Book Description

If youre interested in jumping into the exciting world of game programming, then youve found the perfect book! "Game Programming for Teens" doesnt expect you to have any experience with programming. Youll learn everything you need to know along the way. Youll use Blitz Basic, an easy-to-learn programming language that the author will teach you. As you work your way through the book, youll learn everything you need to know to create a complete game. Graphics, animation, sound and music, and artificial intelligence are all covered. By the end of the book, you will have created your very first computer game! Game programming doesnt have to be difficult. With a copy of this book and your own curiosity, youre off to the perfect start. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

This is a really amazing book!
If you are interested at all about game programming, this book is perfect. I started learning Java and spent several weeks trying to see where the gaming aspect of it was, but then i wandered down to Boarders and saw this book. I thought basic wouldn't be fast enough to run any games at all, but it's actually a great language for beginners. The author, Maneesh Sethi, is also a teenager that has already mastered programming languages and seems like an absolute genius! BUY THIS BOOK!

Kudos from another author
In my opinion, there are three groups of enthusiasts in the "gamer" market: Game players who want to make their own games for fun; Programmers who take up game dev as a hobby or a diversion; and those aspiring to become professional game developers. I believe this book excels at catering to the first group, is intriguing to the second, and at least mildly interesting for the third. Reviewers in all three groups will therefore vary in their opinion of this book.

I co-authored "Beginner's Guide to DarkBasic...". In early 2002, we considered using BlitzBasic along with DarkBasic, but decided to focus on DarkBasic only, and tailored our book for the "extreme beginner," where it would be useful as a textbook in a "first programming course." I am glad because now there is this excellent BlitzBasic book too, and it nails the subject!

Blitz and DBPro seem to be strong competitors. What you should realize when considering this book is, do you have a compiler? Visual C++ and Visual Basic and other compilers are expensive! But tools like BlitzBasic give you a DirectX game engine AND a compiler in one package. While this could easily cost hundreds of dollars for something like Visual C++ and Torque, you get it all in one package, with an easy-to-use script language. With this book, you get a trial version of the compiler, so you won't need any additional software to get started.

A final point. Its the CONCEPTS that are important, not the language. Anyone who whines about a book not using C or C++ is immature and a novice in the extreme. Because any competent programmer can glean new knowledge from a book of any language and apply it to his/her own. Shoot, I have used Petzold as a reference when writing about Visual Basic.

Maneesh should be congratulated for having written a very accessible book for new programmers and anyone who wants to write their own games without a huge investment of time.

great book
I am a teenager and I have tried to read another book but didn't understand it. I got this book a couple of weeks ago and after reading the first three chapters I made a text based game of pong. Now since I have read the whole thing I have started making a whole game with graphics and everythin I had learned. If this book can teach me and keep my attention it can teach anyone who wants to know how
to make games and is looking for a book to start with I highly recommend this Book

Great for parents as well as teens
I am a software engineer and a parent of an 11-year-old, and I have been looking for a way to teach my son computer programming in a way that would be fun for him. I read this book cover-to-cover, and it's almost perfect for this purpose. I have no doubt that the book would be excellent for a self-starting teen to read on his or her own. But as a parent, this book is invaluable for the parent seeking short, fun, educational programming activities that will be a lot of fun for the learner (and the parent as well). Every kid loves games, and this book does a great job.

I would also recommend this book to an adult who wants to learn the basics of game programming. It's a pretty fast read, very easy to follow. I personally learned a lot from this book. I've been programming computers for 30 years, but I've never written a graphics-based game before, and this book efficiently and easily goes through all the techniques for creating good games very quickly. I think it would also be fairly easily followed by a teen or adult who has never programmed before.

The book uses Blitz Basic, which is optimized for writing computer games and seems to be much easier to use than Visual Basic (the computer language I first tried when teaching my child). A trial version of Blitz Basic is on the CD-ROM included with the book, and the full version (called BlitzPlus) can be purchased online if desired (but is not required). The CD-ROM also includes excellent example artwork, animations, and sounds for the games described in the book, which is a great way to get a teen or pre-teen into programming without getting bogged down with creating art and sounds from the start.

By the way, this book covers creating 2D games (like Pong, Space Invaders, that sort of thing). 3D games are (I am told) much more challenging, and are covered in other books. (Blitz Basic is for 2D games; for 3D games, there is a related programming language called Blitz3D.)

I have one important complaint about this book, which is why I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 stars. There are many errors in this book. It could have used more careful technical editing. For example, in the section on arrays, the author carefully explains how the indexes for a 30-element array range from 0 to 29, and cautions the reader not to try accessing element 30 (which is one past the end of the array), and then proceeds to give a sample program that makes exactly this mistake. There are several errors of this magnitude in the book, and at least a minor mistake every 3 or 4 pages. It's unfortunate, because these mistakes can be very confusing to a beginning programmer.

But having said that, I still very much recommend this book. It's a good one. Congratulations to the teenage author who wrote it, excellent job!

Excellent
I find some of the reviews quite interesting, since they judge the book based on their opinion of BlitzBasic. Firstly, let me assure you that I have learned a "real" language - I've been a professional software developer for 12 years (C/C++/Delphi/C#).

As far as the book goes it is very well written and is aimed at the beginner programmer using BlitzBasic (not Blitz3D but you can still use it). That's it, that's all there is to the book. I still found it useful, however, in quickly picking up BlitzBasic (mostly the language) which allowed me to write 2D games after a day (okay, I've been doing that for years with DX/OpenGL but I'm still impressed that I can write Pong in less than 10 minutes).

Why would I use Blitz instead of DirectX/Direct3D/OpenGL? Actually, I use DirectX - I mainly use Blitz for prototyping but I'm finding that for simple to fairly sophisticated things it's all that is needed. For hobbiests and shareware/single member teams Blitz is an ideal way to actually finish something.

