Utah Books

I ordered this book to put on the shelf for my 2 year old. Why? Because I remember loving The Great Brain so much as a young boy that I can't imagine my own son not having it available the moment he can read it! I loved the Great Brain books so much that I still have them on my shelf som e 30 years after I first read them myself.

The chapters of this book, published after the author's death, fulfill the promise and memory of the original tales. I read the book in an evening just to see what J.D. and Tom had been up to since I last checked in. As a 38 year old academic I was delightfully captivated. I think you will be too, as will your children! The only thing I can't figure out is how J.D. can still be such a sucker after all the cons he was a victim too.

A note on the artwork: I did miss the work of Mercer Meyer who illustrated the editions I read as a child. However, Ms. de Groat's pencil illustrations were of top quality and will be sure to please new readers.

I've read all the great brain, and this is my least favorite. It is written by someone else after the author died, and it's obvious. It is entertaining, but does not qualify as a great brain book to me.

My first introduction to this wonderful "young readers" series was in elementary school. Our class had a weekly period where the teacher read to us. It so happened that the Great Brain was one of those books. I was immediately hooked.
I had the other 7 books since my teenage years, but I had no idea that an 8th posthumous book had been released.
I finally had the chance to purchase it, and I must say that it was a very nostalgic experience to read new tales of these familiar character.
I highly recommend fans of the series to get this book to complete the collection. New readers should start with the 1st book, "The Great Brain".

Honestly, I liked the original last book better than this posthumously published one, but I'm not going to complain about another book being added to the series. In this book T.D. catches some criminals and pulls a few minor swindle's, but the final conclusion of the series seems to be that swindling doesn't pay. The very last chapter is called "The Swindler gets Swindled," and Tom tries to pull a swindle and it backfires completely and he ends up losing some money. On that note the series ends, the author's point being made. Lots of humor along the way, as well as fascinating adventures in the old west. Definitely a series I'll be re-reading again in the future.

Overall grade: A-

I would only give this 2.5 stars out of 5. As someone who grew up with the Great Brain series in the '70s I was quite pleased to hear about this "lost" book surfacing a few years ago. These were my favorite books when I was a kid and I kept them for many years afterwards. Imagine my disappointment when I read the introduction by the "editor." If one were to believe what she writes here, she is the one who should be commended for the "Great Brain" series, not Fitzgerald.

Oh, please.

Her insulting forward aside, readers should know that this book was assembled (after his death) from Fitzgerald's notes and we will never know for sure if he intended for it to be published or not. It's a fair book, but it doesn't have nearly the spark of the original works, all of which I would highly recommend over this, any day of the week.

Living in Australia, planning a road trip around the Southwest is not an easy consideration. I received this book and suddenly the Southwest was withing smelling distance. The reading is easy and expressive. I have a clear idea of where I will go and what I will do. No matter if I were travelling with children or on my own, I'd be clear about what is available to me. This will be the trip of a lifetime and this sensational book is a catalyst for my planning. Fully enjoyable, this book allows the magic of anticipation to grab me and give me colourful dreams.

This book was incredibly helpful to me. The maps are awesome. It's organized well. I hiked and did Route 66. The book was great for both. The table of contents is super accessible. Buy it and take it everywhere!

I have recently encountered poor Lonely Planet books, but this was not one of them. It is the good old LP at work.
The coverage of Las Vegas, however, was extremely poor. I spent there 24 hours and this book didn't have enough info for even that short of a trip. The rest is great.
The California LP had twice as much info on Las Vegas.

Does a very good job of covering a large area. This book exhibits the best of the Lonely Planet series: a combination of facts, interesting suggestions, opinion and background information. Good maps and graphics. I like that camping suggestions are included for many places.

I purchased this book before a recent visit to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos. I lived in Albuquerque for 4 years about 6 years ago, but I hoped to find new insigts on places to eat, explore, etc. Basically the guidebook told me where not to go. It failed to mention some excellent restaurants in Albuquerque including The Dog House, Las Mananitas, Il Vicino, etc. In Santa Fe I attended a class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking which was a five star class - not mentioned in the guidebook. In Taos I visited a community of alternative homes constructed of tires and cement (earthships.com will explain more) - again not mentioned in the book. I did go to look at a ruin near Espanola that was recommended, but the reservation does not allow admittance.

