Death Books

Who knew a book about pumpkins could be so entertaining and exhilarating. This book touches on everything from single-parent families to a young girl's coming of age and determination to make her deceased mother proud.

Mildred's determination, anticipation, and sometimes disappointing attempts at growing the largest pumpkin for the annual festival, grabs and keeps the reader's attention throughout the book. I only wish I could have read this book before I attended the Circleville Pumpkin Festival back in the 1990's. Growing a prize pumpkin such as Mildreds, definitely takes knowledge, patience, and hard work.

A very light-hearted and wonderful read. The characters in this book are truly realistic and well portrayed. We can all relate to having a family member, such as Mildred's Aunt Arlene, that can create drama in our lives as well as having a true friend such as Mildred's friend Jacob, that knows what you're thinking without speaking.

This story is set in a rural community outside of Columbus in Circleville, Ohio. Every year on the third Wednesday of October, one can visit Circleville and see hundreds of thousands of visitors all on a quest to see the largest pumpkin and eat a variety of foods made with, you guessed it....Pumpkins. A fantastic children's book that can capture a variety of audiences! Well done!

Also recommended: Dogku by Andrew Clements. A story writen about a stray dog who finds a loving home. A fantastic picture book written using Haiku poetry. Hence the name, 'Dogku.'

Very glad we picked this up. A great choice. I read it after my 8 yr old finished it. I thought it was warm and touching. What a sweet girl. Great detail on growing pumpkins-- very interesting. I had no idea how much work and special attention growing giant pumpkins required. A great first book by Ms. Kennedy-- thank you!

Mildred dreams big dreams in the shape of a pumpkin. This may seem strange to some people, and it especially does to her Aunt Arlene, who's convinced Mildred should start acting and dressing like girls her own age. It's not normal, according to Aunt Arlene, for 11-year-old girls to spend every single summer cultivating a tiny seed and trying to grow it into a giant pumpkin. Even if it is to win the Circleville Pumpkin Show's giant pumpkin contest.

But to Mildred, it makes perfect sense for her to try to make her mother's wish come true. The former Pumpkin Show Queen died when Mildred was only six, but Mildred still remembers how much she loved those huge pumpkins, and that she'd mentioned a desire to take home the prize for the largest pumpkin.

So, with the help of her veterinarian father and her best friend, Jacob, Mildred once again sets out on her pumpkin growing adventure, with her eye on the prize.

Librarians across the country are already selecting this book as a top choice for young students, and I can see why. The narrative voice is strong, and Mildred's control over her own world is enviable. Some challenges on her road to success bring the story home and have the reader rooting for the little girl with the big dreams.

Look for this genuinely sweet read on the shelves!

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

This is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It caught me off guard. Based on some positive reviews I'd read and the back cover blurb, I expected it to be cute. I thought I'd kind of like it. I didn't expect to be so swept up in Mildred's quest to grow the perfect giant pumpkin that I was tempted to ignore my 7th period English class today.

But I was.

Marlane Kennedy captures the voice of a fifth grader who has settled into life with her dad after her mother's death and explores the very real issues that face fifth grade girls - shopping for a first bra, getting ears pierced, and dealing with a bossy aunt. I found hints of Judy Blume in the coming of age parts of this book and big servings of warm humor on just about every page. Add to that one huge issue - growing a HUGE pumpkin, and protecting it from bugs, fungus, drought, and tornadoes - and you have one amazing book.

I was enchanted by the story and terribly intrigued by the process of growing a giant pumpkin. I kind of want to try and grow one myself now. Mostly, though, I want to stand up and cheer for Mildred and for Marlane Kennedy. ME AND THE PUMPKIN QUEEN is a little book with a giant-pumpkin sized heart.

This book left me with a smile on my face, and a tiny tear in my eye. It's about a young girl who is obsessed with growing giant pumpkins. Mildred lives in the small town of Circleville, Ohio, where they have the annual Circleville Pumpkin Show, which more than 400,000 people attend each year. (This story is based on a real-world festival and contest, see here.) Mildred's mother died when she was six, leaving behind an unfulfilled desire to grow one of the giant pumpkins that people enter into the annual contest. Mildred, in an effort to please, or be closer to, her lost mother, decides to win the pumpkin contest herself. Here's the passage where Mildred first realizes her mission:

"Daddy must have been thinking the same thing 'cause he said, "Your mama sure got a kick out of those pumpkins. Every year she would say she wanted to try her hand at growing one." He paused, and then his voice trailed off kind of sadlike. "I guess she just never got around to it."

