Reviews (7)

Neela Victory Song
Neela is a twelve-year-old girl, she is brave, smart and intelligent. She lives in India with her mother, father, and her sister who is getting married. Neela is worried about India's freedom. Her father left to go fight for Mother India's freedom. Now Neela is stuck with her mother who is trying to find a husband for her, but Neela has other things on her mind than marriage. Three weeks go by, and now Neela is very worried about her father, who was supposed to come back two weeks ago.
Is her father still alive? Will he come back soon? Find out!
*Lali*

Inspirational
Neela is truly an inspiration to me in this book. I loved how she went to extreme lengths to rescue her father. I am also indian and feel for my parents the way she did for hers. I learned about one of the most important times in India's history in this book and it made me realize how lucky I am to live in America where there is freedom. I am also thankful to be a girl in this day and age where girls can do anything they please. I really felt bad for Neela's lack of opportunities but despite that she still got through all her obstacles. This is truly a great book!!!!!

LOVE IT!!!
A MUST GET for girls 10-18!!! I have love the suspence and action I had to read the whole book in 2 hours!!! Has all the things a girl could want in a book!!!

Neela Victory Song
Neela Victory Song Pleasant Company, ©2002,pp.193,$7.95
Chitra Banerjee Divaongkaruni 1-58485-521-5

This book is about a girl that hears about India's fight for freedom and how the girl deals with almost losing her father because he wanted to help India fight for freedom. The girl runs away from home so she can try to help her father. This is a historical fiction.

I liked this book because it has you in suspense the entire time. I could not put the book down it was so good. On a scale from one to ten I would give this book a ten because it is exciting and fun. With every turn of the page I got more excited. This book is full of action. I would say if you like action and suspense this is the book for you!

Brittany L, Grade 6
Bales Intermediate, Friendswood, Texas

A PAGE TURNER FROM THE VERY BEGINING
Neela is a young ,12 year old girl who lives in India.While her older sister is getting married,the struggle for India's independence from England rages all around her world.When a band of men who support the revolution barge into the wedding asking for support,money,and food,Neela and her father are inspirered.But when her father gets captured at a peace rally,it's up to Neela to rescue him.This a great book about a brave young girl,the love she shows for her father,and India in the year of 1939. I truly recommend this book and all the other books in the Girls Of Many Lands series ... Read more

Book Description

Author Barry Denenberg brings us into the whirlwind that is the life of Princess Elisabeth of Austria. A free and impetuous spirit, Elisabeth was chosen at the tender age of fifteen (over her older sister) to be the wife of Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austri ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A good new book from The Royal Diaries series.
Fifteen-year-old Princess Elisabeth, called Sisi, is the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria and his wife, Princess Ludovica. She has had a carefree childhood in the Bavarian countryside. She spends as much of her days as possible horseback riding, her favorite pastime. But everything changes in the summer of 1857. Sisi's older sister, Helene, has been chosen to marry their cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. Their mother is taking Helene to meet Franz Joseph, and has decided to take Sisi along in hopes of finding a husband for her as well. But when Franz Joseph meets Helene and Sisi, he decides it is Sisi he wants to marry. Sisi becomes engaged to Franz Joseph, but she is far too young for the responsibilities she suddenly finds herself facing as the future Empress. This is not one of my favorites from the Royal Diaries series, but it was still a very good book that I recommend to fans of the series. I only wish it could have been a little longer, as Elisabeth's diary is only 93 pages.

Awesome Royal Diaries Book
This was one of my favorite books in the Royal Diaries series. While the diary portion is not too long (it's 93 pages), I still enjoyed reading all about Princess Elisabeth's engagement and wedding to Franz Joseph I, Emporer of Austria.

Elisabeth (whose nickname is Sisi) is a fifteen-year-old princess living a happy and carefree life in Austria. Before her life changed so drastically, she enjoyed horseback riding, taking walks with her father, and writing poetry. When Elisabeth's mother receives a letter from Aunt Sophie one day (the Emporer's mother) inviting her and Elisabeth's sister Helene (whose nickname is Nene), her mother jumps at the opportunity especially because she has been discussing the possibility of marrying Nene to the Emporer. Elisabeth wasn't planning on going, but when her mother got the idea that she should go along because the Emporer's brother, Archduke Karl Ludwig, would be there. But when they finally do arrive at the Emporer's palace, the Emporer falls in love with Elisabeth, and proposes to her soon after they meet. After that, Elisabeth's life is thrown into a complete frenzy as she prepares to wed the Emporer and become the Emperess of Austria. The book also describes her wedding, and includes an epilouge telling about the rest of Elisabeth's life.

Definitely not the greatest of the Royal Diaries
I've so far loved the Royal Diaries series, so I was excited to find this one in the public library. However, I was very disappointed.

First of all, I found it really hard to get engrossed in this book. It took forever to figure out the relations between different people, and the situations that were happening.

Unlike the other books, this wasn't a very good balance between the character's events and personal thoughts. There were just so many lists, and more unimportant details. A list of the contents of Elisabeth's trousseau took up almost two pages! Not only that, but basically the only interesting turn of events in the book was the beginning, when the Emperor Franz Joseph liked Elisabeth better than her sister, who was actually his fiancee. The rest of the book was completely details of the preparation for Elisabeth and the Emperor's wedding. The book ended with their wedding day.

If you're interested in lists and boring details, go ahead and read this book. If you're not, but still want to check it out, read the Epilogue. It's the only really interesting part of the book. If you're not interested in either, just don't read this book.

Dull and pointless
Elizabeth never meant to catch the eye of Franz Joseph 1, emperor of all of Austria. He was meant as a bride for her sister, Helene, herself for his younger brother. Yet when Joseph passes over Helene and proposes to Elizabeth, she feels she has no choice to accept. This is the story of Elizabeth's life from days just before the proposal up until their wedding day, and the emotional journey of Elizabeth herself, destined to be Empress and rule beside the husband she never expected to have.

Told through Elizabeth's eyes in the form of a journal, this book, in my opinion, was too short and utterly pointless. Half of the entries were Elizabeth writing that she had no time to write, and character's relations to each other were hard to work out. There wasn't enough description, and there were a lot of background references that weren't explained, leaving you in the dark to what was going on earlier in her life.

