Bridge to Terabithia

Product Description

Jess Aaron's greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new kid, a new girl, boldly crosses over to the boy's side of the playground and outruns everyone.

Amazon.com

The story starts out simply enough: Jess Aarons wants to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade--he wants it so bad he can taste it. He's been practicing all summer, running in the fields around his farmhouse until he collapses in a sweat. Then a tomboy named Leslie Burke moves into the farmhouse next door and changes his life forever. Not only does Leslie not look or act like any girls Jess knows, but she also turns out to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. After getting over the shock and humiliation of being beaten by a girl, Jess begins to think Leslie might be okay.

Despite their superficial differences, it's clear that Jess and Leslie are soul mates. The two create a secret kingdom in the woods named Terabithia, where the only way to get into the castle is by swinging out over a gully on an enchanted rope. Here they reign as king and queen, fighting off imaginary giants and the walking dead, sharing stories and dreams, and plotting against the schoolmates who tease them. Jess and Leslie find solace in the sanctuary of Terabithia until a tragedy strikes and the two are separated forever. In a style that is both plain and powerful, Katherine Paterson's characters will stir your heart and put a lump in your throat.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book for Kids and Adults!.......2007-10-14

When I took my kids to see this movie last year, I didn't have the slightest idea what it was about. And although I think I probably embarrassed the heck out of the kiddies by sobbing through part of it, it was a phenomenal movie. I very rarely read the book AFTER the movie, just because I hate to already know what is going to happen. But I'm glad I read this one!

Jess Aarons is excited for the 5th grade to start. He's been running all summer so he can show everyone at recess that he is the fastest boy in the school. But things take an unexpected turn when the new kid is school turns out to be the fastest....and it's a girl!! Leslie Burke, a city kid that has moved to the country and just happens to be Jess' new neighbor, is different than the girls at Lark Creek Elementary. She dresses different, has short hair, and doesn't even own a TV! But once Jess gets to know her, they become inseparable. He finally finds a friend that understands his love of drawing.

Leslie and Jess create a world of their own -- Terabithia, a magical world in which they are the rulers and no one else is allowed to enter. It is a Kingdom of giants (which are not-so-surprisingly similar to the bullies at school) and spirits. Terabithia is place for Leslie and Jess alone, and the only way to get there is swing across the river on a rope. But when tragedy strikes and Jess blames himself, even Terabithia can't protect him from the grief he feels.

Paterson wrote this book based on personal experience. Her son David's best friend Lisa was killed in an accident when they were 8 years old. And this book was her tribute to both of them. I realize this book has been frequently "challenged" by parents. I can understand the reason, but I don't feel like children should be sheltered from this beautiful story. Yes, it is sad, but it is life. Children are more resilient than a lot of adults give them credit for, and I think this book could only be a benefit to them.

When the movie was released, all the trailers showed depictions of the fantasy world that was really only in Jess and Leslie's imagination. I think it is unfair to mislead people into thinking this book is a high fantasy book. Because it's not. It's about friendship and love. It's about understanding yourself and learning to live with that understanding. And it's about loss. It is a beautiful, simple story that everyone should read, adults and children alike.

Makes You Feel Like A Kid Again.......2007-09-29

Katherine Paterson, with vividly beautiful prose, tells a story about the friendship between a young boy and a young girl, and how that friendship transforms the life of that boy from something dull and normal to something as spectacular as a imaginary fantasy land. The book itself is short and an easy read, but what the book really says to the reader is quite a bit bigger than its page count. Much like growing up, this book is both sweet and painful, and Paterson truly has a great handle on what its like to be a ten year old, fifth grade boy. So for all those readers who aren't afraid of a book that will make them cry (for both sad and warmer reasons) than I recommend this book. It doesn't matter if you're a child or an adult, "Bridge to Terabithia" is universal.

10/10 Classic.

Bridge to Terabithia CD.......2007-09-27

Love the CD. It is done very well. You may need to be aware however that there are curse words in the book.

Read this one with your child.......2007-08-22

There are some pretty heavy subject matters within this beautiful work of fiction. Yet, they are subjects that need to be dealt with, and what better conversation starter than a response to something you've read together? This is the story of Jess and Leslie, two outcasts of their 5th grade class (although I found both to be interesting). They become neighbors and fast friends, and make up an imaginary kingdom deep in the forest, called Terabithia. There, they have the confidence and control which eludes them in the real world. But an amazing thing happens in that they begin to see the world in a different, more favorable light. They find that people are not who they seem, and this makes them better and more compassionate individuals. The first time I read this, I was absolutely stunned by the tragedy that takes place. Even still, after several times rereading it, it tears at my emotions. I commend Katherine Paterson for bravely venturing into such sensitive matters, ones that will make children better capable of dealing head-on with their own emotions.

What was this book about?.......2007-08-10

I did not understand why this book was written. What was it all about? The only point it seemed to make was Leslie's death at the end of the book. Overall I thought that it was exteremly uneventful. Terabithia seemed to have a small role to play in the book. 'Much ado about nothing' fits this novel.
I cannot, however, ginve this book only one star. Giving it one star would be hating this book. I did not hate it I just thought that it never did get to the point. If it was a memior I would have liked it. As a memior I would have thought it was a good book because I would have expected this. (I wouldn't have picked it up though. Memior isn't quite my style.) I liked the characters and was sad when that girl died. I think that that is why I haven't given it one star.
Not a ringing endorsement, but if memior is what you like I'd give it a shot.
-cdm

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson

Average customer rating:

Tuesdays With Morrie
A great read
A story to open your heart
The Hobo Philosopher
Too superficial ...

