Siblings Books

Describing this book is similar to describing being a parent to someone who isn't. There are many words that can be used, but none of them are sufficient. The Amazon description above tells all you want to know of the story before reading it (maybe too much).

Poignant is the closest I can come to explaining the tone of the book, but all is not as sad as that term might suggest. The twin sisters are unbelievably well portrayed by Carey. Alva's the want-to-be worldly one and Irva is scared of and by the world. Their interactions with each other and with their (ficitonal) town make up the story.

I had to look more than once at the picture of the author on the jacket. I could have sworn most of the book was written by someone much older. That isn't an "-ism" of any kind; there are some things in this world that can usually be described only by someone of a certain age and experience. I was amazed that he was born in 1970. I was also surprised many times that he is a "he" and not a "she" in his presentation of the sisters.

There are some blanks left for the reader to fill in. Sometimes this doesn't work well in a book, but in this case it adds to the pleasure. Like his Observatory Mansions, it's all about the people. Please read this book. It is a one of a kind.

Alva and Irva Dapps, eccentric twin sisters, never had an easy life. Their father died the day they were born, when his scandalous malfeasance at the post office was abruptly discovered. Their mother was oddly reclusive. The girls themselves, strangely symbiotic, struggled with their sense of identity, and even more so, with their sense of place. And their city, Entralla, somewhere in--perhaps--Europe, is somehow symbolic of all places, all home-towns, and all sense of belonging. Somehow the twins become involved in making plasticine models of the buildings of Entralla, all the buildings, creating a gigantic model of the entire city. And somehow this comes to have cosmic importance, later, as certain tragic events take place.

The book is written alternately as a guidebook for tourists coming to Entralla, and as the memoir of Alva Dapps, the more outgoing of the two sisters. It comes complete with a detailed map, recommendations of where to stay and where to dine, which trolley bus to take to which destination; and the sad inner struggles of two odd and lonely girls who never belong anywhere.

Author Edward Carey is imaginative and insightful,but he doesn't always make things easy for his readers. Sometimes the account becomes almost too fanciful, too strained, even for the surreal medium in which he is working. The writing drags at times, especially in the travel guide sections. It was not easy for me to finish this book. However, it was certainly worth doing. Take the book for what it is, an extended meditation on the sense of place, an inquiry into what it means to belong--and you will find the book strangely moving and thought provoking. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

Edward Carey again manages to write a wonderfully gripping novel. I am not going to go through the whole plot outline of the book as it is all here for you anyway, but the story of Alva and Irva Dapps is more than just a story about twins. It is a story of lonliness and longing, desire and duty, and really it really shows that one seemingly insignificant event CAN have a great impact on society. This novel really takes the readers through an excercise of emotions. Carey makes the reader join in with Alva's tense desire to broaden her horizons, yet we also feel deeply for the pain felt by Irva. After reading this book we are almost able to taste the Entralla buns, and smell the plasticine on our fingers. Reading the story of Alva and Irva and their atmospheric home of Entralla is an opportunity that should not be missed.

This is a story of place. And it is one I found particularly touching. You will feel the same if you've ever walked aimlessly through a city's streets as you wondered what it would be like to live there, or - if you lived there - wondered what it would be to leave. Edward Carey has found the perfect metaphors for the alternate yearnings, to stay or go, in his characters Irva and Alva. But reducing them to symbols would be unfair. The warmth of Carey's writing prevents that. The real brilliance of his story, though, lies in how he manages to illuminate every emotional aspect of how we regard the places we are and may go, and he does so in such an unforced and natural way that we've hardly realized the depth of his contemplation by the book's end. His touch is light, but the feeling is strong.

The context of a guidebook for the unreal city of Entralla, complete with a street map and a recommended tour, frames the diary of Alva, the identical twin of Irva. As the twins grow up, they grow increasingly apart. Alva longs to travel and Irva turns inward. Alva's threat to leave her sister and their city plays out as the essential betrayal of anyone wanting to abandon their home. But Alva finds a reason to stay a while as she attempts to turn her sister from the retreat into herself, the smallest place there is. They take on the task of miniaturizing the city in plasticine; Alva documents the outside in photographs and measurements while Irva remains inside and sculpts. The tiny buildings "may not have been mathematically accurate, but they were, let there be no doubt about this, emotionally precise." It is emotional accuracy that matters.

