Stevens Books

I love coming of age stories. I loved this one, even though I did not grow up in the Valley like Sophie and the shortcuts to my preteen heart are the words of other singers. It probably because at 12 or so I felt like an outsider -- I think a lot of people do (except cheerleaders, maybe) -- I know my carefully considered, carefully put-together personality was about as substantial then as the toilet paper which, not being as inventive as Sophie, I used to stuff my bra. I too think this would make a great movie -- it's evocative, rich with details of time and place--and outfits! And yet no matter the specifics, we are in that familiar country of teen-dom, waiting, waiting for something to happen. We are rooting for Sophie to get what she wants, even though right now, it's only what she thinks she wants.... Go Sophie!

Susan's story brings back memories for all of us who grew up on the other side of the hill. The Valley in the 70's had a feeling all it's own. This story does a wonderful job of capturing that distinctive time and place.

Sophie, Susan Hayden's protagonist, immediately takes readers into the naive-yet-brassy world of teenagers. Hayden's characters and dialogue are genuine yet slightly askew, a complelling combination that rings true to the world she describes. Tension and humor dance in these pages, creating an enjoyable balance. I much enjoyed "Cat Stevens Saved My Life" and recommend it.

"Lew Barclay's face looks like spare parts from a flesh junkyard."

Susan Hayden is a master at stringing words together to visually drop you right into her characters' lives. This coming-of-age novel is a real page turner and not to be missed by anyone serious about reading good literature.

What a wonderful book - humor, the wisdom of the young and naive and a heartfelt story of coming of age. The adults scurrying for their pleasures while the children try to understand and create a reality that makes sense to them.
There is a Sophie in all of us, using whatever means to keep her emotions in check, trying to understand how to belong and make sense of her life. Despite the fact that the story is written in the seemingly safety of the San Fernando Valley, the material life is in conflict to the supportive life of these girls. Thank goodness for friendship. Susan captures the tenderness, the betrayal, and the seeking of an outside icon to make her life rich and beautiful.

This is an incredible mounaineering text, and it is well put together.
The item was in perfect condition, as described, and arived promptly. Thank you!

The best book I've about getting ready to face mountains.
Incredible amount of great info.
A wonderful learning tool.

I was gifted this book at age 16; nearly eight years later I look through it constantly, and realize I always have...it was used as a high-school outdoor-ed text, it is considered the bible by most I know, and it has been around for along time..Three Cheers for the Mountaineers!

This book pretty much covers everything you need to know about mountaineering. It does so in an easy to read, concise style. It really stresses the philosophy of being an educated and environmentally aware mountaineer. The illustrations are also great...very clear and informative.
You won't be disappointed with this book.
Here's the Table of Contents:

Part I (Outdoor Fundamentals)
(1) First Steps
(2) Clothing and Equipment
(3) Camping and Food
(4) Physical Conditioning
(5) Navigation
(6) Wilderness Travel
(7) Leave No Trace
(8) Stewardship and Access

Part II (Climbing Fundamentals)
(9) Basic Safety System
(10)Belaying
(11)Rapelling

Part III (Rock Climbing)
(12) Alpine Rock-Climbing Technique
(13) Rock Protection
(14) Leading on Rock
(15) Aid Climing

Part IV (Snow, Ice and Alpine Climbing)
(16) Snow Travel and Climbing
(17) Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue
(18) Alpine Ice Climbing
(19) Waterfall Ice and Mixed Climbing
(20) Expedition Climbing

Part V (Emergency Prevention and Response)
(21) Leadership
(22) Safey
(23) First Aid
(24) Alpine Rescue

Part VI (The Mountain Environment)
(25) Mountain Geology
(26) The Cycle of Snow
(27) Mountain Weather

Never before have I found such a complete reference manual for how to plan and execute trips in the outdoors. The book is timeless in its core message of preparedness and finding freedom in the outdoors. It collects information from a wide range of topics such as how to choose equipment for your needs to cooking in the outdoors and proper mountaineering skills. There is some discussion of ethics and philosophy, but no more than is necessary.

I just love this book, its addictive! When choosing a book to read my daughter before bed I usually end up picking this one!

Great for pre-schoolers. Some of the rhymes are a bit forced but it is charming nonetheless. A very fun read!

This has become one of our favorite books for our 6 mo old son. Everyone thinks its funny when we read it, including him. If only he could eat the pages!

