North America Books

I bought this book without having read much of it first. I know practicaly nothing about Native American studies or shamanism, it's not my calling or interest. Anyways, I bought this one anyway and am sorta confused. Like I said, I know hardly anything at all about Native American culture but I would assume they didnt go out have get pink, blue, yellow, purple, red, oarnge and indigo candles for their work. Almost every working in the book calls for all these rainbow things. I wonder if this is authentic? I am going to borrow from another reviewer I saw a while ago and say This book is probably good for the "bookstore shaman" . Thats about all I can say.

Native American shaman Moondance's visions form the foundation of a guide which considers how to use shaman wisdom for spiritual enlightenment. How to make and work with medicine blankets and bundles and how to create magic tools and perform sacred ceremonies are only a few of the topics covered in this guide.

I have heard peopel speak of the author not bing an indian. She is now and she is Native mixed. I know cause I have been a student for many years of hers. If you read the writings youwill see the power in the truth she tells. In bone medicine you will learn the ways of a hollow bone and these ways are sacred. Good work, Great book. I understand the human more.

I have read a lot of these kind of books and this is good work. I have read them all and like the way the books read. The truth is clear that the author is stating her own vision and the vision has touched her life. I support these books by Wolf Moondance 100%. Thank you. Jim Jackson-Okla

When I read Bone Medicine I was looking for something to guide the loss in my spiritual life. I did not ever in 35 years understand the purpose of my life or the reason for the human body. After the work I have done through the ceremonies in this book I understand and respect my physical life. I would love for anyone to read this book because it is Great. I am a mixed blood and can say I have found a true Elder! Thanks... Jerri Storm-K.C

This is a great book for identifying birds. Great pictures and useful information about each bird.

I bought this book for my husband as a birthday present and was happily surprised how much he liked it. Each page is devoted to one bird. My brother visited and enjoyed looking at it so much that we got him one for his birthday, too!

I bought this book many years ago and have found it to be the best out of all the books I've purchased over the years in helping to identify different bird species. It is very helpful, especially for beginners, since there are colorful artist's renderings of each bird and a detailed description of the birds' markings, habitat, feeding habits, and description of their eggs to guide you. I only wish the book included even more bird species than it does.

The illustrations are what make this book unique. Stories that go along with each description are really interesting and provide great insight. The only issue I have with the book is that there doesn't seem to be a quick way to go about looking up a bird that you have sighted. Despite this drawback, it's still worth purchasing.

What wonderful books Reader's Digest has on such a variety of topics. I've never been disappointed in Reader's Digest books. Whether you are a beginning birder or an experienced one, you will find this book very useful.

Great book. Not very much ceremonial information. Seems to be based more on storyline than facts.

In this book, Carson, an ex-marine, describes his apprenticeship in Oklahoma's Kiamchis mountains with an old Choctaw "conjure" (medicine woman) named Mary Gardener. The process included a prolonged purification (diet, smudges, tobacco, fasting), ceremonies, vision quests, all of which are fairly typical of NDN medicine practices. Towards the end, he helped Mary treat people afflicted with some of the many diseases encountered by the conjure: spirit -of-war disease, tiny-animals-frolicking-about-in-the-water disease,cloud, feather, little-gray-men-who run-the-world, birdsnake diseases, television sickness and many others. Carson provides a taxonomy of these diseases and their treatments, which i found very interesting. He also learns that each animal can cause its own specific disease which is illustrated by its own specific myth, usually featuring the Choctaw culture hero, Yellow Tobacco Boy. And not only animals: the elements, elementals, plants, stones, spirits - the number of sentient entities and their ability to do harm to an unaware human is, to the conjure, inexhaustible.

Carson was not alone in his studies - Mary had apprentices from all over the continent, including New Orleans and Mexico; apparently, in the universe of North American medicine people information flows copiously, if not freely. Apprentices learn about proper protocols for asking help from animals (either in the individual form or from the collective animal spirit) and about behaving impeccably in the face of the unknown. A central theme in the book revolves around the all-important knowledge of the human energy body, or "shilip". Choctaws recognize 22 gradations within the shilip, the viewing and manipulation of which have a central role in the healing process. Shilip is tightly integrated into a complicated cosmology, and this connection in turn is an integral part of the healing process. Once cannot be healed apart from the interconnectedness with the cosmos. The patient/client is seen holistically; a disease, or misfortune, is reflection of a wrong energetic turn in life which the conjure works to right.

