Book Description

CD of Pictures at an Exhibition included. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Pictures at an Ehibition
A wonderful picture book which brings true story, art and music together I have ever read. They harmonize well. Reading this book with the accompanying Mussorgsky's music is one of my greatest enjoyment,especially when in late afternoon. I highly recommend this book to the students who now are learning art or music but do not have much time for reading. It is a good opportunity for them to get started from it and will bring in something for them. ... Read more

Book Description

Koly's parents have arranged a marriage for their only daughter and now, like many girls her age in India, she will leave home forever. She yearns to flee, but tradition dictates that it's too late to turn back. On her wedding day, Koly's fate is sealed.

Caught up in a current of tradition that threatens to sweep her toward a terrifying fate, Koly finds herself cast out, lost in a strange and cruel world. But sometimes, courage and hope can be more powerful than tradition, and fate can be taken into one's own hands.

Books for the Teen Age 2001 (NYPL) and 2000 National Book Award Winner

Reviews (132)

Homeless Bird
Homeless bird

How would you feel if you had to be married to someone you didn't even know? Well in the book Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan Koly the main character gets married off at the age of 13. This is a fiction book. This book takes place in India in the 1970s. It is very horrible that kids have to get married to people they don't even know.

The main characters in this novel are Koly, Sass, Hari and Raji. Koly is a 13 year old girl that gets married to Hari. Hari is a 17 year old boy whose mom is Sass. Raji is the man who Koly marries after Hari dies. The book covers Koly's life and arranged marriages to Hari and Raji. It also covers Koly's relationship with Sass.

There is a conflict between Koly and Sass. They like each other but fought because Sass thought that Koly should have taken better care of Hari when he was ill. Because of that Sass drops Koly off in the middle of the street and then Koly is left with no home.

She then is faced with the conflict of figuring out where she is going to live? She could stay with her family or she could go off on her own and find her own house. Koly ended up going out by herself and eventually living with Raji. She would live happy with either one she picked. Koly faces another conflict in this book. The conflict is weather she is going to marry Raji or not. She ends up marrying him. That is the right choice because she actually got to pick if she wanted to marry him or not. They are both very happy together.

Koly has to go through a lot in this book. She has to go through Hari dying, then where she wants to live, then weather she is going to marry Raji or not. That is very hard for her to go through. But in the end she ends up very happy. Hopefully she will live happy for the rest of her life.

Homeless Bird review
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be married off by your parents, when you were only 13 years old? In the book Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan, Koly the main character has many difficult choices to make. This book is classified as realistic fiction, and it takes place in India, during the 1970's. Homeless Bird seems very realistic, and there aren't many books like it.

The main characters in this book are Koly, her mother in law, whom she calls Sass, and Raji. Koly, is a 13 year old girl who gets married off by her parents, Sass is her mother in law who irritates Koly. And Raji is Koly's friend who she meets in the city. The main plot in this book is Koly, getting married off at a very young age. Being married at that young of an age is very hard for Koly to deal with. And Koly has lots of things to deal with, along the way.

One of the main external conflicts in this book is when Hari, Koly's husband, dies. Koly hadn't even gotten used to living away from home, and when he died, she had to get used to living alone with her new family, with out him, and getting to know everyone. Koly didn't want to stay, so she thought she could run away and go back home. It was strange that she waited that long to think about wanting to go home. If I were in her position, I would have been thinking about it all the time. Koly had a lot of internal conflicts too.

Koly was unhappy inside too. She was being bossed around by Sass, before and after Hari's death. She wanted to leave very bad, but she knew she had to stay, because she knew her family would be ashamed if she came back home. So she decided that she had to try to be happy there, with the Mehtas.

I think that the theme of Homeless Bird is Freedom. The reason is because Koly gave away her earrings, so that she could keep a book of poems, that was Sassur's (her father in law). The author is trying to say, about freedom, that you don't only have freedom in your actions, but also in your mind. Homeless Bird teaches, and shows people about the ways of life of other people, and teaches them to appreciate everyone and everything.

The best book I have ever read!
this book is the best book i have ever read! the author is such a magnificent writer! finished this book in about an hour..easy to read and very enjoyable..this book is both heartwarming, sweet, sad, nd a happy book about a girl who gets abandoned by her mother-in-law.

traditional view
The homeless bird is about an only daughter in a family named Koly . She is thirteen years old and got married to someone she doesn't know or heard about.
The person she got married to was suffering from flu. And they had to take him to Varanasi a holy city in India so he will get better, but he died at varanasi because the flu was getting worst every day .Her sass [mother in law] hated, and always scolded Her to do her house work. Sass has her husband who is Koly's sassur [father in law]
But he liked Koly so much that he sometimes taught her to read, because she doesn't go to school. But later he died. According to the tradition of India, a girl who has lost her husband will never get married or return to her parent again.
Will she ever gets married ? will she ever return to her parent? If she gets married is her husband going to die ?To know the answers to this questions read the homeless Bird.
The Homeless Bird is my favorite book because it has lot of details about the
Experiences of life. The homeless bird is a good book for teenagers to read especially girls, because it talks about some experiences a girl go through during her teenage
Age.

The best book for young people
In the book HOMELESS BIRD is talking about a girl whose name was Koly and who had a hard life. She got married when she was thirteen years old. After she got married they told her that her husband is going to die. Her mother in low didn't love her. After a few months her father in low died and she stayed by her mother in low. In their country the culture is when a women lost her husband she can't get married again. After few months her mother in low took her to one city where she left her by her self...

This was one of the best books that I have ever read in my life, this helped me to understood if one day I got married and I lost my husband what should I do. You should read this book because we don't know what is going to happen in future and you will need to understand some things for your future. If you wont to see what happened in the book after the girl stayed by herself. Just get one book and read it. The name of the book is HOMELESS BIRD and the writer of the book is Gloria Whelon. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

I love this fine book so much I read it to my grandparents .
I liked the idea of this book. The main idea of the book was to tell the story of two young boys , one white and one black who were complete strangers and how they became great friends during the American Civil War. The white boy's name was Sheldon Russell Curtis or Say and the black boy's name was Pinkus Aylee or Pink. Say was wounded and left for dead on a field, Pink had been separated from his company and found Say. Pink dragged Say to his mother's houser or Moe Moe Bay's house were she took care of them. She became attached to Say and cried when the boys packed to go back to the war. Right before they left marauders came and shot Moe Moe Bay, you'll have to read the book to hear the sad end.

