Book Description

We cannot start too young to acquire a sense of pride in what we do. And a sense of proportion. The street cleaner has the cleanest streets in town.6 1/2 x 6 1/2 For children ages 3-6 years. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Old, but still a great read
I just finished re-reading this book after having read it when I was a child.It is one of William Steele's classic frontier stories.The dialog is rich, the action is fast paced, the characters are fairlywell-constructed, and there is even a moral to this tale.Trapped byraiding Indians without much water in a small fort with his family and afew other frontier families, Chad's father stands up for the Logan family,a poor woman with a young son about Chad's age, and two smaller children. The woman's husband, called Traitor by the others who are sure that he isin cahoots with the Indians.The other settlers want to force the Loganfamily outside the fort but Chad's father, Raburn, won't allow it.Atfirst Chad is repelled by his father's standing up for this family of atraitor, but through the book he learns that it's not fair to judge orblame someone for what another person does - even if it's that person'sfather.Chad learns to follow his father's advice given near the beggingof the book and resolves to "think things through" before formingan opinion.Young readers might be forewarned that this book was writtenat a time when Indians were portrayed as enemies to the early settlers ofthe American wilderness.Violence and death are portrayed in the book, aswell as, heroism and bravery.For older readers who read these books asyoungsters, it's a very good read. ... Read more

Book Description

James is following in his father's footsteps, descending deep into the caves below the Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Breton to learn to be a coal miner. Even though James is considered old enough to go to the deeps, his mother cautions him to take care. Coal mining is dangerous work — and the only way his family can earn a living. Readers follow James down into the dark underworld, where he can hear the layers of rock shift around him. Will he survive his first day in the deeps?

Beautifully illustrated with textured and shadowy acrylic paintings, Boy of the Deeps vividly illuminates and honors the lives of coal miners. ... Read more

Book Description

A young hedgehog maid visits Redwall Abbey and sings a half-remembered song recounting the adventures of a warrior called Luke.This chance meeting begins a tale of two quests: that of a son to find his father and that of a father to avenge the murder of his beloved wife.

The son is Martin the Warrior, founder of Redwall, who sets forth from the Abbey seeking the truth about the father he barely knew.His journey takes him home to the northland shore, meeting friends and enemies, old and new, and leading him to an extraordinary shipwreck.The wreck, the Arfship, is home to three ancient, veteran warriors who have in their possession a dusty old volume.Inside is the story of Martin's early life and the dramatic account of his father Luke's pursuit of his hated enemy, the pirate stoat, Vilu Daskar.

Brian Jacques' skillful narrative is told in three parts, interweaving the stories of father and son. Addressing some of the mysteries behind the Abbey's early years, this book provides answers that no Redwall fan will want to miss.

Reviews (128)

I wish I could have kept reading!
Brian Jaques has outdone himself . . .

The Legend of Luke reviels most of the secrets to Martin's past you didn't get in Martin the Warrior.

Take my word for it, the cast of charecters is totally believable and lovable.

If you aren't familiar with Gonff, you'll laugh at his very personality.

Martin is Martin, truly. I saw a side I never did see otherwise.

Let me see. . . oh yes.

A sunny day outside, inside, a torrent of rain and rope burns from the book. I felt it. The cold, wet sea water, the rain, the rope burns. . . Book Two in The Legand of Luke let me feel how Luke (Martin's Dad) must have felt. . . It was almost too much. Jaques leaves the reader hanging after each page. . . your heart screams for more and your mind sees it like you were there. When it's finally over, you feel like you've been through ever scene. . .

Five stars isn't enough. Six stars isn't enough. Maybe ten. . . read and be swept away by the incredible world of Brian Jaques.

The best one yet?
I think that this could very well be the best Redwall novel yet. At the beginning I didn't think much of it. But when Martin reached the Arfship it got really good. I loved hearing about Luke and how he defeated his enemy for his tribe and son. It is also very interesting to read about when the abbey was first built. All of my favorite characters are in this book too, Gonff, Bella, and Martin. I love Gonff. Brian Jacques must be really creative to think up all of those poems that Gonff always chants. Well, all in all, it is a wonderful book. The first and third parts of the novel aren't worth much unless you are really into Redwall. But the third part is extremely good and will keep you seated motionless for hours until it's over. I can't wait until Lord Brocktree comes out!

