Lifestyle Books

This was a great read.

Using an unusual but effective narrative style, Rosen captures, in a series of emails, his characters and settings perfectly. From the way people in the rural midwest wave by lifting one finger off the steering wheel to the sudden and shocking blast of a 12-guage shotgun, the details make this book engagingly real.

Having moved from the city to the country, Chase's entire world changes. Where he once had friends, he now has only thousands of ciacadas (the emoticon representing the cicadas is the worth the cost of the book in and of itself). But what bothers him most about his new life is the hunting that goes on, particularly after one of his dogs is shot. The hunting debate becomes the central issue of the story, and Rosen explores it with tremendous wit and heart, asking all the right questions and never offering easy answers.

With complex and charming characters, a fascinating issue explored with great sensitivity, and some of the funniest emoticons I've ever seen, this one will grab your interest--and keep it.

Here we are, Chase Riley (e-mail alias ChaseR), 14, moves 60 miles away from hometown Colombus to live hours from who-knows-where & five minutes from your neighbors (I'm five seconds away, if you're slow). His 90-acre land is being plagues by cicadias, mammoth bugs that come out once every 17 years. His e-mails to friends are often halarious, &, with Rosen's good writing skills, you, the reader, can easily dictate what life is like in the Riley house.

I have to admit, some of his newletters (letters in newspaper-like form to a wide selection of addresses) are HALARIOUS!!! I'm just wondering is that BEAVER CREEK BEACON stuff is true.

Although some of the stuff is funny, the actual plot isn't very exciting. I don't know how much more exciting it could get, given that the book was written in e-mails. That, however doesn't take away from the book's overall good-ness. (in my opinion)

Among other things, you can learn cool smileys.
Mouse: <: 3 )~~~~~~~

If you've ever looked at the "Snail-Mail No More" book(s, I think), & thought that it was a good idea, DON'T pick it up. Yeah, sure it LOOKS cool, but, to the males of this earth, MAKE THIS THE ALTERNATIVE! ( note: surere, girls can read this, too.

Whether you've read all of my blabber or not, BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

I too disagree with the Publisher's Weekly review of this book. I am a middle school educator. I know my students well, and this qualifies me to say that this book does a wonderful job of representing the adolescent mind. It is unfortunate that the reviewer from Publisher's Weekly disparages the impact of e-mail on young lives and fails to recognize its effectiveness in telling a unique story. E-mail is second only to verbalizing for communication (and in many cases, e-mail allows the expression of what cannot be communicated verbally). Therefore, the format of this novel WORKS. Young people will not only relate well to the novel's format, but they will enjoy reading the funny, brief, sometimes emotional chapters. This would be an especially effective book for resistant or struggling readers, as it is extremely engaging and easy to identify with.

The protagonist is endearing and his inner struggle is realistically portrayed. I believe that adolescents will relate to Chase's challenges, especially his feeling of isolation being so far from his friends and from what is familiar to him. I believe too that Chase's idealism is something that young readers will recognize as a quality that they share.

One of the most interesting aspects of this novel is its brilliance in convincingly representing one side of the conflict (the anti-hunting side), then putting the reader "into the shoes" of someone on the other side (the pro-hunting side). This sets up a situation where readers must examine their own stance on the issue, then weigh and evaluate both sides, as Chase (the protagonist) does. This process is an important developmental step for young people, one that they will be faced with throughout their lives. It is important for adolescents to have experiences that develop their ability to look at both sides of an issue and make informed choices for their own actions. The engaging story will lead readers into this learning process, leaving them with a more fully developed ability to look at similar difficult issues from a variety of perspectives. This also sets up a great forum for classroom discussion.

I am 34 years old and a professional, yet I enjoyed this book greatly. I read it to consider its inclusion in a unit I am designing for my classroom. I am looking forward to sharing this book with my students in the fall, and I hope that many other educators will do the same.

I don't exactly agree with the Publisher's Weekly review of this book, I thought the email form worked great. It was an inventive and dynamic way to express the mindset of a city kid readjusting to a rural environment. I found a review of this book in The Horn Book and I thought they put it nicely: "The book's email format work well, emphasizing the isolation and loneliness of a contemporary computer kid transplanted into a rustic, old-fashioned setting." At the heart of the book, though, is the conflict between us and nature, raising questions about what rights we have to exploit our surroundings. It is for this reason that I think this is an important book for kids to read, both city-slicker and rural alike.

