Virginia Books

I read this book almost 20 years ago in the first grade and was immediately hooked on natural history, dinosaurs, life sciences, and the like, not to mention storytelling itself. The illustrations are entrancing and the format--the history of life as a play in several acts on a world stage--is enthralling. It's highly informative, too, for a young reader (or even an old one), and it was one of the most memorable and entertaining "educational" books I read as a child.

Now out of college, I have recently repurchased it for nostalgia and read it again. It remains a wonderful work. Being from 1961, it is slightly dated in spots. For example, it says that there is no record of life 2 billion years ago, whereas today we have found lifeforms dating back twice that far. Also, the dinosaurs' extinction is attributed to a cooling climate, because at the time the meteor theory was not widely accepted.

But this of course is nitpicking. The ultimate point of the book is that it's an introduction to the history of our planet and everything on it, including us. The central message--that our own life stories fit into the grand tapestry of life's history--remains. This is a remarkable book, and paticularly if you have a young child, I highly recommend picking up a copy.

I am so glad to see that this book is still in print. It is my favorite book from childhood and I still have my battered copy which I hope to share with my own children some day. The book is beautifully illustrated and written. The author conveys the beauty and the grandness of Earth's origins in a paen to natural history. The illustrations are what always captured me though. They are like nesting russian dolls, each layer presents its own story and suggests new meanings. It is a great introduction to the joys of exploring our world and our history.

Why don't the bookstores carry this one? In the tradition of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Katy and the Big Snow, Life Story presents its main tale in VLB's characteristic artwork wrapped with interesting mini drawings. My children and I enjoyed this title, and I am considering buying several more copies to keep on hand as gifts. (This review was titled and written with the assistance of Sal, age 8.)

As a child this was my favorite book as well. I had it checked out of the school library so often I may as well have owned it. I was thrilled to recently find it still in print, and I ordered a copy for my kids -- and one for myself!

The artwork is incredible. There's something about the style of it that almost... psychedelic. There's a swirling flow to it, with orderly ribbons of plants and animals winding into the distance. Yet while highly stylized, the artwork at the same time offers a wonderful sense of realism. The swamps of the Carboniferous seem so dark and mysterious; the verdant forests at the opening of the Cenezoic Era are infused with the essence of life born anew. And the intricate borders around the "program" at the beginning remind one of the lovingly detailed borders one might find along the high ceiling of some Victorian-era museum.

Even after 40 years, the science behind the book holds up amazingly well. If you want to inspire a love of natural history in your children, get them this book!

If you want to introduce your children to a prevailing modern paradigm/belief system regarding the origins of life, this isn't a bad book to do it with. It is understandably written with Ms. Burton's charming illustrations. As you will see from my title, I regard it as a fairy tale which I want my children to be familiar with. I shelved it next to D'Aulaires Greek Myths.

This is a very handy book to have around very well organized and easy to use not to mention jammed full of wonderful drink ideas.

Fabulous little book!!! I bought it as a gift for a friend and almost kept it for myself. It's an essential book for mixing up great cocktails at home. I plan on buying more as hostess gifts.

I bought this book as a Christmas gift for my son. He's delighted with it and spent an hour perusing it's pages and finding drinks he'd never heard of before. Since his career involves a lot of entertaining, it's something he looks forward to using for many years to come. I highly recommend the book for anyone who wants to dazzle visitors with their expertise in cocktail making.

We recently had a cocktail party, and put this book on the bar so people could check it out and try something new. It was a hit with all, which included 20-somethings to 50-somethings.

I got this gift for a best friend's 21st birthday (in addition to the Little Black Book for Smoothies). Such a great book! It is hardcover spiral and has an elastic band so you can store it wherever without bending the pages. Cute cover: black book (of course) with circular green label that says the title (whereas the Smoothie book has a pink label). Very chic, cute design, something anyone would absolutely love! Had to buy another set for me!

James Morgan is known far and wide as THE expert on the Battle at Ball's Bluff. There have been other works and articles published on the battle, but Jim's far outranks them all and is now the standard for the fight and battlefield. He also dispels disproven myths about the battle and for the first time presents an extremely well documented telling. The special bonus is that, as with all volumes of Ironclad's "Discovering Civil War America" series, there is an expertly-crafted guided tour in the back of the book.

For anyone interested in a little-known early clash of the Civil War, or even if you think you know what happened there, you must get this book. Read it through, and then take it to the battlefield with you for the tour, especially the little National Cemetery there. If you're lucky, Morgan himself will be available to tour with you. - he's a battlefield guide there.

Fantastic writing, impressive bibliography and sources.

This is the second book in "The Civil War America Series" which "features soft-cover works that focus on less publicized Civil War battles and sites." This is the series strength and also its' weakness. Little known can make a difficult read as you lack reference points and faces for names. The reward is learning something new not covered in multiple books. This is both a rewarding and difficult book. I did have problems keeping the names on the right side of the field but I came away with a much better understanding of this important little battle. This well told story shows James Morgan's knowledge of the battle and the aftermath. He can quickly give us a personal experience or detail and return to the battle with out missing a step. His very detailed narration gives us the full story from both sides of the line while keeping the "Fog of War" for the commanders.