It bores my son after a couple of weeks and he's not yet three. At first though, he did really like it. Cute rhymes that are easy to remember, and he loved screaming the responses at first.

A favorite read-aloud for toddlers and preschoolers! The simple questions, cadence and rhyme make it easy to read and remember. The board book version is excellent for little hands learning how to handle books.

Like some of the other reviewers here, I grew up on the Trixie Belden books, and I also dreamed of being a member of the Bob-Whites! Being a horse-lover, too, the fact that they all rode horses was an added bonus.

I agree that Trixie and the gang were "real" characters: they teased each other, had spats, screwed up at times, and each had a distinct personality, yet all were extremely lovable. I especially always enjoyed the bantering b/t Trixie and her know-it-all brother, Mart. Yet for all the teasing you knew they really loved each other. I was an only child, and although I did have a close friend like Honey, I would've loved to have brothers like Trixie's Brian & Mart, and Honey's adopted brother, Jim.

I am so happy that Trixie and the gang are not considered too "old-fashioned" to appeal to a new generation. These books are truly ageless and timeless. I still have my original collection from when I was a kid (won't say my age, but that was many, many moons ago). I cherish them, will never part with them, and I STILL re-read them every so often, and STILL enjoy them immensely.

There were many Trixie Belden books after the original six by Julie Campbell, but IMO the ones by Julie Campbell are the best.

Thirteen-year-old Trixie Belden couldn't be more shocked to believe that she's stuck in boring old Sleepyside for the summer, while her two older brothers are away at camp. But then a millionaire moves into the mansion next door, and he has a daughter Trixie's age, named Honey Wheeler. Soon, the two girls have embarked on an adventure to see whether a ghost truly lives in the house nearby which Trixie has christened, the Miser's Mansion. But what they find is really no ghost at all, but rather a teenage boy named Jim, whose runaway from home, and is looking for his great-Uncle, who just happens to be Trixie's miser. Now the two girls and their new friend are searching for a so-called fortune within the walls of the Miser's Mansion, and having a not-so-boring summer after all.

I have been a fan of the NANCY DREW and BOBBSEY TWINS mysteries for years, so when I came across the TRIXIE BELDEN series in the store recently, I just knew that I had to try it out. Luckily, I am pleased to report, the series is as good as everyone said it would be. Trixie is an adorable character who is hardheaded, and brave, while sensitive and kind at the same time. Her vivacious personality brings the story to life, as do the quirky personalities of her friends, and the lovely black and white drawings contained within the book. Fans of NANCY DREW and the BOBBSEY TWINS will find themselves flocking to the new re-printing of the TRIXIE BELDEN books, and begging for more.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This book is the best book I ever read! It is a wonderful book to start off the series of Trixie Belden.

This was my first time reading a Trixie Belden book and I enjoyed it immensely! In this book, Trixie meets a new friend, Honey, who moves in next door. While exploring an old mansion with Honey, they discover a runaway boy. He has runaway from his stepfather, who treats him cruelly.
These stories are cliffhangers! I love them and advise you to read them all, as I plan to do.

This story is one of my fave series because I love misterys so much. This book is about a girl and has nothing to do in the summer time in till she meats Hunny her best friend and thats the begining of the misterys! READ IT NOW!

I LOVE Jan Brett's books! I buy them anytime I see them whether on sale, old ones on Amazon as remainders, or new.. They make great gifts. I have a backup of many to give to children, particularly my granddaughters. The illustrations in this one are so beautiful it is really a keepsake to save as well as enjoy. Give it as a gift and you will make some child very happy and a parent happy,too.

Beautiful illustrations reprinted from over 40 sources. All illustrations are credited on last page. Book measures 9"X11.5" Only down side was that the price changes by the day. One day it's almost $11 another it's $8.97. But that's just the way Amazon works; something to be aware of. (It's worked in my favor often while shopping at midnight--price suddenly went down!)

it's a classic, so of course you can't go wrong, but as far as the best one being out there... well, I'm sure there are much better illustrated ones out there than this one

I bought this for my grandchildren last Christmas. The wording is traditional, and the illustrations are wonderful! This has become a part of the Christmas Eve tradition at my daughter's house.

These illustrations are the best ever for The Night Before Christmas...Stunning even! A worthy heirloom Christmas Book. The illustrations cover both sides of the page for a large panoramic view seldom seen in other books...

