Youth Books

Evver wonder what life was like on a Colorado ranch back when the West was still young? This book will make you feel like you were there. Well-written and hard to put down.

This book is a real sleeper. Actually, this book made me lose sleep because I couldn't put it down. Excellent writing about growing up in the West on a homestead/ranch. Entertaining. Don't miss it!

If you've ever wondered what life was like growing up on a Western ranch or homestead, read this book. It's an authentic glimpse into the Western life, a life close to nature and close to the bottom line! But a life rich in freedom and living! Great stories, good reading - what more could you ask for?

If you like anecdotal stories about life in the late 1800s/early 1900s, you will like this book. It tells the story of a family that moves from the central ozarks of Missouri to Northwestern Colorado in the 1920s. It is autobiographical in nature, but the author is a superb storyteller and the pictures he paints of life in and around Craig, Colorado during the Great Depression are poignant and vivid. (True for the telling of the trip from Missouri to Colorado, as well.) Anyone who is interested in Colorado history, life during the Great Depression, or simple human interest stories about real poepl in real life will enjoy this book. For those who are not related to the author, the brief sections about family geaneologies might be a little boring, but these are a small part of the book and do not detract from the overall book. If you are from Northwest Colorado, who knows? Your name might be in the book (or at least one of your ancestors). There are also a few stories dating before the life of the author concerning events that were told to him by the people involved.

Mr. Irby's book tells it like it was with a generous dose of humor. It also has some great genealogy info. You can really feel the cold of those winter nights, the hardships and the good times they all had. A hard book to put down!!

Dr. Lynn Ponton has been treating adolescents for many years and through this book has attempted to chronicle the key lives and issues that have influenced her views of teenager psychology. Presenting a range of often likeable characters, Dr. Ponton does an excellent job of showing the intelligence and resilience of her patients while at the same time demonstrating how parents can feel angry and confused about how to parent their teen. The book illustrates all the main issues surrounding adolescents, eating disorders, drugs/alcohol, sex, and abuse, as well as analyzing the complexity of mother/son, mother/daughter, father/son, and father/daughter relationships.

If I had to offer one criticism of this book, it would be that Dr. Ponton's language (particularly at the beginning of the book) tends to be extremely clinical and often presents a layer to wade through to find her point. Although we live in the era of the pseudo-psychological talk show, and some of the language will be familiar, parents and teens seeking answers to a problem may find this quality of the book off-putting. Conversely, I think this book would be of intense interest for other therapists who are interested in seeing various past and current adolescent theory put into practice by a skilled practioner. The stories of the teens and their families are compelling to all audiences, however, and I cautiously recommend this book to a large audience.

Dr. Ponton writes an unusual book that gives voice to troubled teens and their families, using their engaging stories to teach about contemporary adolescence. As the reader eavesdrops on these lives through absorbing narrative, accounts of therapy, thoughtful reflection and application to relevant issues, and analyses of family interactions, important facts and facets of adolescent development and devlopmental issues are learned almost effortlessly. The book is engaging and at times exciting, as we come to know these teens and their struggles. The variety of teens and adolescent problems profiled is impressive--from the general need to explore and define the self (Jill) to gang involvement and aggression (Evan and Cecilia), from drugs and sexual activity to self-mutilation, depression and anorexia nervosa. Readers also learn about mental health services, and how therapy helps adolescents and families grow and change. This is a terrific book for parents, educators, any mental health field worker, or teens themselves! I used this book as a supplemental reader to a course I taught in adolescent development at a major university where I am a doctoral student in clinical psychology. Students loved it, and several bought copies as gifts for their parents or other family members. I will be using it again for a section of Adolescent Development I will be teaching in spring semester, 1999.

I loved this book- although a little technical, it provided a wealth of information about how parents and teens should intereact around the topic of risk taking. I have found it useful in talking to my own teenage daughters.

