not allowed to spend more than $200. Chloe emerges from a vintage dress shop as Audrey Hepburn. And Jace? Well, she'll worry about the dress when Paul commits to the prom one way or the other.

Step Three: Prom!

More and more, Laura has felt torn between her boyfriend and her oldest friends. Chloe hasn't even met her date (she did talk to him on the phone once), yet she's written 31 poems about him. Paul finally agrees to go with Jace, though he has some serious reservations --- and I'm not talking about the restaurant kind.

There's a lot of fun and fluff in this novel, but there's also a lot in the way of good friendships and sticking up for the people you care about. Romance and family conflict make this more than just a throwaway book, but it's not going to fry your brain either. Recommended for all promgoers, or for those who wouldn't go to their prom even if you paid them.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

I loved this book, it's one of those that leave you wishing for more-what's going to happen to Chloe and Zach? Will Paul learn how to deal with his mental illness and become the man he is meant to be? What about Laura, is she going to confront Mike about his indiscretion at the prom or just leave him to figure it out for himself? And will Ryan turn out to be the Best Boyfriend Ever? And, Rebecca, will she get a chance to wear that fabulous dress again? God, I hope so.
I felt, at the end of this book, as if I'd known-and loved- these girls all my life. I really liked how different they all were and how much they valued each other's traits-Blake Nelson has, once again, captured beautifully the nuances and importance of fully formed relationships that would (should, at any rate)cause the writers of "Friends" to publicly apologize.
This is a lovely, warm, funny and realistic look at how the friendships and conflicts of youth, with all it's trimmings of burgeoning sex, drugs and the dreaded Proms, impacts all of our lives while retaining a sense of perspective-makes me wish I had paid more attention.
In his fifth book, Blake Nelson has proven himself a major voice among novelists-with his wonderful dialogue, rich characters and near perfect sense of humor, he will, in years to come, be among those favorite writers whose books one can never quite bring oneself to donate.
It's so refreshing to read a YA book that doesn't patronize or sermonize but leaves the reader with a great big smile and a sense of communion with the awkward and important issues of maturity. Nice going, Blake. Thank you.