Pinkus Aylee, I've said his name and will always remember
This is the first Polacco book that I ever read; I was instantly mesmerized. PINK and SAY is one of the six Patricia Polacco books I gave to my daughter for her birthday. She is a new second grade teacher and I wanted her to have books that have worked for me, a seasoned educator. This is another touching story written in memory of Pinkus Aylee, a former slave. During the Civil War, this young boy saved the life of Sheldon Russell Curtis (Say) who was Polacco's great, great grandfather. Although this book had a tragic ending, the story is a poignant tribute to an interracial friendship that has been kept alive through the generations of Polacco's family. I have used this book as a great multi-cultural lesson.
Polacco's family pays tribute to Pinkus Aylee by repeating his name. Through this lovely book, generations will now be able to hold his memory in their hearts.

Beautiful for young and old alike!
The first time I read this book, I cried. What a wonderfully heartwrenching and personal account of a topic (the Civil War) that most elementary- and middle-grades students only read about in dry textbooks. While younger students may not fully understand or appreciate the story and/or its underlying themes of racism and war, the basic idea of friendship will resonate with all readers.

Absolutely Fabulous
Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York: Philomel Books.
Synopsis: This is a heart-wrenching story that brings the horror of war to life. Patricia Polacco's father told her the story when she was a young girl. Pink and Say are young men fighting in the Civil War in Georgia. Pink an African-American Union soldier happens upon Say a Caucasian soldier who has been wounded. Rather than leave Say, Pink carries him back to his home where he and his mother, Moe Moe Bay, nurse Say back to health. Marauders eventually kill Pink's mother. After this, the boys are captured by the Confederate Army. Pink meets a horrible fate while Say lives on to tell their story.

Evaluation: What makes this story so appealing is that it is based on a true story. The author does an amazing job of showing how friendship can cross color lines. She deals with such character traits as compassion and selflessness. This book would move the most emotionless person to tears. Even though this is a picture book, it is most appropriate for students 5th grade and older. The subject matter may be a bit much for younger children. This would be a wonderful book to use in a Social Studies unit on the Civil War. This book is appropriate for both boys and girls because of its universal theme of friendship. This is truly a remarkable tale for someone of any age.

Pink and Say, a great Book
This is a very good book. ... Read more

Book Description

Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet"--or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama.

"A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." --School Library Journal, starred review

Awards:
( An ALA Notable Book
( An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
( An NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
( A Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book
( A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
( A Child Study Children's Book Committee Best Children's Book of the Year ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Shakespeare Stealer
The Shakespeare Stealer is a great book to read. The book is about a boy named Widge.He is a orphan who is adopted by a man named Dr. Bright. Doctor Bright took Widge to his home and let him live with him. During the time Widge lived with Dr.Bright made his own alphabet and taught it to Widge. The a man named Simon Bass payed Dr.Bright ten pounds for Widge. Simon Bass the sends Widge with his worker Falconer to London to copy the play Hamlet. Widge sneeks into the theater while the players are practicing the play. then someone sees Widge but his knife is stuck on the curtin in the booth. He gets loose he is running and running he gets outside getting ready to hide in the back door but suddenly the door swings open. BOOM! I cant tell you the rest but go buy the book or get it at the library. Dont forget to renew the book or youll have a fine like mine . Got to go return my book .Bye

The Shakespeare Stealer
The Shakespeare Stealer is a book about a poor orphan boy, called Widge, living in Shakespearean England who can write a rare coded language in which symbols for each word can be written as the words are said. His forceful master, taking advantage of his ability, orders him to go to the Globe Theater to steal Shakespeare's Hamlet by writing down the lines of the play as the actors are acting them out. Though Widge, the poor, nameless orphan boy feels stealing the play is wrong, he enters the Globe Theater to copy down the play Hamlet. He is found by the players at the theater and they take him in and treat them as one of their own, while also being trained as an actor. While living with one of the men from the Lord Chamberlain's Men (the playing troupe) Widge, a country boy, adjusts to city life. However, Widge has not forgotten the threat his master made to him if he did not bring him a copy of Hamlet, and Widge knows that he has sent someone to London to find him and bring him back to the country. While living in London, Widge's accent is not the only thing that changes. For the first time in his life Widge can make decisions on his own. He learns about the meaning of words such as honesty, trust, loyalty, and friendship. He begins to realize that by working and living with the Lord Chamberlain's men, he is betraying them. The real reason he came to the theater was not to become a player, but to steal from Shakespeare himself, and consequently hurting the people who he is now closest to. Widge tries to decide whether he should betray his friends and copy the play or betray his master and stay in the Lord Chamberlain's Men for acting, not for the purpose of stealing a play, even though it means if his master finds him, Widge will receive severe punishment. Widge also learns that the playing troupe has become like family to him, something he has never experienced, but loves very much. Now he wonders: If his master finds him, will the only family he's ever known disappear from him forever?
I felt as though I could relate with the main character, Widge, for one main reason. All through his life, Widge tries to search for, or feel, a sense of belonging. I have moved between two continents and a dozen more houses during my life. I know how important it is to have a sense of belonging somewhere, because having a sense of belonging somewhere makes people unique and who they are. Widge learns that as long as everybody has people who love and care for them it doesn't matter where they live, they will always feel at home and as though thewy belong. That is why I think that Widge's "family" at the Globe Theater is so important and dear to him. I think The Shakespeare Stealer has a good message about family, and how no matter what it is lie, it is important to everybody's sense of belonging, is a good message.
I loved this book. It not only has action, such as duels and manhunts, it had a great perspective of Elizabethan life in the late fifteen hundreds from a teenager's point of view. My favorite part of the book is when Widge gets his first chance at acting on stage with the players. He was so nervous, he was sure he would forget everything, but once he was on stage he made a great performance. I think it proves that if anyone tries hard they can conquer just about anything. My least favorite part of the book was when an actor from The Lord Chamberlain's Men was forced to leave because she had disguised herself as a boy, because it was illegal for women to act. If I could change any part of the book, it would be that Julian, were allowed to stay on and act with the players, even though she was a girl. I think the fact that Julia was not allowed to stay on with the players, even if they wanted her to, shows the general sexism against women in England at the time, even though it was getting better because the sole ruler of England was a queen (Queen Elizabeth).
I would definitely recommend The Shakespeare Stealer to others because it has action, emotion, drama, and it is a great historical-fiction. It also shows a lot of aspects of Elizabethan England, but it is definitely not a bore. I think someone who likes excitement and historical fiction would greatly enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it.

The Sneaker Peaker Review of The Shakespeare Stealer
Will you have to steal a play from William Shakespeare? As kids read fictional novel The Shakespeare Stealer about an orphan torn to make the right decision, the tension grows. In the 1400s of England, Widge, the orphan is ordered to steal one of Shakespeare's plays. He goes up to the theatre and gets to join the theatre group. He is then torn to make the right decision. Will he steal the play?
Will you be torn to make the right decision? Will you also have to steal a play? The truth is for you to find. This book is a five star book and I recommend you to read this book. I highly recommend this book to preteens.
Once again, Gary Blackwood turns another book into a masterpiece such as Wild Timothy, The Year of the Hangman and Moonshire. Although there is violence in the book, you can see there is a lot to things you can learn in the book and what it means to make the right decision. There are also more books to this series. They are The Shakespeare Scribe and The Shakespeare Spy.

