Reviews (3)

Fascinating Character
Believable and intriguing are words I would use to discribe Natalie Wills, the thirteen-year-old foster child in The Monster in Me. Her story is equally compelling. I loved this book. Trudy Harris

One-Minute Rewiew
"I'm lying flat with my arms and legs strapped to the corners of a large metal table. There are vials and tubes everywhere and it's dark, with mist covering the floor. I'm in Frankenstein's laboratory -like in the movies. And I'm the monster. I'm the creature Dr. Frankenstein has made, the creature who wants desperately to be human, but isn't."
Natalie has been having these nightmares ever since she was put into a group home because of her mother's problems. She can't escape these nightmares no matter how hard she runs in the mornings. When she moves in with a new foster family, they really seem to like her, but she knows that they are going to send her away, it's just a matter of when. Natalie believes that no matter how kind her foster parents are, no stranger can love her because her own mother doesn't. Natalie needs to learn to trust and accept people before she can escape her monster.
I would recommend this book, The Monster In Me, to any one who is alone in feeling unloved, out of place, and who needs to learn what trust really and truly means.

A hopeful ending
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are likeable and real, with weaknesses and quirks that are subtle enough that they don't turn into caricatures. I liked that Natalie, the main character, learns to like and trust people who are legitimately annoying in some ways, since that's how life really is. I thought her development was realistic and important; she discovers that she has more control over how she sees the world than she thought at the beginning. That's a great message and an important one these days. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

After countless phone calls and letters from fans, we've brought back these time-honored tales. Sharing life lessons and memorable morals, the Serendipity books are a seasoned favorite with children and parents alike. So, journey to the magical, mystical land of Serendipity with these four cherished editions featuring newly revised text from the author.

A sweet young squirrel named Squeakers is scampering through the forest when he comes upon a dangerous Crickle-Crack tree.He knows he should stay away, but curiosity gets the best of him.Squeakers learns the hard way that some things are best left alone. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Crickle Crack
I'm a 16 year old girl and I still love these books. Crickle Crack was a good one, dealing with problems in today's society. A squirrel is told to stay away from the crickle crack tree and he doesn't listen. The blossoms bring poor squeakers trouble when he eats them. The books are really timeless.

Crickle-Crack
I grew up reading the Serendipity Series written by Stephen Cosgrove and illustrated by Robin James. Even today, almost 20 years later, this series stands out among the best. As a 5th grade teacher, I am continuously on the look-out for quality books that will instill character within my students. These stories offer young people excellent advice without being too "preachy". As anyone can see, I am a strong advocate of these writings. This story in particular approaches the subject of drug abuse in a very discreet way. ... Read more

Book Description

This delightful collection of story books has important lessons about growing up and understanding the emotional side of life.Each book includes a series of discussion questions and easily-implemented extension activities. By sharing these developmentally appropriate stories, you help children from 5 to 12 acquire important insights and learn to cope with many of life’s stressing issues.

Each book is 64-80 pages, 8-1/2 x 11, paperback, illustrated ... Read more

Book Description

Marisol has always loved to dance—to the salsa at family parties, to the boom boxes on Loisada Avenue. Then she wins a scholarship to ballet school and discovers an inspiring new world of beauty and discipline. But when violence erupts in Alphabet City, Marisol’s dream starts to slip away. To keep dancing she must make heartbreaking choices—perhaps impossible ones.

1996 America’s Commended List (CLASP) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It was borrrriiiinnnng and confusing
This book stinks. It was one of the worst have ever read. It got confusing and then became a sleeper. I had to read it for school and even my classmates thought the same. If I could I would have given it 0 stars.