Great book!
I really liked this book. Trimp the Rover hedgehog goes to Redwall Abbey. It's under construction. She helps build by singing a hauling shanty about Martin's father, Luke. Martin becomes depressed, so Gonff, Dinny, and Trimp take him on an adventure.
My favorite part is the song about Saint Ninian's.

A swash buclikng good tale
This is the 12 book in the red wal series. It is the prequel and sequel to mossflower. In legend of Luke Martin the Warrior, Gonf and Young Dinny go on a quest to find out what happens to martins fateher luke.

In it we learn that luke Died shortly after kiling the Vile Dark star a vile vermin corsair who murder his wife. For those of you who read Martin the Warrior you know what becomes of Martin after his father leaves him behind.

Log a log is back so is delight ful Fedd and Cogs sweet old Bell of Brochhall is back to. If you like this book I also recomennd Mossflower and Martin the Warrior for the are the only other books that martin is in that is a Major character. Tell redwall encyloped that there source of books that Martin is in accurate. Sir he is dead and nimare character in the other but he should still be on the list.

Live the tale or read the story
This Redwall book was different from the rest. A big chunk of the story is a tale being told. Also there is no regular villan to fight. This is one of the better Redwall books because it has less fighting but more action and suspense. I especially liked when they first met Folgrim. He looked weak but he killed two rats in the blink of an eye.
The book started with Martin living at Redwall. He takes a trip to the North shore. He leaves with some close friends. They find a band of weasels that are going to cook a squirrel. Once they free the squirrel, they find out his name is Chugger. His grandmother died one day so he went out on his own. They soon find shrews and an otter name Folgrim. Once at North shore, they take a ship to the tall rocks. There they find part of Luke's crew. One tells the story about Luke.
You must read Martin the warrior first. This was another great book from Brian Jaques and an awesome book from Redwall. ... Read more

Book Description

Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker-Do I dare disturb the universe?

Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school societ-the Virgils-and master of intimidation.Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event-a chocolate sale.When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school.In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable. ... Read more

Reviews (287)

Definitely more for guys...
I recently read The Chocolate War for an assignment in English class. The book did keep me entertained long enough to finish reading it, but that's about it. I'm a fifteen year old girl, and this book is written for about a thirteen year old boy. The book talks about looking at adult magazines and stuff like that from a male point of view. I was not interested, to say the least. The actual story line lacked any sort of reality, in my opinion. I mean, honestly, a kid doesn't sell chocolates and the entire school turns against him? He's "disturbing the universe"? Personally, I would transfer out of this hoity-toity private school as soon as I could! The characters in this book are described well, though. You can tell that the author has talent, but he should've used it to write something that was actually decent! I would not have finished this book if I didn't have to for the assignment. Basically, I recommend this if you're a 13-15 year old boy, but otherwise don't bother.

It's a powerful book.
The Chocolate War is a very powerful book about mob mentality at a boy's prep school. There is a group at the school called the Vigils that give other students assignments such as making a kid unscrew all the screws in a classroom so that when people sit down everything falls apart. No one dares not do one of the assignments, which are given out by Archie Costello, the unofficial leader of the Vigils. There is a chocolate sale every year at the school where all the students are expected to sell 50 boxes of chocolates. Jerry Renault is given the assignment by the Vigils to not sell chocolates for ten days. He fulfills his assignment, but continues to refuse to sell chocolates when the asignment is over. He is at first seen as a hero, but he is then made to look like an outcast and a scapegoat by the Vigils who are blackmailed into this by the headmaster. Robert Cormier does a great job of depicting a high school controlled by a cruel gang, and a corrupt headmaster. It also shows that anyone can break away from a crowd, and stand up for themselves. Yet it also has a realistic ending that shows that there will be consequences to your actions. I definitely reccomend this book.

not too bad...
...but not as good as the movie.