A big plus is the full battlefield tour included at the end of the book. Action is often tied to the current battlefield giving us a reference and a guidebook if we ever get a chance to visit the park. A good selection of photos and maps keep the reader in the picture. This is a battle book. The focus is on General Stone and the men on the field not back at Army HQ. A logical interpretation of HQ's messages helps us understand the assumptions made that day.

Another plus is the price of the book. Ironclad lists this book at $18.95 but packs more and better information, maps and photos into this small package than many books selling for $29.95.

Although I have read and enjoyed Byron Farwell's book on the disastrous Balls Bluff battle that caused such a psychological shock on the Union, Morgan's book provides deeper analysis into what occurred virtually blow by blow that will appeal greatly to the serious Civil War student. The book may be a bit challenging for those less familiar with Civil War history due to depth of the descriptions that breakdown movements virtually by company; however, the several maps included provide a great assistance. The numerous bios and command distinctions does slow the action some times and causes periodic distraction. Morgan describes the battlefield with references to its modern state making it a particularly handy read and companion when visiting the battle site that has suffered some modern encroachment. What I found most interesting about this book is the study of both the union command structure, which was fragmented between commanders of similar rank compounded by the late arrival of the commanding officer Colonel Baker. The force that was initially suppose to be a reconnaissance in force across the Potomac coordinated with a lower movement at Edward's Ferry and a move by McClellan further east but its purpose seemed to lend itself to full committed due to a misperception of grautious success. The author also provides a profile of the odd confederate command with the infamous Major Evans commanding in spite of Colonel Hunton's superior rank. Morgan does a great job capturing the detailed movements of all the forces involved resolving some of the mystery of confederate forces that were largely unseen by the union forces. The command structure of the Union is handicapped by faulty information supplied by an earlier scouting expedition that misinterprets landmarks for a confederate encampment. This confusion contributes to the poor disposition of troops that concentrate on the south and west while the majority of the officers recognize that the east wooded area that also encompasses a ravine, is the most vulnerable area. This recognition of the east vulnerability is discovered late, not long after the commander, Colonel Baker, arrives on the scene. Morgan takes away a lot of the mystery of what happens next by detailing the confederate attacks and late union shifting of units that ultimately leads to a collapse of the union position. With the high bluffs on their back with a relatively deep river behind, the collapse of the union left leads to an abrupt fragmentation of order. Morgan goes further in his book describing the overall campaign that is obviously hindered by the newness of the war's command structure and communications. Neither Stone, overall commander at Balls Bluff and Edwards Ferry, nor McClellan has a real feel for what is occurring until the collapse. Morgan also captures the fighting around Edwards Ferry that coincided with Balls Bluff and McClellan's ineffective movements that contributed to the isolation of Baker's forces. In addition, Morgan tells how General Stone is severely punished, including incarceration, by vengeful politicians and is neglected by General McClellan. Baker was a popular politician and friend of Lincoln's that contributes immensely to the severe reaction to this union defeat. In this book, Morgan also provides a walking tour of the battlefield that identifies significant landmarks even obscured by modern housing units. This is the ultimate book that will give you the in-depth story of this small battle that had far reaching effects on the north while also assisting you in your visit to the battlefield. Farwell's book is also a good read and captures more detail on Stone's fall.

Clearly the best treatment of the Battle at Ball's Bluff available. An excellent telling of the little known fight drawn from good research and a thorough bibliography. The included tour guide alone is worth the price of the book.

There is little to add that already hasn't been said in the other reviews. I just wish it was available in hardback! If the future titles in this series are as good as this then Ironclad is assured of repeated patronage. I only have one very very minor criticism. Though the maps are generally quite good, I wish elevation lines were included as the topography of the Union left flank had a critical effect on the fight and the text covering it was a little confusing at times. None of this detracts much from this wonderful work, which is easily the best battle history of 2004.

"I" thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! As I initially started to "pre-read" the book to assess the "age appropriateness" of the material for my daughter, I must say that I became quickly engrossed in the historical plot, and characters. I couldn't put the book down! I do hope that my daughter will enjoy and learn from it as much as I have. I can't wait to pass this recommendation around to all my homeschooling friends! I look forward to purchasing more of Ms. Hall Haislip's books! Well done!

Lottie felt a slight tug on her rope. Weza nodded to Lottie, and with trembling fingers, she cut the slender piece of rope that still attached her to the other women. Feeling the tension of her rope slacken, Ruby turned and stared, but she said nothing. Taking the knife, Weza cut the strand of rope tying her to Lottie. A moment later, they plunged into the darkness.

In Phyllis Hall Heislip's Lottie's courage, Lottie, a young girl, is separated from her mother due to slavery. Lottie and her slave friend, Weza, escaped from their slave trader. After escaping, Lottie and Weza head toward what they thought was north. Their slave trader sent dogs after them once he learned they escaped. A northern soldier saw the dogs chasing Lottie and Weza, and informed other soldiers. Lottie and Weza were saved and were taken to the soldiers' fortress. Lottie's mother had gotten lung fever twice, would she ever see her daughter again?