"Miniature things move people." In Carey's world and in real life, it is because the perspective granted by things reduced focuses the emotions we associate with those things. Occasionally we are even made aware of the hundreds of other lives happening immediately around us. When Alva's and Irva's sculpture is reluctantly displayed to a scarred populace, both the smallness and the significance of the peoples' lives are somehow simultaneously grasped. These oppositions of place are difficult to hold in the same hand.

When the writer of this guidebook is revealed, the significance of small lives is once again emphasized and along with it the unavoidable bitterness of travelling alone in a vast world. This final revelation is devastating and beautiful in a novel full of contradictions. I don't ever expect to read any other book that so perfectly evokes my own feelings towards the places I have been.

Carey's first book, Observatory Mansions, already had me waiting on the edge of my seat for the next one. Alva & Irva did not let me down. His characters are once again lacking in sanity, and as the book progresses, so does this trait. I would say Alva and Irva is a little more solemn than Carey's first novel, but certainly a good read. The last portion had me talking out loud and murmuring, "Oh god. Oh my God. Oh no!" You don't believe the lengths the characters go to to secure themselves against their fears and angers until you are on to the next shock. I am certainly eager for Carey's third.

My daughter is in preschool and she loves this book. I bought it for her before school started and she thought is was neat because Barbie was a mom and she had to get her two girls ready for school. Cute pictures!

My 4 year old is starting preschool and this book talks about waking up and all the steps to get ready to go to school. We read it over and over. The words rhyme and she can almost "read" the book just by looking at the pictures.

This was the first "real" book my five-year-old daughter read, not counting those "we both read" sorts of books that have only a couple of kid-friendly words per page. She still needed some cues along the way, but she was highly motivated by the girly subject matter, and so proud once she finished. She even took it to kindergarten to read it to her friends. A great book for any little girl who is just starting to read.

This is a great book to get a little girl reading. I enjoy all the step in to reading books. They are very easy to read and include popular kid themes.

I bought this for my 5-yr-old son when we adopted a 2-yr-old. He loved it so much we bought it for his cousin when her parents added a baby when she was 7 yrs-old. She thought it was great also!

Outstanding......just what my neice wanted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am glad that you all had it.
Thanks, Amazon- I can always depend on you all for all things!!!

Sincerely,

AL Shuford
Charlotte,NC

My daughter became a big sister at age two. Seven months later she still begs me nearly every day to read this. She giggles endlessly the whole time! A must have when you're expecting a new baby!

My 3 and 5-year olds can't get enough of this book. The funny things that the older brother in the story calls his new baby brother have my kids rolling with laughter. We now give this to friends and family as a "big brother or sister" present when a new baby is born.

Simple but detailed illustrations provide a focus for discussion about the story with young readers (and listeners) while the text itself can be read on multiple levels to keep even grandparents happy. A rare find in a children's book.

Maud and Amelia are total opposites, except that they are both very old and cooped up together in a boring house, each on the end of an enormously long bed. Suddenly, they have a great idea: to embroider their huge white bedspread to add a little interest to their lives. Finally agreeing to sew their childhood house, they set to work, each in her own way. Amelia is prim and proper, remembering to make use of all the fancy needlework she learned years ago. Maud has forgotten exactly how to sew, but makes do creatively with old buttons, brass loops, and odds and ends of fabric. Maud's house turns into an enchanting jungle, with the ice cream man and the peacocks roosting on the roof, and plenty of crooked balconies and smoke-billowing chimneys. Amelia's is undoubtedly beautifully-stitched and wonderful to look at. In the end, the two switch sides to look at the other's work and are astounded at how differently they remembered and re-created their childhoods. I can certainly empathize with both sisters through this well-told, funny, warm-and-fuzzy story and beautiful illustrations.

