Youth Books

Within the pages of this book, A Chance to Fly, there lies a separate universe, a world apart. The reader is allowed to tiptoe through the realm of the adolescent girl, without changing, disturbing, criticizing or rearranging a single thing. And what a rare privilege this is.

Starlings Volleyball Clubs USA is a national non-profit organization that provides opportunities from coast-to-coast to girls of every socio-economic stratum to play
club volleyball regardless of their zip code. Starlings celebrates its 10th anniversary with the publication of this book of poems, essays and art by the Starlings girls
themselves, deftly edited by Byron Shewman, a co-founder of the Starlings in 1996.

You will be deeply moved as you read page after page of the innermost thoughts of girls as irridescent and seemingly fragile as the small birds for which they were named but as resilient as the stars in the firmament. There are stories here that will break your heart, such as that of the only girl child of Vietnamese refugees, a victim of life-long verbal abuse from her family, who found volleyball and the
Starlings, which quite literally saved her life.

There are stories and poems from the Navajo reservations of Arizona, such as the one from Sherry Hudson of Tuba City, AZ, which begins poetically, with a recitation
of her ancient Navajo lineage, ". . . Bitterwater . . . Edgewater . . . Black Streak People . . . Towering House People . . . ."

There is the gritty, flashy poetry in the urban cadences and vernacular of Oakland, Philadelphia and New York. There are the memories of long-time coaches and club
directors, volunteers all, in the most magnanimous way.

In the beginning, the Starlings girls whose work is featured in this remarkable collection may have walked into a gym to try out for a volleyball team. What they found, in addition to their sport, was much the same as what Dorothy found on the yellow brick road to Oz, companions like themselves who have heart, courage and brains and friends who have become like family even when home sometimes seems
so very far away.

Support the Starlings. Buy this book.

I found this book to be very insperational. I highly recommend this book for readers young and old. It will lift any spirit.

This book is an excellent read for anyone who coaches, plays, or is a fan of volleyball.

great book. would recommend it to anyone with a heart. the book has so much to offer. makes you want to help. 2 thumbs up.

...sino es el Che verdadero hablando por el mismo.Explica el porque el cambio social no es haciendo por personas solitarias individualistas ; se trata como la revolucio`n cubana descubrio` " el camino de Marx " como gui`a de accio`n mientras haciendo la revolucio`n ;de la technologi`a como arma de la revolucio`n ; y de el papel de una organizacio`n disciplinada de joven comunistas que son educado en el Marxismo ( y educada por los trabajadores
y campesinos mismos en lucha ) en la vanguardia de la revolucio`n. La introduccio`n de la editor Mary-Alice Waters,una dirigente socialista norteamericana , se trata de la relevancia del texto a jovenes rebeldes mundiales de hoy di`a.

...sino es el Che verdadero hablando por el mismo.Explica el porque el cambio social no es haciendo por personas solitarias individualistas ; se trata como la revolucio`n cubana descubrio` " el camino de Marx " como gui`a de accio`n mientras haciendo la revolucio`n ;de la technologi`a como arma de la revolucio`n ; y de el papel de una organizacio`n disciplinada de joven comunistas que son educado en el Marxismo ( y educada por los trabajadores
y campesinos mismos en lucha ) en la vanguardia de la revolucio`n. La introduccio`n de la editor Mary-Alice Waters,una dirigente socialista norteamericana , se trata de la relevancia del texto a jovenes rebeldes mundiales de hoy di`a.

Los títulos de los discursos lo dice todo para que este libro quede de cabecera para todo rebelde.

Siendo médico él, explicó que no basta ser buena gente para ser médico revolucionario, sino hay que hacer una revolución. Ya victoriosa la revolución, explicó la que tiene que hacer la juventud comunista. Se puede tomar este consejo bastante a pecho, porque hay demasiada gente que quiere ser buena persona y hasta allí.

Lee el Ché en su propia voz, para que juzgas con tu propio criterio. Es en esto que se destaca la editorial Pathfinder: dar espacio los revolucionarios hablar por si mismo, y bien merecedora es esta adición a su "serie" de "Habla..."

De índole histórico, en esta colección se puede trazar la maduración intelectual de este personaje, de la manera en que se estaba llegando a cuajar las ideas que resultaron en el primer proyecto socialista solidaria, que se volvió a tomar en 1985 -justo a tiempo antes de que la URSS empezó a estremecer-.