Elisabeth: Her Royal Life Turned Upside Down
Elisabeth Amelie Eugenie is the daughter of Duke Maximillian Joseph and his wife Princess Ludovica. Elisabeth lives a calm, carefree life in her castle of Possenhofen in Bavaria. She loves to horeback ride, write poetry, spend time with her Poppy and live a fun life without any happenings of royal life. Yet her mother wants to take her sister Helene, and Elisabeth herself to meet with Franz Josef I Emperor of Austria. Helene has been chosen as the intended wife and future empress of the giant empire. Yet when the royal party arrives, Franz Josef chooses Elisabeth instead! She only has a few moments left at her beloved country castle, and it seems too late before she realizes what she is leaving behind. At only 16 she is married and become Empress of Austria, which isn't a position she is good at being. She goes through so much, with her irritating mother-in-law, almost having anorexia, and the sudden suicide of her son. Elisabeth died at the hands of a murderer, an Italian anarchist. This book should have been longer, and this was a pretty sad book. This girl, only 16 is thrust out of her very non-royal fun life and now has to perform the duties of an empress, when she dreads every moment of it. I like this book a lot, but it one of the sad books in the Royal Diaries Series. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (98)

Horrific truths, but accurately entertaining.
If you have read the Royal Diaries series you would know how cruel Mary was to Elizabeth. Everything has a reason. Mary's life was royal, but cruel, cold, and without comfort. Maybe this is what led her to her horrible ruling later on. Mary Tudor was the daughter of King Henry IV (the terror of his wives) and Catherine of Aragon who was daughter of Isabel and Ferdinand of Spain. The story starts out when Mary is betrothed by her father to a man she never wishes to marry. Soon afterwards, Henry the IV has a liking towards Anne Boleyn. The so called witch has plans to marry the king and give him a son. Catherine of Aragon becomes completely pushed out of Henry's life. Henry sent her away and she died with an unhappy life. Henry pays Mary and the death of her mother no mind however. He cancels the betrothal to Mary's consent.He is too bewitched by Anne and marries her immediately. She is sickingly sweet in front of her husband, but when he is gone she is as cold and hard as ice to Mary and makes her bow to her. Soon afterwards Anne is said to be pregnant. She continues on being cruel. After Anne gives birth she is in despair to know that her baby is a girl. Anne makes Mary take care of her baby and change her diaper. Henry however goes mad and if I continue I will give the story away so I will stop right here....................

The Other Side of the Story
This is a first-person account of "Bloody Mary", Queen Elizabeth I's older half-sister. "Mary, Bloody Mary" is fun to read and very well-written. I especially like the parts when she is excluded from her father's love. It really makes you feel for Mary - especially because it's all true! Although I have always disliked Mary for her cruelty to Elizabeth, this book gave a sympathetic look at how Anne Boleyn (and eventually Elizabeth) took away Mary's rights. While I was reading this book I, too, started to feel sorry for Mary, but it ended too soon for me to really feel sorry for her. And the epilogue reminded me that no matter how rotten a deal Mary got because of Anne Boleyn, she had no right to be so mean to Elizabeth (and the countless other people she murdered - hence "Bloody Mary").

A novel to remember.
Ah, history! My favorite subject, and an intriguing thing. Mary has been brought to life, both her worried, youthful side, and her detremined and stubborn side, the part of her that made her known as Mary, Bloody Mary, England's queen. This story, taking place in her youth, is well decribed with utmost accuracy. Depicting the eventful life of Mary Tudor, you will plummet into the sixteenth century, and into the heart of a princess. When I picked this book up, I wondered if it would be like a fairy tale, saying how wonderful and fruitful Mary's life was, and I was surprised when I read the story. Instead of boring literature, it shows the real life of Mary, her feelings about her father, his new wife, and Mary's own half sister, and how confused on the inside she is, but how brave she trys to act. Showing how a young girl is forced into womanhood, this is a novel to remember.

Absolutely Amazing
"Mary Bloody Mary" is one of the best books I have ever read! This book is full of adventure and suspence!I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good book on history. This book is definitely one of a kind!!!!

Good read for pre-teens and teens
Mary, Bloody Mary is the story of Mary Tudor's pre-teen and teenage years written for that age-group. Told from the first-person point of view, Mary tells of Anne Boylen's increasing power over the king, the casting-off of Mary and her mother, the birth and care of Elizabeth and Anne's eventual downfall. The book ends with the marriage of Henry to Jane Seymour, making "Mary, Bloody Mary" an inappropriate title as that nickname was not earned until many years later.

On the whole, it's an fine book to give to early teens who are starting to, or maybe need to be encouraged to, develop an interest in history, the role of women throughout history, and strong female historical figures. ... Read more

Book Description

I had freckles.
I had sandy hair. I was too short.
Would my feet even touch the ground if I sat on the throne?

These are the words of lady Jane Grey, as imagined by celebrated author Ann Rinaldi. Jane would become Queen of England for only nine days before being beheaded at the age of sixteen.

Here is a breathtaking story of English royalty with its pageantry, privilege, and surprising cruelty. As she did in her previous novel Mutiny's Daughter, Ms. Rinaldi uses powerful, evocative writing to bring to life a teenage girl caught in the grip of stirring times.

Book Description

The tale of the ill-fated British luxury liner Titanic has been etched in people's minds through books, documentaries and major motion pictures about the tragedy. But, she was not the only passenger ship to be eaten up by the dangerous North Atlantic waters off the shores of Newfoundland in the early 1900s.

In 1919, just before Christmas, the S.S. Ethie departs Port Saunders, Newfoundland, for St. John's Harbor with 92 passengers and crew, all eager to be reunited with family for the holidays. After several difficult days at sea, a violent winter storm casts the coastal steamer Ethie onto rocks one-half mile off the jagged cliffs of northwest Newfoundland. Guided by his fisherman master, and following his own instincts, Skipper, a hardworking and courageous Newfoundland dog, braves the icy, dangerous waters to carry a lifeline from the sinking ship to shore. A seat is rigged to this cable, which carries each person onboard to safety. All 92 passengers and crew were saved from probable death in the icy Atlantic waters by the actions of this brave dog.

