Fields Books

When I read this book three years ago I never heard of a Decathlon and I never thought I'd be one. When my mom got me this book for me for the first time I was interested, and wanted to find out what this book was about. I was in track but I only ran the mid-distants runs. I do like to play around with different events and when I did I would do better then the best on the track team. So I began to compete in some events durning track meets just to find out that I was doing well in them. But my track coach would disapprove of trying too many events and not concentrating on my mid-distant runs. Well, I read this book and was introduced to the decathlon and I wanted to do it, and I did. I have competed in the decathlon for two years and have increase my score by 1000 points over that time and plan on doing even better next time. I am now training very hard for it and this time I'm going to be more ready then ever. This has done great things for me and Dave Johnson's life is so similar to mine. I was also a rebal in my early years and then I got a sign from God and was instantly changed. I would appreciate it if Dave Johnson's would read this. I want to think him for changing my life. -Aaron M. Mills

This is a book that you can often compare to times in your own spiritual life. I am 12 years old and got this book last Christmas. I have read the whole way through it lots of times, and it has never been any less exciting.

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (5/08)

Tina Field Howe's "Alysa of the Fields"is set on a planet Xunar-kun, some 3000 years after a catastrophic event, referred to as the Cat'clysm, wiped out most of the planet's population. Alysa is member of the Field Folk, one of the two clans remaining in the area. The other clan, the Trailmen, is considered by the Field Folk to be rather uncivilized and quite dangerous; and the two meet rarely, only to barter for the goods that the other clan does not possess. Alysa's father, Abso, is one of the rare Field Folk who actually interact with the Trailmen in his role of the Trader. After Abso's untimely demise, Alysa's world is thrown for a spin - everything she's been taught and everything she believed in seems to be very shaky all of a sudden.

Alysa's character is one that adolescents, especially girls, will be able to relate to extremely well. She is a child in many ways, wise beyond her years in others, vulnerable and extremely brave at the same time, obedient, yet questioning authority. Ms. Field Howe captures the oftentimes extremely difficult world of an adolescent perfectly. She teaches important life lessons without unnecessary moralizing or preaching. She shows how individual desires and needs are not always aligned with the way others live and are taught to live. More importantly, she shows us that it is important to follow our dreams, that things can change, that questioning the authority is not necessarily bad, that bad things can and do happen to good people, that different is not dangerous and that perseverance usually pays off.

The world of Xunar-kun is beautifully described in great detail. While it might remind you of the books about the prehistoric tribes a lot, it does have a charm all of its own. I've enjoyed the descriptions of day-to-day life of both the Field Folk and the Trailmen a lot. The Planting Calendar is charming and certainly unique. My favorite parts of the book dealt with the differences between the Field Folk and the Trailmen - which just like in today's world were mostly perceived and not real. The more we study our "neighbors", the more similarities and common areas we usually discover; and that is one lesson that is taught to perfection in "Alysa of the Fields".

It will be interesting to see where the author leads this charming story, "Alysa of the Fields," in the sequel - or even better, sequels. Although it has been very many moons since I was an adolescent, I am looking forward to the new `Tellings of Xunar-kun.' There is a lot of literature supposedly geared towards adolescents that should - and hopefully will - find its way to the bookshelves of adults as well, and I believe Tina Field Howe will join the ranks of J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Cornelia Funke and the likes shortly.

Reviewed by Ian McCurley (age 14) for Reader Views (4/08)

"Alysa of the Fields" begins when Alysa, a young Field Folk woman, is crying by a stream. She lives on the alien world of Xunar-kun. Three-thousand years ago a great event called the Cataclysm took place, ravaging the land and killing most of the inhabitants of the world. One of the few remaining groups, the homesteaders, was led, just before the cataclysm, to the mountains where they remained safe since that day. Years later, when Alysa's father died, she becomes a trader. The trader's job is to trade with the wondering nomadic tribe of the Trailmen. After becoming lost in the snow and being rescued by one of the tribesmen, she learns that they are not indeed savages, but intelligent and skillful people with origins close to their own. Now, when children are being snatched by mutants from the cataclysm, Alysa must go, with no survival knowledge whatsoever, on a long journey to find these people and request eight.