How we define ourselves influences how we interact with others and what directions we take when choosing where we will journey in life. In Mr. Shields's excellent and compelling first novel, his protagonist's discovery destabilizes his entire definition of who he is. The author avoids the obvious: Tom Lewis is no drama king who dives headlong into an abyss of despair. Rather, he is a man any reader can identify with as he juggles responsibilities that seem to multiply just when he is least in a position to deal with them.

It is this proliferation of crises that is the main driving force behind his story, and it works beautifully. The pacing and the reader's involvement with the character are so strong it is all but impossible to put the book down. Each event arises naturally from the groundwork Mr. Shields has made in the beginning, so there is never any sense of a conflict's being contrived or a reaction's being unmotivated.

All of the characters have that deep, vibrant humanity that arouses a sense of recognition-we know these people, or wish we did.

All this leads to an ending that grabs the reader by the throat and dares one to stop before the final resolution. The unspoken message is that even the worst possible life events can have meaning, depending on the choices we make when coping with them. Tom Lewis's response to his crisis is composed of equal parts confrontation and acceptance-a balanced reaction that is sharply reflected in the book's climax.

Dave Shields has written an emotionally rich book that proves coming-of-age is not an adolescent phenomenon, and does it with charm and optimism that is often lacking in a time when cynicism too often prevails.

great book, could not put it down. A must read!

The story begins when Tom Lewis meets up with a long lost relative,Martin Crump.As Martin begins to trust Tom,he reveals bit by bit the story of his childhood,and ultimately Tom's heritage.Martin's father La Var Crump,while well respected in the Church of Latter Day Saints,was a cruel man who ruled his family with an iron hand.His wife and three children,while wanting his love and respect,lived in fear of his anger and violence. The characters are very believable.Tom ,as a young man about to become a father,ponders whether he is up to the challenge. Sara, his wife, while at first unwilling for Tom to pursue a relationship with Martin,accepts the fact that this is what Tom must do. Martin ,the small boy who fears his father but wants his love so badly,Martin the teenager seduced by life's temptations, and finally Martin,the man,who, disappointed with life,withdraws from the world.

"The Pendulum's Path" is a superb first novel for an author that shows great promise. It is a family drama that grips you and never lets go. The characters are well-defined, the dialogue crisp, the plot ever deepening, and the conclusion heart-poundly profound. I related quite well to the dysfuntional family, and liked that issues were delved into realistically. I would highly recommend reading this page turner; I myself read it till wee hours of the morning, not able to put it down. Great first effort!!!!

An intensely enjoyable novel about family, religion and the majesty of Utah. An exhilarating and moving story. Dave Shields shows that even when things look hopeless, you can be determined to make it better.
I recommend this book highly.

This book really kept me interested from the prologue to the final chapter. It was exciting and even made me cry somewhat. Diane Noble (aka Amanada MacLean) is one of my favorite authors, and I reccomment any books by her.

Those hoping for a thoughtful fictional treatment of the Mountain Meadows Massacre had better look elsewhere. It should, however, appeal to the lonely-hearts evangelical Christian crowd. This author clearly has issues with Mormonism.

This book sits firmly in the realm of the romance novel. Historical Fiction? That's a stretch in my mind.

This book is one of the better christian fiction books I have read since I've been reading this genre. The historical content is phenomenonal, although I wish the author would have explained the parts that were taken from fact at the beginning of the book rather than the end. It is amazing that the major plot of this book actually happened. The only complaint that I have of the book is actually a major fault - the spirituality content is lacking. I would have liked the focus more to have been on our Christ as much as it was on the Mormon's God.

I highly recommend this book, especially to people with personal interest in American history.

Diane Noble's novel "The Veil" is a masterpiece of historical fiction based on grim-but-true historical fact. As you trek across America with this band of pioneers, you'll feel every pebble in your shoe, taste every mouthful of prairie dust, and grieve with every disappointment these characters face as they journey toward their inevitable fate. And yet, despite the sorrow, there is a shining redemption that comes through in "The Veil." Only Diane Noble could find hope and glory in such a story, and bring it to life with such dramatic detail. In a word...I loved it!

