Recreation Books

I gave this book to my 12 year old son after reading some of the reviews. I gave it to him as one of his many Christmas gifts but never realized that I had also given myself a great treat. He & I shared reading the book and both of us truly enjoyed it. It's about a young man who dreamed and set a goal of playing football for Notre Dame. It follows his ups & downs and the strength and intestinal fortitude it took to hang in there as a non-scholarship "walk on". My son also plays football (as well as other sports) and like many young kids his age dream of playing in college and the "big leagues" when they get older. This story doesn't "sugar coat" what it takes and portrays the emotional turmoil it took for this young man to hang in there. While I won't ruin the ending for you, as a dad of a young aspoiring athlete I can confidently recommend this book for both young & old.

I picked this book up on Amazon because a friend of mine recommended it to me. I was expecting a "Rudy," type story. There were parallels to be sure, but this book was so much more than that. It is an autobiography of the ups and downs in a four year premier Division I program. The book is a quick read and I didn't want it to end. I found myself cheering for Timmy O'Neill that his hard work would finally pay off. And by the end of the book, you are right there with him as he starts to realize some of the fruits of his labor. Overall, a very enjoyable and well written book. Would recommend very highly, especially to anyone who has ever been told that they couldn't do something.

This book is the Caddilac of Notre Dame walk-on books. From page one to the end, the book is filled with excitement, laughter, and tears of joy. Not only do I recommend this book to children of all ages, I encourage this to middle-aged people as well that are looking to get over the 'hump'. I read this book 6 times and I'm still determined to make the team as a walk-on. I will write Timmy O'neill's name in for the next presidential election.

I bought and read this book after I found this under a "football search" on Amazon. I was looking for a good book for my nephew. Having been a former college running back myself at 5'9" 195lbs, I continually broke stereotypes as Timmy has done in this book. How many times do you hear a sport commentator say something like, "even though he's 5 foot something, he an incredibly gifted runner" It never made sense, because what better height to be as a running back--low to the ground--than 5 foot something!..I never found any advantage to being a taller running back unless you're blowing open holes with your blocking...look at the best, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Emmitt Smith, etc. Every Play Every Day is about breaking perceptions and beleiving in yourself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and passed it along to my nephew who loved it as well!

Tim is one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. As a freshman I was fortunate enough to live across from Tim and his roommate, Murph. They were the older brothers I never had. The book is a testament to hard work and determination. I read the book over the Thanksgiving holiday, I recommend the book to all sports fans. Tim is the real deal, I hope someone puts his ND and high school highlight tapes up on youTube.

Rachel's Flex Appeal is the most complete, and awesomely inspiring book on women's bodybuilding! If you want to begin a weight bearing exercise program, this is your guide. Simple, easy to understand, and covers beginning, intermediate, and advanced training techniques. Includes some myths and common questions about women's bodybuilding. The chapter dedicated to bodybuilding nutrition has been so simple and sensible. She even includes some inspirational information on bodybuilding competing. Do not be wary, this is a book for any women who wishes to weight train, regardless of to what level! A+ all the way!

I also bought this book many years ago and her other book, "Perfect Parts". The books cover everything from diet, training, mental attitude, as well as using great pictures for showing exercise techniques. I want to purchase another Flex Appell. ( I stupidly gave away my original one.)

This is an excellent book with many nice photos and lots of great information from Rachel. I bought the book many years ago but lost it. I hope they reprint it soon.

This is a wonderful book for those just getting into weight training, as well as a source of inspiration for those who have been training for years. Rachel not only explains how to train, but why it works and covers everything from exercises to routines to nutrition, as well as sharing a bit of her spiritual philosophy. You won't need a personal trainer after reading this book. An all-around GREAT book and I'm sorry to see it is out of print.

This is a wonderful book for those just getting into weight training, as well as a source of inspiration for those who have been training for years. Rachel not only explains how to train, but why it works and covers everything from exercises to routines to nutrition, as well as sharing a bit of her spiritual philosophy. You won't need a personal trainer after reading this book. An all-around GREAT book and I'm sorry to see it is out of print.