It is August 10th. Fourteen-year-old Chase Riley is online writing a heads-up newsletter to his old classmates in the big city of Columbus, Ohio. Chase is now living on a farm sixty miles away, so Chase's dad can have some peace and quiet to study and write after he comes home from his job at the lab. Peace and quiet are the buzzwords. Chase is feeling rebellious at having to be so far away from his friends, but his e-mails are still bright and funny.

It is not that quiet, Chase tells his buddies. The Cicadas in the daytime and the bullfrogs at night make ear-splitting noises. Is this what adults call "the joy of country living?" He knows that his two dogs are in heaven, free to run loose and chase anything that excites them. Unfortunately, they are also learning about skunks and tomato juice baths --- a bitter lesson. Even Chase smelled of skunk for awhile!

Then there is the matter of making new friends. Chase keeps to himself when school starts and spends his time writing e-mails to his newsletter group and his sister, Mallory, at Kent State. He doesn't seem to be settling in to his new school environment, and the school guidance counselor is becoming worried. For Chase, writing e-mails has taken the place of forming friendships.

I hope that most young readers will find the main character, Chase Riley, cool. He is an amazingly talented fourteen-year-old with obvious gifts in writing and computer literacy. His intelligence, fierce independence, and wry humor will help him to handle the adjustment of leaving the city for the country, making new friends, and coping with the other events in life's journey.

(...)

This book is a favorite bedtime book for both our 21 month old and the adults in our house. It's a really engaging and clever story, plus the text is so much fun to read aloud. We also love it because it has all the animals that our child loves to name. The illustrations are simply lovely, and we have a great time picking out the little details like the clocks on some of the pages, and who has a pet bunny. We have had this book since our child was 6 months old and I had been eagerly awaiting the day that it would be appropriate--so it's been a real treasure discovering this book!

Lively language and expressive illustrations offer something for our whole family to enjoy. Our son, who is not quite two, and also not quite ready for bed most nights, loves to laugh at the silly setups (OK, his parents totally dig the irony of fish asking for one more glass of water). Beware, the hamsters in this story totally steal the show! Perl has a fresh, fun voice and a way of making sense of the nonsensical toddler bedtime routine. Bates acrylics really jump off the page. I know this book, unlike some of our bedtime stories, will grow with our son.

This is a very funny and well-written book, as other reviewers have already noted. I also appreciate that dads are featured in the putting-to-bed rituals. Wish it came in a board format so that my little one could turn the pages more easily.

This endearing new book for pre-schoolers ranks right up there with the best of Sandra Boynton's work. A clever, silly and downright fun book about bedtime. And Bedtime with my 2 1/2 year old can be a real chore sometimes! The book is filled with all sorts of silly animals including chickens, bunnies, fish, hamsters, sheep and more. The animals all do their best to stay up past their bedtimes, told in snappy verses that kids will love.

The book is illustrated by George Bates whose style perfectly compliments Perl's text. Great new kids book by a new author that could be a classic someday!

This book has everything I want in a bedtime book. Both my kids (3 and 5) were enthralled (great rhymes; colorful fun pics with plenty of detail, but not so much that we get stuck on each page for 3 minutes.) It's the perfect length (long enough that the kids are sleepier than when we started, not so long that I'm nearly falling asleep) and it finally put to bed (pun intended) my 3 year old daughter's constant question of why she goes to bed earlier than her 5 year old brother. "The farm is just like our house!" she exclaimed when we read it. Now if only I could get their room not to look so much like the pigsty...

This book is an excellent reference for pop-culture (and comic book) fans. It does a great job of covering the comic book industry and world since the 50s. It's really complete and entertaining, and very intelligent

This is a lively and insightful history of the men who created the Silver Age Super Hero comics at Marvel and DC. It also features some material on the more important post-Silver Age creators such as Frank Miller, Alan Moore and Scott McCloud. The narrative contains history, inside information and analysis of the work. It flows well and reveals a lot of the history of both the industry and the characters. The comic book heroes of the title are the creators. While it does not offer a comprehensive history of comic books, or even super heroes comics as the Golden Age is not covered, for what it is, it is the best book available and strong enough that one need not wish for more.