I feel bad saying that, since the movie CAME from the book; it's just that the movie has more twists and more depth of character development -- particularly at the end.

Brother Leon, for example, comes across as much more wicked in the film, and the supporting cast is more sharply drawn.

I also felt the book suffered from the use of omniscient narrator technique. It seemed to reduce the suspense and focus.

Also, such scenes as the evil gang of little kids are much more effective visually than they are in print.

One of the reasons, I suppose, that I found the movie so creepy and disturbing was because there was this desolated, lonely atmosphere to everything, implying, in a way, that the schoolboys were actors of mythic stature at the beginning of an empty world. Nothing but the Brothers and them. I think this is due, however, to the movie's being brought off on a shoestring budget; I'm not sure the director intended it this way. Whatever the case may be, this thing -- this central excellence of the film, in my view -- is totally missing from the book.

I think the author was going for a kind of William Golding-type idea, but I don't think he succeeds anywhere near as that other author. He depicts evil, sure enough, but it just doesn't seem to have enough grip or intensity to be compelling.

However, on balance, a worthwhile read. Who can't identify with the degrading chocolate sales that every American school -- both public and private -- "invite" their students to participate in?

More development of the reader's sympathy for Jerry, the central character, would certainly have helped.

Powerful Book
This is a good book with a powerful message. It starts with a high school freshman Jerry Renault being picked on by a secret school society called the Vigils. Brother Leon, a teacher at the school assists them in the harassment when Jerry refuses to participate in an annual school chocolate sale.As stupid as it may seem, the Vigils see him as a threat to them and the school tradition. I'll just tell you that they do some nasty things to him and those who admire him for his defiance (I don't want to ruin the book for those of you who haven't read it). All in all, it shows you that standing up for what you believe in and doing what you want to do is not always the best choice. Jerry didn't go along with the rest of the crowd and suffered the negative consequences for his choices. It's a good, suspensful, and exciting read, and for those of you who haven't read it, you should.

Depressing, bleak and utterly disappointing.
I expected to read a children's classic, but apparently, my definition of a classic is different than some people's. "The Chocolate War" is a book that wallows in hopelessness and despair.

Adolescence is difficult enough without filling children's heads with the bleak, crude ideas in this book. None of the characters are likeable, parents are characterized as empty shells sleepwalking through life, teachers are either cruel and domineering or weak-minded and feeble. Finally, the students are depicted as sheep who act only as they are directed.

The writing is poor with excessive use of similes. It seems every other sentence contains "like", "as if" or "a kind of". Examples of this are: "the smile remained on his face like a label on a bottle" or "the dial tone was like a fart in his ear". Huh? People "laugh as if it was some kind of joke". Awful.

I don't understand why this is required reading in many schools. This book is supposed to depict "realism", but I think it succeeds only in revealing Robert Cormier as a misanthrope. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Stereotypes and the pressure to conform often smother the creativity of boys and leave their fresh, original ideas unheard.Boys Know It All is a place where boys can speak their piece about what it is to be a boy.Boys, ages 6-16, have written chapters offering helpful hints for tough situations like talking to girls and surviving older siblings, while others toss out ways to fill free time creatively like inventing your own family traditions and taking care of pets.This is a fun book that also tackles serious issues about growing up male in America.Boys will enjoy reading it and will even get excited about learning and trying new things.Some sample chapters are:

* Doin' Your Own Thang--a 13-year-old's story of dealing with teasing from peers about his career as a professional tap dancer.
* Gone Fishin'--tips on catching frogs, bugs, and other creatures and how to care for them if you decide to keep them.
* Toughing It Out--an 11-year-old tells the story of his battle with a brain tumor and encourages others to "just hang in there" when life gets tough.
* Chivalry Isn't Dead--four boys from Memphis, Tennessee give hints on how to impress girls, friends, and family by being a classy "gentleman." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic
My 12 year old son really enjoyed this book. He read it all in one night. He continues even now to keep it handy!

