I Am Regina

Book Description

The cabin door crashes open-and in a few minutes Regina's life changes forever. Allegheny Indians murder her father and brother, burn their Pennsylvania home to the ground, and take Regina captive. Only her mother, who is away from home, is safe. Torn from her family, Regina longs for the past, but she must begin a new life. She becomes Tskinnak, who learns to catch fish, dance the Indian dance, and speak the Indian tongue. As the years go by, her new people become her family . . . but she never stops wondering about her mother. Will they ever meet again?

"A first-person narrative based on the true story of a young woman held by Indians from 1755-1763, related with all the impact of a hard-hitting documentary . . .Wonderful reading." (School Library Journal)

"I Am Regina is an enthralling and profoundly stirring story, historical fiction for young people at its very finest." (Elizabeth George Speare, Newbery Award-winning author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond)

Customer Reviews:

A Collision of Cultures.......2006-11-15

In I am Regina, Sally M. Keehn tells the story of a ten-year-old girl who is taken captive by Native Americans after they brutally kill her brother and father. In their village, Regina is given a new name, Tskinnak, and slowly adapts her new way of life. This young adult novel is well-crafted in terms of structure; it has a sound arc of conflict sustained by a strong narrator and cast of fascinating supporting characters that all possess individual goals and desires. Keehn masterfully juxtaposes Native American culture and the ways of the "white man" through the eyes of Regina/Tskinnak, her innocent narrator. As time progresses in the book, so does Regina/Tskinnak's understanding and acceptance of Native American culture. Though this transformation occurs slowly, the soul of her very being is forever altered. She is able to see the war amongst white men and Native Americans from both sides, and finds herself questioning where she truly belongs, a question that resonates in the minds of children and young adults of today. The only inconsistency in the book occurs during shifts in time. Keehn shifts in "moons" and at times it is confusing to judge how much or how little time has passed since the last scene. Keehn began the story using short choppy sentences, but as the book progresses, it outgrows this simplistic structure and evolves into a well-written text. I am Regina is a powerful and moving story that will captivate readers right down to the final sentence.

I Am Regina Review.......2006-10-30

I Am Regina is one of the best books I ever read. It's good, because you can learn about a good time in history, and its a true story, all in one exciting book! I didn't think it was boring, I thought it was interesting to learn about facts! It's a great book for pre-teenagers!

This Book is Great.......2006-10-21

This book is great you'll love it. First she and her sister gets caputered by indins when her mom and younger brother went to the mill and her dad and older brother got killed by the indins. Regina is sad first she wanted the white men to come and save her but they didn't entill every one of the indins were gone. Which was most of her family because she gave up hope. She was at this camp with the white men and all mom's and dad's are tring to find there dauters and sons from the war. Regina was so nice and tried to never give up like i am.

An exciting book that's hard to put down.......2006-06-05

This book gives an accurate portrayal of what it was like back in the 1700's ~ and what it was like to move into the Indian's territory.

I am Regina is a true story (historically), making it that much more exciting to read. It is also one of the best books I've read lately. Ms. Keehn keeps the mystery and excitement going from beginning to end. I am also sure she did much research to find out what the Indians ate, how they prepared their food and how they forraged for food during the winter.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes true stories, anyone who is interested in history, and anyone who likes a book you cannot put down.

Don't want to spoil the story for you ~ read it for yourself and see what happened to this darling child - as well as so many others.

This book makes me want to go to Pennsylvania and visit Regina's gravesite.

I AM REGINA.......2006-04-14

Rould you believe that two indians would crash your cabin door open, holding rifles at that, intending to kill you and your family. Well this is exactly what happened to a girl named Regina in a historical fiction novel called I am Regina.

The main charactors are Regina, Sarah, Tiger Claw, and Woelfin. This book took place back in 1755, when the French and Indian War was starting in Pennsylvania.

In the colonial times of Pennsylvania, on a small farm in the cornffield, the Leininger family were held victom by two indians. While the mother and the youngest brother were at the mill on the hill, the father and brother were murdered and scalped and the two daughters held captive to go to their tribe. while going there the two indians that met up with other indians split up at a fork, seperating the two sisters. the younger sister, Regina, and her companion, Sarah, were now held captive by the indian known as Tiger Claw to his tribe. when she reached the tribe, Regina and Sarah were adopted by none other than Tiger Claws mother, Woelfin. Will she ever see her mother and brother again, will she be able to even survive. you must read the book to find out.

this book was one othe the best books my group ever read so far, there's so much action, lost lives, war, and other great things. My personal favorite part was when Regina's sister tries to run away from the indians, on a stallion at that, I thought that showed great courage unlike her sister at the begining of the book but she does get braver. this book is great for people who like action and sorrow because in the book, the French and Indian War was going on so there was a lot of fighting and bloodshed. the author, I think, was trying to tell us to not judge people for their appearence but get to know them because in the ook when Woelfin gets to know Regina, she starts showing her good side. hope you all like this reiew and bye.