I was not a Jerod Haase fan at all, unitl I read this book. I am 44 yrs old and have never played basketball, but I have joined a league and want to play now. Jerod is an inspiration to all special people everywhere. Way to go Jerod! I salute you my brother! I especially liked how he credits his friends with his metoric rise. Tahoe sounds like a good place. Wonderful read!

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It takes you behind the scenes. It shows you that these guys aren't just b-ball players....they're real people. Any true Jayhawk fan NEEDS to read this book!!!!

I thought this was an amazing book. I loved his insights. I am curantly coaching Jerod's nephew, Zac that was mentioned in this book several times, and reading this book has helped me out a lot as a coach. Good job.

Floor Burns was a great book. It was full of emotion and I cried and laughed. It made me think of what its like to be a college athlete. After reading this book Jerod Haase is my hero.

A chronology of Jerod Haase's senior season at Kansas, taken from e-mail correspondence to co-author Mark Horvath. I admire Haase's courage and frankness in baring his soul, although at times the accounts get pretty cliche. If Horvath's primary role in this project was copy editing, he should be ashamed! The text is full of grammatical errors that eventually become distracting.

Warning: Missouri fans will not be pleased; they might be downright ashamed after reading about some of the Tiger antics described in this book!

If you are looking for the be all end all book on chasing striped bass via the fly, this is it. Rich Murphy has packed anything and everything there is to know about the subject into an encyclopedic book of massive proportions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn more about flyfishing for stripers. Both seasoned veterans and rookies to the game can learn from this masterpiece. Top shelf.

This book just blew us away! It is well written, the photos are beautiful and it is jam-packed with helpful info. It is so beautifully done that you could leave it out as a "coffee-table book". You will not be disappointed with this one.

There are some fine books written about fly fishing for striped bass. This volume is the best. Murphy combines years of fishing experience with a great writing style and an in depth knowledge of striped bass and their marine habitat. As Rich Murphy is also a professional engineer with a technical knowledge of hydrology, he is able to write not only about the striped bass, but also the marine environment in an elucidating and factual way.

Additionally, the illustrations and photography in this book are fantastic. If you want to know about striped bass, their biology and environment, and how these determine effective strategies for fly-rodding for striped bass, this book is "one stop shopping". While the book has a New England emphasis, the knowledge contained will be useful for anglers over the entire range of the striper, as they will be able to understand the fish, their environment and effective fly-rodding strategies.

Hands down the best fishing "how to" book I've ever read and I've read many. This is a book you will read and re-read because there is so much information that its way too much to absorb in one or two passes. If you fish for stripers along the shore you need to read this book. If you fish offshore from a boat it will be helpful but if you poke around beaches, rocks, rivers or flats by foot or small boat you will become a better fisherman...the diagrams are worth the price of the book alone!

To declare this book as the all knowing guide to striped bass is a little far fetched for me. I agree the book was informative and the photography was great. But nothing was covered about fishing situations like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel,fishing ocean stripers out of boats, or night fishing around docks and bridges. I think the title of this book should have been Fly Fishing For Striped Bass Off the Beach in Massachusetts. If you live up north and fish off the beach, this will be a great book for you. If you fish for stripers by any other means, don't expect this book to give you much information.

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a fan of Forumula One, this book is it. I've given a few away as gifts, and it's always a riot to see the results. Whether it's a child, teen, or adult (I've mostly given this book to adults), faces light up, and the person who receives it becomes immediately drawn into the book . . . for hours. Try giving one at a party and watch as everyone gathers around to get in on the play. This is PERFECT for the fan who has everything (or the fan who wishes to have everything . . . such as a Ferrari F300). An unbelievable amount of fun. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!

The CD has fantastic sounds-- BRM car brings back fond memories. The Pop Ups especially the Ferrari instrument panel and the F1 with pit crew is great. All graphics, photographs are 5 star quality. This is a must book for the F1 fanatic.