Gerard Jones and Will Jacobs have written a wonderful history of comic book heroes from the silver age (late 50's) to the present (mid-90's). It is an important book in providing the background details of the industry and also in its portraits of the creators of the various comic books. For one such as myself, who grew up in the middle part of this period, it combines a delightful mix of nostalgia with a healthy mix of cynicism for the business side of this industry. I was surprised that the twists and turns within the industry could often match for interest the myriad of confusing sub-plots that were being developed within the pages of the comics themselves. I was also pleased at the examination the authors provided of the fictional heroes themselves, even including the authors, at times, strong opinions. The book felt like a dialogue late at night with another expert fan of comics with often heated disagreements but always with a lot of fun and much insight. A highly recommended read.

In a perfect world, this book would be less necessary than it is. Because "The Comic Book Heroes" is one of very few serious works of comics history - and certainly one of the most detailed I've seen - it's forced to bear a weight that Jones and Jacob's writing isn't completely up to. Not that it's bad, by any means, and it's clearly a labor of love for its authors, but it's weirdly partisan, especially as it begins to cover more recent comics, and Jones's experiences as a comics writer, and his opinions of his peers, come into the foreground. If this were a "my life in comics" sort of work, then that'd be okay, but given that the book's presented as an objective history, the opinionated (and occasionally bitchy) tone feels odd and out of place. Still, for all its problems, it's a serious study of a subject that is sadly underrecognized, and, as such, essential reading for any student or reader of comics.

Along with Jim Steranko's work on golden age comics, this is the best comics history there is! Instead of the nostalgic and illustrative emphasis of Steranko's books, Jones and Jacobs bring a rigorous critical approach to comics from 1956 to the present, not shirking from questioning the reputations of some accepted "classics" while finding value in some works previously derided or ignored. Their history encompasses the business itself, the personalities involved, and the growth of comics fandom, as well as the content of the comics themselves. The text is always entertaining, sometimes hilarious, and always stimulating and informative. There are few really essential critical works on comics, this is definitely one of them, and as fun a read as the comics it discusses.

I looked forward to getting this book because I wanted to know more about Leonardo--the man. I had read the book, The Da Vinci Code, and that piqued my interest about him. But Dan Brown's book didn't explore the depth of Leonardo's contributions beyond his art. Da Vinci for Dummies was perfect for me because it explored a wide range of his interests such as dissecting human bodies and designing his flying machines. As is typical of the dummies series, the table of contents is very helpful if you want to jump around between chapters to focus on specific aspects of his life. There is also great effort to describe the times during which he lived and what/who were his influences. At first glance, you may consider these dummies books frivolous. But I found this book to be a useful, comprehensive, and fascinating biography of an amazing man.

I've always wondered who Leonardo Da Vinci really was. Sure, I slept though most of my Renaissance and Art History classes - but when the subject would turn to Da Vinci, I would always perk up. Did he really invent all of those wacky things? Was he the founder of modern medicine and anatomy? Was he a heretic? Was he the really the consummate Renaissance man? Now, after recently reading the Da Vinci Code - many of those old curiosities have resurfaced.

Da Vinci for Dummies tackles the complex subject of Da Vinci in the time-honored fashion I've come to expect from the Dummies series. If only this book had been around when I was studying Da Vinci in high school! It is written with a deep sense of respect, if not admiration, for its subject. As with other books in this series, Da Vinci for Dummies is both very fun and extremely easy to read, and it is organized in a format that makes finding answers to specific questions a breeze without having to search through the entire book. But, don't be deceived by its outward appearance and ease of use. I found this book to be as scholarly researched as it is easy to read. So, I would highly recommend it to anyone who is studying Da Vinci or preparing a report on the subject. (Shhhh - don't tell your teachers I said this!) However - I would also recommend it to anyone who has the slightest interest in this curious and profoundly important individual. If you've read the Da Vinci code, as I have, and wanted to know more - consider this book a quick and easy, yet surprisingly scholarly refresher, in the subject!

For those of you who don't know Leonardo's fascinating story, this book is for you! It reads like a novel, weaving the intricacies of Leonardo's life together in a well-written, suspenseful and integrated novel. A definite read for art aficionados, scientists and humanists alike.

