Stone Books

With the troubled times in Israel at the moment, this book has even more impact. Although this book is set in the 1940's, during WW11 it is a timeless story written with courage and heart-wrenching honesty from the point of view of Hannah, a charactor as well, or better, defined and written as any charactor in fine literature.
A book that should also be given to sophisticated teenage readers as it teaches a chapter of history that is too often overlooked.
Recommended very highly.

I read this book becuase my wife was raving about it. I was equally as moved by BOAT OF STONE, but I found Maureen Earl's first novel, GULLIVER QUICK even better. When you've read BOAT OF STONE, read her first book. You will see a writer of considerable talent. Given that both books are so very different I look forward to seeing what Earl's next book will be. Clearly this is a writer of skill, and one to be watched.

The protaganist of this amazing book, Hanna Sommerfield, is a woman I will carry within me for always. The story, given that it is true, is made doubly interesting given that it is told by Hanna. This book had me riveted. Hats off to Ms Earl.

A book of tremendous force. A tragedy expertly transformed into determination and hope, a powerful tribute to life, to love and courage. Intensely gripping, this book swept me into a world so real that I could smell and hear the backdrops.

I wept at the triumphant ending, at Hanna's indomitable spirit, her humor and her abiding love for mankind. Lady Crawford and Gerda are marvelous characters, as are all, but Hanna herself is outstanding.

This little known history of WW11 is written with extreme sensitivity by Maureen Earl. Her ability to knit fact with fiction, and her seamless story telling, passing back and forth in time, is executed with true grace and talent. I heartily recommend this book for all. It's high time this story was brought to light. Set in Europe, then on the ill fated ship, the SS Atlantic, the book tells the true story of the British imprisoning desperate refugees on a tropical island off the east coast of Africa. The amazing turns in this story are due to Ms Earl's exceptional writing. That we are able to laugh while reading this book is a credit to the author and the unforgettable Hanna Sommerfield, the main character of this remarkable book. Five Stars.

the chalk box kid

The Calk box kid









Crcc the walls where about to fall down Gorge ran to the other side



The Calk Box Kid by Clyde Bulla was about a kid named Gorge likes to plant and draw flowers .One

day Gorge moved to a knew town and a knew school but Gorge did not make any friends .Gorge did

not talk to anyone. Gorge got bulled by this kid named Vince because he said'' you think you school is

better then ours just because it bigger



My favorite part was when Gorge stood up to this boy named Vince. Vince was the meanest person in the whole entire school.



I think the author's purpose was to teach us to make friends, be nice to others, and to have fun at school.



I think a lot of kids should read this book because I give this book five stars. You learn some things like how to be a good friend and how to treat others like you want to be treated.
By Eugene



Crcc the walls where about to fall down Gorge ran to the other side



The Calk Box Kid by Clyde Bulla was about a kid named Gorge likes to plant and draw flowers .One

day Gorge moved to a knew town and a knew school but Gorge did not make any friends .Gorge did

not talk to anyone. Gorge got bulled by this kid named Vince because he said'' you think you school is

better then ours just because it bigger



My favorite part was when Gorge stood up to this boy named Vince. Vince was the meanest person in the whole entire school.



I think the author's purpose was to teach us to make friends, be nice to others, and to have fun at school.



I think a lot of kids should read this book because I give this book five stars. You learn some things like how to be a good friend and how to treat others like you want to be treated.
The Calk box kid









Crcc the walls where about to fall down Gorge ran to the other side



The Calk Box Kid by Clyde Bulla was about a kid named Gorge likes to plant and draw flowers .One

day Gorge moved to a knew town and a knew school but Gorge did not make any friends .Gorge did

not talk to anyone. Gorge got bulled by this kid named Vince because he said'' you think you school is

better then ours just because it bigger



My favorite part was when Gorge stood up to this boy named Vince. Vince was the meanest person in the whole entire school.



I think the author's purpose was to teach us to make friends, be nice to others, and to have fun at school.



I think a lot of kids should read this book because I give this book five stars. You learn some things like how to be a good friend and how to treat others like you want to be treated.
By Eugene

When you read this book you will be amazed! This book is amazing
to me and probably to you to.I mean I love this book it's amazing I hope you will like this book very,very much if you want to find out more information you'll have to read it!!!!!