El libro publica ocho discursos pronunciados por el dirigente de la revolución cubana, Ernesto Che Guevara, en reuniones con estudiantes y trabajadores cubanos, y jóvenes de otros países solidarios con la revolución. Nos da un vistazo importante a algunos aspectos claves en la historia de la revolución cubana. Y realmente los discursos son aún más importantes por su relevancia hoy en día para trabajadores y jóvenes de todo el mundo.

Che habla del desarrollo de la revolución, del subdesarrollo económico y los pasos necesarios para transformar la sociedad, de los enfrentamientos con el gobierno norteamericano, de la reforma agraria y su importancia para cualquier país en un proceso revolucionario. Habla también del papel del individuo en la sociedad, presentando una perspectiva no de caridad sino de solidaridad con los oprimidos y explotados. Expresa una confianza enorme en la capacidad de jóvenes -- estudiantes, obreros y campesinos-- de superarse en el proceso de cambiar la sociedad.

¡Léalo! ¡Compártalo! ¡Discútalo! ¡Qué sea de provecho!

Ché Guevara Speaks to Youth
The titles of these speeches are enough to tell why this should be every rebel's handbook.

As a physician, he explained that being good people is not enough to become a revolutionary doctor - one must make a revolution. Once that revolution had won through, he explained the tasks communist youth face. This advice may be taken well to heart, because there are too many people who try to be good persons, and leave it at that.

Read el Ché in his own voice, so you can make up your own mind. This is what Pathfinder Press stands out for: offering space for revolutionaries to speak for themselves. And well earned is this addition to the "...Speaks" "series."

Historically, this individual's intellectual development may be traced in this volume. The reader can see how the ideas gelled into what was to become the first experiment in the socialism of solidarity, which was retaken in 1985, just in time before the USSR began to quaver.

...as an equal.Too many books are out there "interpreting" Che Guevara ; most often by academics who fear and hate revolution.Here Che speaks for himself : how the Cuban revolution discovered the "road of Marx" by breaking out of the Yanqui Empire fror good; how "lone wolf" individualists do NOT make social revolutions; how to be a revolutionary MD or anything else "first a revolution must be made"; the need for a disciplined revolutionary youth organization;how to learn from fighting workers and peasants while fighting alongside them;internationalism as a necessity and a duty; the fight against postrevolution bureaucracy.These ideas as guide to action are how revolutionary Cuba has survived and will survive.Young and not-so-young fighters REQUIRE THIS BOOK as "globalized capitalism" tears our lives apart.To fight back "intelligently, as Malcolm X would say.Read "Cuba And The Coming American Revolution" by Jack Barnes side by side with this gem of a book.

Even if you are not so young person like myself, you can find your youth and your belief in the future,through Che's vision in these speeches. Whether speaking to a group of medical students in Havana, or a Latin American Youth Congress, or to anti-imperialist youth from around the world gathered in Algeria, Che's message to young people was not watered down. These speeches are a serious charge to young people to take the present and the future in their hands, and follow his vision of struggle for socialism, for the needs of working people, the oppressed, around the world. The ideas in this book are just as, or perhaps, even more valid than when Che lived.


While this book may not be directly available from Amazon at times, they are available from the booksfrompathfinder on Amazon that you can find by clicking on the new and used books on this page.

Che Guevara was an Argentinean-born revolutionary who helped lead the first socialist revolution in the Americas and initiate the renewal of Marxism. In Che Guevara Talks To Young People, he speaks as an equal with the youth of Cuba and the world as he challenges them to work, become disciplined, and join in the struggles for justice at home and abroad. Guevara excites youth to read, study, aspire to become revolutionary combatants, politicize the organizations and institutions they are part of, and in the process to politicize themselves. The talks collected in this single volume are prefaced by Armando Hart, and were compiled with the cooperation of Casa Editora Abril in Cuba. Che Guevara Talks To Young People is highly recommended reading for students of Marxism, the Socialist struggle in the Americas, as well as the life and thought of Che Guevara.

I found this book an enthralling read from start to finish. It transported me through time to the Victorian and Edwardian eras - a fascinating study of the lives of the matriarchal Queen Victoria, her children and grandchildren.
John Van der Kiste paints a vivid picture of the lifestyle of the aristocracy. I couldn't help comparing their lives to the poverty-stricken living in squalor, but that is for a different book.

The book begins with the story of Queen Victoria's own childhood which it goes into in some detail. It shows how she developed from a shy and insular young girl to a matriarch of the first order. We are then taken through the early married life of the Queen and the Prince Consort and the birth of each of their nine children.

There is a lot of fascinating detail in this book about the family life of the Queen. There are many anecdotes about the children, and although contact between parent and child was much less than we would have in a modern day family, it is plain that Victoria and Albert were loving and devoted parents who took a keen interest in the development of their children.

