Mars, Book 6

Book Description

Kira is a lonesome waif who cares more about her art than anything else. Rei is an arrogant, rebellious and tough playboy who wears his delinquency like a badge. When these two opposites find each other, the sparks fly, but they also attract some unwanted attention.

Customer Reviews:

Addiction.......2004-03-11

I've gotten my friends where I live addicted to Manga books. We all went to Tokyopop.com and looked at the books and most of us wanted to read MARS. And then my friend found it in our school library and we were instanly hooked. MARS has a storyline that is simplistic and easy to follow, nothing where you have to memorize which robot is which and whose screwing who. MARS is about love, its how a good girl can chagne a bad boy forever.
Kira and Rei are the obvious main characters of the book, and the story revolves around their love. I personally love it because of the leassons they learn and the realistic problems they face (such as jealous ex-girlfriends, jealous bestfriends, and a world of sex).

Not just for girls........2003-08-20

My group of friends and I are really into manga books. I never really was, however. One of them handed me MARS #1 and I read it within 3 periods. I flipped out. I needed the next one. MARS was an addiction. A combination of wonderfully drawn artwork and a twisted story. I say twisted because it has everything, humor, violence, love, fear, sadness. I loved it. I still have not read 11-15 but am eager to. The cover says something about it being a story for teen girls but I am a 16 year old guy and I still liked it. I think other manga fans will too, despite their gender!

Love and Motorcycles.......2002-11-27

There are inumerous shojo manga (girl's comics) artists in Japan. To pick one that would describe them all would be to choose Fuyumi Soryo's Mars.
The story follows the standard good girl meets bad boy and love developes despite all odds. What could very easily fall into the "overbeaten" path has actually blazed its own way into being a highly believable and totally addictive tale. Fifteen volumes in all, TokyoPop has released about five or six volumes so far.
The story revolves around the shy and reclusive artist Kira Aso and the overly popular motorcyclist Rei Kashino. Kira has always found the rebelious Rei to be obnoxious and loud, way too much for her quiet artistic life to accept. When a chance meeting in the park ignites a stirring romance that blossoms in the very first volume, readers will become totally enthralled with every twist and turn fate deals out for the two young lovers.
Angsty and yet humorous (take a look at Tatsuya's shirts and Rei's cigarette pack for a little extra english humor...), Mars proves Fuyumi Soryo as one of Japan's great shoujo manga artist/authors. The artwork is stunning and brings the characters to life on every page (sometimes I could just 'see' the motions of the motorcyle racing, particularly in volume three). What could have been very stereotypical and very forgetable is, in actuality, simply stunning! It's a great read through and through! I would recommend this to people who like Marmalade Boy, Paradise Kiss, Maison Ikkoku, and Peach Girl.

Suprising.......2002-11-27

I read alot of mangas but I'm not really into the high school dramas but I read this one and it just captured me. It's about every high school girls students dream, to be the one that goes out with the most popular guy in school. That was not the same for Kira Aso, who just wanted everyone to just leave her alone and let her paint. That's when Rei Kashino, the most popular guy in the school starts to fall head over heals for Kira.They find out alot about each others past good and bad but that does not bother then because they love each other and nothing or no one is going to stand in there way. I don't want to ruin the rest of the story cause it starts to get really good. It's pretty much about how a hight school love can turn into something even greater. Trust me this is one manga you are going to want to read

5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death

Average customer rating:

A smart writer for smart children
Boared with your hum drum life? Escape with the Cosmic Beatnicks of Pinkwater!
the last Guru rocks!
A great read. Again, again, again, and again.
-[beyond a title]-

5 Novels: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars; Slaves of Spiegel; The Last Guru; Young Adult Novel; The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death
Daniel Pinkwater
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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4 : Fantastic Novels
Lizard Music
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency
Fat Men From Space
The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization

ASIN: 0374423296

Amazon.com

There are many words that could be used to describe Daniel Pinkwater's books. Wacky comes to mind. Outrageous. Lively. Real. Unreal. Comic genius Jules Feiffer, in his foreword to 5 Novels, says, "Pinkwater's thoughts don't connect like yours or mine. His 'tab A' does not fit into 'slot A' the way it's supposed to in a well-thought-out thought. More likely, his 'tab A' will fit into 'slot 14' or 'slot X79,' the kind of fit that might drive you or me crazy if we tried it, but when Pinkwater does it, you read it and say to yourself, 'Why, of course, this is how it should be.'"

