Book Description

As a baby he flipped himself upside down in his jolly jumper.
As a kid he rode his Big Wheel into traffic.
When he discovered skateboarding,
his life was changed forever.

So how did Andy Macdonald go from death-defying stunts in his jolly jumper to world champion skateboarder? In his own words, Andy shares all the ups and downs and the spills and thrills, from driving to California in a broken-down car and dressing up as Shamu at Sea World to setting world records and giving a speech at the White House. He's traveled the world over with his skateboard under his arm.

Andy's made the road to sweet, sweet success look easy. But this behind-the-scenes look takes you onto the platform of the vert ramp -- to the competitions, the long hours of practice, and more. It reveals a bumpy road to the top that, as Andy will tell you, could be reached only with the guts that skateboarding gave him. ... Read more

Book Description

I’m Lucy Rose and here’s the thing about me: I am eight and according to my grandfather I have the kind of life that is called eventful, which means NOT boring. According to my mom and my grandmother I’m what they call a handful. And according to my dad I am one smart cookie.

I say I am one girl who is feeling not-so-sure about things on account of my parents got a separation. Plus my mom and I just moved to Washington, D.C. Plus I haven’t met any friends yet but I do know someone who is not one and that is Adam Melon, who I call Melonhead.

Here’s another thing about me: most of the time I am plain hilarious. ... Read more

Book Description

Adrian Mole's first love, Pandora, has left him; a neighbor, Mr. Lucas, appears to be seducing his mother (and what does that mean for his father?); the BBC refuses to publish his poetry; and his dog swallowed the tree off the Christmas cake. "Why" indeed.

Reviews (26)

Yes!!!
I discovered this book right around the time it came out,when I was in grade school. I read it over and over,checking it out of the library three times in a year. I thought Aidy's life was far more interesting than my humble origins and laughed at all his problems, I even did a book report on it for 6th grade English. Adrian thinks himself intellectual though he is far from it at this point (later books he gets closer to having the kind of booksmarts that would make him a true intellectual),writes bad poetry and pines for treacle-haired Pandora. Almost makes me want to visit the UK.

An exciting and modern story (and play)
I didn't read the book, but I preformed in the play as Mr. Lucas. I didn't like my character but I thought that the rest of the cast was fantastic, and I thought: "If S. Townsend was here to watch us, I think she'd be really happy." Now that I've become more familiar with Adrian Mole, I hope to be able to read the sequels of the book.

NOT a KID's book!
This book appeared on a required (!) reading list for 7th and 8th graders in my daughter's school. Another mom and I were curious about it, so read it ourselves. We both found it to be an offensive, trashy book.

I do not consider this book to be appropriate reading for pre-teens or young teenagers. In fact, in our public library, the book is classified as an ADULT book.

I consider Adrian's family and social situation to be [bad]. I recognize that his obsession with sex may be typical of boys at his age, but the descriptions of how he handles it are not appropriate for kids to read. Adults or older teenagers may find it humorous as they may see many parallels with their own early-teenage experiences and emotions, but it serves no such purpose for younger kids. I also find it pathetically sad at his descriptions of his parents' behavior and what he witnessed as they each carried on affairs with other people in front of him.

My daughter will not be allowed to read this & I have complained to our school principal. If this is assigned by your school, BEWARE!

hello
i thought this book was unbelievably rubbish i would rather have played with my sisters barbie dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!all it talked about was his dog and pandora.

Brilliantly subversive and hilarious
Adrian Albert Mole is very mcuh a typical intellectual teenager. he realises his intellectualism at te start of the book, identifying it as he has a poor background, enjoys reading and dislikes punk. Through the various Adrian Mole books he has gone on a voyage of discovery and self-finding. In the first bookk he is a naive, nampy-pampy character with a poetry fixation. The exchanges he has with the BBC as he attempts to cajole them into using his work are clever and stylish.

He comes from what can politely be described as a dysfunctional family. Both his parents are havign affairs which produce children at the start, although he is oblivious to this. His innocent reference to a game of Monopoly played with his Mum and her boyfriend ("Mr Lucas was the banker. Mum went to jail a lot") was joyously clever and had me in stitches. Adrian has a strong social fascination, following various half-baked ideologies, mainly because his girlfriend Pandora is interested in them. The fact that, rather than being a novel about a talented nerdish youth lost amidst a sordid world, Sue Townsend has empathised with a 13 year old boy, is why this is seen as such a classic. ... Read more

Book Description

A Healing Divorce is unique. There is no other book devoted solely to rituals for divorce and ceremonies of parting. Written by a formerly married couple who have remained friends, this compassionate and practical book demonstrates how ritual can transform and heal the end of a relationship. If you divorce, your marriage will end in a ritual -- a court hearing; cold, impersonal, adversarial. You may also find yourself in thrall to the Myth of the Bad Divorce. This myth insists that all couples breaking up must recite the same harsh ABC’s: accusation, bitterness, conflict, anger, blaming, and contempt. It doesn’t have to be that way. Based on the authors’ personal experience, as well as interviews and extensive research, A Healing Divorce offers a way to diminish anger, alter destructive patterns, and end a relationship with truth, love, care and forgiveness. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Finally a Helpful 'How-To' About a Painful Process
When I picked up Barbara and Phil Penningroth's book at a local bookstore it was with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. How could a book about transforming divorce be anything more than new agey, pie in the sky wishful thinking? Then I read it. The story of how Barb and Phil consciously approached the end of their own 25 year marriage, along with the examples they cite of ending rituals from various cultures, inspired me to use a few of their ideas to honor the dissolution of my own ten year relationship. The effect was powerful and, yes, transformative. Thanks to the authors for this down to earth, clear, helpful guide to honoring our most intimate relationships even as they end.

