Book Description

Surprises, discoveries and laughs, about in Odyssey.Come join each exciting, action-packed adventure!

When bad Isn't So Good - Sam gets into more trouble than he bargained for when he sets out to prove that "nice guys finish last."

Making the Grade - Jimmy has an eye-opening experience when he realizes that all that "worthless stuff" he learned in school is actually worth a lot.

Fences - The Barclay family has been through many changes lately, and Donna tries to copy by adopting an unwanted dog.

War of the Words - A carelessly uttered word in the middle of an argument between Connie and Eugene wreaks havoc when it becomes the fashionable insult.

Reviews (3)

The best I've seen yet...
The audio is of high quality, the speakers have clear voices and the cards are very helpful. My only problem with it is that they go too fast for a beginner, but they all do. It seems obvious to me...slow down! When a baby is learning to speak, you don't say "apple" all of the time, sometimes you have to say "aaa pull" I have to stop the tape player over and over and over........However, I do recomend this. I would buy it again.

Great introduction to Spanish
My daughter (age 10) and I have been playing Linguafun card games for a few days and really enjoying it. The cards guarantee success in speaking in sentences right away, rather than learning numbers and colors and just a few phrases at first, the way I learned in school. It's spurred us both on to learn more--I only wish there were more sets of cards from Linguafun.

The best foreign language teaching tool on the market.
I am a Spanish teacher, and have used the Linguafun cards in the classroom. I was amazed at how easily my students learned Spanish using these cards and cassette! The set comes with instructions for many different games, but our favorite in the classroom is "War". I have reviewed and tried many products for teaching Spanish, and Linguafun is by far THE BEST! It's the easiest way I have ever seen of learning a foreign language. I can't wait for all the other languages to be available ... Read more

Book Description

A little magic can take you a long way.

When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends -- Old Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more.

After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure begins!

Performed by Jeremy Irons.

Reviews (122)

James And The Jiant Peach
A great book you should read is James and the Giant Peach. This is an adventurebook. My favorite charactor is the centipede.
This book is about a boy named James Henry Trotter. One sad day, his parents are eaten by a rhino that escaped from the zoo. He has to live with his two most hated aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. The make him their slave. One day, he sees an old man. He gives James a bag of magic bugs. He trips and they go everywhere. They go into the ground and get into the roots of the dead peach tree.The tree grows a giant peach and James goes inside a hole in it. He meets a centipede, a grasshopper, a spider, a ladybug, a glow worm, a silk worm and a earth worm. They are as big as him. They roll down the hill and squish the nasty aunts. James and his new friends meet sharks and cloud men.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure books.

Ally's Review
Accidently, James Henry Trotter drops a bag of magic beans by the peach tree. Suddenly the crystals form into a gigantic peach! Odd things start to happen. James sees an entranceway through the peach and all these wierd critters that can talk! James is in shock.

As you go through the book you come along some characters named Centipede, Ladybug, Spider, Grasshopper, Glow Worm, Silk Worm,Aunt Sponge, Aunt Spiker and James. Aunt Sponge, the tremendously fat one, and Aunt Spiker, the most skinniest person in the world, treat James so deadly. They beat him and treat him horribly.

My favorite part is when James meets all of the characters. I liked it because they are a big part of the book. So I wanted to know a lot about them. I think some kids can relate to James' personality because he's a smart kid who's friendly and
likes to go on long journeys.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I think readers 8-12 should read it. Will James go far, far away with the peach and the critters or will the adventure start to begin? Read this book and find out!

James and the Giant Peach
When I read James and the Giant peach for the first time I loved it! it was adventurous and exciting! I loved how the writer made the creatures so interesting. Also she made the aunts look evil as was explainedin the book. I just wanted to reach in the book and yell at them! The book was kind-off mythical when james got to the cloud men. I could read that book over and over again and I would never get bored!

My Favorite book!
This book was great and full of adventure. I loved every moment of it(in other words... I don't have a favorite part). I would actually sit down and read this book over and over again. Normally, I won't even finish an entire book, but this one is worth taking time to read the whole thing. I enjoy the vivid imagination that Roald Dahl used in writing this book. He is a very tanlented writer. I only wish that there would have been a sequal.
Taylor McDowell

Generally good, but not without problems.
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is easy to read, catches the reader's attention, and takes the reader to a fantasy land. It has everything necessary to be a children's classic.

However, it is not without problems. In the book, James' two wicked aunts are killed as the peach flattens them and rolls over their lifeless bodies. Throughout the rest of the book the characters laugh and make up songs about their deaths. I know that in many fairy tales the wicked witch or stepmother dies, but I feel this book devalues life to the point that I would feel uncomfortable letting my young daughter read it. By the time she is old enough for me to feel comfortable with her reading the book, the book's plot will be too childish for her. ... Read more

Book Description

The indomitable Sam-I-Am is determined to make his companion eat a plate of

green eggs and ham.This silly cumulative rhyme features "limited vocabulary

but unlimited exuberance of illustration." --School Library Journal




... Read more

Reviews (136)

A great pre-reading tool
As a certified elementary school teacher and practicing preschool teacher (3-year-olds), I highly recommend this book! There isn't a day when I don't hear "Ms. Molly, read 'Sam-I-Am!'" My poor copy of "Green Eggs and Ham" is tattered, torn, missing pages and is in the process of losing its cover! When I read it, the children follow along and are able to recall the rhyming words when I intentionally skip them (a skill which usually surfaces at a later age.)

When we have free time in the classroom, there is a mad dash to the bookshelf to fetch "Green Eggs and Ham." I sit out of sight while the children quietly sit down with "Green Eggs and Ham" and watch them turn the pages and "read" the story. They know what lines belong to which page by "reading" the pictures. This is one of the earliest and most positive signs of reading readiness. Of course the children aren't "reading" the words, but they are becoming aware of letters as symbols for sounds. I often hear them mimicking my many interpretations of the book (some of which get quite enthusiastic!) and other children gather round the "reader" to hear the story, sometimes helping out! The benefits they are reaping from this story alone marks the beginning of an enjoyable journey through the many facets of language development (reading, comprehension, phonics, rhyming, speaking, listening, and interpretation.)