Wow--what more can I say?
Wow wow wow! This book is terrific! This book has an interesting main character, interesting plot, and interesting dialouge. You can learn alot (while having a good time) when you read The Shakespeare Stealer!

Couldn't put it down!
This book has been one of the greatest books I have read. If you haven't already read The Shakespeare Stealer, you absolutely have to. It was full of excitement, loyalty and friendship. It was a spectactular story, and I would read it every day if I could. It jogges the imagination and curiosity. I was fascinated with gary blackwood's style of writing and his plot which I think he wrote beautifly. READ THIS BOOK!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Seymour Reit re-creates the true story of Will Knox, a nineteen-year-old boy who undertook the daring and dangerous task of transporting 183 cannons from New York’s Fort Ticonderoga to Boston--in the dead of winter--to help George Washington win an important battle. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

My thoughts on a terrible book
This book is about colonel Knox a leader of a freshly starting revolution in America. His mission is to carry around 200 cannons from Ticonderoga back to a city where British forces are docked. The main characters of this book are will Knox 19 year old brother of the colonel, colonel Knox in charge of expedition, J.P. a farmers son .I disliked this book. It drags on and never seems to end. Just when you think your going to get a fight there isn't one .the biggest problem they had on the trip was a river with too thin ice. What's so interesting about that? If I were you I would not buy this book. It is extremely boring.

From a reader of this book

A Fun Book to Stimulate Interest in History
This is a fun book that should help your youngster develop an interest in American History. It is easy to read an has great illustratiions. You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Look for others by the same author.

Guns For General Washington
Guns For General Washington is a great book because of the action and advenerture. Henry Knox, a patroit who goes to Fort Ticonderoga, a fort in New York that has at least 183 cannons, lead for bullets, flint for flintlock muskets. There were also mortars, a type of gun, howitzers, a another type of gun,and a cohorns, another type of gun. They, Henry and his brother and some others who help out, have to go 300 miles to Fort Ticonderoga from Boston and 300 miles back to Boston from Fort Ticonderoga.This takes place in Massachusetts and New York in 1775 and 1776. The conflict is that General Washington is fighting a british general ,General Howe, with no aritillery like cannons and gunpowder.This book has very good action and advenerture

Guns for General Washington
THIS BOOK WAS A VERY DETAILED AND CURIOUS BOOK. IT GAVE YOU ALL OF THE DETAILS NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE STORY GOES. USUALLY WHEN I READ A BOOK I STOP IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE IT IS TOO BOARING, BUT I READ THROUGH TIS ENTIRE BOOK. IT ALWAYS FINDS SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON SO IT DOESN NOT LOOSE YOUR INTREST.IT MAKES YOU REALIZE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE RISK THEIR LIFES TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE SAFE.

Great book!
This book is a very good book. I incurage everybody to read it. It talks about all the trials and tribulations of going to get heavy copper , iron , and steal cannons taking them across a lake throught the wilderness over rocky turran and over all it's a great book! ... Read more

Amazon.com

A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.

Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left wi! th the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy. (Ages 12 up) –Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Its not great, but its not terrible.
This book I had my eye on for quite some time and when i finally bought it it wasnt what i suspected.
Gemma Doyle is sent to a private school for proper girls after her mother dies. While she is there Gemma finds out that she can go into a realm and find dead people and communicate with them. When she brings friends along with her, Kartrik, a boy who is apart of a group trying to stop her stays close to her. She soon finds herself in trouble and has to get out.
As you can see it was hard to explain it. This book did have its great spots that i really got in to but it was slow. I read this book in about a week and a couple of days (thats long for me) and i finished it mainly to see what would happen to a character and also to see if it got better. Also I felt that the author threw in things everyonce in a while to give it a new spin and it didnt go well with this story.
I really wished I didnt buy this book but oh well, maybe I'll forget about it and maybe read it again later.

A new classic
While labeled a Young Adult novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty will resonate with women of all ages. Gemma is everywoman -- with all the dreams and conflicts, flaws and exceptional gifts, righteousness and selfishness that weave the fabric of a living, breathing person. Finally, a period novel that doesn't condescend to the reader, or make dutiful "womanly" choices seem somehow noble or predestined. It also doesn't make the mistake of modernizing the characters in a way that would have been socially impossible during the time. When Gemma and her friends try to be more than future wives of rich men, we feel their struggle. And even as 21st Century women, we can relate.

This is a book about magic -- to be literal, it is about a magical Order and the powers unlocked by a young, headstrong girl. But it is also about the magic we find (or choose to unleash) in our ordinary, mundane lives. Gemma and her friends represent the choices -- bad, good, well-intentioned and even those with malice -- that we all make.

Beyond the themes of this book is the sheer poetry of it. Some passages beg to be read aloud. Bray has a lovely, subtle way with words. She doesn't clutter the story with vocabulary acrobatics -- but she'll knock you over with a spectacular turn of phrase. I was also impressed with the dialogue. It feels authentic without being stilted.

I have given this book to all of my friends, and their daughters and nieces! But my husband loved Gemma's story, too. His comment: "It's like Harry Potter only better written and far more quirky and interesting."

Gemma is a REAL heroine, not a bodice-ripped caricature. I can't wait to read the next in Gemma's series. More, Ms. Bray, MORE!!!

Almost perfect
A Great and Terible Beauty skillfully combines a traditional Victorian setting with modern-style teenage drama. This is Mean Girls as gothic melodrama, and both the rich, repressive finishing school setting and the antics of troubled, bitchy teenage girls are familiar, but uniquely enjoyable combined like this. Teenage struggles against adult hypocricy are the same in all time periods, and the power of [repressed] female sexuality is a theme that arises perfectly from the Victorian-- and adolescent time period.

In these ways it is a perfect book, and the fantasy elements -- menacing secret societies, utopian alternate worlds -- should be the icing on a delicious cake, but this is where the author stumbles. As with so many supernatural plots, the mystery is tantalizing at first, but as more is revealed, it only gets confusing and messy. There will be a sequel, which might tie the mystical strands tighter into the overall structure of the story, but the ending of this novel left me unsatisfied, and not in a good way.

