Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely (TrueColors Series #1)

Book Description

Brutally ditched by her best friend, Kara feels totally abandoned until she discovers these dark blue days contain a life-changing secret.

Customer Reviews:

An awesome book for all teens.......2007-05-09

Kara Hendricks and Jordan Ferguson have been best friends since kindergarten, but that all changes during sophomore year when Jordan becomes a cheerleader and dumps Kara for more popular friends. Feeling betrayed, all Kara can do is sulk, hoping Jordan will take her back, but after a few weeks Kara realizes that this will not be the case. Kara starts eating lunch with an outcast, a goody-two-shoe, and a goth, all who are art geeks, but still feels the pain of losing Jordan. Then, through this unlikely bunch, Kara is introduced to the one true friend who can fill the hole in her heart, God. Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson, was an awesome book that I would recommend to all Christian teen girls.
This wonderful page turner was enticing and a fast read. Because it was filled with so much drama, this book was never boring. Also, this book is made up of many short chapters, so each chapter leaves the reader at a place where they just can't stop reading. For example, towards the middle of the book, a chapter ends with Kara running into her room, sobbing, and wishing everything could just end. The beginning of the next chapter explains why she was crying in order to keep the reader hooked.
Reading this book taught me a lot about my relationships with other people, as well as my relationship with God. I have learned to value my friendships more and make the most of everyday. Also, although Kara, the main character, only represents one way to live for Christ, I think she sets a good example. From her, I realized that I should pray all the time, not only when something's wrong. I think anyone who reads this book could learn something about relationships or God.
I found the characters in this book easy to relate with. I think anyone who has lost a friend or felt lonely or betrayed can relate to Kara. Others, who have lost parents, may be able to relate to another character named Edgar. There are other characters too who have assorted issues, so no matter who the reader is, he or she will be able to relate to some character in someway. I think this make the book more meaningful, enjoyable, and interesting.
Dark Blue, by Melody Carlson, is a five star book filled with life lessons. Also, it is a fast read and easy to relate to. Dark Blue is the first book in the Truecolor series, which now has eleven books. Each book in the series is about a different girl and touches on a different issue faced by teens today. I recommend that any teen girl read Dark Blue, as well as the other Truecolor books to learn how to deal with any problems they might have.

S. Leser

Dark Blue? Color me apathetic...........2007-04-06

In this tepid novel two teen girls, Kara and Jordan, go from best friends to opposite ends of the pecking order at their high school. We get to hear Kara's side of the story as she drones on and on about how she has no life, no friends, no personality, etc. The book consists of an inordinate about of filler consisting of such sentences as "I took my shower. Then I brushed my teeth. Then I ate a sandwich. I thought about how great my life used to be when I had Jordan. But now she's popular. Then I watched T.V. Then I...." Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating. The many times Kara mentioned that she might as well jump off a bridge or get hit by a bus, I wanted to tell her to go for it. Never, in all the hundreds of books I've read, have I met a character who I so desperately could not bring myself to care about even one iota.

The author, Melody Carlson, tried early on to connect with the teens presumably reading this book by using words like "crap" and "lesbian" and other such utterances that are sure to make your fine Christian parents gasp. I think this was her idea: Use borderline words and concepts such as these at first to draw the kids in and make them think they're reading something "cool" and "exciting" and "edgy."

Unlike some of the other reviewers who spoke badly about this book because of its Christian aspect, that is not where I find fault. The problems with this book are as follows: average writing, atrocious character development (see above), and a terrible plot execution.

Let me explain about the plot. It was a good idea. It is a plot that nearly 100 percent of teen girls have experienced first hand at some point in their lives. But Kara was such a bloody boring character that by the time she developed half a personality, I didn't care. I spent the first half of the book wanting to smack her upside the head, and the other half rolling my eyes at how absurd the climax and conclusion were.

Kara of course, in pure Christian fashion, discovers that Jesus Christ is her one true best friend and her life turns around. She starts eating better, exercising regularly, going to church, standing up for herself, being friendly, having a personality and having self-confidence. Oh, and of course all of a sudden her now popular former best friend wants to be friends again. Hurrah! And this all happens in the course of a week.

Now, I'm not saying God can't do all of that. Because I know from personal experience He can. My problem lies in the fact that the book seemed to imply that every single aspect in your life will improve IMMEDIATELY if you just say the magic words "Jesus I want you in my life." I'm sorry, maybe it works that way for some people. But for those poor teen girls reading this book and expecting some miraculous life altering experience to happen overnight for them just like it did for Kara, they are in for a rude awakening.

...Color me bored.......2007-03-31

This book is not exactly my favorite book. I got this book from my twenty-year-old super christian sister. Now, hold on! I've got nothing against religion but this book is too religion-ish (not even a word). Actually I love religion but this book seems too corny and sappy. This COULD be a book that you'd enjoy but if you're like me and aren't into that stuff then you may not want to read this book.