In this minute-by-minute fictionalized account of the S.S. Ethie's dramatic voyage, the author vividly brings the adventure to life, showing the spirit of survival amongst the passengers and crew, as well as the strength and determination of a poor fishing family and their courageous dog to save those 92 souls. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

An Excellent Book for Children and Adults
Hilary Hyland has done an incredible job of researching and then fictionalizing this incredible story of a shipwreck of the coast of Newfoundland in a blizzard during December 1919. Her depication of life on the island, as well as the loving relationship between a girl and her dog, offer readers two good reasons to read this book. Hyland tells the tale of Colleen and her dog, Skipper, while drawing the parallel story of a poor Irish boy, Patrick, who works on the SS Ethie. I think many young boys and girls will be able to put themselves in the place of Colleen and Patrick and live this harrowing adventure to the fullest. Since there is a happy ending for everyone, the story can be read by younger children (seven or eight) without fear of nightmares.

A Great Book for All Ages
Hilary Hyland's The Wreck of the Ethie is a dramatic account of a dog's heroism during a sea disaster. As a schoolteacher, I can attest to the fact that children love this book. The principal characters in the book are two pre-teens and a Newfoundland dog named Skipper. The book is based on a true story about the shipwreck of the Ethie in 1919. Ms. Hyland has included the results of her meticulous research to provide an educational "read" for kids of all ages. The fast-paced story kept this adult reading page after page without respite. The illustrations help "visual" readers to connect as the story unfolds with descriptive imagery. A section at the end of the book (Author's Note) answers common questions posed by school children regarding the dog and the story. In addition, a glossary of nautical terms is included.
Ms. Hyland visits schools and provides a slide presentation showing pictures and information gathered during her research for the book. She tells children about the process of researching and writing historical fiction. She provides an interactive question and answer environment for students to discuss her book and visit with her own Newwfoundland dog, Cubby, who accompanies her on each and every visit! This book is a great choice for adults or children. Don't miss this one!

Terrific Book
If you like thrilling shipwreck stories, heartwarming dog stories and courageous, resourceful heroes and heroines...this is the book for you. It is perfect for the entire family and a must for every family's library. Warning...you'll want to buy a Newfoundland dog after reading this book.

The Wreck of the Ethie
The Wreck of the Ethie by Hilary Hyland is based on a true story that took place off the coast of Newfoundland. It is a dramatic story about a young boy named Patrick who goes to work on the S.S. Ethie, a cargo/passenger ship. The Ethie is on the northeast end of the island leaving from Bonne Bay and it is going through the Gulf of St. Lawerence to St.John's Harbor. On the way the ship gets stuck in the middle of the worst blizzard to ever hit the coast of Newfoundland. The gales are so bad it makes the Ethie go off-course and the ship gets beached on Martin's Point. At the same time, Colleen is living in Martin's Point with her dog Skipper. He is a one hundred and fifty pound black Newfounland dog. While gathering wood Skipper and Colleen hear the passengers on the Ethie yelling for help. Skipper risks his life, rushing into the water and the ferocious waves. Will this dog be the hero and save all of the ninety-two passengers? The book gets a four star rating because it is well written and a thrilling true story about a heroic dog.

WOULD MAKE A TERRIFIC MOVIE
A whirlwind of a book! Both my son & daughter thoroughly enjoyed this exciting book based on a shipwreck where the passengers were saved by a heroic Newfoundland dog. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what happens. My children liked the actual pictures of the ship, lighthouse and mailbag that the baby was saved in. We all fell in love with Skipper, the Newfoundland dog. A fantastic read for the entire family. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Escape from Warsaw..
I just picked up this book from the other day and finished it within few days. Escape from Warsaw (original title: the silver sword), a story of a family whose father decided to make fun of Hitler and was later captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp. This left the children on their own to escape the war-torn city of Warsaw. The book itself did not live up to the expectations, or at least to me it didnt . The author's narrative skills are very linear and so is the story which is taken from real accounts. Despite the linear story and writing style, the book manages to keep my attention with the real to life characters. It is what kept me interested until the end of the book. The plot itself was predictable and is not very intriguing. Overall, mediocre at its best. All i can say is that, i wouldn't have read this book if i had the option not to.

Escape From Warsaw
This book is about the struggle of a Polish family being separated during World War I.m Father is taken to a prison camp and children struggle to travel by foot from Warsaw to Switzerland, to in hopes reunite with thier family. A book I once read called Kiss the Dust was also a war related book. I preferred this book over that because this book was able to let you get in touch more with the characters feelings which then allows the reader to become a part of the story. Feelings the characters are feeling are more easily related to the reader. The other book lost my interest and was hard to keep reading. This book served as a great writing model because its characters really came to life. Not too long after the story began the reader is able to feel as if in the shoes of the characters in this book. Feelings and struggles are well described. Example is when Edek's feet got so sore and cut up from traveling so far by foot with old shoes. ""Wait please, we have to stop, my feet are so covered with scratches, the pain is too bad for me to take another step." His bloody covered feet then rested in the softness of the grass where he fell asleep" I really enjoyed this book. Though it could have told more about the background of the war. It starts off with their struggle and off and on talks about the war. The background information could have helped because some may not even know why W.W.II was fought. Though it did do a good job of describing characters and struggles. I didn't think that this book would be good but I ended up thinking the total opposite by the end. I am not really a person who likes to read about wars. But this mostly was about a struggle of real people. Those are the kind of books I enjoy. So not only did I learn about war in an interesting way but I also enjoyed this book. So anyone who enjoys reading about human struggles would enjoy this book.

Skibas Cool Book Review
This is a book about a family who were surviving in Warsaw, Poland. They were all on their own, because they had to run away tobe alive. They had some pretty bad days in their adventure, but they were going on slowly t=day by they. But most importantly it makes you thinkof how the kids are all living together for months. Mostly there are fight when there is boysand girl iin the family, but they were going on and trying to do their best in living each day. This book also teaches the being together and trying to fit in. Mostly it brings you to the childhood a little more, and it makes you relaize how these kids are all fitting together and how you were in your childhood. latly, i recomend this book, because its an awesome and amazing book.You will also learn and can picture the past back in the war time. You will get the feeling of it and try to keep on going and wanting to find more about them and what is happening to them. I also recomend this book, because this book is a real life.