It's rare that a writer/editor has the depth of knowledge and confidence in her research to venture to have a little bit of fun with a historical/scientific figure of Leonardo's significance. Fortunately for readers, Jessica Teisch completely pulls it off. She writes this extremely easy to read and entertaining volume as if Leonardo was the next door neighbor she grew up with - In fact, at times, I was so entertained that it escaped my realization that I was actually picking up dozens of facts (i.e.; Leonardo was a lefty, a conplete non-conformist and that he actually didnt enjoy performing his exquisite anatomic dissections). All in all, this is a beautifully researched book that doesnt just educate you about Leonardo, but actually takes you all the way back to the Greeks and gives you a lovely tour up through the Rennaisance to boot. Where was this book when I was trying to impress historians and artists alike? Never mind - it's here now.

This is a fascinating work for those of you who want an overview of Leondardo, but don't have a desire to read an esoteric biography. My favorite part involved a discussion of Leondardo's flying machines. Who knew? I had no idea that he invented the precursor to the helicopter. A must for those who are fascinated by Leondardo!

Genre: Historical Fiction-Youth
Title: Danny and Life on Bluff Point
Author: Mary Ellen Lee
Ten year old Danny is very small for his age, and not very strong. This fact bothers him greatly. Still, he works very hard on the farm where he, his mom and dad and three sisters live. He does his chores and helps his father, along with the hired man, in the woodlot during the winter. Danny loves his family, including his aunts, uncles and cousins, visiting whenever he gets a chance and helping where he is needed. He enjoys his life on the farm and encounters many adventures. For all his small size, Danny is far more capable than he knows.
Out working with his dad, Danny takes a break to look for deer. His dad will need to shoot one for their meat this winter. He encounters a cougar that is also watching the deer. Lucky for Danny, the cougar is far more interested in the deer, but the warning he is able to give his dad, helps tremendously as the cougar continues to hunt close to their home. An incident with their team of horses proves how brave Danny is when faced with the need for his quick actions and small size, but dealing with a bully is almost more than he can handle.
Mary Ellen Lee has delved deeply into her family history to develop an enchanting story of childhood in the late 1800's. She brings her delightful characters, particularly Danny, to life through his thoughts, emotions and an in depth knowledge of life for rural children in that time period. This novel, recommended reading for children 8 to 12 years, would be a perfect addition to any school or classroom library. This is book one in the series.
Reviewer: Elaine Fuhr, Allbooks Reviews

I bought this series for my son as we live near Bluff Point. I pre-read them for content. "Life on Bluff Point" books are great reading on many levels. There is a bit of history, as well as daily life and lessons to be learned with in these pages. You do not have to be a local person to enjoy Dannys journals. My son liked the family dynamics of this era, with its joys and conflicts and I liked the many subtle lessons on good behavior. Reading about the daily chores and responsibilities of the children was an eye opener for my ten year old, as was the fact that all these years later, boys will still be boys.

Reviewer: Joyce Handzo, In The Library Reviews
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

What better way to experience history than through a firsthand account! Author Mary Ellen Lee has loosely based this novel on her grandfather's journals. She has creatively combined some real-life people and events with a dash of fiction to bring young readers a taste of this time period.

Ten-year-old Danny lives on a large fruit and livestock farm in upstate New York. The year is 1894 and life is decidedly different than today. These pages chronicle his everyday actions as he helps out at home, interacts with his parents and three sisters, and goes to a nearby school. Written in the first person, young readers will see things through Danny's eyes and might find their own eyes blinking in astonishment!

The book has a delightful cozy and conversational feel as Danny recounts ordinary events. His daily routine starts with many farm chores and ends with a family supper. A description of his school and studies, as well as his recreational activities, all provides a true sense of the time period. Danny's life is physically hard, and as a small boy he often struggles with the tasks that are set before him. His perseverance and courage provides many excellent examples for young readers to follow. Danger is often before him, which is seen with startling clarity as he comes face to face with a cougar. He also deals with a bully at school, and takes a higher approach to solving this problem than just using his fists.

This book is simply written, but leaves a lasting impression. These pages offer a fresh look into our own world, as it was over 100 years ago. Danny's family life and activities subtly speak of profound issues like morality, honesty and faithfulness. Young readers will spend their time wisely and wonderfully with Danny.

