Amazon.com

"Even when Roberto was little, he went against the grain. Like mosttermites, he melted over maple, and pined for pine. Oak was okay, too. ButRoberto didn't eat his food. He played with it."

Young Roberto has a burning desire to become an architect. Even when the othertermites mock his ambition, Roberto is never derailed from his dream. So, likeso many career-minded youth, this mite with a mission sets off for the big,buggy city. Here, sadly, he is thwarted by his heroes, Hank Floyd Mite and FleasVan Der Rohe. But this inspired insect decides not to wallow in his sorrows butto help out other bugs with even greater problems. Soon, a fantastic, eclectichousing development is in the works. The mysterious architect chooses to remainanonymous, but ultimately can't avoid the grateful adulation of the carpenterants, ladybugs, and house flies he has helped.

Nina Laden's fantastic collages use old catalog and magazine images, blueprints,cork veneer, and lots more, to create buildings, cities, and buggy creatures thelikes of which you've never seen. The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilts away from theEmpire State Building, with Gaudi's quirky sculptural edifices looming nearby.Some of the hilarious wordplay may fly over the heads of non-architects, but theoverall humorous effect--and the go-for-your-goals message--will not be lost onanyone. For more charming and artistic pun-ishment, try Laden's When Pigasso Met Mootisse.(Ages 6 to 11) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My architect husband loves this book!
My husband just recently purchased this book. We both love it! I love the story line and how Roberto does not quite fit in with the other termites. He follows his dreams, and eventually, parent termites want their kids to be just like him! The illustrations in this book are also great!

A Terrific Little Termite!
From the beginning, Roberto was different. He loved his wood, but he'd always rather play with his food than eat it. More than anything he wanted to become a famous architect like his heroes, Hank Floyd Mite and Fleas Van Der Rohe. Belittled at home by the other termites and never taken seriously, Roberto sets off for the big city to "build his dreams." Life in the city is hard, and not just for Roberto. He meets all kinds of bugs with housing problems, including roaches chased from a diner, a housefly with no place to go and a poor ladybug whose house is on fire and children are gone. Marshalling all his determination, Roberto decides to build a new community, that will meet the needs of these out-of-luck bugs and maybe make his architect dreams come true at the same time..... Nina Laden has written and illustrated a delightful and amusing story with a most improbable hero and youngsters will be rooting for Roberto as he chases and finally realizes his heart's desire, in his bug eat bug world. Ms Laden's witty text, full of creative wordplay, will charm adults as well as children and her outstanding collage artwork, so full of wonderful detail, really brings this story to life. A terrific picture book for youngsters 4-8, Roberto the Insect Architect lets everyone know that with hard work, your dreams can come true.

Fantastically fun and ingeniously imaginative
A delightful story about a termite who overcomes all opposition to become a world renowned architect. The message that you can be anything you want to be is very obvious but the unusual characters and clever word play keep the book from sounding preachy. The illustrations are an integral part of this tale and greatly enhance the overall effect. My only reservation about this book is that while the length and format are ideal for younger children, many of the plays on words that make the story so enjoyable will only be understood by an older audience.

A Howard Roark for the termite set
Insect architects! This is an inspired little story with theunlikely prospect of a termite who dreams of building with wood instead of eating it.... Roberto sets off for the big buggy city in search of his dream.

The story is encouraging, and the wordplay witty but it's the fantastically funky collages that win you over. Laden uses all sorts of images... to create unreal insect edifaces. You'll find yourself staring at the quirky seussian architecture and chuckling at all the in-jokes.

A treat for the eyes and very fun! ... Read more

Book Description

This is the moving story of how Jackie Robinson became the first black player on a major league baseball team and how on a fateful day in Cincinnati, PeeWee Reese took a stand and declared Jackie his teammate.
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Reviews (6)

the hardship in baseball
Teammates

Teammates is about 2 men named
Pees wee Reese and Jackie Robinson. Both of them were baseball players on the same
Team called the dogers. Pee wee
Reese was white and Jackie rob-
Inson was black. They were both
Friends and helped each other out. The players on their team
Came mostly from the south, men
Had been taught to avoid black
People since childhood. They moved to another table
Whenever Jackie sat down next
To them. Many opposing players
Were cruel to Jackie, calling him mean names from their
Dugouts. A few tried to hurt
Him with their spiked shoes.
It was bad for Jackie. Pitchers
Aimed for his head, and he
Received threats on his life,
Both from individuals and from
Oramizations like the Ku Klux
Klan. Jackie avoided all of it,
And made the team. Jackie and
Pee wee became really great
Friends and baseball legends.