It is a great book for boys
just a good all out book better than a bots guide to lif

Packed full of insider info on being a boy...a must have!!!
The publisher of this book has a great thing going here...have young and talented writers submit stories and articles and compile them into a self-help book about kids...for kids. The result is a really fun book with interesting insights and stories concerning the youth of America. This is a must have for the teenager in your family and parents who want to crawl inside the minds of young boys just like their own. Some articles are all for fun while others tackle more serious subjects. The clip art in the book is interesting and photos of the authors make reading the chapters more fun. This is the best $9-dollar book you'll ever buy. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Father's Day book!
This book was just excellent.It really tells a true account of how a boy feels when he goes fishing with his dad -- the good and the bad.It's a diary and a love story in one!This one is a great gift for any father. ... Read more

Book Description

Coached and nurtured by their father, Bob and Rex Whitman are promising high school baseball stars. Their world turns upside down when they learn their father has died suddenly while umpiring another high school baseball game. Bob assumes the role of the eldest in the family and Rex falls apart. As the family moves through the rituals of death, Bob and Rex recall their father's lessons, bringing both pain and healing.

Each chapter is preceded by a quotation about baseball from a famous person and gives readers pause: "Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Baseball Scholarships
In the book Strike Three!Take Your base by Frosty Woodride.Two boys named Rex and Bob Whitman are going to get scholarships for playing baseball. When their world turns up side down, because their dad dies while refing a game.His last words were. "strike three, take your base". But Bob takes charge and Rex falls apart. As the book goes on ,you learn about true love for your family members, because when your family member is gone and will never comeback. Then you'll relize how much you really loved them.In this book, you'll learn about baseball.If you like baseball read this book! Even if you don't like baseball, still read it. ... Read more

Book Description

My Own Thoughts and Feelings (for Boys) is a creative, child-friendly program designed for use with elementary school boys, filled with illustrations and original exercises to foster healing, self-understanding, and optimal growth. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

One great book
To everyone, I wanted to take a moment to tell you how wonderful this book is. I first read it in Junior High School, I fell in love with it. I mustve read it 3 or 4 times since. Its a wonderful story, like all Steele books it leaves the reader spellbound at the end. The description says ages 9-12 but you can be MUCH MUCH older to enjoy this book. It is really a book for anyone with a sense of adventure and an imagination. :) ... Read more

Book Description

I DON'T KNOW WHY I FELT SICK. I MEAN, YES, IT WAS THE FIRST DEAD BODY I EVER SAW. BUT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE. AFTER ALL, MY WHOLE FAMILY LIKES DEAD THINGS....

Thirteen-year-old Finnegan Zwake is staying with his Uncle Stoppard, a bestselling mystery writer, and still hoping his parents will return from an archaeological expedition in Iceland. They disappeared there several years ago.

Life with his uncle is fairly normal -- until the day Finn discovers a body in the basement. A dead body. It's in the storage area where Finn's parents left behind gold treasure from their last expedition. And missing from the storage space is a magnificent Mayan gold figure, the Horizontal Man.... ... Read more

Reviews (5)

THIS BOOK ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book The Horizontal Man by Michael Dahl is a really good book! It's about a 13 year old kid named Finn and his uncle Stoppard. Uncle Stop is a mystery writer. Finn and uncle Stop solve several mysteries. They find out who took the Horizontal Man. They also find out who killed Larry.
I liked this book because it's a really good mystery book. Finn stays with uncle Stop because his parents have been in Ice land for 7 years! This is the greatest book ever. So read the book!!!!!!

The beginning of an enthralling series
Finnehan Zwake WAS a normal 13-year-old boy. That was until his parents, archeologists both, went missing after going to Iceland for an expadition. They've been gone, supposed dead, for seven years, during which time Finn has lived with his Best-selling mystery writting Uncle Stoppard. Finn hads grown into an almost normal life, until he discovers the dead body in the basement.
Killers and thieves, stolen gold and excavations, a boy and a nutty writer... culminating in a family secret. But mostly this whet's Finn's tongue for adventure. He won't stop until his parents are home and safe, however many books that may take.
I truly enjoyed this book, it is the start of a series I hope doesn't end any time soon.