I found this book to be very interesting and easy to read and recommend it to other parents. Dr. Ponton uses colorful examples from her work with teens to explain the motivations behind some of the dangerous and not so dangerous things our kids do. Moreover, she makes the important argument that teenage risk taking is a normal part of development in our culture. I felt like I was in better shape to relate to and understand my teenager after reading the book. Her other book on adolescent sexuality is also good.

The author weaves her creative skills of writing and her intellectual skills into the "Mona Lisa" of books. It pulls you in, in the first paragraph.

To pick up what is undoubetdly one of the strongest works in it's genre in a long time! This book is a thoughtful, witty, insightful and most of all, a TRULY MOVING, exploration of modern love and relationships. These writers go beyond trite surveys of a lost love or an unrequited crush. They paint truly vivid portraits of 1.)what it means to have a loved one die, 2.)toying with the idea of dating outside of your race and 3.)how tough love can be when there is a class difference between two partners, among many other topics. These writers are to be truly commended for allowing readers to glimpse some of the most deeply personal moments of their lives.

I heard about this book and couldn't wait to pick it up. It really should be required reading for anyone hoping to develop a lasting, loving relationship. For the first time, real life stories of love and loss have been compiled into one, action packed book. This book is so good that you just can't put it down...there really is a story in here for everyone. Ladies, get this book now! The "Talking Back," section features five incredible essays by black men including Kevin Powell and Victor LaValle...the men in this book write openly and honestly and its a great way to find out what Black men are really thinking. I strongly reccommend this book!

This book is excellent! Finally, a book that speaks on relationships from the African American perspective and experience. I was hooked from the very first page. One of my favorites was the essay written by Kiini Ibura Salaam. It's called, "When Conception Equals Confusion..." This is a wonderful essay that discusses the unfortunate issue of paternity testing and what a single black mother and her child or children must endure from conception to the doctor's office.

Tracy L. Ruffin's essay, "Marriage: The Unfulfilled Prophecy" was so on point, I felt as though someone had broken into my home and read my journals. It was very comforting to know and feel that I am not alone in all my dating experiences and the pressure that is sometimes placed on us women to get married.

But what I think makes this book such a wonderful anthology, is the fact that editor, Taigi Smith included a talking back section for the brothers. This enables us to get the male point of view. I thought Richard Symister's "Wilderness 101" should be mandatory reading for all men.

Overall, this is just a great anthology and an excellent read!

"Sometimes Rhythm, Sometimes Blues" is a collection of charming, poignant, honest, and unadorned relationship essays. It is as if Ms. Smith was given access to the personal journals of the featured authors, and then assembled some of their most heartfelt thoughts and secrets to create this book.

Though the works are said to focus on relationships from the African American perspective, I found it very refreshing that I could relate to these stories from many viewpoints - as a woman (smart, sometimes silly, strong, sometimes vulnerable, resolute, sometimes uncertain..), a a daughter, an ex-girlfriend, etc...

I truly enjoyed this book and have even bought additional copies to give as gifts!

I found this book to be very helpful. It was good to read these stories of various black women and their experiences with love and relationships. It is not a book bashing men; it is a collection of heart-felt work from everyday women with vivid stories. I think if we as black men take the time to listen to our women, everything would be much better. Hopefully, sisters won't give up on all black men, because all of us are not knuckleheads even though it may seem like it. Ms. Smith also gave brothers an opportunity to write a few pieces which brings the book a tremendous balance. I recommend this to anyone who has an open mind and is willing to pay attention. I'll be looking out for anything else Ms. Smith puts out.

It is quite impossible to do an adequate job of reviewing this book.
Knowing that these young German students really lived, daring to risk their young lives and, indeed, losing them, for their distribution of their printed words challenging German people to act against Hitler, is unbelievably humbling and cause for great hope for mankind. Passive resistence worked. Life triumphed over death. Good was stronger than evil.
The authors, Annette Dumbach and Jud Newborn, became accomplished talents with the publication of this book alone.
Their ability to combine the biographies of Sophie, her brother and their compatriots in the making and distrubtion of the White Rose and the requisite history and analysis of the political climate in Germany during The Holcaust is masterful.
The book reads like a suspense thriller one could read in a few hours. However, their thoughtful, detailed insights into the minds and hearts of the protagonists, compel the reader to read and then reread many passages before being emotionally able to read on. This is a must read for young and old students of the human condition, a truly unforgettable book.

