Caldwell Books

This is the story of an expedition that began in July 1853, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and ended seven months later in Los Angeles (population then 3,000) on the coast of California. The distance traveled (per the distance measuring device on a carretella) was 1,845.27 miles.

The goal was to investigate the feasibility of a railroad to the Pacific coast along the 35th parallel. There was a similar expedition along the 32nd parallel, and two further north. Then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis was predisposed to the southernmost route as would be duly reflected in the report submitted to Congress.

The commander of the 35th parallel expedition was Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple (my great, great grandfather). Another key participant (he joined en route with a contingent of support troops) was Lieutenant John Tidball (a distant relative of the author).

The book skillfully places the expedition in its historical context, including many details of the experiences of key participants before and after the expedition. It also paints a vivid picture of events along the way - including illness, hunger, rough and largely unknown terrain (Tidball et al. made some stunning sketches), and at times friendly, at other times tense interactions with the Indian tribes encountered - based on personal journals and notes (of Tidball and Whipple, among others) as well as the official report.

Most of the men made it through, but the mules had a higher attrition rate and one wagon after another had to be abandoned until only one carretella was left.

This and the other expeditions did not establish where the first railroad to the Pacific should be built (in the event, it would be considerably north of the 35th parallel). However, they did contribute a great deal to knowledge of vast unexplored areas of the United States, much as the Lewis and Clark expedition had done 50 years earlier, including not only the terrain, but also the flora, the fauna, and the native inhabitants.

Our family has a number of volumes of the official report to Congress on the 35th parallel expedition, musty and over-sized volumes that I truthfully never felt the inclination to peruse. This book served as an excellent substitute, and I would recommend it to others with an interest in the expedition and/or the history of the southwest.

Founded on the high tide of the Enlightenment during the last quarter of the 18th Century by armed revolution, the United States was, by the middle of the 19th Century, riding the great waveof the industrial revolution of which there is perhaps no better exemplification than steam locomotion.

Although a transcontinental railroad was first proposed in 1844, the United States did not then have clear title to lands west of the Rockies nor any title at all to the lands it subsequently acquired by annexation of Texas, the Mexican cession, and the Gadsden Purchase. But by 1853
the situation had changed dramatically and serious interest in building a transcontinental line had developed as had sharp disagreement in Congress and elsewhere about its location.

In terms of climate and terrain there was much to recommend the southern or 32nd parallel route running from Shreveport to San Diego advocated by Southern interests, including Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War. Undertaking to finesse the fact that Congress would not agree to a particular route, it was decided to survey all feasible routes and let science make the decision.

Four parties were sent into the field in 1853 to reconnoiter the routes that had dominated congressional debate: a northern route from St. Paul to Seattle, a central route from Kansas City
through the central West to California, a route along the 35th parallel from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Los Angeles, and the southern route along the 32nd parallel from Shreveport, Louisiana across Texas to San Diego.

"Soldier-Artist of the Great Reconnaissance" is the story of the survey along the 35th parallel as told by Eugene Tidball's distant relative, John C. Tidball, in his memoirs, diary, and marginal notes in his copy of the official report of the survey, augmented by the official and private journals
of Lt. Amiel Weeks Whipple, the leader of the expedition, the journals of certain other members, and the official report of the survey. John Tidball had then recently been promoted to First Lieutenant, married in the East, and stationed sans bride at Fort Defiance in New Mexico Territory.

The 35th parallel expedition pushed off from Fort Smith in July 1853. It comprised 110 men,including four commissioned officers, a dozen civilian scientists, enlisted escorts, herders, teamsters, drivers, packers, cooks, and orderlies, but not including Tidball who was then with his company at Fort Defiance, the most isolated post of the United States Army.

The progress of the expedition was relatively swift and uneventful over the flatlands from Fort Smith to Albuquerque, where it arrived on October 5. In Albuquerque Whipple heard unsettling stories about the territory ahead and requested an additional escort of 25 calvary. He was notified
that he could not have dragoons but could have mule-mounted infantrymen instead. The expedition moved on to Zuni which proved to be in the grip of an epidemic of smallpox. When it
left Zuni on November 29 several of its members were infected. The contagion afflicted members of the party for a time but appears to have run its course without serious consequences and is not mentioned in the official report of the expedition.

