East of Eden

Customer Reviews:

You just don't get it.......2007-09-11

I read all the bad reviews and this is my answer to them. Why should I care about these characters? Because these characters are you and all the people in your boring insignificant life, why should we care about you?
Why is the book so long? Why is life so long? Because it is...
The essential lesson that I felt Steibeck was trying to hit home through all his meandering is that life essentially is everything, it is right, wrong, predetermined, self determined, selfish and selfless. Everything has reason and absolutely no reason at all. It makes no sense but its your job as a human to be a good person and try to go beyond the circumstances that life presents you. The only destiny you have is the one you make and he couldn't just say that because that's not how people learn. People learn by doing messed up and evil things or great good things and that's just it. Steinbeck is explaining the purpose of life in this book, maybe you should give it another go.

East of Eden.......2007-09-02

Simply put, this book is a masterpiece and is my all-time favorite book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

A Joy to Read.......2007-08-28

I have never felt the need to review a book before, but I just finished reading East of Eden for the second time. I read quickly, but this time I read slowly and savored every page. As a long-time resident of Monterey County, I am touched by the poetic descriptions of places locals take for granted. The Salinas River which runs underground in summer made a dry river bed into a lyrical image that I have never lost. The beauty of the conversations between Samuel Hamilton and Lee, the sadness of the anecdotal stories that claim only a page or two, and the history of the area combine with the larger story seamlessly. Steinbeck didn't just write -- he conjured full-blown images that stay with me long after I put the book down.

"greatest book ever".......2007-08-23

I actually bought this for my wife. She reads every night before going to sleep and according to her this is the best book she has ever read. She commented on the writing as being very desciptive and making her feel like she was there. "A very satifying read"

Steinbeck Rocks.......2007-08-04

I just finished this book a week ago! What an amazing story as told by an amazing author.

I tend not to provide a synopsis of the book in my reviews and I will continue that trend in this review. I will say that East of Eden is basically a grand morality play using the Biblical Story of Cain and Abel as its backdrop.

As in Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck throws in chapters that are very omniscient in scope, some might even say Biblical in tone. It is in one of these chapters that Steinbeck basically asks the reader to make a choice between good and evil in his or her life. I had to stop reading at that point and just think for a little while....that is the sign of a great author at the top of his game!

Highly recommended!!!

Average customer rating:

Flush
Good Book!
Flush Book Review
This was a good book but not a Super Book
Grandpa and Granddaughter Recommended!

Flush
Carl Hiaasen
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375821821
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

You know it’s going to be a rough summer when you spend Father’s Day visiting your dad in the local lockup.
Noah’s dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harbor–which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can’t prove it though, and so he decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. Right. The boat is pumped out and back in business within days and Noah’s dad is stuck in the clink.
Now Noah is determined to succeed where his dad failed. He will prove that the Coral Queen is dumping illegally . . . somehow. His allies may not add up to much–his sister Abbey, an unreformed childhood biter; Lice Peeking, a greedy sot with poor hygiene; Shelly, a bartender and a woman scorned; and a mysterious pirate–but Noah’s got a plan to flush this crook out into the open. A plan that should sink the crooked little casino, once and for all.

Download Description

Carl Hiaasen is a columnist for the Miami Herald and is the author of many bestselling novels, including Basket Case and Skinny Dip. Hiassen’s first novel for young readers, Hoot, was also a bestseller, and received a Newbery Honor Award. The author lives in the Florida Keys.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Flush.......2007-10-10

Flush
By Carl Hiaasen
Mystery

Flush is about a 13 year old boy named Noah, whose dad has just gotten arrested from sinking a gambling ship, and putting it out of business. Dusty Muleman, the owner, wants him to go to an anger management class. But Noah doesn't believe his dad is crazy. What could have really happened. Noah's dad accused him of dumping the boat's sewage into the ocean, but can Noah and his 11 year old sister Abbey prove what really happened.
Flush relates to my life, because I have a sister, but her name isn't Abbey, who is cool sometimes, but sometimes she just gets on my nerves. My dad is also kind of crazy, but he wouldn't sink a ship would he?
Carl Hiaasen's writing is amazing, because you never get left behind. You are right alongside the hero of the story the whole time.
I loved this book, but the reason I only gave it 4 stars is because I thought the story was kind of weird. Weird but believable.
I can't exactly recall any books that relate to Flush, it's one of a kind.