Average customer rating:

Am I Blue?
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Overall a great book!
Helped me out
Should be Required Reading in All Classrooms!

Am I Blue?: Coming Out from the Silence
Marion Dane Bauer
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064405877

Book Description

Original stories by C. S. Adler, Marion Dane Bauer, Francesca Lia Block, Bruce Coville, Nancy Garden, James Cross Giblin, Ellen Howard, M. E. Kerr, Jonathan London, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, LeslÉa Newman, Cristina Salat, William Sleator, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jane Yolen

Each of these stories is original, each is by a noted author for young adults, and each honestly portrays its subject and theme--growing up gay or lesbian, or with gay or lesbian parents or friends.

Customer Reviews:

Am I Blue?.......2007-06-13

This book is dedicated, "for all young people in their search for themselves." These are short stories about teenagers who are trying to find their identity, Teenagers face who they are and find support from their parents and friends. In some stories, they do find support from school, parents and friends. In additional some even find the right person to be with. There are three scenarios: teenagers not being accepted from others, not getting support from others and themselves being confused with their identity.

My favorite story from the book was Parents' Night. This story was about a teenager who had her girlfriend but her parents didn't know, they thought they were just friends. At the beginning of the story she says that her father didn't give her a rose in her birthday. This was because they were at dinner when Karen gave them the news; she told them that she was involved in a club at school. This club was the Gay Straight-Bisexual Alliance, which every one in that club they were going to represent in on Parents' Night. Karen tells her parents that she was going to be there with her girlfriend Roxy. Her father wasn't happy with the news, so he didn't agree and he was really mad. In Karen's birthday her father was really quiet and he didn't give her a yellow rose like he used to every year. My favorite part of the story was when her parents go to Parents' Night and her father gives Karen a rose. He tells her that it was a little late and that he is happy that she got a really nice girlfriend. This part really got me, Karen was crying and my eyes were watery. She knew that her parents were now accepting her the way she was.

All stories have a main idea. The writer sends messages that after reading each story you might think differently. The idea is to understand and support those who are in situations like that. I think that people don't have to experience first in order for them to write stories. All these authors give really good stories, which really touch the readers heart and at the end of the book you put it down and have a different view of those who are confused with their identity.

The book has sixteen stories. The story Am I Blue talks about a gay teenager who has a fairy godfather who helps him out throughout his time of not knowing what he wants. The stories were different but they had the same idea in all of them. In Michael's Little Sister, his sister shows him that it's okay to be that way; she gives him support and understands him. Slipping Away is a story where a gay teenager tells his friend Maria who likes him, that he is gay but like any other girl she got mad at him instead of supporting him. Running from the book is really interesting; it's about a girl that starts seeing her sister's friend differently. Sheila was Heather's friend who brought her because she was having problems at home, and that's how Heather's sister meets Sheila. All these stories are really interesting and they throw good messages in each story written.

I like this book mostly because in each story the writer gives an idea why he wrote that story and why he/she wants us to read it. Also when the reader reads the story, the writer clearly states how the person feels. It is really important for those who read this book to understand what and how it feels when a person who is in a position like that might feel when he/she doesn't have any support or is not accepted from others.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-04-18

Written over ten years ago, AM I BLUE? is still as important today as it was then. A short-story collection dealing with GLBT (gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender) issues by some of 1995's top authors, this book is a true gem for teens searching for their identity--or just looking for a good read. With stories ranging from contemporary paranormal, to ones set in the 1950's, to one based during the Vietnam War, and even one in another world of Amazon warriors, there's something here for everyone.

Stories include:

AM I BLUE? by Bruce Coville
WE MIGHT AS WELL ALL BE STRANGERS by M. E. Kerr
WINNIE AND TOMMY by Francesca Lia Block
SLIPPING AWAY by Jacqueline Woodson
THE HONORARY SHEPHERDS by Gregory Maguire
RUNNING by Ellen Howard
THREE MONDAYS IN JULY by James Cross Giblin
PARENTS' NIGHT by Nancy Garden
MICHAEL'S LITTLE SISTER by C. S. Adler
SUPPER by Leslea Newman
HOLDING by Lois Lowry
BLOOD SISTER by Jane Yolen
HANDS by Jonathan London
50% CHANCE OF LIGHTNING by Cristina Salat
IN THE TUNNELS by William Sleator
DANCING BACKWARDS by Marion Dane Bauer

It's hard to pick a favorite from this collection, as each story has something different to offer. From allowing everyone in the world to see who is gay, to wondering what it would have been like to have two gay shepherds at the birth of Christ, to manning a booth about gays and lesbians at a school parents' night, each short story has an engaging story to tell.