As time progresses we are introduced to the Queen's grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is interesting to read of the contrast in the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra as parents, as unlike Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as you could wish. They were much more lively and fun loving and this really comes across as you read further.
There are some wonderful anecdotes about King Edward and his grandchildren. His geniality sparkles from the page.

There seems to have been an about turn with George V who was a much more distant parent. It was interesting to read about all his children, as one usually hears most about the two brothers who later became King.

If you like English or European history you will find this book fascinating. It gives a flavour of the time and is eminently readable without being too heavy, even when going into politics, and without being frothy.
It is fascinating to learn of the inter-personal relationships within this massive family descending from one remarkable lady.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that the individuals almost leapt from the page. I understood far more about them and their role in England's future having read it.

To make a history book riveting takes a particular talent and this author seems to have this in abundance. John Van der Kiste has a talent for getting right into a subject so that you can really imagine that you are there as an observer.

I highly recommend this book.

I found this book an enthralling read from start to finish. It transported me through time to the Victorian and Edwardian eras - a fascinating study of the lives of the matriarchal Queen Victoria, her children and grandchildren.
John Van der Kiste paints a vivid picture of the lifestyle of the aristocracy. I couldn't help comparing their lives to the poverty-stricken living in squalor, but that is for a different book.

The book begins with the story of Queen Victoria's own childhood which it goes into in some detail. It shows how she developed from a shy and insular young girl to a matriarch of the first order. We are then taken through the early married life of the Queen and the Prince Consort and the birth of each of their nine children.

There is a lot of fascinating detail in this book about the family life of the Queen. There are many anecdotes about the children, and although contact between parent and child was much less than we would have in a modern day family, it is plain that Victoria and Albert were loving and devoted parents who took a keen interest in the development of their children.

As time progresses we are introduced to the Queen's grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is interesting to read of the contrast in the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra as parents, as unlike Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as you could wish. They were much more lively and fun loving and this really comes across as you read further.
There are some wonderful anecdotes about King Edward and his grandchildren. His geniality sparkles from the page.

There seems to have been an about turn with George V who was a much more distant parent. It was interesting to read about all his children, as one usually hears most about the two brothers who later became King.

If you like English or European history you will find this book fascinating. It gives a flavour of the time and is eminently readable without being too heavy, even when going into politics, and without being frothy.
It is fascinating to learn of the inter-personal relationships within this massive family descending from one remarkable lady.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt that the individuals almost leapt from the page. I understood far more about them and their role in England's future having read it.

To make a history book riveting takes a particular talent and this author seems to have this in abundance. John Van der Kiste has a talent for getting right into a subject so that you can really imagine that you are there as an observer.

I highly recommend this book.

This book was so interesting! Enough has certainly been written about Queen Victoria that you'd think yet another biograpy of her and her family is not what the world needs: but this book is very much true to its title in concentrating on Victoria's childhood, that of her children, and that of her grand-children. People say that Childhood was invented in the Victorian period, and it is fascinating to see how an ultra-priveledged upbringing changed in the 100 years that this book covers. Even the changes that took place while Victoria's children were growing up is fascinating: the eldest daughter was married to a German prince at age 15, while her youngest daughter didn't marry until she was in her late 20's!

I definately recomend this book to anyone who is interested in british royal history, or the history of childhood. Since Victoria's children married all over Europe, anyone who is interested in European history would also find this book well worth a read. Since it is not too long and not too dry, it would also be a good book for a teenager or young person who is ready for adult non-fiction, but wants something that they can relate to.

Childhood at Court is an entertaining look at the lives of royal children at the British Court from 1819 to 1914, roughly the lifespan of Queen Victoria and her son Edward VII. There have been innumerable biographies of Queen Victoria and her children, but none that have focussed only on their childhoods. This book therefore fills a gap, and does so with an interesting, fresh style which makes use of plenty of anecdotes, some well known, others more obscure. I was interested to come across some of these stories, because I have read many histories and biographies of the period, and many of Van der Kiste's anecdotes were brand new. Both Queen Victoria and her son Edward VII had childhoods best described as dysfunctional, but its interesting to see how the future king seems to have learned from his parents' mistakes and given his own children a happier upbringing. Queen Victoria also seems to have mellowed as she grew older, and its nice to read about the antics her younger grandchildren and great-grandchildren were allowed to get away with, like slapping the Queen's hand and saying "Naughty Grandmamma!!"