Good Book!.......2007-07-28

This book is about a boy named Noah who's dad sunk a man's casino boat for dumping raw sewage into the ocean and is now in jail. The only way to get his dad out of jail is to prove that his dad is right. This book is great for all ages, it has action and humor, I think this book is a good read for everyone!

Flush Book Review.......2007-06-02

Flush is about a teenage boy, Noah, who tries to save the environment, by following his dad's footsteps. The story begins with Noah's dad in jail accused of sinking a casino boat after realizing that the owner of the boat had been dumping sewage waste into the water ruining the water quality and habitat of turtles and fish. Noah and his sister then try to explain their dad's action by trying to document and find evidence of the dumping.
I think Flush is a fascinating book. The characters have unique and interesting personalities. I especially like Noah's courage and his dedication to helping his family and to protect the environment. I recommend Flush to anyone who is concerned with saving the environment.

This was a good book but not a Super Book.......2007-06-01

I thought Flush wush was a good story, but not a good as the Tommytown series that I just finished reading. In Tommytown the boys, Barry, Noah and Petey acted like 11 and 12 year olds. Their sister Karen also seemed like a real 14 year old. Even being poor didn't stop the boys from having fun and the story was very exciting. Tommytown and The Boys From Tommytown are Super books. (I actually inserted a book. WOw.Hope I did it right.) Please read them you won't be sorry! Have a great summer!

Grandpa and Granddaughter Recommended!.......2007-05-31

There aren't many books that can appeal to both a grandfather and granddaughter, without leaving one or both of them feeling just a little shortchanged. Flush is that very, very rare exception!

Carl Hiassen has mixed in his usual elements into a froth that's appropriate for youths, but remains equally appealing to adults. There's a comic bad guy who values profit over quality of life (in this case the owner of a floating casino); a few witless thugs (both adult and kid-sized) and a man with anger management issues (a little reminiscent of the guy in Sick Puppy). But the heart of the story rests with the narrator, Noah and his little sister Abbey, two kids that share their dad's love for the Florida Keys.

Noah's dad has already tried to stop the Coral Queen casino boat from dumping raw sewage into water around the Keys, by sinking it. Unfortunately, the efforts of the local sheriff have restricted his ability to follow through once the boat is raised and reopened within a week. That leaves Noah and Abbey to find a way to shut down the boat, and clear their dad before their mom loses her patience and leaves him. But how do you prove that a specific boat is the source of foul bacteria and worse, especially when there's rat in the Coast Guard office that tips off the boat's operator whenever they are about to pop a surprise inspection?

It helps if you're resourceful and don't mind riding your bike everywhere. It also helps if you befriend a semi-rough blonde with a barb wire tattoo, and can stay clear of the boat owner's bully of a son.

I bought this book for my 10 year old granddaughter and she loved it! Then I read it and loved it. Within a month or so I suspect that everyone in the family will have finished it, with similar results.

Average customer rating:

The River
the river by gary paulsen
The River
Engaging reading for teenage boys
This book is freakin sweet!!!

The River
Gary Paulsen
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0440407532
Release Date: 1993-01-01

Book Description

"We want you to do it again."

These words, spoken to Brian Robeson, will change his life. Two years earlier, Brian was stranded alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days with nothing but a small hatchet. Yet he survived. Now the government wants him to do it again--to go back into the wilderness so that astronauts and the military can learn the survival techniques that kept Brian alive.

This time he won't be alone: Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, will accompany him to observe and take notes. But during a freak storm, Derek is hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Their radio transmitter is dead. Brian is afraid that derek will die of dehydration unless he can get him to a doctor. His only hope is to build a raft and try to transport Derek a hundred miles down the river to a trading post--if the map he has is accurate.

Download Description

Because of his success surviving alone in the wilderness for fifty-four days, fifteen-year-old Brian, profoundly changed by his time in the wild, is asked to undergo a similar experience to help scientists learn more about the psychology of survival.

Customer Reviews:

The River.......2007-06-13

If you like stories of survival, then this is the book for you. It's about a boy named Brian who is about 15 years old and a scientist named Derek who is in his 30's go out into the wilderness so Brian can show him how to survive, since he did it about a year before when his plane crashed in the Canadian wilderness. They have to live out there for 3 weeks. After 3 days a lightening storm hits and Derek is struck by lightning and goes into a coma, so Brian has to build a raft and go for help at the trading post before it's too late for Derek.