Lt. Tidball left Fort Defiance on December 3 with 25 infantrymen mounted on mules and a packer and caught up with the expedition on December 12 on the Little Colorado River east of San Francisco Mountain. The remainder of the trek from the Little Colorado to Los Angeles was considerably more arduous than had been the earlier part from Fort Smith. The expedition was now in uncharted hard-scrabble mountains in winter. Nevertheless, often on short rations, without water, and concerned about Indians, the members continued to do what they were there to do. They continued to study and sketch the flora, fauna, and geology, to collect specimens and to scout, measure, and sketch the way for a railroad. Balduin Mollhausen, the official artist of the expedition, was joined in the production of sketches and illustrations by Albert Campbell, engineer and surveyor, and by Tidball. Although most of the illustrations appearing in the official report are Mollhausen's, some are Campbell's and some are Tidball's, neither of whom was charged to produce art but both of whom were arguably better artists than Mollhausen.

Because its location was so poorly described, the expedition had difficulty finding the Bill William's Fork that it proposed to follow to the Colorado River. When the Colorado was finally
reached the rank and file of the party were extremely disappointed as they had been led to believe that California was a land of milk and honey and now the California side of the river appeared just as bleak, barren, and inhospitable as the New Mexico Territory side. But the prospect improved
remarkably the nearer they drew to Los Angeles.

Tidball left the expedition on the eastern side of the coast range and proceeded to the Army post at San Diego where he turned in his equipment and mules and from which he returned via Panama to the East Coast and his wife of less than a year. After an extended furlough, he was six days out from Fort Leavenworth, this time with his wife, on his way back to Fort Defiance when he received orders seconding him to the Coastal Survey. He spent the next five years on the East Coast during which time his company was reassigned, relieving Tidball of the anxiety of having to return to Fort Defiance.

The 35th parallel survey party, which had left Fort Smith with 110 men, 13 wagons, two carretellas, and 245 mules, having traversed 1,845 miles and lost but one man, arrived in Los
Angeles on March 21, 1854, with no wagons and one carretella but still with many of the mules.

Eugene Tidball poses the question whether the Pacific railroad surveys were a success. He points out that, while they found all the routes feasible (and robbed the southern route of its claim of peculiar suitability to the chagrin of Jeff Davis and company), they did not immediately result in the construction of a transcontinental railroad nor in allaying controversy about the appropriate route. The first transcontinental line was not finished until 1869, roughly on what was styled the
central route in 1853. Much later, the 35th parallel route became the Rock Island line from Memphis to Tucumcari, New Mexico, and westward from there the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa
Fe Railway to Los Angeles. But the success of the undertaking, Tidball asserts, is the reports of the surveys published in 12 volumes composing a lavishly illustrated encyclopedic compendium of western geography, geology, botany, zoology, archeology, and ethnology.

"Soldier-Artist of the Great Reconnaissance" is a valuable addition to the history of an undertaking that rivals in importance the explorations earlier in the century of the Corps of Discovery to our understanding of the American West in the 19th century. A great story of adventure, duty, dedication, and endurance.

This is an excellent resource for learning about the life and duties of Marines during the Civil War. There are only a few existing personal accounts of Marines during that period. Gusley details a lot about daily shipboard life and the actions that he was involved in. Coupled with the drawings of the one of the doctors on board his ship, it makes for a good read for the history buff or the Civil War Marine or Navy re-enactor. As a former Marine and re-enactor, I highly recommend this book.

As other reviews have pointed out, there are loads of Civil War diaries. What makes this unique is because it is by a Marine. The Marine forces were very small compared to the Army and Navy forces of both combatants. This was particularly interesting to me as some of his travels brought him along the Texas Gulf Coast, not very far from where I live. It is obvious from his writings that Marine duty with the Navy blockades in the South could be very boring at times. I enjoyed the book.

"Gordon Merrick fans beware! You won't find pretty blond guys making love in Tag Team Studs." - from Lamda Book Report

Once again Clay Caldwell delivers solid good writing. Good 'one-handed' reading- as are most of his titles... Captures the 'feel' and eroticism of wrestling- a nice mix.

This is an enjoyable easy chapter book, ideal for a second grader. The AR level is 2.6. Students with a younger sibling will particularly relate to the situations with Tommy and his younger brother Bradley.