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award nominee - Yr 2000
This title was appreciated by enough students and professional librarians and teachers to make the Year 2000 list of nominees for Illinois' childrens' choice award named after the Illinois author Rebecca Caudill. This book is best for grades 4-8. ... Read more

Book Description

Frances refuses to look in the mirror; she can't bear to face her reflection. She has hidden from herself and everyone around her for such a long time, and now that her brother Daniel has committed suicide, she can't help thinking that it's somehow her fault. If she hadn't been so caught up in her own pain, maybe she would have noticed her brother's. It's time to stop hiding-to reach out to Daniel's friends at their private school. Daniel had been deeply involved in Unity Service, the charitable group on campus, and Frances is determined to join the group and to make amends.

But something's not quite right about Unity, and soon Frances finds herself in the middle of a puzzle too ominous to ignore. Exactly what are the Unity members trying so hard to hide? This time Frances won't scurry away. The memory of her brother is at stake. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Good Book
Frances's only friend was her brother, Daniel. But when they started at Pettengill school they started to grow apart, and now, 2 years later, she realizes that she didn't know anything about Daniel. He apparently killed himself with an overdose of heroin, and Frances feels terrible. To try to make herself feel better she wants to join Unity, the charity that gave them scholarships to the school. Daniel was very involved with Unity and was ashamed that Frances didn't want to join. But now when she wants to her brother's girlfriend Saskia, and most of the other members don't want her. She is confused by it and the more she finds out, the more she notices is strange with Unity.

Black Mirrow is a good book that I couldn't stop reading. Frances is an interesting character and I can relate to alot of what she is feeling. The other characters were well portrayed too and it was as much them as the plot of the story that made me want to find out what was going to happen. At the end I was completely suprised. Nancy Werlin is a good writer and all her books are great, but this one really made me think.

One of my Favorite Books
I absolutley loved this book. It was so thrilling and written so well! Absolutley one of my favorites (Ive read thousands of books in my short life time):D

Thrilling &Chilling
Black Mirror is the story of a young girl searching for many things- a sense of family, her true identity and peace with herself.

The book follows a bumpy road of life after Frances's brother Daniel commits suicide. Frances, shy and suffering low self-concept, feels that without her brother, she should make some sort of effort to fit into the school she never really belonged to. Her odd life with divorced parents (her mother studying Buddhism miles away) and mixed heritage leads her to believe she can never fit in anywhere.

The author makes the characters both realistic and unique, creating an environment to completely immerse the reader in.

Frances decides to join Unity, a school charity group. But as the mentally challenged janitor James points out, it's "all fake work." Unity is a front for something else, and Frances and James are the only ones who know. Did her brother Daniel really commit suicide? Was there a note? And why is her art teacher so insistant that she join Unity, anyway? Read this, one of the best for YA in 2001, to find out.

I can't see into the Black Mirror...
I know that it is pretty harsh to write this, but i could not get into this book for the life of me. The author would often jump from one time period to another, and after about four or five chapters I would get so confused. Also the author didn't use much detail and its hard to understand whats going on when theres not a clear picture in your head. The plot was thought out very well, but would often not stay on track. I also never found a climax point in which i couldn't put the book down. Overall I do recommend this book for anyone over the age of 13, and suggest something of a higher reading level.

Nancy Werlin is in a class by herself!
Ms. Werlin has a sure hand with psychological suspense and for creating and relating to teenaged characters. Frances Leventhal is another unique creation in YA literature, and Ms. Werlin pulls no punches in telling Frances's story. If you want to be on the edge of your seat but still care deeply about the people you are reading about, you can't go wrong with anything by Nancy Werlin. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