I bought this book originally back in 1983-1986, I'm not sure which printing. It quickly came to be my favorite and I was heartsick a few years ago when it was lost during a move. Recently, I was able to get another copy. The fact it had such an impact on me as a teenager only adds to the enjoyment now. I don't think books read when you are younger should be given less acclaim than books read as an adult. I still like reading my old copy of A Wrinkle In Time, which I first read in grade school. Find a copy of this book, paperback or e-book and read it. Maybe you won't care for it, but it just might carry you to a fantasy world of a boy, his unicorn, and their spectacular adventures. It well could become your favorite, too.

In a long interview in an online magazine called wildchildpublishing (I don't think Amazon will let me put up a link, so it's that name plus dot plus com), Boyett announced he is working on a sequel to ARIEL called ELOI. It takes place on the west coast 30 years after ARIEL. He says he hopes to have it finished by the end of the year (2005). It's been 20-something years!

I really love this book. Except the last chapter. Ruins a perfectly good book for absolutely no reason except maybe for the author to inject some "realism" into it or to get in a personal fantasy. My advice, rip the last chapter off and enjoy a good read.

awesome book, i was completely addicted for awhile. I've got no special attraction to unicorns, but this book is just great!

Every so often I like to escape the reality of this world we live in and find a place where there is some magic. I've always been a pushover for three things, unicorns, dragons, and elves. And the unicorn on the cover of this left no room for any decisions to be made - I was going to read it!

Ariel takes place in North America, in the 1980's. Everything is familiar, from microwaves to Cities, to music. Sadly, nothing works. Anything that took electricity, or combustion, will work no more. It has been five years since the "Change" and those who have managed to survive have adapted to a new way of life. At the same time the combustion method vanished, so did pollution. It is all quite unexplainable, but the Earth is a glittering, clean, fresh new place to live.

Pete Garey survived the Change, although his friend and companion did not. Pete became a loner and spent almost two years wandering through the cities and being a scavenger. Armed with nothing more than a blow gun and his wits, Pete managed to survive and make the best of his situation. He was doing quite well, until the day that Ariel walked out of the forest.

Ariel was something from mythology, not from the mundane. A real unicorn. A vision of purity and beauty. Pete named her Ariel. The two became part of one another, "familiars." They journeyed together, but someone has decided that Ariel's horn would be worth having. A Necromancer has taken over New York and won't rest until he has Ariel's horn in his possession. He cares not whether she lives or dies, nor does he care about her companion.

Pete is lucky enough to meet up with some people who would rather not be ruled by a Necromancer. People who would prefer to be free. And thus, we are plunged into a small war of good versus evil.

They could run, but then they would always be running. Pete loves Ariel enough to sacrifice his life for her. When the Necromancer manages to kidnap Ariel, Pete vows to wage a full scale war against him, as he makes his own escape. There is one thing Pete seems to have forgotten, though. Unicorns are only able to be touched by virgins. Will Pete be able to withstand the wiles of the rather bodacious, but innocent Shaughnessy, or the experienced and stunning Theresa? Will flesh and desire win out over love and morals? Can they save the wondrous Unicorn from the Necromancer?

There is only one way you'll find out - read the book, and escape into a familiar but so very different world for a time.

Review Originally Posted at www.linearreflections.com

I bought this book when i was working for border's as another light read, and although i liked the firat in the series better, I still fell in love with it. It was exciting and detailed and well written. Finally Seth does something stupid with good intentions instead of selfish ones. We get to meet the brownies. And we also get to see more of dale and his brother clearing up alot of unanswered questions about dale and his bleak outlook we've seen before. Oh, and we get to see my favorite puppet again, yes i am a mendigo freak (for those of you who havent read the first book, mendigo is a limberjack, google it if you want more info). I had wierd and funny dreams three nights in a row after reading this and it all togeather gave me a warm fuzzy satisfied feeling throughout and after.
End Strange unorganized rant...

As a result of being touched by fairy magic, Kendra is now the center of attention from the Society of the Evening Star. After trying to kidnap her and Seth, they escape back to Fablehaven, where they must try and secure one of the five keys to a prison holding an ancient demon - before the Society of the Evening Star does! On the way they have to defeat a demon intent on devouring Seth and figure out who the traitor is bent on stealing the key!

If you get this book, get #3 as well - Grip of the Shadow Plague. You won't be able to stop reading until both are done!