Still, it's a great read for anyone who enjoys period fiction or remembers what it's like to be 16.

still not exactly sure how I feel about it....
This book is about Gemma, a sixteen-year-old girl who lives in India with her mother and father. After her mother is murdered (something that Gemma witnesses in a strange and frightening vision), Gemma is sent to a finishing school in London. The story takes place in 1895. Gemma gradually gets to know the other girls at the school. Most of them are in some way emotionally damaged, and they deal with the hopelessness of their situations by taking everything out on those who happen to be weaker than themselves. What ends up tying Gemma to several of the girls is a diary she discovers, the diary of two girls who attended the school years ago and practiced magic. In a way, this book has the elements of a mystery, as Gemma discovers the link between her mother's murder, the two girls, and her own visions.

I'm still not sure if I like this book. For a great deal of the book, I had the feeling that I didn't really know any of the characters, not even Gemma, even though the book was from her point of view. Maybe this was intentional, but it was disconcerting. If you're looking for a book with nice, pleasant characters, you should look elsewhere, because there aren't really any here. They all do mean things, even Gemma, and the reasons they have for doing these things doesn't seem to detract much from the fact that they did them. Really, though, you'd think that, after reading all 403 pages of this book, that I'd feel like I knew more about the characters and events, but this book feels like it leaves more questions behind than it answers. I've heard that there will be more books about Gemma, which is good, since there needs to be more if the story is to be understood. The book leaves Gemma's powers, and her relationships with the people she calls her friends, in limbo.

Girl Power
Finishing this novel is like having been reminded of the question like Who am I?, Have I found myself yet?

The story itself is about a sixteen-year old girl Gemma Doyle, who had her biggest biggest surprise for her birthday that turned her world upside down.
Being sucked into the magic realms, being left with a horrible vision of the death her mother and hunted down by terrifying shadows are only part of the surprise. Plus the adjustment she has to make among new people and custom in a girl dorm school, where she found her circle of friends.

Set in the end of nineteenth century, Gemma was a girl with some very revolutionaire independence thoughts and some of them clicked something in me and reminded me of the power of female gender (so awesome). There are also a companion character, Miss Moore, her teacher, who gave more sights on choices in life and the balance between light and dark in lessons she had, accompanied with a famous poem by Lord Tennyson, The Lady of Shalott.

And there was also a romantic part in it (which I'm very grateful of) between Gemma and an Indian boy, who followed and watched her whereever she goes. I think this can be developed into an intense relationship.

I do hope there will be sequel to this because the journey of Gemma and her friends has just begun and there is no turning back, as once you make a choice, whether it would turn out to be a good or a bad one, you just have to accept the consequences and live with it. ... Read more

Book Description

Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.

In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.

Reviews (8)

where we came from?
Rebeccasreads recommends WOLF BROTHER as an adventure back in time & place, before the world got so crowded, where the spirit world was just a blink away, & evil came in many shapes.

WOLF BROTHERS is not for the faint of heart, who want a dreamy, "noble, vegetarian savage" kind of tale for, after reading this tale, you will be able to survive in the North Woods should you ever find yourself alone & lost.

Yes, there's fantasy & fear, magic & mysticism, thrills & spills... & something else... a dependent child learning to survive, to honor the creatures who become prey, & the memories of the past.

Refreshing & enchanting. Already a smashing bestseller in the UK, WOLF BROTHER will leap into American youngsters' imagination with all the thrills we yearn for in an adventure.

Clan of the Cave Bear for Kids!
An excellent action and adventure book.Start now and begin your journey back in time.Back to the days of the clans.How do you survive in the great wilderness?Remember, all you have are your wits, a small wolf cub and the memories passed down by your father.Are you ready to fight the great beast that is not of this world?Will you win?

Very Pleased
I recently purchased this book for my 10 year old son, he hasen't read it yet but I have. I think the book was very detailed and interesting, it kept me from wanting to put it down, to see what would happen next. All the people with the bad reviews must keep in mind, this book was written for children, so if it wasen't intellectual enough for them, to bad, it wasen't supposed to be. And as for being realistic, who cares, everything doesn't have to be "true" to be tantalizing to young minds. In closing I would recommend this book to any child and I know my son will enjoy it just as much as I did.

INCREDABLE
This book was great, although on the short side it was a great read.It was a very detailed book, and its pretty straight through so you dont get lost and have to go back a few chapeters. I read this book in three days reading about 100 pages a day. I recommend this book to anyone who likes nature or can read.I read this book for a book report and i got a 105! I dont see how its stereotypical as some people say. All i am mad about is that the next book isnt out yet:).

Captivating Adventure
I picked up this book literally by accident and I hadn't heard any thing about it nor the hype. Having said that I finished the book in 3 days. The story is creative, funny and imaginative. When you finish this book you start dreaming of joining a Clan of your own! Well done Michelle Paver and I look forward to the second book Spirit Walker! ... Read more

Book Description

A long time ago there lived over the waters,
A Duchess, a Duke and their family of daughters.
Everything went smoothly and happily in this large family, until one day the Duchess decided to make:
A lovely light luscious delectable cake.

Would she take the cook's advice? No, she would not. The Duchess put many things into the cake, adding the yeast six times for good measure. So the cake rose, and the Duchess with it -- and how were they to get her down again?

It is Gunhilde, the youngest of the daughters, who suggests a happy solution. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Still baking after all these years...
This book is the reason I got a library card as a child. I loved (and still love) the predicament of the duchess. She was only trying to bake "a lovely light luscious delectable cake" for her family--but things get a bit out of control when she adds too much leavening to the batter. The rhyme and meter are lilting and memorable, the names of her daughters (e.g. "Gunhilde") sound exotic and old-fashioned to a child's ear, and the illustrations are delightful. I'm now in my 30's, and am pleasantly surprised to find that the book is still in print. Even though I don't have any children, I have purchased the book so that I can read it to my siblings' kids and pass on the laughter (and memories) to another generation in my family.

Pure Joy
This is a lyrical, rhythmic, rhyming book of pure joy. Read to a toddler, it will sooth and enchant; to a pre-reader, it becomes a lesson in language and a memory exercise; as an adult with grandchildren of my own, it is a sweet remembrance of my childhood to share with the little one in my lap. It comes with my own personal five star rating.

A Treasured Memory!
What wonderful memories of reading this book as a child! My oldest sister would bring me and my siblings to the library. We would sit in the corner and read The Duchess Bakes A Cake. The rhymes quickly capture a child's attention. The book is an engaging tale of the royal Duchess' mishap in the kitchen. Solving the problem was difficult because their poor brains were such that they hadn't thought often and they hadn't thought much. My own children quickly learned the chorus,so to speak, of the lovely light lucious delectable cake. I know they, too, will treasure this memorable book.

