Book Description

An orphaned boy and a kidnapped horse gallop for Narnia … and freedom. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

An Amazing book
C.S. Lewis is a genius, and this is one of the best out of the chronicles. I love this book, because it gives you a better understanding of how horrible Calormen was. In this story a young boy who was adopted by a Calormene fishermen escapes to Narnia with a talking horse Bree. On their dangerous journey, they meet a Tarkheena named Aravis and her horse Hwin. They are on an amazing adventure and have to face the challenges of getting through the busy city of Tashbaan and crossing the desert. Their most difficult challenge is to get to Archenland before the Calormen army to warn the king about their surprise attack. This book introduces new characters and has the lovable old ones. I recommend this book to anyone who can read!

Take the journey
Ok, before you even bother reading my review, buy the book (I'll wait here).

I hope you bought it. If you haven't, let me tell you why you should: The Horse And His Boy is an outstanding story. And that's not all-you can read it without having read any of the other Narnia books; not that you'd want to do that. All the Narnia books are wonderful.

The Horse And His Boy follows the adventures of Bree (a talking horse) and Shasta (a slave boy) who run away from their masters and journey to the magical land of Narnia. Along the way they meet a nobleman's daughter, another talking horse, a king and a queen, and a very special Lion (he's not a tame lion you know).

I love this book. I love all the Narnia books. C.S. Lewis is a great writer (now in glory). However, heed this warning: this book is only for children and those adults who are old enough to love fairy tales again. I hope that means you.

A Narnia side adventure that works
"The Horse And His Boy" is one of CS Lewis' classic Narnia books, one of the later published but the third if taken chronologically. The tale takes place during the time period just before the end of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," (roughly during the start of "Wardrobe's" last chapter) and is largely independent of the other six Narnia books. All of the Narnia books can be read independently, but "Horse" in particular has little link to the others.

The tale is a classic "young person escapes a bad life" story, and in the end becomes a classic "downtrodden young person saves the day" and a "young person of meager background is" - well, that would be giving something away. Time-tested clichés of the genre, to be sure, but not clichés in a bad way. In Lewis' tale, this is a Good Thing. Because it works.

The story concerns Shasta, a young boy, and a talking horse, Bree, who flee their evil masters in an attempt to reach the free land of Narnia to the north. In their flight they meet up with Aravis, a young girl also fleeing with a talking horse, Hwin. They adventure their way through the country of Calormen, a thinly-veiled substitute for the Middle Eastern countries of the real world.

Like the best of children's literature, the pacing is brisk and the obstacles to be overcome are introduced quickly and almost without pause.

As in all the Narnia books, we are introduced to Aslan. This time Aslan's role initially seems minor, but is revealed to have retroactively been a major role. It is among the worst uses of the lion in the series. Much of what the lions tells Shasta feel dreadfully like the famous poem "Footsteps," in which Jesus explains to a walker looking at his life traced in footsteps on the beach that those moments when there were but one set of footsteps, not two for the walker and Jesus, were moments when Jesus carried the walker through life, not the walker walking through his troubles alone. In "Horse," it slaps the reader from the story. Worse still is the fact that the entire meeting with Aslan is written in a gratingly worshipful tone that is horribly jarring; it does the story a great disservice. The scene, however, is mercifully short.

Because "The Horse and His Boy" is a side adventure in Narnia more than anything else, it does not have as strong a connection, and therefore sentimental tug, as the rest of the books. Still, heavy-handed Aslan scene aside, "Horse" is a delightfully simple adventure about young people escaping a bad situation. Escapism is almost never a bad thing, especially for younger people who prefer to read over playing video games, and Lewis does it very well. Most readers will thoroughly enjoy this, even if it isn't essential Narnia.

Good Book!
The Horse and His Boy
C.S. Lewis
C. Cho
P.5

This book is about a young boy named Shasta and a horse from Narnia named Bree. Shasta and Bree have one thing in common, they both want feedom! Shasta mannages to escape from his master, Arsheesh. Bree and Shasta encounter many adventurous perils on the way to Narnia. Some people in a kingdom even mistake young Shasta as a prince. Shasta has his moments of fame and luxury until the real prince arrives...

I enjoyed reading this book because of the great relationship Bree had with Shasta. I also had fun reading this book because when I read about all the mysterious animals such as the lions, I wanted to read more about it. It was fun reading about the part when Shasta was mistaken as Prince Corin. Here is a quote from the book that I enjoyed,"Shasta had so enjoyed his dinner and all the things Tumnus had been telling him that when he was left alone, his thoughts took a different turn. I couldn't believe that they couldn't tell the difference. There were many exciting parts in the book but to me, these were my favorite parts.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I did have some parts that I did not feel was very exciting. When Shasta and Bree met Aravis there was a lot of talking involved. I enjoy stories with diolouge but I dont enjoy it if there is eight full pages of it. Another reason why I disliked this book is because they talked in a different way that we Americans do. Arsheesh was a character in this story that I didn't like."My price is seventy."

My favorite part of this book was when the people of Tashban mistook Shasta as Price Corin. This chapter made me feel happy for Shasta because he got food and rest that he deserved. I did not like it when Aravis showed up. She was the daughter of a high nobleman and she was a little stuck up to me. Although Aravis was not my favorite character, I still enjoyed this book.

The Horse and His Boy
I thought this was definitely one of the best books in the Narnia series. Unlike all of the other books, this one could stand alone as an independent story. This book does not follow the same order of the other chronicles and would probably fit somewhere between The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian. It includes some of the main characters from the other books such as Susan and Edmund but it is based on a boy named Shasta, a girl named Aravis, and their horses Bree and Hwin. It tells of how a boy comes to find his true identity while making friends and saving Archenland in the process. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for adventure, heroism, surprise, and fun. ... Read more

Book Description

The last battle is the greatest of all battles

Narnia ... where lies breed fear ... where loyalty is tested ... where all hope seems lost.

During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge -- not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear in this, the magnificent ending to The Chronicles of Narnia.