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Mitch Albom
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0307275639
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Amazon.com

This true story about the love between a spiritual mentor and his pupil has soared to the bestseller list for many reasons. For starters: it reminds us of the affection and gratitude that many of us still feel for the significant mentors of our past. It also plays out a fantasy many of us have entertained: what would it be like to look those people up again, tell them how much they meant to us, maybe even resume the mentorship? Plus, we meet Morrie Schwartz--a one of a kind professor, whom the author describes as looking like a cross between a biblical prophet and Christmas elf. And finally we are privy to intimate moments of Morrie's final days as he lies dying from a terminal illness. Even on his deathbed, this twinkling-eyed mensch manages to teach us all about living robustly and fully. Kudos to author and acclaimed sports columnist Mitch Albom for telling this universally touching story with such grace and humility. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague.  Someone older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you sound advice to help you make your way through it.

For Mitch Albom, that person was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago.

Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way, and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder.  Wouldn't you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you, receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you were younger?

Mitch Albom had that second chance.  He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man's life.  Knowing he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college.  Their rekindled relationship turned into one final "class": lessons in how to live.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie's lasting gift with the world.

Customer Reviews:

Tuesdays With Morrie.......2007-10-10

This was an excellent book that I enjoyed reading. It really makes you think about life and everything you've ever done. It teaches you to love without consequence and to be who you've always wanted to be. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

A great read.......2007-09-24

This book was quick to read and has a powerful message. Should be on everyone's 'must read' list!

A story to open your heart.......2007-09-11

This is easily one of the most touching books I've read. Morrie's thoughts are those that I think all should read. The book is concise and is not overpowering in it's enlightenment. If you buy one book this year - buy this one. It will cause you to smile and laugh and cry and might just change your world.

The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-10

Obviously this book doesn't need another review, but, for what it is worth, I liked it. It is a nice sentimental story, with some good advise and some believable people. Morrie was obviously a likable old man. I don't really agree with his philosophy entirely but my turn on that ride hasn't arrived yet. Maybe I'll change my tune when I get there. You really can't miss with this one.

Too superficial ..........2007-09-09

Not impressed!! The lessons taught here are not something new but they are so superficially presented.

Average customer rating:

favorite
Good but DEPRESSING!
An amazing first novel
Wonderful story about a boy we would all love
Heartwarming

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Stephen Chbosky
Manufacturer: MTV
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671027344

Amazon.com

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novel from Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensity of a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recent suicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.

With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite," is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

Standing on the fringes of life...

offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

Customer Reviews:

favorite.......2007-10-16

This book is spectacular, it really spoke to me and is perhaps my favorite novel of all time.

Good but DEPRESSING!.......2007-09-21

I had to read this for school and let me just say, you will probably feel pretty depressed at the end of this book. The whole book has this cloud of dead always surrounding it. Another than that, it's a pretty good book. It's got alost of teen issues and sexual things in it, so I really wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 14 or 15.

An amazing first novel.......2007-09-01

I had heard of "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower" for a long time from people on the internet. I had also seen it awhile and I eventually decided to buy it on Amazon to read it.

When it came in I didn't expect much of it. It was a small book and the whole story was a bunch of letters. Or at least that was my first impression.

After reading it, I've officially stated it as my favorite book. Although it was a first novel from Stephen Chbosky, I must say he truely did an amazing job writing it. It was so easy for me to relate to the main character Charlie. And all of the other characters seemed so real. I read it in two sittings. I won't give the plot because plenty of other reveiwers have posted it.

But I will tell you that after reading it my look on life was completely changed. If you ever have read it or will read it, you will understand what I mean.

Just so you know if you're considering to buy it, this is coming from a thirteen year old. And although I may be young, I can still tell you quite honestly that I highly recomend buying no matter your age. Some of the topics included though may not be sutible for a younger audience.

Wonderful story about a boy we would all love.......2007-08-30

Chbosky has revealed a great deal about youth and their problems, and does so sensitively and with empathy. You have to read it closely because he weaves his facts into the story so subtly that you might miss them.

Heartwarming.......2007-08-25

For some reason I decided to check out the audio book for a mild distraction. As a woman in her 30's, I was moved how the author did a wonderful job capturing the feelings of lonliness, anger, happiness, despair and the basic need of being love and loving others that most of us experience.

In my opinion, it almost takes someone with some life experiences to really see just how fragile we can be, whether it was yesterday or almost twenty years ago.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Young Adult Book With A Memorable Message
Whirligig's right review
Brents Journey
Whirligig
Whirligig YAHHHHHHHHH

Whirligig
Paul Fleischman
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440228352
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Book Description

Brent Bishop longs to have the popular Brianna strolling around school on his arm. But when she rejects him at a classmate's party, Brent's hopes for popularity are instantly shattered. Devastated, he tries to destroy himself in a car crash... but instead kills an innocent girl named Lea.

Instead of sending him to jail, Lea's parents challenge Brent to create four whirligigs modeled on a picture of Lea and position them at the four corners of the United States. Lea's mother hopes that the whirligig that used to delight Lea will be a fitting memorial for her precious daughter. She sends Brent off with an unlimited bus ticket, a few pieces of wood, and the tools to memorialize Lea. On his mission to preserve his victim's memory, Brent ultimately rediscovers his own love of life.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Young Adult Book With A Memorable Message.......2007-06-20

WHIRLIGIG starts out like so many other young adult books. Brent is a shallow high school junior who really wants to fit in with the popular crowd. He drinks too much at a party, a pretty girl he has a crush on publicly humiliates him and as result he makes a stupid decision that results in the death of a teenage girl in another car whom he has never met. Then the book takes a highly unusual and creative turn. As part of his probation he meets with the dead girl's mother and she makes the strange request that Brent travel to the four corners of the United States (Florida, Maine, California and Washington) and erect a whirligig in each state in memory of her daughter. This request does strain credibility and the book takes a turn to fable instead of realistic fiction at this point. In nonlinear chapters Fleischman has a person (one from each state) whose life is changed by seeing one of Brent's whirligigs narrate their story. In other chapters Brent's cross country Greyhound bus tour is described with special focus on the cirumstances in which he builds and places the four whirligigs. There is a strong theme throughout the book of how the consequences of one's actions effect others. In continuation of this theme Brent briefly meets numerous people on his travels who influence him in their short time together and help him grow to be a good person. This is a very quick read and though I can see how it could be confusing to some the patient reader will soon see the book's pattern and be well rewarded. Highly recommended for middle school students and up as well as adults.

