News and Media Books

Live a Praying Life is one of the best small group study books I've done. I highly recommend it for every Christian seeking a spiritually transformed life.

This is a study that I refer to constantly! I have given it to many people and the result is always the same....."this is one of the most awesome studies I have ever done....."! I bought it for my 4 sisters and mother and we started it together at Christmas, which has resulted in several group Bible Studies and a weekend seminar on Prayer!

MORE THAN JUST A HOW TO BOOK. LESSON S IN PREPARATION, DISCPLINE, OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE, FAITHFULNESS, & GAINING A NEW LEVEL TO ONE'S SPIRITUAL LIFE AND GROWTH. MUCH NEEDED MATERIAL WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH CONTROVERSY REGARDING HEARING FROM GOD AND ACTING ON HIS PROMISES. INTERCESSORS SHOULD NOT MISS THIS ONE!

This book isn't just a book. It's a 3-month journey through what prayer is. Jennifer walks you through the deep truths about prayer so that you will know them AND apply them. It also brings out the freshest and truest views on what prayer really is. You will not leave this book unchanged.

P.S. And I live with her oldest son. He's tall.

This is the best book on prayer, that I've read. I will confess, even after reading this book, I still don't understand all the mysteries of prayer, but I understand a lot more. This book tackles hard questions such as 'can we really change God's mind with prayer?', 'why does prayer seem not to work', 'how to pray', 'what is the purpose of prayer', etc. It gives concrete steps on how to develope a praying life and is heartily, biblically, referenced.

Ikeda's biography of Shakyamuni Buddha made him very real. The reader is taken into the life and times of Shakyamuni, providing a rich history that kept me turning the pages for more. I have read this book twice and each time I enjoy it more than the last. Most important, Ikeda uses language and concepts that Buddhists and non Buddhists alike can readily understand.

This book, "The Living Buddha, An Interpretive Biography" give the reader an glimpse into the life and times of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. (Also known as Siddhartha Gautama). Unlike many other books of its kind, "The Living Buddha" touches mostly on the personality of the Buddha himself, to help us understand his personal motivations and experiences.

Shakyamuni, the "Enlightened One," was a common mortal who achieved enlightenment as to the fundamental nature of life and the universe itself.

"The Living Buddha" is a lucidly written biography by Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, the world's largest Buddhist organization and a United Nations NGO.

Through his book, we see that the world and society Shakyamuni lived in is not so different than ours now - that he was faced with the same type of problems we all face. The account of how he conquered these problems is what makes for an inspiring narrative.

Reading this book evokes the spirit of Shakyamuni as an enlightened person living in a troubled society who offers wisdom to humanity on how to overcome life's sufferings. The stories of his relationships with his followers and the guidance he imparts to inspire them to live noble lives transcends any specific time or age. A wonderful book to pick up whenever you want to feel close to the Buddha within you.

As a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, and member of SGI-USA, I have found this book to be utterly enlightening, absolutely comprehensible, and totally fulfilling in way that makes Daisaku Ikeda's writings all the more valuable to me. His interpretation of the life of the original Buddha, Shakyamuni, has answered many lingering questions I've had on the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy and I encourage anyone with an interest in Buddhism to read this book!!!

This book is excellent ! The first in a series of three on the origin and history of Buddhism, it offers valuable insights from a unique perspective on the first man to reveal the Dharma and turn the Wheel of the Excellent Law. Dr. Ikedas' 'interpretive biography', approach is interesting and honest in it's effort to aknowledge the difficulties of putting such a work together at such a great chronological remove, and I feel he has dealt with these difficulties in a very useful way. I would reccomend this book to anyone seeking to acquire a knowledge of general Buddhist history, and even more so to those seeking to use this knowledge as the Buddha himself intended; to improve their lives, and the world itself.

As we know, there 's a popular film showing in US named' The

Lizzie McGuire Movie'. Unluckly, I'm not in US, so I can't

watch the film.I've watch the preview and I like it very

much.This book is full of imagination, it's a bit similar to the

book' The Princess Dairies'. It's the best book for all the

girls who liked to dream(including me) ------being a famous pop

star, having all the clothes and food you want. I like the

ending best, because it is unexpected. I think that it will be

one of the favourtes of the girls who liked to dream !!!