A Real Great Book.......2007-03-02

I read a book called Dark Blue: from the True Color series. It starts with a girl named Kara. Her best friend named Jordan joins the cheer team and doesn't hang out with Kara. Kara feels so lonely. Kids from her art class invite her to have lunch with them in the art room. She makes a bond with them and Jesus.At the end, Jesus becomes her best friend.

I liked how Jesus becomes Kara's best friend. I also liked it when Kara defended her friend when some cheer leaders were being mean to Kara's friend. Some of the cheer leaders were Jordan's friends. I liked the part when Kara was telling Jordan she was best friends with Jesus,but Jordan didn't care. Kara was really strong when Jordan left her.

I thought it was a really good book. It was more of a Christian book. The other True color books are Christian books. If you like books about God and Jesus,I think you should read this book.

Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely.......2006-10-17

This book is about a girl named Kara, a somphmore in high school, who has just lost her best friend since kindergarten to the "popular" crowd. Devastated and lonely, Kara lets herself go almost completely, hardly talking and crying everyday after school. But then she is invited to stay in at lunch with three students in her art class, Amy, Edgar and Felicia. Although they aren't what Kara would have looked for in friends in the beginning, she actually starts becoming close with Edgar when he introduces her to faith. Kara lets God into her heart and finds she has a new best friend.

I found this book to be quite depressing throughout the first half, and almost unbearable through the second. Seeing as this was my first Melody Carlson book, I had no clue how faith-filled and religous her books were. After reading this first one, I'm not so sure if I'm going to be so willing to read the rest of the True Colors series. I am not a true Christian, and though I don't mind a little religous spirit every once in a while from friends and family, this book was just too jam-packed with it for me. Having been through a similar situation as Kara's, I thought I'd enjoy the book because I would understand her feelings, but I was quite disappointed. The book was repetitive (there was just too much of Kara's moping in the beginning and too much of her "I am so glad I've let God into my heart" towards the end) and preachy, which I did not enjoy in the least.

However, if you'd like to read about a teenage girl going through the motions, and don't mind a lot of religous talk, I'd reccomend it. If you are like me, though, I wouldn't.

Sons of the Dark: Escape - Book #2 (Sons of the Dark)

Average customer rating:

its ok
This book is kinda good
Fast good book
Good book
not a gooddie

Sons of the Dark: Escape - Book #2 (Sons of the Dark)
Lynne Ewing
Manufacturer: Volo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786818123
Release Date: 2004-07-19

Book Description

Samuel has just landed in modern day LA. The last time he has been free of Nefandus was when he was abducted from his home two hundred years ago. He is totally lost until Ashley shows up. She used to be a servi, like him, but now she helps others who have escaped their bondage. He and Ashley travel back in time to see his great grandfather, a wise shaman. After Samuel returns to the present, he realizes his grandfather has given him a very special gift-one that is difficult to control. He also begins to wonder if Ashley is really who she says she is . . . Soon his loyalty to the other Sons of the Dark is sorely tested.

Customer Reviews:

its ok.......2005-01-11

this book is pretty good true there not as good as daughters of the moon but they are pretty good i wish catty and Kyle were still together and i wish daughters of the moon could still go on at the same time its really good i cant wait for outcast to come out its like you cant put it down this also involves majic
you should defelently read it

This book is kinda good.......2004-11-17

It has to do with the 4th Son of the Dark and what his power is. I thought that his power was okay but not as impressive as the Daughters powers. There is some humor in this book though. I will keep on reading this series. Lets hope that the rest of the books are good and funny.

Fast good book.......2004-08-29

Samuel lives on the frontier. One day he is kidnapped with his best friend Mcduff. When he escapes he thinks he will go home to his cabin on the frontier and see his family again. Too much time has gone by on earth and when he escapes he doesn't go home to the frontier. He goes to Los Angeles and time has gone by. He has to learn to fit in to the 21st century and to find his best friend again. All the time this is going on he has Regulators from Nefandus, the place he came from, chasing him to capture him and take him back.