Escape From Warsaw
Escape From Warsaw
By: Ian Serraillier
Reviewed by: B. Arihara
Period: P.1

This is the story of a Polish family and, of what happened to them during the World War II and immediately afterward. The Balicki family lived in a suburb of Warsaw. Joseph, the father, and Margrit, the mother, had three children. Ruth, Edik, and Bronia. The children and the father go through some life-time experiences. It all started when Margrit Balicki was taken away to do labor work somewhere in Russia. When she was taken away it only left the father and the children. Unfortunately, Joseph was taken away to, to Zakyna, a prison camp in Germany. Joseph managed to escape after many tries. He remembered talking to his family about if they ever got separated, they would meet in Switzerland. So, that's where he was headed. Back in Warsaw, the children got themselves into many troubling situations, but were able to get out of them. Eventually, they to remembered the meeting place and started out to Switzerland. On their way, they met a very clever boy, Jan, who they thought would help them out on their journey. During their journey, they met many people who felt for them and helped them out as much as they could. Finally, after months of traveling on foot, they make it to Switzerland very ill and tired. The day before they met, there was a terrible storm which caused much damage to everything in its path. The children wake up in a hospital dazed yet, excited to see their father standing over them. They haven't heard anything about their mother and are very disappointed. But they are willing to put all their troubles behind them and start a wonderful life together in their new home, Appenzell, Switzerland.

One of the main reasons why I like the book was because it was based on a true story, which made it interesting. It was a fun book to read even though there were many tragedies for this family. I liked the way the author tells the story, making each situation a gripping experience. The author wrote in a way that made me feel like I was there with them the whole journey. I also liked the book because it had humorous moments. For example, when they were caught sleeping in a farmer's barn, they told the farmer that they haven't done any harm. The farmer responded back, "I suppose you call this a birthday present. One - two - three of you. Is that the lot, or have we another batch lurking somewhere?"

The things I disliked about the book was that it was often hard to follow. Some of the sentence structures were so confusing that I had to read it over two or three times to understand it better. The author used words I didn't know, so I had to use context clues to figure out the meanings of those words or look them up in the dictionary. For example, "He begrudgingly lifted the tarpaulin from his shoulders and sat back to the crates, facing the dark mountain."

My favorite part of the book was when Ruth, Edik, Jan and Bronia went canoeing down the Danube River and Elbe River. It reminded me of when I went canoeing in Redondo Beach. I could relate to how tired they were when they were canoeing all night long to go to Switzerland. This section of the book was very exciting for me to read because it was the most adventurous and thrilling part of their journey. They went through rough rapid waters, they had to be very quiet passing by a village so they wouldn't be seen, and when they were spotted by an officer, they had to quickly get away.

On the Dull side
I read this book as a school assignment, and my teacher said that we wouldn't want to put it down. I soon found that statement to be false. This book is the story of a Polish family who gets seperated dring World War II. The children (Ruth, Edek, and Bronia)travel by land to get to Switzerland, hoping to find their parents. (their family planned to meet their if something should happen to seperate them). Along the way, they go through many trials, and meet some new people. I though that this story was far too predictable. I knew the ending from the very start. The book started and good and detailed in the first few chapters, but then it began to make a dive to a low level. The plotline was predictable and the writing boring, due to it's lack of description and lack details. The book skipped a period of about two years. Most of the time you have to guess what the character is thinking. I was only interested because I enjoyed the character, Ruth. Basically, this story gets a two from me because it didn't fit my qualifications for a "good book." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Continuing his tradition of strange and wild novels for young adults, David Almond, in The Fire Eaters, introduces a bizarre character making a sparse living as a self-mutilating, fire-swallowing street performer. McNulty's existence shakes young protagonist Bobby Burns to the core as he contemplates the end of the world (the year is 1962 and the U.S. and Soviet Union seem to be heading toward nuclear war), power, pain, class, and death, as well as friendship. The menace and sweetness in Bobby's life parallels the worlds, big and small, he inhabits. A loving family, seaside home, and good friends form the foundation. But a crack in that wall is spreading: Bobby's father is ill, class differences are separating him from his best friend, and a ruthless schoolmaster is forcing Bobby to understand that everything has a price. McNulty's growled refrain--"Pay! You'll not see nowt till you pay!"--reiterates the lesson for the often bewildered, but ever stronger boy. Readers familiar with Almond's other haunting books, including the award-winning Skellig, will welcome this rich, challenging novel. As always, Almond refuses to shy away from the big topics, resulting in a novel dappled with light and dark, filled with wonder and mystery. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not Quite Skellig
I fell in love with David Almond's books when I first picked up Skellig, which i feel is an absolutely incredible book. This book is not quite up to the same standard in my opinion, although I realize that it's not supposed to have the same feel to it. Having said that, it was still a very enjoyable read, dealing with a rural boy in the UK and his struggles to come to terms with the unsettling world around him as he is coming of age. I would definitely recommend this to any David Almond fan (or any fan of good children's literature, for that matter).

A powerful read
Bobby Burns has lived his entire life in the small coastal town of Keely Bay, but in the autumn of 1962 he finds that his life is changing. He is going to a new preparatory school, leaving his old friends and the village school behind. He suspects his father may be sick. The Cuban Missile Crisis is raging in America, threatening the entire world with nuclear annihilation.

He is also meeting new people. There is McNulty, a fire-eater and escapologist whose mind was unhinged in WWII. There is Daniel, the new kid in town, who looks down on Keely Bay's working class inhabitants. Then there are the cruel teachers at Bobby's new school, who resort to beatings when they feel children don't know their place.

Together, Bobby and Daniel mount a protest against the barbaric practice of strapping. The potential price of expulsion seems insignificant compared to the protests against nuclear war they see on television. When Bobby asks his father about the rioting, he answers, "That's just people doing what they should do, making their voice heard, yelling against what they know is wrong."