SOPHIE SCHOLL & THE WHITE ROSE is, essentially, about the finest aspects of human nature. The White Rose members' integrity and their compassion for their fellow Germans and, more surprisingly, for the Jewish population who had endured years of prejudice and oppression followed by vicious persecution is very impressive.

To mount a secret campaign against the Third Reich, a totalitarian regime of insidious oppression and unbelievable brutality against both the German people and its conquered populations, takes amazing courage.

But to face up to that regime on an intensely personal level, without hesitation or - apparently - regret, fully aware of the consequences, is simply awesome. And it awes me that most of the White Rose members were students like myself! This is a very memorable book with a powerful message.

I bought this for research and it is terrific. It really gets into the mindset and political background of the story of the White Rose and helps the reader to understand the 'why' of the story. Not as personal as other accounts, it nevertheless is a wonderful background that will help you see Nazi Germany in a whole new light while telling the moving and touching story of Sophie Scholl.

This book was definitely a must-read, not only for those that are interested in this time period of study, but for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of world history. It's amazing, simply put. It reads so quickly. You are definitely drawn in from the very first page to the last.

If you have a restless conscience then you will better understand the members of the White Rose. Like most kids in Germany in the 30's Hans and Sophie Scholl joined the Nazi youth movement and bought into National Socialism. However through their father who opposed National Socialism and a God instilled restless conscience they soon saw National Socialism for the evil it was and is. The author does a good job of making you feel the tension and stress as the story unfolds. Their dileama was how do you mount a meaningful opposition to a totalitarian state from within. Who can you trust? Gestapo everywhere and all opposition to the State outlawed.By 1940 most of the 500 or so pastors who would not bow down to Hitler were in jail or executed. By the time the White Rose decided to take action in 1942 most Germans were scarred to death of the police state they had allowed to enslave them. But there was sporadic uprising against Hitler. One interesting story in the book was when the gov't banned all the crucifixes from the public schools in Bavaria in 1941. The parents signed protest letters and petitions and even threw the mandatory picture of Hitler out of classroom windows. The protest was so strong that Hitler backed down. Its scary to think that our gov't has taken Christianity out of the classroom but Hitler couldn't. As you read the book you feel that they felt they were going to get caught but their restless conscience would not let them turn from the course of action that would lead to their deaths. As we see our own freedoms of privacy (Patriot Act), speech (Hate Crime Bills) and other constitutional rights being taken from us by an ever growing central gov't we can learn a lot from this book. At her trial Sophie Scholl said "Somebody had to make a start". They certainly did and their pamphlets and death had a lasting effect on the German people. Hans Scholl's last words were "Long live Freedom". The essence of freedom is the limitation of gov't and requires eternal vigilance. The German people allowed Hitler to much power and he enslaved them. We still have the time and ability to limit the power of our gov't but it will take a lot of work and most importantly a restless conscience. 5 stars for this book.

This book is basically about Michael W. Smith's song, This is Your Time, and what it means. The song was written for Cassie Bernall, the Columbine High School student who was supposedly asked if she believed in God, and answered yes, before she died. The book is really good, I recommend it. the only thing, it gets a bit preachy at times, which I hate (and yes, before anyone asks, I am a Christian), but it's a really good book. it'll help you find insight. read it. you wont regret it.

This was a great book. At some points, very moving. My mom was reading the begining to me and had to stop because she was crying. The main idea of this book is: How Michael W. Smith came up for the idea of the song, THIS IS YOUR TIME. He got it from Rachel Scott after the Columbine shootings. This book also tells of some of MWS's own struggles and triumphs. It is a great book. A somber one at times, but true to the core. Please read this book and pass on its message: THIS IS YOUR TIME! MAKE IT COUNT!