This is a nice addition to anyone's library of books about royals or books about children.

I have used ideas from this book with my Sunday School classes. Some are extremely well thought out; for example OUR WIRED GENERATION. This is about using the technology of today to MEET our children on their turf.

This is one of the most practical resources I own! Each chapter is relavant to children's ministry right now. Each chapter has a list of easy to use, ministry-tested ideas that you can read and implement today.
This entire series by Group Publishing is a must have for staff/volunteers involved in church ministry in the 21st century.

Group has so many incredible resources for children's ministy...here are a few to check out!
The Humongous Book of Preschool Ideas
The Humongous Book of Bible Skits for Children's Ministry with CD (Audio)
The Humongous Book of Children's Messages
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry

This book does an amazing job at helping us to see, beyond the obvious, how kids are growing up differently, now more than ever before; and how the church needs to be prepared to meet them where they are at, or even where they will be - or risk becoming "irrelevant" in our rapidly changing world. Then, you are given fun, practical ideas of how to put these new concepts into practice. Every person who works with kids should read this book!!!

Children's Ministry in the 21st Century is a refreshing approach to the basics of Children's Ministry for today. I've read a mountain of books that theorize and pontificate on the subject, but Craig Jutila's book delivers more than just theory. This book delivers the goods. He explains the latest trends in Childrens' Ministry then at the end of each chapter, he gives you good concrete suggestions for activities that you can implement to bring your church's children's ministry into the 21st century. Whether you have a small church or a mega church or you work with babies or preteens, you can find many activities and suggestions for your classroom, small group Bible Study, or church wide event in this easy to read and reference resource.

This small book has a lot of "PUNCH" for it's size! The transaction was smooth and quick. I will use a lot of the information to teach a class of students about the art and craft, as well as ministry from clowning for our King. I have several books by Floyd Shaffer and I really like this one a lot.

I was very pleased with the speed in which I received the above mentioned book and its condition.

This book is great if you are thinking of implementing a clown ministry at your church! Not only do they tell you 'how-to' but also 'why'. This book has information on all aspects of a clown ministry and there is a guide in the back for your own clown ministry training weekend. I highly recommend it to ministers and youth groups.

Unlike traditional clowning, the focus here is to build up the audience at no one's expense. Floyd and Penne whet the reader's appetite for more. This type of clowning lends itself well to a worship setting, and done with adequate training and rehearsal, it becomes a vital way for youth to give back to the church, while involving many more of the congregation's 5 senses in the act of worship. It is very possible to become a "fool for Christ" and an ambassador for the same through the applications found in this book. I particularly appreciated the many skits that were included, and found them to be scripturally sound. This resource was a wonderful starting point for our church, and I heartily recommend it.

The authors have thought through every important aspect of coaching baseball to young kids, from developing a proper hitting stance to practice plans to interactions with parents to motivation. It's rare to find such excellent and instructive photography in this kind of book and kids really can learn a lot just by looking at the photographs and graphics. As a professional writer, I am also impressed with the tone and easy conversational style of the writing. As a parent of a daughter who played competitive softball for many years, I would highly recommend this book to families looking for a useful, complete, and easy-to-understand introduction to the basics.

Teaching hitting fundamentals is a book appropriate both for beginning coaches where it would serve as guidelines, but also includes information for more experienced coaches, to aid and enhance their techniques.
Step by step, directions accompanied by excellent photographs offer a visual depiction of technique in a simply understood manner.

The book also offers your team a diversion from the regimented drills, something to maintain the player's interest and perhaps even hold a team together. Such activates include games and the like that are provided in the book following each drill as Extra Fun.

I recommend the book to coaches of any degree, for those just starting to coach, and for those who have coached for years.

I recommend this book to every parent or coach of young baseball players. It's chock full of information in an easy-to-read style, with lots of photos illustrating correct hitting technique. Parents with little or no baseball experience can use this book for not only teaching hitting, but for helping their children learn and enjoy the entire game. Coaches will especially appreciate the section on practice drills that will spice up every practice and keep kids interested while learning the fundamentals.

"Coaching Youth Baseball: Teaching Hitting Fundamentals" was written by a father/coach who uses his years of hands-on experience to teach others how to be a good coach and leader, provide a positive experience for the kids, create practice plans, and understand game rules and scorekeeping, along with hitting fundamentals. He explains how to run a successful practice, and the 18 proven hitting drills he provides (and illustrates) will more than pay for this moderately priced ($24.95) book. It's a great value. Get one for your son, your neighbor and your Little League coach!