At that very moment those big pumpkins seemed magical." (Page 13)

4 1/2 years later, as the story begins, Mildred is still trying to grow that prize-winning pumpkin. Tending to her pumpkins consumes all of her spare time for six months out of the year (the amount of work required is truly astounding). Her busybody aunt thinks that she's obsessed, in an unhealthy sort of way. But Mildred's veterinarian father supports her in her efforts, as does her one friend, Jacob.

At its simplest, this is a sweet story about a girl trying to do something big and all-consuming as a way of coping with her grief over the loss of her mother. Mildred tends those pumpkins like they are her children, agonizing over them and loving them. It's impossible not to be moved by her.

But what makes the book a joy is Mildred's impish personality and oh-so-dry sense of humor. She'll say outrageous things in this dewy innocent voice, and this keeps the story well away from cloying. Mildred and her dad have to team up a bit against overbearing (though well-intentioned) Aunt Arlene. At eleven, Mildred sees her aunt clearly, and derives joy from teasing her. Here's a small example:

"After we are done eating, Aunt Arlene asks if I want to go anywhere else, since we are in Columbus.

"No, I have to go home and check on my pumpkin plant," I tell her.

I hear a very long sigh coming from Aunt Arlene, which I do my best to ignore. (Page 85)

Mildred is a kid who goes her own way, and doesn't let opposition or ridicule stop her. If anything, opposition causes her to dig in her heels until she gets what's important to her (in a non-bratty sort of way, as someone who is passionate about their beliefs, and utterly secure in her place in the world). Mildred's security comes from her father, who supports her and jokes with her and only occasionally allows himself to be steamrolled by his sister.

Mildred is not particularly interested in being popular with the other girls at school. She says things like:

"Gloria Mathis, the girl who plasters her notebooks with pictures of her actor crush, is a jabberbox, and not to be mean, but honestly, even though lots of girls hang on her every word, I can only stand a few minutes in her presence." (Page 35)

And this:

"The rest of the week at school most of the girls are nicer than usual to me. I think it's on account of my new wardrobe. But it's hard for me to act interested back at them. For one thing, I figure I gave them a chance way back when, and they really didn't want to get to know me. Truth be told, I think they still don't want to know the real me. Besides, all I can think about are my seeds. First thing I do when I get home every day is check on them." (Page 53)

What a little budding introvert. I love her country accent, too. Don't tell me you can't hear it, because I surely can.

One interesting thing about this book is the line that the author walks in talking about things like neutering of animals, birthing of calves, euthanizing of sick pets, and pollinating of plants. Mildred is the daughter of a vet, and a budding farmer in her own right. She is completely blase about things like neutering. I think that Kennedy does a nice job of making this part of Mildred's world, without getting into too much detail, or portraying anything that will be directly disturbing for younger readers.

All in all, this is an entertaining story, chock full of interesting information about the art of growing giant pumpkins. Me and the Pumpkin Queen positively brims over with heart and humor. Highly recommended for 7 to 12 years olds (though perhaps best suited to the earlier end of that scale), and especially for kids who have an interest in growing things. Although the main character is a girl, I think that the technical details about growing the pumpkins, the veterinary details, and Miriam's personality will appeal to boys, too. Highly recommended for children and parents.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on October 31, 2007.

In 1987, Charles Atkins was diagnosed with cancer. As with many cancer patients he underwent chemo and radiation therapy, a process that kills cell growth (both cancerous and healthy cells). To say the least, it can be a horrible process.

Years earlier, Atkins had been introduced to the work of Buddhist master Nichiren Daishonin. These teachings focused on the Lotus Sutra, repetition of the words "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo". For Atkins, this became a mantra of healing, to release karmic blockages and reverse dis-ease within the body system.

With nothing to lose, Atkins used this mantra during his illness. Before and during each therapy session, he chanted the phrase. This made the experience tolerable. He also regularly practiced the mantra with imagery techniques to speed his recovery. Atkins now uses the method to help others.