Even if you haven't heard Michael W. Smith's album of the same name, you should read this book! I highly recommend this book for everyone, but especially for teens who face the difficult task of trying to grow up in today's mixed-up world.

The title of the book, "This is Your Time", is also the title of a song he wrote after the Columbine tragedy. Michael tells about his experience singing at the memorial service and talking to Cassie Bernall's parents (check out my review of Misty Bernall's book "She Said Yes"). But this book isn't just about Columbine. Michael talks about the death of Rich Mullins (which deeply affected me as well) and Rich's impact on people. Michael also was a good friend of the late Bob Briner (author of Roaring Lambs) and he encourages Christians to get out there and make a difference.

He quotes Hebrews 12:1...

"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Amen!

(You might want to check out my other reviews of Christian books and music)

What a great book to read! This is really a good time to evaulate our lives in a modern world with a message to all that the test is yet to come.

May it be the next munute, hour , day or month we should try to do our best work. Smitty does gives some personal highlights of what he is doing to make his moment count, as we should make our time count.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and kept reading until I finished the book (it was a good time reading and getting to know him).

If you don't know Michael W. Smith, musically or as an author, this book is a great introduction to his spirit. His telling story of the Columbine tragedies affect on himself and what we all can learn from it is time well spent. Read the book, listen to the song, reflect on the meaning. Works like these in words and music bring some strange value to a tragedy at a time when we increasingly are asking "why"?

This is a great book about God. This book gives you a feeling that no matter what God is always there for you and is going to get you through anything. No matter what is going on in your life you can read this book and you will feel better. This book also has some good bible quotes in it too. I liked that with every story they found a bilbe quote to go along with it.

This book is an incredible compilation of real life stories that show the true heart of God. Some stories are hard to read because it is difficult to imagine someone going through such hardship, but each story ends with the message that God is alive today and working in our midst. True will bring hope to struggling teens. Adults who read will be renewed in their faith through the words of teens. It is refreshing to find text that is so candid about real tradegy and yet so candid about God's Love for us. It doesn't take long to read and you will only want to put it down when you are picking up a tissue because you realized you are not alone in the World. God shows up in the most difficult circumstances, He is always there.

(...)
This book brought some new things to my attention. After being away from home for 6 months experiencing God, and then returning home, it pumped me up to the sharing teh reality of God all over the world. Over those past 6 months, I TRUELY saw God's powerful hand, and how real He is, coming home I was a bit worried and disturbed that I wouldn't see God as clearly as I did in Asia.
I picked up this book right away and it was and still is the first book and only book i've read since my return. Let me tell you, i'm not much of a reader, but I couldn't put this book down! It was full of the REALNESS of God and the way He works in the lives of people in our everyday lives, people who we might not know we're impacting or effecting, but God many times uses us to be His vessels, to pour God's love and His Wisdom and Power onto those who are hurting or in a difficult time or situation, that God is there and many times He brings people are way to help with the process.
I think ANYONE, young or old, should read this book. Why? Because it's TRUE!, It's REAL! It's Inspiering! It's a book I would and am recomending all my peers, friends and family to READ!
I'm not a very emtional person, but this book brought me to tears as I read the TRUE STORIES and how God's REALNESS is all over the place, and we can all SEE the TRUE the Living and the REAL God, who wants to be made known, and this book does a superb job of accomplishing that.
This book taught me more about the Character of God, and how He uses the little things and the big things to make Himself known.
"if we don't praise His name even the rocks will cry out"
God wants to be known and wants us all to know Him in a REAL way. So GO AND PICK UP THIS BOOK. IT COULD JUST CHANGE YOUR LIFE, YOUR THINKING AND THE WAY YOU SEE GOD!