- Lucia Lee, one of the readers of this wonderful book

This book was really great. I would reccomend it for ages 11 or 12 and up because it has a bad word in it and it has the word sexiest in it. So if you know any 11 or 12 or older person get it for them if they are a Lizzie McGuire.

This is the best book around! It tells the exact same story as the movie. There aren't differences in this book as the movie. I read the first two pages of the book when I first bought it

i'm a big fan of lizzie, i think this book was very cute, it's very funny. i hope the movie turns out the same way.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie by Susan Estelle Jansen is an awesome story about one girl that is to clumsy to do anything and then she goes on a trip to Rome and finds out otherwise.

Lizzie is just about to graduate from junior high and she messes up real bad! Her brother tape records it and sends it to Good Morning America. Then she goes on a class trip to Rome and she tells her best friend Gordo that they need to find adventures. Then Lizzie bumps into pop superstar Paolo and she does find adventures. He tells her that she looks just like Isabella the girl he sings with. He tells her his story and she agrees to help him. She becomes Isabella for a couple of days dodging her new principal while doing so. Gordo covers for her and gets himself in tuns of trouble. Read this wonderful story and find out what happens with Lizzie and her singing career and Gordo and Isabella.

The characters really jump out at you. Lizzie is so clumsy and she seems to always fall down. The characters were really believable and the story seemed to be real to me. This book is really hard to put down you always want to know what is going to happen to Lizzie and her friends. You have to pay attention very closely so you aren't lost or confused. The plot is so interesting and the ending will blow you away. I really believe any girl who reads this would want this to happen to them.

I loved this book. It is every teenagers dream. This is such an exciting book it really lets you feel like you are leaving the `dream'. I would recommend this book to teenage girls looking for a good read because they would enjoy it and keep it as one of there favorites. The book will be enjoyed by all whom read.So read this book and please with all means `enjoy'!!
-Patricia Harnish 13

I think that this is one of the better Sabrina novels. It is fairly long, which makes for a thrilling page-by-page story. After a short introduction (roughly 20 pages) you get to the different sections. What happens is that The Great Clock of the Other Realm is wearing out and it will stop at midnight! If that happens, then magic will cease to exist. While the Witches Council tries to repair the clock, Sabrina knows that she must build a new one. And so, with the help of Salem, she travels through time to the 12 most important events in history. She meets many people like Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. The reasons for this rating is because of how Nancy Holder puts a time limit on Sabrina's quest which make the story more exciting and for it's great plot and suspenseful mini-stories through out the book. Overall, this is a great book that should be bought by everyone!

i loved this book! The excitment about if Sabrina will get to make the new clack was intense! The twlve short stories were different, so they were really fun to read. I think even the beginning is already totally interesting, so you are automatically pulled right into the plot. GREAT BOOK!

This was actually quite good for a Sabrina novel. I enjoy them long, and this one was long enough. It starts out when Sabrina discovers that the Great Clock in the Other Realm is going haywire and that if it breaks down at midnight on New Years Eve, witchs all around could loose their powers for good. Frantically, the witch's council tries to fix it, but Sabrina decides to build a new one instead. To do that, she has to travel to 12 magical times in history. I won't mention them all, but I really liked the part where she went back into colonial times and when she met Queen Elizabeth, even though it only lasted a page. Buy this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I found this book really interesting with 12 twelve short stories about Sabrina trying to find pieces for a new clock.FABULOUS.

Millennium Madness was one of the best. The twelve short stories were a really good idea. The things that she collected to build a new clock was cool to. You should definitely read this book!

Original, convincing, with
likeable and fully rounded characters. I can hardly wait to see what this highly talented new writer comes up with next.

I found that reading Mortal Touch was a pleasure ! The characters are very well drawn and all interesting. Vampires in this teling had several "new" attributes which ought to have been written long ago. The plot progress had numerous unexpected turns that also fit the story so there was no illogical events. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely but certainly left it open for a sequel which I look forward too.

Inanna Arthen's highly original vampire novel will appeal to readers of Poe, Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson as well as fans of modern vampire fiction. Arthen avoids the typical clichés of the genre; her vampires have reflections, day jobs, and sex lives.