The best part in the book was when Brian finished the raft and finally heads down the river to get help. Brian has to stay awake the whole time until he gets to the trading post because he has to steer the raft. At one point he loses track of the raft and loses it along with Derek because he got knocked off the raft.

The theme of this story is survival because Brian has to survive and keep Derek alive too.

This was a great book to read. I like how suddenly things turn bad for Brian when Derek goes into a coma. He has to keep himself and Derek alive and get help

the river by gary paulsen.......2007-05-22

"The River" is a book in which a surprising turn of events puts Brian Robeson back into the wilderness fighting for his and somebody else's life.

To start this book off a C.I.A. agent named Derek comes to Brian Robeson's house and says, "I want you to do it again". He is asking Brian to go back into the wilderness to teach of survival. After much thought Brian reluctantly agrees. Once they get to the lake where they will be staying Derek starts to unload all of their supplies. Brian tells him to stop. IF they have all of those things, it's not desperation, it's not survival. After walking around a little bit Brian says there will be a rainstorm soon. Sadly, they find out it is true. That rainstorm turns into a lightning storm. In which Derek gets hit by lightning and falls into a coma. Brian is scared he will die of dehydration so while trying to find a way out, he finds a map, and in finding that, he finds a chance. For Derek to live.

Opinion: I thought this was a VERY good book. This book shows how even if you don't expect it, you can find answer to your problems. I recommend this book to boys who like adventure stories. The river is definitely worth reading to me.

The River.......2007-04-25

Nick Wright
mod2

The River

The River is about Brian Robeson (from the Hatchet) going back into the wilderness. This time he goes with Derek Holtzer, a government psychologist, so Derek can learn how he survived and show astronauts and military survival techniques. During a storm Derek his put into a coma and Brian must find a way to get him to safety.
My favorite part in this book is when the storm comes. Brian wakes up in the middle of the night and hears the thunder and lightening. He remembers the tornado but said there is no way he could go through such a bad storm twice in one life. When he reawakens all he can see is lightening. Brian told Derek to just stay low and don't get hit. Derek couldn't hear him and went into his bag. The lightening jumped of the tree, hit Derek's radio, which was there only way of communication with the real world and it was ruined, and hits Derek. Brian wakes the next day to find Derek in a coma.
I think this is a good book for anyone. It teaches two main things. One is think about your decisions because they can come back to haunt you. Like when Brian told Derek to put all the stuff back in the plane he didn't have the gear when he needed it. Second, it teaches that when you need to take a risk to get a great reward you sometimes have to take it. Like Brian had to take the risk of bringing Derek on a raft one hundred miles down a river to a trading post. I think The River was a good book.

Engaging reading for teenage boys.......2007-04-08

I teach a middle school special education class and we have been doing a novel study on Gary Paulsen's books. We listen to the book on audio and follow along in the book. They love them. The story does take a while to get going, but once it does you're racing down "the river" with Brian Robeson. Peter Coyote's voice lends to the action and draws you in to the story.

This book is freakin sweet!!!.......2006-12-14

This book is pretty kewl. It is filled with action and leaves you on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading it. In the last book "The Hatchet" his plane crashed and he was forced to survive in the wilderness alone! In this book a government official named Derek comes to his house to ask him to do it all over again... just without the crashing part! So he agrees and they go out there and the guy is struck by lightning and is in a coma, and Brian knows the only way to save him is to build a raft to go down river to the trading post so he can get medical attention. The rest you will have to find out by yourself!!!

Average customer rating:

East of Eden
Sprawling Insightful Epic
A work of art
Enjoy it or don't, but read it.
My Favorite Book

East of Eden
John Steinbeck
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0142000655

Book Description

Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America's greatest writers and cultural figures. We have begun publishing his many works for the first time as blackspine Penguin Classics featuring eye-catching, newly commissioned art. This season we continue with the seven spectacular and influential books East of Eden, Cannery Row, In Dubious Battle, The Long Valley, The Moon Is Down, The Pastures of Heaven, and Tortilla Flat. Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.

Customer Reviews:

East of Eden.......2007-09-15

I had read this book and thorougly enjoyed it so I sent it to my grandson who is 21 who basically is not really a "reader". His reaction to the story was worth everything to me. He now wants me to send him more classics which in itself is a miracle. So more Steinbeck and now Faulkner, Williams and whatever I can think of.