Reviews (62)

The Chronicles Of Narnia-The last battle
The Chronicles of Narnia is"a saga that began with The Magicians Nephew." That followed up with The lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Horse and his Boy, Prince Caspain, The Voyage of the Dawn Treaader, The Silver chair,And Finally the book i read. The last Battle. All these chronicles were written by C.S. Lewis. In all his stories he writes of another world. One place in paticular being Narnia. All of his stories in clude kids from our world and talking animals. these animals are a little bit larger than the ones we are used of seeing today and have personalities much like our own. The Last Battle was about a greedy ape named Shift who wants to secretly take over the country of Narnia. He wants to accomplish this by using his 'friend', a helpless donkey named Puzzle in the process. You see one day a lion skin floats down stream to where Puzzle and Shift live. Shift totally takes advantage of his 'brainless' buddy and tells him to slip the lion skin on. This makes him look like their great Aslan. Aslan has great power over people and anything he says usually goes. Shift thinks up a plot that will enable him to get everything he's always wanted.So with the help of a few other fantasy people he gets his wish for a while and scares all the narnians into waiting on all the Apes every need. Some of them were even going to be sold to the Cholermenes as slaves. In the end Shifts einsteinic plan falls in smoke because King Tirian, Poggie, Jewel the Unicorn, Jill, Eustace, and a few other good fellers come to the rescue to find that all this time they have been in a 'mirror image'of Narnia. soat the end of the story all the good animals and heros follow Aslan through 'magic doors' and find that the real Narnia is more of a magical place then anywhere they had ever been. the fruit was better too!
Over all i would have to say i liked the book.I would give the bok 4 out of 5 stars. i like the fantasy side of it. it really made me want to not stop reading because it always had something going on . Like "oh another battle(400) scene is coming up."It just really kept my excitement goin more then anything else! I also like the is was a part of a set of books. i have only read in either in back in fourth grade but i can remember liking that one too. That was The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe.i would definetly reccomend this book for other kids. But i must warn you your in store for some pretty crazy aeventrues especially if you read the whole set. Overall i woulde willing to bet you wouldn't beable to put the book down for a long time

A Wonderful Spiritual Experience
The Last Battle is the last in the series of Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, and my personal favorite. Most people think this book is for children, but I think many people can enjoy it, as it can be understood on many levels. For example, a child may appreciate this story as a group of kids on a fun adventure. I, however, really got a lot of spiritual meaning out of this book, as I found a lot of biblical parallels. In this book, the children are battling the greatest evil to exist in Narnia since the White Witch. A cunning ape and his lackey Puzzle (a donkey) find a lion skin in the river. The greedy ape convinces Puzzle to dress up in it and convince the Narnians that he is great Aslan the Lion, king of Narnia. Through Puzzle, Shift the ape exploits the Narnians devotion to Aslan by giving cruel orders that will only profit Shift. Out of fear, the animals follow his orders. "Aslan" invites the enemy Calormene army into the land to help him rule the country. The animals at this point turn to the real Aslan, and the people he sent (all the humans from the previous books in the series) to save them, but there wasn't much they could do Aslan came just in time however, bringing with him the final Judgment Day. The good creatures left Narnia through a lone standing door frame and entered into a magnificent place of which I haven't space to describe the magnitude of its beauty. The evil were rejected, and Narnia began to fold in on itself, much the way it had formed in The Magician's Nephew. Once in this paradise, the children are told that they were here after having been pulled by Aslan into Narnia after their Earthly deaths. The children grappled with this, as it must be a very difficult thing to be told you are dead, but accepted it happily in the end, seeing as everything they loved on Earth and more was there. This was the most spiritually enlightening aspect of the book, and it really left me in awe. Aslan accepted all the good into this "heaven." Not caring whether they had worshipped the Calormene God Tash, Him, or any other deities, he simply accepted them on their goodness. This to me is very interesting because on Earth, it seems, all the various religions are in some sort of competition with each other. Wars are fought over religion often, but as this shows, none of these specifics really matter.

Aslan's Glorious Appearing
I thought it timely, in light of the controversy surrounding another "End Times" story, to remark on this most remarkable of C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles. This satisfying series conclusion illustrates Lewis' brilliant analysis of Biblical prophesy in a touching story children of God can all look to with anticipation ("...Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20b).

This is the story of Armaggedon; the conflict between anti-Christ (anti-Aslan) and the great masses of inhabitants of lost Narnia deceived by him and doomed for eternity versus the ultimate salvation of the few true followers of Aslan to eternal life in His Country, the True Narnia. The allegory to Scriptural truth is remarkable as illustrated by this most insightful, genius mind of modern-day Christian apologists.

The high point of the story occurs after the destruction of the old world and the lost souls who rejected Aslan, who are dispatched allegorically in Revelations 20, "lake of fire" fashion. The heroes of the story, including all the key players from the earlier Chronicles, are seen trying out their new "resurrection" bodies exploring the most beautiful place ever imagined, thrilled to have Aslan with them. They find after a while that the beautiful country is actually Narnia, the REAL Narnia. Though the Narnia they knew and loved was perceived most wonderful, it was a mere shadow of the perfect New Narnia, the one that would last forever, always with Him present and providing all the light in the never-ending Day.

For believers in Christ, Lewis has projected a clear picture mortal minds can comprehend of how it might be on that Day. It is shown through a children's story because that is how we must come to Him; like a child. "You must become just like a child to enter the Kingdom of God". Jesus said "let all the little children come to Me". In Narnia, those child-like believers were never lost once they found Him, by His grace. Those who perished were the lovers of the old, decaying, temporary Narnia and were deceived by what their own wills commanded, rejecting and hating Aslan and worshipping the god of their chosing, their own selves. This is a definitive picture of our fallen world and our fallen culture. Lewis' work is prescient in describing the condition of the world of today, one in which Jesus could return to at any time, as our prayer pleads from Revelation cited above (but if He tarries, one and all can be sure that He is coming soon; "soon" defined as the lifespan of the individual).

One last point on a most poignant scene from the story. It involves the fierce young Tarkaan warrior Emeth, devoted follower of the vulture-like god of the Calormens, Tash. As our heroes are exploring the Real Narnia, following Aslan "further in and further up", they discover this unlikely believer sitting perplexed under a tree, "surprised by joy". Emeth's story is one that demonstrates man's frequent inability to match his rational and correct thoughts with his often erroneous mental images of said correct thought. In this case this child of the Light lived bravely demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit in humility, submission and obedience to the true God of everything, the Self-Existant Great I AM. But his human error was in his vision of what God looked like and not knowing His correct name. Emeth is somewhat like Helen Keller, who, when "told" about Jesus by Anne Sullivan in the eternal darkness, quiet and aloneness of her disability, said "so that's His name; I know Him".

The story of Emeth's salvation by grace is much akin to the salvation of the thief on the cross, or like mine. It doesn't say that "being good" gets one into Heaven, as one mistaken reviewer opined. It does show that a totally surrendered heart turned toward the One true living God in obedience and love will not be turned away, no matter how mistaken one's mental images may be about God. It is a beautiful picture of salvation by faith through His grace and not by works. God does all the saving; the Holy Spirit teaches us about the true nature of God by His perfect, inerrant Word. Lewis' picture of Emeth is one all believers should take heart in, realizing it is not our purview to know who God has saved by His sovereign will. Of course, Emeth's works demonstrated his salvation, even though he was not recognized as a believer.