The only thing that would make this book better is to have a part two--another AM I BLUE? published in 2006 with some of today's best GLBT authors like Julie Anne Peters, Brent Hartinger, David Levithan, and more.

Overall a great book!.......2005-02-01

There are some stories in this book that are absolutely phenomenal. "Am I Blue" is one of them, and it is a great first story of the book. This books helps people to understand what it is like to be GLBT from many different viewpoints. "The Honorary Shepherd" is probably the story that impacted me the most, as it deals with interracial relationships as well. Having bought this book on accident, I am glad I did. I've probably read the book 15 times through and I don't know if I'll ever tire of it.

Helped me out.......2004-07-18

Reading this book helped me to figure out who I was, that I am gay. I'd been wondering for years, literally, but afraid to decide and not really sure either what it meant, but one day, at the North Shore Library this book caught my eye and the next day after reading it I came out to myself.

I've never been happier. I didn't have to go through the long process of feeling alone and abandonded, wondering if I was the only one in the world. This book helped me skip over all of that. If you've been wondering, or if you just want to see - get it...

Should be Required Reading in All Classrooms!.......2004-01-19

_Am I Blue?_ is a brilliant YA anthology that should be required reading in every classroom! Dealing with homosexuality in teenagers and their parents and friends, these stories will move any reader--gay, straight, questioning, or bisexual. This anthology helps gay kids understand that they are not alone, while shining a light on what it feels like to be homosexual for straight readers. The stories have similar themes, but range in genre, giving every reader something to thoroughly enjoy. I can't recommend it strongly enough!

Book Description

There is 'The Ugly One,' whose only solace comes when she is locked inside her own head. In 'Wanted: A Thug,' a teenager seeks advice on how to steal her best friend's bad-guy boyfriend. And then there's Erika, who only likes white boys. Sharon Flake takes readers through the minds of girls trying to define themselves while struggling to remain relevant to the boys in their lives. This is a complex, often humorous, always on-point exposition of black youth resolving to find self-worth . . . any way they know how.

Customer Reviews:

Boys, Girls and Hormones.......2007-06-19

We read this one a month ago. The title led us to believe this book was about teens relationship with God, which would've been a good subject to read about. But this was not about God. It was ten stories about teen relationships. We pretty much enjoyed reading them all. Our favorite was A Letter to My Daughter. We enjoyed this one the most because a father was writing to his daughter explaining to her what boys were all about and what their intentions were when dating or having a girlfriend. It's always good to hear it from a male perspective. This way, girls will have the inside scoop and know exactly what to lookout for.

On the negative side, we wished that some of the characters were of other ethnic groups instead of mostly urban African American. The story, "I Like White Boys" was good. We wanted to read more racially integrated stories. Sometimes it's difficult to read slang. We try to read books that doesn't have a lot of slang because it's not the standard in this society. We recognize that urban communities have citizens that uses slang and improper English, but we're trying to change all that by incorporating ourselves into this American society by speaking proper or standard English. It's not that we disapprove of urban books. No, not at all because we love the BLUFORD SERIES! It's just that we want to be able to articulate a sentence when we go on job interviews.

All in all, it was an okay read and we would recommend it to other teens.

Teens'R'Us
3.5 ***-.*

Excellent Reading.......2007-01-26

This book was excellent. We used this book for a discussion with a youth group. The young ladies enjoyed all the stories. They could relate to the young people in the stories. It gave them a picture of how girls see themselves and how boys and men around them view them. I enjoyed reading the book and I was excited to discuss it with them. I would encourage young and old to read this book.

it had it's good and bad moments...i'll agree.......2006-12-26

So i aint no good girl: ***** five stars, it was one of my favorites. I'm glad the book started with this story because it makes up for some of the crappier ones. I like how Ms. Flake portrays this girl as tough and scared at the same time. She doesn't let anyone talk her down, except Raheem, who abuses her and she feels that if she just "goes with the flow" she'll keep him.

Girl didn't i say i dont write no letters: ***** Five stars again. Excellent. i love how i can relate to devita about her liking Jaquel and gaining enough strength to tell him how she really feels, through letters.