skull crack book review
In the book Skullcrack by Ben Bo it showed that no matter what nothing can come in the way of family not even a hurricane.
My book was about a boy who always knew he was missing something in his life but between being harassed by his drunken father and doing what he loved surfing he really had no time for anything else. One day a mystical man named Mr. Bones followed him home one night and gave him some insight into his future telling him he would meet a very special girl and that when he met adeadly hurricane would hit him and he told him to beware Edwin. One day Jonah's father takes his game a little to far and gets really drunk and really mad and he comes after Jonah and hits him. Jonah not knowing what he was doing or where he was going just takes off with no money or food or anything but he falls off of a cliff causing him to go into a coma. The next day Jonah's father goes to see jonah in the hospital and he talks to Jonah about how he is never going to touch another drop of alcohol again, but then he starts to talk about Jonah's sister who he had never told him about before and it wasn't only his sister it was his twin sister but he had to give her away when they were like one year old because he said he wouldn't be able to raise a girl with their mother being dead and all so he gave her to the adoption agency and he kept Jonah. Jonah's father then decides since Jonah is out of his coma that they can go and see sally (Jonah's twin sister) so they head out to the island that she is on but they here of hurricane on there way there and find out that they are evacuating everyone from the island by bus. Jonah decides not to go with his dad on the bus and he goes to his sisters house. He meets her at her house and at first they didn't believe that he was her brother, but then they figure it out right as the hurricane hits and they all survive it.
I thought this book was really dull and boring at first but after you get about half way through it it starts to unravel Jonah's problems in his life and he tries to solve them. Overall this book was very good, and it showed me no matter what you can always find what or who you are looking for.
In this book it showed courage, but most of all it showed that you just can't keep family apart.

CRAIG p.1

Skullcrack: A Excellent Realistic Fiction Novel
Skullcrack is a short novel about a teenage boy living in Ireland named Jonah. His father is an agressive alcoholic. Jonah loves to surf off a small inlet called Craxkull Point. There he starts seeing stange images of a girl in the swirling mists of the cove. I found this book interesting and fun to read because I like setting and the suspense. The ends of most of the chapters leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. This also makes you want to read more. The text contains a group of "demons" commenting on some of the current happenings. Even though his dad is a heavy drinker, he cares deeply about his son and suprises him by buying two tickets to America. What adventures will Jonah find in the US? Read this book, Skullcrack to find out. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A rare and precious tv - tie-in book
Party of Five at its best was like this book. Dealing with teenager-to-adult transitions. All the wounds and drugs and evil that gets carelessly done to one's loved ones. It's a shame the show had to deviate from this and die a slow death.
But Bailey's character's struggles and occasional triumphs are an inspiration and a let-down and yet again an inspiration...
Just like a certain television series that was.

Liquid Courage
I really enjoyed hearing Bailey's feelings about his growing alcohol problem, but found it very short, and lacking details. I would really like to see someone, possibly a fan write a book going into more detail about it and possibly putting it on the web. I did like how the author accurately stuck to the episodes. Bailey gives us a look into the eyes of someone completely oblivious to their problem. But my question is, if he needed the alcohol so bad that he'd do anything for it, how could he not have known that something was wrong? In the book he is completely shocked that his siblings planned an intervention to confront him. Hasn't he ever heard of that kind of thing before? In parts, the book seemed a little unrealistic, but at the same time I find Bailey a character that I can relate to. I only wish that the book would progress slower and portray Bailey's alcoholism with more dinamics and drama.

THIS BOOK WAS AWSOME!!
I thought that this book was soooo good! I hope that they keep making more, because I want to read about the Salingers!

Too much of a typical book about alcoholism.
In my opinion I felt that the book was portraying Bailey as every other typical alcoholic that I know. Not all alcoholics need to have a drink to "Get rid of the pain." Bailey should have been portrayed as more of a kid that lost what was important to his life because he liked the way it made him unwind and feel better about the things in his life. Instead, he is made out to be like without alcohol nothing was right. I know a couple of alcoholics and a few of them say they drink because, it helps them to get through life, not because they wanted to drown themselves in their problems.

This book is so intence, detailed, and sad! I loved it! #1
This book was awesome!! If you watch Party Of Five, like me, you got to read this!!! I have read all the Party Of Five books...and I love them all!! This is a " must read " kind of book. ... Read more

Book Description

Truth and Skye are just like all their high-school friends. They love to drive cars, they love to party, and they booze it up whenever they can. And when the two girls find summer jobs at the local pizza shop, they see no reason to change their habits. They befriend Vale, a co-worker who is grateful for their attention. But the two really only have eyes for Vale’s car, which she will get as soon as she passes her driving exam. Cars mean freedom – freedom to go where they want and do what they please.