The title, "Mortal Touch" and the tag line "All I need to do is touch you," both hint at Arthen's unique approach to bloodletting: her vampires don't need fangs, and their pale but otherwise ordinary appearance allows them to fit in all too easily with their human neighbors.

The novel, set in a small Massachusetts town, immerses the reader in a gripping story with eccentric but likable characters and a strong sense of place. These are the Vampires of New England; you won't find them in a New Orleans brothel or on a European stage, calling attention to themselves. Arthen's eerily believable undead hang out quietly at antique stores and cafés, and you won't see them coming for you before it's too late.

Highly recommended!

This book is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a very enjoyable series! Arthen's characters and dialogue are very believable and the plot moves along at a measured but lively pace. Her vampire mythos is refreshing in that it follows folklore a bit more closely than those created by other contemporary authors.

I look forward with great anticipation to the next entry in the Vampires of New England series.

This is an absolutely terrific book! Arthen slowly builds up the suspense. Who is this mysterious new writer who has moved into town and has everyone talking? The owner of a small gift shop is determined to find out, before her best friend gets seriously hurt. Arthen authentically recreates the feel of a small New England town, while introducing vampires who are decidedly different: for one thing, they have no fangs.

Highly recommended for those who like their vampires a little off the beaten track.

This Lizzie McGuire Quiz Book is a must have for any Lizzie McGuire fan! There are loads of quizzes about you, your BFFs, and your crush. Here's a list of all the quizzes plus mini descriptions.

LIZZIE QUIZ #1 (should be pretty easy, if you know the show really well)
QUESTIONS OF CHARACTER (tells you if you're most like Lizzie, Miranda, or Kate)
EMBARRASING MOMENTS (tells you if you get embarrased easily or if it takes a lot to embarrass you
IS HE CRUSHIN' ON YOU? (tells you if that boy you know is crushing on you or not)
ARE YOU A LEADER? (tells you if you have lots of leadership power or you're kinda shy)
CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? (this quiz will show you if you are too secretive, just right, or a total blabbermouth!)
LIZZIE QUIZ #2 (another quiz about the show, easy for ultimate Lizzie fans)
RED-HOT OR MELLOW YELLOW? (do you get ultimate angry when stuff happen? or do you keep your cool?)
ARE YOU A FLIRT? (what kind of a flirt are you? Major, minor, or anti?)
LIZZIE TIPS: PART ONE (tips that Lizzie's giving you--learned the hard way)
REBEL YELL (are you a rebel? or do you always follow the rules?)
WHAT'S YOUR GUY TYPE? (what kinda guy do you like? jock, romantic, sweet....?)
R.U. TRUE? (what kinda friend are you? a friend to the end or not?)
WHAT'S YOUR CRUSH REALLY LIKE? (is your crush a good one? or is it time to get a new one?)
LIZZIE QUIZ #3 (harder than 1 and 2, but still kinda easy)
QUIZ: QUESTIONS OF CHARACTER (are you a pushover? or are you too harsh? or just right?)
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR BEST BUD? (think you know your BFF really well? test your BFF knowledge here!)
QUIZ: YOU AND YOUR BEST BOY BUD: MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS? (are you and your guy friend just friends or more?)
FAMILY CIRCUS (who are you in your family? the troublemaker? perfectionist?)
ARE YOU A QUEEN BEE? (are you like Kate? or do you care more about other stuff?)
LIZZIE QUIZ #4: THE ULTIMATE MCGUIRE CHALLENGE (Do you have the McGuire fire? Or are you a Dizzy Lizzie? Find out here and take the ultimate McGuire challenge! Think you can answer all the questions correctly?)
LIZZIE TIPS PART TWO (more tips from Lizzie---learned the hard way)

Overall, I think this is the best quiz book, if you're a Lizzie fan or not. But, you must be! Who doesn't love Lizzie McGuire? This is a super cool book. I recommend it to you.

The quiz book is the best.Here is all the different quizzes:
Lizzie quiz #1
Questions of Character
Embarrassing Moments
Is he chrushin on you
are you a leader
can you keep a secret
Lizzie quiz#2
Red-hot or mellow yellow
are you a flirt
Lizzie tips part 1
rebel yell
whats your guy type
RU true
whats your crush really like
lizzie quiz#3
questions of character
how well do you know your best bud
you and your best boy bud more than friends
family circus
are you a queen bee
lizzie quiz #4
lizzie tips part 2
I vote it 5 stars becuase it is a good book.I enjoyed it with my friends.