So, before you knock the book or Blitz - read the book from cover to cover and learn Blitz inside and out, you may be surprised at how much you can do with it. Oh, and get a good IDE - I personally like Protean. ... Read more

Book Description

A Java edition of our popular test prep book for AP Computer Science prepares students for the AP CS exams in Java, starting 2004. Thorough review chapters cover all of the A- and AB-level material and the Marine Biology Simulation Case Study. Includes four complete practice exams, two A and two AB, with no overlap. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Review Manual for the AP Comp Sci Exam in Java
Maria Litvin has done an extraordinary job of putting together the new "Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java". This review manual, which has enough detail to double as a text book, has everything students need to focus on prior to taking the exam. It addresses everything in the ETS Java subset that students should have studied during the school year and has outstanding multiple choice and free response practice exam questions. The tests even include questions about the Java Marine Biology Simulation program which students need to know for the exam. Her web site also includes the 2003 C++ free response questions, which have been translated into Java. If you are searching for a great review manual with great practice questions, this is it!

Definetly Better then Barron's Guide for Review
The Barron's giude is very nice, but it basically reteaches evrything for the student, which is only good if you have the typicall AP Computer Science teacher, like the ones in the Reviews : My teacher was horribale, she doesn't know anything about Java/C++/Pascal. She only knew about some other language and never assigned homework and was just horrible. If that is your teacher then get barron's, but if your school is respectable enough to actually try to get a good Computer Science teacher then get this book, it actually reviews. Another plus over barron's, this book actually has tips and an introduction to the test, Barron's only has 3 pages compared to a chapter with Litvin's guide on this subject.

Be Prepared for the AP Computer Science Exam in Java
I haven't read this book, so I am rating it on how I think the book would go, judging from the web-site. I am just saying that if you can only get one book to prepare for the AP Computer Science test get this one since this isn't available in any libraries in the U.S., or anywhere but the other AP Computer Science books are.

Evene better than their C++ version
I used their C++ version (ISBN 0965485366) for several years and my students loved it. This Java version is completely rewritten for the new exams in Java but in the same to-the-point style. Very complete review with four practice exams. It is slightly bigger than the C++ version: the Marine Biology case study chapter is included (used to be online). ... Read more

Book Description

As part of the CyberRookies‘ series this book is written for aspiring programmers, and teaches basic programming skills that can be easily applied to any language including the key concepts of Loops, Strings, Array, Pointers, and more. Written by a high school programming teacher, Learning Computer Programming emphasizes the most relevant topics for beginners and pinpoints the essentials of programming success. There are so many programming languages in use today that it’s difficult to decide which one to learn, especially for beginning programmers. With this in mind, Learning Computer Programming: It’s Not About Languages focuses on "programming" skills instead of specific languages. Languages will always change so to become an effective programmer, it’s important to understand the fundamentals before tackling a specific language. The book is language independent and uses examples from a variety of languages including the most popular C++, JAVA, and HTML, which each have a chapter devoted to them. Using helpful hints, activities, and watchouts, the book gently guides the student through the maze of programming techniques, concepts, and pitfalls.

KEY FEATURES

- Primarily language independent except for the last three chapters, which are devoted to languages of most interest to the reader: C++, JAVA, and HTML
- Introduces key programming concepts while avoiding denser topics of language syntax
- Discusses concepts such as Loops, Strings, Arrays, Pointers, Boolean Types, and more
- Taught by a programming teacher who knows the topics that are relevant for beginners ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Read this one first!
After reading programming for dummies and learning an arcane language I was left wishing for a better book to expose me to the basics of programming. The subtitle of this book is "Its not about languages" and that is the approach of this book. Farrell focuses on the logic of programming and mentions the actual syntax in passing. This makes this book valuable and a helpful tool for all programmers no matter what their language destination is. I wish that I had read this book first!

Good overview for beginners
I bought this book as a refresher, since I had taken a programming class several years ago and wanted to re-learn the basic concepts. This book is good for doing just that. It will help a beginner get familiar with the concepts, and it goes easy on the more complex stuff. Anyone who is interested in programing but gets scared off by books that are hard to read should read this book first. It will lay a good foundation and make other books easier to read.

PROS: easy to read, use simple language.
CONS: author sometimes tries too hard to simplify explanations, some typos (a couple that will stop the code from compiling)

Overall, a good book. The cons, even the typos, are not that bad, you just need to be paying attention when you read. ... Read more

Book Description

Wouldnt you love to create really great art for your games? The kind of art that keeps players coming back for more? Now you can! Game Art for Teens is full of step-by-step, hands-on projects that allow you to begin creating art right away. Each project includes easy-to-follow examples that help you master each concept, making it easy to put what youve learned to use in your own games. Youll cover all of the basicsfrom 2D art creation and animation to 3D models, lighting, and reflections. Set the scene for your game by creating realistic settings, including buildings, terrain, rooms, and corridors. Draw players into your game by designing, developing, and animating compelling characters. Bring it all together as you cover game platforms and technical limitations. With a little bit of skill, a lot of imagination, and Game Art for Teens, the possibilities are endless! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Bill Gates
I would give this book a five-star rating. The title is Bill Gates and the author is Jeanne M. Lesinski. Bill Gates had a dream. His dream was to create his own computer. Bill does complete his goal. On different kinds of computers he created, he did them with other friends. Throughout the story, it tells about his life, his wife, and three kids. Read the book and find out about his life and the start of Microsoft.

An excellent read.
A & E produces a daily Biography show about famous people in all categories, this book is based on that series. Bill Gates is more than a story about the richest man in the world, is an accounting of where this fame and fortune came from and the vision of the future of the software giant.