Truth doesn’t know why, but she can’t seem to get what she really wants. And she wants Ryan, the seriously handsome guy who works at the pizza oven. Truth’s reckless behavior does catch his attention, but not in a good way. And as the summer progresses, Truth watches herself gradually lose control in a series of self-destructive acts. One day she’ll be about to stop but will that day come too late?

A gripping story – by the author of the critically acclaimed Edge – Blue Highway explores teen alcoholism in a way that is neither didactic nor judgmental. Once again Diane Tullson demonstrates a keen awareness of what drives ordinary teenagers in trouble – their loyalties, their petty jealousies and that aching sense of isolation that make them withdraw from the world. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Hi-Lo series!
In No Problem, baseball player Curt tries knock-out painkillers for a sore shoulder, and with the enticement of a fast older woman, quickly slides down a slippery slope to cocaine use. School, sports and job all go to hell as he indulges in his new feel-good pastime. Curt's moral dilemma would make a excellent topic for classroom discussion.
Ninety pages of enlarged typeface doesn't leave a whole lot of room for details such as setting and character development, but the quick pace, suspense, and sports action blended with a light "love interest" subplot will hold the reader's attention once the snazzy cover has hooked. While not quite as tightly written as those by Beth Goobie and William Bell (side note: when is Orca going to commission Don Trembath to write a Soundings book?), the series as a whole is highly recommended. The Canadian settings generally don't limit the audience. Recommended for school and public libraries. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Stetson has a dream. He's been rebuilding an old Honda Civic working at a salvage yard, and designing T-shirts to help pay for food and parts. As long as Stet avoids his abusive, alcoholic father, he considers himself lucky. His car, his art, and a high school diploma are his tickets out of their factory town. Then his father brings home Kayla-a younger sister Stet never knew he had.His mother had been pregnant when she left, but told no one; now she's dead, and Kayla has nowhere else to go. Can these two wary siblings find anything in common, and try to build a future together? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Stetson
I thought that this book was actually more interesting then what the cover actually said. With the book cover it didn't look very good but after I got into it was one of the best books I have ever read in my life. It starts out with Stetson in school and doing stuff he shouldn't do to get kicked out of school and then he goes to his daily job to get car parts for his 1980 Honda civic that he has been fixing up for a long time. His dad is one of the biggest drunks you will ever see. He works at the mill, where everybody works in that small town. All his old friends had dropped out and started to work. He goes home to see that there is a strange girl on the couch and he finds out that his mom was pregnant before she left him with his dad. The girls name is Kayla and she tells Stetson that their mom had died. It's a very exciting book and I would highly recommend this book if you like working on cars and young adult books. ... Read more

Book Description

Having an alcoholic parent isn't easy. Many children confront feelings of guilt, anger, depression, and embarrassment. This direct story, told in the voice of a child, helps validate all these feelings and offers some advice on feeling better.

Highly recommended for any child affected by a family member's or friend's alcoholism or for anyone seeking to understand and help such a child. ... Read more

Book Description

I'm not proud.
I'm sixteen, and soon
to be homeless.

Weary of his life with his alcoholic, abusive father, sixteen-year-old Billy packs a few belongings and hits the road, hoping for something better than what he left behind. He finds a home in an abandoned freight train outside a small town, where he falls in love with rich, restless Caitlin and befriends a fellow train resident, "Old Bill," who slowly reveals a tragic past. When Billy is given a gift that changes everything, he learns not only to how forge his own path in life, but the real meaning of family. ... Read more

Book Description

When Kit Hathaway makes a mistake, she doesn't fool around.

Upset about losing the lead in the school play and problems with her obnoxious stepfather, Kit impulsively steals a gold bracelet from a fancy department store.And promptly gets caught.