Do you love quizzes? Well I do! If you do, you'll love this book, whether you're a Lizzie fan or not. There's quizzes on school, friends, Lizzie, guys and more! Here's a list of all the quizzes inside this book.
Lizzie Quiz #1
Questions of Character (r u a Kate, Lizzie, or Miranda?)
Embarrasing Moments
Is He Crushin' On You?
Can You Keep A Secret?
Lizzie Quiz #2
Red-Hot or Mellow-Yellow?
Are You a Flirt?
LIZZIE TIPS:PART ONE
Rebel Yell
What's Your Guy Type?
R.U. True?
What's Your Crush REALLY like?
Lizzie Quiz #3
Quiz: Questions of Character
How Well Do You Know Your Best Bud?
Quiz: You and Your Best Boy Bud--More Than Just Friends?
Family Circus
Are You A Queen Bee?
Lizzie Quiz #4: THe Ultimate Challenge
LIZZIE TIPS:PART TWO
Overall, this is good for Lizzie fans and non Lizzie fans. But how can you not be a lizzie fan? Those listed above are all the things in this quiz book. I hope I have helped you! bye

Here is my updated version of my past reviewer as a 12-year-old reader:

I urge you to pick up a copy of this book! As well as four Lizzie quizzes about the TV show, it also has lots of quizzes about guys, school, clothes and friends.
Like
Who are you most like?
What's your crush really like?
Is he crushin' on you?
and much more! With this cool book you can find out loads more about yourself and it's perfect for sleepovers so you can find out more about your friends too and what they know about Lizzie McGuire. But watch out, the last Lizzie quiz (Ultimate Quiz) is REALLY hard! (I think the Lizzie quizzes are about the first and second season. I'm not sure, we have only had two seasons of LMcG over here and I managed to get the questions right.
UPDATE: The only thing wrong with this is that it doesn't go on for long enough! I mean, the quizzes are great, time after time, but I think there should be a 'sequel' or Lizzie McGuire MOVIE quiz book!

EVEN GREAT FOR NON-LIZZIE FANS (HOW CAN YOU BE ONE OF THEM?). THIS BOOK HAS SOME EXCEELENT QUIZZES, ESPECIALLY PERSONALITY QUIZZES. GREAT FOR ALL GIRLS, ESPECIALLY LIZZIE FANS AGED 8-14.
Rebeccaxxx...

This book is perfect when you're bored, with friends, or just about anytime. Theres quizzes on everything from A-Z including some on Lizzie McGuire which are very challenging. I reccomend this book to girls of all ages, even if you aren't big Lizzie fans.

Harlan Coben's short story "Entrapped" is about a woman whose husband goes missing. When she arrives home from the police station, she finds an imposter husband waiting for her and the charade begins.

All of the stories are filled with common elements that make for a great mystery; secrets, deceit, love, lust, drama and of course the most important ingredient, murder. Readers will find at least one of their favorite writer's works and be able to sample several new writers as well.

R. L. Stine tells a tale of a murdering best friend who's left with his victim's "talking" dog. The dog witnessed the whole murder. That, combined with paranoia and guilt, makes for a well written and very imaginative story.

A few of the writers that readers will look forward to include Lee Childs, Ridley Pearson, R.L Stine, Laura Lippman and P.J Parrish.

To sum the book up in one word that would be it, Fantastic!! This is such a wonderful collections of stories. Each story different from the other but all keeping the same themes. My favorites were Safe Enough, Home Front, Till Death Do Us Part and Entrapped. However all were fantastic. I recommend that you get this book, you will not be disappointed.

Anthologies of short stories by different authors are usually a collection of a few gems, a few all right stories and a few fillers. Death Do Us Part is a collection where all but two are great reads, they are not all masterpieces granted, but there are more than the usual number of those as well. I was interested in this book just to read Coben's story Entrapped as I had not read it before when it was first published in 1997, and its pretty hard to come across Mary Higgins Clark's Mystery Magazine let alone that edition to read it anyway. Coben is not the only great author here, so many others have written great tales and the other authors are all freshly published as well. Like all great short story collections, Death Do Us Part gives the reader a chance to sample authors they've heard of but never read before as well as introduces to them lesser known authors to add to their lists of future reads to track down. There's also a brief and very helpful summary of each author at the end of the collection, so those looking know where to begin.

