Boone Books

I'll admit bias right up front. I worked with Barry when this book was published.

However, I found Beethoven's Fifth to be very delightful and engaging. I enjoyed the math games that were described, as some key parts of the story are clever mathematical twists.

I also enjoyed Barry's sense of humor, which can be very inventive. He has a keen imagination which can imagine worlds and universes which follow vastly different rules than ours. Fans of Flatland will appreciate some of his humor.

I enjoyed reading his first effort, and wish he found time and/or a publisher for more science fiction.

I have been looking for books that would introduce stories that tell something about Early American times. Since my children are young (boy and girl; 3 and 5) I am more interested in giving the `flavor' of the times without being particularly stuck on historical accuracy.

The first book that I found that we liked was Aliki's "Johnny Appleseed". Andrew Glass' "Bewildered for Three Days" is the second.

In this book, Glass weaves a tale (definitely fictional) of why Daniel Boone didn't really wear a coonskin cap-although the cap is one of the things he is known for. In this story, Glass touches on what life was like in the 1700's. He talks about how there were Indians who were friends and Indians who weren't. Boone is shown with a childhood friend who, as a Delaware, showed him woodcraft.

"Little Beaver returned often. We wrestled and practiced tracking animals silently as shadows in the woods. Little Beaver taught me to listen well to the chatter, chirps , and croaks in the forest."


Pros -

--Story is interesting and an easy read-aloud. It uses some archaic speech - thee and thou - but just here and there. Enough to be interesting and educational, it doesn't bog the story down at all.

--The book touches on country life - log cabins and farming - as well as on what sort of things occurred which led to arguments between the settlers and the established peoples.

--There is a nice Author's Note at the end of the book (as well as a map which shows the Cumberland Gap) which summarizes current research on Daniel Boone - when he lived, what he did, his family life. I found it to be a good refresher, reminding me of details that I could point out to my children.

Possible Cons -

--There is an element of violence. Boone as a boy is chased by angry Indians and awakened by an angry bear. There is nothing graphic, and I, personally, just glossed over it.

--The artwork is impressionistic and some younger children might not like it. Mine 5 y.o. didn't mind.

--The story is told in first person which may take some adjustment for some younger children who are used to the third-person.

Four Stars. A good story with lots of opportunities to teach. There is lots of action and things that children can relate to, such as friendship and forgetting to do chores. A nice introduction, though fictional, to colonial times.

Boone examines the human need to be absolutely sure, and to have an infallible guide. She studies the popular demand to take the Bible, as Benjamin B. Warfield put it in the 1890s, "not as man's report to us of what God says, but the very word of God itself, spoken by God himself through human lips and pens". She explores how such demand for superhuman authority can translate into demands for human authority over Christian communities, as Richard W. De Hann explained the role of a scriptural pastor,

"Yes, he is a fallible human being, but God has entrusted His infallible Word to that man. He therefore has a great message to proclaim, and you are under obligation to heed the exhortations and obey the directives which come from the Scriptures through the pastor to you." (p. 87)

For Boone, bibliolotry contradicts the spirit of the Bible itself. Because that book is no unified chorus of praise for unquestioning obedience to finalized tradition. Its leading characters engage in soul-searching, re-defining, and re-visioning what they consider true, beautiful, and just. Boone's reflections open doors to a more fruitful reading of the scriptures -- as stories of religious change, in a journey that continues with ourselves.

--author of "Different Visions of Love"

I bought the book for the breeder from whom I bought my bulldog. They said that they were always running out of names for puppies. They seemed to really like the book.
When I looked at it, it was organized into sections like "food names" and "literary characters." It had a good selection and a good variety of original pet names. Overall, I think it was a good buy.

This book is the story of a man who was raised in a children's home himself and later became the executive director of a children's home in Chattanooga, TN. He suffered abuse from the other boys in his home and rose above it all; even becoming a golden glove boxer. Co-author of the book, William Deerfield, was one of the boys in the children's home along with Ike Keay. The story was penned by Deerfield about Ike's life. (I know because I am Ike's oldest child, Kim.) It's a wonderful story of redemption--how a man's suffering was used in order to help other children like himself. He attributes his successes to God's grace and mercy. Ike is a man of strong faith and conviction and overcame the rough start in life. After his father's death in Great Britain, his mother brings him, and his brother Alex, to this country as young lads. Later she loses her health and has to secure their future in a children's home. It is a quick read and well written. Deerfield served as a writer for many years with Guideposts Magazine. It is the touching tale of travails to heroism. Ike has been featured in Guideposts magazine, as well as in Southern Living, and People. He has won several humanitarian and civic awards. He is now retired and enjoying retirement in Virginia. (The Foreword is written by Pat Boone, a friend of Ike Keay's who continues to host an annual golf tournament for the children's home every May; having done so for more than 30 years.)

The book was in good condition and I received it promptly, which was a relief after ordering it from another Amazon supplier who didn't bother to notify me that it was out of stock. I didn't find out until I saw the payment returned to my checking account and went to Amazon to find out why. I hope this review is about the one I received!?!?

This book was as good as the class I took. Take it how you want it, if you like marketing your prob going to like this book.

Book arrrived on time and in new condition. Only complaint is that it didn't contain some sort of reciept or proof of purchase. Right price.

It is always fun to read about your hometown area. The forts of central Kentucky (Ft. Harrod (the first permanent fort), Ft. McClelland (the first fort), Ft. Boonesborough, Ft.Logan, and Bryan Station) have always had a lure for me. Here in the bluegrass the settlers fought the many Indian tribes that used Kentucky for their hunting ground. Bakeless takes you from Daniel Boone's life in the east, his life in Kentucky, his life with the Indians, to his need to move on westward. It is an interesting book. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

This book gives an interesting and factual account of the life of Daniel Boone and his adventures in the wilderness. The information in this book is written in a way thats easy to understand. It keeps you interested all the way through. You will learn about the many close encounters Boone has with death. This book also tells about Boone's life with the Indians in captivity. Their are many pictures in this book that help to give you a better picture of what is going on. The book begins by describing Boone's parents and early life. Here I learned many things I didn't know about Boone. Then the book tells of Boone's life after his marraige to Rebecca Bryan, and their settlement in Kentucky. It is here that you will read about Boone's expeditions with his fellow settlers and their deadly encounters with the Indians. One interesting story the book tells is how Boone rescues two of his daughters from Indian captivity. The book then tells of Boone's life after he moves away from Kentucky. Finally it tells of his tragic death from acute indigestion caused by eating too many sweat potatoes. Their are so many interesting things you will read about in this book. For example, it tells of Boone's son and his friend being skinned alive slowly by Indians. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about US explorers, or adventures in the forests. It is also a great book for book reports and projects because it has excellent pictures and key facts. In the back of the book their is even a timeline summarizing Boone's life. Anyone interested should definitely read this book!