Not only is the book full of fun phrases, fantasic illustrations, lively characters and poignant messages, but also is a great tool for learning about the initial processes of reading and recognizing written language. In later years, "Green Eggs and Ham" and other books as endearing (whether the children will realize it or not) may lead to a love of books and reading which may help them succeed in school.

I have no doubt that my students will forget who "Ms. Molly" is in their teenage years and beyond, but they will ALWAYS hold in their hea! rts a special memory that is "Green Eggs and Ham."

Green Eggs And Ham
Green egg's and ham has been my favorite book of all time since i can remember, even after reading it 80,000 times, i still love it..Its about a silly old cat named Dr. Suess and he trys to get his friend sam, to try green eggs and ham. Sam kept avoiding and running away from dr. suess because he didnt like the idea of green eggs and ham..Dr. suess tried over and over, would you eat it on a plane?would you eat it on a train? Noo said sam, but in the end sam gives in, and realizes how good green eggs and ham are. I would reccomend this book to children and adults of ALL ages 1-99! great book! read it!

Green Eggs and Ham, 50 Word Vocabulary
This book is extraordinarily good. This is my number one favorite book. It is the ultimate Seuss experience. Dr. Seuss wrote the story using only 50 words. I recommend the Green Eggs and Ham board game and the videos or DVDs. I also recommend the Green Eggs and Ham CD ROM game by Living Books. I have been reading reviews by customers who like the book and I agree with all their favorable reviews.

Rene's Review
I like the book Green Eggs and Ham because it is an easy book to read.Since I don't really like to read this is an easy book to read. And what I like the most of the book is that it makes over a hundred words that rhyme. This book was written by one of the most famous authors ,Dr.Seuss.

Dr. Seuss explores the principle of "try it, you'll like it"
When Theodor "Ted" Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, died at the age of 87 on September 24, 1991, the best tribute of all to the beloved author and illustrator of children's books came four days later when the Rev. Jeese Jackson read "Green Eggs and Ham" during the Weekend Update segment of the season premier of "Saturday Night Live." That performance was so unexpectedly moving that it is impossible for me to read this classic tale for beginning readers and not hear Jackson's rhythm and cadences.

The protagonist of "Green Eggs and Ham" expresses the fact that he does not like Sam-I-am, so when Sam-I-am asks him if he likes green eggs and ham the response is also a negative. The equating of the green eggs and ham with Sam-I-am is extended through a logical progression of places (here or there), circumstances (in a house with a mouse or in a box with a fox), to hyperbolic proportions (in a car on a boat with a goat on a train in the rain). Despite the insistence of Sam-I-am that the protagonist might enjoy the green eggs and ham if only he were to try them, it is not a compromise position is worked out (trying the green eggs and ham in exchange for end to being pestered to death) that the story reaches its climax and resolution.

While I appreciate the importance of the idea that somebody should try something before they dismiss it (a principle that applies to not only food but theatrical releases and political candidates), I do want to point out that many years after my childhood, during which time the information would have been of prime importance, scientists established that different things do indeed taste differently to different people. So it is possible not to like green eggs and ham (or spinach, for example), and not be a repudiation of the life work of Dr. Seuss. But you do have to at least give strange food a chance before you take an absolute position against eating it under any and all conceivable circumstances. ... Read more

Book Description

Alexander Cold, es el joven quinceañero a quien se le presenta la oportunidad de hacer el viaje de su vida. Después de una triste separación de su familia, Alexander se reune con su audaz abuela, embarcándose juntos en una expedición al peligroso y remoto Amazonas. Su misión y la del resto del equipo -que incluye un célebre antropólogo, una doctora, y un guía local con su hija Nadia- es documentar al legendario Yeti del Amazonas, mejor conocido como "La Bestia".

Bajo el denso manto amazónico, Alexander se asombra al descubrir mucho mas de lo que jamás hubiese imaginado. Con la fuerza del jaguar, el animal tótemico que encuentra dentro de sí, y el águila, guía espiritual de Nadia, ambos jóvenes son guiados por la invisible Gente de la Neblina en una apasionante e inolvidable aventura que los llevará a su gran descubrimiento final ...

En una deslumbrante novel llena de aventura, la célebre escritora Isabel Allende, lleva a sus lectores por el misterioso recorrido de dos jóvenes y su búsqueda interior en este viaje épico, lleno de realismo máfico, al corazón del Amazonas.

Narrado por Wanda Arriaga.

Reviews (57)

Mystical Adventure
Alex Cold is a studious fifteen year old, who enjoys mountain climbing with his Dad, and playing the flute. His life is turned upside down when his Mom becomes gravely ill, and he is sent off to New York to live with his eccentric and crusty aunt Kate. Guess what? She is heading off to the Amazon to search for the "Beast"--the tropical version of Bigfoot.

Deep in the jungle, Alex meets up with Nadia, the fifteen-year old daughter of their guide, and the other members of the National Geographic expedition, and begins a journey of discovery which will lead him to test the limits of his courage and endurance. The people he encounters are not always what they appear to be, and the adventure quickly turns from a lark to a nightmare. In the course of the 400 pages Alex encounters the mysterious People of the Mist, and the legendary "Beasts," who--well, you just have to read it.

While many of the reviewers have been critical of this book, I must disagree. I found it charming, delightful, sometimes funny, and always intriguing. Toward the climactic ending I couldn't put it down. Allende writes with an innocent, mystic charm that draws you in and captivates you if you let it. It is not meant to be taken literally. It is a story of discovery, and the most important thing Alex will discover is--himself!

I recommend "City of the Beasts" highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

BORING
I expected to be a wild adventure but it was sooooo stupd and long I could barely keep my eyes open. I was lended this book by a teacher and I gave it to her and was sencire, I told her the next day with the book in my hand "I am so sorry teacher but this book is so boring I am going to give it to you back" She was ok with that and gave me another book, she gave me stargirl. I SIMPLY LOVED STARGIRL SINCE THE FIRST MOMENT I SAW IT!!! I rate city of the beast - infinite/10 and stargirl 1000,000,000,000,000,000,/10. SOOOOODONT BUY THIS BOOK YOU WILL SPEND YOUR MONEY ON JUNK, RUBBISH, FIRE WOOD.