David Almond's books often deal with themes of faith and redemption. THE FIRE-EATERS contains both of these elements, along with a reverence for even the most damaged lives. The night when nuclear war is averted, Bobby, his family, McNulty and the neighbors gather on the beach, eating, drinking and trying to spend time together with the people and places they love before the world ends, or changes forever.

THE FIRE-EATERS contains a powerful message of hope. The fear of nuclear war, which was at its height during the Cuban Missile Crisis, was for its generation what the fear of terrorism is for this generation. Not every disaster can be averted, as was seen during the tragic events of September 11th, but the FIRE-EATERS is a reminder that these moments of crisis can bring clarity to our lives and help us to treasure those things that are truly meaningful.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ms. Frizzle, science teacher extraordinaire (in the tremendously popularMagic School Bus series by Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen),parachutes into social studies in the first of the new series from the samecreative pair. On the first day of school vacation, the inimitable, redheadedMs. Frizzle joins a tour group bound for Egypt. When the plane trip gets toomonotonous, Ms. Frizzle invites the group to jump ship with her. Somehow, tourguide Herb ends up in contemporary Cairo, while everyone else lands in ancientEgypt! Here's where Ms. Frizzle's teaching skills come in handy. By the end ofthe vacation, members of the tour group--and readers--have learned more aboutmummies, pyramids, Re the sun god, and ancient Egyptian's teeth than they everimagined.

With their familiar blend of information sharing and humor, Cole and Degenpresent what might in any other format be an overwhelming amount of informationin a lively, entertaining, easy-to-absorb style. Full-color cartoon-style textand illustrations allow readers to explore Egypt even as Ms. Frizzle and herinadvertent students do the same. Witty asides take the shape of travel diaries,postcards home, and messages on Herb's megaphone ("I'm the tour guide!","Help! I lost my tour group!"). Ms. Frizzle's sly pretended ignorance at timesalso makes for high hilarity. "I can't imagine how that happened. Can you?" shesays, after the airplane door somehow swings open. If only all education wasthis much fun! (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Book!!!!!
This book is great! I got this book when I was 4 3/4 and I am now 13 1/2 years old and it's still wonderful!!! It shows wonderful examples of hieroglyphs and demotic writing!!! It shows you detailed pictures of an Egyptian market, scribes house, and tells you how mummys were made!!! After reading I ( to my mom's extreme annoyance) turned our basement in to an Egyptian town, and you can imangine what I went as that Halloween!!

Mostly good!
My daughter loves this book. The information is packed tightly into the book, much as in the Magic School bus books. The one major problem that really upsets my daughter is that in one picture the Sphinx does not have a beard. Really, this upsets her a great deal. There is a scene when Ms Frizzle opens an airplane door and jumps out, which I do feel is not good to put in a kids book. It gives them ideas, in my opinion.

Other than that, the book has good information in it.

My 2nd graders love this book!
Doing a unit on Ancient Egypt this Summer, and was THRILLED to see this book at the library. I wish they had made a video too! My kids love it. Ms. Frizzle is her usual self sans the class. She's taking a vacation in Egypt during Summer break but just can't let go of being a teacher. She jumps out of the plane on the way there and the other passengers become her students. They go back in time thanks to Ms. Frizz's Time Travel Watch. Great illustrations, captions. Very historically faithful and fun.

a funny and informative book for children
This new adventure with the loving teacher Ms. Frizzle will enchant kids of all ages. Splendidly illustrated with accurate details, this book is a delight to read: funny, informative, colorful, clear and comprehensive. An excellent, highly recommended book for children ages 8 to 12.

Ms. Frizzle and Ancient Egypt... What Could be Better?
My children absolutely love the Magic School Bus Adventures. Now, combining Ms. Frizzle with one of their favorite times in history is a magical success! My children learned about Ancient Egypt in the exciting, fun and descriptive way only Ms. Frizzle could portray. I'm so glad Ms. Frizzle "took chances and got messy" with social studies! Hooray! ... Read more

Book Description

WHEN MARGARET CAVENDISH, one of Elizabeth I’s Gentlewomen of the Bedchamber, lost her life in a bungled attempt to kill the Queen, her daughter, Lady Grace, became a protégée to the monarch, who takes Grace under her wing. Now Grace, a spunky girl who romps through the gardens with the laundry maids and court tumblers and rolls her eyes at her fellow ladies, chronicles the court intrigues that swirl around her. . . .

It’s the spring of 1569 and 13-year-old Lady Grace, the youngest lady-in-waiting to the Queen, finds herself at a glittering ball choosing amongst three suitors. But the Queen’s generosity turns deadly as threats, dark secrets, and even murder descend on the Tudor court. And it is up to Grace to use her intelligence, stealth, and curious nature to solve the mystery that threatens the very lifeblood of England. ... Read more

Book Description

The daughter of a samurai never weeps. But Takiko, whose warrior father was killed in battle, finds this a hard rule, especially when her mother remarries a strange and ugly country potter. To get away from her miserable home, Takiko eagerly accepts a position at the imperial Japanese court. There, her beauty and nightingale voice captivate the handsome young warrior, Hideo -- who also turns out to be an enemy spy. As war breaks out, Takiko flees the court and is forced to choose between loyalty to her people and her love for Hideo. She painfully learns that whatever choice she makes, she cannot run away from her samurai honor.

Reviews (46)

Tragic
I read this book just last night for summer reading for high school and I was captivated. This book covers about 15 or 16 years of the lives of a German boy's family and his best friend's family. Sharing the same apartment building, Friedrich's family is well off and his friend's is very poor. However, they still have their good times in a German city at the time of Hitler's rise to power as chancellor of Germany. The book is divided into short anecdotes that slowly progress from bad to worse, showing the cruel treatments of Jewish people by Germans. From the two boys experiencing the painting of signs on Jewish stores to mark them to Friedrich's dismission from school and a local pool because he is Jewish and his mother's death after their house is raided and ransacked. This book truely shows the selfish and cruel ways of the Nazis and their discrimination towards innocent people. There is a story were Friedrich and his friend attend a Party meeting (Party refering to Hitler's party) and a man in the Party tells of how the Jewish people used to sacrifice cows and showed no mercy and says the Jewish people were merciful and evil for doing this. Now don't I recall the innocent Jewish people being tortured and murdered by Nazis who showe dno mercy? The Nazis were hypocritical and evil, unmerciful, unhuman beings. This story stands as a testament of a boy who watched his mother die because of these people, who watched his father be deported, and who saw his everyday world shatter, only to end in Friedrich's own tragic death when a Nazi sympathizer, the man who owned the apartment building, denies Friedrich when he asks for shelter during an air raid. I highly recommend this book and urge you to read and it and never let this kind of thing happen again.