While the book is only about 100 pages there is enough information about Gates' roots, his ride to the top of the software industry and his recent battles with the Justice department to give this reader a new look into the man himself.

The author gives you pictures from early childhood to his start with Microsoft in Albuquerque to his work with the Bill Gates Library Foundation. I must admit most of the photos have already been seen, however they're a few new and interesting ones, especially his new house.

I personally liked the way the author put together the story, not running over of boring you with details in any one are. The storyline flows from start to finish. Granted there is a lot more that could have gone into the book, however this one was an excellent read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Calling upon accounts of political intrigue and tales of life and death,author Simon Singh tells history's most fascinating story of deception andcunning: the science of cryptography--the encoding and decoding of privateinformation. Based on The CodeBook: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography,this version has been abridged and slightly simplified for a younger audience.None of the appeal for curious problem-solving minds has been lost, though. FromJulius Caesar to the 10th-century Arabs; from Mary Queen of Scots to "Alice andBob"; from the Germans' Enigma machine to the Navajo code talkers in World WarII, Singh traces the use of code to protect--and betray--secrecy. Moving rightinto the present, he describes how the Information Age has provided a whole newset of challenges for cryptographers. How private are your e-mailcommunications? How secure is sending your credit card information over theInternet? And how much secrecy will the government tolerate? Complex but highlyaccessible, The Code Book will make readers see the past--and thefuture--in a whole new light. (Ages 14 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Fascinating. Started me on my cryptologic studies.
Reading this book gave me my start in my self study of cryptography, its science and its history. While I will not pretend to be anywhere near an expert on the subject, I found this book very insightful. It is an easy read, and not tedious in any way. It is meant as a "science for non-scientists" type book, and more of a history than anything else. (I have only managed to solve the first two cryptologic challenges at the end of this book, but am diligently working on the rest in my spare time.)

Delightful
The Code Book is a delightful treatment of the subject of cryptography. It is a nice combination of history, science, warfare and politics.

The author uses interesting historical events as background to narrate the different phases of what might be called the mainstream developments of cryptography and cryptanalysis. It is a captivating presentation.

The book started off with the story of Queen Mary of Scotland, and went on to cover the Caesar cipher, Vigenère cipher, the famous Enigma, the super-secret Colossus, and the modern day computer based encryption and decryption developments. The author also threw in a couple of interesting "sideline" stories, such as the Beale cipher, the Rosetta Stone, and the Navajo "code talkers" who played a key role in the Pacific theater during WWII.

My teenage son used to complain that most of the difficult subjects he learned in school would never have any use in real life. I gave him a copy of this book. The book is a compelling story of how science, engineering, mathematics, computer, linguistics, psychology are all critical pieces of this all-important game.

There are more technical treatises on this subject, and there are more lengthy and nuanced historical accounts on military intelligence as well. But this book is undoubtedly the best introduction to this uniquely fascinating subject.

A must read for anyone remotely interested in codes!
I have always been fascinated by codes and Singh has put together a comprehensive book on the history of codes. Having read many books on codes, Singh was still able to enthrall me with some historical stories that I had not come across. It's not just technical stuff, but is written with the novice in mind as well. But the book holds enough technical information to keep the enthusiast interested as well. The version I bought has a crypt contest in the back, which I enjoyed working on - I was only able to solve the first 3 or so puzzles, but it was a lot of fun.

Provides plenty of depth and information
The Code Book was intended for a young adult audience but also holds an ability to interest an adult readership as well. This history of cryptography provides plenty of depth and information on making and breaking codes, providing a historical background on an ongoing battle which has been waged for centuries. An intriguing look at codes and secrecy. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Flawed
This book poorly explains the concepts needed to understand C++. It is advertised as an introductory book, however, this book will only be useful with one or more semesters of exerpience with C or C++. The books only saving grace is that if you are studying for the AP, this book uses the STL dirived AP classes that you will need to be familar with. If you arn't taking the comp sci AP there is no reason to even consider using this book.

Thorough and Helpful
Far better than any comparable text, this volume presents the concepts of computer science with clarity and much detail. Neither bewildering the novice nor boring the expert, C++ For You++ covers all aspects of the AP C++ Exam. Two notable feature of this book are the clarity of the examples used to illustrate the concepts and the absence of numerous typos found in many of its competitors. The authors quickly respond to any questions you might have and maintain a nice web site with updates. I personally used this book to prepare for the AP Exam my senior year in high school, and found it instrumental to understanding the language. My teacher had selected a different book, but it was so horrible in comparison that several of my friends and I used copies of this book instead and saved ourselves a lot of trouble.

A Baby is just an Abortion Waiting to Happen
Just like this book is a complete waste of time to those who can't read a C++ book. My high school computer science class seemed able to comprehend this book and half of them (myself included) got a 5 on the AB Advanced Placement Computer Science Exam. Those who can't do a binary to hex conversion shouldn't be allowed to program a computer and should stick to their orange iMacs and pretty screen savers. Go learn some ZBASIC and get a coat hanger. SUCKERS!

Doesn't cover meterial properly
I recently purchased this book for a class at school and when i started to read it the first thing it does is launch you into hexidecimal to binary conversions. Then in chapter 2 the first example they give you is a program that takes up THREE pages at a small font. The program is a dictionary that reads from a file on the hardisk (a relitevely hard task in any langauge). And then makes what you type in translate to italian. They don't even consider that someone new to the langauge has no idea what COUT or CIN means.