The Chalk box kid teaches you a lesson about how to deal with life when
you move. It shows you that you can make a place your own. It was a wonderful book.Gregory creats a chalk garden. As 3rd graders we give it 5
stars!

This is my favorite book ever because it was about chalk and I like to write with chalk.

I like this book a lot because I like to write with chalk.I would also like to have a garden.

I wrote my review a second time because I thought I'd done something wrong and you weren't going to post it. Please delete the review dated October 23 and leave the later version. Thank you.

Gardener's Soul is my first read in the Chicken Soup series. Had I an inkling that the series could evoke that cozy-fuzzy feeling, like a purring kitten warming your lap, I would have been reading them all.

Paula Silici's Nona's Garden stands as a fine example. I could smell the beef, garlic and tomatoes simmering in the kitchens of my childhood as I read of the life's lessions learned from her grandmother. I have more hope for the future after reading Beth Pollack's Planting Day,especially considering that such words of wisdom came from a 16-year-old. Good job,young lady! And A Bedside Story by Pat Stone reassured me that I'm not the only gardener who talks to plants.

No wonder the publisher has the name Health Communications. When the mind is calm, the body is better able to heal. This book is a fabulous choice for anyone feeling blue or for just anyone!

A truly good book evokes cozy images and sensations from the past. And this is a very good book, one that teaches us to stop and consider how wisely we spend on this earth.

Among my personal favorites was Nona's Garden by Paul Silici. I could almost smell the delectably heavy garlic, beef and tomatoes slowly steaming in my grandmother's kitchen, and felt a tug on my heartstrings when she shared the story of her grandmother's lessions in life. Planting Day filled me with hope for the younger generation when I saw that sixteen-year-old Beth Pollack had written such an insightful essay. It was good to learn in Pat Stone's A Bedside Story that I'm not the only person who talks to their plants.

There's something for everyone in CS for the Gardener's Soul.

I am a great fan of the Chicken Soup Books. They are a wonderful way for me to start my morning. Being an avid gardener, this one was truely special. Although many of the stories left me teary-eyed, the messages relayed were always positive and uplifting. -- Highly Recommend

This heartwarming, soul-satisfying collection of stories is a beautiful testimony to the special knowledge held dearly by every gardener, regardless of if they are first-timers or veterans. Even the smallest gardens have the ability to uplift our lives with the magical, unique understanding that they are living reminders of the potential beauty of the world.

Sharon Galligar Chance, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Tx.

I love this book and cards. My best friend has had them for years and I fianlly broke down to search for my own. I am not disappointed at all. They have been so accurate for me.

I love the energy of this deck. I am a "crystal" addict - meaning the rock and gem sort of crystals, and found this deck to be very complimentary to the other oracle cards I use. The information is so helpful and the illustrations are amazing.
If you love crystals and love to use oracle cards, I highly recommend this deck.
HAVE FUN WITH IT!!

I am very disappointed with the cards. They are too large and too slippery. I cannot adequately shuffle them. Being a petite person, my hands are small and I can't shuffle the cards in the normal conventional way. I have to shuffle them from the side or else they flip all over the place. I also think that the cards and/or book should have a realistic picture of the stones that they represent. The book itself is written well and very informative.

Was looking for something that wasn't too basic, and this was it. I can't wait until she finishes her next book. Yes, I'm on the path of becoming "The Human Crystal".

It doesn't seem like many people know about these cards but a lot more people really should. I started working with these cards the other day
and they truely are amazing. They release the most healing energy I have ever felt when working with an oracle set and I am very happy to have found them.
It comes with a medium size book that gives a very nice detailed description of the crystal on the card as well as meaning of each card. So about 3 pages in the book are dedeciated to each card in the deck. The book is 275 pgs long.
The cards themselves are oversized which makes shuffling a tad bit ackward but the images on the cards more then make up for this small issue.
Brief Card Examples: Crystal - Sugilite for Dreams - It's purpose is to aid in remembering one's divine purpose and stimulates your crown chakra. The message behind this card if you pull it for a reading is to trust in your divine purpose and follow your heart's dream.