Good book.......2004-08-24

This was the first book I read in the series Sons of the Dark because I didn't find the book number one. That is because my teacher didn't have number one. Somebody else in class was already reading it. She gave the book to me to read for a book report because I don't like to read. My teacher gave it to me because I don't read but it's a good book about Samuel. He is a slave in another world. He escapes to go home to his family. But he doesn't go home to his home on the frontier. He goes into the future to Los Angeles and it's the 21 century. He doesn't know where he is. His adventures starts and the book is interesting because people want to help him and he can't trust anyone.

not a gooddie.......2004-08-18

i did not like this book. i love the daughters of the moon but sotd's seemed not as exiciting. there wernt as many parties or events that really interested me. I dont think that [as u find out] Catty shouldnt have broken up w/ kyle. They seemed to love each other and catty is like the only girl kyle can not kill by kissing her. her reason that it was 2 dangerous was bad ithink bcus if stanton and serena could do it so could they

Average customer rating:

What's Done In The Dark...
The Other Side of Street Life
better off getting it at the library
THIS BOOK WAS OK
Not what I expected

Dark: A Novel
Kenji Jasper
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767907078
Release Date: 2001-06-12

Book Description

Thai Williams is walking a thin line between two worlds. On one side he has his job as a filing clerk for the Washington, D.C., Department of Public Works, his girlfriend Sierra, and his plans for going to college. But on the other, darker side there are his friends Snowflake and Ray Ray, men who run the neighborhood streets dodging the dangers of the criminal life and its after-effects. But that thin line disappears when Thai walks in on Sierra with another man, whom he eventually kills in a haze of jealousy and confusion. From there Thai finds himself on the run and away from the five-block stretch where he’s lived for all his life. He finds his way to Charlotte, where Enrique, his closest friend of all, has moved in search of a better life. In the course of the week that follows, Thai encounters a series of men and women who show him aspects of life he never dreamed of in his narrow ghetto existence. All of them are looking for answers, but it is Thai who must find his own path out of the dark and into the clear light of moral responsibility and repentance for his actions.

In his first novel, Kenji has written a haunting portrait of his own urban generation, shadowed (and often erased) by violence, but determined to make their own mark on the world.

Download Description

A new young writer presents a fresh, first-rate African-American coming-of-age novel that speaks to the contemporary subject matter of rap and hip-hop. Nineteen-year-old Thai Williams must find his own path out of the dark of the ghetto and into the clear light of moral responsibility and repentance for his own rash actions.

Customer Reviews:

What's Done In The Dark..........2007-03-20

never really comes to light in this book. We don't find out whether Thai has to face up to his deeds. I will say that I did enjoy the book, though. These "thug" books are quite interesting, initially, but then after reading a few of them, they all seem to travel down the same road. Jasper's book, however, borders on thug-lite to me. Not as gritty as Y. Blak Moore's work. Anyway, yeah, the story kept me engaged, especially since I'm somewhat familiar with the DC area. Pretty good debut, but I wouldn't buy it...get it from the library. I'm on a Jasper kick now so it's off to read Dakota Grand. I'd actually give it a 2.5 if I could.

The Other Side of Street Life.......2006-11-08

Jasper's writing is a true gem, within itself. Combine that with a story worth telling and you have a very enjoyable novel.

better off getting it at the library.......2004-05-26

The problem with this book is that it introduces a lot of interesting ideas and doesn't explore them all the way. Romance, violence, friendship, family, and relocation, you name it, this book has it. But after a while, it doesn't even matter. The characters are predictable, and as much as you can relate to them, you don't really care what happens to them.
The book wasn't a real page turner, but it held my interest until the end. After the last page, I shrugged and moved onto the next book. At first it seems as if the character just is too young to fully articulate what's going on, but after reading another Kenji Jasper novel, it dawned on me that its actually the author. I don't know if gets bored with a particular plot line, or gets eager and just move on the next. I don't know. One thing I will say is that almost all of the characters had a story worth telling, just told by someone else.

I was excited to get the book and found the topic interesting, but was ultimately let down.

THIS BOOK WAS OK.......2003-11-19

THIS BOOK WAS OK, I GUESS, I FINISHED THE BOOK THINKING ALRIGHTY THEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. THE BOOK WAS AVERAGE. IT REALLY WAS NOT THAT GOOD. THAI WAS CORNEY. CHECK IT OUT AT THE LIBRARY.

Not what I expected.......2003-01-12

When I read that the book was about a young black male that had killed a man in rage, I thought, "yeah a great read". Wrong! Dark was boring and it lacked the action that it desparately needed.
Thai (the main character) took a week to get his thoughts together, have great sex, find more trouble with another girl, and thats about it for the book.

I bought this book because I want to support young authors starting out. Maybe things will get better with time.

Average customer rating:

Review of W.I.T.C.H. #4 by Julia, a 9 year old girl

Great

Out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: Out of the Dark - Book #8 (W.I.T.C.H.)
W.i.t.c.h.
Manufacturer: Volo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: The Light of Meridian - Book #7 (W.I.T.C.H.)

W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: The Four Dragons - Book #9 (W.I.T.C.H.)

W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: A Bridge Between Worlds - Book #10 (W.I.T.C.H.)

W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: Illusions and Lies - Book #6 (W.I.T.C.H.)

W.I.T.C.H. Chapter Book: The Last Tear - Book #5 (W.I.T.C.H.)