Performing chickens, a New Jersey Martian, an orangutan orchestra conductor from Ceylon ... the details are what jump out of his novels. The ice cream dish in Slaves of Spiegel, for example, consisting of an eggplant, two slabs of whole-wheat pizza dough, 16 flavors of ice cream, fresh figs, pistachio nuts, a lobster, and assorted fresh garden vegetables and fruit. (It's served piping hot from the microwave, in a freshly laundered regulation army knapsack, to the accompaniment of Franz Liszt music.) This is what Pinkwater is all about. A junior-high schooler's dream of an author.

In 5 Novels, you can feast upon five beloved and quirky favorites: Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars, Slaves of Spiegel, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, The Last Guru, and Young Adult Novel. And if you still need more Pinkwater novels (and you definitely do), explore 4 Fantastic Novels. (Ages 9 and much, much older.) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

5 Novels -
Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars
Slaves of Spiegel
The Last Guru
Young Adult Novel
The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death

Customer Reviews:

A smart writer for smart children .......2007-04-09

If you haven't read Pinkwater before, this is a good place to start. If you are familiar with his work then rejoice for here are five books in one. And not just any five books... oh no. This collection contains not only Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars and Young Adult Novel but the first and best of the Snarkout Boy books. Buy it, read it, and know that you and your children will never be the same.

Boared with your hum drum life? Escape with the Cosmic Beatnicks of Pinkwater!.......2006-11-10

I Loved these books. Daniel pinkwater is an old favorite from my adolescance. I fondly remember my older brother reading aloud from the "Snarkout Boys..." and "Young Adult Novel" on family car trips. More than holding up well with time, I found that now, at 32, I can finally grasp the great comic surrealism that is Daniel Pinkwater. This is a great compilation of old favorites and un-appreciated gems. This book is somehow bound with paper so light, I carried it on the subway daily until I finnished all 5 books and wasn't bothered by the size or weight. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who can appreciate inter-dimensional shopping mall parking lots, gourmets from space, enlightenment brought on by silly hats, socio-political revenge via soggy grape nuts and/or Psycho-kinetic guacamole. Yum...

the last Guru rocks!.......2005-11-20

This is an amazing, funny, incredibly random book with five comical masterpeices. Though I agree with the other reveiwers that alan medelsohn, boy from Mars is very good, my personel favorite is the last Guru. the idea of a self-made kid millionare is VERY intertaning. These books are, as I said earlier, random, and A Young Adult Novel is possibly the most random of them all. an example; the Dada's(the main character) beleive dishwashers should rule the world. Weird, isn't it? Any way, no matter wich story you read first, you'll laugh and have a great time reading it.

A great read. Again, again, again, and again........2005-07-09

The five novels in this book are genius. Alan Mendelson, boy from mars, takes youn through a boy going through being the new kid, goofing off with another weirdo, the wacky Klugarsh Mind Control, and... well I just can't give away the rest! I have to say i have a soft spot for The Last Guru, its so just... cool what happens to the boy :). This is an EXELLENT book for anyone to buy, I've read it so many times i tore off both covers and three pages. A great book to love and read again, again, again, and again.

-[beyond a title]-.......2004-12-01

I cannot think of one word, or two, or three or even more to describe this book. I am not even going to try. The only problem I have is not with the book itself, but with some of the reviews.. Everyone looks upon Alan Mendelson, Boy from Mars as Pinkwater's masterpiece when the true gem (in my opinion) is in the back of the book! Yes folks.. Young Adult Novel by Daniel Pinkwater is quite possibly my favourite book. Ever. It is insanely random (Horace Gerstenblut n'existe pas!!!) (also, Kevin Shapiro is the, well, I won't ruin that card for you, partially 'cause I can't remember..). But anyway, all the contained novels are pure comic genius, funny to all (I loved them when I was eleven or so, but they seem almost better to people in high school; my aunt loves Pinkwater and I read Young Adult Novel to my mum and she seemed to enjoy it), so I suggest you read this book IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Play ball
You must read this Freddy book!

Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars
Walter R. Brooks
Manufacturer: Overlook Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Freddy and the Men from Mars (Freddy the Pig Series)
Freddy and Simon the Dictator (Freddy the Pig Series)
Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans (Brooks, Walter R., Freedy Books.)
Freddy and the Dragon (Freddy the Pig)
Freddy Rides Again

ASIN: 0879519428

Customer Reviews:

Play ball.......2002-10-14

If you are not familiar with Freddy I suggest you read "Freddy the Detective" first to see how he became a detective.
Now this may very well be his greatest adventure for kids of all ages.
Once again Freddy is confronted with many overlapping mysteries. One of the Marinas (Two Clicks) is missing. And Freddy must use some of his best disguises in the investigation. As with Freddy stories there are many adult concepts that are brought up in the story and one must know where loyalty lies and be ware of deceit.
Now have fun and learn how the ABI (Animal Bureau of Investigation) helps solve the mysteries.

You must read this Freddy book!.......1999-01-25

Surely the best Freddy the Pig book, Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars is humorous and delightful. From the martians, to Simon and the rat gang, to Mr. Hercules, this book is a must-read, Freddy fan or not!

Average customer rating:

The best book on Mars I've seen

Mars (DK Eyewitness Books)
DK Publishing
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Astrophysics & Space Science | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books

Space Exploration (DK Eyewitness Books)
Universe (DK Eyewitness Books)
Robot (DK Eyewitness Books)
Fossil (DK Eyewitness Books)
Electricity (DK Eyewitness Books)

ASIN: 0756607655

Book Description

Learn all about Earth's closest neighbor in this unprecedented guide to the red planet. Including up-to-the-minute data from NASA's ongoing explorations, this amazing resource tells the whole story - from Mars' mystical significance in early cultures to the ambitious future plans for manned-flight explorations.

Customer Reviews:

The best book on Mars I've seen.......2004-11-17

The illustration and level of detail in the writing make this great for kids and adults! Terrific job!

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Greek gods with Roman names?
my review
Perfect For Beginning Third Graders
Good, but has the stories wrong.

Adventures of the Greek Heroes
Anne M. Wiseman , and Mollie McLean
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Dar and the Spear Thrower

ASIN: 0395137144

Book Description

These timeless stories about mighty Hercules, fearless Jason, and creepy-crawly Medusa have been told for generations. The world's secrets are revealed through magical mythological tales of amazing people, animals, and placesand these stories are sure to charm and excite readers who like fantastic and fun adventures. Perfect for the younger reader, Adventures of the Greek Heroes is a wonderful introduction to the rousing and rollicking world of Greek myths. This exciting collection includes the adventures of Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Orpheaus, Meleager, and the Argonauts.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-06-02

This book uses some Greek names and some Roman names for the gods. Some of the stories are conflated or otherwise wrong.

Greek gods with Roman names?.......2005-12-08

I'm using this book with my six year old to introduce her to the Greek myths and I agree with the other reviewers here: it's a good book for that purpose, getting kids interested in the material and providing them with some good background on which to build later. Some of the stories are wrong, yes; but what bothered me more was the use of the ROMAN names for the Greek gods instead of the Greek names (e.g. Vulcan not Hephaistos, Diana not Artemis).

my review.......2002-12-20

This was the first book I read as a 6-year-old after the basic learn-to-read primers. It sparked a love for Greek myths and other classics that has lasted to this day. There are some changes in the text, but it puts the plot in terms a child can understand without embarrassing a parent. Came back to buy the book for my own daughter.

Perfect For Beginning Third Graders.......2002-08-25

A resource/reading teacher at the third grade level for almost three decades, I have used Adventures of the Greek Heroes to great effect at the beginning of the year. The book is on a beginning third grade level. The controlled vocabulary will annoy older readers, but suits young readers. A great introduction to the Greek myths, and surprisinly detailed in its accounts of the six or so heroes on which it is mainly focused: Prometheus, Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Orpheus, Jason. It's about 170 pages and well-illustrated.

Adventures of the Greek Heroes is by no means comprehensive. For that you need D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, which is on about a fifth grade level. A wonderful book that is indeed encyclopedic. It begins with the origins of the gods and proceeds roughly chronologically to the Trojan war.