I purchased this book for my husband, who has just become interested in Formula One racing. The whole family enjoyed reading and interacting with this informative book. We learned more about Formula One than we ever expected...this book has to be the best book I've purchased in years! HURRY - BUY THIS BOOK!!! Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!

All diehard Formula One fans can increase their knowledge of this wonderful sport by reading this book. The CD is fantastic,all of the engine sounds brings back fond memories. The Pop Ups especially the Ferrari instrument panel and the F1 with pit crew is great. All graphics, photographs are 5 star quality. A must book for the F1 fanatic's library.

Wow, great information, great fun! A must read, actually it is a tome to pour over. There is a lot to digest, and it is very interesting. It is a very clever layout, there are lots of pockets and flaps to explore. Not for children unattended though, it could be quickly demolished. My one beef is that I found the glasses (not 3d by the way) to be a little tough to view sometimes.

The Fragile Edge by Julia Whitty combines a science journalist's capacity for a precise and illuminating description of undersea flora and fauna encountered in remoter parts of the Polynesian archipelago and a passionate appreciation for its peculiarities and ecological complexities with a philosopher's detachment and bird's eye view of the reefs and the communities that abut them. Your reviewer is a certified divemaster, licensed boat captain and underwater photographer and I read a lot of this stuff. This one is unique in its sensitivity, attention to detail, and the writer's personality that comes through. I've given two copies of the books to other divers in my family.

I grew up in this world of tropical coral reefs and sharks and tiny bright fish but that was over fifty years ago. Tonight as I sat on the deck of my house overlooking a bay in Washington's temperate Puget Sound, I finished Julia's book and felt those long ago times flood back. And I felt joy and sadness. Joy for the memories of reef sharks suddenly appearing in the Northest pass of the Truk Lagoon; and me swimming free a hundred yards from our skiff. Joy for Moorish Idols escaping into coral forest. Joy for just being there. And sadness, for a world dying before our eyes. People, we've got too many people. When will we figure that out?

But oh my! Can this lady write. Thanks.

What a treat to enter the underwater worlds of the South Pacific with documentary filmaker Julia Whitty as your guide! The writing is absolutely gorgeous: "The humphead wrasse who the Tahitians call mara and the French call Napoleon is an imposing fish up to seven feet long and four hundred and twenty pounds, with an overhanging forehead, thick lips, and a blue body overlaid with squiggly patterns of green and yellow that look like the inside of a crcuit board." It is easy enough to get lost in the descriptions of life in the reef, up close and personal, but Whitty doesn't stop there. She brings in philosophy, Darwin, yoga, the history of the people on the islands she decribes, and Buddhism, as she observes life in the reefs, so that the reader feels she is not merely observing what's before her but contemplating it, trying to understand its mysteries. She makes the more humorous sides of this underwater world come alive, all the while getting her message across of the dire straights the worlds coral reefs are currently in. She has a vast knowledge of fish and reef life but makes it accessable, even providing a glossary at the back for the layperson so you come away with new knowledge about worlds you might otherwise never know. I loved this book!!!

Ten years ago I had the opportunity to snorkel with a marine biologist in East Africa. He was studying the bleaching of coral reefs and his worries about the future of marine life as he knew it was palpable. As a writer I had to ask myself, now that I know, what do I do? Thank you Julia Whitty for giving voice the growing awareness among scientists that the fragile balances life depends on are being pushed so sadly out of whack. The elegance of Whitty's prose and the beauty of her images do justice to the majesty of our lovely but put upon planet. She combines the dispassion of science with the passion of art in a way many writers aspire to but few accomplish to such good effect. Whitty gives us the facts with which to reason and the poetry to make us care deeply. This is a breakthrough book everyone should read.