Crystal - Moldavite for Transformation - It's purpose is to realize that a time of drastic growth and changes are upcoming in the next couple of months. In a reading it means that in the upcoming months situations in your life are about to change if it does not serve your growth.
(This was one of the cards I pulled and it gives me chills every time I look at it cause it falls in line with other readings I've done for myself.)

So if your looking for a deck that will help you heal and change your vibrations look no further this is a deck that you definately must add to your collection!!!

I agree with one other reviewer here who said "horrible cover but great book"...the cover and the title of the book are way over the top. I half expected the book to start with chapters of little green men who caused the extinction of mammoths. Despite the goofy title and cover, this is an easy to read, easy to follow theory of what caused the great extinctions of 13,000 years ago in North America, killing off the mammoths, mastodons and evidently much of the human population (clovis culture) along about that time. Firestone's theory of the comet hitting an area near Lake Michigan, which was covered in ice two miles thick at the time, takes a little getting used to, and opening the mind a bit to grasp the entire theory. He examines everything from the mysterious "black mat" at the Murray Springs Arizona Clovis site to the micro meteorites embedded in Mammoth tusks, to the "Carolina Bays" that were supposedly created by large chunks of glacial ice, blown out of the Michigan glacier by this comet. He explains the comet was supposedly made of "dirty ice" a cosmic dustball, and the size of the comet was what caused the depression which later became Lake Michigan. A very entertaining read, and a theory worth considering.

I'll make this short - everyone should read it!!!
The slightly lengthier version is -
The authors put a case for a cataclysmic planetary impact event of circa 13000 - 16000 BP having been preceded by the shock wave and the initial light / radiation blast of a nearby supernova around 41000BP but with the major focus being on the impact event(s).
Unlike others that have written on similar themes, these authors supply a myriad of evidence to back up their claims and the real strength of their work is the breadth of various unrelated scientific studies undertaken which seem to support the proposition. A tremendous amount of work has gone into this book.
It provides the supporting scientific evidence in an easy to read way - I eagerly await the next work they produce on this subject.

Firestone has established a very significant event in world history which appears to have shaped the course of events in nature and culture. Perhaps all points presented are not proven conclusively, but the amount of empirical evidence that is consistent with the authors' hypotheses is substantial.

I'll keep this simple. People who read books like this (alternative theories) want proof. They want research links, physical evidence, and the proverbial "smoking gun." This book DOES deliver. Although the saying "you had me at hello" does come to mind. The book proves the authors point, then does it again, and again, and again. OK I believe you now move on. The evidence stacks up to a morbid sense of proselytizing!

The second part (The Main Event), flips a switch when you read it... Almost like a collective unconsciousness being re-awakened after tens of thousands of years! Everyone I spoke with, in explaining that second part, stared at me like a cow would at an oncoming train. You could see recognition in their eyes... A relative they hadn't seen in decades yet recognized them immediately.

This book is work the money if only you read the second part. The rest is just evidence. For those of us that read this sort of thing a lot, good luck staying awake. (LOL!) For those people out there that are new to this sort of thing. This book is the PERFECT starter. A primer into a new and unsure world known as catastrophism. Welcome!

For a 400-page book, this book is most certainly worth it and I could not put it down. "The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes" is one of the most serious works that I have ever read, and it was written by scientists who proposed that we are going through "cycles" of cosmic events as it seemed to be related to the one event that happened over 12,000 years ago in North America lands. This is no speculation book, even though I brought it from "New Age/Speculation" section at my bookstore. I found this book to be quite scholarly and objective read with seriously hard evidences.

The one thing from this book that really interests me is the Carolina Bays. I lived around those areas for a long time, but never once have I noticed those bays until I read about it in this book. These shallow craters, as the authors pointed out, were impacts during the extinction event, which they gave evidences of them being craters, such as extraterrestrial materials. Very interesting!

This book is full of evidences and certainly opened my eyes to the fact that Earth is not, never was, safe from cosmic objects. This book is clear written and easy to read. I would highly recommend it.

My four year old son is in love with this chapter series! A friend suggested it to us since he seemed ready for a more advanced reading material at bedtime. My husband reads him a chapter every night...sometimes more because they don't want to stop. It's become a great tradition for them, and something they both look forward to. We love that there are so many in the collection! Start with number 1 and just continue. :)

My daughter loves these books and this one is the only one she was missing. Happy to have found it through Amazon!