Awesome!
This book teaches you alot about how blacks were treated back in the day. When Jackie Robinsion was signed to the Dodgers the fans and players treated him really badly. People threw stuff at him. Then a young teammate stood up for him and saved him from being ban from the team. So you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

classic
A simple telling of how Jackie Robinson came to play in the major leagues, this book portrays the prejudice he faced in a basic way that children can understand. And it shines a bright light on a quiet moment: PeeWee Reese's brave public declaration of solidarity with his teammate. This book has been my son's favorite for the past two years, since he was five.

Brooklyn Dodger Teammates: Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese
"Teammates" tells the story of one of the more moving moments in the history of baseball that occurred during the 1947 season when the Brooklyn Dodgers traveled to Crosley Field in Cincinnati to play the Reds. Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play in the major leagues, was playing first base and being the target of hostility and abuse from the fans. At shortstop was Harold "Pee Wee" Reese, who born in the South, but who had refused to join other Southerners on the team in signing a petition to kick Jackie off the team. That day in Cincinnati, Reese did something that remains one of the bright moments of that historic season and which deserves to be more than a minor footnote in baseball history.

"Teammates" is written by Peter Golenbock, who heard the story of what happened that day from Rex Barney, who pitched for the Dodgers that day. Usually when the story of Jackie Robinson breaking the "color line" in baseball, the other key person in the story is Branch Rickey, the Dodger general manager. But Rickey could only support Robinson from the front office and not on the field, where it was Pee Wee Reese who decided to do something about that. Consequently, it is Reese who emerges as the hero of this particular story. Certainly it is safe to assume that anyone who reads this book knows something about Jackie Robinson; Golenbock talks about how Rickey needed somebody special to be the first, but does not get into the reasons why Robinson was that man (e.g., All-American football star at U.C.L.A., Army officer). But clearly "Teammates" is not intended to be the first book a youngster reads about the story of Jackie Robinson. Paul Bacon, as he did for the exquisite "Susanna of the Alamo," does both the design and illustration for this volume, combining historic photographs and items with his own watercolor paintings to tell the story.

A few brave men
This book is a true story that vividly describes the era of baseball and the scoial climate of race relations in the early 1940's. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the first Major Leauge Baseball team to hire an African American. Branch Rickey of the Dodgers was looking for "a man strong enough not to fight back". Jackie Robinson was of course that man and it was known as the "Great Experiment". It was tough for Jackie who ws not well recieived by many whites, including his teammates. One teammate was different, he knew he should always do what is right even if everyone around him including family or friends felt differently, that man was Pewee Reese. This book looks at how racism affected many aspects of society and how the strength of one indidual can change many attitudes. There is a variety of mediums used for the illustrations that only enhance the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Thief!

When Phil sees another kid wearing his brother's jacket, he assumes the jacket was stolen. It turns out he was wrong, and Phil has to ask himself the question: Would he have made the same assumption if the boy wearing the jacket hadn't been African American? And that question leads to others that reveal some unsettling truths about Phil's neighborhood, his family, and even himself. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Tough Issues Handled in a Sensitive Manner
This book is written in a brisk style. The pace is quick and not heavy on detail. Instead Andrew Clements takes the time to let us into the mind of a young man struggling with his feelings. I really applaud Andrew Clements for taking on a sensitive issue.
This story gives a picture of a brief encounter between two young men Phil and Daniel. In this encounter Phil and Daniel squabble over the ownership of the jacket Daniel is wearing.
This event pushes Phil to really think about who he is and what his core beliefs are. You see, Daniel is an African American boy and Phil happens to be white. Phil begins to question if he is actually a predjudiced person.
Clements does a wonderful job of portraying Phil's questioning. He also touches on the way we are shaped by the views of a parents, whether we realize it or not! Clements also shows us that we can rise above the misconceptions and predjudices of our environment. Which to me, is the greatest message in this story.
I'm sure this story would challenge the thinking of late elementary students and middle school students. The copy I read has great discussion questions for literature groups.
I really enjoyed it... and I'm sure you would too!