Emeth's conviction, humility and devotion in this passage continues to bring me to tears. As Aslan seeks him out in the New Narnia, Emeth is convinced he is about to die. He has seen Aslan in His Glorious Appearing and is convicted of his sins. He falls at His feet thinking "Surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen Him." Read the book to see a most beautiful prosaic illustration of Christ's mercy and grace.

This is an ideal book to read either before or after reading the last of the Left Behind series, Glorious Appearing. The stories are very similar with the same outcome and the same great Hope. The self-possessed "intellectuals" of the world may guffaw at those who believe in "Whom" Lewis and other Christians have assurance. Most of these "intellectuals" are ignorant of Scripture, though some are over-studied yet deluded by their self-enlightenment, hard hearts or pride (see 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 for the bottom line, or if you can't get translation from that source, try reading Lewis' definitive study Miracles).

The Chronicles of Narnia are reading for a lifetime. They should be read by believers as a reminder of how we are to come into His presence. In Narnia we see the joys of serving Him in the trials and in the triumphs of this life. In The Last Battle we see the Genius of Revelation as given to Lewis on a plain that even great intellects can embrace if they are willing to "not harden their hearts" (Hebrews 3:12-15). If they are not willing they will get a clear picture of the consequences.

A fine end to a classic series
As the title implies, "The Last Battle" is the final book of C.S. Lewis' acclaimed Narnia Chronicles. It is also, for all intents and purposes, the end of Narnia itself, culminating in a sequence that bookends with the creation chapters and final coda of "The Magician's Nephew."

Unlike the other Narnia books, "Battle" begins not in the real world with the children who have been at the core of the series, but in Narnia itself. There, an ape called Shift and a donkey named Puzzle find a lion skin which washed down a waterfall. Seeing an opportunity to makes others do what he wants, Shift forces Puzzle to wear the lion skin and pretend he is Aslan. The ape's deception is central to both the conflict that drives the story and the questions of faith and belief that act as this book's moral center.

That conflict and the events which follow lend the story a tension not found in the previous six books, largely because the ape's deceptions just feels *wrong* in every way. The populace of Narnia believes the false Aslan is the real thing, even when he begins to sell them into slavery. Narnia's last king, King Tirian, tries to convince the Narnians that this Aslan is not real, but most are either too scared to not believe or are losing their faith in Aslan altogether. Enter Eustace in his third Narnia appearance and Jill in her second.

The tale moves along at a good pace, driven sometimes by action and other times by a pressing need to know what will happen next. After six Narnia book, the effect of Narnians turning away from Aslan is compelling. What little hope there is for the Good Guys falters again and again, which only adds to the steadily growing tension of the book's first two-thirds. It's effectively done and reads well; it is also has a more serious tone than previous Narnia books, similar to the difference in tone from Lloyd Alexander's first Prydain book and the last.

It is roughly two-thirds of the way through that the story takes a left turn in much the same way "The Magician's Nephew" shifts its focus. Here, however, the effect is not as jarring as it was in "Magician." It works largely because the sense of wonder and discovery present in much of Lewis' work is here in spades.

The final chapters of the book may be overly spiritual for some readers, but by and large that spirituality is of the same sort present at the end of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," a wondrous, timeless sort of revelation that fits within the framework of a fairy tale. Those readers who want to see Christian elements in the tale's finish surely will see them, but one can easily enough read it as the magical end to an equally magical saga told in the tradition of ancient storytelling.

Themes of faith, belief and trust drive "The Last Battle" forward.
All time-tested themes, and Lewis weaves them into a good enough story that they rarely feel heavy-handed. Because the story ends as it does, "Battle" offers true closure to the series, a rarity in lengthy works of fiction where "one more installment" is always a possibility.

"The Last Battle" is a well written and superbly fitting end to C.S.
Lewis' Narnia Chronicles, granting readers a compelling conflict before delivering on a finish that satisfies in spite of the near deux ex machina end to it all. The book manages to tie the elements of the six previous volumes together to close out one of the most beloved children's series of all time. "The Last Battle" is fine piece of work all but the most demanding reader will enjoy.

The Last Battle
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis is the last book of a seven book series entitled The Chronicles of Narnia. I enjoyed reading this book very much. It was full of adventure and it kept the reader in suspense throughout the whole book. This book also has great imagery. It takes the reader feel as if he or she is actually with the characters in the book.

This book would be a fantastic choice for a few different people. Anyone who enjoys reading adventure stories will enjoy this book. It is also great for kids because it has a lot of life lessons in it. This book would also appeal to anybody who enjoys a few fictional elements. ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a time a cruel King decided to betroth his motherless daughter to an Ogre in exchange for fifty wagons filled with silver. When the Princess learns what her father has done, she is horrified. But she is as clever as she is beautiful. Quickly, the Princess devises a plan to escape and, relying on her own spunk and good sense, ultimately marries the man she chooses for herself.

Reviews (3)

A feisty and clever Cinderella
There are more than five hundred variations on the Cinderella story. This one has the most interesting "Cinderella" character that I know of. There's no fairy godmother, although there is an old nurse who teaches her all she needs to know "to be strong and capable and clever, besides being beautiful." Using her wits and skills, she escapes an arranged marriage to an ogre, and wins the love of a handsome prince. I think it's a much better message for little girls than some of the baggage that comes from the French version of Cinderella that most of us grew up on. And Anita Lobel's illustrations are unusual and charming.

An Excellent Cinderella Story
This book is a variant of the story of Cinderella. In this book, the heroine doesn't rely on a fairy godmother to help her, she plans ahead and helps herself. This has been a favorite for my daughters and myself for years!

A great Cinderella story!
Princess Furball is a wonderful Cinderella story that is beautifully written. The illustrations delight children. I use this book when I teach a Fairy Tale unit to my 3rd graders. They enjoy comparing this book to other Cinderella tales. Princess Furball is always a class favorite. ... Read more

Book Description

The owl and pussycat have gone to sea often in the past 100 years, but never in a boat so green, on a sea so blue, into horizons and lands so glowing with color. Artist Erica Rutherford has created beautiful silk-screened images of Edward Lear’s much loved fantasy poem of two unlikely companions and a spare little boat. First published 150 years ago, “The Owl and the Pussycat” is impossible, nonsensical, whimsical, and it is in those very elements that its appeal lies. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

the best
I have always loved this rhyme, and when I found a version illustrated by Jan Brett, I knew that for me this would be the definitive version. Jan Brett's illustrations bring the Caribbean Islands to life right in front of your eyes. The cat with her headscarf, the beautiful tropical fish in the borders, the lush vegetation, this is so richly illustrated that you can look at the pages over and over again. And if you tire of the Owl and the Pussycat, there's always the story told in the borders to provide a change.