Whirligig's right review.......2007-03-26

The Novel Whirligig by Paul flesh man is a very interesting story; this story is for people around the Teen age. It's about how a drunk driving teenager tries to kill himself, but instead he kills a young high school student. Instead of going to jail, the killed students mother asks him to make whirligigs of the student and put 1 on each corner of the United States.
I read this book as a book project for my class, it's very interesting on how the main character's thought (Brent). At the beginning, was very arrogant, he did not thank of consequences, but at the end, he changes and becomes a very good person, as he became more mature.
As he started, it was a bit hard for him to make whirligigs, he was scared, he didn't know what was going to happen to him, but towards the end, he was very confident of himself. I think that this was very good for him to go through this, it was like a vacation
As he travels, he faces many things on his way, some good, and some bad. Two people almost thieve him, which was a scary moment for him, but at the end he met an artist that was very nice to him, he told her he had accidentally killed someone but then, she said that he does not look like the killer type of person. This made him feel a lot better.
I would rate this novel a four out of five stars because I think that this book is really worth it. And that it has a very good setting, theme, and dialogue. The only thing missing in the story would be that I think it's a bit short for a novel.
Last but not least, I would recommend this book for any person around the ages twelve and twenty, because the main character in the story is in that age group. This is the kind of book that is exciting and also teaches you many things in life and how you can change.

Brents Journey.......2007-03-23

I chose to read the book Whirligig by Paul Fleischman because I thought that the cover of the book was interesting. I read the back of the book and thought that it was an outstanding concept for a book. This was a plot that could happen to anyone that is my age. I like to read books that have things that can actually happen to me in them.

This is a compelling story about a young boy named Brent who makes a terrible mistake. He loses control of himself at a party he was at and left in a fit of rage. This would be the worst decision that Brent would make. He wanted to die and closed his eyes while behind the wheel. He was unsuccessful in his suicide attempt, but it in the process, struck and killed a young girl named Lea.

Brent was crushed by this tragic event and wanted to do everything he can to try and make up for the damage that he caused to Lea's family. Lea's mother does not want him to pay with money or physical labor, he wants him to continue to spread the joy and happiness that Lea had when she was alive. His assignment is to construct and put up four different whirligigs in all four corners of the nation so that Lea could be remembered for what she was and try to bring joy into the lives of many more people.

I found that this book was very well written. The only problem with I had with it was that the author, after every chapter that involved Brent and his quest, would put in a story with a random character but in the end it showed how his whirligigs affected their lives. When I first read this kind of chapter I was confused. I thought I had missed an important part of the book but I did not. Once you realize the purpose of these chapters, it is much easier to read and comprehend.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick read. It isn't a book that you need to get really into in order to keep going. Throughout the book I wanted to know what would happen with Brent and what his next adventure with the whirligigs would be. I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is overall a great idea for a story and very well put together. I felt myself feeling the same way as Brent did in the book in certain situations.

If anyone asked me what I thought about this book I would tell them that it is a fantastic story and a great book to read. This is a book that is full of twists and turns in the life of Brent and the journey he takes.

Whirligig.......2007-03-23

I read the book Whirligig by Paul Fleischman because I was assigned it. It's a very interesting story and is a good, easy read. This book is about a boy named Brent who goes to a party and then when he drives home, he is so depressed, because a girl he asked out doesn't want to be around him, he wants to kill himself. So he takes his hands off the wheel and lets the car go freely when he accidentally kills a girl. The girl's mother then asks Brent to place four whirligigs on each of the four corners of the U.S., in Maine, Florida, Washington, and California. This book also talks about the lives of some kids living in each of the states Brent visits.
This book relates to the real world because a lot of teens like to go to parties and a lot of teens will attempt suicide, which can have dramatic consequences. Also a lot of teens are killed in car crashes. Many teens also commit crimes and are taken to court. This book is good to read because it talks about the lives of teenagers and what they go through. I would recommend it for teenagers to read since it talks about a lot of struggles teenagers go through everyday.
You'll probably find this book very interesting because in every other chapter, it talks about the life of a random teenager living in one of the states Brent is supposed to build a whirligig in. I think this book will make you very conscious of what is happening in the world of today and how people are making up for it. I'd give the book four stars out of five. It's a good rather easy book to read, but it is definitely not an honest to goodness piece of literature. It's not a whole lot of heavy reading, but there is a lot of figurative language in it.
Some interesting quotes in the book were, "The world itself was a whirligig, its myriad parts invisibly linked, the hidden crankshafts and connecting rods carrying motion across the globe and over the centuries." It's saying that everyone in the world is connected someway. Another quote that was interesting was "This is the afterlife, he told himself. To be crowded in with a collection of strangers, plunging through a foreign landscape, headed toward an unknown destiny." Brent thinks he is dead and is now entering the afterlife, but he is really being driven to court.
It would be a good book to check out in the library. This book can be read really quickly and easily, but there are certain parts that contain vocabulary words that you might not know. I, personally, wouldn't buy the book since the book wasn't extremely moving to me. The stories about the teenagers in every other chapter don't really fit in with the story because they have nothing to with what Brent is doing. It's definitely not a classic but it would be a good book to read just once.

Whirligig YAHHHHHHHHH.......2007-03-23

Whirligig, written by Paul Fleischman, is a very interesting story. I read this book, because the title sounded so intriguing, it just popped out at me. After reading this book I would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages. If I were to rate this book I would have to give it a 31/2 stars out of 5 stars. I would give it this rating because I don't believe it is the best book in the world but it is still very good and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to other people of all ages because it is a very good read, there is not any complicated words and time just kind of passing while you are reading this book.