A Noble Way, With Heart
If you ever suspected deep down that there was another way to get through a divorce, A Healing Divorce will make you rejoice that you were right all along. Thank God for people like Phil and Barbara, who think outside of the box and as they reach for their higher selves during their own heart crisis, are willing to take us along. We become partners in their endeavor to heal, not only our actual parting, but by extension the world around us. This book is a reminder of the goodness and the positive inherent in us all which, even in the deepest of heartaches, is waiting to be honored by being tapped. Success transforms us and touches those around us and the universe smiles. Go it alone, with your X, whatever, this book shows us a noble way through the pain which then births a new kind of love and gentleness within your heart.

Be Smart Enough To Read This Book
When I heard of a book dealing with rituals and ceremonies around divorce, I envisioned a feel-good, "we're all okay" kind of sedative. That's not what I found. Instead, Phil and Barbara Penningroth have assembled a comprehensive collection off rituals, services and other tools that real people can use to cope with the real pain of divorce.

Not only do they present several models of divorce services; they also have included comprehensive checklists to help people plan their own rituals and ceremonies and bring them alive in a personal way. Sprinkled throughout are the stories of people who have sued used rituals as part of their healing after divorce, some after tender, cooperative divorces, and some after bitter, rancorous divorces. Each of the stories, however, seems real. Each in its way is instructive.

I was delighted to see that, although the authors obviously have a sharply defined faith, they have lovingly gathered services, traditions, and perspectives from a wide variety of faith traditions. A great example of this is the chapter that explores the question "Is divorce a sin?" with contributions from Christian and Jewish clergy.

What makes this book so powerful is its consistent practicality. This is not a contemplative, introspective tour through someone else's emotional healing. It's a logical, methodical "How-to." As one example, consider the section for people who have a divorcee service on what to consider doing on the one-year anniversary of that service (return to the place, set aside time for quiet meditation, recall favorite moments, celebrate progress, etc.)

Many people will be smart enough to read this book. A few will be so smart they will actually follow the advice in it. They, their children, and all who care about them will be the stronger for it.

HEAL YOUR HEART AND THEIRS
Divorce is certainly one of the most painful periods of anyone's life. Once the shock, anger and sadness are behind us, this book offers a vareity of nurturing and spiritual rituals to "untie" us from our former spouse while honoring all that was good and right about the union. This is an important book for anyone going through a divroce and it is certain to help heal the hearts of both parties.

An Alternative to Bitterness
When Barbara and Phil Penningroth decided to divorce, they created a ritual to honor the ending of the relationship as it had been honored at the beginning. That in itself is an innovation. They went further, however, and created a book which can provide countless others with the tools to do the same.

There are lots of books out there which purport to help people heal from divorce. Many of them go no further than to explain, "this is how we did it, and if we could so could you." That is good as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. What about the couples where one is still consumed with hostility and the other wants to end it with dignity? How do you create a healing ritual if your former partner refuses to participate? What about the different societal and religious traditions? And, on an even more basic level, what is ritual itself so powerful? What gives it such ability to heal? They clearly explain the power of symbol, and why the ritual needs to be witnessed by someone else (i.e., public) as the original vows were, and why the act of creating your own ritual is an essential component of the receiving the benefits of its healing power.

All these questions are explored with sensitivity. The story of their own discovery of the power of ritual and ceremony is interwoven with case histories of others who have created rituals to symbolize the end of their relationships. The case histories are told in the first person, which gives them the ring of truth.

They then give implicit instructions about how to construct your own ritual, with concrete examples and suggestions of ways in which you can personalize the process. I'm a fan of practical solutions which people can tailor to their own situations, and Phil and Barbara do an admirable job of providing lots of ideas and options which can be sued to create your own process. I particularly like the way they weave together their own experience, the case histories of others, the explanation of why ritual and symbolism are so powerful, and suggestions about how to go about creating your own.

Having done all this, and done it well, Phil and Barbara went one step further. They researched the various religious traditions, and provided sample rituals consistent with each.

In my nearly twenty-five years as a divorce lawyer, I've often been struck by the fact that, popular ideology notwithstanding, most people don't want to harbor bitterness indefinitely. They want to end the relationship which is no longer serving their needs in a way that preserves their dignity and heals the inevitable wounds. It is a sad commentary that our society not only provides no assistance to such people but, to the contrary, almost forces them to be adversarial, blaming and hostile. It is not surprising that the method of accomplishing the growth and healing most people seek is not found in our traditional institutions, but outside of them. "A Healing Divorce" goes far toward filling this void. Anyone who sincerely wishes to develop a mechanism to symbolically heal and cleanse the ending of a relationship cannot fail to find useful and practical assistance in this book, regardless of the level of animosity which previously existed. I highly recommend it to anyone who, recognizing the toxicity of carrying bitterness and regret after the end of a relationship, seek to heal them instead.

