Brooks Books

My 9 year old granddaughter cried when she finished the book. Not because it was sad but because her " favorite book EVER " ended. Can there be a better review ?
I am a little sad too, because we have to wait till September for the next Penina book. But, Ahh, the anticipation.

Penina Levine is one of only two Jewish sixth graders in Mrs. Anderson's class in public school. The class has been given an assignment to write letters "from the Easter Bunny" to kindergarten kids in the nearby Holy Family School. Penina strongly believes she should not write the letter because she is Jewish and Easter is a Christian holiday. She doesn't tell her parents about the assignment because she feels they don't listen to her and favor her younger sister, Mimsy. She does tell her grandmother however, when they are preparing the meal for the Passover Seder. Her grandmother says she is like a hard-boiled egg because when you boil it, it gets hard, just like the Jews: "When the heat is on, we don't turn to mush-- we get tougher." Her grandmother is proud of her for sticking up for her religion and not writing the letter. Eventually Penina tells her parents about the assignment and they tell the principal, who then talks to the class about diversity. Mrs. Anderson, Penina's teacher, apologizes and Penina and her family invite her to a Shabbat dinner. The story moves along briskly and Penina is an appealing and feisty Jewish character with much humor. The various black and while line drawings complement the text. For ages 9 -12.

The girl is spunky, truthful, hardheaded, true to her beliefs and most importantly, very believable. Although written for maybe 8-11 year olds, Penina is very much beloved by my 6 year old, a self described "agnostic" and myself a tripped off the religion wagon ex-Catholic with a Jewish father. It is a great book for helping my daughter explore her Jewish heritage and a great starting point to discuss religion, faith, beliefs, traditions, and how much she dislikes dealing with her little sister. It has a wonderful "conversation starter" in my house. Penina Levine is a real find.

Tenacious sixth-grader Penina struggles to retain her beliefs, trust in adults, and humor while going through what seems like unfair obstacles in the course of growing up. Will an impossible assignment, troublesome younger sister, unsympathetic parents, tricky friend, and attending a school where her heritage is in the minority, weaken her or give her strength? Is telling the TRUTH and self-control always better than just DARING to pay for the consequences of one's actions?
Rebecca O'Connell manages to have all readers experience with Penina the joys and struggles of one's heritage in this flowing story. It is not until the reader of any background has finished enjoying the book that they realize the wealth of information they've gleaned not only about the Jewish culture, but the unique beauty of their own as well.
As a school librarian I recommend this must-have library book to students who want to laugh at the important daily issues of grouping up, as well as to students and teachers interested in diversity. This is one of the few young adult books that lovingly DARES to be sensitive to such major topics.

You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate the wit and wisdom of Penina. Rebecca O'Connell's book taps in to the frustration we all have felt when an authority figure (in this case, a teacher with a fixation on the Easter bunny) disregards our most diligent efforts to be understood. Start with a Passover feast, add an annoying younger sister, an empathetic friend, and a rich seasoning of humor...and you have the recipe for a rewarding reading experience.

I bought "Raising Resilient Children" first, on my journey to being a better parent. Of course, I wanted to be a better role model of resiliency. I was overjoyed to see that Brooks and Goldstein had written a book for just such an audience!

This book is filled with real suggestions, illustrative examples, and worksheets to aid you in your work towards resiliency. As in "Raising Resilient Children", I feel like Brooks and Goldstein truly empathize with how much work there is in increasing resiliency and give the reader skills that truly help.

The very tone of the book itself helps me feel like there's someone out there who empathizes and wants to work with me to improve my character. These two really walk the talk of empathy and emotional support. Highly recommended.

This book actually has several lists and practical ideas that you can use to fight defeated attitudes and regain focus in your life. Some ideas I really liked were:

- taking time to celebrate your successes...

- taking small steps towards your ultimate goal (and preparing for what to do if you hits snags).

-making the decision to look at failures/mistakes as an opportunity to learn instead of a confirmation that you're a loser.