"All day we have been observing the surgeonfish..." Julia Whitty begins, and from that first sentence onward, the reader of "The Fragile Edge" is one of the party. Whitty is there with you, chuckling good-naturedly at the antics of an undersea creature or (more likely) of those crazy humans topside. In one of my favorite moments, an account of how the funky old hotel with its peculiar charms has been taken over by new owners whose pampered guests pay $500/night to lounge by the infinity pool is interrupted just at the moment when you think she might succumb to sentimentality or some other curmudgeonly temptation by her confession that, "I like the pool, too." Similarly, Whitty clearly and firmly presents her environmental concerns without, so to speak, wallowing in them. Instead of putting the book aside because you're tired of hearing about how the end of the world is at hand, you're motivated to keep swimming along with a guide whose curiosity and expertise extend to the natural history of molecular plants and animals, as well as the more glamorous sharks and dolphins, from Western science to Eastern metaphysics, and from dissolving atolls and bleached corals to the raw fish marinated in coconut milk served at a Tuvaluan wedding reception. Finally it's her love of the coral reefs she has come to know over many years of diving and study, rather than her fear that global warming will destroy them, that Whitty is most eager to share.

Freddy is helping his old friend, Mr. Camphor, with a couple of problems. One of them is his aunts; one is too gloomy and another is just plain mean. In addition, Mr. EHA and the rats are planning to take the old hotel. Can Freddy help? This book is great and uses lots of humor. You must read this book!

Freddy is back and going camping! This cute pig always makes every exciting now he is back and flipping flap jacks and solving the crime about the ghosts!!!

This may well be the best of the Freddy books written by Walter R. Brooks (its only competition is Freddy the Magician). Children and adults alike will find this one of the most fun books they've ever read. I can still remember the delicious chills I felt when reading this book at twelve, and still enjoy reading it today. As usual, Freddy gets into trouble trying to help friends -- Mr. Camphor to get rid of his aunts and an innkeeper whose hotel is haunted.

My first encouner with Freddy the pig left me feeling like I had just found Tut's tomb. His stories are loaded with treasures-wit, well-developed characters, and clear evidence that Brooks understood and RESPECTED children's intellect and character. Two foretrotters Up!!

Probably before you were born, the bookmobile would stop off at our school and I looked forward to reading "Freddy" books. I enjoyed all of his adventures and friends (Jinx had a few adventures of his own). Now those books are collector's items and rarely show up in used book stores. As much as I miss the originals he is back and just as ornery as ever. One Day I hope the earlier one will get republished. In the mean time Even thought these books are geared towards young ones, they still can hold the attention of old codgers.

Kurt wise does a good job of illustrating and for those that have never reads Freddy you have a great mystery ahead of you.

Those who want to learn about hockey - and not just what Alan Eagleson did to it - should run, not walk, to buy this book.
Conway's book is superb, and his work on Eagleson made him a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
It's a must-read for any sports writer, too. It's like having an "Investigative Journalism 101" class taught to you, and for a fraction of the money you'd pay at a university.

This is the most interesting book I have ever read. I studied it to do an oral presentation for Grade 9 English class a few years ago and was so intrigured by the Alan Eagleson story that, now in my first year of University, I am pursuing a career very similar to that of Alan Eagleson...one in which I would essentially deal with the business side of the NHL where I would love to make some sort of a positive influence, as Eagleson did. However, Alan Eagleson's corruption, which is described in this book, is an excellent example of how one person can cause a negative influence on many people's lives through illegitimacy and how public opinion of that person can change almost instantly as a result. Russ Conway did an excellent job of investigating Alan Eagleson, and his book is a wonderful summary of his work. I would recommend this book to anybody, whether they are a hockey fan or not.

Russ Conway has written a wonderful investigative piece about a man who is truly a disgraceful figure in the history of Canadian hockey. Russ brings forth, with his own agressive style, the wicked ways of a man who calling a crook is an understatement. First, he never backed down to get his answers and his writing is first-rate. Anyone who follows hockey should read about a man who almost destroyed it.

All hockey fans owe Russ Conway a debt of gratitude for helping rid hockey of the parasite Alan Eagleson. He documents Eagleson's criminal and disgusting behaviour in great detail, helping fans to better understand what hockey players faced in the past, the necessary background information for many of the issues facing pro hockey today. I haven't read such a gripping book since "Net Worth". Eagleson will be back in the courts again before long, no doubt willing to lie about the charges being brought forward by a number of retired hockey players. Read this book and you'll see that the players have justice on their team.