Charles Atkins is a master at harnessing his description of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and how it relates to healing the human body.
Even after being a 10 year practicing Buddhist, it is only now that I truly understand the meaning of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, along with its vibrational power to heal both the body and the mind. Using Atkins' exercise of mantra powered visualization, I have been given new strength and hope regarding my own health issues.
Anyone who deals with any type of chronic illness must read this book and implement it's easy to learn strategies.
This book and it's author has changed my life incredibly! Whether you are Buddhist or not, anyone can benefit from this over-whelmingly encouraging lesson in healing, along with Atkins' miraculous struggle and survival of cancer.
Gayla Preston, Columbus Ohio

After reading the book 'Modern Buddhist Healing' by Charles Atkins I lent it to a friend who has suffered from illness for many years and tried all sorts of therapy. She is already feeling the power of the healing recommended in the book. It is an honest, clear account of how anyone can change their lives and free themselves from disease, this is not a crank book as the method Mr Atkins uses really works. He even cites his own account of how he freed himself from a life threatening illness. It is a book to keep by your bedside and read over and over.

As a master's level clinical psychology student, I appreciate this book on several levels. I was fairly unfamiliar with Buddhism before reading this book, in part because of the anticipated complexity of the subject. To my surprise, I discovered Atkins had written a book comprehensible to those new to Buddhism. For those with a knowledge of Buddhism already, it provides much more insight into the topic. The connections to psychology and therapy are too vast to detail. As a therapist, you are simply a faciliator for the client in his quest to learn more about himself, very similarly to Buddhism. Through sharing his experience, Atkins proves the great power we each obtain through our minds and faith in healing.

This is IT
I recently just happened to be in a bookstore recently when Mr. Atkins was there discussing his book and experiences. I always have my "BS meter" on full alert...suffice to say that this book is not religious froo-froo or dogmatic salesmanship. The principles that he teaches here make sense for anyone and apparently work too. I'm impressed. If you buy it, Modern Buddhist Healing can change your life for the better on every level.

This is a must read for all that do hospice, social, and counceling work.
True stories that inspire hope, love and understanding into the continuum of life.

For anyone searching for answers about the meaning of life and curious to understand what death means in this context - this is the perfect source book. Annamaria Hemingway opens up our awareness into understanding how death helps us to appreciate life in a far more meaningful way and illustrates this fact through deeply moving and inspirational stories. The text material that accompanies the stories draws on a wealth of hstorical, philosophical and mythic perspectives that make fascinating reading. The book also demonstrates how letting go of our fear of death gives us the opportunity to consider the strong possibility that death may only be a transition into another form of consciousness. A wonderful book that I highly recommend.

My Four Stars is ringing the top bell in My library. So think 5. I work with the dying and their families daily. This is a very well researched and documented book on death and dying. A compilation of lives touched by personal loss and continuity of conciousness experienced. It should be in everyones library. I teach several classes on line about concious death and dying, for a private university. I have Annamaria's book listed as a " Required Text" for all my current classes. In my private practice, I take it along to clients homes. It often helps bereaved family members find solace. Also an excellent book for those who wonder "what comes next" and for those who question "if awareness continues after the body dies". I was especially impressed with the integrity and ethical character of Ms. Hemmiingway's book. It is well organized and can be read in parts or sections; especially important for those facing loss. In active grief we can only absorb information in "sound bites" or " one story at a time". This book fullfills that requirement! Uplifting and Solid. A great book for everyone including those interested in the study of Neath Death Experiences.
Katherine Rosengren R.N., M.A.

I absolutely love this book, not only does it share experiences of NDEs but also the difference in the peoples lives afterwards. What I am finding particularly inspirational is the stories of people who have been directly affected by traumas ie Oklahoma bombing and 9/11 and how they have turned around their grief into doing amazing things for the benefit of others to the point where i have been moved to look up some of the charities and learn more about their amazing work. This book stirs huge compassion and shows us how a seemingly simple idea when actioned can have such a positive and life changing effect on others. All this and I still have a bit to read :-)

PRACTICING CONSCIOUS LIVING & DYING takes us where people go when they die, traveling with those who have been declared officially dead and who managed to return to life to share their stories. This refreshing book is a collection of sixteen very different personal accounts of people who have come face-to-face with death in many various ways. There is a rich treasure trove of experience shared in this book which invites the reader to come on a journey each of us cares about, because it's a journey we are all destined to take. I love the way each first person account vibrates with such heartfelt emotion that I feel I'm right there... and the way that many people have found ways to make the deaths of their loved ones richly meaningful.