The arduous training proved to be too much and Carson bailed out. Or lived to write about it :)

I found the book interesting and a quick read. The description of healing practices was certainly fascinating, not to mention Carson's sporadic interactions with "paranormal" aspects of conjure's reality. Disconcertingly, however, the book jacket reveals that Carson also authored "medicine cards" through which one can "discover power through the ways of animals". Hmmm... that makes me a bit suspicious. We'll see how it all pans out - i'll definitely be on lookout for more info about Choctaw "conjures."

I love this book. It was so exciting to be reading his journey into Native American Medicine. My sister, Debby Cody, is a reader of the Medicine Cards and I admire David's expertise and his boundaries of what is best for him.

David Carson is of Choctaw descent and has studied Native American spirituality since growing up in Oklahoma Indian country, but his latest CROSSING INTO MEDICINE COUNTRY is something more than spiritual reflection. Here he pursues initiation as a ceremonial healer with Choctaw medicine woman Mary Gardener, studying plant and animal forces and human energy manipulation for three years. Health and spirituality blend in a survey of Native teachings and health insights which blends a memoir with a set of special reflections.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is one of the wisest books to come down the pike in a long while in my humble opinion. Mr. Carson is a great story teller, Medicine Man, who understands the power of humility and transformation. This book is a wide ranging exploration of events in the authors life working with some powerful healers, elders, and medicine people. He documents the road of the healer and what is required to advance on this path of solitary intent, finding pain and suffering along the way, but also openning one to some astonishing vistas of spirt. This book is probably for healers and others who have already embarked off of the shores of a status quo sensibility to find and recover the authenticity of one's soul. It certainly is not a journey for the weak of heart. As the author notes, not everyone is called to this path, but for those who are, a vigilance of courage is required to walk the winding road ahead. As one goes further down this road mystery opens to reveal something not everyone is capable of understanding at this moment in time.

This is one of the best books on Medicine Power I have read in a long time; and Mr. Carson is a guide worth the price of admission. This book speaks to more than just one's mind, it grabs hold of one's soul and teaches it something profound.

This book gives a real picture of America. Showing situations and realities we may already be aware of and giving them understanding and meaning. I am passing this book on to my children. Everyone should read this book.

This important work should not have disappeared from bookstore shelves, and should be on every thnking person's reading list. By the way, it is also a pleasure to read as Harrington is a gifted storyteller, the mark of a firs-rate reporter. Walt Harrington talks frankly of those differences in style which often separate, perplex, and offend us. White and black social styles are different, but we can deal with that.What we seem unwilling to confront, in our social policies and our private assumptions, are the much larger and harder-edged gulfs between economic classes. Harrington's realization that poor blacks and whites have more in common with one another than with the wealthy, and his analysis of barriers to individual success put up by economically stressed communities, as opposed to racially segregated communities were brilliant. I find myself constantly rethinking my own work in education and in community building based on his work. This book is a must read for every college sociology class, political science professor, and business school graduate.Some publisher out there must recognize the worth of this book. Everyone who has read it is ready to give a copy to at least 5 friends! We can all hope Oprah discovers this work and puts it on her list so that it will gain the audience Harrington deserves.

Walt Harrington has provided America with one of the best accounts of race and racism in this county. Through many interviews with black people around the country, Harrington provides a vivid picture of race in America. His most important point is that all black people do not share the same views on politics, economics, and racism. The only ciriticism that comes to mind is that his book is too optimistic. Harrington insinuates that one day racism can be overcome. This comes after countless off-the-collar, racist comments from various white people he meets (one from a young boy playing basketball). While we must continue to try, white racism seems an insurmountable obstacle.