Wiseman and McClean's Adventures of the Greek Heroes, nonetheless, is a very valuable introduction for younger readers, eight and nine year olds, particularly for boys, who, as we all know, are less inclined to read. This book motivates third grade boys like few others.

Good, but has the stories wrong........2002-08-16

I read this book when I was in middle school and really wanted to read a book about Greek mythology because that was my main interest back then. I read this book and enjoyed it, despite its childish narration(a bit more fit for six year olds). However, I was disappointed when I did further research and discovered that many of the myths were wrong in this book. For one thing, in this book, when man disregarded the gods, the gods took fire from mankind and Prometheus took the fire from the gods to return to men, but as punishment he was chained to a rock. Well, anyone who knows mythology well enough knows that Prometheus actually stole fire to introduce to mankind and was honored, but later punished because he made it so that the gods got the worst of the sacrifice. In addition, the book doesn't say that Hercules performed his labors for the king because of Hera's jealousy. Instead, it makes it seem like the gods sentanced Hercules to work for the king for no reason at all. I was also ticked off by the puny, unecessary dialogue and the fact that the Latin equivalents of the Greek gods were used instead of the real Greek names(such as Minerva instead of Athena). Now, for some postivie info, it does at least have some good illustrations and most of the stories actually were right. I must admit it did a fairly good job at telling the stories of Perseus, Orpheus, and Theseus. I would for sure not recommend this book if you're looking for an introduction to Greek mythology. Instead, I recommend checking out Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia(with plenty of articles on Greek myths) and "D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths". If you'd like to read this book, better to go for the library than to buy it.

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars (Ricky Ricotta, No. 4) (Ricky Ricotta)

Average customer rating:

Great for becoming independent readers
This book is great!
Pilkey strikes again

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Mecha-Monkeys from Mars (Ricky Ricotta, No. 4) (Ricky Ricotta)
Dav Pilkey
Manufacturer: Blue Sky Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Ricky Ricotta #02: Giant Robot Vs. The Mutant Mosquitoes From Mercury (Ricky Ricotta)
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ASIN: 0439252962

Amazon.com

Whoops! When Ricky offers his gigantic robot friend his parents' minivan as a skateboard substitute, neither mouse nor robot considers the consequences. Sure enough, the skateboarders wipe out, and the van is squashed. Now it's up to the "boys" to earn some money to pay for the damage. "Meanwhile, about 35 million miles away on the planet Mars, there lived a mean little monkey who was hatching an evil plan." Good thing for Ricky and Robot, because, well, one intergalactic battle leads to another, and pretty soon these two have earned themselves a brand-new rocket-powered minivan from the general of the Squeakyville Air and Space Association, in gratitude for saving Earth from Major Monkey and his mecha-monkeys.

Young readers will be pleased as punch to see this latest title in Dav Pilkey's series, which includes Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot vs. the Mutant Mosquitoes from Mercury and Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus, all illustrated with Martin Ontiveros's funny black-and-white drawings. (Ages 5 to 10) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot are in big trouble. After crashing the Ricotta family mini-van while using it as a skateboard (it's the only thing big enough for Robot), they have to earn some money quickly to pay for repais. While they're thinking how on EARTH they are going to come up with the money...on Mars, mean Major Monkey is making plans to enslave mousekind! Major Monkey has had his eye on earth for some time now...and knows that the first thing he must do is get rid of that robot. Major Monkey tricks the robot into going to Mars. Now it's up to Ricky to rescue his robot and keep Major Monkey from menacing mankind.

Customer Reviews:

Great for becoming independent readers.......2006-08-10

My son was first drawn to the illustrations in Ricky Ricotta/Mighty Robot series but I held out buying the books because I thought they were "glorified" comic books. However, much to my surprise when I actually read it myself, it was quite hilarious.

The best part was that it was easy enough for my 5 year old to read on his own (with a little help), which was really a major coup as I could not get him to start reading chapter books.

We ended up buying all 7 books and he has already read 4 of them in 2 weeks!

The author's website also has some great games.

