Two-Year Colleges Books

Christy Miller thought that returning home from an intense experience working at an orphanage in Switzerland would be relaxing. However, in AS YOU WISH, the second book in Robin Jones Gunn's Christy and Todd: The College Years trilogy, she finds that settling into life at Rancho Corona University is far more stressful than she ever could have imagined.

Christy was looking forward to finally getting to have a more active social life and spend much more time with close friends Katie and Sierra. However, with her parents telling her to get a job and her counselor suggesting she take more classes, it looks like Christy's schedule is going to be full. When long-time boyfriend Todd informs her that he has volunteered her for yet another activity, Christy reaches a breaking point.

As she tries to sort out her chaotic life, Christy soon realizes that her problems lie far beyond her weekend social calendar. With less than a year until she graduates, and a long-term relationship, Christy must finally make some bigger decisions --- decisions that will last a lifetime. She knows that Todd is in love with her, and has been for some time. In fact, she's pretty sure that he would be ready to marry her at any time. But something is still holding her back.

As Todd reveals more and more about his background and childhood, Christy feels closer to him than ever before but also realizes what different worlds they come from. When her first childhood crush from Wisconsin comes to town, Christy begins to wonder if she might be better suited to someone with a similar background, or if she's really ready to commit to anyone at all.

Confused about her romantic future, Christy must also deal with ongoing drama in her family. Her erratic Aunt Marti is threatening to leave her husband and join an "art colony"; Christy must try to stop her before it's too late. As she grows more and more sure of her feelings and intentions, Christy gets ready to make a big declaration. However, a tragic accident occurs before she can reveal her true feelings, and it may be too late. As Christy's friends and family gather at the hospital, she becomes painfully aware of just how important it is to express your feelings while you still can.

AS YOU WISH seems to be an attempt to combine the worlds of all of Robin Jones Gunn's characters into the ongoing storyline of Christy and Todd. For fans of the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series, this will certainly make sense. However, new readers will experience some difficulty following the many different characters and plot lines that are thrown into the mix. The story comes a long way from its predecessor --- from Christy considering breaking up with Todd, to thinking about marrying him.

Although this (presently) final series in the world of Christy Miller is not Gunn at her best, and relies on quite a bit of recycled material, it is still very readable and will undoubtedly keep fans satisfied.

--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby

I loved this book to pieces. Christy struggles with saying 'I love you' to Todd, because she isn't sure of her love for him. She makes a sudden revelation that Todd is 'the one' and feels she is confident to say those three little words, until a tragic event happens, changing Todd and Christy's life forever. Christy is having a hard time finding when she can confess that to her beloved, especially when the life-altering accident occurs. Christy and Todd both grow closer to the Lord, and Todd discovers that it is his calling to work in the church. Christy helps, and discovers she is in her element as well. The very end is beautifully written, and wonderfully romantic and sweet, which is another event that changes both Todd and Christy's life forever. Grab the Kleenex box, the end will have you wiping your eyes.

I think these books are the best I've ever read! Once you pick it up, don't expect to put it down anytime soon!! I've read them over and over, and still love them. They're clean, focused on God, and have a sweet romance in them. I also recommend the Christy Miller series.

You won't want to miss these books!!!
~Hope

I was very happy with the shipping time and condition of the book. It actually arrived before the date given to me, so I was very pleased. I would definitely buy again.

I just finished this book and loooove it! It is sooo awesome how Christy and Todd work things out. And Todd is so creative at the end when he... oops i almost said it!! But I won't give it away! You have to read it for yourself to find out what a superb novel this is! It also helps if you have read the other books in the series first.

Adapting to college life can be a daunting experience. As a current college sophomore, I was asked to advise my younger brother (now a senior in high school) on how to integrate into the university environment. After recounting all of my own experiences, I realized that I neglected many essential elements of freshman life. So, I turned to the available literature. With the exception of Allison Lombardo's, none of the books get the job done. Lombardo provides a comprehensive account of freshman life that will benefit anyone in high school who reads it. The book is a quick, fun, and easy read; I only wish that someone had given me such great tips before I got to college.