I think this book is mainly for girls from the ages 10-12. I think this because character, Lottie, is around that age and they will be able to relate to the story easily.

From cover to cover, Lottie's adventures are numerous and serve to make her story exciting and her character multi-dimensional. In Lottie's search for her family, her rightful position in free society, and even an understanding of herself, she remains engaging and relatable. Her struggles and triumphs set the moral and emotional tone of the story, and the setting of Civil War Virginia impeccably places it within its historical context. The reader thus not only witnesses Lottie's endeavors, but also receives a glimpse of the larger historical events influencing her world. Factual and fun, Lottie's Courage is a most entertaining read!

Lottie's Courage was an intriguing book with many exciting, as well as touching scenes about two runaway slaves and their adventures. Though fictional, it contained a lot of real information about the Civil War which I didn't know very much about. Even though it was sad in parts (it almost made me cry), that was part of what made it so good. Though the whole book was terrific, I would have to say my favorite scene was when a balloon came down and saved Lottie and Weza from the terrorizing dogs that captured slaves. It's hard to believe that someone can do such outstanding writing. Exellent Job!

Lottie's Courage is an inspiring story of a young girl's journey to find her freedom, her family and herself. A smooth blend of accurate historical details, drama and moral issues swirls about this emerging heroine. And she is such a charmer! Clear period illustrations and a glossary add another dimension and make this book useful as a classroom resource. An exciting story, but not overwhelming for the young reader...welldrawn, memorable characters...intriguing plot based on actual fact!

For many years, there were few full-length studies of the retreat of the Army of Northern Virginia following its defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1 -- July 3, 1863). But two outstanding books have recently been written to fill this gap. In 2005, Kent Masterson Brown published his "Retreat from Gettyburg." Brown's book focuses on the logistics of the retreat and on how Lee was able to mask his intentions, slowing Meades's pursuit. It also views Lee's goal in the Gettysburg campaign as primarily a raid -- an attempt by the Army of Northern Virginia to secure needed foodstuffs and other goods from Northern soil. With that objective in mind, Brown discusses the retreat after the Battle of Gettysburg, and implicitly the battle itself, in the context of the entire campaign. He finds that the campaign partially met its objectives.

I was eager to learn more about the retreat after reading Brown. His book has been followed by a new (2008) study of the retreat: "One Continuous Fight" by three noted students of the Civil War: Eric Wittenberg, David Petruzzi, and Michael Nugent. Wittenberg and his coauthors have written extensively on Gettysburg and they have focused on the role of the cavalry. This focus on cavalry operations is critical in understanding the retreat.

Wittenberg and his co-authors give a detailed tactical study of the retreat from both Union and Confederate perspectives. They offer a detailed military discussion of the over 20 engagements that occured between the beginning of Lee's retreat on June 4,1863, and Lee's crossing over into Virginia on June 14. The book includes many stories, quotes and anechdotes from and about participants on both sides of the line. "One Continuous Fight" is an excellent study in its own right of the retreat and a worthy complement to Brown.

Many people think, when they consider the retreat, of Meade's alleged failure to pursue Lee's army. The title of this book "One Continuous Fight" should dispel that misaprehension. Wittenberg shows that there was continuous and severe fighting throughout the retreat. He describes in detail the engagements at Monterey Pass, Hagerstown, Boonsborough, and Funkstown, among other engagements. He also describes the fighting at Williamsport when on July 6, Confederate General Imboden led a heroic defense by his wounded soldiers and teamsters against a Union cavalry attack. The book offers detailed descriptions of the movements of the armies and of the results of little-studied battles.

Wittenburg gives a full picture of the strong defenses Lee constructed at Williamsport in the face of the flooded Potomac River which hindered his crossing. For three days, Meade and the Union Army failed to attack the position. When Meade at length wanted to attack on June 14, Lee's army had slipped away into the night. The hazardous crossings at Williamsport and Falling Waters are described in full detail.

The major issue surrounding the retreat is whether Meade could have done more in stopping Lee, won another victory, and perhaps ended the war. Wittenburg's study shows the complexity of this question, which in fact folds several discrete issues into one. Meade would have taken an enormous risk by attacking the fortified Confederate position at Williamsport with his exhausted and ill-provided army. His decisions to refrain from attack until the Confederate position had been fully reconnoitered was probably sound. But the Union pursuit of Lee, Wittenburg argues, was flawed in several respects. He is somewhat critical of Meade but places most of the responsbility on Meade's cavalry chief, Pleasonton, for dividing his forces and not following the retreating Army in an agressive, coordinated manner. In contrast, the individual cavalry commanders for the Union, especially Buford, get high marks for their efforts during the retreat as do Stuart, Imboden, and, generally, the entire Confederate cavalry. Lee's conduct of the retreat receives high praise.