ASIN: 0786817976

Book Description

Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin (W.i.t.c.h.) are five ordinary friends with an extraordinary secret: they each have the power to control a natural element-air, water, fire, earth, and finally, the mysterious "Heart of Candracar." The girls use their powers to guard against evil and to uncover the truth behind mysterious portals leading to other worlds. Between school, family, and a new interest in boys, these girls had enough to worry about! But now they have the secret to turn into a group of friends with special powers . . . destined to fight the evil Prince Phobos in the magic world of Metamoor. W.i.t.c.h. combines fashion and fantasy, magic and middle school, heroism and humor, friendship and family, teamwork and transformation, in a wholesome mix proven to charm the tween girl market. Introducing a hybrid format that combines four-color comics with a traditional chapter book format.

Customer Reviews:

Review of W.I.T.C.H. #4 by Julia, a 9 year old girl.......2005-07-18

I liked this book, because it has action and friendship in it. When Will's dormouse escapes, she goes to Meridian to find it and gets attacked by black roses in Phobos's garden. She meets a gardner, who tells her that his family has suffered a very bad fate. It's not as good as other W.I.T.C.H. books, but it's still very good.

Great.......2005-07-11

I really like this book, alot. I liked how Will's dormouse escapes and Will has to go to Meridian to find him. I also liked the end where Will's mom is thinking, What's happened, Will? But sinced we moved, everythings changed...
I wonder if moving away from here might change things-
Might make them better? It made me really want to read what happens next!

Out of this world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2004-12-29

I have read all the Witch books that have been made, and I must say this was one of the best ones ever written yet! This book is one of the more interesting ones. It includes action, tradgedy, and new friendships. I highly recommend this book for readers who love fiction, action, comedy, and friendship.

Average customer rating:

Well illustrated, delightful book.
Loved this one
Lovely Book
SURE TO BECOME A CLASSIC
This book is a definite keeper!

One Dark Night
Lisa Wheeler
Manufacturer: Voyager Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152058885

Book Description

Evenings at home with Mouse and Mole are always safe and cozy, until one dark night they venture outside for a moonlit walk and find something waiting for them. With its satisfying ending, this adventure is a perfect read-aloud for every night.

Customer Reviews:

Well illustrated, delightful book........2005-03-19

The animals have great expressions on their faces. Entertaining book with a happy ending. Just the right amount of text on each page to retain the attention of a young child (probably those on the younger side of 3-7). It only got 4 stars (3 1/2 if I had that option) because 1) there was a full moon during the dark night. 2) the bear was hungry for meat but (spoiler!) not at the end? 3) this book does not have many "hidden things" - we like looking at books with "things" hidden within each page, things that we find after reading the same book many many times. BTW, points 1 was raised by my younger son and our explanation was nights were always dark in the forest. Point 2 was raised by my older son who was (and still is) in the habit of asking insightful questions... I'm glad to get this book for a bargain but wouldn't spend the full hardcover price.

Loved this one.......2004-03-08

Adorable and well illustrated. The author leads the young reader to believe that Mouse and Mole are headed to their own demise. This book is a great read aloud also and I have used it in my classroom. Children love the meter of the ryhmed text. Highly recommended. You'll love the happy ending.

Lovely Book.......2004-02-07

I have a two year old daughter who loves this book. I also have a nine year old daughter who thinks that this book is alot of fun. They both enjoy the nice surprsie at the end of the book after all of the built up suspense! This book is a treasure!

SURE TO BECOME A CLASSIC.......2003-10-08

This is simply the best children's book I've read in a long time. The story is compelling, surprising, and fun. The text is perfectly balanced and easy to read. My 4 year old daughter loves it, and I love to read it to her. This is one I never get tired of.

This book is a definite keeper!.......2003-07-09

Mouse and Mole are two teensy-tiny creatures in the woods. There's a BIG GIANT hungry bear there too. "Then, one dark night. . ." Mouse and Mole venture out and travel through the woods. Meanwhile the bear is getting hungrier and hungrier. Of course, they meet. . .and, the ending will surprise you! You will fall in love with the characters because the illustrations are so well done. But the best part of all for me, as a teacher, is the rhythm and rhyme of this story. Kids love to hear good verse and Lisa Wheeler has it!

Average customer rating:

Beloved book--battery problem!
Beautiful bedtime book

Firefly's First Flight
Joanne Barkan
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0794406122

Book Description

Little Firefly is just a little afraid of the dark. His mother, however, reassures him, saying that there is nothing to to be afraid of -- especially since he carries his own light with him wherever he goes. With his light to guide him, Little Firefly takes his first flight and discovers the wonders of the nighttime world. Readers can help Little Firefly "let his light shine" too by pressing the built-in light module.