This is a great book - I got it as a gift and thought it was on point, honest, and not preachy. I am off to college next year and this was one of the better, non cheesy gifts I got. I wanted to get one for a friend, but realized this is the older edition - there is a new one up on Amazon - just search for Navigating Your Freshman Year - and it ships quicker too.

I have had some disappointments in Freshman Handbooks while preparing for school next year in college, but this book was not one of them. I would recommend it and I am glad that I purchased it.

This book really puts your college freshman year in terms that you can handle, provides great advice from current students who've just gone through it, and now I really feel ready to go away next fall. I'm very glad my father picked this book up for me, and I would recommend it to all high school seniors going to college.

I am a guidance counselor and found out about this book last fall at a conference out here in California. I was immediately hooked by its great content, so I bought a bunch of copies for my graduating seniors and they absolutely love it!

This thorough book not only covers dozens of careers choices for two-year degree seekers, but contains information to look out for when selecting a college, the right and wrong reasons to choose a two-year college, and checklists for determining what career is best for you.

As a counselor in a Community College, I found this book to be an excellent example of ways in which our students could use their degrees. Many of the students at a two year college are not aware of what they could use their degrees for and this book helps to make them aware of their options.

I have regularly used this handy paper back math book since I was a college engineering student in 1977. I have found it to be the most useful of all of the math books that I own. It is very useful for engineers, because it has very clear and useful sections on units and dimensions, and error analysis, which are not always taught so clearly in college. It has numerous useful diagrams and concise explanations to jog your memory on basic engineering mathematics such as algebraic functions, matrices, sinusoidal functions, exponential functions, gaussian distributions, analyticial geometry, and complex numbers. It also has very concise and clear sections on both differential and intergral calculus for us engineers who don't use them all the time and need a refresher. I have worn out my copy of the book and have decided that I need to buy a new copy.

A trio of college age friends--two girls, one guy--tour Europe, giving the reader glimpses of interesting places to visit in addition to addressing the challenges of morality, following God, and retaining friendships. The title implies that Christy and Todd's love will last until tomorrow--the future--their future together. Ideal read for teens and college ages. Good read for any age.

Christy Miller is thrilled that boyfriend Todd and best friend Katie are coming to visit her in Europe! UNTIL TOMORROW, the first book in Robin Jones Gunn's Christy and Todd: The College Years trilogy, picks up well after Gunn's original Christy Miller series left off.

Christy is now an independent college woman, attending a university in Switzerland. While she loves her life in Europe, she really misses her friends --- especially Todd. She is sure that the romantic background of Europe will give Todd the encouragement he needs to make some kind of commitment to their relationship. However, the trip starts off on a far-less-than-romantic note. Christy makes elaborate plans to show Todd all around Switzerland while having long talks about their future --- but when she meets him at the train station, she is immediately swept up in a whirlwind, and unplanned, trip.

Katie and Todd are accompanied by Antonio, their Italian exchange student friend, who announces that they will begin their trip camping in the Italian Alps. Camping certainly was not what Christy had in mind, and she is less than thrilled that she wasn't consulted on the idea. Though she tries to rough it, Christy soon decides that living off the land is definitely not for her. As the group makes their way down to Rome, Christy begins to have doubts about her relationship with Todd. Instead of becoming more committed to her, he actually appears to be becoming less. And while they haven't seemed to have their usual strong connection, Katie and Todd have been paying quite a bit of attention to each other.

Unable to stand the increasing tension, Christy dramatically wonders if they should break up --- and is very surprised by Todd's answer. As the group makes their way from the Blue Grotto of Capri, all the way up to the fjords of Norway, Christy, Todd and Katie ponder what it means to be a friend and what it means to be in love.

Fans of the Christy Miller series undoubtedly will be delighted to have Christy back. While those who read the Sierra Jensen titles may have been kept up to date on the general happenings of Christy's life, this new series has a very different feel. The Christy and Todd books are much longer than the novels in Gunn's previous series. They also give much more insight into the thoughts of an older Christy. While there is a different, more mature tone, many of the classic Christy Miller issues are present --- from fear of commitment to jealousy of friends. Whether or not this sort of material has gotten stale is up to the reader to decide.