For those who think there is no alternative to carrying bitterness and venom into their futures, I suggest that reading this book may change their minds and heal their lives. ... Read more

Book Description

Actor and father Mark Gillen finds out how far modern courts will go to keep a child from a parent who has strong Christian views. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Highly Emotional Ride
In Breach of Promise, Bell succeeded in grabbing my emotions and running the gamut with them. I could only read the story for bite-sized chunks of time: the anger and sadness I felt alongside Mark Gillen were too intense. I found it impossible to separate myself from his situation.

Thanks for giving me a glimpse of what it would feel like to be on the inside of a divorce/custody case. I know I will now be able to better empathize with those who have gone through it themselves.

Breach of Promise
Mark Gillen tumbles from his comfortable world with a beautiful wife and a beloved daughter to a nightmare when his wife leaves him for another man who has power and wealth to take whatever he desires. This is a passion-filled story of love, anger, and hate. The character growth in this novel takes the reader to a new dimension in reality writing with a Christian perspective.

Disappointing
I have loved all of James Scott Bell's book until this one. I found the characters difficult to like. I thought the story drug on and found myself skimming large sections. I was also diappointed in that the Lord was just minimally in this book. This is not the quality work I have come to expect from James Scott Bell and I was very disappointed.

Page turner
I loved this book for several reasons: The beautiful portrait of a father's love for his daughter, the flawed but lovable character of that father, and the gut wrenching agony of a custody battle and all that goes with it. I laughed, cried, and chewed my fingernails to bits while reading this book. I found it impossbile to put down. Highly recommended!

suspense as its best
This book amazed me because it's written from a man's perspective, yet I really got into the character. In fact, I was trying not to sob at the end. It touched me really deeply.
I loved the suspence of wondering what was going to happen. James Scott Bell is masterful at making you think there is no hope and then wham-o, gives a great ending.
I also loved the plot being about Hollywood. It was fascinating.
A great read. I was sad it ended. Where's a sequel? ... Read more

Reviews (6)

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
Hve you ever been stuck in the middle? 12 year old Andy has suffered the divorce of her parents. Everything was perfect from Andys point of view, she loved living in milbury cottage. Then everything changed now she is thrown around from house to house. Mums 1 week her dads the next. Just as shethinks nothing can get ant worse her step mum falls pregnant. Will Andy beable to maintain the torture of her annoying little step sister will her mum and dad ever stop arguing when they meat find out in this wonderful story .

When the parents split up, where do you fit in?
Andy West's parents have divorced and have started new lives with other partners. Andy is to spend one week with her mother and the "Baboon" and his miserable children. While there, she is forced to share her step-sister Katie's room, and Katie goes out of her way to make Andy miserable. On the weeks Andy stays with her dad and his "new agey" wife Carrie, she shares a room with 5 year old twins Zen and Crystal, and their mess. To add to the misery, Carrie is pregnant. The only one who understands's Andy's confusion is her constant companion Radish, a tiny toy rabbit. Radish understands how Andy misses the tiny cottage she and her parents shared. Radish understands how hard it is to make people you barely know, your family. Radish understands how hard it is to remember all your schoolwork and belongings when you stay at two places. All Andy wants is a place for her and Radish to feel at home. One day she and Radish discover a tiny, hidden garden, that they long to make their own. This is a sensitive story of divorce and one child trying to cope with events out of her control. Once again, Jacqueline Wilson has displayed an uncanny understanding of the needs of a child, and a true ear for dialog. This is a sweet book and a must read for anyone you know who has been touched by divorce.

Bags of fun - The Suitcase Kid review by B O'Problem
Andrea is a ten year old kid on the move. It's a tough decision between Mum with the Baboon or Dad and Carrie. Will she be on the move forever? The answer lies in the story. A delightful one to please the kids.

Very Realistic
This book is about Andrea (Andy) West. It is a funny, realistic and usually quite moving story! I would advise it to anyone who would give The Lottie Project 5 stars!

The Suitcase Kid
This story is about a girl called Andy who tells how her parents split up. She now spends one week living with her Mum and the next with her Dad. She used to live in a place called Mulberry Cottage, which was her dream cottage. Her step-parents both have children but she hates her step-Dad's kids. He has got this really mean daughter called Katie who just picks on Andy non-stop. And then there's Graham who is very quiet and just sits in his room playing on his computer. And eldest one (? ) just hangs out at bars with her mates all the time. Her step-Mum has two twins called Crystal and Zen. Crystal is quite nice but Zen is just annoying. This books covers many different themes - anger, jealousy, meanness - as Andy tries to cope with her two new families. Some of it is quite sad but most of it is funny. Most of it is based on Jacqueline Wilson's life when she was a kid, and I think it is the best of her books. It appealed to me because it is a bit like my family. ... Read more

Book Description

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

Reviews (12)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reviews (7)

jesi's thoughts
I would totally hate having to choose between my mom and dad on Thanksgiving. Oh wait, I already do! I do think that volunteering at the animal shelter did help matters. Except I don't know how you can relieve stress when picking up dog poop! The problem is that next year, she'll have to do it all over again!