Customer Reviews:

Beloved book--battery problem!.......2007-07-31

This book is very loved by my 3 year old (he loved it at age 2 as well). He actually wore out the batteries, so I replaced them (they are pretty expensive, too!). I cannot get the light to turn off! If the new batteries are in the book, the light is permanently on. This is the only reason I gave it 4 stars. Otherwise, it is a sweet book you and your child will love to read at night.

Beautiful bedtime book.......2005-06-17

This warm story of a mother firefly allaying her child's fears of the dark is basic enough for even the youngest to grasp and is a perfect bedtime book. Heavy cardboard pages make it easy for tiny fingers to turn and the working firefly light offers interaction and imbues a soft, amber light on the artwork by Ande Cook. Each page is a beautiful painting of the world as seen through the eye of the young firefly, and on each turn of the page, the sky gradually darkens from a fiery sunset to an indigo night. Ande's eye for color and sweetness of her characters makes this book a real treasure to revisit over many bedtimes.

Average customer rating:

Weak Adults
Dated, but one could abstract the plot lessons to modern times
Dated, but still wonderful...
a realistic look into mental illness
Possibly outdated

Lisa, Bright and Dark (Novel)
John Neufeld
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141304340

Book Description

Lisa Shilling is 16, smart, attractive--and she is losing her mind. Some days are "light," and everything is normal; during her "dark" days, she hides deep within herself, and nothing can reach her. Her teachers ignore what is happening. Her parents deny it. Lisa's friends are the only ones who are listening--and they walk with her where adults fear to tread. This classic novel of a teenager's descent into madness, in the tradition of Go Ask Alice and I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, has remained a best seller for close to thirty years.

"Compassionate and tragic, an indictment of adults who refuse to get involved."--The New York Times

Customer Reviews:

Weak Adults.......2007-06-11

Lisa, a high school student, knows something is seriously wrong with her. She is incredibly moody, sometimes happy and cheerful but other times she gets so dark and unhappy that it seems the entire world is against her and there is nowhere she can turn for help. She has tried to talk to her parents, rich people who are very concerned about their public image, but it hasn't been any help at all. Her parents seem to think that she only wants to talk to a psychiatrist because it is what all of the other cool kids are doing. They tell her that she is imagining her problems.

Lisa's friends are concerned, though. Mary Nell and Betsy decide that if Lisa's parents won't help her, then it is up to them to do something. They decide to offer Lisa the counseling she needs, and to give her a place where she can let out her feelings and hopefully help her friends to help her be cured. Lisa agrees to the idea, and asks that another girl, Elizabeth, be included in the therapy. Mary Nell and Betsy don't know Elizabeth very well but because her presence is important to Lisa, they agree.

Together Mary Nell, Betsy and Elizabeth try to help Lisa to navigate the often terrifying world of mental illness as they desperately hope one of the adults in their lives will step in to help them all out.

I liked that the kids in this book stood up for each other and didn't give up when the adults at their school and Lisa's parents refused to help. I also liked that Lisa wasn't miraculously cured. Even though her friends were doing their best, they still weren't able to fix her mental illness by themselves.

I thought that the adults in this book were really weak. I'd hope that in real life there would have been at least one adult who cared enough to step in and try to help Lisa. I didn't like that people didn't pick up on Elizabeth's story. It seemed obvious to me, and I thought Mary Nell should have been able to figure it out and Betsy should have figured it out much earlier than she did.

Dated, but one could abstract the plot lessons to modern times.......2006-09-13

This novella is told from the point of view of teenaged Lisa's quiet, unassuming friend Betsy. Lisa believes she is going crazy with visions, nightmares, and wild mood swings. Her parents diagnose their daughter as a drama queen and no teachers want to get involved, so a trio of Lisa's friends set out to provide talk therapy and ensure that she is never alone.

Reading this today, in 2006, the plot seems rather aimless and dated--we now give Prozac to dogs, watch psychology talk shows, hear about the physciatric health of our celebrities, and send therapists to high schools en masse after traumatic events. The plot can certainly be abtstracted to today's world, because psychological problems continue to go undiagnosed, but many details would have to be changed to make this story relevant to modern teens.

Perhaps modern popular culture has desensitized me as a reader, leading me to label this novel aimless. The events of Lisa's unraveling don't hold much shock value any more, or work as devices to drive the plot of a short novel.

Dated, but still wonderful..........2005-11-09

I read this book several times as a teenager, and recently acquired a new copy at a yard sale. Thought I'd give it another go.