Unlike Brown's study, Wittenberg's book gives little attention to the goods the Confederates carried back with them to Virginia. In fact, with Wittenberg's emphasis on the privations of the retreat, he doesn't seem to think the goods secured through foraging were a factor. Wittenberg also, in contrast to Brown, sees the Gettysburg campaign as a dismal failure for the Confederacy in terms of loss of life and loss of leadership. Overall, the impression is that Lee was fortunate to get away, and that the supplies of food he may have carried with him were of scant consolation for the large military defeat at Gettysburg.

This book is clearly written with good portrayals of the complex fighting. It offers good maps and includes two lengthy driving tours, one for the route followed by Imboden and his train of Confederate wounded, the other for the route followed by Lee's army. This book will appeal to serious students of the Civil War with a good background knowledge of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg campaign.

Robin Friedman

The plotting of the maneuvering and engagements between the Confederate and Union armies in the week and a half right after the climactic battle of Gettysburg leaves off with a trip along the route of the armies giving GPS coordinates so readers can follow in the footsteps of the armies and also locate the exact spots covered in the regular text. But for this book, many of the routes and spots could not easily be located as these days of the conflict have received little attention. In many cases, there are no historical markers or official sites. Historians and Civil War buffs tend to think both armies, spent after the battle of Gettysburg, licked their wounds and recuperated, not to engage in any significant confrontations until the battles in northern Virginia marking the closing phase of the war. But by their detailed recounting of the week and a half after Gettysburg, the coauthors show that this period evidences its own strategic aims and fateful clashes. It was especially important for the South in that Lee's army survived intact by fending off Union forces trying to deliver a crushing blow to it in its weakened state.

The authors have a special interest in the Civil War cavalry. But it is not because of this they pay particular attention to the role of the cavalry of both sides. They pay close attention because the cavalry was particularly important in the brief period. Southern cavalry was mainly responsible for protecting the 17-mile long wagon train of wounded rebel troops. For its part, Union cavalry played a leading role in combat against the Confederates; and some units proved to be a match against the highly-touted Southern cavalry forces. The variety of sources--letters, diaries, military communications, news reports, and books--allows for shedding light on varied aspects of the days covered. The title is taken from a phrase in a letter by a Union soldier. Overarching strategic views are succeeded by first-person accounts of particular combat episodes; from communications among officers, one follows the battle preparations on both sides; newspaper articles give a picture of the concerns of civilians trying to follow developments; papers from civilian leaders reveal their efforts to bring about the respective desired outcome. This variety of material is skillfully integrated for a dramatic narrative. The reader hardly notices the shifts in content as one becomes engrossed in the tale to learn specifics of how the known outcome of the escape of Lee's army happened. "One Continuous Fight" is popular history at its best--simultaneously engaging and educating.

The Union Army in the Civil War provides a tremendous example of how an institution can survive its own imperfections and turn itself into a successful organization. It was not easy, and it took awhile. Corruption and indolence under the Buchanan administration were endemic. Incompetence prevailed after the cream of the officer corps defected to the Confederacy. As with the present administration, its highest ranking officers were too often those whose skills lay in their politics.

Eventually, these people were filtered out, but the cost was tremendous,
and invariably paid by others.

This book is a marvelous addition to the common base of knowledge about the critical days after Lee's assault on Gettysburg. It may well lead to the conclusion that the entire battle should be viewed as comprising the first two weeks in July, 1863, rather than just the first three days. The scholarship is first rate, the logic and conclusions profound. If nothing else, we now have the reasons why Lincoln's intuition led to his shelving that famous unsent letter to Meade.

A book this important calls for a competent editor. Three writers working together turns this call into a scream. The occasional typographical error can be forgiven - even though the copy is overrun by the writers' spelling errors. Assaults on grammar are endemic. What I cannot forgive, and what inspires this review, is the frequent repetition of whole paragraphs.

I salute the publisher, Savas Beatie, of El Dorado Hills, California. I also beg them, and the authors, to insist on a competent editor before committing this volume to its well-deserved future printings.

I recently finished the book and am glad to see that this part of the Gettysburg Campaign has finally received the recognition that it deserves. The authors have given us a full blown history of the battles that occurred as Lee's army retreated from their loss at Gettyburg. It's a day by day travelog that shows just how each army reacted to the aftermath of the fighting at Gettysburg.

The authors have shared stories of the heroism on both sides as they found themselves involved in the 10 days described in the aftermath of the most significant battle of the Civil War that took place in the Eastern Theater. They have delivered a fascinating tale of those in the ranks, whether on foot or riding a trusted horse as they dealt with the horrible weather and the lack of sleep.

My favorite chapter deals with the events of July 8, 1863, as I was born 100 years after that date. The events at Boonsboro and what Lee and Longstreet were doing that day provided this reader with a glimpse in to the Civil War that I have rarely come across. I had no clue that on that day 145 years ago, a son of NJ, Judson Kilpatrick received 3 cheers from his men. This son of NJ was happily surprised reading that, as in all my reading on Kilpatrick I have not come across "Kilcavalry" being cheered like that.

Highly recommend this book for those who are interested in the Gettysburg Campaign. It's a fascinating and well written treatise on what happened after the battle. As others have mentioned, take advantage of the tours listed at the end of the book. It's well worth your time following in the footsteps of those who walked the walk 145 years ago. You will not be disappointed.