Very funny!
This book kept me captivated until the very last page! Finn Zwake and his Uncle Stoppard are just living normal lives, until Finn sees a certain gold statue, The Horizontal Man, in his neighbor Pablo's apartment. The same Horizontal Man that his parents, who were...I mean, ARE archeologists...the same Horizontal Man that they found when digging in Agualar. "You threw up on a Horizontal Man?" asks his uncle when Finn unsuccessfully attempts to explain what has happened. This leads to reminding his uncle that they have loads of gold in their storage room in the basement--which is shared with Pablo, by the way--and they find the gold (which was, just like the Horizontal Man, all from the Agualar expedition) along with something else. A dead body. "Before I saw the dead body, I used to like raisins," claims Finn in the first sentence of the book. From that sentence on, the book is one of the most hilarious mysteries I have ever read. Perfect for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

Clever and witty
Dahl provides some new insight into the traditional young-detective genre with the oh-so-curious Finnegan Zwake. His first mystery is thoroughly drawn and funny. The only jarring detail was that I thought there was one misleading bit and not enough clues to divulge the identity of the murderer. All in all, though, a good debut novel with very interesting central characters.

Wonderful new mystery!
This is a great book for both kids and adults. I found Finnegan Zwake to be a charming and inquisitive 13 year old who is up for the challenge of a murder mystery. This is very well written, and kept me guessing right up until the very end. Perfect balance of suspense and humor -- I eagerly await the second installment of Finn's adventures! ... Read more

Book Description

The great race across Alaska!

As Dawson City goes up in flames, Jason Hawthorn itches to join the new rush for gold in Nome, 1,700 miles away. He and his brothers have been cheated out of their sawmill, so when a $20,000 prize is announced for the winner of a race to Nome, Jason enters. His partner in the canoe is Jamie Dunavant, the adventurous girl he loves. Will they make it to the finish line, despite the hazards of the Yukon River, two dangerous rivals, and the terrors of the open sea?

Reviews (2)

An exciting and Fun Book
Down Yhe Yukon, was a very good book it had many exciting and interesting parts. I thought it had some very dull or boring parts to it though. It takes place after the gold rush in alaska with Jason Hawthorn, Jamie Dunavant, and A dog named Burnt Paw. Dawson City just burtn down and Jason lost his job and goes to join a race up the Yukon River to get his company back. He is in the race with Jamie the girl he loves and his dog Burnt Paw who saved from an famous boxer. While this race they go through many difficult and rough times.Its up to whether to see if wins the race now.

A Nice Ride...
Beginning in the city of Dawson in the Yukon, Jason and his dreamgirl, Jamie, paddle a canoe in a race to Nome against hundreds of others! The time is the gold rush at the turn of the 1900s in the Yukon territory. The setting is colorful, with nods to the gambling, drinking, and dancing that took place during the time. Names from the old west, such as Wyatt Earp and Calamity Jane appear in the tale that gives a good sketch of what was taking place at the time.

The story begins well with a confrontation between the brothers and the Sydney Mauler and carries along well, but it did not seem believable. When Jamie and Jason venture to race together, I wondered how a teenage boy and girl travelling together would have been perceived and was somewhat disappointed that this aspect was ignored. Though Down the Yukon is the sequel to Jason's Gold, it most defnitely stands on its own as a story, and for that Will Hobbs is to be commended... I look forward to reading more of his work.

Crazy James ... Read more

Book Description

In a village in Chile, Pedro and Daniel are two typical nine-year-old boys. Up until Daniel's father gets arrested, their biggest worry had been how to improve their soccer skills. Now, they are thrust into a situation where they must grapple with the incomprehensible: dictatorship and its inherent abuses. This sensitively realized story touches a nerve and brings home the uncomfortable fact that some children do encounter issues of this magnitude. Here, deft realism is brought to the page by Antonia Skarmeta's story and the edgy drawings of Alfonso Ruano, portraying a child's view of a repressive society. The Composition is a winner of the Americas Award for Children's Literature and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This composition sings
At first glance, "The Composition" is a book that simply describes military dictatorships in a way that children will understand. On a closer look, however, Antonio Skarmeta's brilliant 2000 creation does more than that. It shows how every human being, regardless of age, can fight injustice on an individual level. It displays sympathetic characters that are punished for thinking for themselves. And it is one of the first picture books I've ever read where the main character is a child that outsmarts a fascist regime.