In THE VEIL, Diane Noble re-tells the tragic story of the massacre of a wagon train at the hands of the Mormon church back in the early days of Utah.

The story here is based upon events that actually occurred. Noble's writing flows well and is convincing, though it won't win any literary awards. She succeeds in taking what could be just a textbook tragedy and turning it into something more human and empathetic. THE VEIL not only un-veils the truth about the massacre, but it gives you a fascinating glimpse into what life in the early Mormon church was like (with the pioneer spirit, the hierarchy, and the polygamy -- a practice that is no longer preached). If early Mormon history interests you at all, you'll want to pick this one up, and even it doesn't this should be an interesting read on its own. FOUR STARS.

Awesome piece of writing.Well developed characters.Great plot.I found it very hard to put this book down.Natalie pulled me into the story completely.Having studied LDS culture and some of the fundamentalist groups it has spawned for the past decade,I would say she pretty much hit the nail on the head.If I have one criticism though,it would have to be that I could have done without the graphic sex scene.I don't think it added anything to the story.Be that as it may,the thrilling climax was not a letdown.This would make an excellent TV movie.Kudos to Ms.Collins

Natalie R. Collins' SISTERWIFE is a compelling read. The book is about a woman who, in order to save her daughter, is forced to go back and face the terrors of her past. SisterWife takes the read deep into religious cults and abuse, but the difficult subjects are handled skillfully by Ms. Collins. There is a love story that really lightens the tone and reminds us all that there is always hope. If you want to read a book that will take you beyond the news coverage to what drives the people involved either directly or on the fridge of these cults, get SISTERWIFE!

Kelsey Waite had run from her shameful life in Utah many years ago. Knowing that she would never outlive her past, she attempted to make a new life for herself in California. She soon had a daughter and was living the existence of a single mother. Just when she thought she might be able to succeed in giving Tia the childhood she never had, tragedy struck. Kelsey came home from work one day to find her neighbor murdered and her seven-year old daughter missing.

With the help of the handsome detective Quinn Anderson, Kelsey discovers that her Mormon parents were probably behind her child's kidnapping. Due to unacceptable behavior, they had been forced to leave their church and had joined a polygamous cult where her abusive father had become an important man. With the pain of what he had done to her for so many years weighing heavily upon her mind, Kelsey feared greatly for Tia's safety and well-being.....especially since she knew it wasn't her daughter they wanted.

Kelsey was the center of a prophecy, one that would bring Armageddon, and the cult leader wanted her back in Utah where she could fulfill her part. Quinn and Kelsey were going up against a group of doomsday fanatics who were fully prepared for a bloody showdown they claimed would be done in the name of God.

Natalie Collins seems to have an amazing grasp of the Mormon culture and through that breathes believable life into this suspenseful story. Frequent trips back in time flip-flop with present-day activities, but are italicized to prevent confusion. Sensitive readers will want to note that there is some colorful language sprinkled throughout the book. All in all, Sisterwife is definitely a page-turner, and with the aid of short chapters, it can be read practically in one sitting.

Look for Natalie Collins' other books "The Murdered Man" and "Outer Darkness

Kelsey Waite (nee Sorenson) has been through a lot in her life. Years after running away from an abusive, fundamentalist father who sold her in marriage when she was only 16, Kelsey comes home one day to find that her daughter has been kidnapped and her neighbor murdered. To find her child, Kelsey must return to the place of her nightmares and confront a madman who believes he is God's prophet.
SisterWife (a term that refers to the way multiple wives in polygamous marriages refer to one another) catches your attention right away by starting off inside Kelsey's daughter Tia's mind. Collins switches easily between multiple points of view throughout the story, giving each character their own unique voice and a different perspective on the action.
Although the writing style sometimes threatens to slip into genre romance, Collins has done a beautiful job of portraying the relationship between Kelsey and Quinn. Never forced, the romance is sexy, yet believable and the characters' reactions honest.
In addition, Collins has created one of the most frightening madmen in fiction today, David Stone. The calculating, ruthless nature of his actions paint a portrait of a true sociopath that makes you shiver with the knowledge that he could be out there somewhere.
All in all, SisterWife is a book I would gladly recommend to my friends along with a mug of hot cocoa and several uninterrupted hours!