Suddenly her whole life changes.Kit is sure she's blown her chance at a scholarship, and even her relationship with her best friend is strained.Ironically, the only good thing is her sentence: 20 hours of volunteer work at the humane society.Kit feels just like those animals...caged in.But with the help of a special new friend, Kit comes to a startling realization: the key to her cage is right in her own hand. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Cages
Kit Hathaway, an 8th grader who loves acting and animals,is trying out for a play in school. Marcia her enemy gets the lead roll which she wanted. She then shoplifts at a fancy department store and eventually gets caught. Her punishment is to work at the Humane Society. And ever since she stole the bracelet, she thinks everything is going wrong. She definitely thinks she lost the 9th grade scholarship. Her stepfather Wanye has binges every month that go for about three to five days. Also Dorothy, her mom, makes her feel bad too because she sticks up for Wanye too much. Kit meets a new friend at the Humane Society and finds out that her life is not in others hands;it's in hers. My opinion is that Cages is a 5 star book because it inspires me to grow up and think positively. It makes me notice the problems that come up and that sometimes problems help your future be better. This book makes me want to change my opinion of things and my "LIFE".

It's a sad, but good book
The first time I read this book, I cried at some parts. It's about a girl who has an alcoholic step-dad and a work-aholic mom. She feels so alone, she steals something, gets caught, and winds up doing community work at a local animal shelter. She falls in love with a dog, and since she wants it to have a home, but can't keep it herself, she wants to surprise the shelter workers by giving it a home, as the statistics for animals getting homes are awful. It's a REALLY good book. I recommend this book to every pet lover in the world!

Amazing Book!
While reading "Cages" in the 7th grade, everything about Kit reminded me of my lifestyle. I had a dad that drunk alot, I always had problems in school - and this book actually helped me get through it all. Reading about Kit and how she chose to solve her problems helped. Her honesty and courage made her an excellent role model for me! Although she's just a character in a book, I really admired her.

The book itself was completely amazing. I usually dont get into that many books...I'm not much of a reader. But when I read Cages - I literally got hooked on the very first page. It was a well-written book that I really got into. After I finished it, I bought it and still read it often.

I think anyone who loves animals, has troubles lit Kit, or just needs a good book - should buy this book right away. I promise you'll get into it and love it...it's worth all the money you pay. ^___^

unlock your cage today
This is a GRRRREEEEAAATTT book!! It has a good point where we as people can get trapped daily, & sometimes we dont try to unlock our cage. Kit Hathaway is like a lot of young teenagers who get upset when there parents drink or do drugs or whatever. I think when they added Lady to the story it made it even better. It showed how you can attach to a thing & then all the sudden it can be taken away. In the end when Dorathy got sick & wayne & kit made up but then wayne got drunk the next day. This book will make you cry if you have a heart

One of my favorite books!
This book was great! It's about a girl who steals a bracelet because she doesn't get a lead in a school play and her step-father's being really mean and the girl who got the lead is spoiled and bratty. The girl, Kit, gets sentenced 20 hours working at a humane society, where she falls in love with a dog. I'm not gonna tell the ending! It's a great book and i recommend it to everybody! ... Read more

Book Description

Craig has finally made first string on the high school football team and is looking forward to the season ahead. But suddenly his best friend Ray is surpassing him and everyone else on the football field. When Craig learns his friend is on steroids, or what Ray calls his "vitamin program," he decides to start a steroid program of his own.At first Craig is on the top of the world and on top of the team, until he begins to experience terrifying side effects, including "roid rage," when feelings of aggression and violence threaten to send him out of control. Craig must come clean with his coach and his family before he endangers his health and loses his girlfriend Cheryl forever. Most difficult of all, Craig has to convince Ray that his health is also in danger - before it's too late.Fast-paced and socially relevant, Roid Rage explores the challenges of friendship and peer pressure, both on and off the playing field. ... Read more

Book Description

Teen-age problem drinkers are not just young adults of legal age. Many are alcoholics at 12 and 13, and some even sooner. They're raiding their parents' liquor cabinets ... bribing older friends to buy it for them. Young girls are trading sex for it.