It was copyrighted 1969, which is obvious by the many references to how "groovy" Paul Newman is , but it's a pretty great book. 16 year old Lisa is losing her mind, and her parents refuse to see that, so three friends decide to give her 'therapy' and help her as much as they can. Very moving story.

a realistic look into mental illness.......2005-09-24

I read this book as a pre-teen, as I was beginning to deal with severe juvenile depression. The dark feelings and fear described in the book are real and impossibly unbearable, especially for a child. Some may believe that the material is dated (the terminology is less than PC), however, adults are still reluctant to acknowledge that children/teens experience mental illness. The book helped me to realize that I was neither "crazy" nor alone at a time when my teachers and parents labeled me as shy and typically moody. This book has stayed with me all these years, and I would recommend it to anyone who is dealing with childhood emotional issues or a child with emotional issues. As a current mental health professional, I keep several copies on hand for at-risk children and families.

Possibly outdated.......2005-03-26

This novel was great in its time, when mental illness was a forbidden subject and troubled young people were usually dismissed as stubborn discipline cases.

It didn't teach much about mental illness, as such. It did, however, address a fact that wasn't acknowledged much at the time: children and young adults aren't exempt from mental illness. It could happen to you, it could happen to a friend, and if it does, you're going to have a hard time getting help for it.

Now, in the age of Dr. Phil and Oprah, kids probably have the opposite problem. Parents and teachers often suspect mental illness no matter what a young person does, so it's quite a different world.

The book also addressed the fact that parents don't always do the right thing. For a kid in the 70's, it was still something of a novelty to read about parents and teachers being so aggressively clueless.

So, it's not so much about teenagers being crazy, as it is about the crazy things that people will say and do when they want to avoid dealing with a serious problem. In that sense, I think the book still resonates.

Dread Locks: Dark Fusion # 1 (Dark Fusion)

Average customer rating:

The Glorious Dread locks
David's Book Review On Dread Locks
Fairy Tale, Myth and Modern Life
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
Interesting

Dread Locks: Dark Fusion # 1 (Dark Fusion)
Neal Shusterman
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525475540

Book Description

Dread Locks is the first entry in the Dark Fusion series from master storyteller Neal Shusterman. He cleverly weaves together familiar parts of fairy tales and Greek mythology to tell the story of fourteen-year-old Parker Bear, rich and utterly bored with life—until a new girl arrives in town. Tara's eyes are always hidden behind designer sunglasses, and her hair, blond with glimmering spirals, seems almost alive. Parker watches, fascinated, as one by one Tara chooses high school students to befriend; he even helps her by making the necessary introductions. Over time, her "friends" develop strange quirks, such as drinking gallons of milk, eating dirt, and becoming lethargic. By the time Parker realizes what Tara is doing, he is too embroiled to stop her. In fact, she has endowed him with certain cravings of his own. . . .To say more would spoil the spooky fun of this wild thriller—let the twist speak for itself and leave you still as a statue.

Customer Reviews:

The Glorious Dread locks.......2007-05-26

I read the book Dreadlocks by Neal Shusterman. It's a book which combines old myths, classical fairytales, and legends. There's an ordinary kid named Parker and he lives in an ordinary town, until this new attractive girl arrives and stirs up things in the town, but there is something different about this girl. I liked this book because it kept me on the edge of my seat and it kept me guessing. It is funny also. The main characters are teenagers, so teens that read can relate to some of the stuff. I would recommend this book to people who like suspense thrillers. Overall I thought this book was great.

David's Book Review On Dread Locks.......2007-01-02

In this thrilling book, Dread Locks by Neal Shusterman, a girl moves into the neighbor hood where Parker Baer lives. The girl's name is Tara, and Tara is no ordinary girl. She has a very big secret. Tara makes many friends at school but the people that Tara befriend develop strange quirks including drinking gallons of milk, eating dirt, and becoming lethargic. Soon, something strange starts to happen to Parker.
My favorite part of Dread Locks was when Parker found out what Tara really was.
I recommend this book to people who like thrillers and a good page-turner.

Fairy Tale, Myth and Modern Life.......2006-10-18

Parker Baer wakes up one morning and discovers someone has been in his family's house. There are clues all over. Then he finds the invader asleep in his bed. She is Tara and is a new neighbor. Although beautiful there is something very strange about her and its not just that she always wears sunglasses. Parker, or Baby Baer as Tara calls him, becomes fascinated with Tara. She seems more open with other than with him. She goes on dates with other guys but not with him although she is friendly enough.

Then parker notices that guys she has been out with are starting to act very strange. Some of the other students are acting strange as well. Why is one student eating dirt? What is going one? Then it is learned that one of the students is sick with an almost unheard of ailment. Others start to show the same signs. Finally the problem spreads to Parker's home and his brother and sister. Parker knows something must be done at that Tara is at the heart of the problem. During their final confrontation we learn the truth behind Tara and what she is doing.