Tina Field Howe writes so exquisitely, though targeted at girls, male readers can find some enjoyment. While it takes time to get into, "Alysa the Fields" will enrapture you and you will be unable to put it down. Readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic events, cultural exchanges and unlikely heroes, will almost certainly enjoy this book. Be sure to read Book Two in the "Tellings of Xunar-kun."

I believe strongly in promoting local authors, and Tina Field Howe makes this easy. Tina is located in Corning, NY, and has a beautiful website showcasing her many talents as artist, illustrator, graphic designer, writer, and editor. She works with media as diverse as stained glass to screenplays. Most recently, I have had the pleasure of becoming absorbed in Tina's novel, "Alysa of the Fields". The first in a series, Alysa's story tells of life on Xunar-kun, a planet with many similarities to Earth, with a history that is a cautionary "what-if" parallel to our own. Howe smoothly combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, anthropology, survival stories, spirituality, nature studies, and young adult fiction. I found "Alysa of the Fields" to be a compelling, though not heavy-handed read, one that should be engaging for teens and adults alike.

I like some science fiction and fantasy, but I tend to be picky. When I started out with "Alysa of the Fields", I was a little leery, afraid that it would be one more science fiction story where the author indulges in creating a different planet with beings that have exotic fur or colors or brow ridges, but are otherwise humanoid. That's one thing I personally don't like about many sci-fi series on TV: I get bored with the "planet- and new-alien-culture-of-the-week" approach. This, however, is exactly where Tina Howe triumphs. Her background in anthropology and her creative interest in people shine through in her descriptions of life among the Field-Folk and the Trailmen. Tina includes explanations of how people in these two separate tribes have adapted to daily life these 3,000 years "A.C." (After Cataclysm). Included are details about how they cook their food, what they eat, their style of dress, their matrimonial ceremonies, their division of labor, their pets, and so much more. None of this is boring, since it is well-incorporated into the storyline. I never felt I was reading description for descriptions' sake.

Like any society, stories and skills, beliefs and traditions are taught, practiced, and passed on to insure the survival of Alysa's people, the Field-Folk. Besides twice-yearly meetings for trade, during which a form of sign language is used, the "Folk" do not interact with the Trailmen, whom they believe to be a fierce, aggressive, dangerous people. But the Folk and the Trailmen are on the cusp of tremendous, far-reaching changes. Alysa, quite unintentionally at first, is the catalyst.

Alysa is a likeable character, perhaps made all the more so by the fact that she is a somewhat unlikely heroine. She displays no unusual talents, has felt no calling to special work in her young life. She has been content to work in the fields, and keep house with her family. Alysa is genuine, caring, and loyal; she is firmly dedicated to those she loves. Following her strength of heart has never caused her problems, until the sudden death of her father changes the plans made for her adult life. Having no knowledge of the events she will set in motion, or of the consequences for all the inhabitants of the planet, she begins to question the traditions of her people, their beliefs about the strange Trailmen, the history they have always taught. With these events, and with Alysa's actions, we the readers find many ways to connect with and learn from this book. Tina Howe has created a story that celebrates following your convictions and that encourages us to look at people who are different from us with respectful curiosity, openness, tolerance, and a desire to learn.

I AM AN AVID BASEBALL FAN AND AFTER READING AMERICAS BALLPARKS I KNOW WHY. THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE MOST INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING SPORTS BOOKS ON THE MARKET. THE AUTHOR EXPRESSES A LOVE FOR THE GAME AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. THE INFORMATION ACCOMPANIED BY THE SPECTACULAR PICTURES WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO VISIT EACH ONE OF THESE NATIONAL TREASURES, AND IN THE CASE OF STADIUMS PAST, BUILD A TIME MACHINE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY. AND WHAT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER IS THE AUTHORS SELFLESS DEVOTION TO THE EMERGENCY SERVICE COMMUNITY. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL.