Tommy and his little brother want to buy a big special marble from a tough kid down the street. But first, they need to find out how to get the money - without trying to sell mom's prize roses! His brother and he find a snake and try to make a trade with that. Several episodes fill the hunt to get such an exciting marble. Each episode is its own chapter and seems to end with Tommy getting into trouble.

A nice introduction to chapter books, because the chapters are kept short. Furthermore, kids can relate to Tommy's adventures because the logic he uses is common for 9 year olds. This book is a slight departure from Fletcher's usual intermediate novels but is none the less enjoyable.

Why 4 stars?:
I liked this book from a teacher's standpoint because of its value as an introductory chapter book and realistic characters (something found in all of Fletcher's books), however, I didn't find the story to be very interesting. This could keep kids from continuing in it and getting a negative feeling about chapter books. Still, most children will still enjoy it and so it does belong in a classroom. It is already in mine.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book for me. My sister co wrote this book and I got a sneak peek at it. It has profiles of women scientists that are sometimes overlooked. It also has experiments you can do at home and different types of scientists. It's really interesting if you're interested in science and even if its not your favorite subject. The book is very organized and cleverly written. I'm sure almost all girls will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Not another collection of the same old science experiments for kids -- this book is fresh and hip! Each chapter is devoted to a different area of science and includes an overview of that field, including how it applies to everyday life, what careers it could lead to if pursued, a spotlight on an important female scientist that exceled in it, and, yes, experiments and other opportunities to learn and have fun with it, too.

There's a fantastic section at the end to cure the "where do I go from here" blues, pointing towards great resources, including many specifically geared towards girls. This book is well-organized and consistent -- it's for every girl, whether she knows she loves Science or not!

Here's an independent review that was sent to me by a reader: V.E.A.R. Toward Success, is the book you have been dreaming of to help you rediscover the hope of achieving a specific project or dream that has been sitting in the back of your mind for months or years. Mike Caldwell uses the story of building his own 6000 square foot dream home to explain the skills required to define and refine your goals, find and keep a new energy, develop the attitude to attract positive outcome and never give up. He leads you step by step, in a simple and friendly way through his system, as a new hope oozes in you. This book keeps you on the edge of your couch from cover to cover. It is a must for all dreamers. Written by Brigitte Leboeuf

With his concept of V.E.A.R., the author presents a powerful message not only with his words but with concrete examples of how a regular guy created the extraordinary with his own two hands and a positive spirit. If you've ever wondered whether or not you're meeting your potential, this is the book for you.
This isn't a 12 step program or a quick fix and the author doesn't promise you anything that he hasn't done himself. The ideas presented in this book are real, realistic and they teach you how you too can accomplish incredible things with hard work and the right attitude.
A powerful message and entertaining read from beginning to end.

Engaging, quick read. The message is concise, easy to grasp, and easy to adapt to anyone's life. The thread of the book - the author's trials and struggles to convert an old abandoned sawmill into a home and leadership centre - had me laughing out loud many times. Highly recommended, especially if you're just heading into a massive multiple year project that you've drastically underestimated...

I agree with A Reader, Findley has long been ignored as an important Founder due to his status as head of the Whitehill, Smilie, Findley JUNTO that argued against the adoption of the Federal Constitution. I am also anxious to read the biography and am hopeful it will suit the subject.

I have not yet read the book, but have the chutzpah to be writing a review of it. Why? Because this is the first full biography of the subject, who may be the most important of the uncelebrated Founders. Or maybe the least celebrated of the important Founders? I hope that the biography is up to the subject. I give it four stars unread, because Findley deserves it.

In the first significant published debate of the new Republic, Findley both invented modern interest-group pluralism (an apercu of Gordon Wood), and provided a far better justification of the Jeffersonian ideal than Jefferson himself ever did. (This was the 1786 debate over the rechartering of the Bank of North America: brilliant polemical fireworks from both Findley and Robert Morris. Tom Paine participated from the sidelines, on the side of Morris and capital.) Findley was, as far as I know, the only realist about the new commercial Republic from we would today call the "left." (Jefferson certainly was not; neither was John Taylor of Caroline. Madison perhaps, although he did not seem troubled by the matter.)

And if that's not enough, Findley invented the committee system of Congress. A mighty politician and political thinker.