Dangerous, Magical, Sweet and Sad

This book is slow in the beginning, but when you get into it it's a really good book. I like how it's dangerous, magical, sweet, and sad. In the story Alexander's mom is very sick (about to die) and Alexander's dad is a doctor and he can't find a cure for his wife. Alexander's dad sends him away to his fearless aunt so that his dad can work on a cure without being bothered.When Alexander got to his aunt's house, she told him they were going to the Amazon for National Geographic because they saw an animal nobody had ever seen before called "The Beast."When they went to the Amazon he met a friend.Alexander, along with his friend and his aunt's crew, went on a boat for exploring and it crashed. (I read this a while ago so I'm not sure if they crashed but they did something like that.)They called for help and the people who were trying to save them said that they'd try to find them soon.Every night they took turns guarding the boat and when Alexander guarded the boat he saw a little of The B,east and told his friend. A few days later Alexander and his friend went out to look for the beast. They went in the Amazon forest and found a stone-age tribe (what I mean by that is they were naked, had no technology, etc. etc.).The tribe could make themselves invisible.I'm not allowed to tell you what happens next so I don't spoil the ending.

I recommend this book for people age 10 and older.If you're eight or nine, I suggest your parents read it to you.I would give the book four and a half stars.The only thing I don't like about it is that it's a little slow in the beginning.Mostly, it's really exciting, fun and interesting.

By Tim

Beastly Boring
I found this book in Perugia, when I was desperate for new reading material in English (besides the copy of Dan Brown's hideous ANGELS AND DEMONS someone left in our hotel). Had it not been for the dearth of reading material, I would have never finished this book. I thought at first it was a problem of translation from Spanish to Italian, then Italian to English, but that was not it. This book is written for young people, but seems to assume young people are terminally stupid. Would not recommend this, even if you are out of reading material. Read your guide book again.

Disappointing
I'm a huge fan of Allende, but was very disappointed in this book.It is too long and could have benefited from tighter editing.The characters could have been more fleshed out also.The message that the rainforests and its peoples should be protected is a good one, but sometimes the book felt cliched. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A must for moms!
I love this tape! I've had it for a few years and have lent it to every mom I know. I listen to it periodically when I need a refresher of Barbara's practical advice for dealing with many of the day-to-day parenting challenges. I highly recommend it for any parent.

My son's a winner.
I discovered this Audio Tape when my son was 4. I credit it with providing me with the parenting and communication skills to help him become the confident, independent, communicative and resourseful 16 year old he is today. I would recommend this tape and the book "Kids are Worth It" by the same author to every parent.

Winning at Parenting without Beating your Kids
I discovered this Audio Tape when my son was 4. I credit it with providing me with the parenting and communication skills to help him become the confident, independent, communicative and resourseful 16 year old he is today. I would recommend this tape and the book "Kids are Worth It" by the same author to every parent.

Winning at parenting without beating your kids
The tapes are very enjoyable. The information is so simple yet absolutely true that you find her examples hilarious. The tapes provided me with perspective on rasing my daughters to think for themselves and problem solve. I have used her "convince me" suggestions endlessly. I highly recommend the book and have suggested it to several friends. ... Read more

Book Description

Hatberry
Shoeberry
In my canoeberry
Under the bridge
And over the dam
Looking for berries Berries for jam

They're off...a boy and an endearing, rhyme-spouting bear, who squires him through a fantastic world of berries. And their adventure comes to a razzamatazz finale under a starberry sky.

Children will want to feast again and again on Bruce Degen's exuberant, colorful pictures and his rollicking, berryful rhymes.

... Read more

Reviews (63)

A Berry Blast.....
Come join a little boy and his very endearing bear friend as they travel through berryland, on a "razzamatazzberry" adventure of a lifetime, picking and eating and playing together. Bruce Degen fills this entertaining treasure of a book with lively and joyous wordplay, alliteration, and high-spirited fun, and complements his jazzy, rhyming verse with bright, bold, and engaging illustrations. Imaginations will soar with each page turn as little ones explore the busy artwork, finding something new and special each time they open the book. Perfect for preschoolers, Jamberry is a marvelous mouth-watering, toe tapping, energetic, romp that begs to be read aloud, and is sure to send you off to the kitchen for a jamberry snack of your own. This is a classic to share with family, friends and future generations. "Mountains and fountains/Rain down on me/Buried in berries/What a jam jamboree!"

My toddler twins LOVE this book!
I have to admit that when I first read this book, I wasn't too sure what I thought of it. As another reviewer said, it contains a lot of fanciful words: jamberry, moonberry, berryband, and so forth. My twins absolutely LOVE this book, though! To them, it's every bit as good as their favorite Dr. Seuss classic. They enjoy the rhyme and repetition of the words, and love to look through the beautifully illustrated pages to find things they recognize. We have a lot of books, and this is the one that they will ask me to read every day (sometimes more than once). We've nearly worn out one board book by reading and rereading it, so I'm going to buy another for them soon. I highly recommend this book for your toddler!

Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity!!
Yummy!! A delicious book packed with fruit flavor. Mouth-watering blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries burst from each page, as you float along on rhymes with punch. I eat this book up every time.
This is as good as it gets in a board book for your wee one. The illustrations are gorgeous, and Degan has fun with it too, giving a "hint" of the next page's adventure as the starring duo finish hunting for one fruit and move on in search of the next. Although it's tempting to whip through, singing the rhymes like a song, it's also fun to linger on each page and point out all the things going on in each picture -- hints of the adventure to come and remnants of the one just completed. So, you can read through it a couple of times in each sitting.
This is my favorite of favorites to read to my one-year-old -- luckily, he likes it too!!