Pedro lives in an unnamed South American country with his mother and father. Each day after work his parents sit on the sofa to listen to foreign radio stations about their country's military dictatorship. Pedro doesn't really understand the importance of this, preferring to play soccer with his friends. One day, while playing, he sees the father of one of his friends being led away by a group of soldiers. That night Pedro finds that his own parents, like Daniel's, are against their country's form of government. When he asks if he himself is against the dictatorship his mother replies, "Children aren't against anything. Children are just children". The next day a military man enters the children's classroom with an assignment. They are to write a composition under the soldier's watchful eye entitled, "What my family does at night". Pedro thinks it through and after talking with his friend Juan proceeds to write. In the end, the reader discovers that sometimes children are far cannier than the adults around them might suspect.

In many ways the real question this story raises is whether or not children have the ability to make careful informed decisions. On the outset, Pedro's mother thinks this isn't possible. She believes that kids are innocent and incapable of deep thought. When Pedro tells Juan this, his friend's response is, "They all say that. They took my father away up north". So you see, when a child is affected personally by the events around him/her, that child cannot help but come to their own conclusions. What Pedro writes in the end is a clever tale of how his parents usually come home and, after dinner, play chess. The last line of the book (after Pedro has read this composition to his parents) is this:

"Well", said his father, "we'd better buy a chess set".

Fabulous writing. Would you expect anything less from the author that wrote the novel on which the film "Il Postino" was based? I loved the plot of this book and, in a way, I wished that the illustrations matched it. The pictures here are fine, of course. They accurately portray the ways in which kids feel the effects of life in a strictly controlled country. Illustrator Alfonso Ruano also isn't afraid to focus his attention on the seemingly innocuous elements of a tale. When the children are told the subject of their composition, the picture on the facing page is of an eraser that has had a small hole drilled into it. Two pages later you see Pedro grasping the edge of his desk as he attempts to try to figure out what to write. Behind him looms the soldier, arms clasped behind his back. Another artist might have chosen to make the tale a little more artistically rendered, but Ruano has done pretty well with this book. The result is that your attention is focused entirely on the story itself.

Tackling freedom and personal choice in a picture book is very hard work. Very hard. In the case of "The Composition" it's pulled off brilliantly. A creative amalgamation of text, subtext, and darn good writing this book is appropriate for any and every kid. If you'd like a book that is politically charged but subtle too, I think "The Composition" is a brilliant choice. ... Read more

Book Description

Seventeen-year-old Tomasu lives in a remote mountain village, some of whose residents—including his mother—are members of the Hidden, a clandestine,peaceful religious sect. He has never met his father. One day, while Tomasu is out collecting mushrooms, a band of Tohan warriors descends upon and massacres the village. Tomasuconfronts the warriors, but is rescued by the mysterious Lord Otori, who changes theboy’s name to Takeo, and wants to adopt him. As Takeo learns to read, and to fight withsword and pole, on and off horseback, he does not realize that he is the center of a bloodyintrigue . . . until it is almost too late.

Winner of the Alex Award

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Adult Book for High School Readers ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fabulous
I bought this book as a present for a friend's young daughter, and she raved about it so much I thought I'd read it too.The adventures of Tomasu were so captivating that I was transported in a way that I haven't been since I was little, and reading C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.Anyone (kid or grown-up) who is willing to let their imagination run wild will devour Lian Hearn's books!

Slowly moving across the "Nightingale Floor"
Half of a boring book is still boring, and in the case of "Across the Nightingale Floor: Episode 1," it's even worse. Lian Hearn's first novel of the Tales of the Otori has good bones, but the writing has all the warmth and intensity of muddy water.