This book is great!.......2004-08-22

In this, the fourth Ricky Ricotta book, Ricky and the Mighty Robot face their gravest threat yet. Major Monkey is tired of being alone on Mars, and decides that he will conquer the Earth, and to do that he must first put the Mighty Robot out of the way. Can Ricky save the Mighty Robot and the Earth, all at the same time? You bet he can!

This book is great! The drawings are black-and-white, but are quite funny, and go along great with the story, which is hilarious! My ten-year-old son picked out this book (he's into robots right now), and loved it. The book contains some "Flip-o-rama" pages, where you rapidly flip the pages back and forth and watch the somewhat-animated cartoon, which we both thought was pretty cool. The text is pretty short, and definitely not challenging to him, but he nonetheless loved this book. We highly recommend this book.

Pilkey strikes again.......2002-02-13

We just had to get the latest Ricky Ricotta book as my 4 1/2 year old son is in love with Ricky Ricotta and Captain Underpants. I find the Ricky Ricotta series a little less humorous and more boiler plate than the Captain Underpants series, however my son loves them both. The Flip-O-Ramas are great as usual and my son now makes up the sound effects. He also really enjoys going through how to draw each character at the end. He hasn't tried to actually draw them yet. All of the books in this series have a villain from another planet who Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot is able to defeat and put in jail. My son loves seeing the old villains in the jail windows at the end of the story. I sure hope the next book in the series comes out soon because I don't know how long my son can wait. If your kids like Captain Underpants, Ricky Ricotta is likely to be a favorite, although I think some older kids may find it boring in comparison. It is easier to read, however, and would be a good book for a beginning reader to read themselves.

Average customer rating:

Very nice
Blast-Off!

Mission to Mars (Backyardigans (8x8))

Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416914862

Book Description

The Backyardigans are on a mission...to Mars! A strange signal has been coming from the Red Planet, so Pablo, Uniqua, and Austin blast off into space to investigate. At first all they see are rocks, craters, red soil, and a lake. But they soon discover...they're not alone!

Customer Reviews:

Very nice.......2007-03-09

It is very nice it is a book and grand daughter love them but she is 3 so not into books to much LOL :)

Blast-Off!.......2006-10-22

"Mission to Mars" is the fourth "Backyardigans" 8x8 book based on a television episode to be released. In this high-flying adventure, Pablo, Uniqua and Austin blast off for the fourth planet in our solar system, the red planet of Mars. Investigating a strange signal, they're being backed up at Mission Control by Tyrone and Tasha.

The Backyardigans head to Mars to investigate the signal "boinga boinga boinga." Once there, they face meteor showers, rough terrain and worse. But astronauts never give up when they have an important mission to complete.

Personally, I don't think "Backyardigans" episodes translate as well to books as some shows, given all of the songs and humor that are used on the television program. However, this is still a fairly nice adapation of this "very special episode" of the program.

Average customer rating:

The best book ever of the past. present, and future!
The BEST book in the history of books EVER!!!
5 STARS!
reccomended
Wonderful!!

The Winds of Mars
H. M. Hoover
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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Orvis
This Time of Darkness

ASIN: 0525453598

Customer Reviews:

The best book ever of the past. present, and future!.......2002-02-12

The Winds Of Mars is an excelent book! My favorite character is Hector (Annalyn's protector robot). When Annalyn's father abandons her on a broken down subway she has to overcome her fears to bring the city of Mars back together. If you like science fiction you will love this book! IT IS A MUST READ!!!!

The BEST book in the history of books EVER!!!.......2001-12-29

I really enjoyed The Winds of Mars. It has a way of capturing you and making you want to read more that no other book I have read does. My favorite parts is when Annalyn takes her "father's" place as president on Mars and Annalyn's protector robot, Hector. If you like sf, you will definately LOVE this book, I just couldn't stop reading it. H. M. Hoover did a wonderful job of creating a Martian society where the citizens were on the verge of a "civil war" of sorts. If you are reading this review, no doubt you are interested in this book, so I urge you to read this book.

Enjoy!

5 STARS!.......2001-05-28

This was one of the best books I've ever read. H.M. Hoover did a GREAT job writing this book. It's suspensful, mysterious, and FULL of action. I've read this book over and over again, and each time I can't seem to put it down!

reccomended.......1998-07-31

This book was excellent. It was really exciting! I think anyone who likes science fiction should read this book about the future on Mars.I definitely reccomend this book.