The book on tape is really the way to go, but if you love to read I guess the paper version would work just fine. I'm sure there are lots of complex, overly complicated works on this subject out there, but this isn't one of them!

Education is always on going in my life. This book is no acception to any working adults. Get it!

Written by two emminently qualified authors, this book rises above the "fluff" that is often seen in other books on this subject. This book will inspire you and show you how to conquer adversity. It's a great resource.

An easy-to-read marvellous book for anyone who wants to develop greater resilience when dealing with life's obstacles and hardships.

Timely receipt of product and exceptional condition of item. Would do business with this vendor again.

The message and content of this book are as useful today as they were many ages ago when it was written. The profound depths of insight this author delivers are worthy of their own web page!! Wish that all Christians had a copy of this classic--it is worth reading again and again. Thank God for the classic works like this that have the power to change lives and encourage the downhearted and despairing. Great book!

Are you unsure about the whole topic of spritual warfare and want a book with a balanced Biblical perspective? Want to save your marriage? Do you want to be able to successfully battle pride, unbelief and lust? This book has it all. Check out page 198. The practice of remedy 1 saved my thoughtlife towards my husband. Page 36 remedy 4 brought me to tears and solidified my resolution to fight more fiercly against the sin that taints my heart, mind, body and spirit. It's the most relevant old book to our modern troubles I've ever read.

In considering this work I am reminded of the song, "Killing Me Softly with His Song" in which the singer states that the singer has sung about her justas if he'd read her letters. He KNEW her, yet had never met her. This book could bring this to your mind too. The reader will find statements of Satan's "devices" - the strategies he used, lies he tells, etc. and one can recognize how these things have been a part of one's life at different times. The rememdies are unabashedly from God's written Word and are effective "treatment" for the issue at hand. Similar to C.S. Lewis' "The Screwtape Letters" in exposing some schemes which tend to work against God's people, this is book can be used as a devotional, a discipleship reading, and a tool for counseling.

Next to most people's Bibles is a copy of John Bunyan's classic THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. However, Brooks' amazingly convicting PRECIOUS REMEDIES should be on the other side. This is possibly the most valuable of all the puritan writings, and a must read for every Christian, especially those struggling and/or tampering with sin. Satan hates this work as it exposes his devices....and offers biblical methods to avoid and overcome them. Seek this one out at all costs. Banner of Truth ministries still carries this title.

Finally, there is a book out there with common sense, a lttle dirt and a lot of laughs. Where has this writer Fox been all my life? The book is out of this world. A Punk in Gallows America is gonna be one of those underground deals. let's keep it this way. Anyone up for a Fox fan club, I'm in. I wanna see more of this guy's stuff.

Everywhere I look it seems like people have a copy of this book. I finally got mine and finished it in a day. Excellent. I understand why so many people are reading this book. Eddie Way is just like you and me, a little lost but with a lot of soul. Reading Fox's prose is out of this world. The guy is a closet genius. Rock on. This book is out and it is gonna cause a stir!

If you ever screwed up then gotten back in the game, this book is for you. It is wild and so funny. Eddie Ways the average Joe does some soul seraching in some strange areas. The descriptions for Chicago's seedy side are so P-E-R-F-E-C-T, it makes you want to find out more. I wouldn't be suprised if Hollywood snatched this one up. Remarkable.
But the best deal of this book is that the writing. Strong. Prokoving and very literary. No toliet paper here. Paul Fox is a promising writer with a long history of quiry and thoughtproking lit. I think as his first novel, this is gonna bring him some fame. You gotta check it out .

Wow. Talk about a 180 chage for Eddie Ways the main charcter. Once an everday person his wife leaves, his cash dries up and he's left with a house in the Burbs. What to do? Eddie jumps the line and soul searches ala getting into the real- real life folks. He meets his gal Lisa and begins an adventure that unravels his person down to the bone. In the eddie finds a way out but how he gets there is worth the read. Paul Fox is the hottest writer out of Chicago yet. Vivid. Clash. Bang of words. He's gonna big .