Hand in hand, on the edge of the sand....
Spectacularly beautiful illustrations make this book a joy. The familiar poem has a gently rocking rhythm, and the pictures have a flow of their own. My 18-month-old daughter likes to find the flower, the yellow fish, the cat and the owl on each page. The quiet familiarity of the poem calms her down during the nighttime crazies (that spurt of energy toddlers get just before they collapse into a puddle). I recommend this book for a soothing, visually delightful experience.

Amazing Illustrations
My daughter loves this book and I don't mind reading it over and over again thanks to the beautiful illustrations. I always notice something new and wonderful and what a fantastic idea for a setting.

Beautiful But Ridiculous
As I'm sure you know, owls and cats don't make fast friends (something that makes the Hopperoo a lover of the owl). And that's what makes this book so ridiculous. Of course, it is a fairy tale and the illustrations are beautiful.

On the other hand, I once took my ailurophilic spouse Bessie on a camping trip to one of those cat-ridden ghost towns in New Mexico (Winston) and the interaction between owl and kitty cat was not quite as Lear describes in his charming book--imagine an entire evening interupted by the continual caterwauls of nature's inferior puddy tat. I only wish Bobo (her annoying tabby) had been along for the ride!!! Recommended, but not as enjoyable as the Winston Owlprey Symphony Orchestra.

Beautiful book with depth!
This is one of my favorite all-time books. I have always loved the story. My mother recited it so often that it was one of the first things I memorized. It's whimsical, sweet and has interesting characters and locations. When I found this edition with Jan Brett's illustrations, I was captivated. I have read it to my four children over and over again, and I always find a new detail that I missed before. Wonderful book!!! ... Read more

Book Description

In this classic frontier adventure, Lois Lenski reconstructs the real life story of Mary Jemison, who was captured in a raid as young girl and raised amongst the Seneca Indians. Meticulously researched and illustrated with many detailed drawings, this novel offers an exceptionally vivid and personal portrait of Native American life and customs.

1942 Newbery Honor book ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A Closer Look
I have read this book at least six times, and it still captivates me that the author kept such a close feel on the character, Mary. Ms.Lenski took her imagination to the extreem. I believe that she took into herself the emotions and the heart of Mary and used it to her advantage. The whole setting of the book and especially the other characters in it make it a wonderful experience and it sends a feeling inside me that nastalgia seems too small a word to speak. It reminds me of where I lived as a child, and the person, Mary, sounds so much like I was. She talked like she knew much more than her age should alow her to. She spoke with clarvoyance and dignity that many other characters did not have. She learned the language of the Indians quickly and learned their culture with no complaint. I only wish Ms. Lenski would write more about Mary Jemison. I want to know what happened to the girl who did not return to her people when she had the chance. This book has changed my outlook on books. I read it for the first time in the fifth grade, and it touched me in such a way I cannot describe. I love how Ms. Lenski put her descriptions into words. I can never seem to do it exactly how I plan. I am currently writing two books, neither of which would, or could compare to Indian Captive. I only hope that my books will get published and appreciated like this one. I am sorry that I made this so long, but like I said, I can never really quite put into words exactly what I want to say. Thank you for listening to my opinion.

It was truly touching and a wonderful book to read
INDIAN CAPTIVE is a wonderful book for children of all ages. I recommend it to everyone. Mary has to face all kinds of problem and I don't know about you but I was bewildered to see how she handled them so wonderfully. I'm only 13 and I could understand this book very well so I'm sure kids younger than me will have no problem. Please pick up this book and read about the Indians and the way that they act, if you thought they were bad you will be totally swayed after reading this book.

How Indian Captive Inspired Me
The book Indian Captive, to me, was very captivating! What inspired me to read it was my Aunt, who's part Indian and is into the culture. I started reading the book expecting something like a history lecture, and finihsed it off feeling enlightened not regretting a thing!! I know what piece of Indian culture I took in is nothing compareed to the real thing, but it is so amazing to learn of how these poeple lived, and how benign and simple to life their culture is. What kept me even more interested was to learn how the little girl that got captured by them took it. She was the all-american-colonial girl, unwilling to new ideas, and came out a wise and educated, further than any college degree can teake you -woman. Experiencing each step of her journey along the way, and recognizing her growth next to mine, her journey can be compared to the analogy of a little child going out into the "big world" in his/her own. She is a survivor, and I hope her story lives on forever through her writing.

Lisa and Jenna's Review
This was a great book telling how an indian girls life is! It made me laugh, it made me cry, it moved me. I will never be the same as i was when i started this Phoneminal Life of a courageous indian girl! This book is one you will never forget my friend! Thankyou for reading our review, ya'll come back now ya hear?

Indian Captive
I thought this book was really good. In the beginning it was very confusing for me but now i understand it. It is a very easy book to use for a book project. You would like this book if you enjoy learning about histoy with Native Americans. The book has to do with a yound girl named Mary and her life with her new Senaca Tribe "family." ... Read more

Book Description

Caldecott Medalist Leo Lionni's classic tale about three childlike frogs who

learn a valuable lesson about cooperation is now available in paperback."This

story of selfishness on the pond, carried out in beautifully simple collages

and language, is a fine choice for story hours."--School Library Journal.




... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book is very appropriate for young readers.
I enjoy this book very much. The characters are human-like in nature which gives the book charm. Lionni captures the essence of siblings in the cute frog characters. The moral is easy to understand and something to remember for all ages, not just children. A definate must have. ... Read more

Book Description

Frog and Toad are always there for each other -- just as best friends should be. From sledding in winter to eating ice cream on hot summer days, these two friends have fun together the whole year round!

Book Description

Betsy and Tacy are best friends. Then Tib moves into the neighborhood and the three of them start to play together. The grown-ups think they will quarrel, but they don't. Sometimes they quarrel with Betsy's and Tacy's bossy big sisters, but they never quarrel among themselves.

They are not as good as they might be. They cook up awful messes in the kitchen, throw mud on each other and pretend to be beggars, and cut off each other's hair. But Betsy, Tacy, and Tib always manage to have a good time.

Ever since their first publication in the 1940s, the Betsy-Tacy stories have been loved by each generation of young readers.