This book is worth reading and passing on to your friends - teens and adults. I felt all kinds of emotions as I read the teens' life stories. I laughed and cried - which is essential for a good movie. The book "TRUE" was better than a movie because I learned something about life, myself, my friends and God from each story. There is something that will touch each person in the situations covered in the book. Another advantage is that each story is well written and short enough for the busiest person to read in between activities.

I shared different stories with friends in the midst of trials. The book inspired and encouraged me. It's great for teens to get a taste of what can happen in people's lives - tragedies that can happen with a simple choice or a random act and how God can use it all for good in incredible ways.

This is a book that I, as a young woman who follows the Lord passionately loved and took in, I can't say enough how much it opened my eyes to things I'm not doing enough as a Christian, and the little things I can be thankful for. And I've a devoted Christian of 2 years, think of what it can do for a person who's never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Instead of opening their eyes to the little things that I missed, maybe they'll open their eyes to the huge thing: Salvation. I won't sit here and explain how incredible God's love is because for those who haven't experienced it no explanination will ever be enough and for those who have experienced it no explanination will ever be neccasary.
In His Grip...

Twenty Years A-Growing, or Fiche Bliain ag Fás in its original Irish, is a humorous and well written book about the sometimes hard life at the great western island, An Blascaod Mór, off the cost of Ireland. It tells about the everyday of the islanders in the beginning of the century in a surprisingly modern and lively way. The language of the Island was Irish, and although the Great Blasket is now abandoned, the Irish language still lives on in the mainland parishes in this area. I strongly recommend this book to everyone interested in Ireland, its culture, the Irish language or readerswho just want a fun and good book. I myself have only read the whole of it in its Irish original, but the passes I've read in English shows a well-done translation

I haven't yet read the book but I will submit a review when completed. However the book came highly recommended to me by many people. they found it a delightful memoir and as i just returend from the Dingle Peninsula, i wanted to read it myself.

Twenty Years A-Growing by Maurice O'Sullivan is one heck of a "coming of age" story. I'd never even heard of it until a friend of mine told me that he was reading it. I'm sure glad he did. This is a great book!

I've actually read several coming of age stories recently. I didn't plan to...it just kind of occurred that way. Some of them were really good (David Copperfield by Dickens being one of them); but none of them, Copperfield included, spoke to my heart like Twenty Years A-Growing.

Twenty Years A-Growing was translated into English from Gaelic. I personally find this astounding. They (whoever "they" might be) say a book always loses something in translation. Yet Twenty Years absolutely sings in English...the translation is so powerful that the original must truly be a thing of beauty.

It is an autobiographical tale of growing up in the Blasket Islands off the coast of Ireland around the time of the first world war. For me at least, it was a thing of wonder to be able to enter into this world which has since moved on. It is a story told in a wonderfully simple yet almost lyrically beautiful way. Each chapter is a story in itself. The story as a whole slowly ingrains itself upon your heart and mind.

I felt an affinity with Maurice and his friend Thomas. The adventures they find themselves in ring true even as they entertain the reader. Likewise, the character of the grandfather in particular now feels like an old friend to me now. I particularly appreciated some of the wisdom he espouses to Maurice.

I dare anyone to read this book and not be charmed by the lives of these wonderful people who lived almost a hundred years ago in a kind of societal setting that seems all at once foreign, yet somehow more sane than today's world of constant "time management" in pursuit of hollow "muchness" and "manyness."

It does not happen often that I do not to want a book to end. I usually approach the end of a book with satisfaction. Rarely am I left wanting more. Yet that was the case with Twenty Years A-Growing. It is a truly special book.

Twenty Years A-Growing by Maurice O'Sullivan is one heck of a "coming of age" story. I'd never even heard of it until a friend of mine told me that he was reading it. I'm sure glad he did. This is a great book!

I've actually read several coming of age stories recently. I didn't plan to...it just kind of occurred that way. Some of them were really good (David Copperfield by Dickens being one of them); but none of them, Copperfield included, spoke to my heart like Twenty Years A-Growing.