Confusing explanations, not enough examples
I find the book does not explain the concepts in a straightforward manner. Further, it lacks enough examples to show how the concepts work. Without these, it is very difficult for me to learn. I plan to buy another text to teach myself as this book is totally inadequate.
I use the AP version of this textbook in AP Computer Science. The only way this version is different from the standard is that it includes explanations for a special set of AP classes. ... Read more

Book Description

The e.encyclopedia science pulls out all the stops to tell-and show-readers everything about science. Packed with the very latest photographs, illustrations, and 3-D models, and enhanced by cutting-edge computer image manipulation, e.encyclopedia science is a comprehensive and authoritative reference work for children.

That's not all it is, though. The e.encyclopedia program takes the next step in modern reference publishing by partnering with Google, the Web's most trafficked search engine, to actively manage and update dedicated Web sites to take you directly to the most useful, safe, and age-appropriate information online. DK and Google-a match made in info-gathering heaven-set the benchmark for science and technology reference for the whole family. ... Read more

Book Description

Get ready to create your first complete 2D-based role-playing game using Visual Basic 6.0. If you have experience using Visual Basic, you already have the essential skills that you need. You will learn, step by step, how to construct each part of an RPG game using DirectX components such as Direct3D. As you work your way through the book, you will write short programs that demonstrate the major topics in each chapter. Dive into the exciting world of game programming, learn how to write your own code, and take complete creative control over how your game operates. Let your imagination loose as you create amazing new adventures! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Computer savvy teens, a war game gone awry, and good old-fashioned intrigue are the elements of The Deadliest Game, a high-octane episode in Tom Clancy's wildly popular teen series Net Force. Clancy and co-author Steve Pieczenik envision a futuristic society where people enliven their dull lives with intense virtual experiences. One of the most favored of these virtual realities is a medieval war game called Sarxos. Players leave their physical bodies at home while an implant in their head carries them through their computer to the virtual Dominion of Sarxos, a land where they may be anyone-- from a reigning warlord to a practicing hedge-wizard. But when players who are winning too many battles in Sarxos start getting stalked and attacked in the real world, it becomes clear that one player has begun taking the game far too seriously.

Enter teen cyber-sleuths Meg and Leif, experienced Sarxos players. As members of the Net Force Explorers, a teen auxiliary of the cyber-crime-stopping Net Force, Meg and Leif start questioning characters in the alternate reality. Even when their boss instructs them to stop, they stay hot on the trail of the online Sarxian player who is "bouncing" any threatening opponent out of the game. But time is running out in the search for the online criminal, and Meg and Leif may find themselves the next bouncees!

In Net Force, Tom Clancy has created a cyber-thrilling series that will transition into the next millennium with ease. The breathless action and abrupt plot transitions between the real world and virtual reality will fascinate teen computer fiends and young video gamers alike. (Ages 13 and older) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The Dominion of Sarxos will never be the same
The Dominion of Sarxos is a virtual reality game where people go there to get away from the real world or to meet up with people but the real purpose of the game is when many different armies lead there team into battle but everything is becoming to real people that have beaten a team named Argath the captain of that team have been getting bounced and attacked, Megan o Malley and Leif Anderson both net force explorers are asked to investigate by john winters net force official, they must travel around the game and warn other army captains about the attacks and tell them to look out for themselves Megan and Leif both warn a army captain about the attacks and tell the player to watch out for herself well the player does not take this warning seriously the next day the player was brutally attacked by the bouncer and in the hospital unconscious Megan and Leif was find this bouncer fast before the game really begins. I would highly recommend this book to a person that is into VR games and likes awesome technology you will not want to stop reading this book. It is a very good mystery novel that is suspenseful and interesting it may be hard to understand it but if you look back in the book and read it very carefully you will understand it and start to get very hooked to it. Hey I am not some kind of writer but if you ask me I would definitely give this book a tow thumbs up.

A great deadly game
I read the book The Deadliest Game from the series Net Force. It was a book about two kids who fight online crime. And in this book they get a very dangerous case. In this case they try to catch a guy who has taken an online virtual reality game to serious. This guy is ruining other contestant's computers and even hurting others. I liked this book very much I thought it did a great job in conveying the futuristic virtual reality Internet. Also it did a great job in creating a great suspense mystery. This story takes many interesting turns. If you were interested in reading a future set mystery I would definitely recommend this book. I think in this book having teenagers be the detectives are a symbol. A symbol for teenagers and kids becoming more smart then the adults. So if you want a book to read check out The Deadliest Game by Tom Clancy

Take a break
Control your armys, crush your foes, and strike fear in the eyes of those who oppose you. Then log off, brush your teeth, take a break then lunge back into the world of Sarxos. Tom Clancy really grasps the world of science fiction in his Net Force book The Deadliest Game. I would recomend this book for one and all. The mystery lover, to the action seeker, all readers can love this book many times over.

dont read it
Tom Clancy's Net Force is a very boring book. Tom Clancy can do way better. He has written way better books than this. I suggest you don't buy this one. This book is about a virtual game called the dominion of Sarxos. People play this virtual game a lot and it is the biggest virtual game in the world. But people have been taking the game too seriously and are trashing people's apartments, and ruining their computers and hurting them. They hire a girl to figure out who's been doing this and some interesting things happen but I won't tell you. This book is okay but don't buy it. Just check it out from a library because it's not worth buying.

The Deadliest Game is a deadly game
when i read this book i went through many stages excitment sadness climax denoument i fell in love with this book i recommed this book to everyone and now im hooked to the series and cant stop reading ... Read more

Book Description

Katherine Tarbox was thirteen when she met twenty-three-year-old "Mark" in an online chat room. A top student and nationally ranked swimmer attending an elite school in an affluent Connecticut town, Katie was also a lonely and self-conscious eighth-grader who craved the attention her workaholic parents couldn't give her. "Mark" seemed to understand her; he told her she was smart and wonderful. When they set a date to finally meet while Katie was in Texas for a swim competition, she walked into a hotel room and discovered who-and what-her cyber soul mate really was.