The Jacket
The Jacket by Andrew Clements
In this book Phil thinks he's prejudice. Phil took Daniel's jacket and probably wouldn't have taken the jacket if he was white. The main characters in this book are Phil, Daniel, Lucy and Daniel's mom. Daniel's mom had given a jacket to Lucy, which had once belonged to Phil. When Phil saw Daniel in school one day, wearing the jacket, he thought that Daniel had stolen it from his brother. Phil grabbed the jacket from him and they both got in trouble at the principal's office. Daniel was my favorite character because he he was ghetto (mean and tough) in the story.

I couldn't really relate to any of the characters in the story because I am not prejudice. I did like Daniel, though, beacuse he liked to play basketball and I always play basketball in the gym.

My favorite part in the book is when Phil got in a fight with Daniel and had to go to the principal's office. If I could change something in this book, I would have made Daniel have more money and live in a bigger house.

I would recommend this book to my younger brother and other kids in elementary school.

The Jacket
The thing I didn't like about the book The Jacket was that it didn't really have an ending.
The thing I did like about the book was the lesson of the story. The story is about prejudice.

The thing I think could have made the book better would be to of said whether or not Phil and Daniel became friends.
I thought the story was a little short to have explained the story so that you new what the problem was, the solution, and how it worked out.

Good Book
This book has a wonderful plot and theme. It starts off with a white boy accusing an African-American boy of stealing his brother's jacket. The principal is then involved... after a talk in her office the African-American boy refuses to wear the jacket because he learns that it was given to him, he thinks that it was charity. Later, after much thought the white boy wonders whether or not he accused the boy just because he was black and whether or not he regards them as the same standard as other white kids. Do you?

This was a very interesting, thought-provoking book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Noticing differences among people is biological. At six months, aninfant can distinguish skin color, hair texture, and facial features. Butforming attitudes about differences is social, say Caryl Stern La Rosa and EllenHofheimer Bettman in this perceptive and practical book developed by theAnti-Defamation League, Hate Hurts. The authors offer a clear andcompelling guide to understanding the way children learn and unlearn prejudice,suggesting hundreds of strategies, role plays, and sample dialogues for parentsand teachers to shape the way children value the differences they perceive.

Prejudice--an all-too-common response to dealing with differences of race,religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation--is contagious, the authors warn.They offer both the theory and the practice to teach children to "turn the fearand pain of prejudice into the courage and cooperation of understanding andrespect." Insightful chapters illuminate how children see differences at variousages, from toddler to teen, and detail the tough questions they may ask.

The most powerful segments of the book are devoted to true stories that describehow to respond to children of all ages who have been the initiator or the objectof hateful words and actions. For example, one section redefines "big words"(prejudice, stereotype, and discrimination) for "little people"; another tacklesadolescent name-calling, exclusion, and "zooing." Specific tools for counteringbias in schools, media, books, and online are underlined with conviction andclarity. Parents and teachers could not wish for a wiser guide to confront andconquer prejudice in our children and ourselves. --Barbara Mackoff ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a lesson to "unlearn"
I had to read this book at work (I'm an assistant editor for a teachers' magazine) and was pleasantly surprised at the outcome of my reading assignment. If you are a parent or teacher, you will have no trouble finding some benefit from this book.

"Hate Hurts" addresses issues that different ages of children have, from a preschooler's inquiries ("Why don't that man's legs work?") to more serious teen-age deliberations ("I don't like how my friends were teasing that gay guy, but I don't want them to think I'm gay...").

The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is the scattershot approach the book takes. Having said that, this approach makes the book digestible by parents and teachers alike, and the material is appropriate for sharing with nearly anybody. This book is an easy read, and has many applicable anecdotes and a great lesson for all.

A Wonderful Text For Concerned Parents
A marvelous book! As the mother of young twins, I wonder (and worry) about how best to teach my children what it means to be a citizen in a diverse society, one where people of different races, religions, nationalities, ethnicites, ages, sexual orientations, looks and customs all participate equally (whew, that was a lot for one sentence!) -- but where, alas, a good deal of prejudice and misunderstanding still exist. 'Hate Hurts' is full of fine, useful advice. The authors offer insights and suggestions that are always practical, though not always obvious. What's more, part of the proceeds go towards efforts by the Anti-Defamation League to eradicate prejudice. This book will have a permanent and prominent place in our family library. ... Read more