Worth Reading!
Friedrich, by Hans Peter Richter, is a tragic tale about a young boy, Friedrich, who's mother dies, who's house is taken, who's father is deported and who is picked on and descriminated against all because he is jewish. Set in Germany between 1925 and 1938, it is told through the eyes of Friedrich's best friend. This book really opened my eyes to the fact of how lucky I am. It also showed how much living in a sheltered community has successfully sheltered me. Before I read this book, I had read many other books on the Holocost and I pretty much knew the horror of the consentration camps, or "work camps" as some of them are called. But I didn't know what the jews in Germany, who were "lucky" enough not to be in concentration camps went through. It gave me a whole new perspective on WWII. It is definatly worth reading, whether for the information, or for the purpose of reading a really well written book.

A Sad Story by Zach
You will ask," What is Friedrich about?" Friedrich is about a boy named Friedrich (obviously), who is living in the time Hitler came to power (1925-1942). Actually, Hitler came to power in 1933, but the book starts out in 1925. The problem is that Friedrich is Jewish. This book is divide into chapters that are multiple places in the book. You might be in the middle of a page, and then it's a new chapter.
This summary will tell about this book. The first two chapters are when Friedrich and the narrator are young (as in 5-year-old young). Then there is this big jump, and all of a sudden, Friedrich and the narrator are 9-10 years old and Friedrich is getting hassled. As the years go on, Friedrich is almost sent to concentration camp. Will Friedrich survive, will he be sent to his death (a concentration camp), or die another way? You will have to read this book to find out.
This book has amazing emotions. An example is when Friedrich goes into his apartment and sees Herr Resh taking stuff from his apartment when he didn't have his parents. If you read the book you will find out what happened to Friedrich's parents. This book also has amazing detail. An example of when the book as amazing detail is all through out the book. It describes everything in depth.
My favorite part in the book is when the narrator and Friedrich are at the swimming pool. They describe the sun, as a scorching sun and the water wasn't just water, it was glistening water. This is my favorite seen because it goes deeper into the book by explaining everything in depth.
I think that the main theme in this book is friendship between the narrator and Friedrich. I also have some evidence to back my idea up. Even though Friedrich and his family were Jewish, the narrator and his family still wanted to be friends. Another example is when the narrator broke a window and tried to tell the women that he broke it, but the women still blamed Friedrich.
I, myself, loved this book, and would recommended it for kids or adults in 4th grade and/or up. Why, might you ask, 4th grade and up? There are some sad and harsh parts in it. Also kids in 3rd, 2nd, or 1st grade might not understand it. This book has about 139 pages. This book is full of violence, war, and friendship, like I said before.
I have a lot of questions like what happens to the narrator and his family for helping a Jewish family. You will also have a lot of questions after my review, but if you read the book, it might answered some of your questions and satisfy your hunger to read books.

Friedrich
I recently finished reading this book at my school, and I quickly looked at the back of the book for a summary, and needless to say it was very interesting. It accurately displays the life of an average jewish-german friendship that was torn apart by the germans from an author who experienced this kind of hostile action firsthand. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the Holocaust, and the persecution of the jewish people. If you are looking for a book that holds information and emotions, then I'd recommend this book for you.

Friedrich
This book is written by Hans Peter Richter. It blends adventure, pity, and historical facts together. The book is written in the form of a diary, but has picked out the important events the happened to Friedrich between 1925 to 1942, rather than having months and days. In the book, he wrote about the life of an ordinary Jewish boy when Hitler was in power. The book is superbly divided into short anecdotes, which change slowly from bad to worse and finally, Friedrich's death. Friedrich's friend is poor and he is a non-Jew, unlike Friedrich. The main characters are Friedrich, his parents, his friend, his friend's parents, and Herr Resch, the landlord. All of a sudden, his father loses his job, and Friedreich is expelled from school. Also, all the civilians riot against them and destroy their house by vandalising the household items. I think that the book needs a little more augmentation on that area.

This book touches on a few aspects of World War 2, as well as our daily life. Before the World War 2, Jews were treated as normal citizens. However, due to racial beliefs, when Hitler rose form the bottom of the community to power as the chancellor of Germany. He was over reactive to racial beliefs, as he called for the extermination of approximately 6, 000, 000 Jews.

Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, at Braunau-am-inn in Austria. His father, Alois, had rose from a destitute peasant to become an Austrian customs official, and was thus able to provide his son with secondary school education. Hitler was then a talented child, and so he felt out of place in an urban secondary school. He focused his life on aimless readings, and dreamt of becoming an artist. During which, he developed a talent for evading responsibilities. As he had very contemptible school marks, he could not make it to obtain the customary graduation certificate. Following the death of his father, Hitler left his home to seek fortune in Vienna.

When he was in Vienna, the writings of an author whose ideas were racial and anti-Semitic impressed him. Thus, he was politically turned into a zealous German, and grew his "anti-Jewism".

This book shows some hatred for Jews when the two boys experienced the painting of signs belonging to the Jews, and when Friedrich is dismissed from school and the public pool. These were the most unforgettable ones in the whole story, for the paintings were very immature, puerile, juvenile and infantile. The dismissal was very unreasonable, absurd, capricious and biased towards Jews.

At the last few chapters of the story, the book conspicuously describes many scenes of the bombings that took place in Germany. The event which occurred there that I can vividly remember is undoubtedly the scene wherein Friedrich wanted to go to the bomb shelter, but yet Herr Resch forbade, ignoring the endless pleas of the people in the bomb shelter. This shows that Herr Resch had a extraordinarily over reactive opposition for the Jews, as Jews crucified their lord. But however, if Friedrich's biracial with his parents being both Christian and Jew, Herr Resch might have let Friedrich enter. I would like to acknowledge the sergeant's (in the air raid shelter at that time) words of "leave voluntarily" as there was nothing better to do with a Herr Resch as air raid captain/ warden. That sergeant probably became sergeant involuntarily, as he had strongly opposed to Herr Resch's decision, only for his rank to be lower that Resch's and Resch thus empowered all the decisions.