THE BEST ONE YET!
This is the fifth book in the series, "Thanks for Nothing". I woud say out of the first 5 books, this one was the best. Madison is really upset because she isn't going to have Thanksgiving with her whole family anymore. Her gramma has a hip problem and her aunt and uncle are going to take care of her. Madison's Mom and Dad are divorced and she can't spend Thanksgiving with both of them. So its either her and Mom or her, Dad, and Stephanie. But when Madison makes a decision, she gets a big surprise and decides to do the original plan. Wanna know who she picks? Read the book! While all of this is happening, Madison decides to help out an Far Hills Animal Clinic and Shelter, where she meets a school friend who is also a volunteer. She also meets a very nice dog, but there is a surprise with the dog, too. Wanna know what happens? Read the book! As if all of this wasn't enough, Madison and Egg are paired up for a social studies project and they are having problems working together. But even though the first two surprises were bad, a surprise about the project is good! To find out what the surprises are and to read a fantastic book, get a copy of "Thanks for Nothing" today!

luv this bookie cuz DOGGIES~
i luv this book because it was bout Madison helping out at the animal clinit and she did have alot of fun during her everytime visit. =P Was having a little mad times when Egg's was late for the extra-credits project that the teacher assign they were partners, but the end it turned out FINE.I also likes this book because it was the first book i got and then i started to like reading Madison Finn! =D

Thanks For Nothing!
This is the 5th book in the series of Madison Finn. It takes place around Thanksgiving, which is Madison's first Thanksgiving without her dad.( Her parents are divorced) If you are a dog lover you'll like reading this book because Madison signs up to volunteer at the local animal clinic! This book was cool I thought.

This book is the bomb! I can tell you that for a fact!
To tell you for a fact. You need to read this book. This book has a lot of good stuff you should know. This book can let you stand up for yourself. I have read this book and I just can't stop reading it! some of the parts just make you so sad. Like, if you have family like the book, read it! You will understand!Read this book or buy it. It is sooooooo great! I feel like getting the whole pack of books of Madison Finn. Thats what makes me not to stop reading.see more about me! ... Read more

Book Description

R. R. Pottle the Third has a truly wonderful, extra-extraordinary collection of hats. But happiness eludes him. He is lonely and dreams of meeting a perfect wife ' who will, of course, be wearing a perfect hat.

One day, a day so bad that R. R. Pottle wears not one, not two, but three hats at once, his dream comes true in the best possible way.

This warm, comical story by talented new author Laura Geringer is crowned with full-color illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner Arnold Lobel.

Reviews (2)

The Pottle Familty
This story is about the Pottle family and how each one liked to collect different things. All the Pottle's meet there husbands / wife's on a rainy day. The story is about how the third Pottle finds his wife on a sunny day when he is sad and then it turns into a rainy day. When Mrs. Pottle and Mr. Pottle got married they had a girl and she liked shoes. They meet at a hat store when a lady was yelling at him because he was dancing around with a hat from the store.

A Three Hat Day
A funny little man who loves hats cheers himself up by wearing three at a time! This is a great book for teaching primary graders about permutations and probability theory. ... Read more

Book Description

THEY BEGAN AS STRANGERS -- FOUR TEENAGE GIRLS WITH NOTHING IN COMMON BUT THEIR MISERABLE CHILDHOODS. SOON, THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT THEIR SECRET PASTS HAD BOUND THEM TOGETHER FOREVER....

Misty, Star, Jade, and Cat first came together in Dr. Marlowe's group therapy sessions. They trusted no one but each other -- and even that bond was fragile at best. One by one, each of the Wildflowers told her own story and bravely unveiled the inner wounds inflicted by years of lies, deceit, and untold family secrets; each revealed the shocking tales of how their parents hurt them, used them, or simply abandoned them. And as they shared their darkest feelings, they no longer felt like lost souls with nowhere to turn. Finally, years of loneliness and pain gave way to the realization that someone else in this world understood them. But then the sessions ended, and the girls didn't know if they would ever see each other again.

Now they are coming together one more time. Jade has sent out invitations to her parents' mansion -- the sprawling, opulent home that served as a battleground for much of her young life. There, the four will rekindle their bonds of friendship and trust. But this time, away from Dr. Marlowe's watchful eye, it will be different. Today, in the mansion's attic, Star, Jade, Cat, and Misty will take each other's hands and swear to tell the real truth -- the shattering secrets that lie deep within them like smoldering coals. And once the darkest secret of all is spoken aloud, there will be no turning back. For there may be some things the Wildflowers should leave buried forever.... ... Read more

Reviews (47)

journey into a teenage life...
I loved this book! It was soo good. I've been a V.c Andrews fan for awhile now. i'm currently reading the book rain. I hope the "Hudson" series is as good as this one. I loved how cat was so shy and then she found friendship. And what happends with her family members makes the book even better. But i cant tell ya what happens, u gotta read it for yourself!