Book Description

Toswiah Green's life ended the moment her policeman father decided to testify against a fellow officer. The Greens have had to change their identities and move to a different city. Now Toswiah is Evie Thomas, and that is the least of the changes. Her defeated father spends his days sitting by the window. Since her mother can no longer work as a teacher, she puts her energy into their new church. Her only sister is making secret plans to leave. And Evie, struggling to find her way, wonders who she is now and how she can make her future as bright as her past once was. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

MY OWN
"Thank you for my family, my friends, and my name", are all things you will say to yourself after reading this book. Toswiah a young afriecan afmerican girlwho is put through trauma, a state of depression, and an idenity crisis all in a two- three year life span. She is forced into the witness protection program because her father witnessed a murder of a young black teen, by two of his fellow white cops. He was the only black cop in his precint and felt it was dangerous for he and his family. As time goes on Toswiah loses identity and becomes Evie her siter become Anna a rebellous gurl who was once popular, sweet and social. Her mother becomes annoited and into her new religion that she breathees it. I recommend this book to people who what reality.

The Life
This novel was about a family having to change their identity;as well as their lives, just because their father witnessed a murder. His fellow friends, police officers, killed a young african-american boy. The Green family was put in a witness protection program, so they moved out of denvert, leaving family members, friends, and their belongings. They had to change their names and had to change the way they lived. The family didn't like it there. A lot happened to the family while they are there. Cameron, which is Anna now, had grown into a beautiful women. Toswiah which now is Evie, has made new friends and found what she likes most "track". The family went through a lot of changes, but they made it through. I think this was a great book, I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend this book to children of all ages. I hope they will enjoy it, like I did.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
IMAGINE IF YOUR PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE WAS TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE YOUR FATHER SAID THE HAD TO BE? WHAT IF YOUR LIFE, FRIENDS, AND BELIEFS WERE ALL PULLED FROM UNDER YOU, AND YOU HAD NO GROUND TO STAND ON? WHAT IF YOUR LIFE WAS RESTARTED LIKE A COMPUTER? WELL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK, "HUSH" BY JACQUELINE WOODSON. THIS BOOK AT FIRST WAS CONFUSING, BUT AFTER A WHILE YOU GET USE TIME. thIS BOOK IS VERY EMOTIONAL. iN SOME INSTANCES YOU START TO CRY OR FEEL PAIN.SOMETIMES READING THE BOOK YOU WONDER WHY SHE NEVER CRIED? THEN YOU ASK WHAT WOULD I DO IF MY LIFE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

New Life
This novel is about a black family. There are 2 girls and 2 parents.Cameron and Toswiah are the 2 girls. Cameron is a cheerleader and Toswiah is an athlete. Therefore the father witnessed a crime scene and was forced to start a new life in a new place with a new name. Cameron is now Anna and Toswiah is now Evie. Evie experiences a new life at her new shool and even found someone named Toswiah. They become good friends. The mom becomes a Jehovah's Witness and the father stares out the window all day. I reccomend this book to to all people because people should know what its like to start a new life.

Bye Bye Home
In the story Hush a girl named Toswiah is the main charater.She and her family are forced to leave their beloved home in Denver. They left because her father witnessed two white police officers murder a young african american boy. Her mother studies her bible and attends Kingdom Hall. Her sister is a high school student and hates her life. The ending is a little rough because it leaves the reader wondering what's gonna happen. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Learning to face adversity even after a war's end
Ken's father spent WWII in the Minidoka Japanese-American Internment Camp in Idaho. Ken, the author was raised in Seattle. Shorty is stuck in the barracks without friends, surrounded by noise and boredom. No one has anything to do. His dad sees verves fraying and has an idea, Build a baseball diamond and organize games. The men make the diamond, the women improvise the uniforms. Games are scheduled under the gaze of the guard towers. Shorty scores a big hit under nervous angry pressure. After the war, he continues to be taunted, but learns self respect under the pressure of adversity. The benefit from this book, is that there is no whitewash. It is honest, and yes, he was called Shorty, cuz life is like that.

Amazing
This book is an amazing resource for teaching students about the inequalities that took place during WWII. It is a reality check to all of those who stood by and watched their fellow friends and neighbors as they were forced to leave their homes and be placed in internment camps in Hawaii. This is not just a gut check. This book served to illustrate how the simple things in life can mean everything. This book receives my highest rating and is first rate with teachers everywhere.