Reviews (12)

Three Girls Girls and Their Childhood Life
Betsy Tacy and Tib,three little girls growing up in Deep Valley,Minnesota.They have their laughs and they have their crys.Since this was based on Maud Hart Lovelace's life,you feel as if you are at the turn of the century,watching them have all the fun that children can possibly have.I have read every single book in the Betsy,Tacy,and Tib series and even all of Lovelace's other novels.I recommend this book to someone who likes books taking place in the "olden days"....but it doesn't seem very old fashioned!

A Wonderful Book in a Great Series!
Betsy, Tacy, and Tib is a wonderful book in a great series. Maud Hart Lovelace did a spectacular job writing these stories. My mother read the books and loved them, my sister and I read the books and loved them, and now my little girls are reading them and loving them. These books never seem to grow old even though they are set during the turn of the 20th century. As a child, I not only read them, I wore the books out! I read and re-read the books, I couldn't put them down. I talked about them so much to my friends, they started checking them out from the Library and we would play Betsy-Tacy during recess. Now set in a period of a hundred years ago, they are still captivating kids today. My husband read the first four books in the series to our kids (Ages 7, 5, 3, and 1 at the time) and they love them all. My oldest begged me to let her keep my copies in her room so she could read them herself.

There are many great books in the series, this one in fact is not the first in the series. Check out the other books in the series, Betsy-Tacy, Betsy-Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Betsy-Tacy Go Downtown, Heaven to Betsy, Betsy in Spite of Herself, Betsy was a Junior, Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, and Betsy's Wedding. The books take Betsy through grade school and high school, to Europe right before the 1st world war, then back to America for her wedding and the joys and troubles of married life. Some other books not in the Betsy-Tacy series but also by Maud Hart Lovelace and worth checking out are The Trees Kneel at Christmas, Winona's Pony Cart, Carney's House Party, and (my personal Maud Hart Lovelace favorite) Emily of Deep Valley.

The best book ever
This book is about some basic nine year old girls just trying to have fun in many adventures like begging for cookies. It's one of the best books I have read.IT'S A MUST. I REPEAT MUST BUY!

Still a warm spot in my heart
The Betsy,Tacy and Tib books were among my favorites when I was a child. In fact--except for the Oz books--they were the only books whose author's name I remembered! Images from all these books remain vivid in my memory--Betsy and Tacy going to the top of the hill, the twosome becoming a threesome, Tib's blond hairs, and all the rest. Betsy, Tacy, and Tib grew up in a simpler era but they still speak to modern readers. I'm so glad to see these books still in print for another generation to enjoy.

I wish this book still counted for school work!
My sister has the whole collection of Betsy-Tacy books.She was never too excited about them.I think I was in fourth grade when I read the first one.These kind of books are my favorite.I love the whole aspect of different adventures,in different chapters.It's a fun,touching,and just unique book (and series)to read.I have tried to turn in numerous book reports for this book,or the whole series together.It worked until seventh grade.It is a refreshing book to read.The best part is that you get to escape the world's tradgedies,sad times,and stress all together.This book reminds me of Because Of Winn Dixie.The cool thing about this book, is that people of all ages can enjoy the individual stories of these three,fun girls.I recommend this book, and the rest of the series to little girls,teens,moms,and woman in general.I'm not sure if men,or boys would like it.It really doesn't matter who reads it though,as long as you enjoy it. ... Read more

Book Description

The birth of Jesus was a Glorious Impossible. Like love, it cannot be explained, it can only be rejoiced in. And that is what master storyteller Madeleine L'Engle does in this compellingly written narrative, inspired by Giotto's glorious frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. With a simple clarity that illuminates the life of Christ, Madeleine L'Engle gives eloquent voice to the miracle of God's love. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very glad to see this is still in print
I bought this as a gift for my niece/goddaughter about 11 years ago and have wished I'd got one for myself ever since. It is simply gorgeous with a very moving text. You don't have to be a committed believer to enjoy this lovely book.

bought this book for a friend and wished she'd kept it.
As an artist with an Master's degree in painting, I was amazed by the stunning reproductions in this "children's" book, and kept looking at it, and looking at it. The reproductions are so vivid, the text so appropriate, and the book so well designed that I could almost imagine I was walking through the chapel myself. It was the first time I'd seen the frescos in an order the artist intended, which made them even more powerful. Eventually the book went to a friend who admires frescos, but there was such a sense of intimacy in it that I've been searching for another copy for well over a year. The text and the images meld beautifully, and I can honestly say it's the first story of Christ's life I've seen where I felt the illustrations or text didn't "get in the way". Even if you're a fesco fan who's more interested in Giotto than in the story, tear up your check for that expensive art book and buy this first.

Jesus' life in great frescoes
As an art educator, church librarian, and special lecture person who links art with religion at my church, I can highly recommend this gorgeous book to you. Madeleine L'Engle is one of my favorite writers and she presents the life of Christ in flowing prose. I even picked up a few facts I did not know. The book is illustrated using various panels from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy which adds sumptuousness to its narrative. As a child I was drawn to picture books like this because of their medieval, almost Oriental appearance, so if you wish to influence your children to appreciate a good story well told and illustrated, select this book. The text is on an 9-13 year old level. The "glorious impossible" is something that cannot be explained but only rejoiced in, and I think that sums up God's gift of Jesus to us in a very satisfying way. Enjoy.

THought provoking and beautiful
I remember reading this book in the store when it first came out, and it has stuck with me since. Madeline L' Engle gives a thoughtful, sensitive twist on a timeless story, and writes iin such a prose that you could easily imagine reading aloud to young children. I have searched for it for years, and am pleased to discover it in print again.

The best children's Bible book I've ever seen
Are you looking for a book to read to your children to share your faith, tell the story of Christ, and inspire your child and yourself to feel the joys of giving, forgiveness, commitment, and love? This is THE book for you. L'Engle's extraodinary and inspiring writing style was never so beautiful as in this faithful retelling of the Gospels. It uses both simple, everyday language and the more complex quotes of the Bible to render a tale that is both easy to read and mystical- a hard task in Children's Bible literature. Her comments on the feelings and activities of both Jesus and others are so spiritually aware that adults will end up thinking about it long after the book is finished. In particular, her thoughts on Judas and his motivation were thoughtful, compassionate, and shed the first positive light I have ever seen given to this character. She brings up points I had never considered--- After Jesus rose He said "Peace be with you" not "Where were you when I needed you" - with such simplicity that one can't help wonder why they didn't consider it before. Along side L'Engle's rich prose is artwork beautiful enough to be awed over by adults, but detailed enough you'll laugh as children comment, "Hey, Lazarus really looks dead!" "The Glorious Impossible" is beautiful, gentle, rich, and assuring- a perfect book to introduce not only Christ but what he taught as well. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The story of a boy who had the persistence to master navigation in the days when men sailed by "log, lead, and lookout," and who authored The American Practical Navigator, "the sailor's Bible." ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Avast! Here's a great story!
This book is a keeper!
If you like the Horatio Hornblower series and such good tales of the sea, then I feel quite sure that you will not be disappointed with this easy-to-read excellent account of Nat Bowditch.
When I read a great book like this, I want it to go on for considerably longer, and this book made me think of the Hornblower series by Forester and of Midshipman Quinn by Showell Styles...I could easily see it rewritten into a mighty tome or series but, alas!, 'tis not to be.....
I can recommend this book heartily to all fans of the sea...!