In reviewing what the stories within are about I'll start first with my favourite ones (undoubtedly your list would start differently). My list starts with the editor and Coben's story Entrapped. A wife reports her husband missing to police only to discover he is at home. Only the person at home does not look or sound like her husband but he is the same guy the police show her that is in the photograph she gave them. Is she going insane? Could he really be her husband after all?

Wifey a story by normally child and young adult author R. L. Stine proves to the world that he can write sensational stories for any market. Wifey is the nickname Jake a neighbour of Frank the owner has given Frank's dog Ruby since they behave like a married couple and are never apart. Jake hates dogs, but is ecstatic that his neighbour entrusted him to inherit the beast as it showed to the world what Frank thought of their friendship. Ruby though makes Lassie look like Forrest Gump and will stop at nothing to avenge her master's murder.

Till Death Do Us Part, Tim Maleeny. The title story of this collection is the great tale about the sixtieth anniversary of a feud between an old couple who do not believe in divorce. They are both extremely intelligent and every year play the "fair play", dinner game of trying to poison the other through each others dishes.

Lee Child's Safe Enough has a guy from the city taking up work on houses in the country where notices a beautiful women. He stalks her and discovers she has a violent husband When the husband disappears he is the only one who can prove the wife was not around the murder scene when it happened but obviously he can't supply this news to the police to prove her innocence as they will want to know why he was stalking her.

The Home Front by Charles Ardai is set in America while World War II rages on in Europe. Too old to go to war Ray Harper is a government agent who catches petrol retailers selling rationed fuel on the black market. One such arrest is Rick Kelly who is killed in Harper's car as Harper was giving Kelly a lecture about how his actions are helping Hitler and why isn't he over there anyway etc instead of watching the road. Sacked by the government and with injuries Harper is down on his luck and one the streets. Luckily he comes across a kind woman who offers him food and board if he helps her run her garage.

The Last Flight by Bredan DuBois has a man booking a joy flight in the type of plane he flew in the war over the ocean to scatter his wife's ashes and obtain closure.

A Few Small Repairs by Jeff Abbott has a hospital ridden father who is dying a slow painful death asking a son he had disowned to help him end his life.

Blarney by Steve Hockensmith is the tale of a few drinks at the pub by a group of writers after a conference where they run into one of the only non boring speakers. This old Irishman offers to teach them what it is to be a writer if they buy him a pint.

The Masseuse by Tim Wohlforth is the story of a man whose dream comes true when his masseuse offers to cook and pleasure him in exchange for food and board and a bit of spending money while she studies for a new career.

Homecoming by the mother and son team pseudonym Charles Todd, has a wife of a guy fighting in Europe during World War I discovering an intruder in her house, however even though she knows he's there can never seem to find him so wonders if stress is making her go insane.

Part Light, Part Memory is an African slave girl's story of her thirst for vengeance when her father was hung for looking at the American master's wife.

Queeny by Ridley Pearson is the tale of a guy whose wife attracts the attention of a man while running in the park which she tells him about. The wife soon disappears.

One True Love by Laura Lippman is the story of a high class prostitute who is recognised and blackmailed by a parent her son runs into while playing sport.

The Cold, Hard Truth by Rick McMahon is the tale of a rural police office recounting the story of how he first met death row prisoner Jesse Brashear and the cold hard truth that good people can do bad things.

Cyberdatedotcom (note Amazon ridiculously keeps replacing the actual title with [...] so that's as close as I can put) by Tom Savage is the chat room transcript from a dating website where two under aged kids take a liking to each other.

Pushed or Was Fell by Jay Brandon has Walt a loner, meeting a girl, quickly marrying and setting out on cruise ship honeymoon then realising he doesn't love with devastating consequences.

One Shot by P.J. Parrish has Stuart returning to visit his old home which is now for sale and reliving the traumatic changing event of his life.