I recommend this book very highly. I feel there is a little of the PUNK in all of us. I read the book from front to back in record time. If you have ever read something and wished it would never end, this book will be a great experience for you. When you read it, I think you'll understand exactly what I mean!

"Raining Sardines" is just a wonderful, fantastical story. While the title references a unique phenomenon in some Latin American countries in which the skies occasionally open up and rain down sardines, hamsters, frogs, and the like, the title is a tad misleading. The story is actually about the adventures of the two principal characters (children) in their quest to save their small town from a brutish land-baron who's family has been bullying the townsfolk for decades. Flores-Galbis writes with a confident and easy prose that is both colorful and poetic. "Raining Sardines" is a fast-paced and engrossing story that is perfect for pre-teens and early teens alike... and for their parents who also love a good, whimsical adventure.

I was one of Enrique's first friends when he came to America with his three brothers. There are parts of this book that i remember him talking about when we were playing. After reading the book, I have ordered books for the elementary school back home for their library. I treasure the autographed copy I have at home, we recently saw each other again after almost 40 years, it was like we had stayed in touch all these years.

Flores-Galbis has a background in art and this is evident in his writing style. Raining Sardines is replete with figurative language and imagery. He illustrates the adventures of two young Cubans, Enriquito and Ernestina, very picturesquely. This is certainly a book that will appeal to young readers. I am currently using this novel with my advanced/gifted middle school students and, needless to say, they have developed and expressed a significant level of interest in this work.

Enrique Flores-Galbis takes you on a colorful adventure that keeps you at the edge of your seat! DO NOT start this book without leaving time to read it all the way through! Too hard to put it down! My new favorite book!

Enrique Flores paints a vivid world with his words in "Raining Sardines". This book is a fun, great read for "young" readers of all ages. I highly recommend it - que chévere.

Emerson is quoted as often as any other writer or speaker. Not becausea few lines here and there are profound. Rather because he understands more about human beings and life. He is thought provoking and so deep its a joy to read the same essay several times. If people take the time to read it they will understand many things about life they can't get other places.I find it interesting we live in a period of time where civilization is far more advanced yet it appears Emerson knew many things society still doesn't get. There have probably only been a handfull of what people call Masters of life. Those people who had few equals. Without question Emerson is one of these people.If you haven't read the essay Compensation you are missing a very important classic which will speak to you like it was written today.

For the soul searching for fresh air, the ideas and information presented to the reader in this book are truly refreshing, as the essays and other writings offered in this book are truly extraordinary and have been abandoned in today's educational system. Emerson emphasizes the individual's place in the universe rather than the servile role offered by contemporary society's pump em out produce isle. Also, If the reader of this reveiw is interested in finding transcendental answers about the universe through direct experience seek out titles by an author of the name Samael Aun Weor. In his titles, he instruction for the development of one's soul is limitless and will afford the opportunity to explore the dimensions of the universe ignored by many.

Contains several writings by Ralph Waldo Emerson including Walden, Essay's 1: Art, Friendship, Self reliance Essay's 2: The Poet, Gifts, Nature, Politics, Nominalist and realist. It also contains his famous The American Scholar writing, The Trancendentalist, and the book of English Traits: Wealth, First Visit to England, Race, Manners, Charactor. Also includes info on non - conformity and several poems and society/ political protocal.

Emerson may well be the greatest man of letters America has yet produced. His vision of human nature and man's place in the universe contains as much truth today as when it was written. This selection is a solid representation of his thought and writings and can be read again and again for pleasure and for profit. Emerson is one of those rare lights that every thinking person should be exposed to. Read this or buy it for a student that you really care about.

Contains several writings by Ralph Waldo Emerson including Walden, Essay's 1: Art, Friendship, Self reliance Essay's 2: The Poet, Gifts, Nature, Politics, Nominalist and realist. It also contains his famous The American Scholar writing, The Trancendentalist, and the book of English Traits: Wealth, First Visit to England, Race, Manners, Charactor. Also includes info on non - conformity and several poems and society/ political protocal.