Sprawling Insightful Epic.......2007-09-14

This is a very dark yet illuminating book, filled with pithy aphorisms, subtle humor, realism, tension, sorrow, joy, and trenchant psychology. A thought I had, shortly after reading the book was that a book isn't just created for you, you must also be created for it. You have to be ready for it. Like a wine that had sufficiently fermented, I one day found myself being consumed and combined with the awareness that went into this very heavy book. If I tried reading it only two years earlier, I don't think I'd have gotten as much out of it. But with experience, we become heavier.

Many heavy things are there for the spirit, the strong reverent spirit that would bear much: for the heavy and the heaviest longs its strength.

-Nietzsche

A work of art.......2007-08-26

If you have never read another Steinbeck, try this one. It is perhaps his best work, but alas, all of his work is breathtaking. One of my favorites.

Enjoy it or don't, but read it. .......2007-08-09

I found this book to be fairly enjoyable and full of beautiful gems. I wrote down pages of quotes that I thought were worthy of being remembered. I reveled in many of Steinbeck's descriptions and elaborations. However, I do understand how many people could find this book obvious and simple.

To me it was an inspirational read much in the same way that the Bible can be moving. I took much value away from reading this novel because I began to look at it as an example of good and evil. A simplistic illustration that allowed the writer to voice his thoughts about life. This did not necessarily create a great turning point in literature, but I believe it did what it was intended to do; make the reader reflect.

I was not left with an overpowering thirst to run out and add this book to my collection but neither did I regret the time I had spent reading it. I would definitely recommend this book because I believe it is worth pushing through the boring parts to have the entire work to look back at and ponder. After all, over 100 of us had comments to share about it.

"Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk."

My Favorite Book.......2007-06-22

This is a phenomenal novel. The crowning achievement of Steinbeck's lexicon of inspired work. The book is operatic, pondering the burden of free will and spanning generations of a family that constantly struggles to escape itself. It is fully American, fully human, and fully a religious experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to be moved, inspired, and find their new favorite book.

Average customer rating:

Great Book
I LOVE THIS BOOK
Boring and harsh
Great classic children's story
Take it or leave it

The Story About Ping
Marjorie Flack
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140502416

Amazon.com

The tale of a little duck alone on the Yangtze River, The Story About Ping is a sweet and funny book with wonderfully rich and colorful illustrations. On a day like any other, Ping sets off from the boat he calls home with his comically large family in search of "pleasant things to eat." On this particular day, he is accidentally left behind when the boat leaves. Undaunted, the little duck heads out onto the Yangtze in search of his family, only to find new friends and adventures--and a bit of peril--around every bend.

The exceptional illustrations bring the lush Yangtze to life, from Ping's family to the trained fishing birds he finds himself among to the faithfully rendered boats and fishermen. Certainly intended to be read aloud, The Story About Ping deserves a place on every young reader's (or listener's) shelf. (Picture book)

Book Description

Since 1933, The Story About Ping has captivated generations of readers, but never before has it been available in a mass-market paperback format. No one can deny the appeal of the book's hero, Ping, the spirited little duck who lives on a boat on the Yangtze River. Ping's misadventures one night while exploring the world around his home form the basis of this timeless classic, which is brought to life by Kurt Wiese's warm and poignant illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-08-24

This is a really cute book. My 6 yo son enjoyed it. He said, "Poor little duck. I wouldn't want to be hit just for being the last one in line!" I have to say, I thought the same thing! :)

I LOVE THIS BOOK.......2007-07-25

My children love this book. So many things can be discussed with this classic: discernment, responsibility, being able to take your punishment when you know you've done wrong, Chinese culture, etc. We used this for homeschooling and from here went into discussions about the Yangtze River (where the book is based), and learned about cormorants (the "strange, dark, fishing birds" in the book). It was very educational. Interestingly, it wasn't my favorite at first, but it grows on you, and has such depth. HIGHLY RECOMMEND******

Boring and harsh.......2007-07-25

The illustrations are plain and unappealing. The flow of the reading lags as well. My son never showed any interest in this book, and neither did I. Also, there are several references to beating ducks with a stick.

Great classic children's story.......2007-07-21

The Story of Ping is a great classic children's story that my children loved. I purchased this copy for my grandchildren to enjoy. Thanks for making it available.