Steve Basic

Gettysburg. Say it and one is immediately reminded of the cataclysmic three day battle between the Army of the Potomac, commanded by George Meade, and the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee. Three days, July 1-3, 1863, that changed American History forever. Thousands of books and articles have been written about the battle which took place in the tiny hamlet of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I dare say you could fill an entire room in a library with nothing about books devoted to this one battle alone.

But what happened after the battle? Lee's retreat from Gettysburg, and Meade's failure to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia before it crossed the Potomac River to the safety of Virginia is sometimes given the briefest of mentions, but more often is treated as a single chapter, or epilogue in a work covering the battle or the whole of the Gettysburg Campaign. Books devoted entirely to the retreat itself can easily be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Eric J. Wittenberg, J. David Petruzzi and Michael F. Nugent have successfully corrected this omission from the historical library with their book, "One Continuous Fight: The Retreat from Gettysburg and the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July 4-14, 1863." Drawing on a wealth of first hand accounts: letters & diaries, many of which until now have remained unpublished for 145 years, as well as contemporary newspaper articles and previously published primary and secondary sources, the trio of authors have written a dynamic and engaging volume, that is easily read and hard to put down.

During its retreat the Army of Northern Virginia clashed in nearly two dozen skirmishes & major engagements with the Army of the Potomac, including fighting at Granite Hill, Monterey Pass, Hagerstown, Williamsport, Funkstown, Boonsboro and Falling Waters. There was so much fighting going on between the opposing forces that Privet L. T. Dickinson of the 2nd Virginia Cavalry to described the ten day retreat as "one continuous fight."

The book covers in detail the movements of the armies; however the first chapter is devoted entirely to Imboden's "Wagon Train of the Wounded," which I found compelling to read.

Meade has often been accused of letting Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia slip from his grasp at the moment when he had the ability to crush them in the palm of his hand. After the titanic three day struggle on the fields of Gettysburg, was Meade derelict in not following up on his victory? Did he move too slowly or too cautiously? Could Meade have done more? Or was the blue-clad Army of the Potomac as used up as their brothers clad in butternut and gray? From the title of their book alone, the authors dispel nearly 145 years of finger pointing, and accusations and in their conclusion they give a fair and balanced view of exactly who, if any one, was at fault.

Included at the end of the book are two driving tours: The Retreat from Gettysburg and The Wagon Train of the Wounded, both contain GPS coordinates and detailed driving directions so the reader can follow in the footsteps of history. Of course, if you want the full experience, I'd encourage you to don a wool uniform, strap on a backpack, pick up your rifle and walk the routes in the ninety degree heat of July. If you chose to do so I'll wave at you from the comfort of my air conditioned car as I drive by.

Are there too many books about the Gettysburg Campaign? In a word, yes. Is there still anything left unwritten about the campaign & battle? Absolutely, and this book is but one example. It is a must have for any student of the Civil War, and especially for a student of the Gettysburg Campaign.

Maynard's SCREAMING WITH THE CANNIBALS takes on the next stage in the life of the narrator of CRUM, which has a large following of enthusiastic readers.This one picks up the story where CRUM left off. Fans will leap at the opportunity to find out what happened to Jesse- and yes, the narrator of the first book finally gets a name! Jesse is presented as a sort of archetype of all those young adventurers who need to see what is on the other side of the next ridge. He wants to move on, to escape from everything in his old life. In the final part of this book, he gets as far as South Carolina where he experiences racism, the ocean, and forgiveness. The long scene in which Jesse escapes a Kentucky revival meeting with his soul unsaved and his skin intact is worth the price of the book. He doesn't find everything he's looking for, but there is more than a hint that Maynard isn't through with his story.

First, forget the review that said women don't enjoy Crum. Anyone can and will enjoy both of Lee Maynard's books if they have a good sense of humour and aren't a prude. I loved Crum. It was hilariously raunchy and accurate in its portrayal of country life.

Screaming With The Cannibals may even be better than Crum. Where Crum was a country boy's wild adolescence, Screaming With The Cannibals is a young man's cross country adventure. It's funny, sexy, adventurous, human, exciting, ...and a whole lot of other adjectives!

A modern classic. So much life and imagination is packed into this small book. Life in the country, road trips, strange Mountain folk, scary Southern folk, tent revivals, crazy preachers, skinny dippin', train jumpin', [hot] lifeguards, murderous cops, car chases, and sex smothered in home cookin'.

It has that timeless, country humour and atmosphere of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, with a bit of On the Road, Stand by Me, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and 9 1/2 Weeks thrown in the mix. All written in simple, straight forward, but still somehow poetic language. I didn't want it to end.

If you haven't read Crum, don't bother getting this book. This is the sequel to Crum, and although it's not quite as good as the original, it's a great story.

Crum is a book that very few women would enjoy. If you're a guy with a sense of humor you should check it out. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read, about a kid growing up in a small town in West Virginia. The book is full of the adventures of this kid and his friends, and of his quest to leave the town of Crum. If you enjoy that book, you will also like this one.