Danny & Life on Bluff Point is a delightful story of farm life in upstate New York State in the 1890s. As readers share 10-year-old Danny's everyday life, we can feel the essence and warmth of family life and values of this loving, caring family. Today's children reading this book can learn how life was different in Danny's time but how the attitudes toward family and community are still very necessary in their growth years as they become responsible adults in our world. Danny has chores to do but he also has fun. I hope he doesn't grow up too soon! I am anxiously awaiting the author's next "Danny" book.

Danny and Life on Bluff Point is a story based upon the real life accounts of her grandfather in 1894. The author's father, Danny, is an average ten year old boy who yearns to become a man and make his parents proud. The only son in the family with three sisters who try his patience. A boy who does okay in school but has a bully that makes his life miserable. Basically, Danny is a pretty typical boy who finds himself in not so ordinary situations- like coming face to face with a cougar.

Danny and Life on Bluff Point is reminiscent of the truly timeless historical fiction accounts about the old west and life in early America that continues to intrigue every new generation of readers. That the stories are based upon true events and that the characters are realistic helps add a fresh aspect to this traditional type of literature.

This book should be called Zoey needs to make up her mind. Or better yet, Problems with the Passmores. Zoey is being very annoying. At first, she doesn't like lucas pressuring her for sex. Then she gets upset when he doesn't pressure her for sex. Zoey get a grip. I don't even know where to begin with Benjamin, except for pathetic. I understand him being disappointed about the surgery; Hoever, he has no right to shut out Nina. Especially, since he took something from Nina that she will never get back. He is being self centering and shallow. I not even going to start on Aaron.

Don't Tell Zoey is another great book from the making out series. Katherine Applegate once again keeps the story exciting by the characters unbelievable actions. I can absolutly not wait until the next book in the series to come out. This series is the best!

dieses buch finde ich sehr gut wie alle anderen bücher auch ich finde es schade das benjamin immer noch blind ist falls jemand mal mit katherine applegate reden sollte soll doch BITTE sagen das sie nicht nach band 28 aufhöhren soll zu schreiben!

The Making Out series are the best books I've ever read. The characters are so realistic. They also have the same problems as most teenagers. I'll admit,the first book started out a little slow, but once I got in to it - I couldn't get out! (For some reason I can't find the books here, but my granny mails them to me from the U.S.) They're definitely worth the wait. They couln't be better!

Applegate has done it again! Book 13 is just as good, if not better, than the other books in this series. Benjaman is in deep depression over the fact that his eye operation didn't work out, and Nina can't seem to cheer him up. An old family friend, Kate Levin, is coming to stay at Lucas' house until the situation with her dorm clears up. Zoey is definitely not liking the VERY pretty redhead. Claire is deleriously happy over her relationship with Aaron. Things are going great between them... and she has a surprise for him on Valentine's Day. However, things fall apart for more than just one couple on what should be a romantic evening. Watch out, because Don't Tell Zoey ends with a bang!

A Review by Allison

"Why can't I be like other girls?" Emily would often wonder. Emily is a special girl who has trouble doing every day tasks. She is the target of many harsh remarks at her school and just wants people to know that she has feelings like everyone else. When she falls in love with a guy named Hunt, she tries to prove to her parents that she is grown-up enough to wear makeup and more stylish clothes. She and her best friend, Molly, even decide to have a party. Things go horribly wrong- Hunt kisses another girl and Emily gets kissed by her friend, Donny. Where do things go from here?

I thought this book was great in all aspects. The characters that were used were well-developed and the visual descriptions and settings fit together wonderfully. This was a fast read- not because it was a short book but because it was interesting and didn't have useless bits of information. It wasn't a particular difficult book to read but it was interesting and had a good story line. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that the ending seemed too abrupt. The language was easy to understand and descriptive. The story didn't seem like it was TOO happy or TOO sad, it was perfect.

I would recommend reading this book to anyone. It may be more for younger readers but something everyone should read.

A review by Erika

Emily is now a teenager and is able to go to a normal high school. She has never gone to a normal school because she had a disability and had to go to a special school. Emily is now going to experience the life she has always wanted, that�s if her parents will let her. In this story Emily has to try to live the life of a teen without the help from her parents. She will also realize who her true friends are.