Take it or leave it.......2007-07-12

I purchased this book because it appeared on a list of recommended read a loud books for children. After having read the book twice, I can't say that it's a favorite of mine. I am impressed, though, that Ping still receives the punishment he ran away from after he returns to his family.

Average customer rating:

Will please young adult readers seeking action and psychological understanding alike.
Not Hale's Best
More tales of Bayern
Not as good as its predecessors
Even my 12 year old son loved this book.

River Secrets
Shannon Hale
Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1582349010
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

Razo has no idea why he was chosen to be a soldier. He can barely swing a sword, and his brothers are forever wrestling him to the ground. Razo is sure it's out of pity that his captain asks him to join an elite mission--escorting the ambassador into Tira, Bayern's great enemy.

But when the Bayern arrive in the strange southern country, Razo discovers the first dead body. He befriends both the high and low born, people who can perhaps provide them with vital information. And Razo is the one who must embrace his own talents in order to get the Bayern soldiers home again, alive.

Newbery–Honor winner Shannon Hale returns the reader to the intrigue and magic of Bayern, first introduced in her critically acclaimed novel, The Goose Girl. Enter a world where even those with no special magical skills find in themselves something they never imagined.

Customer Reviews:

Will please young adult readers seeking action and psychological understanding alike........2007-09-07

Razo is too short to be a good soldier and it's mainly out of pity that his captain asks him to join an elite mission as an ambassador's escort, but it's Razo who discovers the first murder, and who is the only one able to befriend both high and low born people, who together can fill in details about the murderer. As Razo begins to learn the real secrets of the river he finds a newfound appreciation of his unique abilities in RIVER SECRETS, which will please young adult readers seeking action and psychological understanding alike.

Not Hale's Best.......2007-07-03

I should preface this review by noting that Shannon Hale is easily one of my favorite fantasy writers. Her creative writing ability is notable and obvious. Take for instance the sentence "spring poked out everywhere." This book is rife with marvelous metaphors and the plot is great...but it's been done before and better in both "Goose Girl" and "Enna Burning." Added, Hale seems to make little effort to differentiate the bevy of characters she releases onto the reader in the beginning pages. I've read both of her previous Bayern books and "Princess Academy."I felt this book was cliche and overkill.

Overkill? Case in point: at the finale of our epic hero and heroine step into a boat and kiss their way to the final page. It was cliche and could have been done better.

Did I love this book? No. But I liked it. Regardless of the flaws I pointed out, this book still floats on Hale's excessive talent and imagination. Bayern is a place I want to go over and over again. I welcomed the chance, even if it wasn't as memorable as the last two times I went. For Hale's ability I give this book a three. In the general writing crowd where Hale stands a head taller, this book gets a four.

More tales of Bayern.......2007-06-06

In this sequel to The Goose Girl and Enna Burning, we return to Bayern. Just because the war is over, doesn't mean there is peace between Bayern and Tira. Isi's going to the Tiran capital on a peace mission and Enna is as well.

But really, this is Razo's book. He's always considered himself rather useless because of his small size, so he's more than surprised when he's asked to be part of the elite band of soldiers accompanying them. He's going to be a spy.

Once in Tira, someone is burning people and Enna is being blamed. It's up to Razo to figure out who's framing his friend and trying to restart the war.

I am always surprised by Hale's amazing skill to paint an entire landscape, people and culture perfectly in a mere few sentences. Her lyrical language and voice is back and this latest installment, while shorter, is just as strong as her earlier works.

Not as good as its predecessors.......2007-05-16

I loved The Goose Girl, loved Enna Burning, and couldn't wait for this one to come out and complete the trilogy. Sometimes, however, that 3rd book just isn't necessary: it tries to spin more story where things have been nicely wrapped up. This is such a book. The story felt thin; the language is nice, but not inspired as in the first two books. The characters pleasant, but not compelling. Some of the plot developments felt contrived, especially the entire line involving Enna. Wish I'd checked it out from the library instead of buying it. The first two books are a wonderful duet. This one's okay, but not a keeper.

Even my 12 year old son loved this book........2007-05-15

He has enjoyed the whole series beginning with "The Goose Girl", but this one was his favorite, probrably because a boy was the main character. Shannon Hale is one of my new favorite authors. And what a great deal we got all the books for through Amazon!