--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby

Robin Gunn does a great job of speaking to young people through fiction.
The College Years wrap up all Christy and Todd have gone through and grown in age and spiritually, since they meet in high school.

Great Stories.

Donna

The reason for the low rating is that Christy's whiny, infantile attitude and behavior overshadows what could have otherwise been an memorable trek around Europe. As Christy's character progresses throughout the series--my view may not be popular there--it is evident that for portraying herself as a strong Christian, her immature behavior proves otherwise. She's just not a likable young woman. Her "poor me" demeanor and overly possessive attitude of Todd is enough to try your patience! I prefer truly strong Christian role models for girls like Christy's friend Katie Weldon (who has the patience of a saint to put up with Christy's nonsense all those years) and Sierra Jensen. I'd go on a trip with Katie and Sierra any day, even one minute with Christy Miller is enough to require a sedative Another thing, prominent throughout the series is Christy's constant disregard for her parents and family; not to mention taking them for granted. If she is as strong a Christian as she claims, she's forgetting one of God's most important commandments: Honor your father and your mother.

Alright people, this is a review for the entire Christy Series..... which was a serious letdown. Christy obviously has some issues. She likes some boy who after several months of no communication sends her a coconut. I'm still trying to figure that one out. If some boy did that he'd get a swift whack across the face. Also... Every time Christy seems to grow in God, all of a sudden she starts whining again. After 3 books of this you get sick of it. Every time Todd does something with another girl she freaks out big time. (Though Todd is kind of a flirt). She needs to get a life. She's a slight spaz. Every time something happens to her that is out of the box, or her routine, she has a hernia. In Europe, Wow. Camping for her was definitely a disaster. Skip these books and read some Bad Girls of the Bible, Linda Chaikin, Liz Curtis Higgs, Linda Windsor etc.

I gave this book to 2 graduates as part of their gifts. They really enjoyed the suggestions and are a little more relaxed going away to school. Their parents also read the book and loved some of the ideas to prepare. Great read

I read this book as a college senior, and was hit with a wave of "Wow, this would have been so helpful to have three years ago!" This book is stellar - real advice that is, admittedly, all over the board. Since the book is made up of tidbits from hundreds of people, some of it is in direct conflict with itself! But that's the beauty of it - there's plenty to every side of all the arguments in here.

Does this book tackle touchy subjects like drinking, sex, and questionable academic practices? Yes, of course. But that's because these are things students have to deal with at every college - from the most conservative Christian school to the biggest party school. If you are a parent and you don't think your soon-to-be-college-freshman child can handle it, then you are simply sending them to school unprepared. These are topics they will have to deal with no matter what - why not read this book, have your kid read the book, and then discuss the topics afterward?

The reason this book didn't get the 5th star is that I don't feel it tackles money topics very well. That's, of course, a limitation of the people that were interviewed for the book. But I feel like more needs to be said about how to budget, spend responsibly, and prepare for real-world finances. If you're giving this book as a gift to a soon-to-be-freshman, supplement it with a beginning financial book, as well.

Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins for ReviewYourBook.com 7/2008

What a great graduation gift! Going to college right out of high school is one of the biggest transitions one can make. This book is filled with practical advice that is given in short blurbs. You can read it in one setting or just a few minutes at a time.
There are chapters about: Money, what to take with you, and social situations. The only point that I did not see in this book is that it is wise to not have roommates--even if you have to spend extra money. I really cannot stress that enough. I completely agree with the point about not allowing your roommate's significant other to sleep over. That only leads to them eventually moving in.
This is not necessarily the advice your mother and father would give you. Frat parties, hangovers, and pot smoking is addressed. However, there is a theme of responsibility throughout the book. Perhaps you are a parent who does not want to talk about these parts of college. Give this book to your child!
Get this book for your graduate. I recommend this!