I have always been very interested in the role of race in our society. There is no real answer to the questions of its importance, but Harrington does an exceptional job in giving his readers nonbiased, objective research. He travels the country interviewing many different African Americans in different socioeconomic backgrounds, regions, and lifestyles. It is incredibly interesting reading about their different beliefs on the subjects he brings up, and their openness to discuss these things also intrigues me. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about race, whether it is your own, or one you want to know more about.

I absolutely loved this book. What a journey? As an African Canadian I've had a long fascination with the history and lives of my brothers and sisters to the south. When I was very young I would pore over my father's old Ebony magazines from the 60s absorbing all the knowledge I could about people who I found incredibly complex, strong, loving, generous, heroic....The many stories of courage, achievement and triumph made me very proud. Walt Harrington's book has allowed me to continue my fascinating journey. Today I have many African-American friends who are often astonished with my knowledge of their history and culture. Harrington's book is one that every American should read. Mainly because it's not a book about African Americans, as much as it's a book about America. Every chapter is a journey into complexities of American culture and it's people. They say that the best stories are true - this book is living proof of that. The fact that Harrington is white, makes this journey all the more interesting. Him experiencing things for the first time that we as Black people have long been privvy to is often funny (in a sad way). There are many examples of the accepted ignorance that white privilege creates. However, we find Harrington asking himself questions that would be so easy to sugar coat with a great white liberal response, but he instead answers with the unexpected - brutal honesty (what you suspect he is thinking, but would never say). Some of Harrington's experiences and stories scrape the depths of despair (Chicago projects), while others show the will of a people (Oklohoma cowboys). Harrington is generous in his writing style, recreating Black people's lives and experiences with the greatest detail and vividness. Walt, thank you for your commitment to expanding your horizons and allowing others to be part of your journey - I enjoyed every minute of it. This book is one I look forward to revisiting.

Fanny Trollope (1779-1863) wrote over 35 novels and several non-fictions books in her effort to rescue her family from poverty. However, the most read of all her books is "Domestic Manners of the Americans" which she published in 1832. It was in that distant year that Fanny and two of her children traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. Her purpose was to join a utopian community in Tennessee whose denizens were freed slaves.
Fanny left her impecunious and feckless husband the barrister Thomas Trollope back home in England. Her famous son Anthony did not make the trip as he was a student at Harrow School. Fanny knew her husband would join her in the USA when money became available. Later the family would flee to Bruges to escape creditors. Fanny eventually lived out her life in Florence near her son Thomas Trollope.
After leaving Tennessee the Trollopes settled for two years in the Queen City of the West Cincinnati, Ohio. Fanny did not like America or the American people! She found us xenephobic; boastful, prideful and violent.She hated the hypocrisy of life in Midwest Ohio although she did attend such cultural attractions as opera, plays and lectures. She favored the state Anglican Church of Great Britain not caring for America's separation between church and state.
This book could well be read alongside Charles Dickens' "American Notes for General Circulation" based on his 1842 six month trip to the USA.
Both Trollope and Dickens found the Americans crude, lacking in manners
and eager to make a quick buck. Listen to Trollope at her most scathing:
"..among the rich and the poor, in the slave states, and in the free states...I do not like them. I do not like their principals, I do not like their manners, I do not like their opinions." (p.314).
Fanny Trollope's book is more interesting than Dickens since she discusses colorful characters and shares anecdotes about her sojourn in our young republic. Like Dickens she hates the odious practice of tobacco chewing and the mangling of the English language. Trollope found us Yankees to be too serious and viewing us as poorly read. Unlike the wealthy and famous Dickens, Mrs. Trollope was a middle-aged woman fighting off poverty with her pen. I enjoyed her descriptions of nature such as those she paints of the Potomac River, Northern Virginia and the Niagra Falls area in New York and Canada. She is aware of flora and fauna and describes them with knowledge and in beautiful prose.
Dickens and Trollope give us the eye to see America in the days prior to the Civil War when the curse of chattel slavery ruled the land. Since those days America has granted freedom to all citizens. I wish both Fanny and Charles could visit us again in the 21st century. Their remarks would be of great interest to this reviewer and countless others!