I just recieved this book as a present from my parents for my graduation. This had been my favorite book as a child; every time I went to the library, I would search to find it, then ask my mom to read it to me. I identified with Maud as a four-year-old, and I still see the character in myself fourteen years later. I think this book instigated my desire to see both points of view to every circumstance and to see how people interpret the same situations. This book holds the most amazing story and illustrations.

This is a great book to use with Learning Styles and/or Left/Right brain. The two sisters embroider a bedspread with the same ideas but the results are totally different.

This book is very well loved in this house. As a parent, what I particularly appreciated is how jealousy is depicted - as a green monster that quite frankly, it looks like a devil. When Brother gets a new bike for his birthday, Sister gets jealous and wants one too, which is atypical for her. She goes to sleep and dreams of the green-eyed monster of jealousy which convinces her to ride Brother's bike, even though she cannot even reach the pedals. She winds up crashing it to smithereens in her dream (with the little green-eyed monster/devil laughing all the way), then wakes the whole house thinking she really did it. This book provides a fabulous example of what can turn into a nasty adult trait if not handled while young if it appears. Great, great job, highly, highly recommend!

"When another bear gets something brand new, the Green-eyed Monster makes *you* want one, too." -- From the book

It's Brother Bear's birthday, and he was getting some very fine presents at his party--and aluminum bat from Gramps, a fielder's glove from Cousin Fred and a sports video from Lizzy Bruin.

Sister joined in the festivities--until she saw what Mama and Papa Bear bought Brother as a present: a beautiful racing bike!

Sister was aghast--and angry. Mama noticed the "I-gotta-have-it" look in Sister's eyes--and reminded Sister of the presents *she* got on *her* last birthday.

But Sister would have none of it! Mama tells sister about the Green-eyed Monster known as jealousy and envy. Sister is still upset, not wanting Brother's junior bike hand-me-down.

Written by beloved authors Stan & Jan Berenstain, this book shows what can happen when jealousy takes over--and how what you THINK you want may not always be best for you! (Even Papa gets a bit of the "Monster" when Mr. Bruin gets a new car!)

I like the fact that the Berenstain Bear books show adults making the same mistakes as children (poor Papa Bear...it's usually him!).

If you'd like an engaging book for teaching kids how to deal with jealousy, this would be a fine book that will hold their interest while encouraging positive life skills.

It's Brother Bear's birthday and he's gotten all sorts of cool presents. Sister Bear is unaffected by Brother's good fortune. Until Mama and Papa bring out their gift: a brand new green bicycle. Sister turns green in a fit of envy. Mama talks to her about being careful around the "green-eyed monster", but Sister doesn't seem to listen.This story isn't as interesting as some of the Berenstain Bears books. I think part of the reason is that the plot takes place in a 24-hour period. However, the book has a great message and kids love looking at the ugly green bike that causes all the problems.

I can not tell you how many times my children (3 & 4) have me read this story. It is adorable and funny while also teaching them about being jealous. How can you go wrong?

Although I love the Main Street series, I must admit that I was a little disappointed in this particular installment. There was so much going on with the aniversary event that the story missed out on all of the "scenery" that Martin weaves so well into each tale. The story itself is fine, I just wish I would have had the feeling of being there, as I did in the previous books.

I just can't stop reading these delightful stories! BEST FRIENDS is the fourth book in the MAIN STREET series, and it wraps up the first year Flora and Ruby have in Camden Falls.

Annika, Flora's best friend from her old life, is coming to visit. She will be there for the 350th anniversary celebration of the town. There will be a parade, a play where Ruby is the star, and many contests.

Flora has written a book of interviews of the older people in Camden Falls, Olivia has entered photos of native wildlife, and Nikki has entered her art, which is a first for the Sherman family. Flora is so excited to have all her best friends together at the same place -- until it actually happens and they all seem to hate each other.

These books are very simple but very entertaining. These girls have modern problems that most girls have, but are in no way boring. I love this series and can't wait for the next one.