Carry on Mr Bowditch
This book is called Carry on Mr Bowditch it is about a boy named nat who wants to go to harvard for collage.but his father wants him to go to boating school so he would be a sailer.In the begining of the book Nat's father got hot by a reaf that was in the water .then the boat sank.In this story Nat wrote a book about the skill of navagation.Nat makes a voyage but somehting happend ,amd if you read this book you will find out what will happen and if you read this book you will find out.I recamend this book for peple who like the sea and adventure

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
This book takes place in the 1780s and is about a boy named Nat Bowditch. Nat is great at figures and he has great perseverance. Nat has just been taken out of school to help his dad make barrels for ships. But he wasn't good at it at all. So his dad got him indentured for 9 years at Ropes and Hodges. Afterwards he went on a ship and found out a new way to work lunars. After his first ship ride he went on several others and found over 2,000 mistakes in a book written by scientist. But don't get to atached to the characters.

Carry on Mr. Bowditch
I am a reader at...school. I liked this book because the auther realy gets into the detail. It teaches you alot about sailing and it feels that you are actualy in the book. When you read it it seems like it would be a nonfiction book but it is actualy a fiction book. If you like reading nonfiction books or books that teach you new words, then you will like this book. The author is Jean Lee Latham. If you liked Holes then you probully will like this book because there are lots of adventures.
The book is about a boy named Nat Bowditch. He wants to go to Havered. He learns lots of things about sailing. He goes on many voyages. During the voyages he had lots of adventures. There are lots of sad things that happen in nat's life.

My Favorite Kids Book
I first read this beautifully and simply written book when I was about ten and it immediately became my favorite.I identified with Nathaniel Bowditch in many respects - my name is also Nathaniel and I also love math - but still he amazed me with his intense desire to learn and persevere through struggles.

I learned alot from this story.I was fascinated by Nathaniel Bowditch's amazing brilliance (writing an almanac as a teenager and doing insanely complex math problems in his head), his hard work (studying multiple languages from books), and his humility (teaching sailors math and navigation, giving them confidence in themselves).Amazingly, he did all this though his life was full of struggles.For me, someone who already liked to learn, this story powerfully reinforced just how exciting and valuable it is to gain more knowledge and then pass it on.

Today, about 10 years since I first read this book, I still love to read it.The title of "favorite book" has since passed on, but something still excites me about the impact one man can have because he dedicated himself to learning and to helping others through what he learned.That's a message young people, especially those already excited about learning, need to hear.And that's why those kids need to read this book. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Disappointing - not one of L'Engle's best
Despite the high hopes I had when I started this book (due to my high regard of L'Engles other books - A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, etc), I was sorely disappointed in this book. THe plot was a little above average, but it just didn't hold my attention. Additionally, L'Engles attempts to write in Southern dialect for the main character's dialogue failed miserably and came off "hokey" and unrealistic.

Fantastic read for all ages!
I "re-met" the O'Keefe's while searching for books for a neice. What a treasure! Expecting to find books aimed for an adolescent (the age I was when last I spent time with the Murray's and O'Keefe's), I was charmed and entranced by the story of Simon, Poly and Charles and their adventure together.

The book is well written and thought-out, with exceptional character development. Each has a complete and interesting history that takes the reader right in; a history that's not dependant upon having kept up with the series (which I have not). I felt perfectly familiar with all of the characters based upon what I was reading and not what I'd read 20 years ago.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, setting and treatment of the subject matter, and wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an adventure, be they first-time or long-time readers of Ms. L'Engle's.

No dragon, no fire, decent story.
I didn't find any of the characters in this story really came to life. L'Engle told us what they were like, but didn't really show us, it seemed to me, so they remained undeveloped.

The basic plot is interesting, though as developed it tends to morander and jump, meander and jump. A young teenage boy, an orphan who lives with his old grandmother, is taken by a long-lost cousin on a voyage to Venezuala, where his ancestor lived with a mysterious tribe of healers, and his Indian lover. L'Engle manages to combine the "noble savage" tradition with a bit of "capitalist exploitation," without stereotyping too much on either side. One of L'Engle's strengths is her interest in science and the ecology of village life. The story goes at cruise-ship velocity at sea -- slowly, I mean -- and it would be helpful if the characters all wore name-cards, to keep them straight. All the elements for a good story are present, but fail somehow through lack of vivifying detail. Still, L'Engle does tend to see things differently, and that makes the story fairly interesting.

A little help??
No, i didn't read this book but i'd love to...if i understood the back a little more!! :) If anyone could write something however you want to do it and tell me (this may sound rediculis) if the O'Keef family is speaking of Meg and Calvin and all of them?? I want to read this if i just knew a little more...

Not Among Her Best
...disappointment with this book. I, too, came to this book with anticipation based on L'Engle's more well-known novels. It was a pleasant enough read but didn't engage me and left me thinking, "That's it?" If this was her only book, L'Engel would not be recognized as the masterful author her other books reveal her to be. Not a waste of time, but not the best read either. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Tugs on the heartstrings
I received this book for Mother's Day from a dear friend who supported me through a long struggle with infertility. I was blessed to give birth to my daughter Caitlin in September, 2000. This book is wonderfully touching as a mother tells her daughter about what she was like before she became a mother, and how much she longed to someday be a mom. She tells her daughter, Katie, how she named all of her stuffed animals and toys "Katie" ... and how "she dreamed of having her own little girl to love."
"Now, I am your mother, and you are my only Katie. I tuck you in and tell you stories about the time before your time, when I was a little girl who ...slept in her firefighter boots...and who dreamed of having her own little girl to love."

For any woman who has longed for a child and has had her dream come true, this book will tug at her heartstrings for sure. And what a wonderful way for us to remind our children of how much they were wanted and how deeply they are loved.