Very entertaining read of the author's trip through 19th Century America, full of wonderful description and enlightening observations. Despite the griping below, Mrs Trollope simply reports what she sees - men spitting tobacco on the floor, ladies off in another room while the guys have a good time, etc. She reports accurately on our forefathers' rugged pioneer spirit, but points out the lack of education everywhere. We want to shout "lies!" but Mark Twain wrote about the same thing, and the aspects of our society that haven't changed much are still being commented on with the same frankness by writers like Saul Bellow, Gore Vidal, Dawn Powell, Paul Theroux and Joan Didion. Many true-hearted Americans will enjoy this book no end. Mrs Trollope clearly loved America and simply wrote truthfully about; she is simply beholden to no one - the essence of good writing. A thoroughly refreshing read.

This is both a great read and an important historical document. Fanny Trollope was the mother of Anthony Trollope, perhaps the most prolific English novelist of the nineteenth century and my favorite. Fanny's husband was ineffectual in the breadwinning department, but fortunately for the family, Fanny herself was energetic and enterprising. She took one of her sons (not Anthony) and an artistic young man to the United States. She was planning to join a friend of hers who was a mover in setting up the utopian community in Harmony, Indiana, but the place turned out to be squalid, and she didn't stay long.

Fanny spent most of her time in the U.S. in Cincinnati and in her book is very hard on the city and its inhabitants. She especially objected to the pigs' role as garbage collectors. (In those days, pigs roamed the streets freely, like sheep grazing.) Fanny felt most of the people she encountered were loud, dirty, vulgar, and fanatically patriotic. It is her vivid descriptions of the physical conditions and the people that give this book its historical and entertainment value.

While she was living in Cinci, she opened a retail emporium and filled it with rather shoddy merchandise sent from England by her husband. She also attempted to bring culture to the inhabitants. Not surprisingly, both ventures failed.

After Mrs. Trollope returned to England, she supported her family by writing novels that were quite popular at the time, though they haven't become the classics her son's have. She spent her final years living in Italy with another son and his wife.

This is an extremely entertaining commentary on American manners and well written. I agree, however, with Mrs. Trollope's son, Anthony, who commented that Mrs. Trollope is a keen observer but she understands little. Certainly her complaints about the lack of gentility among Americans is valid but she completely missed the wonderful lack of class restraints endemic to English society which afforded Americans "class mobility"--freedom of opportunity (except for native Americans and slaves).

All I can say is: what a great read! Who knew? Quite frankly, upon first sight of this book I must admit a bit of dread as the puritanical artwork does not smack of fun and games. Of course, as a literature student, I should know better than to ever judge a book by its cover.
Had I been Fanny Trollope writing such an account of America in the 1820s, I would be hardpressed to say that I would have changed a single word. Trollope has been the victim of many mean spirited caricatures and accusations by Americans and it still continues today, but what is interesting is that no one can do more than attack her person. In other words, no one seems to be able to refute her claims.
Trollope's "bitchiness" seems, for the most part, merited by my standards and while she finds much to complain about concerning an American democracy in its adolescence, she certainly discovers just as many things that she likes or finds beautiful.
Plain and simple, Americans collectively have a hard time taking criticism, especially from an outsider...and at that time, political criticism from a woman was deemed absurd if not audacious.
Last but not least, Fanny Trollope is always sure to preface anything she says with the conscious realization that she can only speak for what she has seen/heard personally and is thereby not judging ALL of America.
Trollope is witty and anecdotal and I think anyone interested in what an outspoken Englishwoman had to say about the New World should certainly pick up a copy. I found particular interest in gender/religious issues but got the most laughs out of her descriptions of American manners (or the lack thereof).
It is always interesting to see how much things have changed, and better yet, how many things have remained exactly the same!