(...) Another aspect relating to our daily life is that cruelty leads to deaths. This was shown when his mother died due to the non-Jews, and following suit his father, which made his everyday life seem to fall apart. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (10)

Braveheart: the real story, sort of
This is a very pleasureable book. Henty uses the medium of a fictional character to give us an intimate portrait of the life of William Wallace and Robert Bruce. Henty lays out the story with enough history to be accurate, but enough action to keep you awake. Although some may find it somewhat juvenille in approach, it is well written so as not to exclude all but his intended young audience. The language is somewhat archaic, but not overly difficult if one is familiar with the English language. All in all it is a fun book, and a must read for any fan of Wallace, Bruce, and the Scottish people.

A Must Read!
This is a truly inspirational book. I believe this book describes one of the great events in all of human history. For any parent who wants to give their child a view of the world outside their strip-mall laden nieghborhood, they should dedicate themselves to reading this story to them. My youngest is only 7 years old and he loved this book! The only caveat I have is this book, like all Henty books, details many graphic battles. However, the main character demonstrates bravery, leadership, loyalty and ingenuity- traits we'd all love to see built into our kids. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Great Historical Fiction and Adventure
Freedom's Cause has a great plot and a fictional character as the protaganist. He starts off as a teen and then grows up through the time of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. The story is full of adventure, friendship, loyalty, honor, heroics, and history. Good values are presented. This book is great for anyone looking for something on Scottish history and which also is a great nove. This book is as good or better then any Nigel Tranter book I have read like The Wallace and The Bruce Trilogy

The accuracy of the historical period is excellent and I have read much on this area of Scottish history. The persons discussed, the geography talked about, and the timeline presented is very accurate. I highly reccomend this and can't wait to read another Henty.

Learned more reading this than a history textbook
This book is one of the most fascinating and interesting to readers who care about the past. For people who do not like history or to learn about the exciting feats accomplished by our predeseccors, I do not reccomend this book.
The story is about young Archie Forbes, a young man destined to be cheif of his clan. His father was killed when Archie was just a boy and his lands taken away by the Kerr family, nobles from nearby England. While Archie is determined to reclaim his family's lands he meets William Wallace and helps in the scottish revolution.

boring and hard to read
hello,
well i found this book boring, and very hard to read for someone has trouble reading...i love history but i just think this book was HORRIBLE....I had to read it for a book report..and i am still having trouble writing the book report...
again HORRIBLE..
dont' get it ... Read more

Book Description

The year is 1597. Elizabeth is queen. Shakespeare and the Lord Chamberlain’s Men are packing London’s Globe Theatre. And the severed heads of Catholic insurgents are impaled on the Tower’s gates. One 14-year-old boy should arouse no one’s interest.

But within a week of his arrival, Richard Malory is robbed, beaten, and threatened at knifepoint. Someone wants him to leave London, and Richard is determined to find out why. There’s only one place he’ll be safe: as an actor on the stage. As he begins to unravel the traitorous plot that has ensnared him, Richard must make a difficult decision. Will he play the part set out for him—or can he become the playmaker of his own life?
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Book For All Ages!
This book is great for all ages, as the other reviews have said. I, being a 13 year old, loved the mystery plotline, and I enjoy reading books like Shakespeare! I recommend the author's second book, The True Prince, and The Shakespeare Stealer and Shakespeare's Scribe, both by Gary Blackman! All of these books have a young boy who acts in Shakespeare's troupe, so if you enjoy that aspect of The Playmaker, then you'll love the others!!!

Not just for kids!
The Playmaker is a work which literally transports the reader to Elizabethan England in a very convincing manner. Cheaney has a beautiful use of language which does not talk "down" to her young readers at all, but instead presents them a fast-paced, exciting story which is as enriching as it is entertaining. I really fell for all the major characters, and I am hoping for a sequel...or several of them! Richard, Starling, and Kit are so well developed they seem like real historical characters rather than fiction. The Playmaker is a great example of how fiction can present a historical period to young readers so that the reader develops a feel for the period-encouraging an interest in history, too. That's a very enriching asset for a novel to have. This book is on my Christmas list for my young friends AND friends my age and older! My 27 year old daughter is going to love it!

Bravo! Give us more!
If I had been reading this book for myself it would have been a non-put-downer! However I was reading it to my two sons, ages 13 and 15 so we had to make time between everything else. We experienced a wide expanse of emotions while journeying with young Richard. Great read! And, for those interested, it's a great read-aloud! The characters are fleshed out and the action is limitless! Nothing better than a good believable mystery! Don't let the age recommendations put you off. My teens loved it, as did I. Richard and his friends are people we didn't want to let go of at the end of the book. Hope there is more to come! ... Read more

Book Description

Horrified at having witnessed her father's murder and fearing that the killers are agents of Queen Elizabeth I, eleven-year-old Alice Tuckfield hides in the Yorkshire cathedral by disguising herself as one of the choirboys. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Review from a 3rd grade student
I enjoyed reading the book A Murder for Her Majesty. The book is about a girl named Alice who's father is murdered. Alice goes looking for her father's friend, Lady Jenny, when a boy from a church school choir bumps into Alice, and she (or should I say "he") sets off on a adventure of a lifetime. I recommend for you to read this book, because it shows how such a little girl, can have such a great adventure.

A fun read, but not historical
The book was an engrossing and enjoyable read, with sympathetic characters and, as discussed by previous reviewers, a lovely depiction of the joys of making and listening to music. However, if you're looking for historical fiction to illuminate Elizabethan England, this is most definitely not the book for you. There is so little of the period in it that it could be happening any time from the late Middle Ages to the Victorian era. As a most basic example, Alice is referred to throughout as a "girl", rather than a "maid"! (At least the author avoids the pitfall of having her characters speak in modern slang.) If you're looking for a good book that will give you a feel of life in Elizabethan times, I'd recommend A Traveller in Time, by Alison Uttley. So enjoy -- but don't expect a history lesson along with your enjoyment.