Nina Jaffe's version of Wonder Woman, which shows Princess Diana as a gangly adolescent instead of a musclebound adult sexpot, is a welcome change of pace and a wonderful way to introduce young girls to the first and greatest female superhero. Wonder Woman is complicated cultural icon -- she was created specifically to give girls a hero of their own, but comicbooks have always been primarily a boy's medium, and the Wonder Woman stories, despite their official embrace of feminism and nonviolence, are often violent and overly sexual.

Here, at last, is a Wonder Woman that you could actually read to little children and not feel weird about it. No hitting or hyperviolence, no skimpy costumes, nobody getting tied up or bloodied. It's nice; too bad there's so little to follow it up with -- if these books get you hooked, the only place to go from here is either into the new books (which are violent and have WW wearing skimpy costumes) or reprints of the old 1940s WW, which were a bit cluttered and often featured a mildly kinky S&M subtext. In the 1980s, feminist writer-illustrator Trina Robbins had a short-lived run on WW that was also nice, but those books haven't been available for years. Apparently the publishing market finds no profit in or room for a Wonder Woman that isn't as lurid and violence-obsessed as all the other mainstream comics. Pity. But if you want something to balance the Spider-Man and Batman marketing juggernauts, these small-sized chapterbooks are a good option.

Book One, "The Contest", introduces Princess Diana and the Amazons of Paradise Island, and tells the story of how young Diana proved herself the strongest and wisest of all her people, becoming their champion and ambassador to the outside world. It is based on the first part of the historic "Wonder Woman" origin story, first published in "Sensation" comics in the 1940s. The story is continued in later volumes, and while the writing and layout are nice, you'll definitely wonder what happens next, so try to track down the other Jaffe books as well. (ReadThatAgain book reviews)

This book was perfect for my young girls. Wonder Woman is a terrific role model (she doesn't look like a Barbie doll in this book) and my girls LOVE the story. It is simple and just the right speed for this reading level. The pictures are well done and engaging. We love reading this book and my girls ask for it every night!

I bought this book 3-4 years ago because I had read the Christ Clone Trilogy and wanted to read more about the the end of times, Antichrist, etc. B. Caldwell's book about knocked me off my chair! I couldn't believe how raw and realistic this book was. I say realistic because when you stop to think about it, the last years of this Earth will be anything but idyllic and Caldwell does a masterful job of creating the horror, brutality, and despair one should expect during these times. I am reading it again and finding the same level of awe that I did the first time around. I will not be getting rid of this book, even though the binding is of pooor quality and I lost one of the pages. Give it a try and, unless you have such a narrow viewpoint on the subject and are unwilling to appreciate FICTION, I can guarantee a ride you'll not forget!

A book on the Rapture time of Revelations. A Book about the Tribulation. That is what We All Fall Down tries to be? Or is it? Other than the people who are obviously the author's friends and colleagues, one has to back up from all of the reviews, and ask -- What is the author trying to convey?
That is the question here? In this book, some people have mistaken snappy or crass dialog, along with shocking sex and violence, as a good book.
In this book, since a Devil-controlled man rules the world, mankind has reached new lows of debauchery. And just because the author is able to really show how degrading some aspects of society are in the absence of the rule of natural or God's law, does not mean that this book is a success?
As a case in point: There is a chapter in the book that occurs near the beginning of the book, in which the protagonist of the book, Jimmy, witnesses the rape and murder of a male Christian youth while travelling on a prison ship from Eurasia to North America.
Is this shocking -- you bet it is.
But what is the author trying to convey? That the average person of the book will stoop to this level as the book progresses? No, because the protagonist Jimmy never even comes close to sinking to that low level. That the average man or woman will sink to that level. No, because none of Jimmy's friends remotely do the same.
So the reader comes away with the feeling that one has about rapists and murderers who are in prison -- that that is just how rapists and murderers are-- brute beasts.
The protagonist never changes, at all, over the course of the entire 6 1/2 years of the book. He is a selfish twit in the beginning of the book, and he is a selfish twit and the end.
I shall not give away the last "chapter", actually expanded paragraph of the book, but it is really not explained very well at all. That is a shame, consdiering all of the feelings and emotions that could have been explained by the protagonist Jimmy.
Maybe a warning about his new eternal state. Maybe a line of evangelism during this moment. A terrible wasted opportunity. Hundreds of teenage readers are reading your book, Mr Caldwell, but for some reason you did not close the deal.
Which leaves the reader wondering, once again, what is this book trying to accomplish? Christian evangelism? Christian apologetics? A skimmed over porno novel? We do not know.
Do not put down and trod over the Left Behind series. It knows where it is going, and it knows what it wants. A Christian evangelistic novel designed to present the end of this age, and to convert the reader to a belief system in Jesus Christ.
Who knows what Mr Caldwell wants? That is why, as neither a friend, acquaintaince, or foe; from the other side of America, I must say -- even Mr. Caldwell does not know what he wants out of this book.