The Library Book We Had to Buy
We checked this book out of the local library 2 weeks ago. Our 19 month old son fell instantly in love with it. He asks to read it several times a day, he carries it around and talks about it. I logged onto Amazon today to buy a copy because I know he's going to miss it greatly when it goes back to the library next week.

no love from our book lover!
My son is 18 months old and LOVES books. He seems to have an insatiable desire for books. I was disappointed by the "busy" illustrations and awkward reading. This is the only book we own that doesn't hold his interest at all. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by Graeme Malcolm
Approx. 3 hours, 45 minutes
3 cassettes

Tree-ear, an orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch’ulp’o, a potters’ village famed for delicate celadon ware. He has become fascinated with the potter’s craft; he wants nothing more than to watch master potter Min at work, and he dreams of making a pot of his own someday. When Min takes Tree-ear on as his helper, Tree-ear is elated–until he finds obstacles in his path: the backbreaking labor of digging and hauling clay, Min’s irascible temper, and his own ignorance. But Tree-ear is determined to prove himself–even if it means taking a long, solitary journey on foot to present Min’s work in the hope of a royal commission . . . even if it means arriving at the royal court with nothing to show but a single celadon shard.

Graeme Malcolm currently has a featured part in the Broadway musical, Aida. He's read tons of audio books, including Merrick by Ann Rice for Random House Audio. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

A real masterpiece
This book is an amazing account of a young boy's quest and desire fulfilled.It is a must-read for 3rd through 6th graders.It helps put responsibility and work ethic into perspective.What an accomplishment!

A Single shard



In this book, the main character lives in a potting village and wants to become a potter. Unable to do this because of shortage of money, he gets a job with a master potter. Soon he becomes very good at the job and is sent on a mission to help his master get a commission.


I liked this book because it had lots of mischievous and exciting parts. I got sucked in right away. If there's any historical fiction book you should read, then it's this one.Nothing was dislikable for my taste. That's why I give it a five starrating.

Your memory wil be filled with more than a single shard
In this book orphan boy Tree-Ear Lives in Korea. He lives with an older man Crane Man under a bridge. Every day they go searching for food scraps in the trash. Munks have come to take Tree-Ear away from Crane Man but Tree-Ear refueses to leave. He later sneaks into the master potters work area and acidentily breaks a pot. To pay off the damage Tree-Ear must work for the master potter for nine days. He longs to get his hands on clay and make pots of his own but he is just told to do all of the dirty work. Tree-Ear keeps coming back because he loves the idea of maikng potery, and he loves getting fed by the potters wife. In the end it is a friend ship he looses and a friend ship he gains,and you as the reader get a strong memory that will last a life time.

Boring Topic Written in an Interesting Way
At first, I felt that this book is very boring, and didn't have that much life in it. But as the story went deeper, I found out that Linda Sue Park's way of writing makes the book very intersting. I reccommend this book for people who are intersted in other cultures. Or are interested in history.

A Single Shard of Success

This is a tale of medieval Korea, a boy named Tree-ear, and a single potter's life desire.This is A Single Shard.It was published in 2001 by Random House.The year of 2002 was when it got its Newberry medal.The book was written by Linda Sue Park who also wrote Kite Fighters and When My Name Was Keoko.It was on the ALA booklist, awarded ALA best book for young adults, and also promoted notable book for children.I award it best book for young adults right along with ALA.Also, if I were to choose between A Single Shard and any other book of its class my pick would definitely be on A Single Shard.
In medieval Korea a boy named Tree-ear lives under a bridge with his friend Crane-man.Tree-ear is used to living off scraps of food he finds in the wealthy potters' rubbish heaps.One day when he visits Min the potter's house to watch him throw pots on his wheel he finds that Min is not there.Tree-ear likes to watch Min and knows his schedule well and was surprised he wasn't there.So Tree-ear decides to take a look at some of Min's work on a shelf.When he tries to examine it closer he accidentally drops and breaks the pottery.Eventually Min comes out and finds Tree-ear standing over his broken box that is now a clump of clay on the ground.After yelling at Tree-ear Min decides that to pay off for the damage Tree-ear should work for him.After his ten days of payment Tree-ear asks Min if he could work for him permanently in hopes of learning how to throw pots.Min says yes to this and Tree-ear is delighted.After a while Tree-ear hears that a royal commission is coming to Ch'ulp'o.With that Min has to work extra hard and inevitably so does Tree-ear.That is where Tree-ear's adventure unfolds.
I loved reading A Single Shard due to its great setting.Both the time and place caught my attention.I liked the fact that it was placed in medieval times.I always love learning about medieval cultures and economies.Another thing I enjoyed about A Single Shard's setting was that it was set in a "pottery town".I can connect to this because I throw pots.This helps me understand how hard the potters work and why Ch'ulp'o is so proud of their work.The third thing I liked about the setting in A Single Shard was that it was in Korea.It was interesting because it expanded the story with Korean cultures and traditions.
Have you ever read a good book that doesn't have excellent description?Didn't think so.The town of Ch'ulp'o is famous for their celadon pottery glaze.Linda Sue Park describes this glaze fantastically from the green-blue color to the write and blue spots that "magically" appear after the pottery is glazed.Crane-man, Tree-ear's best friend, was perfectly described.His mangled leg and the fact that he was older were orchestrated greatly.Near the end of the story Tree-ear comes to a place called the Rock of Falling Flowers.Crane-man told him to stop here after telling a story to Tree-ear.He told him when the king was in trouble in a war he and all the courtiers fled up the mountain.The women all stayed around the king, but when there was no hope they all jumped off the cliff and the colors of there dresses made it look like flowers were falling from the sky hence the name.
A Single Shard is a story of determination, courage, consequences, kindness, and hope.It teaches you to never stop hoping.Another thing you learn is that your actions always have consequences whether they're good or bad.Kindness always comes back to you is yet another thing it shows you.A Single Shard is entertaining and has great morals.I would recommend this book to someone else especially young adults like me.This fantastic book always has something to keep you reading on.A Single Shard is undeniably a quality literature book.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Start of Journey
Reading this kinda me of Harry Potter and LOTR but with its own ethnic quality, Hindi culture. The main character tought and acted with understandable weakness and has his own strength (not a superhero though) but sometimes he got me depressed by his ignorance. Well, I sometimes get depressed by my ignorance too.

What impressed me most is how fast-paced but full story it was without abandoning the feeling of its reader. I cried and smiled with Anand, Nisha and Abhaydatta and I really like the tied up ends though it is very open to be continued in the next sequence(s).

A Delightful Tale of Self Discovery!
The Conch Bearer, much like The Mistress of Spices, takes you on an absolutely delightful journey, with the right mix of supernatural and human elements.If you want a book to "take you to another place" for awhile, this is it!