Reviewed by: Marta Morrison

The Main Street series is exceptional. My nieces and I look forward to each new book and have already pre-ordered the next two in the series. The characters are very real and the storyline is plausible. We love these books and Ann Martin is definitely one of our favorite authors!

This book series is a touching, honest, refreshing and realistic portrayal of everyday life. The story of Ruby and Flora losing both parents, coming to live in a new town with their grandmother, attending a new school, making new friends and going about everyday life is captivating. My eight-year-old is mesmerized with all books in the series and can't wait for the next.

I would highly recommend this for girls and the adults in their lives too. It provides a good springboard for conversation about life and how to handle different situations.

Most of the vampire books I read in my everyday life are not suitable for children(books by Ann Rice etc).
But this book which I read a long time ago,when I was younger (probably early teens),is one of the first vampire books I have every read.And it truly is a masterpiece.It more or less introduced me to the general idea of vampires.It is not too long or boring but just right for the young mind.The plot is simple and not at all disappointing.
It revolves around two vampire in the woods who are hiding from their creator.
A boy(I can't remember his name,sorry),accidently finds them both while they slep in coffins.
Soon one of the vampire wants to be his friend and the other wants to kill him.
In this story Jill Morgan shows how this boy becomes caught up in the lives of two vampires.And also as the story takes its course a shocking truth emerges,one which envelopes the characters and the reader in one world.
For a thin(short) book there is alot of information hidden in these beautiful pages.
The cover of this book shows(what I assume to be)the two vampires in the woods.(the brothers)
These vampires is(I think) the basis of the book's name,"Blood Brothers"...
I strongly recommend this book,as a starter vampire book.Especially for beginners.
After reading this book I suggest you go on to Christopher pike's "The Last Vampire" series.......which is outstanding...And if you are maybe a teenager or older you might want to try Bram Stoker's "Dracula",which is excellent.
For the mature minds,There is Anne Rice's,"The Vampire Chronicles"....

Enjoy..............This review was written by Nigel.

One year ago, a powerful vampire named Valdier attacked a family that was harboring his old Druid enemy, Joseph Kellum, aka the Old Celt. Valdier killed the parents of the household and made two of the three children into vampires: Dillon and Xander Adler. Out of guilt, the Old Celt and his family "adopted" the children and moved far away from Valdier. They came to Pennsylvania where the story begins.

Tucker Burton is the 12-year-old protagonist in "Blood Brothers". He's captivated by the Irish Gypsies that have come to work on his family's farm. The day that he sees shy, timid Lilly, Tucker follows her and the Kellums home, which happens to be in the Scavengers' Woods, a very dangerous and eerie place. He then witnesses something that is completely unbelievable--the Kellums produce two coffins that are inhabited by twin vampires, Dillon and Xander. One of them (Xander) is nearing his vampire state, while the other (Dillon) struggles to delay the inevitable. With the help of Tucker, the Kellums plan to protect the twin vampire brothers from ever being discovered by humans, or worse--Valdier.

"Blood Brothers" is one of the few vampire books for kids that is really exciting to read whether you're a child or not. Many of the vampire myths are the same in the book--sunshine will burn a vampire's skin, they sleep in coffins during the day, etc.--, but Jill Morgan adds some interesting twists, such as a time lapse between being bitten by a vampire and finally entering vampiredom, and the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or vanish into air.

Since I really enjoy vampire stories, I can't help but praise this book. The reading level is for 8 to 12-year-olds, but I would still encourage older readers who share my interest to pick this one up. It's well worth your time.

I loved this book. It intranced me and frightened me all at the same time. I couldn't stop reading it. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this book to anybody who likes vampires, suspense, or adventure. It will change the way you think of vampires FOREVER! But remember only read this book if you dare.

This book was fabulous, it feels like you're right there in the story and it gives you such an intense feeling. For example when Tucker was watching those two vampires come out of there coffin, now that was intense. I would definitely recommend this book for any age group over 10 years of age.

A great little book, just the right amount of silliness. Like the other reviewer I find myself trying to get the voices right - too fun! Highly reccomend, plus it is a nice quality book considering the cheap price.