Kid's Eye View of Japanese Camps, Being an Outsider
I read this to my "just-turned 8" year old son who really identified with the kid as "odd man out." The story both communicates what it was like to be in a Japanese internment camp from a kid's perspective, and communicates how it feels to be an outsider (a feeling I'm sure every child has felt some time) by talking about baseball and being the "littlest" and physically different kid. A nice, serious story with a smile at the end.

Our Thoughts
Our 4th grade class at Lamar Elementary in Arkansas thought the book was very interesting. Especially interesting was the information on the Japanese-Americans being taken to the camps. We felt that the book was sad because they had to go to camps. We also thought it was neat because it tells about the past and history that we never knew before. This book tells a lot of history. It was a two thumbs up!
We didn't know about the Japanese kept as hostages.

A really moving book.
This book tells the story of a boy inside an internment camp during WWII. It deals with a lot of feelings, yet shows how determined the detainees were to survive and create an acceptable life for themselves. The story demonstrates that one must continue to strive for a good life even when conditions hold little promise for happiness. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Longing for adventure, Jack the blackbird decides one day to venture outfrom his forest home to seek the excitement of the sea. There he encounters adashing seagull named Jim, who welcomes Jack into his life and shows him thewonders of his seaside village. Unfortunately, the other (white) gulls aren't sohospitable. "Who's that funny bird," old Captain Seagull asks. In spite of Jim'sefforts to defend his friend, the villagers can't seem to get beyond Jack'sdifferences. Until, that is, they learn that he has a skill none of them do.Jack's ability to read funny stories from an old washed-up box of books wins thefriendship of the crusty gulls, and interspecies harmony abounds at last.

Though the story has an innocent sweetness to it and the plot line is pleasantlymeandering, the denouement seems forced as lessons about the importance oftolerance and the value of literacy are blurred. No question, the book's shiningglory is in its illustrations. Kitty Crowther's ink and watercolor pictures arequirky and appealing, with the seagulls dressed in jaunty stripes and Jack theblackbird in a handsome red shirt. The seagulls in the village have a mean,quarrelsome look about them, while Jack's and Jim's open expressions reflecttheir unbiased hearts. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Charming Tale of Acceptance
Jack and Jim charmingly tells the story of Jack, a blackbird, who comes to befriend a seagull named Jim. They meet on the beach (Fire Island?) and spend the night together, talking. The next morning, Jim takes Jack to his hometown, where Jim shows Jack the sights with his arm around his shoulder. After an exhasuting day, they spend the night together again. The next day, Jim's seagull friends reject Jack because he looks so different. Jack is thrilled when Jim tells him that if his neighbors can't accept Jack, then he won't be friends with them anymore. Later, Jack winds up winning Jim's friends over, and the formerly-nasty seagulls come to accept and value Jack. This is a sweet book about learning to respect diversity and to follow your heart. When I read the book to my three year old, he asked "Are they (Jack and Jim) partners?" Improbably, yes.

Excellent children's book!
This book has become one of my daughter's favorite books! It's illustrations, along with the message keep her attention. The story is about two friends who experience uncomfortable feelings from a seagull colony because one (Jack) is a black bird and the other (Jim) is a seagull. I picked this up from the local library, but will purchase it for my daughter's permanent collection. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Raving Review
The Raving Review

Hiram Hillburn loves spending time with his Grandma and Grandpa down in Greenwood, Mississippi. But then his Grandma dies and Hiram's parents decide to move to Tempe, Arizona. Then in the summer of 1955 when Hiram is 16, his parents decide to let him go back to Greenwood. But Hiram feels it is not the same Greenwood that he remembered as a young boy. Then a young African-American boy is murdered because of an ugly racial incident. Hiram is starting to learn why his father was trying to not let him go.
I liked the book for the most part, though there were a few parts I didn't care for, like when Hiram witnessed the ugly racial incidents. This book is based on real events. So, if you like true stories that are part of our country's history like this, then I would recommend this book to you. The author did a good job of making this book very descriptive. I give it 3½ out of 4 stars.

By: Adam ...

Racism...
I just finished this book tonight and I will say it is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The protagonist, Hiram, doesn't exactly get along with his father, especially where his grandfather is concerned. So when his father finally permits him to go to Greenwood, he is thrilled. But the town isn't how he remembers it to be. It is all perfectly clear when his 'friend' R.C. forces Emmett Till, a black youth from Chicago visiting his uncle, to eat fish guts. When Emmett whistles at a white woman, things go sour, and R.C. talks about wanting to go with a few men who invited him to teach Emmett a lesson. But then Emmett goes missing and when his body is found, Hiram has a feeling R.C. might be one of the men involved with the boy's brutal murder. Though two of the men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, involved are on trial, it isn't known who the other two (a man and a woman) are. Will justice come to the Till family? And who else was involved in the murder of Emmett Till?