New York City Firefighter Ken Hogan is a hero and a fantastic author. Baseball stadiums books are my thing and I have bought many of them. This one is one of the best ever written. Hogan goes to great lengths talking about the old forgotten ballparks and there are many many never before published photos. You will be 110% satisfied if you buy this book. God Bless you FF Hogan and thank you. NEVER FORGET 9/11.

This book was written by our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt. TR did much for conservation in America, he tells of hunting bear and of the missed shots. This book in a great read, it covers black bear and grizzlys. it is a classic. That's why I give this book 5*

it was gooooood............verrrry gooooood

I went right to the middle section of this book to read about The Haskell Silk Mills in Westbrook, Maine. Why? Because my Great Grandfather Edwin Haskell was the founder. Excellent research by the author and her obvious love of the subject matter gave us, the Haskell descendants, an incredible look at the success and subsequent failure of this local business. I learned much more about my forebears and the operation of the mills than I had picked up anecdotally all these many years. If you have an interest in the textile industry in New England or in fact, anywhere. This is a wonderful read about the days before the synthetics came to town.
Ben Haskell
Brewer, ME

Co-authored by a former costume curator, a professor of math and science history, and a costume curator, three top authors create a high-quality scholarly analysis of an industry in AMERICAN SILK 1830-1930: ENTREPRENEURS AND ARTIFACTS. At one time America's silk industry was the largest in the world, so even though it hasn't nearly the stature today, it's an essential piece of American and business history. Here three case studies of silk company production mills span the heyday of the silk industry era and cover the technological and social issues surrounding silk. A key college-level title for any holding serious about American and American business history.

This book is a must for all public and college libraries so that the thousands of young women in high schools and colleges who run every day have access to the history of their sport. It includes everything anyone would want to know about women's track and field history...louise mead tricard (author)

As a Physical Education teacher and former Chair of a SUNY Department of Health and Physical Education, I found this book to be an excellent resource. It is well researched, compulsively thorough, and presented clearly. The book is a boon for those looking for any information related to women's track and field from its inception in 1895 to 1980. It follows the significant setbacks and victories of women's track and field in an interesting narrative backed up by reams of statistics.

I really love Lone Pine field guides. Each book has its own style, but every Lone Pine guide I've read, including this one, has more than just identification tools - they actually teach you about the species they describe. That being said, the keys included in this book are very helpful - no matter how great the pictures, salamanders still confuse me. However, the key included makes it easy to identify a salamander (assuming you get more than a fleeting glance) or frog. Another hit for Lone Pine.

No scaley 'ol reptiles here! Just everything and more that you frog and salamander hobbyists want to know. Great quality color photos throughout, and book is organized so it is easily referred to again and again. I was especially impressed with the identification keys, photos and illustrations of egg, tadpole and juvenile (as well as adult) forms of most species.
Much of the information is applicable to the rest of the United States. This book just knocked my socks off--and I collect books on amphibians!

This spoof of field guides really shows the wit and ingenuity of its creators. You'll laugh through the entire guide.

I have owned a copy of these books since I first heard them reviewed on NPR. I still laugh every time I pull them from the shelf. Excellent gifts for your naturalist friends and others!!

I gave this book to my 3 yr old neice and 6 yr old nephew, and they were as fascinated by it as their mother and father were. The pictures are wonderful and the text really gives you the feel of what the lives of one of the last groups of hunter gatherers in the world are like. And it paints a detailed and fascinating picture of what it is like to be an anthropologist studying and loving a people whose lives are so different from our own. A really enjoyable book.

This biography of the young Venezuelan anthropologist Magdalena Hurtado provides a very clear description of her fieldwork among one of the world's last foraging peoples, the Ache indians of Paraguay. This beautifully illustated book provides the best available introduction for young readers of what it is an anthropologist does. Although the publishers recommend the book for ages 9-12, my guess is that students in junior high and high school --perhaps especially young women -- will find the book both informative and inspirational.

Absolutely wonderful book, pages chock full of useful information, it's hard to put down. After your done reading it the charts and graphs are the type of concise information useful to anyone in the field.

A must have for those interested in the field aspects of archaeology. Covers everything from surveying, mapping,sampling, soil stratigraphy, and even about finding a job! If you are new to archaeology, you definately will like this book.