This is a fast and fun book. The opening scenes are right out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears but it is quickly tied into older myths and legends. The plot moves nicely with building dread and steady revelations. Although some of the secrets at the end will not come as a surprise, they way they are handled and resolved are fresh and new. This is the first in a new Dark Fusion series and bodes well for the quality of the rest of the series. Check it out.

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?.......2006-03-03

In Neal Shusterman's new DARK FUSION Series, the author takes myths, legends, and fairy tales, mixes them up with modern-day tales of teen angst and horror, and comes up with an entertaining read. In DREAD LOCKS, we get a whole stew pot full of retold stories--GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, MEDUSA, KING MIDAS. They're all there, and the finished product is a quick, fun, and sometimes depressing read.

Parker Baer is the type of fifteen-year old I both love and hate. He's always been given everything he's ever wanted, due to the fact that his parents are wealthy. He has an obnoxious older brother, Garrett, and an irritable little sister, Katrina. For his birthday, his brother bought him a motocross bike, and his parents gave him a statue. Yes, the teenaged Parker is now memorialized in bronze.

Then Parker meets his new next-door neighbor, Tara Herpecheveux, in the most surprising way--she's sleeping in his bed. But Tara's strangeness, and undeniable attractability, is a hodge-podge of attributes--she's exotically beautiful, has the strangest blond dread locks, always wears mirrored sunglasses, and has an aversion to the belief of personal property.

As Parker gets more and more entangled in the strangeness that is Tara, he begins to notice the ever-increasing weird behavior of the students in his school. Odd cravings, incessantly strange behavior, and a general weirdness pervade the halls of the private school for the rich. Once Parker finally accepts the truth of what's happening, it's too late.

The ending, although slightly predictable in some ways, was a surprise overall. It left me feeling sad, but then again, most fairy tales have one or more tear-inducing scenes in them. DREAD LOCKS is an interesting retelling of some notable myths, and if you're into horror stories, this one should definitely do the trick!

Interesting.......2006-01-31

This is Goldilocks meets Medusa, and that combination is definitely something a bit different and unexpected. It would take a mind like Shusterman to come up with it, and it's mostly well-executed. There are some plot and logic holes in it (For instance, if Tara is always moving around, how has she managed to get all her statues to every new place without them breaking? And for that matter, why keep them at all?) but those can be forgiven if not overlooked. Overall, I enjoyed the read and liked the ending despite the unlikely and late introduction of a third party into what should have been a showdown between the main two characters. It's a quick read, and it entertains and it made me want to check out the other "Dark Fusuion" titles, so it succeeded.

W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novel: Between Light and Dark - Book #4 (W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novels)

Average customer rating:

a delightful way to get a young child to read...
My daughter loves these books
The COOLEST book
great comic book
WITCH

W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novel: Between Light and Dark - Book #4 (W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novels)
tk
Manufacturer: Volo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786836563
Release Date: 2006-01-16

Customer Reviews:

a delightful way to get a young child to read..........2007-08-13

my daughter is 9, and absolutely LOVES the series...she goes through them quite fast, but the colorful images and marvelous stories keep her interest -- she'll sit and read the entire book from cover to cover and then move on to the next one...

My daughter loves these books.......2007-01-09

My daughter is 10 and loves this series, she still enjoys picture books, but it is hard to find a picture book that also reflects her increased level of reading. The W.I.T.C.H. Graphic Novels are done in cartoon form, but with alot of detail. The graphics are well done and my daughter loves to read them.

The COOLEST book.......2006-07-17

This book is one of favorites! I own it,and I like it! This book the 7th and the 8th chapter books,The Light of Meridian, and Out of the Dark....BUT, its in COMICS!The chapter books are okay,but I like the graphic novels better.In the 7th part,Cornelia goes to Meridian and meets Caleb,and she also she sees Elyon and then Cornelia and Elyon are friends again.And then in the 8th part Will and her Mom get in a fight.Well,I wont tell you everything! I dont want to spoil it 4 you!

great comic book.......2006-02-04

i knew this book would come and i know for a fact that this is a great book
in the first half elyon cornelia and the rebels have to fight a battle in meridian meanwhile the other girls are dealing with crushes and school will meets jackie gilligan taranee goes out with nigel

in the second half will has her own adventure whilee the other girls are at karmillas concert in meridian she meets daltar and comes face to face with cedric

WITCH.......2006-01-16

This book is a comic of two comics combined which are WITCH Someday You'll Meet Him and WITCH The Black Roses. Except this only shows the comics instead of everything new in the WITCHy world.