The ugly one: **** four stars. it was OK i didn't understand the complete end, when she is dancing with the Jamaican dude, is he real? I would've liked it more if he was a real person.

Mookie in Love: **** four stars. It was OK as well. the story would've been better if it was in his perspective, not the cousins.

Don't be disrepecting me: *** Three stars. I didn't like it that much. Ms. Flake seemed to rush into the story and it didn't end well, at all.

I like White Boys: **** Fours stars. I liekd it, i could actually relate, but it would've been better if Erika picked Chet or Johnny or that guy with the blonde hair, i dont know. I don't think Ms. Flake ended the story well. Too much suspense i guess.

Jacob's rules: ***** Excellent story great narration. I liked Marimba a lot too.

I know a stupid boy when i see one: *** i did not like the story. i wont really get into it because there are too many things to talk about but i will say this. UNREALISTIC

Hunting for boys: ***** Great story. no comment. Too good for words.

wanted: a thug: ****\* four and a half. I liked this story. Great suspense. I wish Ms Flake could make a continuation of these..oh well *sigh*

Not a boy and letter to my daughter are good as well. Both *** three stars.

Who am I without him?.......2006-11-22

I enjoyed reading this book because it had to do with teenagers just like me and how they handle some problems. This book is a great way to show teeagers how teenagers hadle their problems. So if you read this book you will understand how teenagers handle some issues. And if you are a adult then you will see how us teenagers handle some problems that we get.

Excellent!.......2006-10-27

Sharon, you did an excellent job with these short stories. My favorite was "Hunting for Boys." This book is all about girls and they boys they like. It's about learning about relationships. It demonstrates puberty and hormones kicking in. It reminds me of the saying by Dolly Parton on confusion: "they don't know whether to scratch their watch or wind their behind." Moms and Dads, please get this book for your daughters. They will enjoy the stories and may even find themselves in some of them. Each story has a different premise but they all tie into the same plot--getting with a boy. It reminds me when I first started liking boys when I was in junior high. I definitely recommend this book for the average teenager. Well done, Sharon, and keep 'em coming.

I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq

Average customer rating:

Not very good
SIMPLY THE TRUTH, UNEDITED
Simple but Clean and Crisp
Amazing
Awesome

I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq
Jason Doran , and J. K. Doran
Manufacturer: Caisson Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Iraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1928724051
Release Date: 2005-01-02

Book Description

This is one of the first books published that was written by a Camp Lejeune Marine who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this first hand graphic account, GySgt Jason K. Doran, a Silver Star recipient, shares his experiences of his tour of duty during the Iraqi War. The book covers the journey of 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, a part of Task Force Tarawa, from the ship ride over through the Suez Canal, to the bloody battle for the bridges at An Nasiriyah and then home again. This book allows the reader to share in the day-to-day experiences and personal account of a Marine's tour of duty. This is the real thing. Gunny Sergeant Doran was there.

Customer Reviews:

Not very good.......2006-02-12

The author is a real hero, but this is a mediocre book. Not reccomended.

SIMPLY THE TRUTH, UNEDITED.......2005-12-31

I wasn't even into the first chapter before I had tears in my eyes. This Gunny has it all right. He sees the military exactly as it is, and explains it perfectly. He has seen so much in his short 41 years, and it has effected him greatly in his personal life - yet he continued to ask for the tough assignments. ALL MILITARY MEMBERS WILL LAUGH at his picture perfect descriptions of military life. ALL CIVILIANS NEED TO READ this book to truly understand the War in Iraq.
Jason tells the sometimes gory truth, but it is a truth that more people should know. He paints a blow-by-blow, gunshot-by-gunshot picture of the war without losing the reader. It is captivating from the Foreward through to the last page. He is a Marine's Marine. One rough, tough, Texan who is still a caring, loving man and father. Buy the book.

Simple but Clean and Crisp.......2005-09-20

Writing was not the best but I enjoyed this story by a fellow Marine and praise him fr sitting down and knocking out this story of combat, something I hope to do in the future. Nice job mixing intr-unit relations with external threats.

Amazing.......2005-09-15

Why more out there don't know of this book is beyond me. Far surpasses even "Generation Kill" and, dare I say, "The March Up" simply on the fact that is a Gunny who knows where his heart, his head, and his loyalty is, without question. Inspiring and motivating, this is a book that I've given to my fellow Marines and that I continue to recommend at all times. Lets you know what it was, and is, really like...something even different than those of us who went over in 1991 saw. Get this, and realize that what you are seeing on your CNN and even your FOX, and reading about in your newspapers and magazines, is largely a ruse. I just can't recommend this enough and truly can't put into words the measure of this book (or for that matter, this Gunny). Semper Fi brothers.