In the Three Countries, a young boy named Tomasu lives among the Hidden, a small peaceful religious village who don't harm anyone. But one day he returns home to discover that his family has been cruelly slaughtered by Lord Iida. He's almost next, but he's soon saved by the semi-mysterious Lord of the Otori, Shigeru, a sort of renegade lord in the Machievellian world of politics.

Given the name of Takeo, he becomes Otori's ward and is adopted by him on his travels, since he now has no one else. Shigeru also reveals that Takeo is one of the few remaining members of the Tribe, a people with mysterious powers and abilities. Takeo learns more about his new skills, but also learns of the sinister plots he is expected to deal with...

Japanese history and folklore are a much-underused fantasy source, compared to Anglo or Celtic fantasy, which is used in every other fantasy novel you come across. Hearn has definitely done his research, and he seamlessly integrates fantasy elements into a medieval Japanese setting. Concepts such as the Tribe, the complicated political strife and the Nightingale Floor -- a floor that squeaks loudly at the slightest touch -- are fantastic.

What's wrong with the book? The writing. While Hearn has the basic descriptions down of flowers, people, forests and creepy action scenes, nothing comes alive. Tense, dramatic, action-filled scenes are flat and rather slow, and even the slaughter of the hero's entire village is almost instantly forgotten. The good guys are utterly noble in all things, while the bad guys are evil through 'n' through.

Takeo in particular seems passionless and rather dull. He goes through all sorts of harrowing experiences, but doesn't seem to feel anything. Shigeru was so noble and distant that I found it hard to care much about him; he seems like a cardboard standup of a noble renegade hero. Hearn tries to inject a little emotion into the characters from time to time, but they end up seeming manic instead of passionate.

While the idea itself is a very intriguing one, the execution is definitely lacking. Those hoping for a sort of Japanese "Lord of the Rings" won't find the richness they were looking for in "Across the Nightingale Floor"'s first half. ... Read more

Book Description

In this thirteenth book of the New York Times best-selling Redwall epic, Brian Jacques brings to life an adventure-filled new tale, featuring the most unlikely of companions--Dotti, a brazen young haremaid, and the badger Lord Brocktree, a fearsome warrior. Together, the two embark on a perilous journey to Salamandastron, the legendary mountain of the badger lords, which is under seige by the vicious wildcat Ungatt Trunn and his infamous Blue Hordes. It is only Brocktree, with the help of the spirited Dotti, who can save them and take back the mountain that is rightfully theirs, restoring peace to the Redwall lands. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Lord Brocktree
This is the thirteenth book in the redwall series. It is another great book in the redwall series. The story focuses on Lord Brocktree, a badger lord, who is on his journey to rule the mountain stronghold of Salamandastron. Along his way he mets Dotti the young haremaid and Ruff the otter. He also mets several other creatures whom he has adventures with. Meanwhile, at Salamandastron, Lord Stonepaw,Lord Brocktree's father, has to defend the mountain from the evil wildcat named Ungatt Trunn and his evil Blue Hordes. He is a ruthless killer who wants to conquer Salamandastron for himself and his hordes. The last battle in this book is absolutely spectacular. This is easily one of my favorite redwall books. All of the books that are in the redwall series are great. Brian Jacques is one of the best storytellers and this book shows his skill. I recommend this book to anyone ,if your a redwall fan or not, and this is a must have book that everyone should own.

Big Badger vs. Blue Vermin and Ambitious Wildcat
What would you say if you were face to face with thousands upon thousands of weasels and stoats dyed blue? What if you were a hare and all you could think about in times of trauma was your stomach? What if you saw a badger tromping over miles and miles of forest and field with a double-hilted sword? Lord Brocktree gives you the full effect of all these situations. A wonderful adventure story, this is one of Brian Jacques's best! If you have read any of the Redwall books(assuming you have, if you searched this book), you will expect comedy from the hares, moles, and other logical yet silly creatures. The hare sense of humor is at its best in Lord Brocktree. This book is about a badger lord seeking out Salamandastron to begin his reign there. On his quest, a chorus of hares, moles, hedgehogs, and otters join Brocktree in his quest for Salamandastron. But before Brocktree makes his home in the mountain, he must conquer the Blue Hordes and the self-proclaimed ruler of the world, Ungatt Trunn.