In Katie.com, Tarbox, now eighteen, tells her story-an eye-opening tale of one teenager's descent into the seductive world of the Internet. Tarbox's harrowing experience with her online boyfriend would affect her life for years to come and result in her becomingthe first "unnamed minor" to test a federal law enacted to protect kids from online sexual predators.

In an age when a new generation is growing up online, Tarbox's memoir is a cautionary tale for the Internet Age. ... Read more

Reviews (83)

My Katie.com review
Katie.com was a great book. I liked it because it explained so much of how her life was when this tragedy happened. This book is about a girl, Katherine Tarbox, who has just a regular everyday life. But, when her sister comes over, she brings her laptop along with her. Since Katie didn't have a computer, she explored the Internet. Then she finds a chat room and she starts looking for someone just like her. When Katie does finally meet "The Guy," she keeps it a secret. Mark, 'The Guy," desperately wants to meet her and visa versa. They finally meet at her swim meet and she goes to his hotel room. When they meet face-to-face it's really not what she expects. It is a very surprising book. I think that anyone, boy or girl, should read this book.

Chat Room hi-Jinks
This gripping, non-fiction autoriography interested me to the very end of the book, whose theme is the danger of on-line chat rooms. You never know wht could happen.
In this book, Katie meets a man in an on-line chat room. the two decide to meet in person, and the guy turns out to be three times Katie's age and sexually abuses her. Katie and her mother decide to press charges, and the man is sent to jail, but only for one year.
Katie.com interested me very much. It was one of the stories I will remember forever. Although this book may not be for everyone, I find non-fiction very interesting. It tells about everyday life. Sometimes I get into on-line chat rooms, and I found it hard to believe what harm could really come from them. Reading this taught me never to trust something someone tells me in a chat room.
At the end of her book, Katie talks about how parents today must protect their children on the Internet, even if the children are teenagers. I completely agree with this. If parents don't watch out for their kids, then the same thing that happened to Katie could happen to them. Katie's parents thought it couldn't happen to her, but it did.
The issues this book raises are simple: Can you trust people on the Internet today?" "Is it possible to meet someone face-to-face that you have only met throught the Internet?" "Should we exclude young teens from using chat rooms?"
This book is very good. It makes you take time to give the Internet a second look. People may get on just for fun, but you have to watch what you do. It is scary how one girl's life changed in only one day. I think you should never get emotionally involved in a relationship over the Internet, especially when you are young.
Although the beginning of the book is slow and it is somewhat difficult to get into, I would recommend this book to anybody who goes to chat rooms or just to anyone who wants to read a really good book. It is a good lesson to learn from someone else's mistake. I could read it over and over and still find the story line amazing. I found it to be time well spent!

Moving Story
Katie's life-learning biography is a moving story of a girl who's life is like that of the richest, but her status clearly isn't a way for her to appreciate her family, not that they never loved her but the inappropriate perceptions they have had. Katie's story speaks not only to potential victims of the main incident but as well to parents, siblings and everybody involved in anindividual's social circle, means all of us.

matter over memoir
Being an 18 year old girl, and a survivor of internet addiction, I hope that my review can hold a certain amount of weight.
This story was certainly eye-opening, and the subject matter of internet relationships and paedophilia is very relevant. However, a story, it was disappointing. The writing style was at its best repetitive and immature, and did not integrate the sophistication, vivid use of language, and control that memoir usually delivers.
As a reader and writing, I know that the writing style makes or breaks a book, and even the best written story with the most simple storyline can be excellent.
But after researching this book a little more, I realized that this book was never intended to be a literary masterpiece, it was intended to be a therapy exercise, and certainly a poster for internet safety and internet nannying.
But let's look at it in a positive way- it certainly shows that teenagers can do anything, and even the sloppiest of writing (with a little editing) can be made publishable.

Amazing
This book was sooooooooo good. it was something that everyone should read. it's creepy that there are people like marc out there. another cool thing was that i live in new canaan and everything was real, even the teachers she dedicated it to in the back of the book ... Read more

Book Description

"The best computer class I have ever taken!" and "I never knew that computers could be explained so well!" are frequent comments by Web Wise Senior students. Since 1999, Web Wise Seniors has successfully taught thousands of beginning computer users. Now, for the first time, the same teaching methods successful in Web Wise Seniors courses are found in this easy to understand book.

This book is not a reference for computers. It is a learning guide for people of any age who are unfamiliar with computers, but especially designed for seniors who want to be skilled computer users. It is like having a private instructor by your side as you walk through the basics of computer use with your book. This book is full of common questions, asked in real classes by beginners, with easy to follow answers that have already helped thousands.

Reading explanations and definitions will only get you so far. You need to actually use the computer to learn to use it, and this book will help you do just that. It will help you get started using the computer by walking you through basic skills step-by-step while answering your "whys" and "whats" along the way.

Web Wise Seniors teaches basic computer classes every day. WWS has seen what works, what doesn’t work, and what beginners want to know first hand.

TOPICS INCLUDE: turning the computer on, explanations of the Pieces and Parts, using the mouse, working with windows, saving, navigating through the computer, customizing and organizing the computer, installation, the recycle bin, definitions of terminology and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

These guys ROCK and... they ROCK!
Hands on. Head first. This style worked for me. I am doing cartwheels on my new hips! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Respected educational publisher DK partners with the world's leading online search engine Google to create the innovative e-encyclopedia, a hefty, heavily illustrated hardcover reference book for young scholars that also refers its readers to their exclusive, kid-friendly web site. Featuring more than 2,000 full-color images, the book covers nine major subject areas: Space, Earth, Nature, Human Body, Science and Technology, People and Places, Society and Beliefs, Arts and Entertainment, and History. Each of the 600 entries provides illustrations and brief, easily digestible tidbits of information about everything from why the Rhine River is so important to Europe to what the brain is made of. If a grey "e" button is visible on the page, that means a treasury of online resources will be available when you search the DK/Google web site for the designated keyword--links that include animations, videos, sound buttons, virtual tours, interactive quizzes, databases, timelines, or real-time reports.