Wonderful!!.......1998-07-15

H. M. Hoover has always written the best in science fiction, and this book is no exception. Ms. Hoover combines some very deep issues with a great story plot, and it is a shame that many of her books are out of print because they are such wonderful reads with food for thought. Keep writting, Ms. Hoover, because it does make a differance!

Average customer rating:

Very Good
Calico Captive is a Pretty Good Book
A modern re-writing of captivity narrative and young adult classic: Calico Captive
An adolecent's journey
A Captivating story!

Calico Captive
Elizabeth George Speare , and W. T. Mars
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison
The Bronze Bow

ASIN: 0618150757

Book Description

In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War.
It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of slavery. Mingled with her thoughts of Phineas Whitney, her sweetheart on his way to Harvard, is the crying of her sister's baby, Captive, born on the trail.
Miriam and her companions finally reach Montreal, a city of shifting loyalties filled with the intrigue of war, and here, by a sudden twist of fortune, Miriam meets the prominent Du Quesne family, who introduce her to a life she has never imagined. Based on an actual narrative diary published in 1807, Calico Captive skillfully reenacts an absorbing facet of history.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good.......2007-04-28

It is very interesting to look at Miriam's character in this story. It is a little hard to sympathize with her at the beginning, because she is so self centered. She doesn't seem to care for much past herself. But that changes as the story progresses, and she becomes caring and giving to others. As she does, she begins to find an inner peace that had eluded her for most of the story.
I also like how everything in this story is so accurately portrayed. I have read how some readers have been shocked how Indians are referred to as "savages," and "redskins." The author was merely trying to portray how many of the settlers saw them. Besides, in the story, Miriam is corrected by one of the characters, who tries to show her the Indians in a different light. I also like how the French are shown, a little frivolous, with a great love for the material things, but kindhearted as well (most of them).
All in all, this book is quite good, with many twists and turns, though I found it a tiny bit slow at times.

Calico Captive is a Pretty Good Book.......2007-02-27

This is a beautiful story of a girl who was a captive to both the Indians and the French. Some parts of this book I did not like because of the way they called Indians "Redskins", although they might have called them that. After I got into it, it was a lot more interesting. The writing style was good, because it had different points of view, and it is historically accurate. I couldn't put it down. The book is an epic tale of a young girl who learns to adapt to her surroundings. I loved this book from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading it very much.

A modern re-writing of captivity narrative and young adult classic: Calico Captive.......2007-01-03

Calico Captive is Elizabeth George Sprears (1908-1994) first novel. It was inspired by the diary of Susanna Willard Johnson, abducted by the Abenaki Indians in 1754 (during the French and Indian War) from her house in Fort Number 4 in Charleston, New Hampshire, published for the first time in 1796 and then 1807 (and presently available online at www.canadiana.org). Susanna Johnson was made captive with all her family, including a 14 year old sister, turned into the sixteen year old Miriam in the book, conducted to the Indian settlement of St. Francis and then sold to the French in Montreal, where she remained for three years before being set free after the payment of ransom. It took some years still before the whole family could be reunited.

Captivity narratives evolved into a kind of literary genre during the early years of American literature. These diaries, mostly by women, were always written at distance from the event of the abduction and share in their originality many stereotyped situations. These memories have been identified by modern critics as vehicles for a subjective rather than objective truth, as a means of political propaganda and as a form of sensational literature such as the "slave narratives". Post-modern and cultural analysis have re-evaluated them as examples of gender and culture conflicts and pointed out the principal elements of the genre: what a proper woman should do in a desperate situation and the religious message of sticking to Faith in times of adversity. Not rarely, however, the captives depict their captors as individuals and somehow opened themselves to these foreign (Indian or French) cultures. Susanna Johnson's diary is one of those in which the captors, be they Indian or French, are shown in all their humanity and this old document, even if difficult to read, retains a charm of its own.

This long introduction is to explain the importance, the originality and the enduring success of "Calico captive". This novel, more often than not classified as children or adolescent literature makes a great read also for adults. Elizabeth George Spear describing Susanna's little sister Miriam introduces into this real adventure a fictionalized and modern young girl, that with her thoughts and actions allows the reader to identify with the history, the characters and the literary genre.