My 5-year-old Son loves Charlie and Lola books. He has a little brother and I like what a good example Charlie is for him when dealing with his younger sibling. Fabulous author!

We hare HUGE Charlie and Lola fans at our house. My husband and I enjoy them as much as my children do. This book (and the episode by the same name available on DVD) is our very favorite. Sweet, innocent, fun, hilarious...Charlie and Lola!

My 4-year-old daughter LOVES the Charlie & Lola TV show, and this is the second book we've purchased. I find myself reading with an attempt at a British accent, which even made it fun for me. Highly recommended, and it's especially appropriate in the Halloween season!

There is a great book called The Boys in Control, and the author is Pyllis Reynolds Naylor. This story is sort of about baseball. A girl named Eddie joins a boys base ball team as the pitcher. There is a boy named Jake and he plays pitcher as well. He wants to be the only picther so he want Eddie to do a bad job so he can be the only picther. I just think that it will be a good book for boys and girls to read.

Out of the whole series, this one is the best by far. Maybe not the best of Naylor's, but very close. It certianly is better than most of the children books where it's all, meet boy/girl-boy/girl has problem-boy/girl struggles- boy/girl finds solution. They really are boring books.

Now let me give you the storyline of what's happening.
- The girls find an old album that used to belong to the Bensons. It contained very funny, and embarassing pictures of the Hartford and Benson boys.
- The boys find out and are VERY embarassed, and plan on getting it back, one way or another.


- Jake and Eddie are on the baseball team.
- On the day of the championship, Mrs.Hartford by mistake volunteered to run a charity sale of some sort.
- Since Mr. and Mrs.Hartford are Jake's parents, they have to go to the championship.
- Since Josh is Jake's twin, he has to go to the championship.
- Since Peter is too young to help with the sale, he's going to the championship.
- Who's left?

THIS IS IT THE 9TH BOOK IN THE SERIES OF THE HATFORDS AGAINST THE MALLOYS.I JUST KNOW YOU'LL ENJOY IT BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW JAKE AND EDDIE ARE NOW ON THE SAME BASEBALL TEAM THE BUCKMAN BADGERS.WITH ALL OF THE TRICKS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN PLAYED THE ONLY, THE MOST HUMILIATING ONE IS BEING PLAYED NOW BY THE MALLOY SISTERS.WHILE THE BAKE SALE THAT MRS.HATFORD SIGNED UP FOR IS ON THE SAME DAY THE PLAYOFFS OF THE BUCKMAN BADGERS THE HATFORD FAMILY CHOOSES ONE PERSON IN THE FAMILY WHO DOESN'T VERY MUCH ENJOY BASEBALL,TO DO THE CHORES FOR MRS.HATFORD.CAROLINE DECIDES TO STAY WITH WALLY WHEN THEY GO .BUT WHAT HAPPENS.WHO IS IN CONTROL.THE BOYS OR THE GIRLS READ BOYS IN CONTROL TO FIND OUT.THE TITLE MAY NOT MEAN ANYTHING.

Fans of Phyllis Naylor's "Boys Against The Girls" series will delight in the new Boys In Control, which continues the saga of the Hatford boys and the Malloy girls at war. Here a thwarted baseball game turns into another competition between boys in girls in this story of war and underlying friendships, with more than a dash of humor.

Helen Frost's The Braid takes the reader on a simple family journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the strange land of Canada's Cape Breton in the Mid-1800s, while at the same time allowing us to follow the delicate yarn that stretches across the sea back to Scotland and Mingulay where the rest of the family remains. This book served three purposes for me: first, my Word Nerd partner, Jaimi, was inspired by this book to start her own writing; second, it fulfills the Irresistible Review challenge because I saw the book on two separate blogging sites ages ago---Here and Here; thirdly, it was very entertaining.

It was such an easy read, it only took me two short 15-minute Metro rides. I also didn't even notice the intricacy of the book, its narrative poems, and its praise poems. Frost's explanation of how the poems are interwoven together surprised me, perhaps because I was not looking for it or because it was so well done that I was not jarred out of the narrative by its style.