Twenty Years A-Growing was translated into English from Gaelic. I personally find this astounding. They (whoever "they" might be) say a book always loses something in translation. Yet Twenty Years absolutely sings in English...the translation is so powerful that the original must truly be a thing of beauty.

It is an autobiographical tale of growing up in the Blasket Islands off the coast of Ireland around the time of the first world war. For me at least, it was a thing of wonder to be able to enter into this world which has since moved on. It is a story told in a wonderfully simple yet almost lyrically beautiful way. Each chapter is a story in itself. The story as a whole slowly ingrains itself upon your heart and mind.

I felt an affinity with Maurice and his friend Thomas. The adventures they find themselves in ring true even as they entertain the reader. Likewise, the character of the grandfather in particular now feels like an old friend to me. I particularly appreciated some of the wisdom he espouses to Maurice.

I dare anyone to read this book and not be charmed by the lives of these wonderful people who lived almost a hundred years ago in a kind of societal setting that seems all at once foreign, yet somehow more sane than today's world of constant "time management" in pursuit of hollow "muchness" and "manyness."

It does not happen often that I do not to want a book to end. I usually approach the end of a book with satisfaction. Rarely am I left wanting more. Yet that was the case with Twenty Years A-Growing. It is a truly special book.

This is an extraordinary book, described by the well-know author E.M. Forster as "here is the egg of a seabird - lovely, perfect and laid this very morning".

The author, Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, is an Irish-speaking boy growing up on the Great Blasket Island (An Blascaod Mór). He describes his childhood in the twenties on this 100% Irish-speaking island in Co. Kerry. The population of the island never reached 200, and life there was very archaic - resembling the society in Europe thousands of years ago. Nowhere else in Europe did the shear joy of speaking and love of words live on as here, where thousands of pages of folklore has been collected as well. This love of the language is obvious in this vivid book, in which Muiris presents an affectionate, lively and interesting account of a way of life that no longer is.

Despite being published 70 years ago, the book still feels fresh and manages to blend fond memories and humour in an extraordinary way. This is definitely THE book to buy for anyone interested in the Irish way of life.

Under the Eye of the Clock is the autobiography of Christopher Nolan, the talented young poet with cerebral palsy. He can't walk or talk or write in the usual manner. Since Nolan lacks the use of his hands, this book like Dam-Burst of Dreams, the book of poems that preceded it, was written by means of a typing stick affixed to his head. The book succeeds both as pure artistry and as a window into the world of the disabled. Nolan has re-named himself Joseph Meehan and told his story entirely in the objectivity of the third person. This brilliant stroke allows him to avoid excessive self-pity while making his sufferings and triumphs real and deep. Nolan's use of language had earned him comparisons with James Joyce, Yeats, and Dylan Thomas. Nolan stretches the meanings and implications of words, rearranges their spelling, and even invents new ones to communicate his moods and perceptions and illuminate life, his own and those he observes, with his unique poet's sensibility.

As a college English and literature instructor, I intend to make this book a required reading if it becomes available in print again. It should bless all readers because it becomes a reminder that NO matter what the circumstances, people should still be respected, loved, and appreciated. And, with this in mind, the reader may receive a self-esteem boost when being reminded of inner-personal value. I appreciate this book so much. I have three copies and continually loan them out.

Christopher Nolan's "Under The Eye Of The Clock" is an autobiographical account of his incredibly awe-inspiring and miraculous life. Born a cripple, he could have been consigned to the rubbish heap but instead and against all odds became a celebrated writer of this Whitbread Book winner, "The Banyan Tree" as well as an early book of poems. Without taking anything away from Joseph Meehan (a self portrait of Nolan), he couldn't have overcome his debilitating handicaps to scale the heights he did without the steady support and tender loving care of his family. A father, mother and sister who are such warm and emotionally intelligent human beings anybody would be blessed and proud to have them as family. The school principals, teachers and fellow students who accepted him, nurtured him and gave him the chance to prove himself equal to the best among physically whole human specimens are themselves shining examples of humanity who deserve as much recognition in Nolan's lifestory. Although it has been compared with James Joyce's "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man", it is in reality nothing like it. Whereas Joyce's work is for the most part depressing and full of pain and harshness, Nolan's story is so morally uplifting you almost forget its grave subject matter. Nolan's dazzling and inventive writing style is also unique and something to relish. He coins and mints new words which have a yet found a conventional meaning but are so emotionally accurate you know they're right. Read this if you're feeling down and need something to restore your faith in mankind !