Say you want to learn about rockets. You look it up in the index and find it called out in bold for page 101. Here you'll see a photograph and a brief description of a rocket and how it works. You'll also find the gray "e" button, signaling you to type in "rockets" as a keyword into the given web site. Once you do that, you'll find the following kid-friendly links: 1) How do you launch a rocket from a spinning planet? 2) Launch the space shuttle into orbit beside the ISS, and 3) Visit a rocketry and space flight gallery. Children are also directed towards downloadable images and more directories of related links. Subjects such as metamorphosis provide less-satisfying results, as the page gives the briefest of explanations and a ladybug larva-adult diagram, but no keyword link to the special web site. Still, this useful book offers the possibility of hours of browsing, both on and off-line, giving kids a rich, multimedia learning experience while assuring parents of a kid-safe Internet zone. (Ages 8 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you know google, you don't need this book
This is a book for parents and children who are completely in the dark about google. It's the largest, most used search engine out there. Quite frankly, who doesn't know about Google at this point in time. Also, the links mentioned in this book that will be "maintained" and "monitored" and etc.--shouldn't parents be monitoring the sites that their children visit? Does anyone know the involvement and the amount of manpower this will take for a company to monitor ALL of these links? Next to impossible..yet only time will tell. What happened to good-old-fashioned Make Way for Ducklings? What about time away from "the web". DK is really for youngsters who can't read. YES, DK books are full of gorgeous pictures, but that's about...this is a hyped up title. You don't need it. Two stars for effort...I guess they are trying to keep up with technology?

Keywords for finding information are highlighted
This unusual 'e.encyclopedia' highlights any subject where you can get extra information on the web - reports, video footage, and even sound recordings. It's organized so keywords for finding such information are highlighted, making it easy for students to use this e-dictionary in conjunction with the computer - but the visual displays and color paired with the basic facts are plenty to also make this stand along as a superior reference. Highly recommended: a visual and practical treat illustrating the positive marriage between reference book and Internet.

An Innovative Encyclopedia
"The key aim with e.encyclopedia is to give kids the best resources on paper and online." ~Sue Grabham

Since 99% of public schools in the United States claim to have internet access and more than half of all school-age children are using the internet for homework, e.encyclopedia takes homework to the next level.

This book presents information on everything from Space Observatories to Philosophy. There are annotated maps, charts and timelines. It also has "information keyword buttons." They are little gray dots with white words or white words highlighted in gray. They are easy to find and are blended in all over the pages. When looking at information on volcanoes, I find a button with the word: volcanoes and a highlighted word: Lava.

By entering the site URL to a special area of the DK/Google site, you can find more detailed information. Then, you type in the keywords to find additional information, real-time reports, satellite images, virtual tours and databases. There are also downloadable images and just about everything kids need for homework and projects.

So, say you are researching Ancient Greece and have traveled through this book arriving at say pg. 376. There, you will find a picture of The Parthenon, information on amphitheaters and even a picture of an Athenian coin. To access additional information, you go to the "DK/Google" site and type in the keyword: "Ancient Greece." This takes you to a page with more options.

Explore everyday life in Ancient Greece
Important sites in Ancient Greece
Find out more about the Ancient Greeks
Examine Ancient Greek Artifacts

Then you click on "Explore everyday life in Ancient Greece" and are transported into a page from the history channel. So, in this way, you can find information super fast. It does seem they have made every effort to make links to only reputable sites so parents won't have to worry about children encountering inappropriate material. There are links to more than 1,000 useful sites.

So, do you have to pay extra to use the e.encyclopedia website?

No, it is free. The website address is located on the first page of the book. Once you purchase the book, the website is free.

This book covers a wide variety of subjects including: Earth, Nature, Science and Technology, People and Places, Society and Beliefs, Arts and Entertainment, History and the Human Body.

I think they have gone out of their way to make this kid friendly, however, even adults might be interested in finding many of the links. I found the section on seeing how an embryo develops in the womb to be rather fascinating. The section on new materials was quite interesting. Could seaweed be used to make a new plastic? Apparently there is material called "Seagel" that is made from agar and is the lightest solid.

You will also find answers to the following questions:

Are mountains still growing?
What causes tides?
How do scientists use the Quantum Theory?
Why is a swimming pool deeper than it looks?
Who were the first philosophers?
How are Musical instruments categorized?
What is a nanomachine?
Who really invented the World Wide Web?
How does the Internet Work?

DK excels in the illustration department. You will find a toucan peering out of the page on pg. 233 and beautiful full-color illustrations on every page.

Picture highlights: The picture of the Hindu Marriage. What a dress! Loved the picture of the nanorobots and the pictures for the diatonms were rather pretty. Also, who knew a pollen grain was so beautiful. The photography is spectacular.

DK & Google have joined forces to make homework fun. There is so much information here, I could spend hours just looking through page after page. e.encyclopedia will give your children a basic overview of our life on earth. Not only will children find these facts intriguing, once they find a subject of interest, they can take their knowledge to the next level by continuing their research online.

What a brilliant idea!