This book was excellent - the characterization, the setting, description, plot...it was a well-written, well-thought-out book. I recommend it to anybody who is looking for a good book on prejudice and the Civil Rights movement. It will really get you thinking.

Mississippi Trial, 1955
Crowe, Chris. Mississippi Trial, 1955. 2002. Phyllis Fogelman/Penguin Inc. 9-12.
This book is based on the true story of Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago who came south to visit relatives in Mississippi in the fall of 1955. A fish out of water in Mississippi, his behavior did not fit the accepted norm for behavior for a black person in the south at that time. Talking familiarly to a married white woman and being bold enough to whistle at her condemned him, in spite of his youth, to torture and death.

This extraordinary book will haunt you long after you finish reading it. It is a well-written tale with a constantly increasing tension and fully rounded and developed characters. This book is a terrible indictment of those good and loving citizens who had the secret dark side of the Clan hidden under their smiling faces. This is the coming of age story of a young white boy who goes back to visit his beloved grandfather and finds a world he was too young and innocent to see when he visited as a child. Hiram finds the difficulty in facing darkness is not the darkness that lies hidden in strangers, but the darkness hidden in ourselves and those we love. This book will win awards.

Adults and Teens should read this one
Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Rides, and the March on Washington. But one name and event is often missing: Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old black boy from Chicago who was brutally murdered, his body dumped in the Tallahatchie River, for allegedly whistling at a white woman.
Told though the eyes of Hiram Hillburn, a white teenager who has come to spend the summer with his grandfather, the reader is taken into the heart of racism at a time when the passions of the south were volatile and violent. Hiram sees changes in his beloved south, his friends, and even his grandfather; changes which make him doubt his own safety. Hiram witnesses R.C. Rydell force Emmett to eat a raw fish at knife-point. Hiram's grandfather offers no sympathy, warning that "colored boys should know better than to push themselves on white folks." After Emmett is murdered, Hiram doesn't want to stay silent, he wants the truth to be told, even if it uncovers secrets about his own family.
Discuss of racism as it stands in our country today, and what can be done to prevent it.

A provacative look at a turning point in history
The trial of Emmett Till's murderers is a story everyone needs to hear about and this story is told in such a clear and enjoyable way, that all who read it will want to delve deeper into the history. I read it clean through in one sitting, never getting bored or tired. It is a clever blend of fact and fiction, the language captivates without distracting, and the events are so compelling the book leaves the reader rethinking life choices. Great for children and adults alike. In fact, I think this book can catch even the reluctant readers. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

A Captivating and Interesting Novel
This novel by David Klass tells the story of sixteen year old Jimmy Doyle and his journey from a small town in Minnesota to an American Dream Team basketball competition in Italy. At first, Jimmy doesn't want to leave his girlfriend Janey and his widowed mother and two younger sisters when basketball scouts recruit him. At his mother's urging, he flies to Los Angles for the team's training. He discovers that all the other members of the team are black and are some of the most well-known high school basketball players in America. The white boy from Minnesota doesn't quit fit in, but begins to learn about the lives of his black teammates. He develops an especially difficult relationship with Augustus, a tough dude from inner city Los Angeles.

When the Dream Team arrives in Italy, it faces neo-Nazi racism against the predominantly black players. Death threats provide a suspenseful plot as the American team accumulates victories on the court. The climax of the book teaches Jimmy that racism can hurt anyone.

I recommend this fast-paced book to any sports minded teenager who wants to see how people from different backgrounds can become friends and brothers under the skin. The conversation between the teenagers is realistic. Their lives are complicated. Jimmy takes risks in this book and learns that
having guts in dangerous zones can bring not just glory but also a deeper understanding of life.

A Great Mix of Basketball and Adventure
Danger Zone is a very good book. I really enjoyed it because it was about basketball and adventure. The Basketball part was easy for me to understand because I have played basketball in the past and I could relate to it, and the adventure part of the book kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. This book was also enjoyable for me because it was full of controversy and that made it very interesting for me to read. The controversy was of race, but David Klass did a great job of integrating basketball into the arguments also.