Best V.C. Andrews novel in a long time
Into the garden is really good, in fact one of the best V.C. Andrews novels in a long time. I didn't like the rest of the wildflower series, but this book made up for it. I was also glad because of the variety of characters in this book, there is a black girl and a not so thin girl. All of V.C. Andrews characters are usually the same size six white girls, but this book had some variety. What I didn't like about this book is Jade and her hollier-than thou I'm rich and you're not attitude. Overall the book is good, and the ending is dramatic, sweet, and in a way sad. I recommend this book if you are a true VC Andrews fan. I know a lot of people have stop reading VC Andrews novels because of the drab miniseries runaways and wildflowers, but this book is V.C. Andrews true style. I heard the next series Rain is back to VC Andrews true style too

To say this is terrible would be an understatement!
This was, perhaps, one of the worst books I'd ever read in my entire life. It started off as good, but immediately went downhill as soon as they buried the mother in the backyard (can't they get into serious trouble for that?). In fact, it was so bad I couldn't even finish it, and usually, I'm the type to finish what I start. It's totally unrealistic, vapid, and the characters aren't even people you can care about.

This book makes me cringe just thinking about it.

Don't buy, if you know what's good for you, but if you'll read any trash, go ahead and waste your money. Don't say I didn't warn you.

A Late Bloomer's Adventures
Cat really did come out of her shell in this book. I was glad when she went to the brunch at Jade's house. As for Geraldine, good riddance. It was a shock that Howard was going to pin his killing Geraldine on Cat if she (C) didn't do what he said. As for Stuart, his big loss when he didn't come around after all things came out. I was glad when Dr. Marlowe got custody of Cat. I hope to hear a story about Cat's college adventures.

Is This a Joke?
Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, outside the outer limits, somewhere in the twilight zone, there lived four girls, all with weird names. Misty, Star, Jade and Cat, were all products of bad homes. Bad homes with bad parents. After therapy wraps up, they want to stay friends, and so when Cat's adoptive Mother/sister/not-real-sister, decides to die, the girls get together and bury her in Cat's back yard. Anything to keep Cat out of a foster home and get a clubhouse for themselves.

No one knows the woman is dead until the girls confess it, to save Cat from danger. And here's the funny part. That backyard/graveyard was in Beverly Hills. 90210.

Now, here is why you should not read this book. You should not read this book, because it is bad. As in poorly written, unrealistic, and just foolish. The charaters talk like professers from Harvard and act like the kids on Barney. It's one long 300 page joke. ... Read more

Book Description

Pinky and Rex are looking forward to a camping adventure with their dads. They'll hike in the woods and roast marshmallows over a campfire. But a thunderstorm has come along to ruin all their plans. How can the best friends save their double-dad weekend? ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Not the best of Amber Brown
I read many of the Amber Brown books with my 7-year old daughter, and generally, we love them. All of the books have a portion dedicated to the fact that her parents have split up and how she is dealing with this situation. Although my daughter cannot relate directly to that, it has lead to some interesting discussions. Most of the books have a humerous story interweaved, but unfortunately, not this one. It is a story of a girl who goes to Europe to visit her father, gets sick, and is bored sitting in her aunt's flat. We were as bored as Amber. While I would highly recommend other books (I, Amber Brown; Amber Brown Sees Red; Forever Amber Brown), I have to recommend staying away from this one.

I Thought The Book Was Great!
I just finished this story. It is about Amber Brown at school. Her best friend Justin Daniels just moved away. When she came home her parents get divorced. Guess what! Her dad moves to France. She could not believe what happened to her life. Her life was wrecked into pieces! She was heart broken. Then a couple of months later she goes to France. She was so happy to see her dad. France was so cool. But she gets the chicken pox! I thought the book was great! It lots of parts I liked. I don't have a favorite part, though!- By Amanda H. Age 7

You diffenatly can't eat your chicken pox
This book was an okay book, but thier could have been a little more excitement and adventure, which I think makes this book kind of boring, but the good thing is she had fun in Europe.

I LOVED THIS BOOK !
This book is one of the best books in the world. It's a funny story because when she feed the birds with her aunt in London, another little girl was getting something "yucky" wiped out of her hair if you know what I mean. I recomend this book for you to read.

Three sad stories purposefully told
Soap opera cliches about divorce. Illness in a foreign country. A parent who inexplicably avoids caring for his only child when she is sick and far from home. A parent who padlocks Amber's belongings so that she can not open them. Trivial story of a London visit. Kids have plenty of better books to read. Skip this one. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

A powerful story of family struggle
Contrary to her wishes, Maya is spending part of her summer in Chennai, India while her mother is trying to sell her grandfather's old house. To make the summer more enjoyable, Maya keeps herself busy by taking pictures of surroundings and making friends with her cousin Sumati and Kamala Mami, a housekeeper and cook in Maya's extended family.

At the same time though, she starts thinking about a sea of painful memories that are incomprehensible to her. Her parents' divorce particularly troubles her. She still wishes to have a whole family again, and she thinks that their separation was her fault because of the name she was given. For years the tension has produced a number of varying emotions. It gets worse when Kamala Mami is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Maya can't deal with the stress any longer. Will the tension in her family ever stop? Will she ever have a whole family again?