This book is very exciting, u never really you know what is going to happen next. This book is about a kid named Brent who has moved to a new town. Here Brent longs to walk around school with Brianna by his side, but at a party Brianna publicly humiliates Brent forcing him to dash out of the party. This was not a good thing driving with he alcohol Brent consumed and all of the emotions he had, Brent was trying to kill himself. In his attempted he ended up killing a young girl named Lea. Upon meeting her parents Brent was sent on a quest around the world.

I think that this book connects to the outside world in many different ways. One way would be that there are many suicidal people in the world though u may not want to believe it there is people out there that are like that. Also another way to connect this to the outside world would be that there are many of car accidents that are fatal to some people. Another way that this book is connected to the outside world is that there is kids out there are drinking underage as Brent does in the book at the party. Lastly there are people that travel around the country for various reason as Brent travels around the country to the four corners of the United States.

This is a very good read and it as very entertaining. If you are looking for a good book with a lot of interesting mind bozzling entertainment this would the book to read. There are many interesting things happening in this book that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Average customer rating:

Best BOOKK
FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES
books
Highly Recomended!
Cute book

The Truth About Forever
Sarah Dessen
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142406252

Amazon.com

With her sixth novel, award-winning author Sarah Dessen offers up another generous helping of finely crafted storytelling about real teens dealing with real life. In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future endedwith her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her. All of the Dessen trademarks are here: a girl in transition, a wonderfully fleshed out cast of secondary characters, and of course, the luminous, powerful writing itself. The Truth About Forever will more than satisfy Dessen's legion of fans, and will win her countless more as well. Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and up) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-asdishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it….

Customer Reviews:

Best BOOKK.......2007-09-26

This was by far my favorite Sarah Dessen novel. She creates characters that make you feel like you know. They're personalities jump out at you and suck you in, and by the end you're wishing that it was never over.

FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES.......2007-09-12

i absolutely LOVE this book. i started reading it at about 10 o'clock and just couldnt put it down. i finished it that night, at 3 in the morning. i lauged, cried, and fell in love with this book, and all the characters. Sarah Dessen is by far my favorite author. i am in the middle of another one of her books, "this lullaby," which i am loving.
i would recomend this book to anyone in a heartbeat!

books.......2007-09-07

My daughter just loves this author and all her books so far that she has read.

Highly Recomended!.......2007-09-01

Before I bought it I wasn't sure if I would like it, even though everyone I had talked to loved this book. They weren't wrong. This book shows deep insight into the life of a teenager who is too afraid to show her emotions even though she longs to do so. Beautifully written, I would recomend this book to anyone!

Cute book.......2007-07-03

This book was engaging. I really enjoyed reading it. My only complaint was the occasional swear word. I whited these out but was nonetheless offended that one would degrade teenagers so by assuming we enjoy indulging in that garbage. Other than that the book was a terrific great, a great plot, cute guys, and a thorough understanding of the teen mind set.

Average customer rating:

Tears of a Tiger
Drinking Causes Death
great book
AMAZING
Daughter loved the book

Tears Of A Tiger
Sharon M. Draper
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0689806981

Book Description

In one horrifying night,

Andy's life changed forever...

Andy Jackson was driving the car that crashed one night after a game, killing Robert Washington, his best friend and the captain of the Hazelwood High Tigers. It was late, and they'd been drinking, and now, months later, Andy can't stop blaming himself. As he turns away from family, friends, and even his girlfriend, he finds he's losing the most precious thing of all -- his ability to face the future.

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"In one horrifying night, Andy's life changed forever... Andy Jackson was driving the car that crashed one night after a game, killing Robert Washington, his best friend and the captain of the Hazelwood High Tigers. It was late, and they'd been drinking, and now, months later, Andy can't stop blaming himself. As he turns away from family, friends, and even his girlfriend, he finds he's losing the most precious thing of all -- his ability to face the future.

Customer Reviews:

Tears of a Tiger.......2007-08-01

This book is a must read for teenagers. It is insightful and thought provoking...the story line is something that many can and unfortunately, may relate to as they go through high school.

Drinking Causes Death.......2007-06-21

Andy is a high-school student and a good basketball player. His best friend Robbie is the star of the basketball team, and the two of them hang out with two other close friends, Tyrone and B.J. One night after a good game, they get into Andy's car. All except B.J. are drinking. On their way home, they get into a car accident and Robbie is killed, while the other three are barely injured. Andy isn't even charged with much of anything; he goes back to school like things are normal.

Inside, though, things are far from normal. Andy feels distant from everyone, and he is wracked with guilt. He continues to lean on his girlfriend, Keisha, and shares all of his depression with her. His parents have never been very close to him, and they aren't there for him now that he needs their support. None of his classmates or his teachers seem to be able to understand what he is going through. Andy often feels like he is drowning in sorrow and he can't let go of the accident.

I liked the idea of following a student through such a tragedy to see how he was affected by it. I also liked the different points of view in this story; they helped me to get a more well-rounded idea of what everyone in the story was thinking.