First of all, I would like to point out that I just graduated from high school and will be a freshmen next year. I bought this book in hopes that it would help with the anxiousness I was feeling regarding the transition to college. I'm glad to say that after reading this book, I felt far more prepared for college than I did before I read this book.
What I liked most about this book is that the authors found and interviewed students from all types of colleges across the US. Students from small colleges, large colleges, public colleges, private colleges, and anything else in between. Many of the students gave the same or similar recommendations/suggestions. Some people may find that repetitive or redundant but I found it reassuring. It was reassuring to know that students from completely different colleges agree on certain aspects of college life. There were some opinions that were opposite and some people may find that it is strange for authors to give contradicting information. I, however, found that each person who gave their opinion also explained their reasoning behind their opinions. This made it easier to pick sides and pick who you really agree with.
The reason I gave this book a 4/5 instead of a perfect score was because it lacks the authors' opinions. The authors of the book were the ones who interviewed the thousands of students and I'm sure that not everything that was said by the students made it into the book. If the authors had given their opinion as well, and maybe summarized or pointed out specific things they noticed in what the students said, then that would've left me with more of a satisfying feeling after reading the book. When I finished the book, I was unsure as to what exactly it was the authors wanted me to get from the book.
Overall, in found this book extremely insightful. It help me calm so of the nerves I was feeling about going to college. If you or someone you know is about to head off to college, I would definitely recommend this book. Everyones says that you're supposed to hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and expect the unexpected. This book definitely helps you prepare for the worst and allows you to expected some of the things that would've been unexpected.

If I were 18 years old and about to go off to college I would consider this an interesting book to read. I would devour it in one gulp racing from one quote to another, from one bit of dubious advice to the next at breakneck speed. In fact to save a few bucks I might read it while hanging out at Borders. Would I be any the wiser or better informed? Would this book actually help me to survive my freshmen year?

Actually it might. Although the advice is almost random, and sometimes contradictory, and coming from people who went to very different schools with very different environments, from a heartland state university to Harvard, from people who have no money to the very rich, there is some advice somewhere in these pages I suspect that will help just about every freshman.

As an old foge who hasn't seen hallowed halls in decades, this book provided not usable advice, but a kind of window into the mind of today's college student. I learned--no surprise really when you think about it--that one of the things that people going into college worry about today is gaining that "freshman 15"--that is to say pounds of fat. The main debate seems to be around whether cafeteria food is edible or not or how many days in a row you can subsist on pizza and beer. "Amy," from Princeton University says, "The freshman 15 happens to everyone, and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise." (p. 156) Best advice in the food category came from Chavon Mitchell, a Xavier grad, who wrote, "...my friend and I would scour the campus paper and fliers for events with free food...We would end up at academic speeches, random barbeques, or various group meetings, none of which we belonged to or knew anything about...We ended up eating for free at least three to four times every week...."

Okay, forget food. How about academics? Oops--21 chapters and none on academics. But no problem, "Hundreds of Heads" publishers have another book that covers this. It's called "How to get A's in College--Hundreds of Student-Tested Tips."

Wait, there is a chapter on studying. Some good advice: "Sleep a lot. And always go to class." -Sarah, Georgia Tech grad. "Flirt with the professors. It comes in handy when you need to be late on your term paper because you partied all weekend." --from an anonymous University of Georgia grad. Another U of Georgia grad named Jen says, "Buy beaten-up, used books that have been highlighted and have notes in the margins: Instant Cliff's Notes!" (p. 126) But J.T., a University of Florida grad cautions, "Be careful when buying used books. The person who had the highlighter before you may have been an idiot." (p. 137)

All right let's get to the advice on partying, which is why you're here in the first place. The chapter is entitled, "Parties 101: How to Have Fun & Be Safe." It comes right after the chapter on "Going Out, Getting Serious: Dating and Sex." Be safe? I guess they mean, don't chug-a-lug Jack Daniels or do not go into the ghetto for weed. Or speed kills (it does). Or maybe it's this from "Anonymous": "Girls, be especially careful of what you drink while at clubs or house parties, because an uncovered drink could mean a lost night and a trip to the gynecologist the next day."