Heat Lightning, William Krueger although readable is one of the lesser quality contributions to this collection. A story of a guy who is having an affair while his wife lies in a coma in the bedroom upstairs.

Chellini's Solution was the only story I don't really think is worth reading, it's about an Italian guy whose enemies gloat as they tell him his wife is cheating on him and of course the actions he takes afterwards.

This is a great collection of short stories and one you'll want to keep forever. Not as good as this but still a good recent collection of similar stories to these I've read is Dangerous Women, edited by Otto Penzler.

This anthology of 19 truly great mystery stories is presented by the Mystery Writers of America (a fine association of not only authors, but readers too!) is edited by Harlan Coben. It is as perfect as an anthology can be.

Each of the nineteen stories is from an established writer. Most have won or been repeatedly nominated for various awards. No warmed-over, previously published material here: all nineteen stories are original. Nor are there excerpts of the writer's novels: this stuff is fresh and new. Coben wisely doesn't present the author bios until after all the stories and much to credit of editor and authors alike, the bios aren't pure puffery and hyperbole.

I can't tell you what my favorite was, because all nineteen stories are terrific. Jeff Abbott, author of "Panic" and "Fear", two fine thrillers, sets up a tense father-son-wife story. R. L. Stine provides something of a "shaggy dog" story that involves love in a strange way. Harlen Coben presents a story of a very crafty wife. Tim Wohlforth contributes a gem about a man's ideal relationship that leads to an unfortunate bit of snooping. All nineteen stories are simply great reads.

Oh - and if you didn't guess already, all nineteen stories are true to the cover blurb: they involve love, lust and murder.

Good stuff. Not to be missed.

Jerry

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (09/06)

"Mystery Writers of America Presents Death Do Us Part: New Stories about Love, Lust and Murder" is a must read for anyone who loves stories about mystery, misery and murder. Harlan Coben, the editor, brought together some of today's best mystery writers to create this book of 19 short stories, including one of his own "Entrapped". As Coben tells us in the introduction, most of these stories are going to end badly for at least one person, maybe more. The commonalities of the stories end there.

"Queeny", written by Ridley Pearson, is a story about a famous mystery writer whose wife is brutally murdered and he is mistakenly forced to stand trial for it. After what has happened, no matter what the outcome, and I won't tell you what it is, no one can win. Then there is the City electrician in "Safe Enough" by Lee Child, who moves to the country to be with a woman who is suspected of killing her husband, but did she really?
A few war stories come into play, the most poignant one being "Home Coming" by Charles Todd, a story about an English woman who becomes frightened of her home because it feels like someone has invaded it while her husband is away fighting in the war. AND, the most chilling story of all is Cyberdate.com by Tom Savage, which is about two teenage kids (are they really who they say they are?) who meet on the internet and the boy finally convinces the girl to meet in person. How many of us live with that worry about our children doing exactly the same thing? Revenge is even thrown into the mix with stories like "The Last Flight" by Brendan DuBois.

My two personal favorite stories were "Till Death Do Us Part" by Tim Maleeny and "Wifey" by R.L. Shine. "Till Death Do Us Part" is a about a chemist and botanist celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary by each preparing a meal for the other. What is on the menu turns out to be the surprise. "Wifey" is a dog who witnesses the brutal murder of her master and is forced to live with the murderer afterwards. Wifey does not take this lying down.

Other contributors to this collection of great stories are Charles Ardai, Bonnie Hearn Hill, Steve Hockensmith, William Kent Krueger, Rick McMahan, P.J. Parrish, Tim Wohlforth, Jeff Abbott, Jim Fusilli, Laura Lippman and Jay Brandon. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it highly. The short stories make it great for reading before bed, taking to the beach, or if you have small children and frequent small slots of time to read.

i enjoyed this book. i was in the book store one day and it caught my eye so i flipped through it, and i'm glad i did. its about a little girl who comes from korea and moved to north america. she goes to school and doesn't want to tell the class her name because it is different, so she says she doesn't have a name, so her classmates make a name jar for her and put in names that she can use. then she gets a letter from her grandmother who is still in korea saying how much she loves her and in the letter was a seal with her name on it. after getting this she is once again proud of her name and goes back to school and tells her class mates her real name and what it means (i apologize if i got some of the details mixed up it was a while back that i read it). this book was a tear jerker for me. i'm not korean, nor have i had major problem with my name (though people often mispronounce it when reading it), but the struggle for the acceptance of one's self and one's own difference in comparison to others is something we all go through, and this story successfully displays that struggle and overcoming that struggle in a simple way. i think its a good way to get children to understand that though they are different, they will be accepted by someone, and opens them up to other cultures at the same time. worth the read.