~TheRebeccaReview.com ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Adds the benefits of the Internet to a traditional book!!!
This book is a comprehensive survey of history from the creation of the Earth to the begining of the Millenium.It is divided into 4 sections:Pre-History, Ancient World, Medieval World, and the Last 500 years. It is a very visual book, with lots of photographs and illustrations to complement the concise text...But what makes it an INCREDIBLE resource is that it is internet-linked. There are hundreds of websites listed in the book that expand on the information presented. The research team at Usborne books has come up with age-appropriate websites from extremely reputable universities, museums, and institutions throughout the world to complement what is in their encylopedia. Let me give a few examples. For Ancient History there is a link to the University of Pennsylvania where a person can print out his/her name in hierglyphics. For modern day, there is a fabulous site at the BBC where you can read about the rise of Hilter and take a quiz afterwards. There is another site where you can listen to famous speeches throughout the ages. IT IS SO INCREDIBLE. And the best part is you can access all the listed sites through Usborne's website. The publisher's site will keep the links up to date if addresses change. This is a terrific resource for any student. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Virtual Vandals
This book was another classic book from the best author Tom Clancy. It was a great mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat for the whole entire book, from begining to the end. The best part is the begining in Camden yards stadium during the old timers game. The most suspensful part is when Matt goes out to look for the Vandals. The book was a great one whoever likes mysteries read this one and this is why. Like I said before it will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole entire time I was reading. It will make you want to keep reading all the way until you finish and then you will want to to start over and read it again. The place and the time was great and it makes you wonder will the world be like this during the year 2025. This was a great book and I would recomend this book to anybody at any age.

Well, it was ok.
Listen, I love Tom Clancy's books, but I shouldn't be considered a fan. I only read one of his other books, Rainbow Six(and it was damn good!). And as for this book? Well, it had it's moments. Pretty exciting, but just a little predictiable. Clancy, if you're out there, you can do better.

Interesting YA Novel for Computer Geniuses
The year is 2025, and computers rule the world. Which is why the Net Force was formed. To protect the United States of America from all online criminal activity. But there is also a group of teenage computer geniuses who sometimes know more than adults, who are known as the Net Force Explorers.

While watching a holographic "old-timers" baseball game, Net Force Explorer Matt Hunter, and several of his Net Force Explorer friends are filled with excitement at seeing the legendary Babe Ruth come up to bat, but while doing his well-known routine of pointing to the stands, a group of four people dressed in outfits from the 30's, stand up and open fire on the entire stadium with Tommy guns. Everyone knows that virtual bullets can kill you, and Matt and his Net Force Explorer friends know that this group of vandals must be stopped. But the stadium shoot-out is just the beginning. Now Matt and his friends are worried that perhaps even the legenday Net Force Explorers will be unable to stop them next time.

I found that the first installment of TOM CLANCY'S NET FORCE was both intriguing and interesting. The fact that VITUAL VANDALS takes place in the year 2025 will gain fans from the futuristic and science fiction fans, and all of the talk about the Internet and computers will intrigue the so-called computer geniuses of the world. The characters are intelligent, and computer-savvy, who embark on numerous adventures throughout the novel, and will have the reader rooting for them from the very first page until the very last page. A must-have.

Erika Sorocco

Virtual Vandals is a great book!!!
Virtual Vandals is a great book! This book is a great thrill ride that will keep you an the edge of your seat. Virtural Vandals has plenty of mystery that will keep you guessing with its twists and turns. Your main character through this ride is Matt Hunter. He lives in a world where our present day computers are obsolete. Your computer can send you zipping through cyber space with a single voice command. The book starts off with our main character Matt and his friends watching a virtual baseball game when some people in the croud start ripping rounds and spraying everything with bullets. After this incident Matt sets of in search for the virtual vandals that had hurt his friend Leif.If you enjoyed my review I would strongly recomend this book.

Clancy's Best
Tom Clancy has writen great books, but none are as good as Virtual Vandals. It is sad, funny, and it is full of action. ... Read more

Book Description

Act one, scene one.When Mr. Gibbons posts the cast for the upcoming production of the seventh-grade musical, The Wiz, Madison's world gets a dose of serious drama.Can her role as stage manager of the show help her figure out who likes whom and who her real friends and enemies are? ... Read more

Reviews (11)

From the files of Madison Finn Play It Again
At Madison's school theres a play coming up about The Wiz. Madison is really nervous about the auditions. Some of Madison's friends are acting a little weird for the past few days. Madison has a huge crush on a boy named Hart. When Poison Ivy(Ivy)(Madison's Enemy) meets Hart Madison begins to feel jealous. When Madison sees Fiona with Poison Ivy Madison begins to change her mind about Fiona. Will her friends all change and leave Madison hanging? I thought this book was really great. I found a few things that Madison and I related to.

Another Must Read
While Aimee, Fiona, and Egg are busy getting extremely excited over the class play "The Wiz", Madison is developing a huge case of nerves. So she thinks of a different way to be a part of the production, and is given the position of stage manager. But when Aimee and Fiona suddenly start hanging around with Madison's arch enemy Ivy, she realizes that it's time to figure out who her real friends and enemies are.

MadFinn Rulez
MadFinn is a really great book for people just becoming teenagers and how it feels. U get an inside look on how it will be ur first day at school and how many friends and enimies u make. Every teenage girl (...) should get a copie of Madison Finn TODAY.

ITS THE BEST BOOK EVA!!!!!

jesi's thoughts
I loved this book BTW (MF humor). I know how Madison feels to want something and tries to do it and then chickens out at the last minute so I didn't par-take in her regret in not trying out for a show part in The Wiz. I think stage manager is a great role; she gets to know everything before the cast does and she gets to help with the costumes. But what I don't like is Ivy, yup, Poison Ivy Daly (meddling with Maddie's life as usual). Can't she just stay out of things for two seconds!? She, Aimee, and Fiona are all buddy-buddy now, leaving Madison to watch from behind the curtain again. Even Hart is not paying too much attention to her. But when the fat lady sings everything pops back into reality, which makes me happy. But while Fiona and Aimee were out of the scene it gave Madison the opportunity to introduce the new character Lindsey Frost into the series. She's a girl who can't be excepted, but does that stop Madison. No way!