I couldn't wait for kendra to get her next powers. As I finished the first book and awaited the next book I wondered who was going to save the day next. It was suspenseful. It was like a mystery thriller wih the question, "who sent who to their deaths?" The author gave a description about what humans thought as true myths and reshaped those myths into his own evil monsters and fit them into his story. 1 or 2 of the few pictures will probably freak you out. This book is a must read.

Seth and Kendra Sorenson are looking forward to another summer visit to Fablehaven with their grandparents who are really caretakers of a preserve for magical creatures. However, Fablehaven's magical mayhem comes to them as a fairy creature appears in their school, and a mysterious group bent on the destruction of magical preserves, the Society of the Evening Star, targets the kids at home. Seth and Kendra head for Fablehaven for protection, but also to help solve a mystery that could be a greater threat to Fablehaven than they faced last summer. New characters, new mysteries, and a bigger view of Brandon Mull's magical world make "Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star" a must read. Not only is this a fast paced, fun read, it also has some good lessons to learn about obedience, authority, decision making, and courage without being preachy. Just like the first installment in this series, I can't wait until my kids are old enough to read this. The action and other aspects may be a bit intense for kids under 10, but adolescents and teens will love this one. Parents will love it, too!

The moment that I finished reading the first Fablehaven book, I went online and ordered this one. My husband and I both loved the book, and couldn't wait for the third one to come out. I don't know what more to say than the other reviewers have already said, but I just had to add my vote. If you're considering buying this book, do it! We are so glad we discovered this series and they will always be part of our family library.

While this is Mark Stevens' first novel, you'd never know it. Stevens exhibits a mastery of storytelling and a thorough knowledge of the Colorado Rockies where the story is set.

Allison Coil, recovering from the trauma of surviving a commerical airline crash, leaves her fast-paced world and finds herself working as a hunting guide on horseback in the Eagle-Vail area. A blinding snowstorm doesn't stop animal rights activists from camping out and protesting, and Allison also forges her way home from a camp when a shot rings out. She sees something suspicious in the distance, but can't be sure of what it means. However, it soon becomes clear that a protestor and another hunting guide are both missing. While risking her life and facing real threats, she acts on instinct and slowly begins to unravel the mysteries to find the truth.

A plot filled with twists and nasty, greedy characters keep the suspense at a high level and are nicely interwoven in an easy style with good character development and a terrific setting. Mark Stevens as an author to watch - a great read!

Superb! Mark Stevens develops a group of interesting characters and thrusts them into a compelling story set in the fascinating world of guided Elk hunts (about which I previously knew nothing, but which I enjoyed learning about). For me, the book was a real page-turner in two respects: I eagerly turned the pages forward as I became engrossed in the story, and I found myself turning them backward to re-read Stevens' moving descriptions of the mountains and the ever-changing Colorado weather. This book would be particularly absorbing if read while traveling on an airplane (for reasons related to the plot that I will not divulge here), or if read within sight of the spectacular terrain that Stevens describes so well.

I went on a guided trip into the flat tops last summer. Wish I would have had the book with me. It would have made the trip that much more enjoyable. I liked Allison the main character. Her strength and charater were easy to imagine in that setting. The book is a real page turner. As a hunter and lover of mysteries, I found this book to be enjoyable on many levels. It is a must read for anyone that loves outfitting and guided hunts.

Mark Stevens brings a new voice to fiction wtih Antler Dust. Allison Coil was believable and tough even with all the high country mayhem.

Hooray for Mark Stevens in setting an evocative, fast paced, groundbreaking crime-adventure story in the gorgeous and storied Flattops of Colorado. The country breathes and lives in this new novel--you can smell the fir trees and hear the strange echoes of hoof on stone in the high country bowls. Stevens knows this country by heart and he takes you there with expertly crafted prose. Groundbreaking because the heroine is a hunting guide--a female hunting guide in a world of tough--and in this case--often ruthless men. The characters are great. They speak as they were born to speak and the reader gets sucked right into this high country drama. I welcome this brave new practitioner for making this crack-the-case story fresh and fun and gripping. Bravo.

I read this book years ago. It scared me so bad then that I would have to put it down and walk away from it to regroup and I have never forgotten it. I read it again recently and it scared the @#$% out of me as if it were the first time. I have never read a book that totally sucked me in and took me on such a freakish, disturbing nightmare into a killers SICK life. It's just plain old scarey, terrifying, horrific and captivating. You have to keep pinching yourself and keep saying "Its only a story...its only a story." If you like to get scared THIS is the book for you.