NAMING MAYA provides some valuable insight into what life is like in India. Sadly, it also reminded me of how debilitating Alzheimer's disease can be to one's mind. When Maya finds out that Kamala Mami has the disease, I felt her pain since I had to go through the same thing with some of my family members. NAMING MAYA is a compelling novel that I will remember for a long time to come.

--- (...) ... Read more

Book Description

Not every girl wants to be a flower girl! While playing hide-and-seek at Grandma's house, Anna overhears a conversation about Aunt Julie's wedding, and learns that she's supposed to be the flower girl. Oh no! There's nothing fun about weddings.Anna would much rather go swimming or ride her bike. But when she follows everyone up to the attic and sees them pulling out old gowns, veils, and photos, she's enchanted. Anna even begins imagining what her own wedding might be like.

Illustrated in Harley Jessup's bold palette and with his original perspectives, Flower Girl will be a favorite for reading again and again. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Beautiful and Colorful!!
I loved this book, because of the gorgeous illustrations mostly. The story is well-served by the bright and funny drawings, and the little girl's expressive face is a story in itself. This guy Harley Jessup is very talented and really sees the world as a child would. Five stars--have a look!

Wonderful Book!
My daughter and I love this simple, beautiful story!

Great gift to flower girls
This is a great for a bride to give her intended flower girl. What a fun way to introduce the idea of being in the wedding party. Cute story and great illustrations.

Connections
This book,like many childrens' books would suffer without the great illustrations. The vibrant cover had set my hopes high for good story to read my daughter. I was left feeling, is that it? The art is fun, I'm sure the illustator could have written it just as well by himself. ... Read more

Book Description

Barbara can hardly believe her older sister is getting married. With all the excitement of wedding plans going on, Barbara can't help dreaming of the day she will be the bride. She can't wait to fall in love.

But as the big day gets closer, wedding planning often turns into family arguments. Even the bride and groom are bickering over details, and Barbara's fun-loving sister is turning into a very practical, grown-up person. Weddings are fun, but all this serious stuff is scary enough to make Barbara think she's not going to be rushing into a serious romance any time soon.

Reviews (11)

Sister of the Bride great read
Have you ever been a brother or sister of the bride and felt left out? If so, read Sister of the Bride by Beverly Cleary. This book gave me many different feelings such as happiness, sadness and sometimes confusion. This, I am sure, is how the main character, Barbara, felt at one time or another. Having her older sister getting married while her sister is still in college, and thinking about falling love and dating herself. All this could send mixed feelings to anyone. But then when things get a little topsie-turvy who knows what will happen to either of the girls' relationship.

Sister Of The Bride
Sister of the Bride is cute. It is about Barbara MacLane who finds out that her older sister, Rosemary is getting married. She wants to ensure that Rosemary will get a beautiful wedding but Rosemary has turned into a practical person- while Barbara is having boy troubles of her own- first with her annoying brother Gordy, and then with Tootie Bodger, who is 6'4, and Bill Cunningham, who is implied as handsome and gives her rides of his Vespa.

I have read all four books of first love by Beverly Cleary and this is the only book that I give 3 stars- the others are all 4's or 5's. It becomes boring after quite some time. After all, who wants to hear about the Amys' shower? That part was boring. But overall you can find an enjoyable read in this, although it is mediocre.

Sister of the Bride by Beverly Cleary
Sister of the Bride was one of the best books I ever read. At first Barbara was so surprised her sister Rosemary was getting married in June! Rosemary was only eighteen! She wanted to get married too! One day, Barbara was walking home with Tootie, a boy who is six foot four and that she really hated. ''I hate Tootie!'' she thought. So one day she took the long way home to dodge Tootie. One of the cool boys, Bill Cunningham, came on his Vespa motor scooter. He asked her if she wanted a lift home. From that day on, she always took that way and got a ride. One day, Bill and Barbara were on the front steps and kissed! But her annoying little brother Gordy peeks and sees them kiss! Barbara got really mad at Gordy. At the end of the story, she liked both Bill and Tootie!
My favorite part was when Greg [the man Roesmary is marrying] and Roesmary fight, and Barbra thinks they are going to call off the wedding! Find out if they do call off the wedding by reading Sister of the Bride!

This is a cute story.
This book is aimed at teenagers, but could be enjoyable for someone of any age. It's about a girl whose older sister is getting married "too young" in a kind of spur-of-the-moment wedding, but the family pulls together and makes everything work. The protagonist of the book learns about teamwork, new perspectives and what it's like to grow up. It's a great read-aloud story and an enjoyable way to occupy an afternoon.