I thought that some of the parts of this story were very unrealistic. These were pretty savvy high school kids, yet they had old-fashioned ideas about sex and they never used swear words. I'm sure that was done to prevent the book from being censored out of high school libraries, but it made the characters seem less real. I also found it hard to believe tht teachers would be as prejudiced as the teachers in this school were.

great book.......2007-06-14

Tears of a Tiger is a very exiting book that you can't stop reading. This is my all time favorite book. Teas of a Tiger is a book about a teenage kid named Andy who blames himself for the death of his best friend who died in a car accident caused by him. After watching his best friend burn to death he is tormented by reality and constantly has bad reams about his death. The only comfort that he has is with his girlfriend Kiesha and when he is talking to his little brother Monty. But because of the way that he is acting and trying to bring attention to him his girlfriend leaves him. After finding no one to talk to for a while he is overwhelmed with depression and shoots himself in the head. After when his brother gets home from school he notices blood dropping from the ceiling and a puddle of blood leading from the second story. When his mother goes upstairs she finds him with a shot gun in his hand and his head blown to pieces.
This book is written all in dialogue by the author Sharon M. Draper so I think it is better because you can find out more about the charters life and what they feel and think. Reading this book made me think about what I would do if one of my closest friends died and it made me think about the people that kill themselves because of depression and how depressed they have to be to just solve the problem by ending there lives. This author has written many more books about people like this, and has a collection of books called the Hazelwood high. I am planning on reading more books by this author to see how they compare to this best seller.

AMAZING.......2007-04-08

I read Tears of A Tiger in one day!! I love this book so much. This is a really sad book and it basically made me cry. Its about Andy,a guy who lost his best friend in an accident and took the blame for it. He felt really depressed for months until something bad happened to him(sorry won't say...to good to say...gotta read it to find out). But this is one of my favorites.. and I would read it all over again...I'll never forget this book for as long as I live.

Daughter loved the book.......2007-03-09

My daughter loved this book. Anything that can get her to read is alright with me.

Average customer rating:

Suspenseful reading for my son
Stupid Mistake Ruins Lives
Swalloing Stones is a story with an intriguing plot
Swallowing Stones
Swallowing Stones

Swallowing Stones
Joyce Mcdonald
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440226724
Release Date: 1999-07-13

Book Description

It begins with a free and joyful act--but from then on, Michael finds it impossible even to remember what it felt like to be free and joyful. When he fires his new rifle into the air on his seventeenth birthday, he never imagines that the bullet will end up killing someone. But a mile away, a man is killed by that bullet as he innocently repairs his roof. And Michael keeps desperately silent while he watches his world crumble.

Meanwhile Jenna, the dead man's daughter, copes with desperation of her own. Through her grief, she tries to understand why she no longer feels comfortable with her boyfriend and why a near stranger named Michael keeps appearing in her dreams.

Suspenseful and powerfully moving, this is the unforgettable story of an accidental crime and its haunting web of repercussions.

Customer Reviews:

Suspenseful reading for my son.......2007-09-09

My 13-year-old son (whom I would say has only an average interest in reading) was required to read this book over the summer for his pre-AP English class (8th grade). It was so good, that at the end he couldn't put it down, and unbeknownst to me, stayed up till 2 a.m. to finish reading it.

Stupid Mistake Ruins Lives.......2007-06-03

On the Fourth of July Michael has a huge birthday party. He is seventeen, everything is going well and tomorrow his best friend Joe will take him to get his driver's license. Michael's grandfather sent him his old military rifle as a birthday present, and Michael and Joe take it out into the woods behind his house and shoot it off once into the air in celebration before going back to the party.

Somewhere across town, Jenna's father is up on the roof of his house, fixing a leak. He is hit in the head by a stray bullet that seems to have dropped right out of the sky. Moments later he is dead from the gunshot wound.

When Michael hears the news the next day, he suspects that it was probably his bullet that killed Jenna's father, but Joe convinces him that no one could ever prove that and he should jsut keep quiet abou it. Michael follows his friend's advice and buries the rifle where he figures nobody will find it. But he is still haunted by what he has done, especially when he starts seeing Jenna all over town.

Jenna's life is falling apart. She can't seem to get over her father's death and she is obsessed with finding out who shot the bullet, harassing the police about the investigation on a daily basis. She notices a guy a year or so older than her who seems to be watching her wherever she goes, but thinks she may just be imagining it.

When the investigation starts closing in on Michael's street and the police start asking some difficult questions, Michael is forced to make choices that have the potential to ruin his life--or the life of his best friend.

I liked Michael's building relationship with Amy, although it is never clear why Amy had the reputation she had in this book. I liked the way Michael's and Jenna's lives intertwined. It was sad but interesting to see how Joe's guilt ended up putting him into such a horrible downward spiral.

I thought Michael should have been smart enough to realize that the police weren't going to give up as easily as he thought. I could understand his initial lie, but then when they kept coming back and it was obvious they thought he was involved, he should have known enough to come clean.

Swalloing Stones is a story with an intriguing plot.......2007-03-28

Joyce McDonald has written a remarkable story about a boy who accidentally killed a man and how he has to live with it forever.
In the story Michael has to deal with the fact that he killed a man. As the story progresses Michael realizes that every time he sees Jenna Ward he feels an enormous pile of guilt. Will Michael tell the police that he is the one who killed Charlie Ward, or will he let his best friend take the blame?
Jenna is a normal teenage girl, until he father falls off the roof because he was shot. She wants to seek revenge on who ever killed her father. At night Jenna has a reoccurring dream and Michael MacKenzie keeps appearing in. Will Jenna forgive whoever killed her father?
This is a great mystery story. I would recommend this story to adolescents who love a story that you can't predict what is going to happen next. It is an extremely easy read. I love this book because as I was reading I couldn't put it down, it grabbed my attention from the first page.

Swallowing Stones.......2006-10-26

This book was a good book. It had so many different points in which a person good relate to. It touched such a soft topic but made it interresting. It allowed me to connect with all the character especially Jenna and Michael. It showed two different point of views on the same event. They had the opposite perspective which made it draw you in and want to never put the book down. This is why I recommend the book Swallowing Stones.