This is one of the most important sports books ever written. Through his exhaustive work, Russ Conway exposes the greed, corruption and financial swindling that plagued the NHL throughout Alan Eagelson's reign of terror and the financial and emotional price that so many players faced. Most importantly, Conway's work served as the catalyst for Mr. Eagleson's downfall and proving many player's assertions of corruption. Put simply, this is an important piece of journalism that every fan of sports should read, whether you are a hockey fan or not.

These are fun-filled math games that help kids learn and practice their math skills. They just use basic supplies like index cards and paper clips and require a minimal amound of set-up.

My 1st grade daughter hates to study. She screams and rolls her eyes when I bring out the math workbook. Unfortunatly, I have to work with her beacause she's not doing well in math. After looking at a number of books on the subject, and not seeing much to my liking, I found this one. It's wonderful. You really can play these games with your child, help them with math, and they don't even know they're studying. This book (actually this whole series of books) would be great for any child. Those doing well in math will love these games, those doing poorly in math might actually enjoy math for the first time. I've started with a simple solitaire game to help my daughter with addition. This one takes a bit of time, about 10 minutes, but there are plenty of others that you can do any time, for just a couple of minutes. A few of the games are a bit more involved, but they're all fun and the author does a great job explaining exaclty how each game will help your child learn, how often it should be played and for how long. My 6 year old is at a good age for the book, and I can see that I will have some good games for later too. There are some games that my 4 year old likes as well. I wish I could give this book 6 stars. It's really great!

Peggy Kaye is fantastic and homeschoolers should consider these books. The activities are easy to do. Most require little or no advance preparation. The author does a great job explaining the purpose of the activity and exactly what level of learner it may help. Some of the activities are so simple but so effective parents will wonder "hey, why didn't I think of that?"

I especially enjoyed the way the author introduces the activities. She tells of her experiences with the activity and how it helped one of her students. I always felt more confident and ready to do the activity after reading her introduction. Our child found many of the games really fun and asked to play them again and again. I feel like the books taught me a lot about how to make anything into a game. These books are a great alternative to boring workbooks and too much sitting still at a desk.

I bought this book based on the reviews I had seen on Amazon. I was hoping that it would be a book that was chock full of ideas for my Kindergarten classroom. I have gotten a few ideas, but it seemed to really focus more on grades 2-3.

I took this book out of the library hoping it would have some fun ideas for my four year old. I was not disappointed! The games are lots of fun and I appreciate that the author takes the time to explain what they are learning. We're only doing section one because of my daughter's age, but flipping through the book the other sections look good too. I am definitely buying this one and intend to look at the other books by this author too. I highly recommend this for any child!

You would think that having everything a girl could possibly want (and that money could buy) would make life positively wonderful 24/7 and render her absolutely without care. Well, when Syrah Cheng becomes a "girl overboard," her entire worldview takes a tumble, along with her, and the slippery slopes she skis on becomes the slippery slope of her whole life. She will rehab everything, from bones to her expectations, and cross the threshold into a brand new way of life.

Justina Chen Headley's GIRL OVERBOARD is a rich, compelling and sometimes unexpected story about a girl who takes life seriously. Her enthusiastic snowboarding already has caused one very serious accident and subsequent surgery, and her favorite sport is also leading her into emotional ruin. Her boyfriend, a fop who is trying hard to impress her dad more than her, breaks her heart; a series of half-siblings finds her utterly distasteful; and her best friend's boyfriend is getting in between her and the person who she most needs to talk to during these trying times. Family obligations pull her farther and farther away from her professional aspirations, as do the repercussions of the accident for which she thinks she can buy special crutches (but she can't).