One of the most surprising and moving stories that touched my heart was the story about search and rescue teams of firemen with their special dogs. After learning of how such close relationships between fireman and dog affect and improve the firemen's other relationships, I will never see the world the same way again. There is a gift in being fully in this moment, right here, right now, rather than mentally or emotionally elsewhere... and I feel immensely grateful to this book for helping me vicariously experience how to go about regaining that sense of childlike wonder and simple heartfelt appreciation with the simple beauty in this world.

There is truly something ennobling and empowering in consciously living one's life, and PRACTICING CONSCIOUS LIVING & DYING helps us discover the secrets of how to better to enjoy the lives we are so blessed to have right now. This book is an extraordinary breath of fresh air for anyone caught up in the minutiae of daily life who longs to catch a glimpse of meaning, continuity, connection, and inspiration beyond the hum-drum everyday.

I am going to start with a legal opinion here. Man law clearly states that men are allowed to have emotions, however they are expressly forbidden from displaying them or {gasp} talking about them!

Well, I am feeling rebellious today so I can only pray for leniency from the man-law judges because I am going to break the law today.

I grew up on a farm and we had lots of dogs. Some of them were my best friends who are all long gone now. Unconditional love is a wondrous and wonderful thing that of all the animals on this planet perhaps dogs along are capable of. That unconditional love from all my old friends got me through many tough times, they helped to shape me and they are part of who I am forever.

Somehow, over the 20, 30 years since then I had forgotten about my dear friends. Can you believe that? They gave so much to me and I simply forgot about them? What a heal I have been.

Reading "Remembering Ruby" helped me to remember all my old friends, as it should be.

Melisa Wells, thank you for bringing my old friends back to me, back to where they belong.

This was a very touching story that everyone should read. Even if you have not lost a pet you may know of someone who has, and it would make a great gift. The pictures were very touching. This story is told through the eyes of a boy who had to deal with his pet being sick and then dying, and then how his family bands together during the process. I recommend it to all!

I just had to read this book as soon as it arrived. Melisa Wells has tapped into a real need. The story was tender from the boy's viewpoint and will give children hope that they can move on with their memories. I'm guessing there will be lots of kids wanting to scrapbook the lives of their pets now. Well done!!

The kids and I loved this book. It was beautiful and tender and not at all depressing. I got all misty eyed at the obvious love this family had for their dog. My kids (ages 5 and 8) were so inspired by it they wanted to go off and write books about our cats. Ruby even made it into their pretend play for the next several days. This book is a must have for any child or family that has lost a pet.

For those who have lost a pet, we know the devastation it can bring, and at times the embarrasment experienced for feeling this way about "just a dog" or "just a cat." Remembering Ruby is a great resource for families to help them not only understand that it is OK to love your pets and experience loss when they leave us, but to give some ideas about how to deal with that loss in a positive way. It is written quite simply, and is filled with photographs. Since we have not figured out how to extend the lives of our pets, and pets continue to grow in importance in the lives of families, this book is a fabulous resource to be added to any household library. We are adding Remembering Ruby to our website's Suggested Readings list and will recommend it to our family of adopters and volunteers, who will go through this loss if they bring a pet into their lives. Director of Cascade Beagle Rescue-East, and Special Education Teacher and Behavior Analyst in NJ public school system

Connelly makes his readers fall in love with his characters; in particular, Keegan, who is such an identifiable and likable young man that I was practically begging him for the duration of the story not to carry out the plan he sets in Chapter One. Only by reading it can you find out the power in what happens in the end. Wow...what a story.

I was struck by the Cover art-I longed to check the book out just to study the cover.The opening line of "It's not so bad being dead" Caught my attention right away,having read the summary on the jacket I thought immediatly Oh God he actually kills himself the book is told from a true teenager's point of view.From acting out his wish of reading other people's notes to wondering how far his dream girl has gone with her boyfriend this could be the guy who sat next to you in History.As a student of religion and psychology Keagan's thoughts of what he views as sin and finding loopholes to get good with God made me cry and fall over laughing more then once.I recomend to teen,parent,teacher and anyone who's ever thought of changing destiny.