Lee Maynard is an outstanding writer, and I'm constantly looking for anything new by him. I was thrilled when I found this book earlier this year and not at all disappointed when I read it.

This is another great book by Lee Maynard that should be made into a movie.Jack Nicholson would be great in this movie and ofcourse it should be filmed in West Virginia!!

Screaming with the Cannibals(SWTC)is action packed and often hilariously funny. The novel is a page-turner filled with downright descriptive sex, and the language men and boys might use when at war. It is the story of an intelligent young boy, Jesse Stone, coming of age and coping with feelings of aloneness, repressive religion, racial turmoil, etc.

The 2nd in a series, SWTC takes up where Maynard's first novel Crum left off. However, the author skillfully incorporates information from Crum in the form of flashbacks and each novel stands alone.

SWTC opens with Jesse, a rough and tumble 50s era football playing, book reading kid, finishing Crum High School. He is determined to see the world he has experience only through the books in the school's library.

Short on specific goals but high on self-reliance, Jesse packs his favorite book, a change of clothes and about thirteen dollars and "lights out" for somewhere.

He hitches a ride and briefly end up a farm hand in nearby Kentucky. There he gets interested (that's putting in mildly)in a neigbor's wife and contributes to a near riot at the farm community's yearly Fundamentalist revival. On the run, he heads south on an unlicensed Triumph motorcycle he rebuilt from used farm equipment parts.

Testesterone in high gear, Jesse finds more trouble with a South Carolina Sheriff before he lands a job as a lifeguard at Myrtle Beach.

Jesse runs smack-dab into racial trumoil and segregated beaches, the same Sheriff, responsible work, plus hoards of nubile girls and a Mrs. Robinson-type older woman.

If you ever wonder, "What goes on in the minds of teen aged boys?" this is the book to read.

The novel is extremely well written and easy to read. I especially like Maynard's writing style.

Readers who remember Myrtle Beach in the "old days" will enjoy the scenes set there.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R6TG7VV1THM93

Having just finished The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, I looked forward to reading a different kind of story about a boy and his dog. This slim volume speaks chapters and volumes about the power of love we can bring to others by giving them a second chance, whether they are orphan boys or dogs in an animal shelter waiting for adoption. Although most of the book comes from a dog's perspective, the love that Ms. Gerencher has for other people and animals comes through the strongest. It's a love that should inspire us all.

This book will be heart-warming reading for any child who has been adopted. In addition, any child who is autistic will feel affirmed by what Ms. Gerencher has to say. Finally, anyone who has thought about adopting a pet from a shelter will realize the full humanity of making that choice.

If you know a youngster who is about 7-10 years old who needs to count his or her blessings, this is a good book to buy as a gift. It will mean the most, however, if you read it aloud to the youngster the first time so you can convey the full emotion in the book.

I especially liked the interior illustrations which are more attractive than the cover one and show a sensitive approach to impressionistic ways of capturing the universal.

Buy this book and enjoy!

Sandra J. Gerencher addresses many issues in her well-written, entertaining, informative book SECOND CHANCE. Not only is this a tale that deserves wide attention among proponents of animal shelters and readers seeking a degree of understanding of autism, it also stands alone as a beautifully illustrated (by Virginia Cody) book for informing children about the concept of adoption. For this reader this book is one of the finest explanations for sharing the meaning of adoption with youngsters - a definite assist to parents who adopt and are searching for the best way to discuss the topic with their family.

But Gerencher goes further than the usual author of books for children by engaging the reader using a dog's view of the process. The warmly human 'lady' of the story goes to the animal shelter, adopts a German Shepherd/Rottweiler pup that is seemingly unwanted, and takes the pup 'Chance' home - adopting (a strange word to the narrator Chance) yet another animal for her houseful of Pomeranians. The manner in which Chance interacts with his new 'brothers' as well as his bonding with the lady's adopted autistic son Ryan offers the crux of the story, a story that explains the nurturing and care and sense of family that occurs with the concept of the term 'adoption'.

In Gerencher's gently elegant style of writing the story avoids being maudlin and instead focuses on the wisdom of both animals and humans in exploring, understanding and integrating Adoption as a means of illustrating an extended family, or in other words a `second chance' at life. And by electing to set the typeface of the narration superimposed on the beautifully realized watercolor-like manipulated photography of each of the dogs and the boy, this book becomes an art piece as well. As with other authors who offer subtitles to their books, Gerencher opens her fountain of knowledge and experience in her addressed fields by adding the subtitle 'How Adoption Saved A Boy With Autism and His Shelter Dog'. This book is a fine achievement in literature, in children's books, and in teaching resources for every reader, no matter the age. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 08

This book is an absolutely beautiful story. If it does not touch a place in everyone's heart that reads this book, then you have no heart at all.

It is so much more than just a story of adoption. It is a story of a new beginning for what I call "throw away animals and children".

The animals that no one wants because they are not pretty or meet a certain criteria. And children who are not perfect and have special needs. There are hundreds of special children and animals out there waiting for someone to love them and give them a home. They deserve a second chance at life.

In this book Chance, the dog, is doing the talking which my grandson's thought was so funny. They really loved this book. As an adult I agree with them, but I see so much more to this story.