Swallowing Stones.......2006-09-20

Michael McKenzie is turning 17. It's the fourth of July and his parents are throwing him an all day barbeque and pool party with all of his friends. He's having the time of his life! Little does he know that this day will change the rest of his life---for the worse. Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald made me realize how an innocent act can turn your life upside down. The protagonist, Michael, is in conflict with himself throughout the entire book when he realizes that he has unknowingly killed a man with the 45-70 Winchester rifle that his grandfather has just given him. Michael goes from an athletic, popular, well-liked student with a wonderful girlfriend to a withdrawn kid who loses most of his friends. I felt sorry for him as the plot thickened. He was scared and since he remained silent he didn't have anyone he could turn to for help. He loses all of his relationships and is alone. His personality changes and he is constantly on edge. News of the details spread throughout town as the police close in on their investigation. When the detectives appear on his doorstep to question his father, Michael's story becomes twisted and he even implicates his own best friend. Will Michael clear his conscious and turn himself in? Read Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald to find out how this thriller ends.

Average customer rating:

Hysterical Fiction
Excellent Teen Novel
Great read for adults too!
Great Story
A Pleasure to be savored...for Adults as well

A Northern Light
Jennifer Donnelly
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152053107

Amazon.com

It's 1906 and 16-year-old Mattie Gokey is at a crossroads in her life. She's escaped the overwhelming responsibilities of helping to run her father's brokedown farm in exchange for a paid summer job as a serving girl at a fancy hotel in the Adirondacks. She's saving as much of her salary as she can, but she's having trouble deciding how she's going to use the money at the end of the summer. Mattie's gift is for writing and she's been accepted to Barnard College in New York City, but she's held back by her sense of responsibility to her family--and by her budding romance with handsome-but-dull Royal Loomis. Royal awakens feelings in Mattie that she doesn't want to ignore, but she can't deny her passion for words and her desire to write.

At the hotel, Mattie gets caught up in the disappearance of a young couple who had gone out together in a rowboat. Mattie spoke with the young woman, Grace Brown, just before the fateful boating trip, when Grace gave her a packet of love letters and asked her to burn them. When Grace is found drowned, Mattie reads the letters and finds that she holds the key to unraveling the girl's death and her beau's mysterious disappearance. Grace Brown's story is a true one (it's the same story told in Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy and in the film adaptation, A Place in the Sun), and author Jennifer Donnelly masterfully interweaves the real-life story with Mattie's, making her seem even more real.

Mattie's frank voice reveals much about poverty, racism, and feminism at the turn of the twentieth century. She witnesses illness and death at a range far closer than most teens do today, and she's there when her best friend Minnie gives birth to twins. Mattie describes Minnie's harrowing labor with gut-wrenching clarity, and a visit with Minnie and the twins a few weeks later dispels any romance from the reality of young motherhood (and marriage). Overall, readers will get a taste of how bitter--and how sweet--ordinary life in the early 1900s could be. Despite the wide variety of troubles Mattie describes, the book never feels melodramatic, just heartbreakingly real. (14 and older) --Jennifer Lindsay

Book Description

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has big dreams but little hope of seeing them come true. Desperate for money, she takes a job at the Glenmore, where hotel guest Grace Brown entrusts her with the task of burning a secret bundle of letters. But when Grace's drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers that the letters could reveal the grim truth behind a murder.

Set in 1906 against the backdrop of the murder that inspired Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, Jennifer Donnelly's astonishing debut novel effortlessly weaves romance, history, and a murder mystery into something moving, and real, and wholly original.

Includes a reader's guide and an interview with the author.

Customer Reviews:

Hysterical Fiction.......2007-08-09

The Amazon reviewer writes that "the book never feels melodramatic," and the SLJ writes that "Donnelly's characters ring true to life," and, "an outstanding choice for historical fiction fans." Perhaps the reviewers at Amazon and the SLJ are young teenagers?

A Northern Light is not a bad book, it's just not what I hoped or expected it would be, based on descriptions and reviews. First, it's a YA book through and through. Some might call it a coming of age story, but it is so chock-full of "lessons" for adolescents that it seems more like a classroom than a story. In almost every chapter, and every week, of young Mattie's life, there is an eye-opening and paradigm-expanding "experience," all of them methodically sequenced in order to help Mattie - and the young readers of this book - step into less-than-innocent adulthood. There are all the usual lessons of coming of age YA novels, such as boyfriends, girlfriends, kissing, desire, sex, and love. There are additional lessons in pregnancy, birth, postpartum depression, disease, lust, adultery, greed, and racism. And then there is a rather odd and protracted lesson in masturbation and exhibitionism.

As I said, the lessons get in the way of the story, or rather, the story is the vehicle for the lessons. I do not consider this historical fiction, as there are precious few lessons in history, and the characters do not "ring true." For example, there is one black character, Weaver. Weaver and his mother are the only two black people that Mattie has ever seen or known. Weaver's father was lynched. Weaver is Mattie's best friend and he is the smartest kid around, on track to go to a fine university on scholarship. Everyone likes Weaver, he is friends with all the white folks, he goes to the same schools, is welcomed in everyone's home, and works at the same jobs as the white kids. But Weaver brandishes physical rage against anyone who shows him any kind of disrespect. Weaver always manages to escape the consequences of his destructive behavior, because everybody, including the sheriffs and the judges, like him so much. This hardly rings true to life.

The real mystery of this story is the murder, the real-life murder of Grace Brown. At the end, I wondered why the author included it. The murder and its investigation do not play an important role in the story. For most of the story it's barely in the background. And yet, Mattie has letters from the victim showing that Grace was murdered, and even after Mattie realizes this, she goes on with her adolescent life as if she didn't know. She decides to give the letters to the sheriff only at the end, but there's no explanation as to why Mattie waited that long. I think perhaps the best parts of this book are the real-life letters that Grace Brown had written, which are included in the story as Mattie reads about one each day. Given that we know Grace's fate, the letters evoke even more empathy, and make this book worth reading, almost.

Excellent Teen Novel.......2007-08-06

This novel is probably one of the best coming-of-age novels I've ever read. It details accurately the life back in the twenteeith century, as well as giving two stories at the same time. This book is recommended to everyone out there; I know you're going to love it because I did. Excellent teen debut novel from an excellent author.