Excellent for young readers
The Conch Bearer demonstrates very effectively through it's 12-year old hero Anand, the demons and conflicts that most people face in real life when they are learning to trust their instincts, believe in themselves, reach out for assistance and look for the answers within.Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni also demonstrates through the young heroine Nisha (who is critical to Anand's eventual success) that not only are women just as smart, resourceful and capable but that no one achieves success solely through their own efforts.Anand eventually realizes these facts and accords Nisha the trust, love, and gratitude she is due as a loyal friend who would selflessly give her life to ensure his success. My family thoroughly enjoyed this very satisfying and magical book.I also liked that Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni demonstrated the spiritual, mental and physical effects of poverty in a very accessible way bringing to mind the way Charles Dickens handled the themes of poverty in his books.Children younger than 10 years old would most probably not be able to grasp the more subtle underlying themes of spiritual and character development on their own.

Far Beyond "Eragon"
Many of the formulas of a classic fantasy story are present in "The Conch Bearer," by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni. A young boy discovers he is meant to follow a supernatural destiny. On his troubled journey to meet his fate, he is joined by a wise old mentor and a spunky sidekick. Plagued by his enemy the entire way, they finally engage in a climactic showdown.
However, this story is refreshingly different from most fantasies for children and young adults in its setting, characters and conflict resolutions.

Prolific readers may recognize that these same fantasy plot devices are also used in the bestselling book "Eragon," by Christopher Paolini. While "Eragon" was an enjoyable read, I think that "The Conch Bearer" accomplishes all the same goals, and does so much more...in about 200 fewer pages, no less...

Instead of a young hero whose destiny lies in war and battle, "The Conch Bearer" gives us a compassionate and caring hero who is destined to join the Brotherhood of Healers, a group which is devoted to living in peace. Anand takes the first step of his journey when he shows kindness to a mysterious stranger.

In a further break with tired tradition, the fantasy draws on Indian culture, landscape and the features of everyday life to provide a multicultural perspective. The little details which the author includes will intrigue and delight readers used to adventures based on Northern European and British folklore and history.

The best feature of this book is the glimpses that readers receive into the hero's inner life during his complicated journey. We see Anand grow and mature throughout the book, and it's his moments of inner conflict that provide the most suspense for readers. The reader is really able to engage and empathize with the characters in this adventure.

However, "The Conch Bearer" isn't all warm fuzzies - there are still enough moments of scariness and suspense to satisfy the most demanding readers of adventure tales.

In my opinion, it's interesting to compare this story with "Eragon" to demonstrate what is innovative in storytelling today and what's played out. The best fantasy stories are those which lead the reader on an adventure that is both familiar and completely new.

THE READER IS A STAR
Few who saw the Broadway revival of Cabaret with Alan Cumming can forget his exquisite, touching performance.For this he won a Tony, plus the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards.Deservedly so.He continues to work his wiles in an impeccable reading of this India based adventure.

The popular author of several short story collections and winner of the American Book Award, Chitra Benerjee Divakaruni has crafted an enthralling fantasy which begins in a dirt poor shack in Kolkata (Calcutta), India.Anand is a mere 12 years of age but he has been given an enormous responsibility - his task is to return a conch shell that posses mystical powers to its home in the Himalayas, which is many hundreds of miles away.

Accompanying Anand on this challenging trek are young Nisha and a rather mysterious man called Abadhyatta.As one would expect in a fantasy the trio faces numerous otherworldly obstacles.Yet this tale is so rare, so exotic that it compels attention.

- Gail Cooke ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (97)

This is probably my favorite of all the Time Trilogy books!
After reading A Wrinkle In Time and A Wind In the Door, (both of which are also fantastic) I had to read this one. I was blown away reading this! This IS a complicated book-many times while I was reading I turned back to some of the other parts to understand a bit better. But that was the delightful and interesting part about it! I loved the whole "mad dog" name thing and the way each of the people Charles visited were connected, and yet very different.

I disagree with people who talk about how it's bad that Meg is only a pregnant housewife and Calvin is a famous scientist. It says in the later books about Poly (Meg's oldest daughter) that Meg works with mathematics, numbers and all that.

I reccomend this to L'Engle or fantasy fans, especially those who've read the first Time Trilogy books. But if you can't handle complicated plots, numerous characters and different settings, wait a few more years to read this so that you can fully appreciate this book!

A Suspenseful Fantasy of Time Travel
A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle combines the threats of nuclear war in today's society with the more complicated science of time travel. Mad Dog Branzillo, a South American Dictator, frightens the whole world with possibilities of dropping a nuclear bomb on America. It is up to Charles Wallace, a 15-year-old genius, his sister, Meg, and a mysterious rune to save the world from destruction. Charles' mission is to travel back in time with a unicorn named Gaudior to alter the past. In order to do this incredibly difficult and dangerous task, he must venture inside of people's souls to live with them and change the course of their lives so that Mad Dog Branzillo will not be born as a nemesis. Guided by this almighty rune, calling on all heaven with its power, and kything, or sending messages through the mind, with Meg, he fights to triumph over evil and to seek peace.

This book delighted me because of the great mystery of the time travel. I would recommend this book to anyone else who enjoys time travel and good fiction. I would not suggest this book to a person who does not enjoy fantasy or other books of the sort. A Swiftly Tilting Planet is fun to read and I would suggest that everybody read it and the others in the series.

My absolute favorite
Out of the Time Quarter, this is my favorite, although I still haven't read Many Waters, yet.

In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Charles Wallace must go through time and "inhabit" the bodies of various men, might-have-beens, to somehow alter the course of the present and prevent nuclear war.

I loved the concept on how everything is connected and how each of the people Charles Wallace inhabitted through each time period were all interrelated. The story ties each person in to the next, crossing thousands of years and showing how one decision from each person can change the future of the world.

It was fascinating to go back in time and experience what it was like during the Salem witch trials, the civil war, the early 20th century. It was like I was going through someone's attic and finding all this history or like I was going on an archeological dig, finding out about the past centuries.

I felt like I was actually with Charles Wallace, as if I was actually Meg, Charles's sister, watching him travel through time to save the planet. After reading A Wrinkle in Time, and then this one, I must say that there is a marked improvement in Madeline L'Engle's writing and this book captures you and takes you away to the world of the Murray's to the point that you lose all track of time in the real world.