I like the condition on the book. It was very clean and new like. there were no marks inside the book and the respond was fast too.

I was very pleased with thier fast shipment. Keep up the good work and i will visit your online store again.

I went to Amazon because I knew that they would have a better price for books, even on new books...I was right! I was able to buy a BRAND new book for $30 less than the asking price at the store. You can't beat that! Amazon is reliable and a great source for low prices.

Excelente Source, I highly recomend this book for those social work students who are learning to assess client needs.

as a social worker in training, i have found this book to be a very helpful source.

There's a lot to like and dislike about Stealing Henry. The beginning of the story is not at all how you would expect a story such as this to start; Your thrown right in the middle of Savannah's life with her abusive father and her decision to run away from home with her little brother, Henry towing along, completely obliging to the idea himself. As the story rolls on, you are gripped with panic and fear that Savannah might be caught in her daring escape from home to someplace safe, away from her father. Her mother Alice, is no longer the person she once was; Alice is now a fearful, and meek wife of an angry man not at all like he was when she met on the day her car broke down. She does nothing to help her daughter, for she is rarely home, and is certainly thrown for a loop by her daughter's latest stunt. The author crafted some interesting characters for the story to revolve around;



They're all quite the individuals to my surprise, diverse in their own ways. Savannah and Henry are without a doubt my favorite characters in the book. The description of the places the duo travel to is very vivid without too much detail and the strain and anger the sister is under is truly felt through the storytelling.



The only problems I have with the books is that the characters tend to drop the `F'-bomb every other sentence when speaking to each other. The book wasn't so descriptive of sexual content in the story, but it's the most I've read about in a book I've borrowed recently, for sure. Several chapters, placed between "present" chapters, depict Alice's "past", her life in her hometown, and "present day" chapters shift between things Savannah did with her mother and life with Jack before returning to the predicament she faces. While the insight on Alice's life is interesting, I really can't bring myself to feel anything for a woman who want stand up to her husband who hurts her children. Plus I think I would've liked if the chapters concerning Savannah and Alice's pasts were placed at the beginning and not so much as in between chapters for an easier grasp of their lives. And I think the thing I disliked the most, certainly, was the way the book ended {SPOILERS AHEAD}.



Savannah ending up living with her aunt and Henry having to go back to living with an unhelpful mother and abusive father (sucky). All in all, Stealing Henry is an enjoyable piece of fiction, worth giving a try. 7/9/05 ----- [a 4 out of 5]

Like "Falling Through Darkness," MacCullough's first book, "Stealing Henry" mixes fascinating characters with a touch of suspense. I just couldn't put this book down. The plot shifts between Savannah's flight from her abusive stepfather and the story of Savannah's mother's doomed first love. The characters are complex and appealing, and you can't help but be drawn into their lives. You find yourself rooting for Savannah the whole way, terrified for her when her stepfather seems to have tracked her down and crossing your fingers that her friends and extended family will protect her.

A fantastic novel! Highly recommended.

As in her first novel, Falling Through Darkness, MacCullough has crafted a beautiful novel with prose that sings. Her characters are vivid, the dialogue pitch perfect, the situation very real, and the resolution hopeful but realistic. All in all this is a terrific read from a very talented writer. I look forward to her other books.

Does running away get you any closer to finding yourself?

For the first nine years of her life, Savannah had her young mother Alice all to herself. They were close and carefree as they traveled across the USA, living somewhere for a little while, until the itch to move had to be scratched again. Savannah does not know who her father is, but that's okay with her. Their family of two suits her just fine.

During Savannah's childhood, Alice went through a string of boyfriends. However, as Savannah is about to cross over into double digits, Alice falls for Jack. They get married, have a little boy, and plan roots. Suddenly, the family has doubled in size. The road trips end - and the abuse begins. Jack likes to drink. He does not seem to like Savannah.