To learn about such an exceptional poet who, without the faith of his family, would never have been revealed to the world, gives the reader a new view of people's limitations. I bought 12 copies of this book (when it was in print)and somehow have given them all away over time.

I found my way to this book after I had read "The Banyan Tree" by Christopher Nolan. This was a book that I read and reviewed back in February, and ever since I have been mystified why the book never seemed to gain the wide acceptance of readers. All of the reviews that have been posted by readers for "The Banyan Tree" have been 5 star reviews, and the same is the case for "Under The Eye Of The Clock".

If you read you understand how difficult it is to write anything, much less a full book, and then have it selected for and win a prestigious award. In the case of the book I review now it was the 1987 Whitbred Award that was awarded to Mr. Nolan. All very impressive, but that's just the start.

This is an autobiography written by a very young man who next wrote the book "The Banyan Tree" and would take 12 years to do so. This is a painfully candid, but uplifting book about a man with the support of a wonderful Family overcomes extreme realities that are his life to become an Author of international renown.

Mr. Nolan cannot speak, he can barely move at all. He types with what he calls his "Unicorn Stick" that he wears on his head, and even then his head must be supported while he works.

An Autobiography is a courageous work if honestly presented. When you add Mr. Nolan's additional challenges he faces as a writer, and as a person living with his physical issues it becomes an extraordinary autobiographical book.

I hope more readers find Mr. Nolan, he is a unique writer of immense talent, and if you pass by his work you deprive yourself of great literature.

I'm in my late 20's, a revert to the Catholic Church after years of exploring other religions and dealing with questions and doubts. If someone had given me a copy of Mary Beth's book, I believe it would have helped me to return a lot sooner, and I might not have left in the first place. She explains what's really important and valuable about our faith, in a relevant, simple way.

Highly recommended! (_Real Love_ is also excellent, but read this one first.)

I bought this book for my teenagers but I couldn't read it fast enough myself. We all loved it! Bonacci writes clearly and her examples are relevant and interesting. She explains church teaching with authority but without being offensive to youth who are questioning. I have used this book to teach religious education in my parish for seventh graders. It does a great job of expanding topics in our text and for providing a tool for students to discuss important and sensitive issues with their parents. I have heard only positive comments about the book from the families I work with.

Individual chapters address the crisis of faith in "dry times". Even covers the expected phases of boredom (I don'tget anything out of church) delusionment(just a bunch of hypocrites) and rejection of the faith (where is this God that doesn't know I exist that allows so much suffering into the world) that so many young of all ages feel when a maturing soul is ready to take the next step in the growth of faith. The love and life of Christ and those in his church shine in all this process as the way to perfection and abstinance is formed. This pope is a pope of love that encourages all souls to find that highly sacramental love that is so easily lost when it becomes a means to subjugate our spouses instead of unifying them with us and God. This book should be on every jr.high and high schooler's reading list. It should be read twice by anyone who is about to enter into any serious dating relationship. Follow the rules in this arena, and the prize of a deep, loving, and, yes, sexually satisfying realtionship that fills this life and brings you into the perfection that is the next can and will be yours.