Awesome.......2005-09-09

This was an awesome book! Very difficult to put down. Author writes as he speaks - unedited for profanity. When reading a book on the lastest war written by an Active Duty member you shouldn't expect sensorship and there is none in this book. If your delicate eyes can't handle profanity from someone getting shot at, don't read it!

Average customer rating:

sexist irony
Bag Lady to the Stars
A True Story of Survival and Identity
Interesting
Be your own wife . . . but be someone else's as well!

I Am My Own Wife: A Play
Doug Wright
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0571211747

Book Description

Winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

From the Obie Award-winning author of Quills comes this acclaimed one-man show, which explores the astonishing true story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. A transvestite and celebrated antiques dealer who successfully navigated the two most oppressive regimes of the past century-the Nazis and the Communists--while openly gay and defiantly in drag, von Mahlsdorf was both hailed as a cultural hero and accused of colluding with the Stasi. In an attempt to discern the truth about Charlotte, Doug Wright has written "at once a vivid portrait of Germany in the second half of the twentieth century, a morally complex tale about what it can take to be a survivor, and an intriguing meditation on everything from the obsession with collecting to the passage of time" (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times).

Customer Reviews:

sexist irony.......2007-07-08

Excellent piece but note the following irony with the title that most women pick up immediately. The title "I am my own wife" is Charlotte's response to her mother's question of when she is to marry-a question posed WHILE she, Charlotte's mother, is hanging to dry CHARLOTTE's clothing. Charlotte isn't her "own wife"--her MOTHER is!

Bag Lady to the Stars.......2007-07-03

All the power to Mr. Wright. After all, it 's not everyone that can hit a home run on Broadway. God bless him. And it is a fascinating little story, of a transsexual in drag who outwits the German Gestapo and the Stasi, living finally to triumph as a post-modern icon of perverse longevity in a land of forgotten heroes, mysterious deaths and torture chambers. One would love to know the true story of this so-called 'survivor.' Whose lap was she/he sitting on? The play itself is a long drag, a monologue delivered to the audience about how fascinating the playwright found this person to be. Of course, one would very much wonder how the playwright decided that what was most interesting about this story was the fact that he found it so terribly interesting. Another interpretation might have been that there wasn't very much there in the first place.

A True Story of Survival and Identity.......2007-01-15

I was first introduced to this play by a local theatre group, one of the first in the US to debut it and was absolutely blown away by the subject matter as well as the performance. Charlotte's life story told by Doug through various intermediate characters all while wearing a black dress, is a story that should be shared. Not only is this a story about sexuality, but it is more importantly about survival and how we change our identities to do so.

Interesting.......2005-07-15

This is an autobiography of Charlotte, a transvestite German, written in a play format like the works of Shakespeare. This work won a Pulitzer Prize the year it came out, and so I read it thinking it would be interesting. I am not sure what to think of it still, or even whether Charlotte is a man acting like a woman, or the other way around.

The play is about the life of Charlotte, a person born in Germany before World War II. (S)he grows up in an abusive family, and kills his own father while still a minor. (S)he flees his home in the city during the Nazi's term of power to life in the countryside (I think), and moves back after the Russians move in. (S)he then navigates life under Communism, and survives to see the end of it and the reunification of Germany.

The bulk of the book takes place during the Nazi reign first and the Soviet occupation second. Charlotte recounts how he/she survives both regimes, both of which were not known for tolerance of homosexual behavior and/or transvestites. There are hints throughout the play that Charlotte evaded persecution in varous sordid ways. One is that (s)he acted as a spy for the government. Second, (s)he might have had clandestine, sexual affairs with individuals in power, who then protected him/her in order to protect themselves.

There are scenes of tragedy in the book, like when certain friends are carted of by the secret police, but these scenes are not sad enough to make you cry. There are also funny scenes, but none of them are hilarious. In all, this was an interesting read, and being such a short book, is worth the 1-2 hours to finish it.

Be your own wife . . . but be someone else's as well!.......2005-03-17

"I am my Own Wife" is the new play (2004) by Doug Wright (screenplay writer of Quills) based on his interviews and friendship with the late gay German crossdressed hausfrau, Lothar Berfelde, better known as Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf. A magnificent one-man show that mesmerized Broadway, actor Jefferson Mays played thirty-five separate characters.