Kelsey Waite is a single mother doing the best she can and trying desperately to put the abuse she suffered at the hands of her parents and others behind her. She has promised herself as well as her young daughter Tia that she will be a better Mom than her Mom was to her. Thanks to Mrs. Rampton who watches her daughter after school and her Aunt who left her the beachside cottage in her will, as well as to her own inner strength, Kelsey is making it happen each and every day. That is until her daughter, in every parent's nightmare, is taken from school.

Kelsey awakens three days later to find herself in the middle of a living nightmare. The police are stumped, Mrs. Rampton has been brutally murdered and Tia is long gone. The woman who took her claimed to be Kelsey's sister. Much like not having a childhood, Kelsey never had a biological sister. But, she begins to wonder if it could be a "sister" in the form of address towards another woman as used in the Mormon church of her youth. Detective Quinn Anderson is assigned the case and there is something that leads Kelsey to trust him.

She confides her horrifically abusive past to him involving her parents and a fanatical cult offshoot of the Mormon Church. Pushed by his questions, Kelsey attempts to contact her estranged parents only to find out they have been banished from the Mormon Church and have left, in all likelihood joining the fanatical cult. With a cult bent on fulfilling what it sees as biblical prophecy involving the end of the world, Kelsey and Quinn unite in a mission to end the cycle of abuse by bringing Tia back home where she belongs.

Intense and riveting, this is a very suspenseful novel. Different aspects of the Mormon Church and other sub groups within the church are brought forward and explained to the average reader. This is done with style and even handed balance in regards to the Mormon Church and never in a lecturing or condescending tone.

At the same time, the characters are multifaceted and while the culprits are identified early, the complex motivations and the scope of the possible ramifications are not. The reader is left with an intense, entertaining and sometimes very disturbing story featuring characters pushed literally to the edge of madness and physical ability to survive as well as numerous questions regarding religious faith taken to the extreme. If recent real life examples are not enough, this intense fictional tale again explains the horrors of religion when pushed to fanatical extremes by cultists with a self appointed prophet in their midst.

The Great Brain series was my favorite as a child and are now my son's favorite. The only difficulty is tracking down all the books at a reasonable price. These books need to be republished and introduced to generations to come. Fantastic books!!

Book was in condition specified. I was very satisfied with my purchase. It arrived quickly.

I greatly enjoyed this Great Brain series, both when I was a kid and still today. This book, however, was probably my least favorite in the series. It really is probably not going to have a good impact on a child's moral character. That said, it is fun to read now, as it gives one great insights into what Utah was like 120 or so years ago. I also enjoy reading about the Great Brain's escapades, most of which are rather humerous. The Great Brain is almost the villian of this series as well as its hero. It is very often mentioned that he has a "money loving heart," and Fitzgerald makes it rather clear that he does not usually approve of his brother's actions, while admiring his brains at the same time.

Overall grade: B+

All summer I have been reading the Great Brain books that took place in Adenville, Utah in 1896. I liked the story in More Adventures of the Great Brain where the great brain makes the whole town believe that there is a monster in a place called Skeleton Cave. He did this because his friend Parley got a bowie knife for Christmas. Tom ( the Great Brain ) wanted Parley's knife, so Tom bet Parley his bb gun against Parley's knife that Parley would be too scared to meet Tom at Skeleton Cave at midnight the next night.
That night Tom made tracks that looked like monster footprints from Skeleton Cave to the river and back to the cave. The next day somebody saw the footprints and told the sheriff. Nobody was allowed to leave their houses until the monster was caught. Tom sneaked out of his house and went down to Skeleton Cave at midnight. Parley did not dare leave his house because of the monster. And he had to give his knife to Tom who usually gets money or toys when doing one of his swindles.
The reason that I like these books is because all of them are adventures and they are true.

Nathan D., age 12

Once again, the young narrator J.D. relates the adventures of his natural born con artist brother Tom, aka the Great Brain.

A hundred years after this series takes place, the writing that makes this series live and breathe is still in full force. The authentic details that flesh out life in the small town of Adenville, Utah are great touches and elevate the story above similar tales that take place in the present. The series also banks on the realistic and lovable main characters, especially John D. and Tom himself.