Average customer rating:

YES, an American classic - good versus evil
Not Free SF Reader
An American Classic huh?
Great Condition and perfect!
Amazing book...incredibly poetic, fantastically vivid imagery

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ray Bradbury
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0380977273
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Amazon.com

A masterpiece of modern Gothic literature, Something Wicked This Way Comes is the memorable story of two boys, James Nightshade and William Halloway, and the evil that grips their small Midwestern town with the arrival of a "dark carnival" one Autumn midnight. How these two innocents, both age 13, save the souls of the town (as well as their own), makes for compelling reading on timeless themes. What would you do if your secret wishes could be granted by the mysterious ringmaster Mr. Dark? Bradbury excels in revealing the dark side that exists in us all, teaching us ultimately to celebrate the shadows rather than fear them. In many ways, this is a companion piece to his joyful, nostalgia-drenched Dandelion Wine, in which Bradbury presented us with one perfect summer as seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old. In Something Wicked This Way Comes, he deftly explores the fearsome delights of one perfectly terrifying, unforgettable autumn. --Stanley Wiater

Book Description

Few American novels written this century have endured in th heart and mind as has this one-Ray Bradbury's incomparable masterwork of the dark fantastic. A carnival rolls in sometime after the midnight hour on a chill Midwestern October eve, ushering in Halloween a week before its time. A calliope's shrill siren song beckons to all with a seductive promise of dreams and youth regained. In this season of dying, Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show has come to Green Town, Illinois, to destroy every life touched by its strange and sinister mystery. And two inquisitive boys standing precariously on the brink of adulthood will soon discover the secret of the satanic raree-show's smoke, mazes, and mirrors, as they learn all too well the heavy cost of wishes -- and the stuff of nightmare.

Customer Reviews:

YES, an American classic - good versus evil.......2007-10-22

Gone but not forgotten, Ray Bradbury lives in his must-have Halloween classic, "Something Wicked This Way Comes". In a narrative rich with figurative language, Bradbury illuminates the classic struggle between good and evil, temptation's slippery slope, and the power of sacrifice.

Will Holloway and Jim Nightshade are the best of friends. Though troubled he might someday get left behind, Will is content to run with Jim, because really - who else is there? His mother loves him but is distant, and his father, Charles, is old. While Charles spends his nights sweeping aisles between moldering dreams in the town library, Will and Jim celebrate their youth in ways Charles can only touch through wistful memory.

Then comes the carnival, several weeks early: Mr. Cooger and Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show. Then comes a haunted carousel that ages or makes young, depending on which direction it spins. Then comes freakish carnies who've sold their souls, and must now serve the dark carnival.

Then comes evil.

Suddenly, Jim, Will, and Charles alone stand in the carnival's way, and on a fateful night of decision, evil looms very tall, indeed.

With prose that often reads like poetry, Bradbury weaves a spellbinding tale of magic, belief, and what it's like to be young. A haunting "Narnia", "Something Wicked" casts a spell of darkness, so we can easier see the light shining within. Literature lost something great when Bradbury passed, but his legacy lives on in these pages, and anywhere books are sold.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A good old creepy carny type story.

The wicked in the title refers to the travelling sideshow/fun fair/show or whatever you want to call it attraction that rolls into a nowheresville USA town. Bad things start happening because of this creepy joint, and two boys end up in the thick of the action trying to work out what they can do to stop all the dastardly goings-on.

An American Classic huh? .......2007-05-17

I will get directly to the point, which is something the author found difficult to do in this book.

This is one of the most disjointed, incomprehensible novels I have ever tried to read. I think this book is the most clear case of an author's vanity that I have ever seen. Do you ever get the feeling (when you're reading a novel) that the author is so very proud of the colorful language he has just scattered across the page that he can scarcely help himself from trying to top his last success at articulation? That is the way this book reads, like a perfect example of an author's vanity getting away from him.
I grew up with this movie (and loved it!). This is one instance where I can honestly say that the movie was way better than the book. The book took too long to get anywhere, tried to introduce motives for characters' actions that never seemed to make any sense (to any normal person anyway), and was generally boring.
So, whatever you do, stay clear of this book. Jump, skip, skidattle-crack your way on down the road to another book (yes this is my attempt to imitate Bradbury's annoying descriptive style in this book). You will not find anything that you liked about Farenheit 451 (another book by this author) in here.

Great Condition and perfect!.......2007-03-08

This was an awesome book and in great condition. Got it fast.

Amazing book...incredibly poetic, fantastically vivid imagery.......2007-03-05

I read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury about a year ago, and was amazed by it. I loved how painfully true the story was becoming...I also was enchanted by the beautiful writing. So obviously, I had to check out more works by this wonderful author. I purchased Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

This book far exceeded my expectations. Though a few parts of the book are drawn out and uninteresting, the majority of it is fantastically written, with lots of beautiful imagery. The ending was very unexpected, but cute and thoughtful.

Is it as good as Fahrenheit 451? I wouldn't compare the two, but I enjoyed this book slightly more, though Fahrenheit 451's message is more true. Five big fat shiny stars for Something Wicked This Way Comes.

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