The title comes from 40-year-old Charlotte's answer to his mother's clueless plea "don't you think it's time you settled down and found a wife?": "But, Mutti, don't you know that I am my own wife?"

Do buy (and go see) this play! It is well-written, entertaining, very "theatrical," and you will enjoy reading and discussing it with your friends. I also recommend Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf's autobiography. (See my "So You Want To . . . be Your Own Wife" guide to find more materials related to Charlotte's life and times).

HOWEVER . . . it may sound contradictory, given what I've said, but I have a lot of problems with the central character of Charlotte. I've thought for days about this play and the story. I was very attracted to it because of the sheer theatricality of the situation and the character, not to mention the frisson of the "non-drag-queen-drag-queen." But, despite myself, I have been bothered by something that hasn't struck me quite right.

Charlotte is astonishing because this dowdy cross-dresser survived both the Nazis and the subsequent communists to become the leading expert on the Grunderzeit period (approx. 1835-1918) of German furniture design.

That said, there is something strange at the core of this piece: this central character of Charlotte, this hopefully sympathetic trope for beauty and the everlasting human spirit, despite survival at all odds (or maybe because?)---is an empty, severely alienated person. "Autistic" and "disconnected" are the words that stick in my mind. He never really connects with anyone, hermetically sealed in a world of obsession for this furniture and a fantasy past constructed to block out horrible realities. He (debatably) sells out his friends. He is born, lives, and dies for (and with) . . . the furniture. I can't love him because he can't possibly love me back.

For an example of this genre where real human love and sacrifice are manifest, read the play "Bent."

This is my final analysis after discussing it with many friends.
The whole confection is tasty but, after the meal, there has been no lasting nourishment.

Again, it has been a fun process of discovery and I whole-heartedly recommend reading this play. Whaddaya think? Do you agree or disagree? Read and see.

i am 8-bit: Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s

Average customer rating:

Take pop appreciation to a new level
IN 8-BIT WE TRUST!
art is neato.
Pop Art a la '80s
Rad, Awesome, and Other '80s Reactions Inspired by This Book

i am 8-bit: Art Inspired by Classic Videogames of the '80s
Jon M. Gibson
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811853195

Book Description

Pac-Man. Frogger. Super Mario Bros. These classic videogames are burned into the collective consciousness of an entire generation, thanks to countless hours spent at pizza parlors and bowling alleys across the country. Now artists such as Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, and Ashley Wood put their memories to paper, canvas, and wood to create original works of art inspired by the art of the videogame. Chuck Klosterman shares his thoughts in his distinctively insightful and entertaining style in a foreword on how videogames created a new playground for artistic expression. With more than 100 thought-provoking, amusing, and simply fun pieces of original art, i am 8-bit is a pixilated stroll down memory lane.

Customer Reviews:

Take pop appreciation to a new level.......2007-01-12

Coffee table or bookcase, this book is for the most artistic of videogame fans, as well as those that appreciate mixed media with their pop culture. Joust, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Pac Man, Q-Bert and more are all displayed like you've never seen them by talented artists. The nostalgia is thick and sweet smelling; a feeling that few will appreciate to it's fullest. Highly recommended for artists and nerds alike. Also check out Arcade Fever and Supercade for the history behind our favorite up up down down history.

IN 8-BIT WE TRUST!.......2006-08-23

"I AM 8-BIT" is a must have for those old school fanatics who long for another golden era... one of the best books ever made. Buy it now!!!

art is neato........2006-05-14

this book is a great collection of established and up and coming artists interpreting classic video games. what more could you want?

Pop Art a la '80s.......2006-05-13

First and foremost, this book makes a wonderful inexpensive gift for anyone who grew up in the '80s playing the 'ole 8-bit video systems and still has a bit of nostalgia for those simpler times. It's also pretty neat as a bound exhibit of how pop culture can be transformed into art that's actually quite captivating. About 70 artists contributed works, and the medium of choice is definitely oil and acrylic paint, with a fair number of mixed media pieces thrown in. The styles vary wildly, with influences ranging from surrealism to manga to skateboard art to graffiti to crafting to abstract to pixelation and on and on. It's actually a pretty decent overview of modern pop art sensibilities.

In terms of subject matter, far and away the most prevalent "inspirations" are from the Donkey Kong/Mario Bros. franchise, with Pac Man coming in next, and Frogger, Zelda, and Dig Dug also getting much play. However, some of the best pieces are from less popular games, like Tim Tomkinson's "Duck Hunter S. Thompson" mashup of a portrait of the gonzo journalist with the Sega "Duck Hunter" graphics, Jim Rugg's faux poster for a pro wrestling event featuring characters from the Nintendo wrestling game, or Jason Sho Green's pen and ink "Tantric Tetris". On the whole it's a very fun, well-designed book, nicely produced, and sure to bring a smile to many 30somethings. It's worth noting that I like Chuck Klosterman too, but his foreword is pretty slim, maybe 500 words, so don't buy it for that!