SO GOOD! SO FUN!
This is the 3rd book in the series and it was the best one so far. Madison Finn's grade is putting on a play, The Wiz. She doesn't want to audition so she gets to be the Stage Manager. She is really excited about that but she soon feels left out. All she does in run and get props! And to top it all off, Fiona and Aimee are hanging out with Ivy! This book was used for my book report and it was really easy to do. One of my friends is using my copy of "Caught in the Web" for her book report and she says she has lots of ideas, too. If you want to: know what happens with Fiona and Aimee with Ivy, read a great book, or do an easy but still an A+ book for a report, buy "Play it Again"! ... Read more

Book Description

The year is 2096 A. D….following the Great Water Wars, the Earth is a hostile place and Christianity has been outlawed.Two classes of people have emerged; wealthy Technocrats and the poverty-stricken Plebots.In Old Newyork, hundreds of thousands live no better than animals.The World Government is about to reclaim these slums by emptying them with a heat bomb, but a secret resistance committee has a plan to stop the slaughter and bring hope.All they need is a hero.Enter Mok, a Plebot with knowledge of the "Galilee Man."

This previously released series of six books follows the quests of Mok as he travels through virtual time-now combined in one volume.

Reviews (3)

"Cyberquest" by Christian writer Sigmund Brouwer
It is the year AD 2096, the Great Water Wars all over but Earth is still a hostile world. The World Government is controlled by wealthy Technocrats who have outlawed Christianity. The Christians are then forced to live in Old Newyork, now a bombed-out island where only the criminal and poverty-stricken Welfaros live. The World Government decides to destroy the whole island of Old Newyork, killing all of its inhabitants. But a committee together comes up with a plan, one in which they will need to find a hero. After giving up on many candidates, they have only one last hope, that is to test the Welfaro, Mok. Will he be able to survive through the 'Cyberquest'?

This complete book of the Cyberquest series (consisting of 6 short books) is a great read. If parents are searching for a good book with a Christian theme for their kids, this book is definitely worth looking up! It has adventure, suspense, Christian morals, and a futuristic setting which would appeal to kids ages 9 and up. The character Mok is your typical hero, poor and not educated yet intelligent, searching for the answer about who the Galilee man is, and if this person called Jesus really lived... and still lives?

My only complaint about "Cyberquest" is some points about the writing. I love twists and turns in the plot and especially love surprises. This book has plenty of them except at some parts I can't help but feel like it wasn't written down well. Either the scene was a bit rushed or forced upon you quickly you don't know what's going on, confusing the reader at some intervals. Other than that it's a great, lightweight adventure story to read. A bit of a reminder, since this book is six books in one, many times things or events are repeated or explained numerous times.

Two other Sigmund Brouwer series I love are "Lightning on Ice Series" and the "Mars Diaries". The "Lightning on Ice" books are about teenage ice hockey players while the "Mars Diaries" are a science fiction series on a teenager who lives on a colony on Mars.

Best series I have ever read!
The book is excelent! It has no filthy language. It centers around 2045 A.D. It is a book for all ages!

....

Better than some
An enjoyable, though slightly lightweight, adventure centering around a young man named Mok who, for some undescribable reason, is kidnapped and hooked to a macine that puts him into a netherworld, in which he must use his enjineuity to solve problems. Read this when you need to relax your brain. ... Read more

Book Description

Finding well-written and engaging material for teens with substandard reading ability can be a challenge. This handbook is designed to help, describing more than 500 of the best new titles for reluctant teen readers and serving as a wonderful readers' advisory and collection development tool. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Arthur's Computer Disaster
"Arthur's Computer Disaster" was a cute book. Any child would enjoy it. It's not only an easy reader that they would like reading, but it teaches a lesson. -What happens when your break the rules.

Arthur's hooked on this new computer game. His mom tells him not to play it while she's gone, but he does it anyway, even with his sister, D.W., warning him. Arthur accidently "breaks" the computer, his mother gets home, and punishes him. All in all, he learns a lesson.

D.W. is my favorite character, because she's so sweet and innocent, just like all little sisters are. She warns her brother, and he chooses not to listen, and ends up "breaking" the computer.

For non readers only
Book is on the level of SEE SPOT RUN. Not for young readers.

Arthur's in trouble now!
This is a great book to teach kids what happens when you break the rules. Arthur's mom tell him he can't play his new computer game while she's gone. But the game is really cool, and he doesn't mean to play it, exactly, just show it to Buster. But, as you might guess, things don't work out that way. Arthur is convinced he has broken the computer. D. W. worries that they will now be homeless, and it will all be his fault. But Mom is able to fix the computer and they all learn a lesson about following the rules.

As a Mom, I wish I could be as fair and calm as Arthur's Mom. She never yells or freaks out. She just grounds Arthur from the computer. And he admits that's fair, which my kids probably would not do. This is a great story about a very common situation. Kids and parents will relate to this one.

Computer Disaster a Book sensation
This book is a great book for much reason. 1 reason is that it is a book that it is a book that any kid could enjoy. This book has the idea of truth and it is a great book with descriptive words. The book has wonderful art and a great story line. It earns 4 stars in my head and 5 or above in a small kids head. I extremely recommend this book.

Arthur does it again!
This is such a good story that kids today can really relate to. It teaches that even when you disobey and mess something up, you should always 'fess up. Most often, the parents are able to fix things back. I'm glad, too, that the author included a suitable punishment for Author's misbehavior, so that the readers might understand that even though adults can fix things, he still had to suffer the consequences. ... Read more