Unhei is starting school in America. Although she has a lovely Korean name that means "grace," she thinks maybe she would like a more American sounding name. Her classmates make a name jar and offers suggestions. This story is affirming of the multicultural experience. When Unhei complains about her name, saying that she doesn't want to be different, her mother counters, "You are different, Unhei....That's a good thing!" Choi superbly illustrates her own story. The characters, though simply painted, have expressive faces.

Yangsook (Rachel) Choi has written AND illustrated another illuminating book. Unhei has moved from South Korea with her family to America; she has brought her clothes, bags, and a name "chop" stamp from her grandmother. Her schoolmates cannot pronounce her name on the bus, so she doesn't reveal her name to her classmates. Is it good to be different? Should she embrace her difference? In America she can still eat seaweed and kimchi; she can shop at Kim's Market and Fadil's Falafel. But maybe a name of Amanda, Miranda, Daisy, or Tamela would be better than Unhei (Yoon-hye). The kids at school put name suggestions in a jar on her desk, but on the day she will choose her name, the jar has disappeared. Who took it? What will Unhei decide to do? Did Mr. Cocotos her teacher have a hand in this? Will all the kids want to choose a new name? A must read for every elementary school.

I love this book because it reinforces the idea that people have a right to their given names and that they have a right to expect people to learn how to pronounce them. I work with many Chinese, Korean and Japanese students and it is common for these kids to feel the obligation to change their name, allow teachers and students mispronounce them if they do use their given names, and their parents often tell them to get used to it rather than teaching them to assert themselves and expect people to learn how to pronounce them. If the child feels that they have a right to their name, the keep it, teach people how to pronounce it and feel better about themselves. If they change it, the given name still pops up on paperwork, people still mispronounce it and they are always trying to hide it away before it pops up again. Accepting your name and teaching people how to pronounce it, provides people with empowerment and a sense of some control over their lives. It helps a lot in the acculturaltion process.

Excellent piece of literature that addresses the emotional impact of change. The Name Jar pulls at the core of American assimilation and a loss of individuality to appease the intolerance of differences. Unhei must adjust to a new country, culture, school, and classmates, while she finds the transition from Korea to America difficult.

As one involved in this struggle over the last 25 years I agree this book is mandatory reading for anyone who wants to learn about the struggles related to accessibility. Congressman Edward J. Markey, Ranking Democrat, House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, stated, "Telecommunications technology can enable and ennoble the lives of millions, but only if our laws animate such technologies with human values to ensure universal access and inclusion. Karen Pelz Strauss, a tireless ally in expanding disability access to new technologies, presents a wonderful history about the inexorable march of innovation and the ongoing struggles to bring its wonders to all sectors of society." Former FCC Chairman William Kenard noted, "The lessons revealed in the pages of this book offer a compelling roadmap to those who are willing to take up this challenge in the decades to come." I am glad the author took the time to capture the struggle so others can learn.

This is a must read for anyone who is interested in access including regulators, advocates, educators, audiologists and parents. The book provides the fundamental underpinnings of a regulatory framework that drives regulation today. Ms. Peltz Strauss' insight into the battles and personalities that shaped FCC regulation make the book an incredible tool for those trying to adapt existing regulation to today's and future technological advances in access. These issues should not be forgotten or assumed to be resolved. This book provides a compelling picture of the challenges and the realization that FCC regulation is required for people with hearing loss to receive the functional equivalence of what everyone else takes for granted.

If you have ever considered the struggles of hearing-impaired people in securing access to basic telecommunications, you owe it to yourself to read this book. In fact, if you're just looking for a good story about the hard work of decent Americans who fought against all odds to improve the quality of life for millions of people, you will enjoy reading "A New Civil Right." Though it features a fast-paced narrative, it doubles as an instruction manual that begs to be studied by disability lawyers, activists and students alike. It contains principles for practical change and countless lessons in grassroots political activism that only a dynamic career in the field could confer.