I can't say enough about this book, as you can see. :)

Vicki (Who also named her dog Katie when she was a kid)
Mama to Caitlin

A thoughtful tribute to mothers and daughters everywhere
Engagingly written by Kathryn Lasky, Before I Was Your Mother is a thoughtful tribute to mothers and daughters everywhere, reminiscing about how every beloved mother was once a precocious little girl herself. Charming color illustrations by LeUyen Pham fill the pages of this tender picture book for young readers ages 3 to 7. Very highly recommended for family, school, and community library picture book collections, Before I Was Your Mother would make an especially nice gift for Mother's Day! ... Read more

Book Description

Knopf is proud to reissue the complete and unabridged Arnold Lobel-illustrated treasury of Mother Goose rhymes, originally published in 1986 as The Random House Book of Mother Goose and unavailable for several years. Reviewers were unanimous in their acclaim of a collection "brimming over with energy...distinguished by abundant humor and a rich variety of moods and styles" (School Library Journal, starred review). The beloved creator of the Frog and Toad books included 306 nursery rhymes--several hundred more than any other quality edition of Mother Goose--and "all are illustrated in a cornucopia of drawings which demonstrates the range of [his] technique and imagination" (Kirkus Reviews).The New York Times Book Review called it "brilliant," while The Washington Post Book World praised it as "surely one of the most satisfying nursery-rhyme books ever made." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

London Bridge is something down...
In the long and varied history of Ms. Mother Goose, so many collections and books of nursery rhymes have been made that it's a wonder anyone keeps track anymore. Certainly I was a child when this particular treasury originally came out and until my current grown state I'd never even heard of it. Illustrated by Arnold Lobel (the nice man who introduced the world to "Frog and Toad") this book is nothing if not extensive. It runs the gamut of rhymes, from classics like "Three Blind Mice" to limericks to tongue-twisters. It is a breathtaking achievement.

Many a nursery rhyme book, if extensive, will place two or three rhymes on a page and choose to illustrate only one. Not so Mr. Lobel. It is with great manual dexterity that he has found ways to merge, combine and bring together like-rhymes so as to combine their illustrations into a single motif. Consider his page containing romantic poems. Under around and through a single arbor dwell characters that act out such poems as "Something old, something new", "I love coffee", "Roses are red", and "If you love me, love me true". Poems about the weather, food, and royalty are similarly grouped. Longer poems, such as the classic "Partridge in a pear tree" are given full page multi-spreads. Lobel is nothing if not meticulous in his craft.

I did have an occasional objection. Though the book is expertly indexed, there is not so much as an author's note or preface explaining where he got these poems. The title page merely reads, "Selected and illustrated by Arnold Lobel", with scant attention to exactly WHERE he got them. This isn't idle curiosity either. More than one of these poems contains wordings different from those known to the pubic at large. For example, instead of the poem "London Bridge is falling down" we read that "London Bridge is broken down". Or smaller changes, such as making a ha' penny a half penny in "Christmas is coming".

Diligent parents beware. This book abounds with capital punishment and death. Much like the early fairy tales, nursery rhymes weren't always for the kiddie set. Adults liked them just as much. In the edition I happened to borrow from the library, some extraordinarily concerned parents took offense to a couple phrases in "This is the house that Jack built" (changing "That killed the rat" to "That bumped the rat" and "That waked the priest all shaved and shorn" to "That waked the minister all shaved and shorn"). Oog.

In the end, this is really a fabulous collection. The illustrations are adept (containing some very funny interpretations as well) and the rhymes not only familiar but enjoyable. If you don't mind the occasional change to the text here and there it is well worth your casual perusal and enjoyment.

A treasury of more than 300 classic nursery rhymes
Formerly published as "The Random House Book of Mother Goose" in 1986, this new hardback reissue pays homage to the late Arnold Lobel, the famed Caldecott winning illustrator of the beloved "Frog and Toad" books, "On Market Street" and more than 100 others. This treasury of more than 300 classic nursery rhymes represents more than three years of toil for Lobel, and was the crowning achievement of his amazing career in children's literature. Despite the massive undertaking, Lobel never skimped here. Every rhyme - no matter how brief -- has a beautiful corresponding drawing, and many, many entries feature six or more images. Even for lengthy poems like "The First Day of Christmas" and "The House That Jack Built," he refused to take shortcuts, and so drew increasingly complicated images for each and every verse. Not everything was taken literally, however, and so the pages for other poems offer a rich diversity of characters. On one double-page spread, for instance, Lobel cleverly grouped unrelated verses and united them by drawing a variety of pigs for each disparate scene. Even as presented in this unabridged new edition today -- nearly two decades since the illustrations were created -- the fun, colorful and imaginative drawings are fresh, offering a delightful introduction to the classic 18th Century Mother Goose rhymes and assorted other gems for generations of children to come.

Lots of rhymes, but not the mother goose I remember!
There are lots of rhymes in this book, but I wouldn't consider them all Mother Goose (the itsy bitsy spider, yankee doodle etc.) Also some of the rhymes don't seem quite right-- the end of "Ring around the Rosies" is "hush, hush, hush, hush, we've all tumbled down". Some of the differences hurt the rhythm of the rhymes, too. Maybe these are just regional variations, but it wasn't what I expected. The illustrations are nice, though.

Lovely complete collection!
I bought this when my son was a baby, but just brought it out now that he is three. Both of us have really enjoyed it. It has all the rythmes I was familair with plus so many I didn't know. I also now found an old source (Mother Goose) of some Barney songs we know! I particularly like that the illustrations are beautiful and truly representative of the rythme. So many other books dress animals up like people to illustrate Mother Goose. I like rythmes about little boys to show little boys and not pigs! This has confused my son. I highly recommend it and have since given it to several friends with small children. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ages 8-12. The first and best book in the very popular series describes the ups and downs of a precocious ten-year-old girl. Anastasia loves keeping lists of important information in her green notebook; when she discovers that her mother is pregnant, she instantly adds two new items to her "things I hate" list: "My parents" and "babies."But as the year passes, Anastasia finds that the items on her lists keep moving around; by the time her baby brother is born, the only thing left to hate is liver. An unusually warm, insightful and original portrait of childhood and family life, this is a special and memorable story. Horn Book called Anastasia "an amusing and engaging heroine" and The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books wrote, "the whole book is a delight." ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Anastasia opened her green notebook........
In my opinion the 'Anastasia' series should be a treasured possesion in any book collection. I read 'Anastasia Krupnik' and 'Anastasia Again!' for the first time when I was 9, and have re-read them again and again. I liked them so much that I purchased copies for my own collection. Since then I have read as many Lois Lowry books as I could get my hands on, including the rest of the 'Anastasia' series. Anastasia Krupnik is a ten-year old girl with a lot on her plate, like falling in love, moving out on her own, converting religions and getting an unnecessary baby brother. It seems as though Frank, her goldfish, and her secret notebook (in which Anastasia stores her most private thoughts) are her only friends, what can Anastasia do! This book, although a little different, is a wonderful story for kids around the world.