"Who is supposed to know more about this book--me the author or you the reader?" -Neil Connelly

In talking to Neil about this book (I am a student at McNeese State Univeristy) I began to understand that this book does not deal specifically with guilt, with suicide, or any one specific issue. Neil deals with the idea, in the manifestation of Keegan, that life is hard and different for evryone, and everyone must deal with it in a different way. He developes Keegan, who has to deal with who he is, and Nathan Looby, who is also forced to look at himself for who he is. Nathan refuses to bend, and tries to answer life with one swoop...that it "has to be this way." Keegan is able to bend and overcome this guilt that hangs over his head, and that's the card he plays in the hand he is dealt. Keegan's mother goes insane over her situation; His father becomes very cold and distant; and brother Patrick runs from his family. Neil makes a very profound statement about life: Life cannot be summed up in a profound statement. There is no one mantra to live life by. Life is a series of experiences, and in those experiences meaning is made of a life. Neil gives the reader glimpses into Keegan's life, memories that shaped him, and, ultimately, guided him to try to rekindle the family love. His use of wrestling, a very physical manifestation of the tumult within Keegan's mind. Michael becomes a face for the inner self that Keegan struggles against, and this is climaxed when Keegan believes himself to be wrestling Michael. A powerfully woven self discovery of a human being that will move any reader to, for lack of a better word, grab life by the horns. Neil weaves a message about life in such a way, using the very simple, powerful voice of Keegan, that it has some resonance within us all. Neil Connelly has something to say, so read this book and listen up, but also listen in to yourself as you will begin to come to your own understanding about the meaning of life.

A great story of a troubled teen. Neil Connelly does a great job of drawing the reader into his world at OLPH. I got so drawn in, it is as if I lived some of that life with Keegan. So much can be taken from this book at many different levels. I would recommend this book for high school students and parents of high school students. The book can be used as a tool teach, among many things, the value of communication. I also recommend this book for anyone who is just looking for a fun read. It is a story with which we can learn and a story in which we can just have fun with.

I look forward to his next novel.

I could repeat what all the reviews say about Connelly's work, as they are all true. However, I'll just say that Connelly's book has to be one of the best books that I've read in the past few years, if not many of the past years. The way Connelly writes makes it feel as if you are always right there next to Keegan or perhaps next to Nathan or Angela. You feel as though you are a student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help. You can feel Nicky Carpelli's noogies, punches, and pounds. There's never a dull moment in the book, and even if you don't have the time, you'll want to finish reading the book in one day.

Simply terrific! I read this between 1am and 4am, just taking breaks to go to toilet. Couldn't put it down until I finished it! Great writing, terrific plot with no holes in it, a wallop of an ending and best of all no sappy sex scenes to detract from the suspense. Buy it!

I've read several Hard Case Crime books now and A Touch of Death is one of the best. It starts with one hot woman soliciting a man to do a bad deed, moves on to a even hotter woman getting the man to do even worse deeds. Extortion, insurance [...], murder, mayhem, sexy men and hot women. What more could you ask for in a mystery?

The cover is very nice too and I kept wondering when we'd get that scene and we did. Whoever is putting these Hard Case books together is doing a great job.

A decade after college-football glory, Lee Scarborough has fallen on hard times. With a paltry $170 in his kick, he's sold everything but his car. When the prospect of a cool $120,000--to be picked up after he performs some shady, quick work involving modest risk--is dangled before him, he bites. And that's the setup to this ferociously entertaining 1953 thriller by the prolific Williams, whose minimalist style brings with it enough excrutiating detail to keep you in a mesmerized state located somewhere between a fever dream and the bughouse. Like his fellow Gold Medal-original author, John D. MacDonald, Williams plumbs the psychology of his protagonist with grim insight--a neat trick when the protagonist is also the book's narrator. Scarborough isn't stupid, but his imagination is limited. To him, nothing matters but the money. When things begin to break bad, and the modest risk becomes a whole catalog of enormous ones, Scarborough keeps his eye on the prize. He's plenty cognizant of the mess he's in. Trouble is, the money always seems more real than the mess. Scarborough steps off the cliff completely when he gets mixed up with un-grieving widow Madelon Butler, a babe so beautiful she can stop traffic. Circumstance glues the pair together, which wouldn't be all bad from Scarborough's point of view--except that Madelon is an uber-sociopath. She's one of the great inventions of crime fiction: alluring, funny, and horrifying. Oh, yeah, she's smart, too. Way smarter than Scarborough. Chuck Pyle's period-perfect cover painting for this Hard Case Crime reissue captures Madelon in an oddly significant moment. The painting is faintly disturbing on its own terms, but look at it again--hard--after you read the scene in context. It'll scare the hell out of you. A Touch of Death might be the best title yet from the folks at Hard Case.