None of these problems can go away unless Syrah exercises all of her muscles --- leg, heart and brain. For a 16-year-old whose life is running in the opposite direction from what she had thought, Syrah discovers that plans are not to be put in place but rather thrown over the edge of the mountain of one's imagined life with abandon.

There are so many subplots making up the adventures of Syrah Cheng in this book that they are far too numerous to list. And besides, who wants all the fun spoiled? Suffice it to say that Syrah's journey makes stops at all the regular signposts of teen angst: social life, relationships, family situations, work, sports, the impending future. But Headley's deep-reaching prose and emotional resonance make what could have been a general young adult novel into a really special literary service to three-dimensional teen girls everywhere --- by creating a world that looks like theirs and a heroine who, although her circumstances may be more financially rewarding than most high school girls, has a heart similar to theirs beating in her chest.

Does Syrah get what she wants? Headley puts so many obstacles in her way, there is seemingly no justice to it all. Yet, in the end, the lessons learned are many, and the "Ethan Cheng Way," her father's business model, holds more truths for her than she could have realized in the beginning. It is a wondrously complicated mix of family, friends and personal desires that drives GIRL OVERBOARD and makes it a book that not only excites but also educates.

--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Poised at the Edge Book Review

GIRL OVERBOARD

Justina Chen Headley


The worst part of having it all is having to deal with it all--the good, the bad, and the just plain weird. So begins the story of Syrah Cheng. Everybody assumes that life is breeze for Syrah. Her father, Ethan Cheng is famous billionaire; she lives in a veritable palace, anything she wants is at her fingertips, right? But what people don't know is she hardly ever gets to see her globe-trotting parents, her half-siblings refuse to treat her like she's part of the family, her best friend's girlfriend is sabotaging their friendship, and she just got used and humiliated by an egotistical (quasi)-pro snowboarder, who referred to her (bank account) as his "free-pass to paradise."

Life is anything but rosy for Syrah. After a serious (and seriously foolish) accident leaves Syrah with a severe knee injury, she is no longer able to escape to the mountains and snowboard. Even worse, she has to forget her dream of going pro. But down-time, and a series of astonishing events, leads Syrah down a path of self-evaluation and personal growth.

I don't want to say much more about the plot, because I want everyone to read GIRL OVERBOARD, a story so rich in plot, theme, and content, that it left my head spinning. Justina Chen Headley gracefully weaves issues of race, socio-economic class, gender, feminism, body image, complex extended family, deep-dark secrets, jealousy, and enlightenment. How did she do it? This is a smart book to be treasured by girls, and women of all ages!

Review by Melissa Jauregui

Reviewed by Emily Robbins (age 13) for Reader Views (3/08)

"Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley, is about Syrah Cheng, the daughter of a billionaire, the famous Ethan Cheng. Decked out private jets, expensive designer snowboards, all of the latest hot fashions, it's all hers. She is definitely living large. The only problem is that she hates it. Instead of parties, Syrah would rather be up on the tall, snowy mountains doing what she knows best, skateboarding.

Syrah's life is just going downhill. Her best friend's girlfriend is ruining their relationship. Her knee was supposed to have healed by now, after a horrible snowboarding accident she had a while back, but it is still giving her troubles. She's also struggling with trying to figure out who her real friends are, and who she herself is.

My favorite character is definitely Lillian, one of Syrah's friends. She is energetic, kind, and seems like the best type of friend a person could have. Unlike the rest of Lillian's popular friends, she is more concerned about the sick and deathly-ill kids in the hospital than the juicy gossip her friends enjoy so greatly.

Wayne, Syrah's unkind brother, completely does not understand Syrah. He is just after his very large share in his father's very large inheritance, and making loads of cash. So, instead of trying to understand her, he is just a cruel sibling, trying to ruin her snowboarding dream. Wayne is unquestionably, my least favorite character of them all.

"Girl Overboard" was an inspiring book. I really liked how it really went into her lifestyle, trying to show you just how much she loathed it. The author did a really good job with all the diverse characters, and showing their different personalities. Some parts in the book I admit were a little dull and monotonous; in those sections I just skimmed over those paragraphs, but all in all it was an all-around great book! Two thumbs up, and I would definitely recommend "Girl Overboard," by Justina Chen Headley.