Buy or borrow this book! But make it the book! NOT the tape!
(...)

Madeleine L'Engle is a FABULOUS author, and this is my favorite of her stories, and one of my favorite stories of all time. However (ignoring gender for a moment), I am reminded of a famous Clint Eastwood movie line:

"A man's gotta know his limitations."

Madeleine L'Engle is a fabulous and highly skilled AUTHOR. The audio edition of A Swiftly Tilting Planet shows that narration is NOT her strong suit. Do yourself a favor. Definitely GET this book, but get it in the PRINTED format and READ it rather than listen to the author's narration.

It goes without saying that my 5-star rating is for the book and not the tape.

"A Swiftly Tilting Planet" (printed) is NOT to be missed. Read "A Wrinkle in Time" and "A Wind in the Door" first.

A Little Disappointing
A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite books ever, so I read the sequals with much anticipation. This book was a little disappointing mainly because Meg and Charles Wallace are not featured that often. Most of the book revolves around a historical family, one side bad and one good, and the attempt to go back in time and change the outcome of events in order to prevent war in the present. The time travelling aspect is interesting, and the talking unicorn is very lovable, but I just did not find these historical characters very interesting. Also did not care for the idea that one family line can be inherently bad. Still an enjoyable read, and L'engle has many heartfelt quotations, and Meg's family is still as loving and inspirational. I was also disappointed that Meg has lost her spunkiness. But I guess that is just part of growing up, and she is growing up into a beautiful woman, just like her mother. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hank Audio Pack #4
In this two-book audio pack, you can listen to two more adventures from Hank, that hilarious cowdog. In the first story, Hank book #5: Faded Love, Hank goes to visit his One True Love, Beulah the collie.In the second,book #6: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, Hank must find out who's been murderingchickens before he gets blamed.I wouldn;t miss them! ... Read more

Book Description

They're starry-eyed.They're headed for the altar.Only one thing - who are "they"?Eugene and Katrina?Jack and Joanne?Whit and Whit???!Big changes are in store for some of your old friends in Odyssey. . . As well as for others you're about to meet.Join the fun as a handful of local kids threaten to go on a "chore strike", city slicker Nick takes up residence with Odyssey's newest family - the Mulligans, and a painting with a past teaches a valuable lesson about forgiveness.Whether they're trying to foster-parent an entire zoo or undo the damage of previous mistakes, Odyssey's lovable citizens have their hands full.But no matter the predicament, one thing is certain: each is determined to stick to his or her commitment to God - even if following His will isn't easy.

Reviews (2)

Welcome Mulligan's!
They're starry eyed.  They're headed for the altar.  Only one thing-who are "they"?  Eugene and Katrina?   Jack and Joanne?  Whit and Whit??? Big changes are in store for some of your old friends in Odyssey...as well as for others you're about to meet.  Join the fun as a handful of local kids threaten to go on a "Chore strike", cit slicker Nick takes up residence with Odyssey's newest family-The Mulligans, and a painting with a past teaches a valuable lesson about forgiveness.

Episodes:

1-3: For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll, Part 1-3 (Discerning God's will about who we marry) - Who will get married?  Eugene and Katrina?  Jack and Joanne? or Whit and Whit???
4: The Pushover (Standing up for yourself)-Cody is always being treated less by people and this time he learns to stand up for himself.
5:  Chores No More (Family Responsibilities) - The kids in Odyssey want more free time in their lives and less chores.  Thus they plan to strike against their parents.
6:  Just Say Yes (The cost of Obedience) - The new family in Odyssey, The Mulligans invite a new person into their family.
7:  The Painting (The power of   forgiveness) - Their is a secret behind a painting that Jack and Joanne have.
8:  Best Face Forward (Hiding who we really are) - A bike rider who is writing a book in his travels plans to go to "Whit's End" but Connie wants everyone to Whit's End to be portrayed as something else.
9:  Viva La Difference (Appreciating Differences in Others) - The Mulligans now have a zoo in their home.   The ongoing story of  the Mulligans.
10-11:  The one about trust, parts 1-2 (Jumping to Conclusion) - Why is Eugene getting paid more than Connie?  Why is their tension between Connie and Whit? 
12:  Amazing Grace (God's Mercy) - The story of John Newt.

REVIEW: I have to admit that I was a little bummed out that the Barclay's (Odyssey's #1 promoted family through the years) was no more....but now they have the Mulligan's!  Hooray!  Great storyline.  The story line of  "For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll" was great...but the most powerful storyline was "The one about trust".  Excellent!  To hear the tension between Connie and Whit...something you never expected.  The latest in the series is truly recommended!

It ain't a book, but it's Adventures In Odyssey!
Fans who were on the edge of their seats can rest easy now...we know who the wedding couple is. But I can't tell you! You have to buy the thing for yourself!

Also included, besides the three Wedding Bells episodes, are some episodes with the Mulligans, and other, happy slice-of-life episodes from AiO.

It's enjoyable, and it teaches lots of lessons. It's wholesome, and enjoyable. Buy it today! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Never too young to start this
My daughter is four and has had this book since she was about 10 months to a year-old. I have played it for her when she goes down for a nap and at bedtime over the years and now play them for she and my son in the van on our travels around town.

Even though she was too young to fully comprehend all that is on there, she REMEMBERS what she has heard and has repeated things back to me and asked questions.

I am now teaching her memory verses and she knows eight so far, one of them being John 3:16, which is pretty long for a little girl. My son is learning them as well, and knows one so far (he's two).

I highly recommend this book and the tapes/cd's that go along with it. In fact, we originally recevied this as a gift with the cassettes. We wore the cassettes out and I was fortunate to be able to get just the cd's online without having to buy a second book.

Adults could become a little annoyed at the voices used for the animation, but as the Lutheran mother above wrote, her daughter loves it. Kids are attentive to dramatic voices and would likely just ignore someone reading in a manner that would please the Lutheran mother's ears :o

It's a wonderful book for Christian parents who want to teach their children about the Bible. Everything in there is scripture, so no matter what denomination, if you believe the Bible is the infallable Word of God, this book is for you.