Sure, the plotting of A Touch of Death by Charles Williams isn't 100% airtight. But that's easy to forgive in view of the wonderfully hardboiled dialogue and the compellingly captivating and suspense filled narrative.
It wasn't too many years ago that Lee Scarborough was a college football player of some renown. But today he's a down on his luck salesman looking for a break. When he learns that there's $120,000 in embezzled bank funds ripe for the plucking, he decides to go after it. Little does he realize he is about to cross paths with Madelon Butler, an aristocratic beauty with ice water where her blood should be.
Lee naively believes he can outsmart Madelon. Trouble is, he's playing checkers while Madelon is playing three dimensional chess. As the fast paced story unfolds, Lee's straits become more and more dire and he finds out the hard way that crime doesn't pay (at least not for him).
Charles Williams was a great writer and A Touch of Death is one of his best efforts. Highly recommended.

From the instant Lee Scarborough spotted Diana James sunning herself sans bikini top, he should have known she meant trouble. The ex-football star was trying to sell his car to pay rent money. Diana James just happened to live in the same building as a prospective buyer. And she recognizes a useful pawn when she sees one: the healthy, athletic Scarborough has all the tools she needs to pull off a caper.

Diana invites him up to her apartment, tests her mark, and then lays out what seems like a simple plan. A banker had embezzled $120K of currency and then hidden it in his estate home... just before turning up up dead. Diana knows the embezzler's wife and intends to take her on a drinking binge up the gulf coast while Scarborough enters the home and locates the dough. Scarborough and James agree to split the $120 grand after they pull off the caper.

Soon Scarborough finds himself in the dark and cavernous home, scrounging around for the bankroll. One little problem: the widow, Madelon Butler, is in the home, drunk as a skunk. And, to complicate matters, someone else is also in the house...

As the tale unfolds, you'll find yourself startled and impressed with the crafty Ms. Butler -- who plays all of the characters around her like fiddles. Charles Williams has created an elegant, captivating story of exceptional quality: built like a Swiss watch, the plot just keeps unwinding... along with Scarborough's life. This is a tremendous story and one that should be optioned into film, just like Williams' Hot Spot.

I had the pleasure of meeting this author/speaker, and joy sparkles from her eyes, though she's blind. This book is a treasure to anchor your heart to Christ. The book takes you on a life's journey filled with bumps in the road and roadblocks, but Jan Eckles overcomes each obstacle placed in her path by keeping her heart and faith anchored in Christ. Join Jan on her life's journey. Read about how she lost her sight at 30. Then, she lost something even more precious than her sight--her son. Her life has not been easy, but she has perserved and anchored her heart in Christ through all of her earthly trials and tribulations. She didn't work when she was sighted, but she's found her life's calling and is able to see more through insight than sighted people. Google Jan Eckles to enjoy her inspirational blog and newsletter.

Barbara J. Robinson
Author/Educator/Freelance Writer
http://barbarajrobinson.blogspot.com/

Even though the main motivator for most readers to buy this book is the fact that it is extremely inspirational, I also want to comment that Jan's writing style itself makes the book a pleasure to read. I love how she is able to convey ideas with richness and simplicity at the same time.

I also enjoyed how vividly she describes Bolivia, both through her own eyes, and through her mother's memories. When I read about her family's arrival to St. Louis, especially the culture shock and language barriers, it occurred to me that she described these things in such a way that *anyone* would be able to understand them. For example, I enjoyed the line about the new language sounding like indecipherable noises, especially as it is clear that this is a language the author now masters.

There were so many things I loved about this book, and so many lines that stood out to me... as I was reading, there were many times where I either laughed out loud, gasped in shock or welled up - I think any reader would do the same.