The chapter on choosing classes is good, but I wonder about this advice from "S.P.": "Fall in love with someone in your class right away, T.A., professor, whomever. You'll be hard-pressed to skip class. If there is no one in your class to love, then pick someone to hate and show up every day to make his or her life a living hell." (p. 107)

There's a chapter on dorm life and one on choosing or living with a roommate. One girl (Heather Pollock from a Cal State U--it doesn't say which one) had a roommate that was "A Goth lesbian. She would sit on the patio, smoke a pack of cigarettes an hour and cry about how some girl had screwed her over." Melanie from Penn State says, "The worst thing that happened with my roommate [was] She decided to tap dance at 7 a.m. to get back at me because I kept her up at night." Hmm...seems fair.

Yes, there is a chapter, more or less, on how to deal with helicopter moms. It's called "Family Ties: Keeping in Touch & Setting Boundaries." I knew I had hit the mother lode of insight into parent/student relationships from the student point of view when I read the first three bits of advice: "My relationship with my parents has improved a lot over the phone versus in person." -Chana Weiner Bernard College; "The thing with parents is that, nine times out of ten, they love you and they want to help you. If they get a little protective when you go away, it's because they don't know how to deal with it. Help them through it. Be patient with them." -B., George Washington University; "I have caller ID on my cell phone. If my parents call, I can see it's them and let it ring. But they e-mail every day, too. They don't do IM because I haven't taught them that yet and they haven't figured it out. They say, `When you talk to people online, what does that mean?' And I say, `Oh, I just e-mail them."

Come to think of it, maybe this book would be a good read for parents.

Having gone to a small midwestern college during the same period I found this book all too familar. For me, the 70's were an interesting time of both exploration and rebellion. I thought this novel explored both the pain and the joy of the times bringing back memories and feelings I had not visited in many years. I would reccommend this book to anyone but the most right wing. I loved it.

After reading Nineteen-Seventy-four I could't wait to read the next book. Who would have thought it could have even been better. I felt even more connected to the main character in the second book and found myself hoping he'd get it together. Please keep on writing Mr. Small.

This book is a great read. The characters really come to life . I felt like they were my friends. Anyone who came of age in the seventies can truly relate to the situations the main character encounters in those strange times. The book made me want to relive those days again. I can't wait for Mr. Smalls next novel.

In a literary era of tales of survival under physical extremes, 1975 is a Dickensian tale of psychic survival. Unlike Dickens however, Small's account is realistic, and some may find this hard to face. Ask yourself, what would have happened if I had been raised by people who were unable to love me but merely treated me as boarder, and who treated my accomplishments as threats or insults to their own biological offspring, who tried to drag me down to mollify their own egos? Would I become a well-adjusted young man respectful of authority and without a trace of bitterness like David Copperfield, or would I laugh at social convention, take drugs, and learn to make authority cringe?

On a different level, this story will appeal primarily to all those who harbor contempt for authority; those who lived in nonconformist frat houses in the 70s; anyone who has hitchhiked very much around America; those who attended "DeForrest" or similar small colleges and are familiar with the sociopolitics; and those familiar with the cultural desert of small town Indiana and the wacky things that intelligent people do there to preserve their sanity.

From a nostalgic viewpoint, it's an excuse to remember what it was like to be alive then, to walk down the halls of your old frat house or dorm and revisit the strange assortment of characters you knew there, remember what it was like to get high for the first time and how good all the music sounded, and the awkwardness and then euphoria of your first sexual fumblings. You know, the fun parts of growing up.

On the down side, while the author's savant-like recall of infinitesimal detail is amazing, it sometimes detracts from the flow of the narrative. Nevertheless, the story will leave you with unforgettable images, some hilarious (that second floor toilet), others disturbing (the fight on the roof, goodbye Eva). I look forward to the next installment.

THis is a fantastic voyage back to the sex, drugs and rock and roll '70's experience on a small college campus. Mr. Small has nailed the experience, and I felt transported back to that time by the book. If you've forgotten what it was like, or if you're just curious, I strongly recommend this book.