Despite all that, I have to say that this is the weakest of the Great Brain books. Tom's adventures are more grandiose than in the others, and I think that the series is more comfortable when Tom is operating within the realm of his peers, rather than conning the entire town on a big scale. He creates a stir when he convinces the entire town that a monster walks among them at night, and later in the book seeks to capture a ghost that has scared him and the other children away from an old mine. These episodes are just a little less fun than when Tom is conning quarters and dimes from the other kids.

Another chapter that I had a problem with was "The Taming of Britches Dotty," which is so demeaning toward women that I think it would actually be harmful for any child who reads it. Britches Dotty is essentially a rough and tumble cowgirl whom Tom "tames" by teaching her to wear pretty dresses and "act like a girl." He also teaches her to read and write, so it's not like the chapter couldn't work with some revision, but the notion that girls have to dress nicely, act demurely, and look pretty is so out of touch that the chapter should be altered or removed before it's given to a child.

But these books are episodic, and I do have to say that, on the positive side, this book has one of the best episodes in the entire series, which is when Papa and the boys get hopelessly lost among the local canyons, with Papa despairing that they will make it out alive.

There is also a touching chapter about the boys heading up a funeral for a local dog.

Mercer Meyer's detailed sketches are absolutely wonderful, with lots of detail and shading, and characters that retain some of their cartoonishness even as they look real.

This is a terrific series, and everyone who reads it will enjoy it.

Great book...some of everything and not too big/heavy to bring along. Excellent to use with kids too because of all the good color pictures!

Just returned from a tour of the Southwest. The field guide was easy to use. I liked the fact that it covered so many aspects of the Southwest and eliminated having to tote five or six field guides to cover most of the subject matter.

This field guide is really usefull. It has a basic description of hte animals, plants, geology, insects, and weather of the Southwest.

I initially found this book in the library and enjoyed it so much I wanted my own copy to carry with me when out hiking in the Tucson, AZ area. Informative, accurate, and easy to access information. For such a small field book it packs complete info regarding plants, trees, birds, reptiles and general info on geology and natural history in the southwest. If you want to learn more about the southwest desert - this is a must have field book

This is a good book to have along as you explore the beauty of the region. It is not very comprehensive, but then if it was it would not be small enough to carry with you in the field, which would defeat its purpose. I feel it is well worth the price and will use it on my upcoming venture into the Southwest this October. I will also take several other books on the Southwest because each provides additional information for this region. It's not possible to get all the reference information in one volume, but this is a great book if you can only have one, and it is small enough to carry along on hikes or explorations. It is also bound properly for field use, an important feature.

Great book if you want to look beneath what Porter Rockwell was belived to be. The name that comes to mind when reading about him is that he was an avenging angel but not a good one. The book is a great read and I wanted to have in my Library. I like history true or fiction and I think that a lot of fiction has been written about Porter Rockwell. This book gives more details than most about his good and evil.

Good book for learning about Porter Rockwell. Dispels the myth of the Danites. This book provided the basis for a research paper. Well researched and complete footnotes made for easy checking on sources. Later in the book however, the author gives too much credence to some anti-mormon assertions. He includes them, he says, to be complete, but then discounts them. After you finish this book you will know everything about the man.

My favorite book on LDS history, not only about the life of a modern day Samson, Porter Rockwell but the church as a whole. His love and devotion to the Prophet Joseph and for the church as a whole. Thirty years ago after returning from my LDS mission I found Man of God Son of Thunder refreshing and fun to read a book about the church that gave all sides and perspectives and was neither whitewashed by the church nor just another anti-mormon book. Many LDS folks seem afraid or ashamed of our history, reading this book helped me understand how things were during the early days of the church and though some things would certainly be controvercial by today's standards they made sense during those rough and troubled times and we have nothing in our past we need to hide or be ashamed of. This is a great book to read about LDS history and an entertaining story of one of the most under recognized but important pioneers of the church and the Mormon migration. A body guard to two prophets an important scout, mediator with native americans of the Utah territory, rancher, pony express rider, US marshall, actor and devout Mormon High Priest to the end. I love this book.