The best of the apocalyptic literature that I've read. Yes, the f-bomb is in there over and over and over and over ad nauseum, but Jimmy's the type of character who talks like that. The ending is a surprise, but fits in with Jimmy's take on life and feels true to his character. The apocalypse itself is brutal, perhaps more brutal than any other of the stories which I've read. I'd rate this in front of the Christ Clone Trilogy (excellent, but the ending is a joke) and way out in front of Left Behind.

If I could give this 0 stars, I would. I bought this book,tried to read it and was so repulsed that I tore it up and threw it away. I felt like I needed a spiritual bath. I had never destroyed a book before and have not done since. I own hundreds of books of all different genres. I would never recommend anyone reading this. I was disappointed since there were so many positive reviews. Buyer beware. I am not a fan of the "Left Behind" series and was hoping for a decently written end times novel.

This is a rare novel in that most of the reviewers either absolutely loved it or absolutely hated it. It is much like being a Christian itself: People either believe in their salvation through Jesus Christ's Grace or not. There's not a lot of middle ground, though many live as though there is.

That said, I have read most of the endtimes books out there and this is the one novel that captures the social and political unraveling of society. There's no other way to put it. Left Behind was downright sanitary, and The Christ Clone Trilogy, while EXCELLENT as well, probably did not go far enough to depict what life will be like in the absence of ANY type of law.

Think about this: New Orleans fell into complete lawlessness less than two days after Katrina, with the Superdome being the epicenter of the depravity. That was after only two days...Try to imagine several years where there exists a vacuum of order.

This is DEFINITELY not a book for the squeamish, or for ANYONE under eighteen. If you became a Christian after the age of twenty-five or thereabouts, I think you will find something to relate to. Life itself is hard, and it all the harder while trying to go it alone, as this book's protagonist does. I think what troubles some of these reviewers is the book's similarity to life, where some make it out safely, and some, well...fall down.

Billerbeck is a very talented, funny writer with a great voice. I read this book half-way and couldn't read any further. Her "hero" (I'm laughing hysterically here) is pathetic. For his first date with Ashley, he asks her to go to dinner and a movie. Over dinner, he point blank asks her if she thinks another woman (woman B) will go out with him? Ashley curtly answers him, but he keeps prodding her about the other woman! Besides being incredibly rude and stupid, he is so unmanly. Can't he pursue his own women without Ashley's help? In a later book (I read half of that book too before I couldn't take it any more of Seth) Ashley and he have talked about marriage, and he is paying to take the other woman on a missionary trip to the same country he is traveling to! Does he really want Ashley (who cares? I don't) or is he truly that stupid? The man is in his thirties! He is either unbelievably nasty or has learned nothing in his years on the planet. And, if he is that stupid, would I want him to be the father of my children?

In 150 pages I can find nothing to like about the guy except his blue eyes, and even I begin to get nauseous at that thought. In a romance, I want to fall in love with the "hero" and I want him to be someone the heroine deserves.

Billerbeck is an excellent writer, and I would have loved to keep reading (I started two books, waiting, waiting for her to introduce something likable about the hero. I'm not waiting until the end of the book to find it.)

On a minor note, this is supposedly a Christian book - I don't read a lot in that genre, but, if I do, I want to feel the heroine's spirituality in some sense. I DON'T want to be preached at, but, if she really is a Christian, I should have some sense of her relationship to God and why she has chosen that path. I don't want to be told what she is - I want to feel it (even with Ashley's wry, sarcastic wit). And I don't mean an expression of her judgment of others - there is plenty of that and it is humorous - I mean the presence of God and her relationship therein. Unless her reason for being a Christian is entirely mental--I suppose that could be the case. But yet she threw out a wonderful man whose actual behavior was much more Christian than Seth's because he wasn't a "Christian". And maybe the way Billerbeck handles spirituality is why her books have a broader appeal--there is definitely a niche for her books, and I don't mean to disrespect that. In any case, I could have been perfectly happy with this book and found hours of enjoyment with a likable hero - this element is simply something additional which would make the characters more real and believable to me personally.