A wonderful book, to which I refer occasionally, even now.
I bake a lot, and so my kids have heard all about the Duchess and her cake. If I could only show them the actual book, which for me, exists only as an ephemeral memory, and for my kids, is only a concept. They have never enjoyed reading the book, or relished the great illustrations.

Delightfully whimsical story in captivating "musical" verse
I checked this book out of the library numerous times as a child and I wish it were in print. The story is quite simple but highly imaginative. It is the music in the poetry that makes this book a delight. This was written before any thought was given to "dumbing down" children's books and the vocabulary is surprisingly advanced. Not only does the Duchess set out to bake "a lovely, light, luscious, delectable cake" but my very favorite line when I was a child was where the Duke exclaims "I fear an improper proportion of leaven has carried our dear Duchess right up to heaven!" The uncomplicated illustrations do a good job of supporting the story. ... Read more

Book Description

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Remember.
Over a quarter of a century has passed since the U.S. involvement in Vietnam came to an end, yet the effects of that conflict are still etched throughout the fabric of our modern day society. But another generation has been born in the time since the fighting ended. Many have never heard of Vietnam let alone the fighting that went on there. How does one introduce a child to a subject that is still as electrified as the Vietnam War? Perhaps by reading THE WALL with them.

THE WALL is simply a story about a young man who takes his son to the Vietnam War Memorial to find the name of his dad. The young boy's grandfather died in the conflict and at the end of the book the reader knows the boy's head is full of questions. The story doesn't answer these questions, but allows children to verbalize these questions themselves: Why are there flags all around here? Why did that teacher say the Wall belongs to all of us? Why does that soldier not have any legs? The story can also be used as in introduction for not only the Vietnam War, but to also talking about war in general. The illustrations and the story are molded together perfectly into one beautiful harmony. Sometimes kids will be anxious during a story, but when reading this story most kids will remain completely still, taking in the simple, yet profound story. This is a great book to read to children not just during Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, or Independence Day, but at any time during the year.

A boy and his dad visit "The Wall" to find grandpa's name
For over a quarter of a century the key imperative in American Foreign Policy has been to avoid another Vietnam. Now we have a new generation of children, born to the sons and daughters of those who fought in Vietnam but never came home. How do we tell them the story of Vietnam so they understand how much it scarred the national psyche and how their is such a national resolve never to let it happen again in some way more substantial than showing them "Forrest Gump?" Eve Bunting comes up with one way in "The Wall," ably assisted by the watercolor illustrations of Ronald Himler. "The Wall" is the simply story of a little boy and his father who have come from far away to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. to find the name of the boy's grandfather.

What makes "The Wall" so moving is that instead of answering questions it will get children to ask them. Like the little boy in the story, children reading this book will see man in combat fatigue in a wheelchair because he does not have any legs; an older couple hugging and crying; flags, teddy bears and letters laid against the wall. The little boy does not ask any questions about what he sees, but I have to believe that students reading this book certainly have questions that they want answered. Whether it is used for Memorial Day or Veterans Day, or any discussion in which children are thinking about war and its consequences, "The Wall" is a very thoughtful book that should be very helpful to teachers and students alike.

All teachers should use this book in their classroom!
As a college student studying to be an elementary school teacher, I recommend that every teacher use this book in their classroom around Memorial Day and Veterans Day. This book has a great message and the fact that it is written from the boy's perspective makes it easy for students to realate to the characters.

"The Wall" is a Patriotic Book
"The Wall" is a patriotic book. It was easy to read; that made me understand how the Vietnam War turned out in the end.

The boy and his father try to find the grandfather's name on the Vietnam Wall memorial when they pass many other names. When the father reads the names on the wall, the boy imagines each name as a real person, standing next to him and talking to him.

If you are interested in the Vietnam War and how people sacrificed their lives fore us, then "The Wall" would be a good book for you to read.

I gave this four stars out of five because I found the book to be very moving. If you like books about wars, then you'll like "The Wall."

I am a teacher
I am a sixth grade social studies teacher. Yes, this book is below the average sixth grade reading level. However, I read this along with other books, orally, to my classes at the beginning of the school year. It gives the students a sneak preview as to what their studies are going to be all about. It also encourages the idea that history is not so bad after all. It should encourage them to read about history and may even introduce the genre to some students. The book also provides realism to the plight of the Vietnam War. It is a good book experience for all who read and/or listen to it. ... Read more

Book Description

Set in the fourteenth century, the classic story of one boy's personal heroism when he loses the use of his legs. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

A DOOR TO SELF-DISCOVERY
It is unusual to find an example of YA literature which is set in the Middle Ages and yet is not Time Travel. De Angeli's illustrations add much to the authentic flavor and general understanding of the times. This story relates the ageless conflict between the Welsh and the English.

Ten-year-old Robin, the son of knight, contracts polio (not so named) during London's Plague years. Abandoned in error and haste, he is rescued by a kindly monk who takes him to his monastery to recover--both his health and his social skills. He learns woodcarving and patience, which are compensations for his new crutches and appellation: Sir Crookshanks.

Ultimately Robin helps save the town and castle where he is sent to serve as a page, earning both the King's gratitude and his parents' amazed pride. The author casually inserts much historical detail and interesting information, so that elementary readers learn about the Middle Ages without quite realizing it. An entertaining tale, with a good moral: "Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it."

Better as time went on
I remember reading this book ages ago, and I hated. I thought it dated and dull, with its archaic language and details about medieval life. Now, after years of studying mythology, including the Prose Edda, I can better appreciate it. It's not a GREAT book, but it is a good one.

Robin is the son of a knight, destined to become a knight one day himself - until he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. The plague is ravaging medieval England, and it claims several of the servants who were caring for him. Robin is rescued by a kindly monk, Brother Luke, who takes the crippled boy to a local monastary and patiently cares for him there. Under Luke's guidance, Robin learns how to swim, read, whittle, and how to become a humbler person rather than the rather snobby noble boy that he once was.

But all is not well in England. Robin must "open a door in the wall" -- the walls that hemmed him in when he lost the use of his legs -- and discover that you don't necessarily have to be a knight to serve your king and country.

This is not a 9-12 book. Oh, not because of any objectionable content or attitudes, but simply because the, majority of 9-12 children will be bored witless by it. It's better suited to young adults who can handle the gradual pacing, softened archaic language (a fair number of twills, thous, amisses, and arts) and virtually actionless plot. As a result, "Door in the Wall" resembles a a slice of real life from the POV of a crippled boy rather than a fictional story. Such gruesome details as the plague and the violence of war are smudged out, by the way.