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

Jack and Annie are helping Teddy get all four presents. They're going to Australia to find the last present. They go on all kinds of adventures like helping a little kangaroo get back to its mother. Will Jack and Annie help the little kangaroo find its mother? If you want to know, you'll have to read Dingoes At Dinnertime. I like this book. It's good because I like the Dingoes because they remind me of my dog Paco.

Jack and Annie are trying to get the last present to free Teddy from the spell .Can they get the last present? My favorite part was
When Teddy helped Jack and Annie to get out of the wild fire.
I really liked this book you should too!

This installment in the Rogue Angel series shows that "Alex Archer" has really gelled with the Annja character and the story process. So far, this one has flowed better than the others, and those were well-done as well. Another little archaeological adventure has Annja getting to use her sword, of course, and reflect more on the repercussions of her actions and seemed a little more introspective than previous story arcs. The action flowed and this story progressed faster, probably because by now "Archer" doesn't have to rehash as much character history and can just get on with storytelling. I just finished this book and couldn't wait for the next installment.

This book follows in the vein of Destiny. A pleasant blend of action, high adventure and history. Alex does a wonderful job with the characters. The good guys are people who you like and root for and the bad guys are, well, bad as they can be.
The premise behind the story is great. The mix of religion, mysticism and mystery blend well with the action and history.
Annja yet again is called upon to defend the weak against the agression of evil. I recommend this book.

"The team failed," a slim warrior with an eye-patch told Tafari.
"How?"
"They went after the woman. They thought she would be the easiest to capture. Instead she killed three of them."
In Alex Aracher's, "Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone," that's pretty much how it goes for the bad guys who go after Annja, the story's hero, an archeologist with a secret weapon - the reassembled mystical sword that once belonged to Joan of Arc. The sword awakens a warrior's fighting ability within Annja (to nothing less than superhero proportions) and it's a good thing since her latest excursion into an archeological mystery eventually causes her to cross paths with an African warlord.
That poor warlord didn't even know what he was getting himself into.
I was unfamiliar with the Rogue Angel series and only read it at the suggestion of a friend. I'm glad I did because not only was it designed to be a quick read that throws you into the fast-paced action sequences, but it also brought the brutality of slavery and the horrendous economic conditions that plague Africa alive for me in a way that history books and news articles don't. That's what good storytelling is, I think, it entertains, but also opens your eyes to something you might not have seen before (without getting preachy in the process).
The book itself is a relatively quick read, by design, and is broken up into brief chapters for people on the go - read a little here and there, stop, then pick it back up later - the type of book that satisfies the reader on the go. (The writer seems to have understood who today's readers might be.)
I recommend this book for the action lovers out there who read sporadically, love history and world events, but don't have the time to become completely immersed in them - sort of a Flintstone's Vitamin of literature. Good stuff.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

While in Georgia exploring a tunnel involved in the Underground Railroad, Annja Creed, archeologist extraordinaire and successor to Joan of Arc, finds a strange artifact that dates back long before the Railroad. This odd stone is believed to be the ancient Spider Stone, a gift to a small African tribe by the god Anansi meant to see the tribe never dies as long as the stone is in Africa.

Intrigued by the legend attached to the stone, Annja ventures to Africa. She is accompanied by an agent from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who believes the stone to be tied to drug lords plaguing the US. Along the way, enemies abound as always in a Rogue Angel story and Annja finds herself facing off against African Warlord Tafari while helping a young single mother who works for an oil company mining in Senegal. Then there are the concerns of a curse on all not of the protected tribe who touch the stone...

The legend of Joan of Arc's sword lives on with Annja Creed and she is creating her own legends now. Annja, who strikes me as a cross between Indiana Jones and Sydney Bristow, has grown and changed much since discovering her Destiny, and here in The Spider Stone that personal journey continues. She has gained much from her possession of the sword physically and mentally. She's attracting lots of attention too since wherever Annja goes trouble is sure to follow on her heels. Annja is also attracting some romantic attention as well and the hint of something blooming between Annja and Agent Andrew McIntosh of DHS adds appeal to the story.