I suppose the easiest way to get kids to read this book would be to forbid them to, then they would steal it if they had to. All joking aside, Mary Beth's style is fresh and easy to understand. She never talks down to her intended audience. She almost seems like a cool aunt that you could talk to about anything. I myself am a 30 yrold woman who converted to the Catholic faith last year. I'm often asked about my conversion and I will tell you this: The Catholic Church was about the only Church willing to stand by the moral teachings of our Lord and not back down despite a ton of pressure from society. That impressed me and I knew I had to learn more. Even though I'm a little older than her usual audience, I read both of her books and plan to by more copies to give to teens in my area. I think that it's about time that we take back our schools and children and teach them what they need to know about what God really wants for their lives. Who knows? With a lot of prayer and a lot of action perhaps we could overturn Roe vs Wade AND bring prayer back to public school.

I loved this book so much! Mary Beth did a great job relating to teenagers and giving guidance to their problems. I would definatley recommend this book to every Catholic teen.

From beginning to end I was caught in the poignant details of this story. The Russian Revolution is brought to life through the individuals who face poverty, uncertainty, and constant changes in their circumstances. Whether people are poor, middle class, or wealthy, they are thrown together in difficult, often dangerous situations. Nora Percival fills the pages with family members who are at times wise and courageous only to later be petty and weak, each one trying to survive in a world that no longer makes any sense and which never stands still long enough to build new understandings about how to respond. Nora's free spirit in the midst of this chaos is a constant inspiration. As a young child and into her teens she tends to her mother who is depressed and unable to find the energy required by this newly restricted environment. Though her mother often becomes tiresome, Nora continues to persevere, giving of her own strength to keep her mother afloat. When Nora finally comes to America the reader comes with her, feeling Nora's celebration of freedom and a chance for a new life.

I happened upon Nora Percival in Valle Crucis, NC where she was signing her books. I feel so lucky to have personnally autographed copies of her books and a photo of me with her. Nora Percival is as captivating in person as she is in her story.
"Weather of the Heart" is wildly educational, exciting and inspiring, a study in optomisism. I literally could not put it down: I carried it from room to room and took it with me if I left the house. When I finished reading the book, I missed Nora the child because I found her so charming; WHAT A GIRL!! What a book!

This book details the events that brought an immigrant family to safe harbor in the US after escape from the Russian revolution. The viewpoint is that of a young girl, just 3 years old at the beginning of the story. This young girl is the only daughter of a bourgeoisie family. Her father left the farm as a penniless young man, and through his own enterprise came to own a small shoe factory in Samara. As the revolution takes hold, Percival's father is named as a criminal against society because of his social standing, and he is forced to flee to Manchuria, leaving his wife and daughter behind. Percival describes to us how she and her mother gradually lose their life of relative luxury and ease, how their German governess fled, and how they had to abandon their home and move in with her paternal grandparents. The circumstances that follow develop her into a mature young woman by the time the main narrative ends when she is 8 years old and living in New York City.

Occasionally, especially in the first chapter, Percival's writing style can be a little annoying. Nevertheless, the story that she has to tell is riveting. She provides unique details of the daily life of ordinary people in the time just before, during, and after the Russian revolution. She also tells us much about the conditions and rules faced by immigrants to the US during the early part of the 20th century.

I learned so much about revolutionary Russia and a different way of life from this book. Reading Ms. Percival's life story was intriguing--full of happy reunions and sad partings. The book really makes you realize that people are the same all over the world. This story of a young girl's long journey to America will inspire you and make you cry.

This memorable book gives us the memoirs of an 88 year old first time novelist, Nora Lourie Percival. This is far and away the best book I have read in years. It is an interesting and compelling story of a child growing up in and then escaping from Communist Russia. It is wonderfully written and historically significant. The rich descriptive narrative is a pleasure to read and to hear read (my husband and I read it aloud to one another). I found myself continually rereading passages purely for the purpose of savoring the author's exquisite use of language; I have read few contemporary writers whose use of language is as skillful and as sensitive as is this writer's. This is a book to be added to the family library and to be re-read throughout the years. It is an absorbing, heartbreaking and uplifting true story of a child and her family's survival of the Russian Revolution. The reader is grabbed by the first pages and his interest is held throughout. I've bought several to give as gifts. I would recommend it to anyone! It is truly marvelous.