Average customer rating:

Good old fashioned escape the bad guys tale
Ten times ten times ten...Stars
Such a good read!
A book every American will love!
Historical True Story

Follow the River
James Alexander Thom
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0345338545
Release Date: 1986-11-12

Book Description

Mary Ingles was twenty-three, married, and pregnant, when Shawnee Indians invaded her peaceful Virginia settlement, killed the men and women, then took her captive. For months, she lived with them, unbroken, until she escaped, and followed a thousand mile trail to freedom--an extraordinary story of a pioneer woman who risked her life to return to her people.

Customer Reviews:

Good old fashioned escape the bad guys tale.......2007-09-14

I repurchased this book because my original copy got so dog eared and tattered it was falling apart. This is a book I loan out to friends looking for a good read on vacation. It's a straight forward "Indians capture the girl, Girl escapes, girl has exciting escapades on her journey home including discouraging her large German co-escapee from eating her". Trust me, just read it. Lots of fun....bg

Ten times ten times ten...Stars.......2007-09-03

My children are blood-related to the husband and oldest son, Thomas, of Mary Draper Ingles so when wanting to find out more of their story, I chose this book above the other books on the market as I'd heard the author was superb. I was not disappointed.

James Alexander Thom has done a marvelous job in the meticulous research and abundant detail of this book, seeing through the eyes of others, providing the likely dialog that occurred, and translating the feelings of the time. He truly makes the story come alive with beautiful writing skill.

And what a story it is to tell! For the strength of will and perseverance of Mary Draper Ingles, alone, it would almost seem to be a fictional tale. Instead it is a well-documented account of a true pioneering woman's ordeal that begins in 1755 when their settlement in Virginia is raided by Shawnee Indians in vengeance. She, her two young sons and her sister-in-law were captured after witnessing the scalping and death of her mother, the brutal murder of a baby nephew and others. Mary's unborn child (a girl, born two days later on the 1,000 mile trail) was almost ripped from her womb but for the intervention of a Shawnee chieftain who favored her for her dignity, stalwartness and intelligence. So impressed was this chief with Mary's "good blood" that he asked her to marry. From the beginning of capture, however, Mary had plans of going back to her husband, no matter how far away. In her mind, "If there be a way to go somewhere, there must likewise be a way to return."

Leaving her infant daughter in the care of an Indian woman and knowing her sons were adopted by the Indian chieftain, Wildcat, who wanted her hand in marriage, an emotionally-torn Mary made her escape back toward her homeland, along with another who had been held in captivity, an older Dutch woman who was both a help and a hindrance to her.

The story of their survival during the early winter months through the rough and uncharted wilderness territory is unimaginable. The Dutch woman had no one to return to and much of her survival feat can be attributed to Mary and her wits. Mary's will to survive the long walk home had as much to do with her other Will (husband, William Ingles). Or as she would have summed it up after weeks of starvation, frustration and immense bodily and emotional pains: "Ghetel, I come away `cause I got a pinin' for a faraway place and my husband who needs me. That, dear, is why I'm not t' be stopped, by starvin', nor sickness, nor any kind of hurt. Nor'll I be stopped by a woman who grudges me my purpose."

One less person to ransom back which had already been in progress upon Mary's return to the settlement, in her near death skeletal shape and premature white hair, Mary later explains to her reflective brother about prospects of his own wife's return, "A body's delicate only if she's let t'be."

Thomas, her oldest son was returned at age 17 after 13 years in captivity. He had forgotten his native tongue and was every bit like the chieftain who raised him. The other son died of sickness while away. Mary, having had more children with William, lived to be 83 years old, and at her death was lucid and in good health to the end.

Again, I enjoyed this book so much that I plan to read more titles by this author. With more time, I could have easily have read "Follow The River" in one sitting instead of the two days it took, so compelling it was.

Such a good read!.......2007-08-11

This book is such a good read. Get ready to put some real time in, though. It's a very long book. Also, you can't get it in large print any more. This small paperback is hard on the eyes, so make sure to get a book magnifying glass!

This is not normally the kind of story I read, but my mother kept insisting I try it. I'm glad she did. I hated to put it down, because I wanted to know what was about to happen in the next chapter. It is such an interesting story.

A book every American will love!.......2007-07-20

I live in Point Pleasant, WV. This is the area where the Ohio and the Kanawha rivers converge. This book traces Mary Ingles steps right along the river in Point Pleasant, at our Point, where the two rivers meet. Mary Ingles slept on our Point and I will never look at the river or this area without thinking of her brave journey. The detail used to describe our landscape is so accurate. I couldn't put this book down and I haven't read a book like that is a very long time.