It seems a lot longer than its 120 pages. Ignore the silly cover art, the characters aren't like that at all; the interior illustrations are soft and realistic. de Angeli's writing lacks detail much of the time, but her dialogue is well-scripted. Robin's responses to the loss of his legs, his plans, and fear of his father's disappointment are perfectly done. He isn't a perfect lead character; he gets irrational, angry, snobby - but overcomes all of them. Brother Luke seems a little too perfect at times, but is also a good character. So, for that matter, is minstrel John-go-in-the-Wynd. (Yes, this book has those delightful Middle-Ages names based on the job, physical characteristics or past experience)

As for complaints about this book: Note that virtually all of them say that it was a schoolwork book; once again, we have disgruntled students seeking "revenge" on a non-fluff book that they had to read. This is not a book that should be assigned, but a book that should be selected individually. Don't read it just because it's a Newbery, read it if you can handle it!

In short, I recommend this book -- but not to everyone...it if you love to read, and if you enjoy a story where characters are emphasized over action.

Not What I Had Hoped
While I am a lover of reading and especially Newbery literature, I was disappointingly bored. I appreciated the basic storyline, how a crippled boy becomes stronger with the help of a community of monks who teach him patience and work ethic. I also love the theme that there is always a door in the wall if you look hard enough, and that anyone can be a hero. However, the story moved too slowly and the language made me sleepy, despite my appreciation for medieval literature. This is definitely not a book I can see many children enjoying, certainly not my own class of 6th grade students.

Not that Great of a Book
The Door in the Wall wasn't that great of a book. The way the the characters talk is very confusing to the reader and can become annoying after a while. The story plot is hard to follow, even if you're a teenager. Overall, I think this book is so over-rated.

The Door In The Wall: More Than Just A Door
(...)The book was a basic book with a medieval background, it told of the many things going on, like the war between Ireland and England, and how there was the black plague forming everywhere, killing anybody unlucky enough to catch it. The story basically consists of the little boy, Robin, who has fallen ill due to some sort of disease, he believed it was the plague at first, but then realizes, that it was a different sickness, because it had made his legs useless, thus, the word "crook shanks", and as common knowledge tells us, he was useless to do anything, but he had a job, a job to become a knight, at his godfathers castle, for his father was a knight and as we all know, a knight's son must also become a knight. Robin was lucky enough to be taken in by a kind church, St. Mark's. There he meets a monk named Brother Luke, they become great friends, and Robin sends word to his father, and he goes on his great journey to Sir Peter De Lindsey's castle. They encounter many great problems in their journey, but he makes it safely to his castle, Robin tells Peter that he is useless and cannot do anything, and so Robin learns to do something, something that he had wanted to accomplish...

I think this book is one of the greater books I have read, it shows courage and honor, and how Robin was able to do anything despite his disabilities, and how he was able to do anything he wanted, as long as he put his mind to it. I this that this author was an excellent writer, because this book contain such great sentences, such as, "The calm sound of the peaceful lake was silent". Nevertheless, this book was based of a great plot and had a great background.

Despite how much I loved this book, there was also a catch, I didn't like this book because of how there was so much tragic death because of the black plague and how many people suffered "The Black Plague was everywhere." It makes the medieval times seem like a very horrible place in time where nothing was supposed to go right. Despite the minor issue, I still believe this is a book worth reading.

My favorite part in this book is how cunning Robin was in the situation of being robbed, he was sure not to make a sound, and made sure that he was able to warn Luke without making a sound, I would've enjoyed looking at the face of the thieves. Overall, this book was excellent, the medieval plot, and the great writings of the author. I think this book is a worthwhile book, and is worth reading, and you enjoy reading it over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Useful AND Entertaining - a rare mix
I just got done reading this aloud to my homeschooled 6th grade twins. What a treasure! The author weaves together mathematical and scientific principles into a delightful story format. My kids had no trouble understanding the well-illustrated concepts.

We used this book in our unit study on Ancient Greece. It just so happened, that during the reading, our Science lesson was on the six simple machines, a few of which Archimedes was the founder! As if all this isn't enough, my children took away with them an interesting outlook. We take the principles such as the center of gravity, buoyancy, pi, exponents, all that we know about geometry, etc. for granted. It's so much a part of our lives. This book helped us to imagine a time when these concepts were yet to be uncovered, an exciting time in the development of applied science and technology. It also helped us see Archimedes as a real man, and not just another boring scientist to learn about.

Even though my kids are homeschooled, they moan and groan about their work just like any other kids. This book was still able to capture them. It was a great selection that complemented our studies very well, and was a good investment of time and money.

The Illustrated Archimedes
Not only is this book an educational and interesting read, it also inspires investigation into Archimedian principles and inventions. The drawings illustrate these scientific principles clearly. Our favorite part is when Archimedes finally makes a break through with displacement and density and runs through the streets stark naked shouting, "Eureka!"

greek scientist/Mathematician
Please print this, I wrote a review 12/29/99 and I don't see it in print: I read this book in Junior High School in December of 1965 ( so I guess "Archimedes was born in 287 BC in Syracuse, a little island off Sicily was given this unusual name by his family who thought it would be good. As he grew he was most thoughtful of the things around him and learned to face many problems and difficlties. He solved these problems by doing things as not much was known at that time. he was able to move a boat for King Hiero to his astonishment as he didn't actually believe that Archimedes would be successful in this endeavour. Of course, today we all know these principles, but Archimedes used the idea of pulleys and levers and was able to move the boat. We also are aware of the well known phrase "EUREKA", of course, if you are Gree, you know that it is truly To EVREEKA, which means, "I've found it!", when he displaced the water in his bathtub to measure the volume of gold to see if the goldsmith was cheating the king out of the amount of gold in his crown. This is the report I wrote on this book all those years ago in Junior High and I think I would again like to reread this book and review it now as an adult. Thanks for listening to my childhood view of this book, and thanks for printing this AMAZON.com.

greek scientist
I read a book by the same title when I was in Junior High school in December of 1965 I learned about Archimedes who was born in 287BC in Syracuse a little island off Sicily. He was named with this unusual name because his family thought it would be a good name for him. As he grew he was most thoughtful of the things around him and learned to face many problems and difficulties. He solved these problems by doing things as not much was know at that time.He was able to move a boat for King Hiero to his astonishment as he didn't believe that he could. He used the idea of pulleys and levers and was able to move the boat. Of course, there is the well known story that everyone says "EUREKA", of if you are Greek, To Evreeka, which means, "I've found it", when he displaced the water in his bathtub to measure the volume of gold. This is the report I wrote back all those years ago in Junior High and I think I would again like to reread this book and review it now as an adult.

Thanks for listening to my childhood view of this book.