Sister of the bride
Beverly Cleary's Sister of the Bride is about a 16-year-old girl named Barbara whose 18-year-old sister named Rosemary decides to get married to a man named Greg. At first, Rosemary's parents disagree and say she is too young, but finally they give in when Rosemary begs and start to plan the wedding. Barbara is happy for her sister, and dreams of the day she falls in love and marries someone too. The wedding comes, and the two families start arguing, and Barbara's fun, young, loving sister suddenly turns into a very practical grown-up. Barbara wonders if the wedding will turn out as planned. Barbara starts to feel left out of the whole thing and feels she is of no importance, and that she is only the sister of the bride. She feels the bride is getting all the attention. Barbara also starts to be involved in a relationship with a boy name Bill Cunningham, who drives her home every day on his Vespa motorbike. She does this while trying to avoid Tootie Bodger, a boy who likes Barbara a little more than she likes him. Barbara soon realizes that weddings are great, but all the seriousness involved is enough to make Barbara decide she's not going to rush into a serious relationship any time soon.
Barbara is my favorite character, and I can definitely relate to her, because I also have an older sister who I look up to. Barbara has an annoying brother named Gordy, and I, too, have a brother who I fight with sometimes. Barbara tries to mature and stop fighting with her brother, but it doesn't work. This has happened to me before.
I would recommend this book to all girls, because it is about girls, love, and marriage. I love this book and all parts of it. I especially like the part when Bill Cunningham arrives at Barbara's porch and expects Barbara to fix his shirt. Barbara becomes furious at him and shouts, "No, I will not mend your shirt!" and Bill tells her that she doesn't have to be so ferocious about it. I liked this part of the book because Barbara stops giving in to whatever Bill wants and says "no". If I could change the ending of the book I would make it so that Barbara dumps Bill Cunningham and becomes Tootie Bodger's girlfriend, and if not, maybe just his friend. I would want this to happen because Tootie Bodger is nicer, more understanding, and likes Barbara more than Bill. This book is calm and not too suspenseful, but this makes it an easy, good book. Sister of the bride is a fun-to-read book that most girls would enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

At fourteen, Adrian Mole's life continues to be nothing but a set of tragic circumstances: His tempestuous relationship with an alluring schoolmate tortures him, while his intellectualism continues to be ignored by the British press. Despite it all he remains as agonizingly funny as ever in this, the second of his diaries.

Reviews (74)

A Superb Piece of work....
I must first congratulate Sue Townsend on her remarkable acheivements with young Adrian Albert Mole. I have read The Secret Diary and The Growing Pains about 4 times each, but I never get tired or bored of it.

Adrian is starts off as a 13 year old Intellectual, living in a house with his pathetic parents and his companion(the dog!) He has much to say about World Politics and Communism, and has a bitter-sweet imagination. As an Intellectual, he finds it difficult to live in a home where he is not noticed, and in a world where people kill themselves, and corruption ruled the world!

He also has a thirst for Great English Literature, and he never turns away from it. After reading many Classic books: "Animal Farm, Wuthering Heights, etc" he decides that Poetry and novels is what he wants! He wants to become a poet, and submits numerous poems to the BBC, but they fail to get published, but young Mole is a fighter, and he never gives up!

He lives life quite the same, until the treacle-haired love of his life turns up( Pandora Braithwaite). She is smart, gorgeous, and hilariously funny, as stated by A.Mole. But, as he grows older into maturity, he discovers that things will change, and turn very bitter and sweet. But, Mole will always turn out triumphant in the end!

A must read!

On of my favorites, (probably will be one of yours!)
If you're reading this review, congratulations, you're either thinking of reading this book or you have read it and are looking for other's opinions. This is one of the best books ever, with witty realism combined with the absurd thoughts that all teenage boys have had.
Meet psuedo-intellectual Adrian Mole, a constant struggler, from his girlfriend Pandora, to trying to get his hapless poems (some about the Norwegian leather industry!!!) published, and the old codger, Burt who he visits all the time. Occasionally, he is charming, but mostly he is just goofy. His adventures are too numerous to mention on paper, (or a computer screen) you'll just have to enjoy them for yourself. His disfunctional family and life are hilarious.
I'm curious as to how a woman understands so much about how a guy can feel sometimes. If you are a teenager, used to be one, are going to be one, dated one, are a parent to one, whatever, you should help yourself understand that teenager in your life by reading this book.

A laugh-out-loud read
"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4" is hilarious, a lot of the time painfully so. It chronicles the turbulent adolescence of the idiosyncratic Adrian through the time he turns fifteen. There are highlights consistently throughout the story, such as his submissions of poetry to the BBC (and the letters he consequently receives in return), his romance with the memorable Pandora Braithwaite, and his occasional references to a magazine called "Big & Bouncy" which he keeps hidden under his mattress.

Author Sue Townsend's writing is entertaining and funny throughout, and this book is a welcome change from the plethora of "teen diaries" that seem to dominate every library and bookstore's young adult section.

A must read!
I read The Adrian Mole Diaries and I found me cursing myself for not laying my hands on this book earlier! Every guy who has passed his teens relates to this book and surely has some Adrian in him. Its a great book written in simple words. Its refreshing to come across some very typical British words and terms!
This is a must read book and I would strongly suggest this to anyone who travels alone or has to travel with boaring company!