Miriam is sixteen, just starting to get interested in a young Harvard bound Phineas Whitney, when she is ripped away from her home. During her march through the woods, she keeps blaming her family for their capture and she thinks with longing and rage of her new blue dress. These small things seem more important than the plight the family is withstanding. But how true, that a sixteen year old girl would think of it this way! Once in the Indian settlement she tries to get along with her masters and decides to learn sewing and embroidery and tries to make the best of her situation. But when she is brought to Montreal, the contact with the long despised French, completely upsets her beliefs and standards. The people she meets are sincere and sympathetic, all the world revolving around her is interesting and her mind opens to the acceptance of another culture (European) and another religion (Roman Catholicism). She realizes the enemy is not so different from us and she integrates so well, to be asked to be part of that world. The temptation is strong but inside her mind her steadfastness, modelled on that of her sister Susanna, consents her to take the right decision.

One of the most interesting aspects of Miriam's outlook is the acceptance of what she has to learn from her captors: the embroidery from the Indians, the fashion and gaiety from the French, and at the same time the understanding of the relations of the other members of her family (Sylvanus the little boy that loves to run wild with the Indians, the little Susanna that loves to be pampered by her adoptive French aunts, her older sister Susanna that has so many prejudices against the French).

A great deal of historical research is evident in the book's preparation and the Authors descriptive capacities consent a complete identification with the characters and the situations. Old Montreal is there before our eyes, as are the dresses of the Frenchwomen and the sparkling ballrooms, but we can also feel the cold, the hunger and the discomfort of life among the woods.

This novel has a double value. In the first place it is a beautiful story to read and enjoy and at the same time an occasion for learning what life was like during the French and Indian War, but in the second place it is a modern version of captivity narrative that allows the reader to appreciate this genre of literature so popular many years ago.

A small personal P.S.: I read this book borrowing it from the Library when I was nine years old (1966) and I enjoyed very much. After so many years, I found it a bookshop in Boston this summer and I bought it with enormous joy. I took it back to Italy, where I now live, and read it with all the enthusiasm of when I was nine. Naturally, I now understand more things than I did then and the Net helps us out in gaining more information on the topic, but the joy of reading the book I assure you was just the same! [...]

An adolecent's journey.......2006-06-17

Having read in various books of the French and Indian war of Susanah Johnson's captivity and ordeal, I came across this fictionalized account set through the eyes of her sister, Miriam. Being curious, I purchased it.

This is the life developing story of a teenage girl and in that it is a good story. Taking the character from her abduction by savages near fort Number Four (whose attrocities are well documented) to her captivity (something not so well documented)in the native settlement of St. Franceis to her being deliverered to Montreal (she had been sold though no details are shown) in New France to her eventual repatriation.

Based on a true story narrated by the heroine's sister Susanna Johnson in 1807, and containing numerous historical innacuracies and clearly some early Politically correct biases of the auttor,this will be interesting reading to a teenager as well as an adult. Though due to lack of availablility, I do not fault the author's numerous historical and cultural inaccuracies in her story, I must confess I do not care for the author portraying the character as narrow minded in comparison to the Abanakis whose label of Savages is well deserved and their attrocities are well documented or of the Catholic French who were hardly the most tolerant of people as French Huegenots in France and many English protestant captives discovered after being sold to them by the natives. Indeed though there is much reported of english captives being purchased from the natives by their French patrons not much is out on the details.
Certainly the proto-political correctness could have been done without.

Otherwise it is a good story as far as story telling goes.

I feel, with proper research to correct its flaws, it would make a nice tv movie for kids.

A Captivating story!.......2005-10-03

This Historical Fiction Novel is great!! It helped me understand more about the time era. After the first few pages, I got really into the book. It made me feel as if I really were the main character, and going through her struggles. This book expresses the characters really well, and is fun to read!!

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl, Mars Bluff, South Carolina 1865 (Dear America Series)

Average customer rating:

Freedom in the eyes of a young former slave...
And it did
The Effect on People's Life
Where to begin....
WOW

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl, Mars Bluff, South Carolina 1865 (Dear America Series)
Joyce Hansen
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0590849131

Customer Reviews:

Freedom in the eyes of a young former slave..........2007-04-20

Not only is 12-year-old Patsy a slave, but she's also one of the least important slaves, since she stutters and walks with a limp. So when the war ends and she's given her freedom, Patsy is naturally curious and afraid of what her future will hold.