Historical True Story.......2007-06-12

This novel, based on a true story, is an excellent read. It tells the story of the suvival of a women in the wilderness traveling over a 1000 miles with only a hatchet in 1755. This book was impossible to put down. I read all night to finish the book. The only book Ive read compared to this is; Mutiny on the Bounty which I have read 3 times. I reread it about every 10 to 15 years. Now that Ive discovered James Alexander Thom the author I will be ordering more of his books. Stephen I. Rogers East Tennessee

A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History

Average customer rating:

Great Historical/ Environmental Read
This book is fantastic for third graders!
This is one of the greatest books ever written.
Scenic AND educational!

A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History
Lynne Cherry
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

History of Technology | Technology | Science | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0152163727

Book Description

From the author of the beloved classic The Great Kapok Tree, A River Ran Wild tells a story of restoration and renewal. Learn how the modern-day descendants of the Nashua Indians and European settlers were able to combat pollution and restore the beauty of the Nashua River in Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews:

Great Historical/ Environmental Read.......2007-03-21

Ages 10+
Follows the life of a river from Native American time through present and details the story of human destruction of a river and the human renewal of the resource. Definitely a read for grades 5+ due to the "urgency" of environmental destruction*we don't want to scare the kids to help them appreciate the resource*

This book is fantastic for third graders!.......1998-08-23

I used this book with my third grade class when they were studying the effects of water pollution on a large body of water. They had already studied Native Americans in second grade and this book just blended the two subjects together. The step by step portrayal of man's harm to the Nashua River helped my children learn about how they were harming the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lynne Cherry is a fantastic author and presents two great subjects that are highly interesting to children. Any teacher that teaches either Native Americans or water pollution should include this book in their lessons!

This is one of the greatest books ever written........1997-12-24

This book was given to me at age 12. I am now 17 and it is still my favorite. I will never outgrow the beautiful pictures, or the very important lesson it teaches. Every page is expertly laid out, with exquisite paintings depicting the river and the era being discussed. The message of environmental conservation and protection is inspiring. Lynne Cherry makes this vital part of our existence understandable to young children, and even adults, often the harder group to reach. I highly reccommend this book for anyone who wants their children to appreciate the world around them and learn that they can, and should, do their best to save it.

Scenic AND educational!.......1997-03-16

This is a beautiful book! The illustrations are breathtaking and it follows an almost "illuminated" type of text structure, similar to that found in "The Mitten" by Jan Brett. Each page is bordered by illustrations of items pertaining to the period in history that the page is depicting - the implements used by Native peoples, animals that live by the river, inventions of the Industrial Revolution, etc. There is much more to talk about on each page than just the environmental theme of the book. This book would fit well in units about Native people, progress/inventions, ecology, water habitats, etc. A must-have for classrooms, homes, and teachers

Average customer rating:

A true story of the "stolen generation"
The movie was Outstanding!
M*E*G*O
An amazing story
As Slow Moving As the Escape Itself

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE
Doris Pilkington
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786887842
Release Date: 2002-11-20

Book Description

Following an Australian government edict in 1931, black aboriginal children and children of mixed marriages were gathered up and taken to settlements to be institutionally assimilated. In Rabbit-Proof Fence, award-wining author Doris Pilkington traces the story of her mother, Molly, one of three young girls uprooted from their community in Southwestern Australia and taken to the Moore River Native Settlement. There, Molly and her relatives Gracie and Daisy were forbidden to speak their native language, forced to abandon their heritage, and taught to be culturally white. After regular stays in solitary confinement, the three girls planned and executed a daring escape from the grim camp.

Customer Reviews:

A true story of the "stolen generation".......2007-04-14

A true account of the author's mother who was part of the "stolen generation", a group of aboriginal children who were taken by the Australian government's as part of their policy for the protection of indigenous children.
It is hard to believe that this policy was once considered the right thing to do, and not so long ago either, 1930's. But then again, Australia only granted Aboriginal people the vote in the late 1960's.
This book is about Molly, who was taken by the Australian government as a young girl and put into a settlement, and her journey back to her family.
A great story of courage and determination. Well worth a read.