A Book about Love, Troubles and Friendships
Do you like funny books? Then you will definitly like the book "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4", by Sue Townsend. This book is about a young boy named Adrian Mole. Adrian goes to a school in Britian. He has a best friend's name is Nigel. Everything is going pretty bad for Adrian until a new girl comes to his school. Her name is Pandora. Adrian thinks that he might be in love with Pandora because he has a lot of feelings for her, until Nigel asks Pandora to be his girlfriend! Adrian is mad about the situation. Not only is he upset about Nigel and Pandora, he is also mad about his parents. His parents are fighting consistantly. With Adrian's mother spending a lot of time with the neighbor husband and with his father always drunk or sick , what is he supposed to do with so much complication in his life? This is a great story to read and can relate to a lot of peoples' lives. Read this book to find out if Adrian will ever get a chance with Pandora or if his parents will ever stop fighting. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Comeback Challenge was Great!
I thought that The Comeback Challenge was great. Mark, who was on the scorpions team, was angry that his parents, who kept on fighting, and they each wanted him to live with him or her, because they were getting a divorce. Currently, he had to live with his grandparents, until it was settled. Also, the team captain Lance, didn't really like Mark that much. At the end Mark stays with his grandparents another year. Mark was the one to tell the judge that. Also at the end the problem with Lance was solved, and Mark was elected captain for the next soccer season. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fourteen-year-old Tracy Forrester is resigned to having the worst summer of her life. Her dad has booked her and her siblings into this weird place in Massachusetts, where divorced parents and their kids hang out with other split-up families. It’s called Farnsworth House, but dubbed the "Hippie Hotel" by Tracy’s dad, mostly due to the fact that long-haired proprietor Sharon Farnsworth really believes in the healing power of togetherness. Tracy doesn‘t buy it. "I think the idea is that if you get divorced kids together with other divorced kids, they won’t feel so bad about being divorced. So far it hasn’t worked." Ever since her parents’ split, Tracy has gained 15 pounds and a terminal case of low self-esteem. At Farnsworth, she’s terrified of Beka who smokes and only listens to punk, and her mother Lorraine, who seems to have designs on Tracy’s father. She likes Kelsey, who’s also there with her dad, except she’s so cute she makes Tracy feel even plainer by comparison. But things start looking up when she catches the eye of Kevin, a cute local, discovers that Beka is more bluster than bite, and that Kelsey really is as nice as she is pretty. Suddenly, the Hippie Hotel is actually "not-so-terrible"--in fact, it’s kinda great. A solidly written story disguised as a frothy summer read, debut author Rosemary Graham’s gentle, funny tale about family life after the big "D" will be eagerly embraced by middle-grade fans of Judy Blume and Barthe DeClements. (Ages 12 to 16) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (13)

This author is channeling a 14-year-old, I swear
How else to explain the fact that Rosemary Graham manages to inhabit the mind of a teenager in this book? And what a terrific read HIPPIE HOTEL is! I am (pretty much) grown up, and I found it hard to put down. Any young teenager would love it, too. This is the kind of story that you just fall right into, a great place to escape from the outside world. (Kind of like the Hippie Hotel in the story, come to think of it.)

Janis Jaquith -- author of BIRDSEED COOKIES: A FRACTURED MEMOIR

Wonderful lessons for a young girl
I bought this book for my 10 year old daughter. She read it in a single evening, and loved it - openly grinning at points and laughing at others. She thought it was in the same class as the 'traveling pants.'

I then read the book, and thought it was terrific - on a couple of levels. One, it was a fun read. The author wonderfully captures the thoughts and emotions of this young teenager, to the point where you feel yourself to be 14 again. On another level, the main character deals with some pretty important issues, and ends up on the right side of the fence - delivering some terrific lessons and food for thought in the process.

Bottom line, this was a great book. I loved it. My daughter loved it. And because of what it had to say to a young reader, I'm incredibly glad that my daughter read it.

Sooo Good!!
this book was really good. i hope rosemary graham will write a sequel. it's a book i picked up and i literally couldn't put it down, except while taking notes in class (those are important). but whenever i had the chance to read during class...I DID!! i'm looking for another book kind of like it, but it's so hard to find one. the cover may not be interesting, but the book really is!

Not just for the YA crowd!
I picked up this book, thinking it would be for a much younger reader...and I loved it! Tracy's adventures at the Hippie Hotel are both moving and funny. She is a winning character and Rosemary Graham is a winning storyteller.

A not-so-terrible Book
I won this book in a contest held by the author. It was one of the best books ever. I am 14 years old, and this book was wonderful. Full of the problems most girls face every day, and a few more unusual ones, this book is a great read for anyone! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Helping the Very Young Child Understand Divorce
On first glance, this looks like another cute picture book for preschoolers. If I had randomly run across it on some children�s bookshelf, I might not have even opened it. That would have been my loss.

On each page there is a simple, but compelling drawing on one side with a sentence of text on the facing page. A spider and a bee fall in love and marry. For the first year, they get along well. As time goes on, their inborn differences become problematic. The bee tries to please the spider with things that might please another bee. They disagree about where they should live. Sadly, they realize that they must live apart. After their sad parting, each is able to live happily in his or her own natural setting.

Many books about separation and divorce may be too complex or threatening for the preschool child. This book goes right to the heart of the matter in a way that a young child can understand. Sometimes it is no one�s fault. Two people may simply be incompatible and may need to build separate lives. ... Read more