As is typical of the Rogue Angel, there are many enemies after the archeological treasure Annja has found. From African drug lords to insanely wealthy oil business corporations, there is no lacking for action and excitement with the danger. Our journey with Annja takes us across the United States and deep into the heart of the Senegalese jungles as she follows the legend of the stone and the rumored curses attached to it all while trying to outthink and outlast her enemies. Still though I really wish there'd be a little more focus on the Joan of Arc connection rather than just as the reason Annja has her sword. Two of my favorite secondary characters, Braden and Roux make appearances again in The Spider Stone and they steal the show every time they're around.

I love the tidbits about the responsibility and career of an archeologist that we glean from every book. This adds a special touch that readers can enjoy. The Spider Stone is yet another fine installment in the Rogue Angel series and I look forward to the next book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2008. All rights reserved.

"Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" is an old fashioned highball. It's a big shot of action in an ice cold world, lightning fast pacing to fill and garnished with a sacred stone from the heart of Africa. It's intoxicating and fun.

The action in this story is positively breathtaking. An experienced hand wrote this book and it shows. That hand has been in the dojo, doubled into a fist and smashed through some bricks. That hand recognizes the feel of steel, has cradled a blade and known a sword as weapon and a friend. That brings an edgy reality to the action sequences that pop right off the page.

Annja Creed is a heroine with a mission from the highest power. She's definitely not one of Alcott's little women "taught by weal and woe to love and labor ..." She's on the other end of the pendulum's arc with Laura Croft and Electra. She is a hero in the ultramodern sense, and that is the story's only flaw. She is unshackled by uncertainty, romantic interest, or existential introspection. I missed the depth that would have brought to her character. But this isn't a tea and crumpets romance, it is an unapologetic action thriller, and it earns its chops.

"Rogue Angel: The Spider Stone" stays true to its theme rooted deep in a constant opposition of light and shadow. Alex Archer's commitment to plain prose makes this story read fast and sure.

Annja Creed has the avenging sword and social compass of Saint Joan of Arc. And that's just for starters. This story takes Annja Creed across the world on a quest to protect a sacred stone. Yes, the trail is bumpy, dangerous and littered with plenty of bad guys. I'm glad I went Annja on this adventure. You will be glad too. Highly recommended.

Stone's fine first stab at a teen novel, A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl, is an intriguing work - free-verse monologues from a trio of high school girls who've all fallen for, you guessed it, the campus Bad Boy. They all get burned, but learn some valuable lessons along the way about who they are, who they want to become, and what kind of man will make them happy. Then they warn others. Funny, real, sometimes painful. Brought back plenty of teen angst memories.

Frist off i loved this book i read it in like 3 hours i couldent put it down....this book is great for teen girls or boy even who love books about girls and boys and the things that can happen :)

I finally got to read Tanya Lee Stone's "A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl". I sure wish it would have been around when I was in high school, there where definitely plenty of bad boys. I just wish I could have been as was as Josie. Besides the fact that it was great writing, the book had an excellent message. Even the girls who made mistakes with the boy where not ridiculed or considered bad and they all learned from the experience. It will definitely be highly recommended by me at school. I have a lot of girls who will love it, and a lot of girls who NEED to read it. It is a must for every high school library, and probably even every jr. high library as well.
I give it a 5 star must have rating.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is only the second verse novel that I've read (after Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown). And I have to say that if these two books are at all representative, then I'm completely hooked. I love the combination of a fast-paced, streamlined read with wonderful language selection.

I read Bad Boy in one sitting, and didn't want it to end. I read the end material in the book. I read the discussion questions on the handy bookmark that Tanya provided, and I spent time thinking about them. I thought about my own high school experiences. I wondered if Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva would end up becoming friends. I thought of which of them I personally identified with the most. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is a verse novel told in the distinct voices of three high school girls. Josie is a freshman, smart and confident but (she assures us) not stuck up. Nicolette is a junior, popular with the boys, in a certain sort of way, but the kind of girl who other girls tend to avoid. Aviva is a senior, a "Criss-Crosser" who has friends in lots of cliques, but manages to maintain her own individuality. One after another, each of these three girls, very different on the surface, falls for the same unnamed boy, a popular senior jock. Their experiences with him vary, but have commonalities, too. I think that any adult reader of this book will find occasion to wince here and there, as certain incidents or feelings ring true.