Fun & educational
This is a wonderful set of stories & songs. In fact, I'm tempted to give it the highest possible praise: its quality is comparable to "Baby Mozart." My daughter asks to hear the songs over & over. When the kids are restless in the car we say, "a few more stories & we'll be there!"

the word of God sowed in my heart
I am a Korean University student. It was really excellent.
I heard it as audio CD. I listen to it again and again.

A Noble Effort, but Somewhat Grating to Adult Ears
My daughter at 4-1/2 was ready to move out of the Beginner's Bible, and I was looking for a more mature approach to Biblical knowledge. The book and audio set is beautifully produced and delivers on its promise to present the essence of the entire Bible as a read- and sing-a-long experience. It is ideal for the beginning reader to appreciate the "bookness" of the Bible instead of thinking of it as a bunch of "stories." Much better than my ancient Illustrated Children' Bible with its too-high reading level, which when I searched was still the only other whole Bible project that could be used with a pre-reader.

My daughter would certainly give it five stars. She sits and turns the pages with the text and enjoys the songs. Some of the songs are pretty nice, others don't wear well on adult ears; this is only to be expected. What drops my rating is the overly swooning style that many of the narrators chose to read their texts in. Everyone from Moses to Hosea to Jesus uses exaggerated, elongated vowels, "Goooooooood Waaaaaaants Youuuuu to Giiiiiive Up Your EEEEEEEEEvil Waaaaaaaaaays," which is *really, really* annoying, and I think gives kids a twisted example of "special Bible-style talk" that detracts from the real power and beauty of the words.
My tender, liberal ELCA Lutheran heart also cringed when I noticed "Jerry Falwell as Matthew" on the credits, but it's an unfortunate truth that this kind of project can only make money if it targets the conservative Christan community. And, let's face it, no one less conservative would dare to serve some of the un-gentle aspects of the Old Testament straight up (inevitable in the minor prophets). So if you're in the mainstream-to-left Christian community, be forewarned about this p.o.v. that's not entirely obvious from other reviews. All in all, though, it's an honest presentation of excerpts from all the books, and I don't want my daughter to grow up with a sugar-coated "children's stories" approach to her Judeo-Christian heritage.

Instill a love of God's Word in your children
This Bible/CD set is a tremendous resource for parents and kids. It is so well made and scripturally sound. There is at least one story from every book of the Bible. Every story begins with a Bible verse and follows with an engaging narrative that keeps your child's interest. Most stories are followed by a great song that reinforces the lesson. I have two children, ages 6 and 4, and they are on their fourth time through since Christmas. They follow along with the CDs, usually in the car. My six-year-old is asking me questions like "Mommy, how can I be a peacemaker?" Her reading skills have also dramatically improved as she reads along with the CDs. My four-year-old is going around singing, "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray." I am seeing real fruit in their lives. It is a great way to fill your children's thoughts with things that matter for eternity. ... Read more

Book Description

This attractive paperback book-and-audiocassette combination is anew title in Barron's "I Can Read" series. They introduce a second language tochildren of pre-school and early school age. An appealing story comes with full- color illustrations on every page, accompanied by simple text in two languages.The tapes repeat the books' bilingual texts so kids can hear the actual soundsof spoken French and English. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Une Surprise!
In preparation for travels next year, my 4-year-old and I are attuning our ears to French. WHAT'S FOR SUPPER (along with other books in this Barron's series) is just our speed. Carol Thompson's appealing illustrations make it easy for a preschooler to "tell herself the story." Mary Risk's story of children buying groceries and preparing supper for their mother - a surprise! - keeps us turning pages, whether in English or French. The cassette is familiarizing us with the sounds, and the end-of-the-book phonetic spelling lists are polishing some of the rust off my encrusted college French. It will be possible to use these at developing levels, too. Right now we read the English, then the French on each page and listen to the tape doing the same. Later we can cover the English on the page and just read the French. And on the flip side of the cassette, we can hear the whole story in just English or in just French. A great supplement to whatever French "text" a family uses. ... Read more

Book Description

Berlitz Kids' The Five Crayons is the introduction to theAdventures with Nicholas series. Featuring easy German vocabulary and simple sentences, this story teaches colors, numbers from one to ten, rooms and furniture, animals, weather expressions, means of transportation, locationwords, and more. There is a catchy, thematically related song for each chapter.Listen to the audio story and sing along with each of the songs--it's a fun learningexperience for students, parents, or teachers. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Product is OK; Berlitz gives poor customer service.
I bought all three books in the series: A Visit to Grandma, The Missing Cat, and Five Crayons, all in one order. I didn't use them for a couple of weeks, and kept them in their boxes. Finally getting around to the books, TWO of the three audio cassettes broke within the first week of use. It has been more than a month and a half, and I've been emailing and calling Berlitz (multiple numbers; I feel like i'm getting the run around) to see about replacements, but to no avail. After all the emails and calls, Berlitz says that the best the can do is sell me the items again for half price. All I desire are the tapes. I have the books, of course. It's disheartening that this large, multi-national corporation 1) does not stand by its products, and 2) can't afford to send a customer two tapes.

With that out of the way, I do think the series is pretty good, though I've (obviously) really turned sour on the company. I've read the other reviews of these prodcts, and by and large agree. The illustrations are nice, and the narrations on the audio are professional enough. Some issues I do have:

They advertise that the tapes are 60 minutes long. They are, but they're playing with the language. While the cassettes are actually 60 minutes long, there is about 20 minutes of silence on the second side. So if you buy all three, you're purchasing 60 minutes of quiet time.

Speaking of the second side, it is interesting because that is the side containing songs--songs go along with the story. Apparently all the songs are the same (i.e., same music, lyrics, etc. just translated into different language) regardless of the language you are learning (French, German, Italian, etc.). This makes for some contorted lyrics at times. The writers really had to make it stretch in some parts to get all the syllables in, or to spread them out. So for example, in the back of the book, where the lyrics to the songs are, they give you the German on the left, and the English on the right. The English goes along quite well the song (it must have been written or drafted in English). It has even numbers of syllables per line, rhymes when it should, etc. The German, on the other hand, is almost unwieldy. Don't get me wrong. If you listen to it enough, you will learn, but it's clear that the song was not written in German. If the lines rhyme in German, it's probably a random event.