Rad, Awesome, and Other '80s Reactions Inspired by This Book.......2006-04-24

Where do I start? I found this gem listed under books from Chuck Klosterman, who I think speaks for an entire generation of 30-somethings raised on bad rock bands and crappy John Hughes movies. I gave it a shot, and wasn't disappointed!

In typical Chuck fashion, he analyzes video games and why they had an indelible affect on the childhoods of guys like me who spent about $3 million in quarters on Yie Ar Kung Fu (and why, 20 years later, guys i tell this to completely understand). For Klosterman fans, this is worth half the price right here.

But that's just 2% of the book! The rest is filled with totally awesome art that's hard to describe because I've never really seen anything like it--it's not advertising art, or game screenshots, or concept art from games. I guess it's just like the sub-title says, artwork inspired by what the artists played as kids in the 80's, but it's still hard to understand until you actually see it.

And what's really cool are the pieces that have quotes from the artists explaining their inspirations, why they used a particular game, or just random game memories--really funny stuff!

My favorites are:

1) Excitebike: Cool blocky render of a classic. Made me remember how I'd build my own track and line up all those turbo things.

2) Mega Man: I recognize this artist, Tim Biskup, from Juxtapoz and Super 7 magazines. Cool!

3) Don't Be a 2nd Player Hater (Luigi for Sheezy): Luigi pimped out like Snoop. Hilarious, yo!

4) Pac-Man in Hospice: This gives me nightmares. Especially the Frogger frog.

5) Record Dug Digger: Cross between skateboard art (in a good way) and NY graffiti. Trust me, it's awesome!

Other games I recognized include more mainstream stuff like Joust and Space Invaders to games that are a little more esoteric, like Contra, 720, Kid Icarus, and that weird robot thing that came with the NES. If you're a fan of the classics, I highly recommend it!

I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People

Average customer rating:

Story of the Havasupai

I Am the Grand Canyon: The Story of the Havasupai People
Stephen Hirst
Manufacturer: Grand Canyon Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0938216864

Book Description

I Am the Grand Canyon is the story of the Havasupai people. From their origins among the first group of Indians to arrive in North America some 20,000 years ago to their epic struggle to regain traditional lands taken from them in the nineteenth century, the Havasupai have a long and colorful history. The story of this tiny tribe once confined to a toosmall reservation depicts a people with deep cultural ties to the land, both on their former reservation below the rim of the Grand Canyon and on the surrounding plateaus.

Customer Reviews:

Story of the Havasupai.......2007-03-01

The Havasupai people are a tribe of Native Americans who by oral tradition trace their origins back thousands of years. In some stories back to before the time that present day theory has the original people coming over the ice bridge from Asia. At any case, they have lived in the Grand Canyon area for a very long time. Their early habits were to live at the bottom of the canyon during the spring and summer, and to move to the plateau behind the South Rim during the fall and winter.

This book tells their story but concentrates on the last few hundred years. During this time first the Spanish and then the Americans came to disrupt their lives. As is often the case, the Americans wanted the Havasupai on reservations and eventually a very small (less than one square mile) reservation at the bottom of the canyon was 'given' to them. This robbed them from the use of their ancestral lands.

A major part of the book is on the struggle to retain some rights to the use of the upper lands. It was a fight against the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Sierra Club (all of whom had different agendas), and more.

Eventually the Havasupai won over all this opposition, and their reservation was expanded by some 185,000 acres. This book shows that a small group can win, eventually, some of the time.

You may also want to view the Havasupai Tribe web site, do a Google search.

When I Am Old With You (Orchard Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

Very touching
We'll Enjoy Our Time Together Grandaddy!
Excellent book for grandparents, parents, and children

When I Am Old With You (Orchard Paperbacks)
Angela Johnson
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0531070352

Customer Reviews:

Very touching.......2007-04-26

I work as an assistant in a first grade classroom, and one day we read this book. The boy I assist wanted me to read it to him, but I only got about halfway through before having to hide in the bathroom until I got all the emotions and tears it conjured up out of my system. It brings back so many memories of grandfathers, and now that both of mine have passed away, the book carries with quite a weighted message. I've never had such a small book affect me this profoundly. Highly recommended to anyone who has a grandfather or anyone that misses one.