All hail " Lord Jacues"
This is a cross of adventure, chivalry, and friendship that only Jacues would conjure up. From the moment I picked it up, until the moment I put it down, I was entranced in a spellbinding story that took me to a place that was filled with magic and wonder. Only Jacues' next book could be so captivating.

Few surprises
By the time one has read twelve books in the Redwall series, he has a pretty good idea where he's going to be by the end of the thirteenth journey. And, indeed, by the end of Lord Brocktree, our horde of characters were exactly where I expected them to be: standing victorious on the shores of Salamandastron, not really too devastated over any losses, very cheerful about new friends made, and even more cheerful about the dozens of feasts put away.

Lord Brocktree opens with a salvo of extremely slow chapters; in fact, the first part, by itself, almost isn't worth the read. It begins long ago, before Redwall, before Martin the Warrior, even before the famous hare Long Patrol, when Salamandastron, guarded only by the ancient badger Lord Stonepaw and his retinue of equally aged and feeble hares, is placed under siege by the wildcat conqueror Ungatt Trunn the Earth Shaker. The mountain's only hope is the arrival of Stonepaw's son Brocktree, who is journeying from faraway Brockhall to take his place as ruler of Salamandastron.

Joined on his trek by a "fatally beautiful" haremaid, an otter, a mole, a battalion of mountain hares (with that delightful Highland accent), a gang of squirrel mercenaries, and a tribe of hedgehogs, Brocktree manages to get himself to the mountain in one piece just in time to give badger-sized warfare to the cunning Ungatt Trunn.

The story holds few surprises, especially for those who've already lived through Jacques's previous works. It suffers from an overabundance of characters, far too much time spent journeying, and several passionless battle scenes. However, it is redeemed by a typically witty and amusing grouping of hares and one of the best villains in Redwall lore.

Lord Brocktree
Lord Brocktree is one of my favorite books. It beats all the other Redwall books, and I will tell you why in this review.

This book seems ultimate, as in everything is x100. The huge hordes of Ungatt Trunn, The massive Brocktree, and the hopelessness of when Stonepaw was lord. The only part I don't like is that Redwall wasn't around yet, so there aren't the huge feasts like thy are in some other 14 Redwall books.

I strongly recommend you to read this book first, as it is first in the chronological order of Redwall.

Have a good read!!

-A helpful Redwall fan ... Read more

Book Description

Little brothers are BIG trouble. They mess with your stuff--and break it. They don't do chores--you do them all. And they get away with everything--while you get blamed! Here's a kid with firsthand knowledge of little brothers, and he's not quiet about it. Yet even he can't deny the special moments that make little brothers great. (And, thank goodness, he's not quiet about those, either!)

David McPhail won over girls of all ages with his well-loved picture book Sisters, recently republished as a full-color gift edition. Now he's giving boys something to cheer about in this silly and sweet tribute to brotherhood that rings true for every brother--little, big, and even all grown-up.
... Read more

Book Description

"Are you afraid?" Making friends isn't easy, Allan realizes, especially when you're the new kid in town. Since moving to Ocean View, Allan has spent most of his time alone, out at Silver Lake, watching the geese and the beautiful, graceful white ducks he calls snowbirds. So Allan is grateful when Tony and Pete let him hang out with them. Until the day they start throwing rocks at the birds, and daring Allan to hit one. "What are you, afraid?" they tease. "Maybe we just won't call you anymore. You're scared to do anything."

Allan wants to belong, but will he have to attack the birds to prove himself? And is it worth it? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Moving Coming-of-Age Title
My best friend Nelson gave me this book in the 6th grade or so.Then in the 7th grade I moved away.Rarely spoke to Nelson again.

Yet, this book he gave me, I never really read so I picked it up, read it, and found myself to be in the exact SAME situation!

A nice guy moves to a new town and he always thinks about the past, such as his old house and his old friends and his best friend.

Eventually, through touching storytelling, he learns to concentrate on the present.This help made me see the light as well!This book is highly underrated and hard to find, but don't pass up! ... Read more