This book is a very frank look at high school politics and relationships. Although it's not a difficult read, I wouldn't recommend it for most middle schoolers, because it is very open concerning teen sex. That said, I do highly recommend it for high schoolers, especially girls. The "bad boy" of the title is good for the girls in the story in part by making them wiser. If readers can gain a little of that wisdom from this book, without having to experience everything that Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva experience, so much the better. I also like the way the characters in this book learn from the one in Judy Blume's Forever, and use the end pages of a copy of Forever to record a manual for other girls:

"some little book where a girl could look up
what to do
what not to do
and who not to do it with"

I read this book quickly, to find out what would happen next, but the verse kept catching me up, and slowing me down. I would stop and shake my head at the aptness of a phrase, or the clever way that the author uses verse to speed up, or slow down, or convey mood. Here's an example:

"How can a person,
any person,
even just a friend,
turn off,
snap---
just
like
that?"

I love the "just, like, that". The very words snap with finality. Another nice thing about the verse form is that it takes us right inside the minds of Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva in a way that a narrative form might not. It seems particularly fitting for this topic, because first love and heartbreak are exactly the kinds of things that teenage girls do write poems about.

A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl is well-written, and almost painfully true to life. It deals with teenage love, sex, and friendship, as well as disillusionment, heartbreak, and joy. Throughout this emotional roller-coaster, the author maintains a tone of gentle humor and sympathy. I look forward to Tanya Lee Stone's next novel.

A slightly longer version of this book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on July 14th, 2006.

A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL by Tanya Lee Stone, Wendy Lamb Books, January 2006, ISBN: 0-385-74702-0, Publisher recommendation: 14 years and up

"the sound of them strong
stalking talking about their prey
like the way hammer meets nail
pounding, they say
pounding out the rhythms of attraction
like a woman was a drum like a body was a weapon
like there was something more they wanted
than the journey
like it was owed to them
steel toed they walk
and I'm wondering why this fear of men"
--Ani Difranco, "The Slant"

Josie:

"In one more second it will be too late.

" 'WAIT!' "

Nicolette:

"Am I a whore because I like sex? Or because I did it
too soon? Or too much? Nobody ever calls boys
whores.

"Why is that?"

Aviva:

"I wouldn't want to go through this again.
But unfortunately, something tells me this stuff is
tricky.
I doubt this is the only mistake I'm going to make.
And I'm not so sure
it was a mistake, anyway.

"I kind of hope he learns something too.
Even if it's only for the sake of the next girl
who comes along.
Or the one after that. Or maybe the one after that!

"He's cute and all, but not what I'd call
a real quick study!

"I laugh out loud.

"And I'm happy for a second, because I still know how
to find the funny.

"I like that about myself."

A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL is the story told from the point of view of these three teens. Each of them has a relationship with the same guy at school. Josie is the wide-eyed freshman, who suddenly feels like a somebody. Nicolette, the junior, really thinks she is in control. And Aviva is the bright senior with the hip and trusting parents. All three think they know what they're getting into.

Some of the lessons that readers might glean from this quick, engaging, and powerful novel in verse include:

1. Look and think (and think again) before leaping into bed.

2. If your female schoolmates are saying and writing uncomplimentary things regarding the character and behavior of a boy, it might be wise to take them seriously.

3. You may think that you are wiser and less vulnerable than these three characters, or the girls you know in real life, but you're not.

A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL will raise some eyebrows for being a book where the only marginally sympathetic male character is someone's father who shows up for a couple of sentences. We meet the athletic young man, the villain of the book who seriously lacks redeeming social values, through the stories that the three girls tell However, he is not one of the narrators.

I've already had a long, animated discussion with my wife about how there are guys are like TL: Are such guys clueless about their behavior or do they consciously develop these strategies to have sex with girls? (I was the one insisting that guys who behave like this are out there. I remember being an adolescent and overhearing guys boasting about being members of the "4F Club.")

Part of what makes Laurie Halse Anderson's beloved and award-winning SPEAK a must-read is its message to watch out for oneself and to be concerned for peers who are clearly troubled. Part of what makes Melvin Burgess' DOING IT such a terrific read is its amusing and sympathetic look at how young men's minds tick.

A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL is a book about teens and sex that will fascinate and enlighten readers. It is a realistic and provocative story that will benefit from being read among groups of friends or along with older siblings so as to prompt discussion about the vital issues involved.