As the hearing son of deaf parents, I am moved by the series of seemingly implausible victories that unfold in these pages on behalf of a population that was, for decades, shut out of American telecommunications. Were it not for the pioneering work of advocates --whose stories are capably told in this book-- my own parents would not be able to enjoy many of the benefits of modern technology that now enable them to communicate naturally with others from a distance. This is a work that every Deaf American, and every ally of Deaf America, should add to their bookshelf.

Not since Harry Lang wrote "A Phone of Our Own" has such a pioneering, authoratative account of telecommunications access for the deaf been presented to the public. With passion, humility, and an abiding respect for the Deaf community, this extraordinary work draws on the historical insight of Lang's story --without duplicating it-- to present one of the most compelling portraits of progress ever told in American history.

This book has a chapter titled, "David and Goliath." But, in fact on every page of this exciting book amazing successes and improbable achievements are detailed. Strauss shares the struggles of deaf and hard of hearing people to gain telecommunications access with such drama and clarity, making
"A New Civil Right" a fascinating book to read.

This book provides a comprehensive account of how laws were created to provide better telecommunications access for people with hearing loss. The author played an active role in the efforts to achieve this access, so the reporting is both authoritative and enjoyable--it is interspersed with personal and other stories that took place along the way. The many battles that the deaf and hard of hearing communities had to fight in order to win these rights are quite amazing, and the ultimate success is encouraging and very relevant to other efforts to gain civil rights. I would think anyone involved in communications, civil or disability rights, or grass roots advocacy would find this both enjoyable and valuable.

if you were a kid who's never been to new york city like I was at one point, you'll learn so much about it through the BSC including in this book.

this was one of my favourite BSC super specials. The plots I enjoyed most were how the art classes claudia and mallory were taking turned out, and how jessi met quint. Reading all about new york made me want to go there, the descriptions are well written

If you're interested in going to new york city and wondering what to do there, this book may inspire you. Jessi goes to ballets, claudia and mallory are taking fancy art lessons and get to draw some of the city's well known tourist attractions, stacey and mary anne have a mystery on their hands, and so forth. You also get a taste of how multicultural new york city is, far more than little stoneybrook when they go to chinatown and eat food from different cuisines.

"New York, New York!" starts with a journal entry by Claudia Kishi about her plans to take an art class in New York City during her two-week school vacation. One thing leads to another, and the entire BSC is on their way to New York for two weeks. During their stay, the following things happen: Stacey McGill and Mary Anne Spier baby-sit two British children who they believe are being followed by a mysterious man who wants to kidnap them; Dawn Schafer becomes apartment-bound because of her fear of city crime; Claudia and Mallory Pike enroll at Falny together, but their friendship falls apart when the art instructor plays favorites with Mallory and criticizes Claudia's work on a daily basis; Jessi Ramsey meets a guy who also loves ballet just as much as she does (She receives her first kiss from him!); Kristy Thomas finds an abandoned dog in Central Park and sneaks him into the apartment, despite the no-pet policy.

This is the sixth Super Special in the Baby-sitters Club series, preceded by Baby-sitters on Board! (#1), Baby-sitters' Summer Vacation (#2), Baby-sitters' Winter Vacation (#3), Baby-sitters' Island Adventure (#4), California Girls! (#5), and succeeded by Snowbound (#7), Baby-sitters at Shadow Lake (#8), Starring the Baby-sitters Club! (#9), Sea City, Here We Come! (#10), The Baby-sitters Remember (#11), Here Come the Bridesmaids! (#12), Aloha, Baby-sitters! (#13), The Baby-sitters Club in the USA (#14), and Baby-sitters' European Vacation (#15).

What I liked most about "New York, New York!" (and every other Super Special) is the change in character point of view with each chapter. Although this is primarily Claudia's book (she compiled everybody's diary entries and letters and then included some illustrations--which were drawn by Ann M. Martin's father, Henry R. Martin), everybody in the BSC had a chance to share their fun and excitement in New York. This is definitely a must-read for BSC fans, especially those who love the Big Apple.

Bloomingdales, The Hard Rock Cafe. The Baby Sitters are going to see it all!