Thomas Bishop/Vincent Mungo is THE most heinous killer ever committed to print, all the more so because he appears to be an all-American, apple-cheeked, tousle-haired young man. He's a complete psychopath who believes he's on a mission to kill women. And what he does with the bodies ... well, the book leaves a lot of that up to the imagination, but it must be pretty awful.

The book is an epic, beginning a generation before the killer's career and bringing in a huge array of cops, reporters, psychologists and politicians (usually with self-serving agendas) who are part of the nationwide manhunt. The book is written in the dry, clinical prose of standard nonfiction, which makes it even more chilling. No purple prose at all. No book has ever better described the kind of horrifying childhood abuse (his mother is a real piece of work, as frightening in her own way as her son) that creates psychopathic killers.

Absolutely fascinating, but profoundly disturbing. I lent it to my brother, a tough customer, and even he was shaken by it. Forget Norman Bates and Hannibal Lecter. Vincent Mungo's the real deal.

In "By Reason Of Insanity" author Shane Stevens's 511 page novel depicts a scenario where the convicted rapist Caryl Chessman raped a woman prior to his capture and later execution in 1958. She did not report the rape, but she perceived that she had gotten pregnant from the encounter. Her husband was soon killed in an armored car robbery, but their relationship had been rocky from the start, and after his death, she began using her maiden name of Bishop, and her son was born as Thomas Bishop.

As her short life progressed, she slid into insanity, which included many beatings of her child. Finally, at age 10, Thomas Bishop committed matricide and he was confined at Willow, a local insane asylum, probably for life. In a brilliantly planned and executed escape, the 25 year-old Bishop began a nation-wide rein of terror, leaving a trail of murder and mayhem as he traveled east to New York City.

A nation-wide magazine was running a special edition on Bishop, and thus enters our hero, the hard-charging and experienced reporter Adam Kenton. I generally don't care for books which glorify lawyers, politicians and especially reporters which are generally both lazy and clueless and rate right up there with used car salesmen and aluminum siding telemarketers. But Kenton's character was an exception. With skilled and well thought out snares and traps, Kenton tried to first correctly identify Bishop, and then run him to ground. The narrative depicted his many defeats and minor victories as he fought his way towards the climax of the story.

Mechanically, the book was difficult to read in some areas and was too long as a result. As an example, in each of the towns Bishop visited, the author felt the need to describe in minute detail, exactly where he was in the town which was of no interest except to current or former residents of the location. There was also an excessive use of our character's dreams; word-filling narrative, which the reader quickly learns to skip on through.

With that said though, Stevens' clever and well-laid out plot carried the day. A solid 4 1/2 star effort and the reader's time is well spent with this one.

This is an amazing book when looking into the insane mind. The political aspect is mainly ignorable but the main function of the writing is very worthwhile.

I bought and read this book when it was originally published way back in the 70's and after all these years I have yet to read another serial killer thriller type book that equals it. Why this was never made into a movie is beyond me. If Silence of the Lambs gave you the chills and you enjoy serial killer thrillers then you'll love this. It's no doubt the Grand Daddy of them all! Belongs in the Hall of Fame for serial killer novels...highly recommended!

I didn't like this at all. Very poorly written. Many better books out there.

On March 28, 2003 Writer's Digest announced that A Christmas Dozen won the Honorable Mention in Best Inspirational Book category of its Self-Published Book Awards. (author note)

Steve Burt's stories are perfect reading especially at Christmas but heart warming the whole year. We will include each of these with the traditional "Twas the Night Before Christmas" reading during family gatherings. Great writing and touching themes to each of the stories for all ages.

I find that my reaction to Steve Burt's stories in A Christmas Dozen, is always the same - a smile and a tear. A smile because my heart has been warmed and a tear because of the sublime beauty of the human spirit expressed in simple words. These stories are a delight and should be read by anyone, young and old, seeking a peaceful respite from the chaos of a hectic holiday season or from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life. The few minutes you spend reading one of these gems can alter your mood for the rest of the day. Steve Burt has truly given us a gift to treasure!

Playing these tapes in my car gives me the feeling of having my own personal counseling session. The Story-telling and stories are supberb. While listening - you smile, giggle,laugh and cry. They are fantastic. I recognize areas, names and characteristics of many of the locals on the east end. Thank you Steve.