***Spoiler Alert***

Jeannie and Sarah are close sisters, who are separated by the Atlantic Ocean when Sarah makes a rash decision to hide away while the rest of the family boards a boat for Canada. Sarah stays behind in Scotland with her grandmother, while Jeannie boards the boat with her other sisters, brother, and parents.

Jeannie must step up to the plate in the New World and help provide for her family by begging strangers for food and shelter. She finds strength within herself. Sarah meanwhile succumbs to her emotional weakness, but turns out to be a positive for her. Jeannie, on the other hand, then transitions from an "adult" back to her childlike self.

***End Spoiler Alert***

Helen Frost is a very creative author and this book is a simple story told in a unique way. I would love to recommend this to anyone who likes Young Adult novels and to those who just want a breath of fresh air.

This is one of the most "literary" books I've recently read that has the potential of attracting reluctant young adult readers. The slim volume will not intimidate, and the quick-paced, drama-filled narrative will keep them turning pages. Author Helen Frost examines pertinent issues of homelessness, poverty and teen pregnancy in her fictional account of two teenaged sisters torn apart during the Scottish Highland Clearances in 1850. Her interwoven poems between chapters help make this title a unique standout.

Once again, Helen Frost has crafted a beautiful novel in verse. This story of two sisters is one that anyone descended from immigrants can appreciate.

Although the poetic form is very intricate and literary, young readers (even reluctant readers) will find the book an approachable, quick read. And even those who don't normally like historical fiction may enjoy it, since the themes in the book are timeless: sisterhood, family love, the struggle for survival, and romance versus reality.

Jeannie and Sarah are teenage sisters living on the Isle of Barra in Scotland in 1850. It is a time that has come to be known as the Highland Clearances when landlords, choosing to raise sheep on the lands instead of renting them out, forced thousands of people to leave their homes. The family plans to sail to Canada. The night before they leave, Jeannie and Sarah braid their hair together, sleeping with their heads touching. But in the morning, Sarah is gone. She has cut the sisters' braid and left half in Jeannie's hand.

Jeannie, her parents and three small siblings sail off, as Jeannie holds the braid and cries for her sister. Sarah has decided to travel with her grandmother back to her grandmother's home on the tiny rugged island of Mingulay. When Murdo Campbell, a young fisherman, sails them to their new home, Sarah feels an emotional attraction to the calm, kind man.

Meanwhile, on the crowded ship traveling to Canada, Jeannie finds her fellow passengers irritable, hungry, thirsty and sick. The sleeping area below deck stinks. Jeannie is heartsick missing Sarah, but she is distracted when her little sister develops a fever. A passenger has died, and the family knows how serious an illness can be.

On Mingulay, Sarah dreams of and worries about Jeannie and her family, but she also enjoys getting to know her extended family. She loves collecting seabird eggs from the cliffs and snaring the birds she and her grandmother eat. She also finds herself waking up at night thinking of Murdo Campbell. Little does she know what lies in their combined future: passion, shame and sorrow --- but also hope.

Jeannie and her family endure a horrendous crossing. As so many of the passengers do, they suffer unbearable losses. When they land, they decide to travel to Cape Breton, hoping to find other travelers from home. Along the way, Jeannie is hungry, filthy and sad, but she uncovers a prevailing strength deep inside to sustain her.

Jeannie and Sarah's stories are powerful and moving, filled with universal emotions anyone can relate to. At the end of the book, author Helen Frost explains how she structured it. The sisters relay their tales in narrative poems, which are connected with shorter poems. The short poems each honor one ingredient in the longer poems. Astonishingly, the poems are braided together in an intricate way. The short poems share first and last lines. In the sisters' poems, the last word of each line is the first word of each line in the next poem. In addition, the syllable counts have significance: the number of syllables in the lines of the sisters' poems equal their age.

These revelations were so astounding to me that I did something I've never done before: I immediately reread the entire book, both to admire the structure and to re-savor the poignant and riveting story. (Since rereading, I have been raving about it to everyone I know.) THE BRAID is now high on my "best books I have ever read" list.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)