Read it again and again
You travel back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Alice Tuckfield witnesses her father's murder and is now in fear for her own life. Where can a young girl alone in the 16th century hide? How can she disappear? I just love this book and plan to reread it this summer. This story is full of music and history and sends you back to another place and time. An interesting look at life in the cathedral choirs. It makes me want to visit York someday. If you get hooked on the time period you can go on and read King of Shadows by Susan Cooper (love it) and The Shakespeare Stealer series by Gary Blackwell.

a great book that draws kids to music
I first read this book in fifth grade (now I'm a college student), and the next year I signed up for choir. I've been singing ever since! The descriptions of music opened up a whole other world I'd never particularly thought about, and without which my life would be immeasurably poorer. And if you're a kid reading this, please don't dismiss it because I make it sound boring and educational--it's really exciting!

Wonderful Read
'A Murder For Her Majesty', deals with a young girl who witnesses the murder of her father and must deal with men who conspire to murder her in turn. The novel is a wonderful combination of suspense and heart; Alice Tuckfield's journey in discovering who she is and where she belongs as well as all the people she encounters along the way will appeal to all readers of all ages. The book is well-written and extremely fast-paced, a great solution for boredom and leaving readers wishing for a sequel. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is a wonderful book for any child or even Adult!
This is probably the best book I've ever read. It is about a girl named Anna who is forced to fled her country with her family in hopes of not being found by the Nazi's. And it shows the struggles and difficulties that Anna's family had to go through in battle of finding freedom. It is a very compelling story that takes place in World War II. And It will keep you wondering. I read this book when I was in 6th grade and never found it again. I am going to order it and I hope you all do. It is a very good book that teaches the reader about WWII and is still appropreate for the young reader. It is Highly Recommended!

Well written
Anna only knows she is Jewish because her father says so. However it is enough to force the family to flee Germany (1933) due to the on coming of the Nazi regime. She will travel to several countries learning the language and staying one step ahead of the spreading Nazi influence. In her travels she learns of many concepts which include the confiscation of her "Pink Rabbit."
Many books unintentionally talk down to children. Not this book it looks you right in the eye. Anna still maintains the innocence of her youth. But the problems and dealing with people can happen at any age.
The story is told from the perspective of Anna. And not too surprisingly it parallels that of the author and illustrator Judith Kerr who was forced to leave Germany in 1933.

Excellent book! Good ending.
With THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, you had the story of a family who chose to hide, but in this book you have the story of a family who did the smart thing early in Hitler's rise to power. Anna's father was a writer and a Jew. Warned that his passport was about to be confiscated, he got out of Germany. Anna and her brother Max find this out only after he's gone. That begins their own preparations to leave. Two weeks later they're in Switzerland, the first new country in Anna's life. The book is very well written and semi-autobiographical. The author herself was forced to leave Germany in 1933 (her father was a drama critic). Presented from 9-year-old Anna's point-of-view, it has tantalizing glimpses of what was going on in Europe. Several overheard conversations both alarm and intrigue Anna. Her own efforts to excel in school and fit in, first in Switzerland and then in France, are very good. This is tame enough for children to read, but informative for adults who know more history.

Not for Grown- Ups
'Pink Rabbit' may be exciting and fun for nine-year olds but for grown ups the interest level comes up short. Dont waste your time with this book which is terribly boring and consists only of Anna switching from school to school.I would not recommend this book to anyone over the age of eleven or anyone with advanced literature experience.

An exciting book for all ages.
This all starts when 9 year old Anna gets rushed out of Germany with her whole family because her father is wanted dead or alive by Hitler. She has to leave all she knows well for a country which is unknown to her, Switzerland. Living in a hotel for a couple of years with no money to spend, Anna and her family move to France where they have to live in a small and dusty flat. Anna has to go to a French school even though she does not know a single word of french. After struggling for 2 years, Anna can finally speak fluently in French but just when she's starting to enjoy France, she moves to England after her father's movie script is bought by an English company. Stuck in poverty for 6 years, she finally gets to have a better life with her family. This book is very enjoyable and I recommend it to any people, any age. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

True Boxcar Children Style...
I felt that this book was written in the true Boxcar Children style. This is one of the original books in the series and has the same wonderful story line. I love the Boxcar children stories and recommend this one along withall the others. ... Read more

Book Description

Sun-hee and her older brother, Tae-yul, live in Korea with their parents. Because Korea is under Japanese occupation, the children study Japanese and speak it at school. Their own language, their flag, the folktales Uncle tells them—even their names—are all part of the Korean culture that is now forbidden. When World War II comes to Korea, Sun-hee is surprised that the Japanese expect their Korean subjects to fight on their side. But the greatest shock of all comes when Tae-yul enlists in the Japanese army in an attempt to protect Uncle, who is suspected of aiding the Korean resistance. Sun-hee stays behind, entrusted with the life-and-death secrets of a family at war. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Another terrific Park novel!
In "When My Name Was Keoko" Linda Sue Park introduces her readers to a painful part Korean history. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the book deals with the struggles of the Korean people to maintain their identity and cultural heritage while the Japanese were fighting to erase all that was uniquely Korean. The story centers on the relationship between sister and brother pair- Sun-hee and Tae-yul- and their contrasting approaches to dealing with the incredible hardships of the occupation. It includes many themes worth mentioning- strength, cultural pride, sacrifice, perseverance, family ties, respect, etc.

As a library media specialist (in training), I highly recommend this book for upper elementary grade to young adult readers. It has a thought-provoking way of presenting values and lessons without coming across as preachy. The book also exposes young readers to an often undermined historical event and to a cultural group with which very few Americans are familiar.

A Brilliantly Written Book
Linda Sue Park does a marvelous job of bringing to life her two distinct narrators, Sun-hee and Tae-yul, sister and brother, who live during the Japanese occupation of Korea, when the Japanese tried to obliterate the Korean culture. People are no longer permitted to speak Korean in public, children are taught to read and write Japanese so that only the older generation still remembers how to read Kore