What an excellent read for everyone. I encourage people from all walks of life to buy this book. Not only will your children or grandchildren enjoy this book but so will you.

Brandon, Johnny and Sandra Heptinstall

I did the artwork for the cover on this book before I'd even read the story. When the publisher sent me a copy of the finished product, I took it upon myself to give the whole book a good read. I was delighted! Not only does the story tug at your heart.... and make you wish you could be equally giving in your own life .... the blurred photographic images throughout the book seem like wonderful watercolors! As the adoptive parent to several canines and felines myself, I can safely say that Ms. Gerencher is just the kind of person I want to be associated with. Her heart is truly in the right place. Bravo!

The illustrations and story are inspiring for every girl--those who are brand new and well-traveled alike. In many languages, girls are offered encouragement for living life. I always give this book to newborn girls and have one of my own.

The text and illustrations of this book are both wonderful. This is the perfect gift for a baby girl.

This book is now my standard gift to new moms of daughters. The illustrations and text are so gorgeous! I still cannot read it aloud to my daughter without tearing up.

She Is Born is hard to classify: nonfiction which reads like fiction. She Is Born discusses how cultures around the world celebrate the birth of a daughter, with vivid paintings by John Rowe capturing the multicultural explorations of a daughter's birth. A beautiful presentation, outstanding in its contrasts.

I just had a daughter last month and my best friend gave me this book. I was really touched - the words are profound. The illustrations are beautiful. I am now giving it to another friend who just had a daughter. I highly recommend it.

The battle of Cedar Mountian was fought in early August, 1862. The battle took place just south of Culpeper, Virginia along present day highway 15. Cedar Mountain was a prelude to the battle of Second Manassas. Robert K. Krick has done an excellent job of bringing this battle to light. As in all of Krick's books, the research is outstanding and the story well told. This was not one of Jackson's best performances on the field of battle, and Krick does not gloss over the mistakes. Robert K. Krick knows his subject, and it shows up in his writing.

385 pages for a 5 1/2 hour battle tells you just about everything you need to know. Krick is very thorough in depicting the battle and is also forthright in warning the reader that he is sometimes delving into supposition and making logical conclusions from the facts at hand. His writing is reminiscent of Gordon Rhea as is his detail. Good maps. I am hard pressed to see how this added to Stonewall's reputation as Bank's men, far outnumbered, kept Jackson from interrupting the consolidation of Pope's Army of VA. This book should stand as the definitive work on the battle.

Jackson leaves his lethargic performance at the Seven-day's battles to go North to confront Pope and northwest of Richmond he runs into a former nemesis from the valley, Banks. Banks gives him great fits in a slug fest described in minute detail by his battlefield biographer Krick. The desperate battle shows Jackson's personal leadership as he is at the brink of failure when he impulsively rushes to the front to have his troops hold and counterattack. He heroically pulls his sword and leads by waving it to the front. Krick's descriptions are so detailed and accurate there is a bit of humor as Jackson, unable to pull his sword out of the scabbard, waves his sword with the scabbard still in place. This is a ferocious battle as a cannon shot decapitates the leader of the Stonewall Brigade, Winder. Ironically, A. P. Hill comes up and virtually helps save the day. The Union Commander, Banks, although not considered particularly competent, always gave Jackson an unusually hard time in battle such as an earlier defeat at Kernstown. This battle, although a victory for the Confederates, still leaves a bit of a shadow on Jackson, as he seemed ill prepared for battle and survived with assistance from Hill's legendary light division. This battle has everything including a virtual suicidal Union cavalry charge at the Union's final desperate attempt at victory.

The tactics of the battle cannot be better described by anyone other than Krick who was the Superintendent of the battlefields at and around Fredericksburg. A great researcher, Krick probably walked the entire battlefield. Comes with a number of helpful maps showing movements, which help the reader, follow the detailed battle movements.

Over several decades I have read thousands of Civil War
books, and this is one of the best ever! It should be required reading for anyone researching and/or writing about any aspect of the Civil War. Mr. Krick's masterful study of the battle makes any further account superfluous; it has
the suspense and excitement of a novel. And, after all, why
bother with fiction when such superb historical books are
available? Excitement and education - what could be better?

In my humble opinion, Krick has written an excellent account of a small-scale and largely forgotten but bloody battle. Compared to Gettysburg, Antietam, Chickamauga, Vicksburg, and a host of other larger Civil War battles, Cedar Mountain has been largely forgotten. Fortunately, Krick has taken the time to produce an excellent account of what Stonewall Jackson himself admitted was his finest battle.

Krick manages to weave accounts of combatants of both sides with vivid battle actions and excellent descriptions of various terrain features that figured prominently during the battle. The book also contains something several other Civil War studies lack - excellent and ample maps. The maps are of excellent quality and help the reader better understand the flow of battle.

I haven't visited the battlefield since the mid-1990s but plan to return in the near future. Krick's title will be an invaluable aid for better understanding the battle during my next visit.

Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

I just finished reading Ten Circles Upon the Pond, and found it to be most excellent. Being familiar with all the places that Virginia Tranel described in the book made it a fun read for me. I know Dubuque, Billings, and Miles City all very well. It was well written. Rather nostalgic but not maudlin. Sentimental, but not mired, and most enjoyable. Virginia Tranel pulled it off very well. I sort of feel that most memoirs are either self deprecating or self-aggrandizing, so it was very refreshing to see a self-criticism that was fair and yet fun to read. All her characters (kids) came alive as I read the book, and I felt as if I actually knew the whole family. I really would love to drive over and spend an afternoon with Virginia, as I feel we have a lot in common, even though I am more the age of her oldest kids. The book was not perfect, however, I felt that Ned was sort of underplayed, and some of the drama of raising kids was downplayed, but that may not be so bad if she decides to ever write a sequel. I guess I give it about a 96%, which is good, as I have only ever given one book I read a 100%. This was the 59th book I have read this year so far and the second best.... not bad for a first book by an author.

I just finished reading Ten Circles Upon the Pond, and found it to be most excellent. Being familiar with all the places that Virginia Tranel described in the book made it a fun read for me. I know Dubuque, Billings, and Miles City all very well. It was well written. Rather nostalgic but not maudlin. Sentimental, but not mired, and most enjoyable. Virginia Tranel pulled it off very well. I sort of feel that most memoirs are either self deprecating or self-aggrandizing, so it was very refreshing to see a self-criticism that was fair and yet fun to read. All her characters (kids) came alive as I read the book, and I felt as if I actually knew the whole family. I really would love to drive over and spend an afternoon with Virginia, as I feel we have a lot in common, even though I am more the age of her oldest kids. The book was not perfect, however, I felt that Ned was sort of underplayed, and some of the drama of raising kids was downplayed, but that may not be so bad if she decides to ever write a sequel. I guess I give it about a 96%, which is good, as I have only ever given one book I read a 100%. This was the 59th book I have read this year so far and the second best.... not bad for a first book by an author.

I just finished reading Ten Circles Upon the Pond, and found it to be most excellent. Being familiar with all the places that Virginia Tranel described in the book made it a fun read for me. I know Dubuque, Billings, and Miles City all very well. It was well written. Rather nostalgic but not maudlin. Sentimental, but not mired, and most enjoyable. Virginia Tranel pulled it off very well. I sort of feel that most memoirs are either self deprecating or self-aggrandizing, so it was very refreshing to see a self-criticism that was fair and yet fun to read. All her characters (kids) came alive as I read the book, and I felt as if I actually knew the whole family. I really would love to drive over and spend an afternoon with Virginia, as I feel we have a lot in common, even though I am more the age of her oldest kids. The book was not perfect, however, I felt that Ned was sort of underplayed, and some of the drama of raising kids was downplayed, but that may not be so bad if she decides to ever write a sequel. I guess I give it about a 96%, which is good, as I have only ever given one book I read a 100%. This was the 59th book I have read this year so far and the second best.... not bad for a first book by an author.

I began to read Virginia Tranel's book because of my college friendship with one of her sons. I simply thought it would be interesting to read about his mother's view of him and his childhood. But after reading his chapter, I was immediately hooked and quickly read through the rest of the book. Her command of the English language and seamless use of literary and historical references is magnificent. In one way, this book is a simple story of the life of a large family. And yet, it is a touching and sincerely personal memoir, which speaks to all mothers, daughters, father, sons and siblings. I couldn't read the book without thinking of it's relation to my life. And I was enchanted by the way Tranel weaves the tapestry of her tale with thought-provoking philosophical arguments and rich statements about the nature of human relationships. It reads as both a fascinating narrative and as a dense exploration of humanity, faith and struggle.

A masterful telling of the joy and trials of family life and child rearing while touching upon some of the deepest questions we have all asked of ourselves. Extremely well crafted language and intelligent insights make this book and intriguing journey through the lives of this large family. Tranel uniquely weaves multiple facets into the telling of each child's life-generational, historical, sociological, birth order, location and happenstance. The connection between each child's early disposition and interests to their adult life is an interesting and intriguing study, causing the reader to examine their own history.

Another enjoyable part of the book is the beautiful word portraits of life in the high country of Montana and Wyoming, along with side journeys to Iowa, New York, Alaska, Europe and many points in between. In reading this book, I became genuinely excited about some of the insights I gained into the rearing of my own children and my own up-brininging. More importantly, Tranel keeps hitting on how she rationalized, justified or just accepted through faith her position in life and the lives of her husband and children.

The importance of all the little events that compose our lives becomes more evident-from family dinners and holiday traditions right down to a certain piece of clothing or seemingly small event in one's childhood. Riding alongside these events is always the question of faith and life's lingering questions (What if? What could I have become?)-the understanding of which helped keep Virginia Tranel focused on a rich and satisfying career, that of raising ten children. This is a beautifully written book with rich detail allowing the reader to side with each child as they grow and to experience and even envy the Walton-like life of toboggan rides, seventeen foot snowmen, raising horses and cows, fresh baked bread, chaotic vacations and all the nooks and crannies of each family home. A thoroughly enjoyable read.