This book is about a half-white, half-Acoma boy who has to visit his grandpa during the summer. His grand pa lives in a Native American village that sits on top a mountain. Kendall tries to fit in, but the native people are a litter wiry of him because of his white dad. Kendall finds out that his constant need to run is because of magic from his Acoma blood. There is an enchanted mountain that Kendall runs to every day in the desert. At first Kendall does not want to go to visit his grandfather, he wants to go on a road trip with his dad and brother, but towards the end he likes being there and does not want to leave. In the end of the book, his grandfather visits a sacred mountain when he does not come home Kendall runs into the desert to find him. His cousin has to go looking for him before his grandfather dies. I really liked this book because the author put some into detail, you could almost believe you were there. This book was great because the setting was so cool and the plot was one of a kind.

Little has a unique ability to draw the reader right into the setting, the character and the emotion of the story. I could see the beautiful New Mexico landscape. I could feel Kendall's worries and heartache. This story is both informative and moving - and shows deep respect for the culture of the Acoma.

This book just WON the SOUTHWEST BOOK AWARD! I am so glad ENCHANTED RUNNER won this recognition because it truly deserves it. This book is very emotionally moving, as well as having exciting, dangerous action. The setting is stunning and I loved reading about the Snake Clan and the powerful, magical runners. What a special book! I'm going to use this book in my classroom. I've never read anything else quite like it.

Enchanted Runner is definitely enchanting. Kimberley Griffiths Little sweeps readers into her story's world; one that is a thoughtful mixture of past and present. Ditto with her characters. From the beginning, I felt Kendall's magic as if I were running beside him as he confronted wild horses, rattlesnakes, heartbreak, and ancient mysteries. I especially enjoyed the contrast between Kendall and Trina, and her curiosity about his secret ceremonies. Kendall's journey was a satisfying one. I hope a sequel is on its way because I'd like to run with him again.

I'm 41-years-old and normally would not read a book targeted for the 9 to 12-year-old age group. But after reading Ms. Liitle's first book, BREAKAWAY, there was no way I'd pass up her second book. And I wasn't disappointed. ENCHANTED RUNNER was awesome! The research that went into the story is probably more than found in most adult novels. I was blown away by what I learned about the Acoma Culture and the Snake Clan. Visiting Sky City is now on my life's list of things to do. Parents: Do yourselves a favor. Buy this book. Read it, then share it with your kids. Ms Little: Thank you for pouring your soul into the story. I look forward to your next effort and hope there is a sequel to ENCHANTED RUNNER!

I had read about most of these tribes in the past in web searches and other references.
That is why I fault the illustrations ( the stone tools look noting like their actual pictures) and that there isn't a better coverage of tool, housing and food sources. The language groups are well covered and their relationship are made pretty clear.
I was looking for my local California Indians that are in San Diego County.
They are noticeably absent in this coverage or disguised pretty well.
Since most of this information is in my old 1950's World Book
encyclopedia under different sections, I was hoping for a little more information here. I have to admit that it is a good reference source.

Excellent. As a Englishman, in my middle 60s, interested in native American history since I was a child, this book is very informative.

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" is a compilation of facts for more than two hundred Native American tribes in North America, including prehistoric peoples on the North American continent as well as all of the identifiable Native American civilizations on the continent. Organized alphabetically by tribe or group, there is at least one representative Native American tribe from each language family or language isolate for each culture area covered. From locations, migrations, contact with non-Indians, wars, customs, housing, tools, clothing, art, rituals, diet, and cultural contributions, "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" has special relevance for contemporary tribal issues and concerns. "Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes" is a critically important, superbly presented, essential and core addition to professional, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections.

I wanted something thorough and informative about Native American Tribes. I also wanted something clear and concise, but not so bogged down with detail that it was a chore to weed through.
This encyclopedia gave me what I wanted and more. I'm writing a fictional novel with a Native American character and needed help in knowing him and his background. I was impressed with how easy it was to look up information by tribe and get interesting tidbits, that if I so desired, I could research further.
This is definitely a writer's dream. I feel confident writing about a character from any tribe with this book in my collection.