I know I am not the prime audience for which this book was written. I am many generations removed from the current youth this book was written for and about. Growing up before Title 9, I did not have the sport opportunities available to girls since that milestone legislation. Despite the lack of organized sports, I was a young female athlete, one who had set her sights on representing her country in the Olympics one day.

At that time, I chose the Olympics because it was one of the only avenues available for women athletes to perform on a high level, at least those were my dreams until I tore my ACL at age 13 and had my world tossed upside down. And so, when I meet Syrah Cheng, up and coming snowboarder, who is trying to come back from the same potentially career threatening injury, my heart is with her all the way.

I know the battles female athletes have fought and continue to fight even today and so does Justina Headley Chen, the author. Ms Headley, who says she conceived the novel as she was being trundled down a mountain by the ski patrol after having a similar accident may never have been an up and coming boarder but she knows well the struggles young girls face in our society. That is why she and several other talented YA authors have established "Readergirlz.com" a web community for "gutsy girls" wherever they may be and whatever their passions.

"Girl Overboards' Syrah Cheng has many battles to fight as she struggles to find her niche in the world. Issues of sexism, classism, and cultural identity are all handled with delicacy and power. There are no simple solutions here. Syrah may have been born into a family with many privileges but living in the spotlight of media and community scrutiny only magnifies the struggle to live up to the image of the "perfect daughter". This image includes the struggle of meeting the unhealthy demands our societiy places on the perfect, female body as well As a young female athlete trying to build a body that can meet the demands of the sport she loves, Syrah must also deal with the expectations of both her mother and potential snowboarding sponsors, an image that Syrah has subconsciously accepted until she recognizes it herself.

Which brings us to another wonderful element of the book, Syrah is also a budding illustrator and writer of Manga. In her Manga journal, Syrahs' alter ego Shiraz is able to fly high above the rest in her snowboarding exploits but also ends up teaching Syrah even more about herself.

Which brings me to my only regret about the book. It would be fantastic if future editions of the book could contain some panels representing the journal. Manga is a very hot ticket and would attract a whole other segment of readers. Perhaps there could even be a graphic novel/Manga spinoff or series based on the characters?

This is a compelling read which will speak to many girls and young women. If you have a "gutsy girl" in your life get the book for her today! She won't be sorry!

If you are looking for a rags-to-riches story, don't pick up GIRL OVERBOARD. On the other hand, if you are looking for a story about a rich girl struggling to be a normal, well-adjusted girl, than this one is for you.

Syrah Cheng is the daughter of privilege. Her father, Ethan Cheng, made the cell phone what it is today. Her mother, Betty Cheng, is the queen of charity fundraising, and demands only the best. Unfortunately, all the splendor and wealth surrounding Syrah leave her feeling uncomfortable and unloved.

Syrah's dream is to become a sponsored pro-snowboarder; however, a recent life-threatening accident has sidelined her with a bum knee. Her doctor says she is ready to resume normal activities and even some cautious snowboarding, but her globe-trotting parents have forbidden her participation in the only activity that makes her life worthwhile. She fills her days with school and manga drawings of a superheroine snowboarder named Shiraz.

Not being able to snowboard is only the beginning of trouble for Syrah. Her best friend, Age, has a new girlfriend who doesn't believe there is room in their relationship for Syrah. Bao-mu, Syrah's dedicated nanny, has announced that she is leaving to go help her granddaughter with her new baby. And to top it all off, Ethan Cheng has announced his retirement and his intention to move the family to Hong Kong.

There is never a dull moment in GIRL OVERBOARD. Syrah may seem about to give up on her dream, but she finds a way to combine her love of snowboarding with what she discovers are her many other assets, to help a new friend in need, and make her family proud of her. Author Justina Chen Headley shows her readers what truly lies beneath the glittery surface of a girl who has it all, but learns that family, friendship, and love can surprise us all.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"