I liked this story because of the little romance that goes on in it. The author doesn�t put it out there until the end but I liked it that way. In the story I like the way Donny becomes her true friend. The sad part is she had to find out the hard way. The only thing I didn�t like was the characters Amanda and Molly. Amanda plays the bad guy in this story. She was really mean to Emily. She called her bad names all the time. For example, Emily held a boy/girl party, and Amanda called it a retard party and left. The reason I didn�t like Molly was because she was supposedly her best friend but she treated her like she was some hopeless little girl who didn�t know how to dress or act around boys. Molly would tell her things that she didn�t need to know or she didn�t need help with. The character I like was Donny. He noticed every thing she did. Like when she changed her clothes and started to ware makeup, he said she looked pretty. When it comes to the part of her meeting Hunt I thought it was cute. I thought it was cute because she thought he was the cutest thing in the world, but when she gets a job at the Farm Store. She doesn�t want him to know she works there because there are other special kids there.

I would recommend this book because of how cute the story line is. The reason I like this book so much is that I like Emily�s character. I liked how she looked at things. I would recommend this book to some one between the ages of 11-14. It was a simple book. It was easy to read.

A review by Amy

This book is about a developmentally delayed girl named Emily. She is starting a new high school and is desperately trying to fit in. Throughout this book, Emily faces many pressures to act a certain way, dress a certain way, and do certain things. For example, her best friend tells her that her clothes are too babyish and that she can't call her mother, mommy because she'd be "uncool". Emily tries very hard to do everything everyone tells her that she needs to do to be cool. But in the end, she lets her true self, shine through and finds new friends that accept her for who she really is.

Throughout this book Emily listens to her best friend and doesn't seem to have her own mind or a sense of herself. I felt like walking in on this book and being one of the characters to give Emily confidence in herself. Also, to teach her to be an individual and to do what she wanted, wear what she wanted, and hang out with whoever she wanted to.

Emily joins a new "regular" high school where there are "regular" kids and she feels a lot of pressure to grow up. For example, she feels like she's not pretty enough and needs to wear makeup. Something that was sort of a theme throughout this whole book was something that Emily read in a magazine. She read this article because she was trying to figure out what guys wanted in girls. She desperately wanted a boyfriend and the article she read was a statement that a boy made for the magazine. It read: ` I like girls who are sincere and honest. If they don't like me for who I am, then they're not worth being with'.

I thought that was a very good statement for the boy to make, but Emily took it the wrong way. She looked past what, in my eyes, was a very obvious point. That point was that guys should like her for who SHE is and THEY should be sincere and honest. Nope, that's not what Emily saw. She was too obsessed with trying and acting like she was sincere and honest. Key word, ACTING.

Another review that I read said that this book changed her life. That is a truly great thing that you can take from this book, but in my case, my life wasn't changed. Maybe that's because I've read many books such as this and this book sort of reaches out to a younger group than mine. Well, that's my opinion.

At first, I was reluctant to get this book, for a variety of reasons. Mostly, I like to read books with characters I can identify with. When I found it that it was about a mentally disbaled teenager, I almost didn't read it because I knew I would feel like an outsider when reading this book. Boy was I wrong. I realized that even though Emily, the fourteen year old main character, was different from normal teens such as myself, she still faces the same little everyday problems that I do, such as arguing with her parents about what she is and is not allowed to wear. She also faces bigger problems which I also relate to, such as trying desperatly to appear "cool." Although it is different for her, I feel like I understand what she is going through. Every teen is similar to her in one way or another. It also made me realize that just because people are different, they shouldn't have to worry about people "accepting" them. Emily was so worried about what others would think of her because she was different, and that sort of is a discrace to our society. We shouldn't have to live in a place where people are so worried and scared of others because they are "different." It isn't fair. If all the people who are cruel to others could just be in Emily's shoes for a day, I think they would change. And that's exactly what this book does, it puts you in Emily's shoes. This book was such an inspiration to me, that I decided to volunteer at a home for mentally challenged adults, where some friends and I went and planted flowers. The people there were so nice to us and they really appreciated what we were doing. I definetly will volunteer more. I urge everyone to read this book, no matter what age or sex, though teens will undestand and relate to it more. Judging by the title boys may be turned off by the book, but I think they will equally enjoy it. Read this book, it is amazing and has changed my life.