Great read for adults too!.......2007-07-27

I loved A Northern Light. Mattie is a fully drawn main character and the author paints a compelling picture of life in the Adirondacks in the early 1900s. The first chapter really draws you in.

My only (minor) complaint is that the jumping back and forth in time got a little confusing. The book starts out only about a day before the point where it ends. Almost everything in between is in the past, but it's hard at times to know for sure what is in the past, and what is real time in the chapters between the beginning and the end.

Other than that, it's a great read for older young adults and just plain adults as well!

Great Story.......2007-07-16

When I picked up this book at the half price bookstore, I did not realize it was a young adult book. The book summary on the back of the book got my attention. I read the book, and what a surprise! A very good story. I like that it tied into a true story. Makes me want to read more about the real story, An American Tragedy (Signet Classics) I loved the character development. Jennifer Donnelly is a great storyteller. There were sad moments, happy moments, laugh out loud moments and just good thinking about "life in general" moments. I really enjoyed her style of writing so much, I went and bought The Tea Rose. Once again, the prologue already got me wanting more!. I have read 80 pages of this book and I am throughly enjoying every page. I was lucky enough to find a copy of the next book, The Winter Rose which is difficult to get at the moment. Cannot wait to read it, and I understand that there will be a third book, The Wild Rose. (Triology). I highly recommend this author. Great summer reading.

A Pleasure to be savored...for Adults as well.......2007-07-03

This was a wonderful story. I loved the characters and the time period and the setting.

I loved the Mattie Gokey, our 16 year old narrator, who struggles to make choices that will shape the rest of her life. She is a bright and gifted young woman who is the eldest sister in a farming family.

The story takes place in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. Where Mattie eventually goes to work at the Glenmore Hotel on Big Moose Lake serving the rich tourists in the dinning room.

She waits on a young couple there and sadly before the end of the day the woman, Grace Brown, is pulled from the lake, dead. Earlier in the day she had given Mattie a bundle of secret letters. Mattie realizes that they hold the answers to what really happened to Grace and her missing companion.

Why this was marketed as a young adult novel I don't know...I thought it was well written, rich with detailed narrative and dealt with serious issues; adultery, marriage, feminism, parenthood, racism, death and murder. There are several different story lines with conflict and tension, all realistic and realistically resolved.

I also liked the fact that the story line revolving around Grace Brown was inspired by historical facts.

I thought this was a really enjoyable read. The only criticism I can make is that I thought Jennifer Donnelly could have added more physical descriptions of the many different characters in this story. Otherwise is was just perfect.

Average customer rating:

Very thoughtful twisted
A review
My opinions on Walk Two Moons
Teen finds her way
Jordyn's Reveiw

Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064405176

Amazon.com

Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle's mother has disappeared. While tracing her steps on a car trip from Ohio to Idaho with her grandparents, Salamanca tells a story to pass the time about a friend named Phoebe Winterbottom whose mother vanished and who received secret messages after her disappearance. One of them read, "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins." Despite her father's warning that she is "fishing in the air," Salamanca hopes to bring her home. By drawing strength from her Native American ancestry, she is able to face the truth about her mother. Walk Two Moons won the 1995 Newbery Medal.

Book Description

"How about a story? Spin us a yarn."
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. "I could tell you an extensively strange story," I warned.
"Oh, good!" Gram said. "Delicious!"
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

Customer Reviews:

Very thoughtful twisted.......2007-09-05

Walk 2 moons was a very thoughtful book adding details everywhere. and the book misleads you in a good way which i not going to give away how and why. its also twisted but in a good way as well. for example you think one thing and you are so sure its true but then at the end it hits you "wait! thats not right." and then BAM the next sentence tells all. and it just surprises you. I would recommend this book to and boy or girl grades 3-7.
you are never 2 young or old to read this book.

A review.......2007-08-11

My name is Laura and I go to JMS. I am writing this review for my English pre ap course. I liked this book because it was well written and keep my attention from begining to end. It had a little of everything happy parts, and sad parts. Its a real tear jerker. It is a awesome book and I would recommend it for anyone no matter what age.

My opinions on Walk Two Moons.......2007-08-01

My name is Karina and this review is for my pre-ap summer project for Jarman Middle School.I thought this book was great.I really liked the characters. And the author did a great job on creating a mental picture.I would definitely recommend this book for people my own age.The characters are very likeable.And almost everyone is able to relate to losing someone dear to them.And those are some of my wonderful opinions on this great book.

Teen finds her way.......2007-06-10

After getting used to the style of writing, I truly enjoyed this book. The organization was scattered using flashbacks and present story telling, but kept the pace pretty quick. It was interesting to see where the Phoebe storyline was going and how it all tied together in the end. I don't want to give anything away, but I think Sam's way of dealing with situation will help the young reader to deal with theirs.

Jordyn's Reveiw.......2007-05-25

There once lived a girl named Salamanca Tree Hiddle. Her nickname was Sal, a thirteen year old girl that once lived with her mother and father on a farm in Kentucky.
One morning Sal woke up to find that her mother had disappeared. She was very sad to what could have happened to her. Sal's dad didn't know where she had gone either. They were both very frightened at the thought of where she could have went. They thought for a little bit where she may have gone. They assumed that she went to Lewiston for some apparent reason. They still weren't positive though. Her dad drove her three hundred miles to Ohio.
Sal stayed in the car while her dad visited. She saw a face pressed up against the window next door. Sal could tell it looked like an afraid girl. She then noticed it was the face of Phoebe Winterbottom, a girl that would become Sal's friend.
Later that day Sal's grandparents came up with the idea to drive from Kentucky (where they lived) to Ohio so they could pick up Sal and drive two thousand miles to Lewiston for a nice get away. While on their way to Lewiston Sal told them some of Phoebe's stories and stories of her own. For instance, Phoebe's mom also disappeared, and she received letters saying different things. Phoebe and Sal had many things in common. One thing that they always wondered was will they ever find their moms? I personally think Walk Two Moons is a great book, but it is also very sad in parts. I would recommend this book to anyone, boy or girl.