By the time Savannah is in high school, her stepfather has lost his job, her mother has lost the spark she once had, and her half-brother Henry has learned to listen in doorways before coming in the room, for fear of walking in on an argument. One night in the kitchen, it becomes too much for Savannah. She hits Jack with a pan (not to kill him but to knock him out), tells Henry to pack some things, takes the car keys and leaves with her little brother in tow.

Stealing Henry is more than what the title implies. It is about family and about survival. The story impressively alternates between present day, following Savannah's attempt at escape, and 1986, when Savannah's mother was a teenager. The modern part of the story takes place over a matter of days, keeping up with the swift pace of Savannah and Henry as they go across the country.

The characters and the stories they tell are memorable. The dialogue is realistic, especially that spoken by Savannah, who doesn't hold back. She is remarkably selfless. Her love for her brother and her mother shines in everything she does. When Savannah realizes that her mother is not who she once was, the revelation alone is heartbreaking, but the writing makes it even moreso.

I highly recommend Stealing Henry, especially to those who love books by Sarah Dessen and Melissa Lion. Those who enjoyed Falling Through Darkness, Carolyn MacCullough's first novel, will not be disappointed by Stealing Henry. In fact, they may enjoy Stealing Henry even more. I know I did.

"The night Savannah brains her stepfather with the frying pan is the night she decides to leave home for good."

"Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America."
--Paul Simon

It was slightly cool and very dark at five-fifteen. I slipped out the back door, wearing the backpack, carrying the rest, breathing in that dried pine needle scent, feeling my way step by step to the carport. Silently, I loaded everything into the pickup before hopping in, turning the key, and shattering the quiet. A minute later I was cruising down the winding main road, accompanied by Elizabeth Reed, headed in the direction of Truckee.

At five thousand feet there are still dirty mounds of snow alongside the road, cleaner accumulations in the adjoining woods. An hour later the sky had become light, revealing rows of snow- and evergreen-covered mountains stretching to the horizon, one of the closer ones scarred by a few long white gashes down the side which are ski runs. Joining up with Interstate 80, I occasionally passed an eighteen-wheeler but otherwise had sole possession of the road. At Donner Pass I glanced over my shoulder at the long, dark lake, the wooden tunnels over the railroad tracks, and the rush of spring melt over a cliff.

Descending from the mountains the drifts change from snow to housing developments outside Sacramento; the accumulations there are of drivers on the road. Two hours on the Interstate and I veered off into the hills south of Napa. A handful of stately wineries punctuate the miles of vineyard trellises pulled tight like the warp on a loom. The fog surrendered the hilltops and fled just before I reached them. Drifts of orange California poppies, alternating with yellows and rust reds run through the green of spring pastures in the coastal hills as I approached home.

Sure, I get burnt out on sitting in the car for too many hours, but it's one hell of a pretty country we have. Despite all the places I've seen overtaken by progress and humanity in my fifty years, I still don't begin to take for granted what a wonderland we're so fortunate to inhabit.

"And in the end they traded their tired wings
For the resignation that living brings."
--Jackson Browne, "Before the Deluge"

Savannah spent the first half of her life wandering around this beautiful country with her mother, Alice. She's got miles of memories about all those places they'd seen across America. I'd expect that in all that time they also gotten a taste of Donner Pass and of restored Old Town Truckee. Maybe they even got to visit the little community near Plumas-Eureka where I spent the last couple of nights.

But Savannah and Alice's life on the road came to a halt years ago when their car broke down on the Jersey Turnpike, and they were "rescued" by Jack. Now Savannah has spent years in the same place, dealing with her abusive stepfather Jack, and helping care for her little brother Henry. Alice seems to always be off at work and oblivious to what is going on at home. But things are changing again for good because Savannah has had enough. And she loves her little brother too much to even consider taking off and leaving Henry to deal with Jack by himself.