Despite clever and witty writing, the story line lacks much to be desired. A woman who is absolutely desperate to be married is not exactly my cup of tea. I love contemporary Christian fiction, but this was just LAME!!!

I wish I had read some of the reviews before I purchased this book. I was very disappointed with this book. I am a fan of chick lit and I am also christian. I read the description of the book and saw the cute illustration and thought it might be interesting to read.

The main character, Ashley Stockingdale is a prime example of a religious person and not a spritual person. She looks down on other's instead of seeing the good in them. She's self-centered and materialistic. She uses the bible to foster her view point and not as a tool to better herself. This book is not Witty or Original, it's a waste of good trees. I wish I could get my money back. It's not even worthy of donating to library.

As other reviewers have noted, there is quite a lot of racial undertones throughout this book (too many to point out). I felt very uncomfortable about reading this book.

Save your money and buy another book. I would like to recommend: "Emily Ever After" by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. It's a great and fun book to read. You will not be disappointed.

I really wanted to like this book (and the others in the series). This book was recommended to me by Amazon (based on my previous purchases). I thought this book would be great because it was about a single, Christian, in her late twenties/early thirties who was quite successful in her career. That describes me quite well. I, like the main character, am highly educated, successful, a woman in a male dominanted field, single, and Christian, however, this is where our similarities end. I am not obsessed with fashion nor "celebrities". I am not as quick to judge people as she is. I don't look at every single person I know to find the "reason" they aren't (or can't be) married. I certainly respect people of all races and cultural backgrounds. (Spoiler alert - I'm not sure all of this is in the first novel)

Ashley is a terrible example of a single, intelligent, successful Christian woman. She hates her job, relies on herself (and shopping) rather than God, and she hates being single. All she wants is to get married. And the author stresses (through Ashley's thoughts and words) that getting married should be every woman's goal. The 40something single Christian female character is looked down upon and pitied because she'll likely never marry. I don't know about you, but I'm not looking to read a book that makes me feel bad or incomplete because I'm single.

Ashley isn't willing to trust God, even when her life turns into a wreck. She is a bad friend, a bad sister, and a bad daughter. She barely can stand talking to her friend about her miscarriage because the spotlight is off of her. She can't stand her brother because he made fun of her when they were little and she barely forgives him for it (or speaks to him) even after he becomes a Christian. If God is willing to give him a new life, shouldn't Ashley (and the author) be as gracious? She isn't nice to her mother and at times (especially in the later books) is embarassed by her entire family. Not to say that families can't be embarassing, but isn't that part of their charm?

I did read books 2 and 3 hoping for the author and Ashley to redeem themselves, but it got worse. The harping on and making fun of Mensa membership comes across as though the author wants to have membership in it and can't quite make the cut. Being a person that has an IQ like those in Mensa, I was highly offended by this. Being smart does not make a person bad or rude, as all of the smart characters in this novel were. The male characters were incredibly unbelievable as people and in some of their actions. Also, enough with the whole "bus bait" (a woman has a better chance of being hit by a bus than marrying after 30) comments. Newsweek admitted it's not true, so really, did the author need to include that concept frequently throughout the book? The books did not improve and I did not have a better opinion of Ashley at the end, but I did determine I wouldn't read another Billerbeck novel.

I'm sure this book will be enjoyed by some people, but it is not my cup of tea. I can't recommend it to anyone who is a smart, single Christian woman. I certainly won't recommend it to anyone who is of Indian or Asian descent. I was really disappointed (and hurt) by this book as it attacks my life or at least aspects of it. I'm interested in books that entertain me, not in books that make me so angry I can barely finish them.

I'd highly recommend books by Trish Perry, Erynn Mangum (SO GOOD!), Denise Hildreth, Noah's Ark by Judy Baer, and Rachel Hauck. Also Dee Henderson.

I have the whole series! I really enjoy them and so do my friends.