I bought this book for a reenactment study. Very valuable. Gave me a lot of insight, not only into the life of Rockwell but also into the mindset of the Mormon Church at that stage of its evolution. The book has great merit.

Im no scholar, but I am a person very interested in the life of ol port. I think we all have our paradigms about the guy. Me, being lds like to think of him as a hero, a protector etc etc.. Granted nobody is perfect and I am sure he has plenty of flaws. Whether you are lds or not this book should appeal to you.. There is some amazing information, although schindler does try a little too hard to show the ugly side of things at times with false and unbacked claims. You will notice almost everytime that porter is aquitted for some crime, due to lack of evidence or witnesses, he has some ugly footnote from someone named "achilles" an author that has no identity whatsoever.. So it is slightly frustrating that everything good has to also have a bad for the sake of being unbiassed.. Read the book, its worth it, if you are lds though,, beware, there are some questionable stories that have no real backing but to someone who lacks church history knowledge and testimony, might shake you up a little bit.. Not to say that hearing both sides of things is a bad thing, cause its not. Just make sure you read all the foot notes to filter through the junk.. There is a lot of it..

Book was pretty much brand-spankin' new as far as I can tell, and arrived when it was supposed to. Super!

I don't know how anyone could read this novel and not appreciate the text and visuals simultaneously. It would be easy to just read the text, but the visual representations created by Mine Okubo are profound and provide the viewer with a greater understanding of the events that Mine Okubo and other Japanese Americans underwent while in the camps. Unlike other graphic novels, the text and image are separate and not integrated. Some may find this difficult to read the text and than view the picture or vice versa, but the sketches were created while Mine Okubo was in the camp and than the descriptive text was added later to correspond with the visuals. These sketches were a descriptive journal for Mine Okubo, who like so many others wasn't allowed to bring in cameras or video recording devices to capture what she underwent and saw while in the camps. Personally, I found the text and visual continually playing of one another and neither one would have been nearly as successful without the other.

Many of the internment camps no longer exist and what remains, "are pieces of concrete, pipes, and wire," they are but a cemetery to the past. Mine Okubo has created a piece of living history and has produced a personal memoir for herself and the United States. This even should never be forgotten and should be a key portion of history that is taught within our private and public schools. Art is an expressive outlet that provides a means of releasing tension, anger, sadness, and anxiety. During the internment other artists and writers were creating profound works of art to communicate and further understand their own circumstances. For anyone that questions the relevance of this text a film that is worth watching is called, "9066 to 9/11." This film takes a look at the secretive footage taken by Japanese American Internees in the camps and corresponds their hardships and mistreatment with our current predicaments based on the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I, personally, have never been into comic books, but since reading Maus I and Citizen 13660 I have found a new appreciation for art mixed with text. This graphic novel is excellent. I disagree with the idea that we need to know the "deep insight into the feelings of the author"; that is what makes this novel so powerful. She intentionally leaves the emotions up to her audience. This is not necessarily a story about woe is me. It is a story about survival, when life hands you lemons you make lemonade and you share it.
I do agree with the dark sense of humor within this novel. And I must say I like it. Life was hard for the Japanese. These camps were not easy and sometimes rather inhumane. The weather was extreme, the food was scarce, and there was absolutely no privacy. But Mine Okubo is able to take some terrible scenarios and laugh at her characters, which enables her audience to laugh. It also made me think about what it means to have freedom and privacy. Today, people rarely even talk to their parents and siblings, let alone, their neighbors. As depicted in this novel people were practically living on top of one another. And to be to find a sense of humor through it all shows an amazing sense of character.
Overall, I think this novel is a thoughtful, selfless, piece of art. It shouldn't lose credit for being a graphic novel, or lacking drama. It should be applauded for the value of the factual, overall picture painted within it. It should be applauded for allowing its readers to be affected in anyway that it may, the book world is full of tear jerkers, we don't need anymore soap opera text filling our minds with junk.