An Exceptionally Written Book!
As a blind buy, but still needing an upper-elementary level book on Archimedes, I was more than happily surprised to see what an absolute gem this book was! Well written, easily understood, yet not too basic, the author weaves and explains scientific and mathematical principles in a story-like form that entranced my homeschooled fifth-grader. This is one he'll want to read over and over--not a book he felt he "had" to read. I highly recommend its purchase. ... Read more

Reviews (58)

So Good!!!!
Remember Patience Whipple is a 12 year-old girl who is sailing on the Mayflower with her family, headed for the New World. Even a young girl has her trials to deal with; one of the least is staying out of the way of snooty Mary Chilton, and coping with a younger sister. But as I said, those are the least of her troubles.
And they only escalate once they reach land. Winter is approaching, and they only have a crude cabin to serve as a house. Terrible sickness has set in, and Remember is afraid that one of her family (or even her!) will become ill also.
But Remember survives her first season at Plymouth Harbor, and learns a lot along the way.

This has got to be one of my favorite books. Everything was so realistic, for a long time I actually thought that it was a real diary, until I read the little thing at the end of the book-'Remember Patience Whipple is a fictional character and her diary is fictional.' What a disappointment! But as long as you're aware of this when you start reading, you shouldn't have any problem with it like I did.
This book is a must for any Dear America fans. READ IT!

Remember Remember Patience Whipple!
A Journey to a New World makes you feel as though you are on a difficult journey across the Atlantic Ocean yourself! In the diary of Remember Patience Whipple, you will find sadness, excitment, and joy as they take a long trip across the sea. In this story, Remember experiences sickness in her family, a new baby brother, and a few horrible deaths when she lands in America. She encounters Indians and is surprised on their little clothing! She befriends them and likes them so much! This book is really good, but I only rated it a four because there are already so many books about pilgrams and the journey on the Mayflower out there already, so it wasn't all that original. But as it was the very first book in the Dear America Series, I think it was a good start for this now blooming series.

Wowie Kazowie!
This book is really great. Read it!

Great for those with an imagination!!!!!!
Kathryn Lasky has a great way of expressing the treacherous journey on the Mayflower to the destined settlement of Plymouth. In A Journey to the New World, a diary of Remember Patience Whipple, it describes that an escape from religious persecution would not be easy. It was quite the contrary, the Mayflower, which was a cargo ship used to carry barrels of wine and cloth transported all the Puritans wishing to come to the New World. In the years before 1620, puritans and others wishing for freedom from political persecution, faced the strong power of King James I. If someone disobeyed him, they would face persecution in many ways. Once these pilgrims reached Plymouth, they lived some what happy lives away from persecution and prejudice. The Whipple family felt that the church is in your heart and not in a building. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages who have imagination and an understanding of life and its sacrifices. This book showed me that what we have in life should not be taken for granted but it should be well treasured and respected.

A Journey to the New World
If you enjoy reading Dear America books then this book is for you. It shows you how it was like for children to make the long journey to America in 1620. Not only did her family need to make it to America alive, but winter was approaching. With barely enough time to build a home, the threat of an Indian attack arose. With many struggles will the pilgrims of the Plymouth colony make it? Read A Journey to the New World to find out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Newbery Medal-winning author Jerry Spinelli (Maniac McGee, Stargirl) paints a vivid picture of the streets of the Nazi-occupied Warsaw during World War II, as seen through the eyes of a curious, kind, heartbreakingly naïve orphan with many names. His name is Stopthief when people shout "Stop! Thief!" as he flees with stolen bread. Or it's Jew, "filthy son of Abraham," depending on who's talking to him. Or, maybe he's a Gypsy, because his eyes are black, his skin is dark, and he wears a mysterious yellow stone around his neck. His new friend and protector Uri forces him to take the name Misha Pilsudski and to memorize a made-up story about his Gypsy background so that no one will mistake him for a Jew and kill him. Misha, a very young boy, is slow to understand what's happening around him. When he sees people running, he thinks it's a race. Nazis (Jackboots, as the children call them) marching through the streets appear to him as a delightful parade of magnificent boots. He wants to be a Jackboot! (Uri smacks him for saying this.) He compares bombs to sauerkraut kettles, machine guns to praying mantises, and tanks to "colossal gray long-snouted beetles." The story of Misha and his band of orphans trying to survive on their own would have a deliciously Dickensian quality, if it weren't for the devastation around them--people hurrying to dig trenches to stop Nazi tanks, shops exploding in flames, the wailing of sirens, buzzing airplanes, bombs, and human torture. Spinelli has written a powerfully moving story of survival--readers will love Misha the dreamer and his wonderfully poetic observations of the world around him, his instinct to befriend a Jewish girl and her family, his impulse to steal food for a local orphanage and his friends in the ghetto, and his ability to delight in small things even surrounded by the horror of the Holocaust. A remarkable achievement. (Ages 11 and older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Milkweed- An exceptional novel
Milkweed, by Jerry Spinelli, was an interesting and vivid novel about a young boy with many names, whos only memory lies in a yellow stone on a necklace around his neck. The setting of this book, Warsaw in Poland, really describes the terrible conditions all of the people living as a Jew or Gypsy during the Holocaust. The characters are are very different and special in their very own way. Misha, the main character in the story, is timid at the beginning and later is courageous and bold. Uri, who is his companion, is a very quiet and self-centered character. The last thing that really stood out in this book was the writers style. He writes with a very strange format and it is confusing at first, but later becomes stands out in a good way. Overall, the book potrayed the time o the Holocaust through a young boy perfectly and it was one of the best books I have EVER read.

Heartbreaking yet Hopeful
Jerry Spinelli has crafted a stark and horribly vivid portrayal of the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland during WWII.
Through the eyes of a young vagabond we see a childlike view of what it was like to live through this horrific time.
Misha is a young boy who is orphaned and living on the streets. He is told he is a gypsy and given the name Misha, by his friend and protector Uri.
From this point on Misha progresses in his understanding of all that is going on around him... he comes face to face with "Jackboots", Nazi soldiers... "Flops", turncoat Jews tormenting their own people... and those being persecuted-- Jewish people.
The saddness of this story comes through loud and clear when Misha becomes attached to the Jewish family, the Milgorms. Misha befriends, Jainna a young girl and quickly becomes part of the family and embraces his background as a Jew.
I applaud Spinelli for writing this book. I realize there are many books written for middle school students on the Holocaust, but we must never stop reading about it... if we do we may forget just how terrible it really was. And if we, as tolerant caring people forget the horrors, we could easily slip back into the cruelty and utter stupidity of the Nazi tormentors. We must never become like them.... ever!
This is a mistake from history no one should ever repeat!
So as you read this... remember that all people have value and it's our job to make sure we never allow something like the holocaust to happen again.