Elsewhere (Ala Notable Children's Books. Older Readers)

Average customer rating:

"Elsewhere" takes you on a magical journey...elsewhere!
"Elsewhere" takes you on a magical journey...elsewhere!
Best quick read that leaves you wanting more
Your Attention May Drift Elsewhere
Great Concept, Poor Execution

Elsewhere (Ala Notable Children's Books. Older Readers)
Gabrielle Zevin
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0374320918
Release Date: 2005-08-11

Book Description

Is it possible to grow up while getting younger?

Welcome to Elsewhere. It is warm, with a breeze, and the beaches are marvelous. It’s quiet and peaceful. You can’t get sick or any older. Curious to see new paintings by Picasso? Swing by one of Elsewhere’s museums. Need to talk to someone about your problems? Stop by Marilyn Monroe’s psychiatric practice.

Elsewhere is where fifteen-year-old Liz Hall ends up, after she has died. It is a place so like Earth, yet completely different. Here Liz will age backward from the day of her death until she becomes a baby again and returns to Earth. But Liz wants to turn sixteen, not fourteen again. She wants to get her driver’s license. She wants to graduate from high school and go to college. And now that she’s dead, Liz is being forced to live a life she doesn’t want with a grandmother she has only just met. And it is not going well. How can Liz let go of the only life she has ever known and embrace a new one? Is it possible that a life lived in reverse is no different from a life lived forward? This moving, often funny book about grief, death, and loss will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.

Customer Reviews:

"Elsewhere" takes you on a magical journey...elsewhere!.......2007-09-23

Everyone asks the question, "what happens when people die?" Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin will make you think twice on this subject. Reading this book was very addicting, and I nearly cried when I turned to the last page because I never wanted the story to end!

The author paints vivid pictures to help the reader feel like a part of the story. By using strong, descriptive words, I was allowed to imagine myself in Liz's shoes. For example, this was proven when Liz, who was killed in a bicycle accident, first goes to Elsewhere, the afterlife and watches her family from Observation Deck, or O.D., through binoculars because she misses them.

I noticed that the author likes to describe people surrounding the main character. I believe that the author does this so the readers can connect themselves with the characters in the book. The first time I read Elsewhere, I thought the author did this just to help readers "get to know characters", not connecting with them. The second time I read this, I realized that she actually connects with the characters by not only limiting the point of view for Liz only, but she shows her other friends' perspective, too.

One of the themes in Elsewhere is death. When Liz died, she's transported to Elsewhere and eventually learns to deal with the fact she died, and may never see her loved ones again. Liz realizes how she is an angel watching over Earth when she frequently goes to the O.D. I figured that Liz thought death is like a new beginning because she has a backwards life in Elsewhere. Her time there is like a human life on Earth, except she ages backwards, and Liz discovers that "a life lived forward isn't too much different from a life lived in reverse."

This book is hard to put down because of the brilliant descriptions, interesting themes, and makes you think about death and the afterlife. Elsewhere has something for everyone: some fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, and science fiction, this book has all. This is a beautiful book, woven and crafted straight from the heart. I now hope that the spiritual world is like Elsewhere, because someone I knew had recently moved on, and it is believed "she is O.K. in heaven." The idea of Elsewhere is a source of comfort for me whenever I am upset about her death. I hope that she's living her death like the one Liz does in Elsewhere, so she will be watching us from some kind of O.D., and knowing that we miss her a lot. The author takes a normally depressing subject, and turns it in to a hopeful book on this fifteen-year-old girl, which is hardly sad at all! If you enjoy any type of story, be sure to read this ten-star book!

"Elsewhere" takes you on a magical journey...elsewhere!.......2007-09-23

Best quick read that leaves you wanting more.......2007-09-17

After reading a few reviews on Amazon I decided to purchase this book. I am so glad I did. I read this in one sitting and could not stop thinking about it after I finished. I went to bed and dreamed about it!

Zevin takes this life after death subject and presents in such a way that you can't help but want to discuss it with others. You begin to think about all the possibilities of what really does happen after death.

I laughed, I cried. I was moved. READ THIS BOOK TODAY!

Your Attention May Drift Elsewhere.......2007-09-08

This YA title will probably earn 5 stars from girls, especially girls with Lurlene McDaniels-type affinities for the topic of death, because this novel is all about the living end (read: "the afterlife"). In truth, the whole concept of death being life in a mirror world is great, and ELSEWHERE kind of, sort of had me hooked at the get-go, but then it LET go as the chapters wore on.

Don't get me wrong. Author Gabrielle Zevin gets "A" for effort. Her earnest protagonist, Liz, is a likable 15-year-old who gets killed by a hit-and-run taxi cab driver. She "wakes up" on a cruiser heading for an alternate world that looks suspiciously like our world except you can't die there (because you already are) and the dogs talk (more than just "woof," I mean). Lizzie is upset because she missed the prom, misses her best friend Zooey, loves her mom, dad, and brother Alvy, and will never a.) get her Massachusetts driving license (a.k.a. "License To Kill," if you know anything about Massachusetts), b.) lose her virginity, and c.) grow big boobs (you know, all the real important stuff in life).

The catch about Elsewhere is that everyone ages backwards until, on their birthday, they are sent down a river to be reborn as another baby on Earth. The Buddhists are clapping, and it sure beats Hell (with all that smell of smoke), Heaven (with all those harps and angel feathers), or Nothing (with all that depressing "nothingness"), but still, it's a bit too sweet to swallow.

The side characters include Lizzie's grandmother Betty, who takes her in, a girl named Thandi who was shot in the head the same day Lizzie was hit, a drug-overdosed rock star named Curtis "Surely You" Jest