I am a fifty seven year old retired elementary teacher...but
my lifelong interest has been the Plains Indian Culture.
I just asked my hubby to get me this book for Christmas after
spending about ten minutes looking at it in Barnes and Noble
yesterday.
Good sized print, the info is arranged as user friendly.
I saw tribes mentioned in there that have been omitted from other
books about North American Tribes. A comprehensive guide.
Many drawings....colored illustrations.
My only negative -----I wanted to see a few more maps ...regional
maps of the tribes.
ALso...at the store ...I was looking at a SOFTCOVER edition....not
a hardcover one. (I would not pay 75 dollars for hardcover when
it is available in softcover. )

This book was enlightening to say the least. It really opens your eyes to the fallacies of Obstetric care in America.
The more you learn about birth, the more you doubt the so-called "professionals."
We have been duped into thinking childbirth is a mechanical event, something to be feared, and managed by some outside source. None of this could be further from the truth. And the truth can be found in this book.
For your safety and sanity- read this book.

I'm about halfway through the book right now, and a quarter of the way through my pregnancy. Although Expecting Trouble is a death knell for prenatal care as we know it, the book was reassuring to me. It let me know that I needn't feel out of the loop in caring for my own baby- the doctor isn't the real authority in this case. Virtually all prenatal problems develop regardless of the mother's prenatal care, whether a birth defect occurs before a woman knows she is pregnant, or it is caused by genetics. It either happens or it doesn't happen. So many women look to their doctors as magical people who will diagnose and treat any potential problem. During pregnancy, this just simply isn't the case most of the time. I feel more at peace knowing that this is the type of situation that there simply is no way to control, beyond maintaining good health and avoiding known dangers. The majority of pregnancies are (medically) problem-free, and I will feel less stressed knowing that I will probably have one of them. And if something goes wrong, I will know that I couldn't control it.
I highly recommend this book, along with The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding, by Michel Odent.

Thomas H. Strong has written an excellent account of the inherent flaws of prenatal care in the United States, highlighting where Western medicine succeeds and where it fails. Looking critically at other health care systems around the world, he demonstrates how alternative health care for birth when delivered by midwives has higher success rates in preventing premature birth and various birth problems. If anything prevented me from giving this excellent work five stars, it was the fact that Dr. Strong, while praising health care systems like the Netherlands, decided not to address the fact that those same praiseworthy birth traditions are delivered by lay midwives, not the nurse-midwives found in other countries. While both lay (or direct-entry) midwives and nurse-midwives contribute important care to pregnant women, Dr. Strong failed to address the prejudices surrounding direct-entry midwifery in the United States despite its affordability and accessibility in remote areas.

I think this is an important book for mothers to read, but be aware that it presents research and, while well-written, is not written in the accessible format of many books destined for the expectant parent. It would be an excellent book for anyone interested in the sociology or medical anthropology of birth and its inclusion in women's studies classes would enrich any curriculum.

It's such a no brainer that prenatal care is really wonderful, helpful and good. Strong, second generation in the medical care of pregnant women, has a lot of reservations and a lot of data to back those reservations up. He also has some suggestions for how things could be improved: involve certified nurse midwives in prenatal care to avoid the temptation to complicate a normal pregnancy and birth, keep NICUs regional (so they don't turn in to profit centers, complicating life for normal newborns and their new parents). He'd like to believe that preconception care would help (by getting women help to stop smoking and so forth before they get pregnant), but he's sensible enough to recognize there are some hard limits on what the medical profession can do in the face of widespread social problems.

This book should be required reading for every woman in American.

I had not even heard of Enid Blyton until an aunt in Australia sent me a copy of 'Five Go Down To The Sea'. That would have been about 1955 and I was immediately captivated by Enid's pure sense of mood and adventure.
I must have re-read the book a half-dozen times in just a few weeks and got to know farmer Penruthlan, Yan, The Barnies and Clopper the horse as if they were real friends of my very own.
I relived that adventure again when I got to read a chapter or two aloud each night to my two sons when they were toddlers. They, too, were enthralled with the story. And I truly believe that the noble actions of Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy helped to mould my sons' lives, as they did mine.
Even now, at the 'grand old age' of 57, I am not ashamed to admit that, seeking escape from this troubled world, I have read Five Go Down To The Sea again, by myself.
Now, I can't wait to have grandchildren, so I can read the book to them at bed-time...unless my sons beat me to it, of course!