On the morning of December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. At that moment, the terrible suffering and war that seemed so far away from America reached its shores. America was no longer safe. People panicked, and anyone of Japanese decent became the enemy, even if they were loyal U.S. citizens. Not so much unlike the Jews of Europe, the Japanese of America were sent to detention camps out of fear that they might still be loyal to Japan and betray the U.S. Among the many Japanese prisoners was Mine Okubo, who wrote and illustrated her biography, Citizen 13660, about what it was really like to live in Japanese internment camps during World War Two. Okubo's account is full of detail and elaborate drawings on every page, giving the reader an inside scoop into what internment camp life was really like.

Citizen 13660 is a complete account of Okubo's life from the start of WW2 in 1939 to when she was released from the internment camp after living in several other camps over a couple of years. She was a Bay Area resident living in Oakland when she and her brother were forced from their homes along with 110,000 other Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. They had to put most all their belongings into storage and leave for Tanforan Relocation Center, which was located in what is now South San Francisco. The living conditions were poor, and the camp was a mess. It was not the ideal place for any human beings to live. She goes into great detail about every aspect of camp life, and it was startling to realize just how bad the Japanese Americans had it. For example, "the flush toilets were always out of commission," (pg. 72) "the sewage system was poor," (pg 78) and their living quarters was a "20 by 9 ft. horse stall." (pg 35)

If you are looking for a book that is well written and a great piece of literature, I would recommend reading some other book. Citizen 13660 is mostly just simple sentences describing the detailed illustrations on every page. Rather than describing her life through words, she tells her story through beautiful pictures. Yet even with minimal words, she still manages to get her message across. I recommend this book to people who are looking for an easy yet interesting read, and to people who would like to know the real story behind the Japanese internment camps.

The novel Citizen 13660 is an exceptional graphic novel that describes the events of the Japanese internment camps. I truly enjoyed the novel by Mine Okubo because it used both illustrations and text to describe the events of the internment camps. Another reason that I really enjoyed the novel was because Okubo describes the camps the way that she experienced them. She doesn't add detail to make the events more or less atrocious. In other words, it wasn't a personal attack on the American people, which is what I expected before opening the novel. Furthermore, Okubo provides a basic understanding of what Japanese internment camps, which is something that I feel that people need to learn about. I think that it would be an exceptional novel for junior high and high school students to read since many American history books don't discuss the Japanese internment camps. Also, since cameras, video recorders, etc. were banned from internment camps and since most of the camps have since been destroyed, Okubo's illustrations illuminate what it was like to live in the internment camps. The images of the hard straw coming out of a thin covering that was supposed to be their bed and the restrooms that provided no privacy and unhealthy conditions are stuck in my head. For those that truly believe these camps were created for the protection of Japanese people, I would like you to look at Okubo's illustrations and explain to me your definition of the word protection.
As previously stated, there are limited pictures and videos from the Japanese internment camps. However, if you are interested in viewing footage of the internment camps, the film "Something Strong Within" provides footage from ten different internment camps. Through this film, you can see the horrid conditions that the Japanese people had to live in. It also shows images of teenagers graduating high school in an internment camp. I found these images to be extremely effective because there are so many things that we take for granted that the Japanese and Japanese Americans didn't have the opportunity to experience. Through this film and Mine Okubo's graphic novel, people can learn about the struggles that the Japanese experienced during World War II.

I would love to review this book but unfortunately I never got it. I have sent the seller (Amazing Outdoors) several e-mails, all unanswered. I am in the process of going through the hassle of getting my money back from my credit card company. Not because I need the money, but because I don't want these crooks to get away with this.

this book is great. it's about time somebody did that. now whenever i go someplace new i don't have to learn from my mistakes, but can just get to catching big fish right away scott

I recently perchased "Utah fishing Guide" and I most say it has to be the most versitle book on fishing in Utah on the market! Very clear maps accres areas, and lures (Flies) etc... A MUST BUY if you fish in Utah..

This book is great. I have been fishing for thirty years and got tired of the same old spots around Salem. Now i can easily plan my trips to go farther away to new spots that are less crowded and more beautiful. This book tells you where you can stay at and what to use to catch a fish for a certain area. I caught my biggest trout at Fremont lake last week. I have many fishing guides, but none really measure up to this one. It's great.

Very comprehensive coverage on close to 700 waters. I was amazed at all the information. I'm not sure but there must be over a hundred maps. The book has introduced me to dozens of new waters and to some very successful fishing trips. Two thumbs up.