Hearing all of the things the author went through, especially in her experience of gradually losing her sight, it is hard for anyone to imagine, yet somehow she puts the reader in her shoes, and we can feel her emotions - shocked, horrified, fearful, angry, hopeful, determined, saddened, grateful, happy - all of these. What a brave woman she is, and an inspiration to everyone.

It is obvious that Jan is a natural communicator (no wonder she excels as an interpreter), someone who wants to reach out with her heart and share with others whatever she can to help so that they may draw on her experience. But part of her success in communicating is that she has something important to express. I thank her for being willing to share her story so candidly, and with such grace, for others to hear.

I look forward to reading more from this writer.

I found the book to be very positive and uplifting. The author really gave me a sense of being able to find the good in all things, even if we don't recognize it right away. God does have a plan for us after all!

I loved this book because Jan Eckles opens her heart to you as you're turning the pages. You will be encouraged as she shares her life, both thru her triumphs and tragedies. As I read, I felt the Lord Jesus speaking to me through Jan's words. I reread parts of the story that I felt gave me hope in my own life. I've already bought a copy for a friend, and I highly recommend this book to you.

What a joy it was to read how God worked in the life of Jan. It was refreshing to see her honesty as she revealed intimate details of her walk with the Lord. God has truly blessed her and she has chosen to look beyond physical difficulties and family loss.

This book will not only encourage those who face trials but offer hope in God's eternal love toward all of us. Jan is a true example of a child of God.

This is a great book for anyone interesed in becoming a Trooper or other Law Enforcement Officer. It helps people understand the inherent risks of the job, but it also shows the amount of respect the North Carolina Highway Patrol receives (and deserves). It details several deaths of NC troopers (such as Giles Harmon and Bobby Coggins). It is an older book and very difficult to find copies of now.

A great read, hard to put down once you start

Firstly, this book is a credit to the North Carolina Highway Patrol -- a fine highway patrol organization.

I first read this book in late 1990, shortly after graduating from the Illinois State Police Academy. I enjoyed it, but didn't really connect with it on a "5 star level", as it didn't quite fit my concept of what highway patrol work is about and what my career would be like.

Now, 18 years later, I have thumbed through the book and find that it uncannily portrays exactly what patrol work is about. Some humor, some horror, some drudgery, some satisfying public service. Most of us love it, as witnessed by the almost non-existent resignation rate. The author did an outstanding job of selecting tales and retelling events.

The book is a bit unsettling to me since, as indicated by the title, it rather focuses on true fatal events that have happened out on the road (North Carolina highways, in this case). Almost all troopers have had countless gun battles in their sleeping dreams . . . no glory, just horror. Not to mention the even greater hazard of getting run over. As policeman/author David Hunter so accurately phrased it, "Every traffic enforcement stop contains the seeds of death". He was correct.

This is a very good book. Not everyone will connect with it, but if you're interested in the topic matter, I recommend it.

This book is great if you have ever thought about a career in the Highway Patrol. Just realize though it was written back in the 1980's and things have changed alot in the orgainization as a whole, but the people are still as crazy and dangerous as ever. The Stories are real and you can't put this book down.

This is an excellent guide to discovering who stands behind the badges of the highway patrol. I have a new found appreciation for the men and women who risk their lives every day. Even when they have to do so in an environment of decreasing respect and increasing firepower. I strongly reccomend this book.

I really found this book totally real. I lived in the Gaza. I have seen what it is like to live like the character in the book. I have seen houses destroyed just because the owners are Palestinians instead of Israelis. I've seen my mother bury her brother during the last Intafada. This is a wake up call to see injustice as it is. This story is so beautiful that everybody should buy a copy for themselves and then a friend. There is more truth here than the Bible. Check it out. If you don't, then you are really missing out on something, especially the truth. The world needs to get real with the people who are doing time there. The world needs to see what it looks like to be homeless, hungry and scared. I don't have a father. The war took him first and then our home away. This is a fabulous book! It is worth five million words. Forget about Opray's bookclub, join mine. This is real stuff. This is how people live and why they die! Check it out!