The story is about a fourteen year- old girl named Emily Gold who is mentally disabled. She in a special class in a regular high school. On her first day, Emily meets cute Hunt. She is hoping that he will be her boyfriend. Emily lives with her over-protective parents who disapprove of her wearing make-up and dating. Donny is one of the boys in her class. He gives Emily sweet little gifts and letters, telling her that he likes her. However, Emily is in "love" with Hunt and Donny is angry. Emily gets a job at the farm store. She meets new people who are also "special." She doesn't want Hunt to know she works there. He finds out later, but doesn't care. Molly is Emily's friend and she is having a boy-girl party. Emily invites Hunt and Donny to the party and is trying to spend the evening with Hunt, but ends up with Donny. She looks different at the party with a revealing outfit and make-up. Later in the story, Emily decides which guy is best for her. This is a very touching teen story and I highly recommand it.

I grew up in the same kind of Japanese concentration camps as Mrs. Rose. She was Mrs. Deibler during WWII and her book about her experiences during those years is so encouraging to all of us who have struggles in life.
I was a child when all this happened and reading it from her perspective is healing to me. She was a colleague of my parents and although we were in different camps, our experiences were similar.
Read this and you will know that you are never alone even when you live through the darkest hours of your life!

If you can read this book without balling your eyes out at the goodness of God, you are missing what life is all about.

An amazing story about the power of love.... from a woman who had every reason to hate. Without a doubt one of the most incredible testimonies to the reality of Jesus and his promises I've ever read. You will not be the same after reading this blessing of a book. Read it and see how love changed the heart of a monster.

joyfulsongster

This book is by far one of my favorites. Mrs. Rose has written a truly inspiring, eloquent account of her amazing faith in the face of horrific circumstances during her captivity in WWII. It has given me such perspective and encouragement. I've read it over and over and I get more and more out of it each time. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to be inspired by an incredible woman of faith.

Darlene Diebler's story of her faith in the jungle during WWII is an even greater tribute to the faithfulness of God. Despite all of the persecution, trials, deprivation, and personal grief that Darlene encountered during the war, she tells how God supplied her with the strength to endure, often supplying her material needs, as well. The answers to prayer, as described in this book, are inspiring, absolutely AWESOME accounts!

I have bought several copies of this book to give to friends, and I will always keep one copy to encourage myself to keep going when times are difficult. This is a book that puts everything in perspective. God is faithful: this is the precious message that shines from every page! Diebler has blessed us by relating her story: a young bride who toughed it out as a prisoner of the Japanese by continuing to trust the One who was ACTUALLY in control!

This book has had a great impact on me. If you are interested in knowing what it means to truly trust God, in spite of personal loss, read this. Darlene Diebler Rose has greatly encouraged me as a Christian. Sometimes Christians are asked to endure great suffering and often without an explanation as to why the suffering is being allowed by a loving Father. She was willing to surrender everything to the Lord and because of her
faithfulness, her victory has been made known to many people. As a result, she has ministered to someone like me who really needed to gain a better understanding of what discipleship involves. Thank you, Darlene, wherever you are!!

Joy's mom and dad have a divorce and every day she's at a different parent's house until she decides she wants to live her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks! Maya's trying to make a difficult choice. Can she make her oldest best friend Shana become friends with her new friends because friendships got to grow! Carolyn thinks that ever since mom dyed she thinks her dad is a miserable man with is just a little over-protective rules that force he to keep secrets then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her. There are three friends who are doing three different projects to do with three cameras sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.

Joy's mom and dad have a divorce and every day she's at a different parent's house until she decides she wants to live her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks! Maya's trying to make a difficult choice. Can she make her oldest best friend Shana become friends with her new friends because friendships got to grow! Carolyn thinks that ever since mom dyed she thinks her dad is a miserable man with is just a little over-protective rules that force he to keep secrets then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her. There are three friends who are doing three different projects to do with three cameras sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.

I absolutley love this book!It talks about problems every teen has.I really hope there is a movie.

I read this book and, although it may be boring at first it gets interesting. Really interesting. It tells the story from the view of three different girls, Carolyn, Maya and Joy.

Each girl is dealing with a problem:
Joy's parents are divorced and she wants to live with her mom full-time.
Carolyn's father is acting strange. Is he keeping secrets from her?
Maya's old best friend Shana is angry that Maya's spending time with Carolyn and Joy.

This book was great. Very realistic as the three girls deal with their problems... together. Plus, they're doing a photography assignment which leads to trouble... for all of them.

Theft, Lying and Secrecy from three girls. What will happen?