The Book Anastasia Krupnick by Lois Lowry
Would you like to know what a avarage 10- year-old girls life is like? In Anastasia Krupnik a ten year old girl named Anastasia Krupnik deals with a hard life. She has a green notebook that she has a page that has a Things I Hate list and a Things I Love list. At first her Things I Hate list was longer than her things I love list. In the middle of the book she found out that her mom was pregnant. Near the end of the book she starts to try stuff on her Things I Hate list and moved it to her Things I Love list. At the end of the book she finfds out that her grandmother died and the only thing only thing on her Things I Hate list is liver because she tried new things. If you like reading searies about a normal girls life then I would recommend this book and the whole series. You do not have to read the books in order.

Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik Book
This is one of Lois Lowry's earliest books, in fact it is her second book. The story follows ten-year old Anastasia Krupnik, the daughter of a poet and an artist as she completes the fourth grade. Anastasia changes her opinion of several things, from Washburn Cummings (her crush) to her parents, baby brother, and grandmother. While this book is not typical of Lowry's work (not even the books she wrote later about Anastasia) it is worth your time to read it. It should also be noted that this children's book has a few curse words in it and that there is mention of beer, in fact the main character drinks beer. Other than that, you may very well enjoy this book. It is different from Lowry's later works, but its still charming.

Coming-of-age for smart kids
A great beginning to a great series. Nothing sentimental or overdramatic here, just a quirky, smart kid growing up. This is a perfect gift for young, bright girls.

You really should read this
This is a really great book. I read it when I was ten, and I thought it was great. Now I'm almost thirteen,but I still love the series! If you're 10,11,12,or 13, in at least one of these books, Anastasia will be your exact age! The characters in the series are totally real, and you can probably find one who's just like you. You'll really love this book AND all the rest in the series, if you're 10 or 110!!! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

My favorite book from my favorite author!
I read The Moon By Night back when I was in Junior High, after reading the Wrinkle in Time series. L'Engle quickly became my favorite author and I read all her books. This one still held a special place in my heart. I absolutely fell in love with Zachary Grey (in love with a character in a book!) and he became the archetype for the kind of men I am fascinated by. My husband is somewhat like him. =)

And Psalm 121 became my favorite biblical passage because of its use in this book. The Moon By Night was very influential in my life. I also recommend _An Acceptable Time_, a very magical book, as Zachary crosses over to the Murray family story. (A Wrinkle in Time, etc.) That is my other favorite.

Excellent book! I still call it my favorite after all these years. Let it take you on the journey, you won't soon forget it.

A truly great book about a summer romance!!
I think this book is one of L'Engle's best. It gives you the feeling that you're in the book and that you know the characters personaly. Vicky is drawn to Zachary Gray who is very troubled, and much older. While Vicky and the rest of the family are on a camping trip that will lead them to California, Zachary follows her, leaving notes at all of the campsites that he passes. Vicky meets Andy, who makes her feel comfortable around him. She doesn't know whether to stay with Zachary, the unpredictable one, or with Andy, the normal teenager looking for love. I can identify with Vicky in almost every way and i highly recomend it to anyone. A Ring of Endless Light is a good coice to read after this one because Zach's back........

More than typical teen-aged angst
Every adult-in-the-making goes through at least one "difficult year." For Vicky Austin, that year comes when she's 14. She hasn't been able to do anything right (or it seems that way to her, at least!) for months, and now her parents have decided to tear her previously secure world apart. Dr. Austin is taking a temporary research and teaching position in New York City, leaving his small-town medical practice in another doctor's hands. The Austin family's home in Thornhill, Connecticut will be occupied by that other doctor's family, and that's where their pets will remain, too. But before they move into a New York apartment, the Austins embark on a cross-country camping trip - from Atlantic (Grandfather Eaton's home on Seven Bay Island) to Pacific (Laguna Beach, California, where they visit Uncle Douglas and Aunt Elena) and back.

It's an eventful trip during which Vicky has her first taste of romance, as she meets and is followed all the way across the country by a troubled and sometimes frightening rich boy named Zachary Grey. Zach's angry, hopeless response to life (which he fears losing at any moment, thanks to a rheumatic fever damaged heart) forces Vicky to confront twin demons that are making her own life miserable, in what L'Engle sensitively yet unsentimentally presents as something more than typical teen-aged angst. Vicky is part of the first generation to grow up under the shadow of the atom bomb, becoming aware of world events and their significance at the Cold War and nuclear arms race's height (this book's copyright date is 1963). She's become old enough, during her "difficult year" of being 14, to realize that she and everyone she loves can die at any moment; and she's also become old enough to ask herself whether or not God is really there. The love and respect she has for her grandfather, a minister and former missionary, can't save her from wondering if Zachary and others like him may not be right.

Although I didn't find THE MOON BY NIGHT as enjoyable a read as other L'Engle books because it was a bit too introspective for me (I'm used to more action and dialog, and missed it sorely as I ploughed through page after page of interior monologue), it is nevertheless the one I would most recommend to today's young readers. I was just a little bit younger in 1963 than Vicky Austin, and I remember only too well how it felt to know that my generation might not live to grow up - much less middle-aged or old - thanks to a world suddenly grown far smaller and more dangerous than the one in which our parents came of age. The children of post-911 should find plenty to identify with in Vicky's crisis of hope and faith, and much encouragement in its resolution.

Summer Romance
At the tender age of 14-years-old, Vicky Austin is filled with uncertainty about her life. She feels out of place, and, unlike the rest of her family, she feels unsure about what she wants to make of herself when she gets older. But when her parents decide to take a cross-country camping trip, she couldn't be more exciting. On the way, for the first time ever in her life, she meets up with a boy (a gorgeous one for that matter), named Zachary, who is actually interested in her. And she's interested in him too. But as he pops up at every one of the Austin family's camping stops, the family begins becoming aggravated with the boy. Now Vicky is becoming even more confused, what with suddenly having a boy's attention on top of everything else. Will Vicky ever be able to sort out her problems, or will her "difficult year" last longer than she actually thinks.

Another excellent novel in the Austin series. Madeleine L'Engle has touched on a subject that affects people of all ages, and adds a bit of romance to liven things up. A must-read book for everyone, especially for girls ages 12-16.

Erika Sorocco