We'll Enjoy Our Time Together Grandaddy!.......2000-09-26

Ages 3-8 yrs. A tender, warm story spoken through the voice of a grandaughter to her grandfater. "When I am old with you, Grandaddy, we will play cards all day underneath that old tree by the road." When I am old with you, Grandaddy...[etc]." Neat pictures that blend well with the story. It's a nice story that makes for a great bedtime read.

Excellent book for grandparents, parents, and children.......1999-06-29

This beautifully illustrated book brings back fond childhood memories of the precious childhood moments spent with a loving grandparent. Many people, young and old alike, can relate to this book because of its simple, yet touching message. The young child in the book could be a girl or a boy, depending on the reader's preference. This book is an excellent example of multicultural literature to be enjoyed by all who pick it up.

I am an American: A True Story of Japanese Internment: (ALA Notable Children's Book, Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book) (American History Classics)

Average customer rating:

THEY DESERVE BETTER
Dear Fellow Adolescents,

I am an American: A True Story of Japanese Internment: (ALA Notable Children's Book, Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book) (American History Classics)
Jerry Stanley
Manufacturer: Crown Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0517885514
Release Date: 1996-03-26

Book Description

Illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Young Shi Nomura was among the 120,000 American citizens who lost everything when he was sent by the U.S. government to Manzanar, an interment camp in the California desert, simply because he was of Japanese ancestry.

Customer Reviews:

THEY DESERVE BETTER.......1999-05-17

I read this boook because I had a history project all about Japanese Internment. Before I read this book I thought Japanese Interment was only about the Japanese in some camps. I didn't realize the injustice that we set upon these noble and great people. After reading this book I felt enraged at how the Japanese would have to sell or burn their beautiful and valuble items. I think they deserve so much more than a letter from the President. We should have a much better tribute toward them. I have always been proud of living in such a great state such as California, but I am not proud that they were the least tolerant of the Japanese.

Dear Fellow Adolescents,.......1999-02-05

In this book called I Am An American that I read is a really good book because it is for the kids at the reading level of 9-12 (ages to). If you wanted to know the story. Well in the story their is a yough boy and his family that were intered with others. Also in this story is based one a true one, it is almost like a biography. As I was thinking about this story I realized that is was a very educational it makes you think about the world itself. When I was reading some other reviews I saw one and it caught my attention and I had to write about it. It was about a girl who had experienced what went on in the book. As I was reading on in this review it said that the girl and her family were interned too, just like the boy in the girl in the review. The girl's name that was interned with her family was Shi Nomura. I think being interned is like you having to pack up all of your things and then moving out of the place where you were and then never returning. I think that is just like being interned because you can never go back. And then I started to read another review and it mentioned that this whole thing happened during World War II, and that was one of the worst wars that went on in the world years ago. They said that Japan and many other countries were over world order. "Freedom has a Tousand charms to show". I used this because the people that were interned probably thought that they were going to be free because it makes it seem like they were going to be free but they weren't, going to be free at all. I think that it was a good book because it tells how badly people were treated, it had said that it was a good book. Some people may say that it was not a good book because it might make kids think that when they grow up they will be treated that way. It also might make it seem that this is still going on. It also might make teens think that the world around them is unfair to different people (races). Then it might make teens feel that some people in the world are disrespectful to different people (races), and should be respect to them no matter what race the people are. And it could make them think that people have no kind of respect for others and instead of being mean to them. It is a good book however kids can read it, get an educational idea of their life and the world that surrounds it. I Am An American can get a teen or a child to start reading at the reading level of 9-12. If you by this book then you will enjoy reading it because it will tell you what went on in the world back then instead of now. If you read this book now you will think that "Life isn't the same".

Book Description

At first light the finches
are flitting about the trees

Flittering
fluttering
flit
purple finches
flit
Fluttering
flittering
fly
painted finches
fly.

In this companion volume to JOYFUL NOISE: POEMS FOR TWO VOICES, the winner of the 1989 Newbery Medal, Paul Fleischman celebrates the sound, the sense, the essence of birds. Written to be spoken aloud by two voices, sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous, these poems perfectly capture the beauty of birds in their singing, soaring, and rejoicing.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2000-03-24

The poems in this book are meant to be read aloud by two different people. Each person reads one of the two columns aloud and lines written on the same line are said simultaneously. This volume contains poems about birds.

My 9 year old son, who doesn't like to read out loud, loves to say these poems with me. It takes a couple of readings to get the cadence right, so this becomes a wonderful way to work on diction while having a tremendous amount of fun.

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