Another classic from Spinelli!
Milkweed is about Misha, an orphan living on the streets of Nazi-occupied Warsaw. The whole story is through his humble eyes as he steals, befriends a group of boys and gets a family. How he always escapes the fearful Flops and Jackboots. How he gets his ear shot. How every night, he enters homes and shops and innocently steals food. How he is sadly separated from his "sister" finally one day. This enchanting story weaves to what happens after the holocaust as well.

Milkweed has fascinating details from the Holocaust and Misha's life is described brilliantly. You feel as though you are right there, next to Misha, running beside him as he escapes from the Jackboots, crawling behind him through the two-brick hole in the wall, from beginning to end. The characterizing is done very vividly; you can visualize every character instantly! The style of writing is also so unique and captivating! Once you start this book, it's just too hard to put it down! Milkweed is another classic from the great author of Crash, Loser, Maniac Magee and Stargirl. Two thumbs up!

Milkweed
My teacher assigned us 2 books relating to the Holocaust to read, and I couldn't be happier that I got Milkweed.Milkweed is a wonderfully dramatic novel that's unique writing style makes it an astounding addition to realm of Holocaust literature. Through the eyes of a young naive boy we see a child's perspective of reality in this horrific time. Jerry Spinelli creates a sense of realism within the book with a bold cast of characters that really get you hooked. The beginning is strong; superbly enthralling, as is the entire book. I HIGHLY reccomend this book to anyone interested in a different view of the Holocaust. ;)

Milkweed SUPEAR NOVEL
I thought it was a good book because it is an interesting story of a boy who does not know anything about himself during the period of the WWII holocaust. Misha the main character.has no idea where he came from or what his name is. He is befriended by a group of Jewish orphans who steal food for a living. After a while he meets a little Jewish girl, named Janina. When her family is forced to move to the ghetto, Misha goes to live with them. Just as everyone is starving, there are deportations (to the concentration camps but the Jews don't know where they are going) Janina is taken to the concentration camps, but Misha escapes to America, to tell his story.
I liked this novel very much, because it told a story that is still in some existence today, racism. The Holocaust is no longer a problem for Jews and gypsies today, but they still face some discrimination. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good story with strong characters. Several emotions I experienced are, anger, sadness, happiness, excitement and relief. This is a very well written novel because the novel is written because it is told in the perspective of a little boy who is clueless to what is happening in the time period. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Karen Cushman likes to write with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek, andher feisty female characters firmly planted in history. In The Midwife's Apprentice, which earned the 1996 Newbery Medal, this makes a winning combination for children and adult readers alike. Like her award-winning book Catherine, CalledBirdy, the story takes place in medieval England. This time our protagonist is Alyce, who rises from the dung heap (literally) of homelessness and namelessness to find a station in life--apprentice to the crotchety, snaggletoothed midwife Jane Sharp. On Alyce's first solo outing as a midwife, she fails to deliver. Instead of facing her ignorance, Alyce chooses to run from failure--never a good choice. Disappointingly, Cushman does not offer any hardships or internal wrestling to warrant Alyce's final epiphanies, and one of the book's climactic insights is when Alyce discovers that lo and behold she is actually pretty! Still, Cushman redeems her writing, as always, with historical accuracy, saucy dialogue, fast-paced action, and plucky, original characters that older readers will eagerly devour. (Ages 12 and older) --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (98)

The Midwife's Apprentice
Deftly employing an omniscient third-person narrative, author Karen Cushman introduces us to the main character in her 1996 Newberry Award winning book, "The Midwife's Apprentice." The introduction is dramatic: we meet an adolescent girl, an orphan, searching for a night's shelter in a dung heap. A vividly detailed description of the dung heap follows, affronting our senses. As readers, we are horrified that anyone would be reduced to seek refuge for the night in such a place. Yet, on the same page, we curiously find ourselves admiring her practical observation that a dung heap in fact produces life-saving warmth. We are drawn into her world and begin to see life from her perspective.

When the girl is awakened the next morning by the rude taunting of a group of village boys, the girl encounters the equally harsh questioning of the village midwife. The girl asks the local midwife for work and food after being perfunctorily named "Beetle" by the midwife (after a dung beetle, of course). Thus begins the quietly amazing story of the girl's apprenticeship to the medieval English midwife.

In the author's notes at the end of the book, Cushman gives the reader a brief history of midwifery and a glimpse into everyday medieval life. Cushman so seamlessly weaves this historical information into the narrative, however, that she could almost dispense wih this information at the novel's end altogether. Her knowledge of herbal medicine, medieval folk traditions and history is extensive, as well as the masterful way she uses this information to tell a compelling story of how a young woman grows to discover her own self-worth in an often unforgiving world.

Alyce, as we later come to know the main character, convincingly demonstrates just how resourceful and resilient the human spirit can be. We share in her disappointments as well as her triumphs. Cushman includes a handful of memorable characters that not only help to support the awakening of Alyce's character, but also stand as solid characters in their own right.

Young adult women will undoubtedly relate to Alyce's character as they compare trying emtional situations in their own lives to the challenges faced by Alyce in the book.

Triumph of a Young Girl!
After reading Catherine Called Birdy by the same author I was looking forward to another humorous romp through the middle ages with The Midwife's Apprentice. The book, however, takes on a very serious tone on the first page when we are introduced to the main character, Beetle, a homeless girl who is the target of ridicule and scorn by everyone she encounters. She is discovered sleeping in a dung heap by a local midwife who leaves much to be desired in terms of kindness and patience. Beetle learns the trade bit by bit and wins over people in the town through her gentle spirit and strength.

I enjoyed this book and learned a great deal about childbirth and medicine during the middle ages. It is a story about a girl who triumphs despite her hardships and I felt satisfied and happy with its conclusion. The story is never predictable and makes you want to keep reading until the end.

I recommend The Midwife's Apprentice to anyone (especially girls) interested in learning more about what life was like for common people during the middle ages.

From dung heap to Newberry Award Winner
From a dung heap blooms Newberry Award winner The Midwife's Apprentice. Cushman takes young readers on a journey of historical fiction to discover the challenges of the homeless in the Middle Ages while weaving a never-give-up moral.

From the first memorable lines, morbit curiosity propels readers forward: "When animal droppings garbage and spoiled straw are piled up in a great heap, the rotting and moiling give forth heat. Usually no one gets close enough to notice because of the stench. But the girl noticed and, on that frosty night, burrowed deep into the warm, rutting muck, heedless of the smell" (1).

Cushman artfully engages readers' empathy for the poor heroine who has no family, identity, or concept of her own age. She knows only the name she's been called town after town--Brat. Brat is taken in by a heartless, greedy midwife, Jane Sharp, who appears to want her just for free labor, but as the story develops, our heroine discovers self-worth beneath her filth and realizes Sharp is more than she appears as well.

The dialogue is a simplified peasant dialect. For example, Jennett, the inn-keepers wife says,