"Jack's body is blocking her vision, but she doesn't have to see Henry to know he's close to tears. Jack swings around, and now she can see her little brother, standing half in and half out of the kitchen doorway. Henry is flushed and sweating, on the verge of being sick.
" 'What's the matter, buddy?' Jack says, his voice still too loud and jarring, but now forcefully bright. He holds out his arms as if waiting for Henry to run to him.
"But Henry is digging one toe into the splintered doorframe. 'I heard yelling,' he says, and Savannah knows he heard a lot more. Like her, Henry has learned to listen in at doorways before entering a room.
" 'No one's yelling,' Jack says, belatedly trying to lower his voice. He advances two steps toward Henry.
" 'What were you doing, then?' Henry says. He sounds like he needs to clear his throat.
" 'Are you crying, bud?' Jack says, and now his voice is dangerously quiet. Savannah closes her eyes, listens to Henry swallow, knows they are lost.
" 'No,' he squeaks. 'I just...thought...'
" 'Jesus Christ, what a...'
"But Savannah doesn't wait to hear the rest. It seems that the time stretches and fades, replaced by something cold and hard and crystallized in her mind. She snaps back in to hear Henry sob, to see Jack take another turning step away from her, giving her all the space she needs to curve her fingers around the hot handle of the skillet. She does not feel the now boiling butter foam across her skin, although she will wonder later at the red blisters on her wrist and forearm. Instead, she feels a rush of blank air, of nothing, as she slams the pan up like a tennis racket, through unencumbered space, and into the side of Jack's head."

Interspersed with the story of Savannah and Henry on the run is the tale of how Alice and Savannah had first come to live their nomadic life and how a relationship from the past can play a role in the present and future.

Buckle your seatbelts. STEALING HENRY is one heart-pounding ride. YA thriller joined with a bit of mystery and a healthy dose of treachery make STEALING HENRY a trip you don't want to miss.

It's an enormous improvement from the second edition, which I also own a copy of. The book covers everything you need to know to pass state and national board examinations and become a licensed dispensing optician. My only complaints are that its contents are ordered somewhat counterintuitively, and that it's a very large, heavy volume (I have enough to tote around with my tools!)

I used the 1st edition as a student....this one is many many times better. If you are a student hopefully this is one of your required textbooks. If you are a practicing optician, this book belongs on your office shelf.

Ed
FNAO FOAA ABOC NCLC

This book has considerable more content than the previous second edition and is required reading for many college ophthalmic programs. As a reference book, it is by far the most useful to me.

I used this book to prepare for the State Optician Boards. It was great, In have now lent out my copy several times. Well worth the money.

If you are planning on entering the optical field, or are a seasoned Optician, this book is a must have. Amazingly comprehensive, covers everything from the very simple to complex in a very easy to follow format. The style is precise, yet comfortable to read, and for the student (aren't we all?) there are review questions at the end of chapters. Not recommended ... required!

I love this book. I received it as a hand-me-down and read it after I had weaned my daughter, and I cried when I got to the part about breastfeeding. What a sweet portrayal of a special bond. The whole book is good - not just the breastfeeding part, so I hope no one is scared off by that. (The book does show the dad giving a bottle to the baby at one point.) The book is a great depiction of the life of a teeny tiny baby - I highly recommend it!

Amy Schwartz has captured precisely what it is like to be a new mom! Every mother who reads this will say, "My baby was exactly like that!" Adorable.

This book will ring true for every parent who has been there night and day serving every whim of their new baby. In those first trying weeks, we all need a big dose of humor which is sorely lacking in most post-natal reading material. Older kids especially love this book and will emphatically deny having ever been so demanding!

If only a baby could talk! This book protrays the life of an infant as seen through his eyes. It is humorous, sweet and I appreciated the reference in the beautiful illustrations to breastfeeding and attachment-carrying with the sling and Snugli. A new "must have" for baby shower gifts!

This is a must-have book for attachment parenting families expecting a sibling! It really helped my 4 and 2-year olds understand what a baby needs, and helped me remember that we've all been there before. Gently humorous, very baby-centered. I'm giving it as a gift to my sister struggling with her new teeny tiny one.