when i was a kid of 7 or 8 my mom got me interested in books by Enid Blyton, like Famous Five, Secret Seven, and those Adventure series. I just loved famous five and in fact have read all 21 of their regular books. In addition to that i also read their special editions, around 10 . These books are so addictive, once my father even told me u shouldnt read that much , u're studies might get affected, or i'll weaken my eyesight! haha! but in reality these really capture the imagination of a young kid and i highly recommend them to any kids new to reading novels

I could not put it down once I started reading it. After I finished reading the book, I felt sad. I have read the book two times in two days!

I must have read every Famous Five book and Secret Seven book I could get my hands on when I first took an intrest in books. They kept me sneaking the flashlight under the covers to finish off that exciting chapter and wondering what the next chapter had in store for me...please I hope they all come back out in print soon!

My aunt, who lived in Edinburgh (Scotland), sent me Famous Five novels for Christmas and birthdays. I don't think I ever enjoyed any presents so much in my entire life as those books. I highly reccomend them to any prospective young readers.

These are not "stories" persay. There is no dialogue or charachter development. The book is all narrated. Rather, they are historical and factual accounts of slaves' lives (that involve escaping or other HUGE sacrifices or risks--done for the sake of love). The author has done alot of research and the accounts are very good and very heavy on history. She gives alot of dates and information about legislation/laws and social atmosphere. I do highly recommend this book--if you are looking for what I described.

This book is so well written that I felt like I was right there as the stories unfolded. Betty has great skill at this. I live in the metro area where she wrote for the local daily paper. She is so talented and this book needs to be read by anyone interested in this era. Extraordinary book.

This book contains not only love stories, but inspiring stories of faith, strength, endurance and resilience as well as stories of suffering and heartache. The book is written by a jouralist which is evident in the historical details of the unfolding stories. I found it interesting, entertaining , informative and educational. I am a minister and used it in a Bible study on the subject of "eros."

FORBIDDEN FRUIT: Love Stories from the Underground Railroad by Betty DeRamus is an earth-shaking book of short stories about what African Americans were willing to do to keep their loved ones in their lives. In "The Special Delivery Package," a female slave, Lear Green, was willing to have herself shipped in a sailor's chest to the north to meet her husband-to-be. With no food, water and scant air, she traveled 18 hours to Philadelphia. James Smith, "A Love Worth Waiting For," was beaten bloody on several occasions as he attempted to escape to the wife he'd been sold away from. A black overseer heard him praying for him and the white men who abused him and was so moved that he unchained Smith so that he could finally successfully escape. Isaac Berry, of "Hound Dogs Hate Red Pepper," put red pepper in his shoes to throw the dogs off his scent as he rushed toward the north. There were many people, including those of the Underground Railroad, who helped him in his escape. The Underground Railroad, operating at the peril of the conductors, rushed slaves seeking freedom across the US border into Canada because the Fugitive Slave laws frequently made it dangerous, if not impossible, for them to find peace even in the northern United States.

All of the stories were heart wrenching and it made you wonder if you would have the strength, the persistence, the nerve, that these early Africans had to pursue love at any cost. The tales also brought to the forefront the tragedies that our ancestors survived daily: beatings, being sold from family and friends, early death from abuse, starvation and terror. Ms. DeRamus brings the stories of these brave people alive and puts it in your face where you can't hide. She awakens the sleeping and lost history of the brave people of Africa and what it took for them to survive. It is an excellent read, smooth and enticing, bringing forth not only the history, but the bravery of the displaced Africans of yesteryear. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what slavery was really all about.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I was hooked on this one when I picked it up. I was just going to read a paragraph or two to see how it reads. The next thing I knew the phone was ringing, and when I answered the phone, I realized that I had been reading for a couple of hours. I had to control my urges to pick up the book when I had appointments or other things I needed to do first. It is a really interesting read. And it reads well also.