Also, this is the first time I have ever seen a cassette no labeled with "SIDE A" or "SIDE B."--so you don't know what sire you're puttin into your cassette player. In the great scheme of things, I guess this is no big deal, but it shows the attention to detail that was *not* paid to this project. Related to this is the fact that I am surprised that there is no audio CD available.

Given the paucity of German language materials on the market, purchasing these books, for children, unfortunately, is a must.

I Need More Like This!
I am teaching my 5 year-old son to speak German, and having trouble finding materials. The three Berlitz "Adventures with Nicholas" books have been a tremendous help. My son asks me frequently if we can "play" German--he enjoys the stories so much! "The Five Crayons" has especially caught his imagination. My only complaint is that I'm not sure that the voices are those of native speakers; at times the accents don't sound quite right, particularly the final "g". On the other hand, a friend of mine who is a professor of German has complimented my son on his accent. I know he didn't get that from me! It must be the tapes. If only they had more titles!

A 1950s production
I bought "The Five Crayons" to teach German to my 4-year old daughter and her friends. The book is lovely and works very well with that age group. My axt to grind is mostly with the songs that come on the accompanying tape. As everything Berlitz has been putting out there, it's freshly out of the ... 1950s! Some of the "timeless" song choices are still OK (ABC die Katze lief im Schnee), others are unappealing AND have vocab that's too hard for kids to deal with. Moreover, the perfomance is pretty lousy and uninteresting - don't they know at Berlitz that kids like to hear other kids sing? Adult voices without much instrumentation are boring to grownups and, even more so, to children. In sum, the song side is useless, the story itself good and the illustrations great.

Stuck in the 1950s
I bought "The Five Crayons" to teach German to my 4-year old daughter and her friends. The book is lovely and works very well with that age group. My axt to grind is mostly with the songs that come on the accompanying tape. As everything Berlitz has been putting out there, it's freshly out of the ... 1950s! Some of the "timeless" song choices are still OK (ABC die Katze lief im Schnee), others are unappealing AND have vocab that's too hard for kids to deal with. Moreover, the perfomance is pretty lousy and uninteresting - don't they know at Berlitz that kids like to hear other kids sing? Adult voices without much instrumentation are boring to grownups and, even more so, to children. In sum, the song side is useless, the story itself good and the illustrations great.

Excellent book for young German learners!
I teach German in a K-5 program. From day-one in Kindergarten we are supposed to speak German-only. As a result, our students have a large vocabulary and wonderful aural-comprehension. Therefore I am always searching for new books to share with them, books which will bring into play as much vocabulary as possible, but are still understandable. I'm so excited that I found this book, as well as "The Missing Cat" and "A Visit to Grandma", all put out by the Berlitz language company. This simple, yet wonderful, story introduced colors, numbers, rooms of the house, items in the house, animals, vehicles, and so much more!! And the songs at the end are cultural-specific to Germany, including "A,B,C, die Katze lief im Schnee" and "Alle Voegel sind schoen da!" I can't wait to play the accompanying cassette for my students--a definite plus because they can hear a different accent from mine, which is so important in second-language acquisition. THANK YOU!! ... Read more

Book Description

Gramps says that I am a country girl at heart, and that is true.

Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the "Indian-ness in her blood," travels from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents. Along the way, she tells them of the story of Phoebe Winterbottom, who received mysterious messages, who met a "potential lunatic," and whose mother disappeared.

Beneath Phoebe's stories Salamanca's own story and that of her mother, who left on April morning for Idaho, promising to return before the tulips bloomed. Sal's mother has not, however, returned, and the trip to Idaho takes on a growing urgency as Salamanca hopes to get to Idaho in time for her mother's birthday and bring her back, despite her father's warning that she is fishing in the air.

This richly layered novel is in turn funny, mysterious, and touching. Sharon Creech's original voice tells a story like no other, one that readers will not soon forget.

A 1995 ALA Notable Children's Book
School Library Journal Best Book of 1994
Winner of a 1994 Bulletin Blue Ribbon
A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Winner of the 1997 Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

On her long car trip from Ohio to Idaho, 13-year-old Salamanca Hiddle tells her grandparents the story of her friend Phoebe, who receives a message from a "lunatic" and who must cope with the disappearance of her mother. But beneath this story is Sal's own story, and that of her mother, who left home one day and never returned.

Winner, 1995 Newbery Medal
Notable Children's Books of 1995 (ALA)
1995 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
Children's Book Award for Longer Novels (Great Britain's Federation of Children's Books Groups)
Outstanding Books of 1994 for Middle School-Aged Teens (V)
Best Books 1994 (SLJ)
Bulletin Blue Ribbon Books 1994 (C)

Reviews (503)

Creech's Walk Two Moons
In the exciting tale of Salmanaca Tree Hiddle, Sharon Creech does an excellent job of portraying the story of this young girl's life. Walk Two Moons is a sincerely touching account of Sal's journey, told in the form of two distinct story lines. Sal's mother leaves her and her father in Bybanks, Kentucky and shortly there after, upon hearing that her mother will not return, Sal's father packs up their belongings and the two move to Euclid, Ohio. Gramps and Grams take Sal on a road trip to go visit her mother, who is in Lewiston, Idaho, for her birthday. On their way, Sal tells them of her adventures with a new friend in Euclid, Phoebe Winterbottom. The two girls act as mini-detectives trying to solve the strange mysteries they encounter together. Between the secret messages left on Phoebe's doorstep, to the lunatic they see in their neighborhood, the girls come to share experiences that impact them in many ways. With stops all along the way, Sal eventually makes it to Lewiston in time for her mother's birthday. Up to this point, Creech leaves many loose ends floating along; finally all the loose ends come together in the end. Sal realizes that through the story of Phoebe, she has learned more about herself and her own story.
Sharon Creech is a talented writer who portrays each character in a precise way. I was most impressed with the realistic description of each character and could see them in my head as I read. They were real people who had real problems that I feel most readers could connect with. The structure of the book is such that it keeps the reader interested and guessing what will happen next. There are many twists and turns in plot. Because of that unique structure, the book is one that readers will not want to put down.