Author John Feinstein's college basketball narratives are interesting, exciting, and informative. He covers the game with a broad approach, letting readers see many personalities, the pressures, and the often intense practices in this ultra-competitive sport. This book does not focus on any one conference or team, but presents a very interesting and broad national view of college hoops in the late 1980's. Yes, many of us fans realize that this multi-billion dollar industry unfairly gives players scholarships while coaches (and others) get rich, but hey, this is still a very entertaining sport. This is a very readable and entertaining look at the college game.

What Feinstein did for Knight in his Season On The Brink, he now does for one entire season in the world of college hoops. This book is an inside look at everything from the grueling (and often gruesome) practice sessions that go on behind closed doors to the intimate personal lives of some of college basketballs biggest stars, from the tough lives of teams and players going nowhere to an astonishingly close up view of the winners who go all the way to ultimate glory. A Season Inside goes from coast to coast, from top to bottom, from glory to defeat.

An exremely entertaining book which takes you on a trip across the United States to examine the great venues and stories of college basketball. From the awesome early-season tournaments in Hawaii to the meccas of college basketball like the Palestra and Madison Square Garden to March Madness, from the Lute Olsen-Steve Kerr Arizona Wildcats to the Admiral to Danny Manning, Feinstein's book is a must for any fan of college basketball.

Although I have yet to put the advice in this book to the test - my son graduates from high school next week - it has given me many things to think about as we prepare for his departure to college in just a couple of months. I'm sure much of it I would have figured out on my own, but reading this book has given me some ideas (where and how to bank, where should he register to vote, make hotel reservations early for parents weekend) that it's better to think of early than late. I expect as we get into packing and shopping mode, I will be referring to it more and more.

My wife and I just gave birth to our baby daughter Marilyn. Actually, my wife did all the hard work, but we are both as happy and proud as parents can be. We want everything for our daughter that we never had, including a college education, so we began looking at college admissions guides as soon as Marilyn was born, because we both know that it is never too early to start planning for her future.

One of the books we looked at is Robin Raskin's "Parents' Guide to College Life". While we may not actually employ the advice for another eighteen years, we wanted to be as prepared as possible.

"Parents' Guide to College Life" collects together Ms. Raskin's own experience as the parent of college-aged kids along with advice from college administrators, advisors, students, and parents in an easy-to-read, question-and-answer format divided into ten chapters covering such topics as finance, long-distance parenting, health, academics, and safety. Tips range from the mundane, such as packing and laundry, to the very serious, such as course selection and alcohol abuse. Especially helpful are the appendices which contain information on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), useful websites for parents, and a "Parents' Trivia Test" to determine the extent of your involvement with your kids.

After carefully reading and reviewing the honest and straightforward information contained within "Parents' Guide to College Life", my wife and I have decided to home-school Marilyn for her college degree. There is absolutely no way that we are going to expose our precious daughter to all the possible dangers that might harm her while being on her own in a closed, insular environment surrounded by unformed, immature peers whose degenerate behaviours are barely policed, if not secretly condoned, by spineless and officious administrators who kowtow to rich alumni who care only about their corrupt sports team or puerile fraternities. No way. My wife and I are thankful Ms. Raskin has opened our eyes to the truth behind college life, enabling us to do all in our power to keep our daughter away those breeding grounds for sin.

A well written and illustrated history of one of America's better liberal arts colleges. The book is large. The black and white and colot illustrations are very good. The author has also written a very good travel book about Maine. My only criticism is that the book lacks recent photos of the campus and a campus map. The campus is usually rated as one of the 10 most beautiful in America. An earlier book about the architecture of the buildings is out of print. This book is well worth the modest price.

For those who have a connection to the College, this book offers an excellent history of Bowdoin, its founding principles, and challenges overcome. For those who have trouble pronouncing the word Bowdoin (Boe'-din), prepare to be introduced to an institution that is every bit what makes some people swear by the magic of a classical New England liberal arts education