Although she and the others are technically free to do as they choose, their former owners are reluctant to do that. So, as long as they remain on the plantation, they all know their lives won't be any different.

With that in mind, the slaves slowly begin to leave -- seeking long-lost relatives, or starting over in a brand-new place. Patsy, who arrived on the plantation with a group of men as a toddler, has no idea who her parents are. With a sick feeling in her heart, she enviously watches other families reunite, knowing that no one will come for her.

Even so, Patsy's too busy to feel sorry for herself long. Now that slavery's ended, she and the others are free to learn, and they're eager to get a school established on the grounds. But problems with securing a teacher force Patsy to reveal her secret -- some time ago, she learned to read and write. Soon, Patsy is enjoying a newfound importance as her fellow ex-slaves depend upon her, affectionately calling her "Little Teacher" -- and helping her gain the confidence to embark on a new life of her own.

This book is an excellent way to get anyone, from children Patsy's age to adulthood, to understand just what freed slaves endured as they struggled to make the huge transition from captivity to independence.

And it did.......2006-03-07

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly

In this book Pasty or "little teacher," a slave in South Carolina, learns how to read through two white kids when they play a cruel, sick joke on her. While Annie pretends to be the teacher at a school Pasty and the little boy "pretend" to learn, but Pasty isn't pretending. After receiving a journal from Annie as another cruel joke, she starts writing. As an injured slave no one pays much attention to her until she reveals that she can read. Promised a plantation school and land, the newly freed slaves on Davis Hall Plantation are furious when they don't get either. What will they do? Read and find out!

This book is O.K. but it isn't a book that I would just pick up and start reading. I like historical fiction, but this book just doesn't make me want to read it. Don't let my opinion influence you though, try it and you might like it, I am just a picky reader.

The Effect on People's Life.......2005-12-15

We can never know the life of others unless we have put ourselves in other people's shoes. Life can be so hard these days so we need to get along with each other because we might need some one to do something for us one day.

Pasty is talking about how her life was in 1865 at Mars Bluff, South Carolina, she could not be taught how to read or write, and had to work in fields, all the time. She also got beat when she did not do the right thing, she had to cook for the owner, and I know that is a way no one would want to live, like she had to. It was a hard job to do when she had to be out in the cold doing work.

Pasty's life can make people want to have a new experiment if they were in her shoes. If that was my life I would want to be able to get out of the situation she is in, that is something some of us might would break down in cry sometimes it is hard when you can not see your mother that often her mom came to see her the owner of the slaves made her leave but refused to leave she got arrested for private property and for trespassing.

Everybody's life can change in a spilt second. Have you ever felt that your life has gone through different pathways, some people can be going through things that make you want to get angry around the clock, every body can feel if they have lost control of what they have done in the past, sometimes you just have to give it to God for your wrong doings and the pain you went through once in your lifetime.

I would recommend this book for any person of any age. It is a great book reminding people of how much they have got to be thankful for and, how much freedom you actually have, during the moments of your life when the world has put you through things that make us wonder why life can be so hard.

Where to begin...........2005-03-26

This book is one of the best in the entire series in my opinion. The story takes place just after the Civil War on a plantation, and though the negros on the place expected life to change, it hasn't changed at all.

One of the things that make this story one of the best is Patsy herself. Instead of giving her a perfect life, the author gave her anything but that. Patsy hobbles, one of her legs is shorter than the other, she stutters and stammers, and because of this, everyone presumes that she is stupid. She is anything but. She also longs for a family, but doesn't even know who her parents were.

This is an outstanding story, one of the things that make this story good, once again is the heroine. Patsy is perhaps one of the best characters written. This is one of the best of the "Dear America" series.

WOW.......2004-12-28

The moment I started reading that book, I couldn't put it down! It was AMAZING! It's about a girl named Patsy living in the Reconstrustion era. As many of the other slaves leave, who are now freed, she wonders about her life and if she should leave her plantation life. She learns a lot about herself and life in general. But I won't give away the ending... :-X I recommend it to all!!!!!!

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