The movie was Outstanding!.......2006-07-20

I visited the Amazon site after viewing the DVD "Rabbit Proof Fence." Although I have not read the book, the DVD contained a lot of landscape and many periods during the movie were what some may consider "quiet." When experiencing literature from another era or culture, I believe it helps to try to put self into the environment of the characters. The pace of "Rabbit Proof Fence" helped me be there.

I would reccomend reading the book (even though I didn't...) and highly recommend viewing the DVD. I experienced the grace and courage that exists in all of us at some level.

M*E*G*O.......2006-04-01

Sorry folks I just could not get through this book. Unanimously the "critics" said the first 50 pages were disorganized and tedious. I read up to page 10, "zzzz" I then skipped ahead to page 50 thinking "OK NOW the action will begin" nope just more of the same rambling sentences. I am keeping the book for its historical reference, and maybe someone else will read it and then convince me of the story's value.
M*E*G*O = My Eyes Glazed Over!

An amazing story.......2006-03-16

Rabbit-Proof Fence is the story of 3 young part-Aboriginal girls in Australia, the oldest only fifteen years of age. Historically, "half-caste children", (half-Aboriginal and half-Caucasian) were considered wards of the Australian government and were, therefore, forcibly removed from their families and taken to settlment schools that were little more than jails. The purpose of these schools was to prepare these Aboriginal children for their role in white society as domestics and farmworkers. This book is a true story of 3 girls who escaped from the Moore River Settlement school. Their story is nothing less than amazing. The description of the "weevily porridge" that they were served for breakfast at the school, or the sheets that were only issued when the big inspectors were coming to visit and the other hardships they faced should sadden and anger every reader. Unfortunately, there are many similarities between their story and the treatment of Native Americans in this country. It is a must read!

As Slow Moving As the Escape Itself.......2005-09-27

Even the best of countries has its dark spots. In one of the best of countries - Australia - half-white, half-aborigine children were taken from their homes in a forced assimilation into white society. RABBIT-PROOF FENCE is about three young girls who ran away from this forced assimilation and walked back to their native people across the Australian outback. Although the story is interesting, the writing is such that getting through the book, even at a slim 130 pages, is as slow and plodding as the girls' trek itself.

The first half of the book is a snapshot history of Western Australia. Although some points are interesting, it is far too disorganized and even rambling to provide a solid picture of the period. This is further complicated by the author's slant of the native people living in peace and harmony before the brutish white man came along. No doubt there is truth to this, even a large degree of truth. But as the aborigines are later described as voluntarily working for whites and describing certain employers in positive terms, it is obvious that the full story and texture of the environment is not provided.

The latter part of the book describes the girls' actual journey from the southern part of Western Australia to the north, following the rabbit-proof fence which dissects the country and will lead them home. Even given the lifeless writing style, one cannot help but be impressed with the tenacity this required, especially as they had professional trackers on their trail. This book is good for someone interested in Austalia but be forwarned that the writing is not up to telling a tale such as this.

Red River, Volume 17 (Red River (Graphic Novels))

Average customer rating:

Nakia's at it again

Red River, Volume 17 (Red River (Graphic Novels))
Chie Shinohara
Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Shojo (Girls) | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1421509970

Book Description

While Kail is away from Hattusa, his commander Rusafa is accused of attacking a noblewoman, and, on Nakia's suggestion, is subjected to a brutal test of innocence. News then comes from Ugarit, a nation allied to the Hittites, that Kail's brother is missing. Yuri goes to investigate and finds that the king of Ugarit has received a letter from Nakia that's turned him against Kail. As for the people of Ugarit, they're convinced they're about to be slaughtered--not by their conquest-hungry neighbors the Egyptians, but by the Hittites!

Customer Reviews:

Nakia's at it again.......2007-04-05

I got this book today (and actually read it along with the preceeding six books) and in this volume we have Kail wanting to marry Yuri and Nakia scheming to kill her yet again. I wouldn't say that volume 17 is great, but perhaps that's because its clear something big is being set up and will take place in volume 18, which is not due out til July. Yuri and Kail's love continues to grow though, and while volume 17 doesn't focus heavily on it, like a few volumes that preceed it, they do have some tender moments. This volume deals a lot with the impending war between the Egyptians and the Hittites, at the end Ramses says to himself that he will have another chance with Yuri, as he was not aware that she remained with Kail it seems, so in book 18 we should prepare for lots of Ramses and Yuri moments, and Yuri was none too pleased that she would have to see Ramses again.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books