Sarah T. -- Portrait Of A Teen-Age Alcoholic takes both a shocking and compassionate look at the growing problem of adolescent liquor abuse ... and the desperate need for rehabilitation. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

sarahs reveiw
The book Sarah T. Portraite of a teenage alcoholic was a really good book. I really enjoyed reading about how Sarah struggled through everyday life and the problems that she faced everyday. It was really touching to read about her schedule of everyday life and how she coped with a new family and her drinking problem. It was very hard for her to finally admit that she did indeed have a problem. Even her mother wouldn't admit that she had a problem. But in the end it all worked out and she got the help she needed along with a few friends!

AWESOME!
I had to read this book in Language Arts class. I thought this would be like any other book we have read, uninteresting and boring. But, I was wrong. I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me open my eyes and understand that teen-age alcoholism is a serious problem in America today. This is an awesome book for people of all ages. Hey, im only 13 and i enjoyed it!

one word- Wow
This book was AMAZING. I never would have thought it would change me the way it did. I am not an alcoholic. I have had maybe two drinks in my whole life. My english teacher recommended this book to me. I was reluctant at first, but I am so glad I decided to read it. Near the last chapter I wanted to bawl my eyes out. I couldnt put the book down. I STRONGLY recommend this book to everyone. It is awesome and diserves 6 stars. Wow.

It was a good book to read I liked it a lot
I liked this book because some of my family members like to drink some alcoholic because they think its fun to do.They hang out at bars and some of their friends to go drinking.It's wrong when her dad threw her out on the street when she was cought drinking,because he should have sat down with her and talked to her asked her why she drinks.I felt the book was alright and I would recamend it to some of my classmates in my class to read.I think she was way to young to start drinking at her age.She should of been at least 17 or 18 to start to drink.

A great help!
I had to read this book because I had to write a paper about alcoholics. This book was a great help and it reads very easy and quick. I also had to present the book in class and they all thought it is a wonderfull book. The subject is realistic and also a bit shocking because most people think alcoholics are adults and not teenagers. ... Read more

Book Description

Katlyn Chander felt her life came to a terrifying halt the night a devastating accident crushed her legs and confined her to a hospital bed. The pretty sixteen-year-old regains consciousness to learn she might never walk again. Convinced her life is over, Katlyn and her father file charges against Zac Lambert, the drunk driver responsible for the accident. But even the sight of Zac behind bars might not be enough to still the storm in Katlyn's heart-

Zac Lambert thought he had everything going for himmoney, brains, and a smooth road into medical schooluntil his sleek Corvette pinned Katlyn Chander to a storefront. Now the college sophomore has to face up to the fact his drinking and driving may cost Katlyn her legs-if not her life. With no choice but to accept the consequences, even if it means prison time, Zac struggles to put on a brave face. But can he survive Katlyn's father's desire for revenge?

One terrible moment has changes their lives forever-

Reviews (4)

Great book, a little rushed
This series is FANTASTIC! I got the first book but I wasn'tquite sure I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised!! This is agreat series with some brand new character development and some unique plots. My only criticism of the series would be the conclusion of this book, The ending seemed to be suddenly thrust in to "get the book done." But don't let that deter you from buying this one--they're all GREAT! (Although "Swept Away" is best.)

Totally awesome series
I have the first 4 of the White Dove Romance series and I absolutely LOVE them! My mom got them for me for my 15th birthday last year and I totally got hooked on them. I love this one called Mirror of Dreams because it is sooo awesome. Christian girls? READ THIS SERIES!!!!!

Mirror of Dreams
This book was the best book I read out of the first three of teh books. It is a very good book that every Christian kid should read

This series is great. Even my mom reads them!
I have three of the five books that are out. The next two look really great. This is one of those series that teenage girls can relate too. I am only 14 and those books have really helped me even though the characters are older. ... Read more