I haven't finished the book yet but ever since Ms.Coleman came to my school I want to finish it more and more by the moment.I think she moght be the most talented author in ages.

Okay, so it?s pretty predictable. And the storyline is repetitive quite a bit. However, this is just something about the story of Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth who take a journey to visit the Engraver to break a marriage contract that makes you want to read on. It might be the adorable drawings. It might be wondering what strange place they stumble across next. Whatever it is, it?s a cute, quick read that had morals at the very center.

Engraved in Stone is a wonderful novel full of charm, wit, and loveable characters. My favorites are the two main characters: Edward and Elizabeth. At first sight, they detest each other, but they must marry or else they will turn to stone. The only way out of this predicament is to travel to Engravia, where the great Engraver lives. They travel through six mystical villages, each representing a temptation. Along with danger the reader finds humor and a great escape. This book is perfect for anyone who loves a good adventure full of wit, wisdom, and memorable characters!

Fantastic! Amazing! Brilliant! You could tell the author used a lot of imagination and effort. This is a wonderful book for all ages. Two people who don't even know each other have to get married by the age of 16. They will be 16 in just a week. Their marriage is engraved in stone. They have to get married or else they will be turned into stone. They go on a journey and seek many adventures to Engravia. This "couple" has practically nothing in common. On the journey, they find out that they have many things in common. They help each other and sacrifice things they love. They go through magical kingdoms that will stop them from seeking Engravia. Finally, when they are free to marry anyone, they want to marry each other! They are together forever! This book is filled with things to laugh about, but in the same time there is serious stuff and lessons to be learned. I read this book three times and I would read it again and again! I wish that Alice Scovell Coleman would write many, many books for children such as this one!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

On the pages of Engraved in Stone Writer Coleman offers an agreeable read written in whimsical style, filled with singular characters, engaging arenas, interesting dialog and just plain fun. Coleman's unique narrative is fast paced, peopled with quirky characters, plays on words and enjoyable settings. Rigorous, formidable tasks, peril and conflict abound on every hand in this fairy tale style fantasy. Coleman adroitly handles each hazard with deft wit. Illustrator Armand's unconventional sketches scattered throughout the work will have enormous appeal to the readers while the eloquent vocabulary offers a challenge to younger and older readers in the target audience alike. Those in the 12-14 year old set will enjoy having big words to astound their friends, the younger kids in the 9-11 group will have great fun playing with the words of mediaeval times so common to fantasy works. Definitions of many of the less common or more difficult words used in the tale are found in the bottom margin of the pages.

I have been a fan of Steve Arterburn's non-fiction books for several years, so I bought this book as a gift for a Christian therapist friend. However, I just had to read it before I gave it to her, and for those few days, I could not put it down. Healing Stones has a great, realistic story line and characters, plots under the main plots as we learn the "stories" of various characters. There is a well-balanced combination of human sinfulness, compassion, the mercy and grace of God and healing. Toward the end of the book, some exciting twists and turns lead to the climax, and there is justice and forgiveness displayed.
I highly recommend it as a thought-provoking, yet entertaining read.

I haven't even finished this book yet and already is, in my opinion, one of the best Christian fiction books I have read. It seems that the ones I manage to find are all flowers and butterflies with the Christians always making the right decisions and living the happy side of salvation.

This book is so much more realistic as it throws you into the world of sin leading to the wrong choices made by openly Christians from the get go. And the sudden downward spiral of their lives. I would recommend this book to all my friends, beleivers and non-beleivers alike. I would love to see more books by these two authors working together.

It makes me feel like there are Christians out there, besides myself, that make mistakes and have to go on with life.

This is a great book on recovery from a broken marriage. The authors take you on a healing journey in a realistic fashion. It is not the atypical Christian answer of praying harder and just "give it to God." The book is of course a work of fiction, but the recovery themes are real to life and the book doesn't whitewash the difficulty of rebuilding a broken relationship. It is a must read for anyone who is struggling in their marriage and for those in denial who think they have it all together!

This is the first Christian fiction book that I have read. The story is realistic as well as the characters. I recommend it highly.

Healing Stones is one of the most riveting, realistic, and intelligent books I have read in a long time. I highly recommend it, and I can't wait for more books in the series.