I have two uncles buried in Gaza. I have an aunt that cannot go back to where she was born. My family owns land that they need a visa to even visit. It this a made up story? No way! Is the character fiction? You have to be kidding! Do people really live this way? Of course, turn on the television. Its on Al-Jazeera all day! Get the book and feel what's real. See what Americans choose not to believe. See why Palestinians use bombs as painkillers! It doesn't feel good but it makes it all over. This is a great book, so where is the Pulitzer prize? This book is all about what is real. It you are a Palestinian then it is your story and you need to buy it. If you are an Arab, check out the lives of your people. If you are a human, read it and weep! It's the way it is and the way that has to change.

This book represents many ideas and feelings beyond previously ones expressed. Suicide bombing is an old story but one gains a new perspective with this beautifully written fiction. Once you understand the nature of a man's pain, hatred is lessen and compassion becomes rooted.
The Palestinians are truly a misunderstood people. It is an extremely sad affair.

I love fiction and this is a really good one, but it is so sad. I like fairy tale endings and you are not going to find one here. The main character blows herself up in a crowded theater. There is more realness here than fantasy. This is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. Once I began to read the book I realized that it was the story of a real life. I enjoyed it writing and I was touched. It took a lot of tissue but I got the point the author was trying to make. I don't ever think I will forget such a moving story and I will probably read it again. It is a keeper and one of those lessons you look for in a good movie. The girl in the story was so human, I could almost see her while she walked along her destructive path. Add it to your summer reading list. It is pretty deep.

So many books on the tragic situation in the Middle East speak of the issues without delving into the heart of the human beings there. This work is moving and opens the heart to the soul of the Palestinians and their very disappointing situation. This story is about a tragedy of the heart. I strongly suggest that this story be taken beyond the mind. I hardly consider it a fiction when the feelings are so real. Bravo!

I could not read this book without absolutely bawling. It's a tender and sweet memoire of love, and of all the lasting things that a parent or grandparent teaches one---those things that stay in your head your whole life. I especially liked that as the grandparent in the book get sicker, the little boy finds ways to take care of his grandpa, to be kind and loving to him, and to continue creating beautiful memories while they have time left together. I'm crying as I'm writing this, thinking about it! I would have a hard time reading this book to a child without weeping myself, but it is a truly lovely book.

This is a wonderful book for young children because of the love it shows between generations. Yes it was a tear jerker at times, but the underlying message of love in a family is what grabbed our attention. I read this to my grandson the last time he visited from colorado,and the part that made the biggest impression on us was to make the memories every chance we can. We touched each other on the noses when he left to go home and repeated the words "till we meet again." My husband just returned from a visit to colorado,when he said good bye to Garrett (age 5)..they again repeated those words!! So, thank you susan for writing this book, we have adapted your advice into our relationship with our grandson!

Susan's book is a neccessary addition to all family libraries. It tells an important lesson about making special memories so those we have lost can be remembered in small but incredibly profound ways. Having recently lost my Dad, it warmed my heart and helped me to see the importance of the circle of life and how it brings us hope and joy.

As a son, a parent and a grandparent, this book brings home the importance of making memories with those you love. It made me realize that I should make more time with my father, and spend that time as real quality time to capture those memories as ones that I will treasure forever. It helped me to take the time with my father in rekindling childhood experiences that we shared growing up and we spent many hours laughing and reminiscing over those times. I sincerely hope that other readers will benefit from this book and take the time to make memories with those in their lives who are so important to them. Now that my father has passed on recently, I am so fortunate that this book has given me the chance to pass these memory making traditions to my children and grandchildren.

After reading this book, you realize the Author has brought her own experiences with death to help children figure out that most times death doesn't come fast, its a long, drawn out process. She uses 64 pages of full-page-Max Lucado-style pencil drawings of real people to tell her story. By having the child who is telling the story grow up to become a Grandfather with a Grandchild of his own, Author lets children know that death is part of life and that they will survive. The use of memories to help ease the pain of death is a immediate technique children can use to cope. The balloons remind you of the children's book "The Red Balloon" but they are actually something the Author did for her Father. Older children can read the book themselves as the writing flows easily and Author uses a lot of recognizable everyday action and details going on between the three generations to move the story along. Children easily understand and quickly grasp the concepts of surviving death that the Author wants to get across to children. That is one advantage of having a teacher write a Children's book. Written for the secular audience, you can easily put "God" into various sentences for the religious audience. As a professional, certified librarian, I really like this book and recommend it.