If you looking for a very well organized step-by-step breakdown of the latest hitting techniques for youth baseball this is the book. I have coached youth baseball for the last 10 years and have full library of baseball fundamentals books. The thing I like most about Teaching Hitting Fundamentals is that it offers very practical advice for teaching young baseball players how to hit with confidence using the latest batting techniques. And best of all the book is written from a coach's perspective and is obviously based on hands-on experience teaching youth athletes.

One of most difficult things I have found in teaching hitting fundamentals is that each element of the swing must be broken down into simple understandable steps so that a young athlete can learn without confusion. This book does an excellent job of breaking down the swing into teachable steps and the large color photos associated with each step surpass any of the other instruction books I have seen. Finally, the author does a very good job of providing a list of drills to support the majority of the hitting fundamentals detailed in the book.

This is the best book that I've read on coaching lacrosse. It's reads very easy and makes it easy to teach. I'd recommend that all new and old coaches read this book at least once.

The first and only lacrosse coaching book I've bought. Very helpful in teaching basic techniques and organizing practices. Offers many themed games and drills that provide variety and fun for youth practices. Also provides tactical drills and games for "A" teams. I highly recommend this book for any coach looking for some fresh ideas or any prospective coaches looking for an introduction to the sport.

I was asked to coach girls High School Lacrosse, I never coached before,but played mens, this book was A-Z everything you need to coach girls or boys lacrosse.

I am new to the game of lacrosse, but have volunteered to help coach my son's team of beginners (first & second graders). This book was a tremendous help in explaining the general rules, structuring practices, and drills.

The book references a coaching system called the 'Positive Coaches Alliance', which gives great pointers on approaching practices and general coaching philosophies. I have coached soccer for six years and still found some of the coaching methods to be very helpful. Not only for lacrosse, but for caoching in general. I will be applying these techniques to soccer (along with modifying some of the lacrosse drills).

I highly recommend this book as your first lacrosse resource.

great fun read. you can sit down and read it in a day really. the story follows some dominican kids who sell the kilos of coke. it is written like a documentary but has a TON of feeling in it. POOR CHILLE!!!!

Great book about the life of 8 young kids in New York whom changes schools and books for sealing drugs.... It tells how they became dealers,families problems and issues of friendshipp.. even thougth the book is great it does not mention in any page how society tried to help them...because they did not get any help or encoragement... any solutions any where??? more programs in such areas would definately improve the way teeneagers chooses to live their life and make their family more aware of such situations..it is not too late. quite interesting..learned more about drugs than what I ever wanted to....

Pretty good book...

A story concerning the lifes of 8 kids deeply involved in cocaine trade in NYC during the 1980's. It is told from the point of view of an outsider looking in, which I would have rather seen it documented from the 'kids' view but what can you do? Bricks of coke, cut, re-rocked, packaged, street level retail, and all the nitty-gritty details involved with the process. If your looking for a book that tells the tale of the route of cocaine from the source, into the nose/arm of a user, and the people that make it happen. This book is for you, I am a sucker for this type of literature [drug-porn] so take my review with that in mind.

http://www.junkylife.com/seedless

That movie was based on this book. I know this is probably promoting illiteracy and the ills of television, but if you like independents it's a good one. I haven't read the book. I DO READ quie a bit, but was inspired to check out the book because of the movie. The movie meanders a bit, so be prepared. Sorry I havent read the book yet but when I do I'll come back and report on what I thought

Not as helpful as other Leadbetter books, but comes in handy from time to time.

I was attracted by "David Leadbetter". This book illustrates many simple but useful exercises for golfers/beginners. It comes with sufficient 4-color photos to illustrate, more easier to understand. Highly recommend to golfers who want to improve their games consistently and accurately.

I bought my clubs on June 6, 1998, and the book a week later. I had never played golf prior to buying the clubs. I have practiced the methods David showed in the book and average a score in the high 90's. The book is very easy to understand, and the pictures show you the exact form and motions required. If you are trying to learn golf, this is an excellent purchase.

(July 29, 1998)

I really love this book. A lot of pictures and motion sequences. I hvae read "Faults and Fixes" which is written by the same author. If you want to read this, buy together.

Most golfers want to improve, but don't know how and/or don't want to put in the effort with positive practice.

This is where this book comes in. It goes over basics of swing and then shows how one can track and practice those aspects of the game that are losing you shots.

Diagnostics are similar to John Jacobs' "Golf Doctor" who influenced Leadbetter much.

Here though in the book are really good drills and practice tips that will help the beginner through intermediate. The more advanced player is usually a good practicer already or doesn't need it.