Maya, Carolyn, and Joy are best friends. They are three friends who are doing projects with cameras, sharing fun times, adventures, and even some bad times.
Joy's mom and dad were divorced. Now she can't stay at just one place because her mom and dad live in separate houses, so every day she's at a different parent's house. Then she decides she wants to live at her mom's full time. She thinks she'll have more freedom, with no one watching over her and it will be great-- or at least she thinks!
Maya, tries to make her oldest friend, Shana, become friends with her new friends, Carolyn, and Joy, because friendships got to grow!
Carolyn thinks that ever since her mom died, her dad is a miserable man, and has over-protective rules that force her to keep secrets. Then she finds out he's keeping secrets from her.

I previously read "Dear Emma," and it was a great book. I really wanted to read the sequel, and as soon as possible I checked out "Faraway Summer" from the library.
This book is the journal of Dossi, who lives in crowded Essex Street with her older sister, Ruthi, in a small room in someone else's apartment in a tenament building. She's shocked when she learns that Ruthi has filled out a Fresh Air Fund application for her.
But whether she likes it or not, she boards a train for Jericho, Vermont. She's staying with the Meade's, who live on a 52-acre farm and who own a large house. They have an eight year old girl Nell and a girl Emma her own age. Most of all, she wants Emma to be her friend.
She sees lots of new things-fireflies, huge amounts of food, cows and chickens, and large, open space-something she's never experienced before. She thinks the food is the best thing ever!
Emma remains cold and unfriendly until the end of the book. I think it's said when Emma leaves Dossi's library book out in the rain by the pond.
This was a great book and I'd recommend it to everyone. Good work, Johanna Hurwitz!

I have read lots of Joanna Hurwitz's books and i must say this is one of her best. Haddasa [Dossi for short] has nobody but her sister Ruthi and her friend Mimy. Dossi 's parents have passed out and so has her sister . Dossi and Ruthi live in a crowded tenament with just one room too do everything : Eat , Sleap , Sit , Stand ....... Ruthi works in a sewing factory. The tenament smells of sweat and OF COURES They dont have a single toy. When Ruthi signs Dossi up for a Fresh Air Fund ,Dossi objects . But when Dossi starts to like , even befriend the family she is staying with ..............

Dossi is a poor girl who lives in the city.Her parents and younger sister,Velvel have passed away.Dossi's sister,Ruthi is the one who will take care of them.She works in the factory.When Ruthi signs Dossi up to be sent to the country,on a Fresh Air Fund vacation,Dossi is terrified and surprised.Soon,the day had come to go to the country.Dossi packed her bags and brought along a library book which was a new one.She and her friend,Mimi, didn't tell the librarian that Dossi was taking it away.Dossi prommises Ruthi that she will send a postcard to her as soon as she reaches her destination.In the country,she meets the gentile Meade family.Nell and Emma are around Dossi's age.Mr. Meade and Mrs. Meade also have two sons,Timothy and Edward.Nell chats nineteen to a dozen.Emma doesn't.There are a lot of things that Dossi hasn't seen.Like fireflies,cows,two yolks in one egg and many other things.She learns about a man named Snowflake Bentley.He is mad about snowflakes.Snowflake Bentley also takes photos of snowflakes not people.Dossi likes Nell but she wants to befriend Emma too.But Emma treats her like if she is not there.Will Dossi be able to befriend Emma before her holiday in the country ends?

Haddassah (Dossi for short) is a Jewish girl lives in a cramped apartment in New York City. Her sister (Ruthi) signs her up for a Fresh Air Fund which sends poor children too the country for 2 weeks in the summer. Dossi leaves excited and yet afraid to go on vacation with a family she doesn't know in Vermont for 2 weeks. She is stunned by things in the country and doesn't even know what fireflies are. This is one fault that I found with the book, she seems to know NOTHING of the country, now I can believe she's never milked a cow, but some of the things she had never seen are unbelievable. Anyway during the book she sprouts friendship and learns new things of her trip. She meets new people and learns what the lovely countryside is like. This is a really fast paced book, you should be able to finish it within an hour or so, but nonetheless it is worth reading.

This is a good story about a girl who spends a few weeks with a family that is very different from her own. Dossi learns other people have alot to offer her and she has alot to offer in a friendship,too. Hurwitz is a wonderful author; she makes the characters and situation come alive.