The main argument in the story is between Jimmy and Augustus. Both Jimmy and Augustus are on the USA's 17 and under American all star team. Augustus is mad at Jimmy because Jimmy took Augustus' cousin's place on the team and he thinks this is because Jimmy is white and his cousin is black. This fuels many arguments and ends up in an eventual temporary kidnap. The problem is still not solved in the last scene, but everyone seems to be happy and both Jimmy and Augustus are competitive but nice at the same time, which leads to a bumpy, but good ending.

All in all Danger Zone was a very intriguing that kept me wanting to read more and think about the book even when I wasn't reading it. This book is great for sports fans, thriller fans, or anyone else who likes to read. I would recommend it to anyone.

Small town Hero, Big Lessons learned
This book is about a small town hero named Jimmy Doyle, when the time is right, can do amazing things with a basketball. This is why he is selected to play for an American High School Dream Team. He will get the chance to travel around Europe. There is just one problem. In the town that he grew up in, there wasn't a lot of racial balance. He had only see a few African Americans in his lifetime, so coming to Los Angeles was a big step for him. He had to deal with his teammates who were predominately black. He has to deal with prejudices people thinking he is only there because he is white. He has some rough times with an LA native standout Augustus LeMay. Through out the book I think it is very interesting and wise that Jimmy tries to learn from Augustus. I think if more people try what Jimmy did, we wouldn't have half the problems we have in society today. Jimmy also get his first confrontation with racism when they travel to Germany and encounter some Skin Heads. This is probably a very tough experience for Jimmy because he has never been in this situation. I think people can learn a lot about this book, it teaches very good lessons. You learn some about the lifestyles people have growing up in large cities. Overall I believe this is probably one of the best books that I have read. I have now read it multiple times and recommend it to all of my friends.

Racism
A Reviewby Ian

Jimmy Doyle is a high school basketball player from Minnesota that is chosen to play on an All-American team that will travel to Italy to play in a tournament. Jimmy is soon to find out that not all of Jimmy's teammates want him on the team, mainly because he is white. Jimmy must endure racism and death threats from people around the world. Jimmy and his teammates must overcome racism to achieve their goals.

I like how this book keeps you on the edge of your seat. You always want to know what happens next in the story, and how Jimmy handles certain situations. I also admire the main character in the story, Jimmy. Not only is he a good basketball player, but he does a good job handling all of the racism and death threats he receives. Another thing I like about this book is how the team must overcome hostility from an entire country to achieve their goals and win. The team does a good job of sticking together to overcome many things, and not letting racism get the best of them.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who enjoys basketball, and suspense. I always wanted to know what was going to happen to Jimmy next. I think it is a really good book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Livin' on the Edge
A Review by Stefan

Jimmy Doyle, a seventeen year old from Minnesota, is a supremely skilled basketball player. When two scouts from Los Angeles, California come to talk to Jimmy Doyle about playing in an All National seventeen and under team, he accepts but only after being talked into it by his mother and his girlfriend. The team he plays for actually then goes to play in Europe where all the seventeen and under teams play for the world championship. Along the way, Jimmy makes some good friends, a few enemies while dealing with fear, doubt and concentration.

One thing that I love about Danger Zone is that David Klass portrays Jimmy in his home town of Granham, Minnesota as being the hometown basketball "hero". "Doyle, Doyle, Doyle went the sound of the bleachers as we walked onto the court for the second half". The second thing I like about Danger Zone is the realness it gives me from the coaches despite it being a fictional story. "'Okay, all you get your butts over here,' he shouted. 'Anybody who wises off will be running wind sprints till their legs fall off.'" The third thing I absolutely love about Danger Zone is the way Los Angeles is portrayed with such realism and nothing is held back. (With gangs and violence and such) "'You got the PG-13's, the 18th Street East, West, North and South. They don't like blacks too much. We get out of this car and inside five minutes we got guns to our heads.'"

To every basketball player or fan who has every wondered what its like to be one of the greats in the world at a sport like basketball, this is our book. If you're a kid or an adult who love books about basketball and the realism that lies within basketball, then this book is for you. This is an extremely interesting and intense book and it will keep you on the edge of your seat one hundred and ten percent of the time! ... Read more

Book Description

There's a sweet, sweet smell in the air as two young girls sneak out of their house, down the street, and across town to where men and women are gathered, ready to march for freedom and justice.

Inspired by the countless young people who took a stand against the forces of injustice, two Coretta Scott King Honorees, Angela Johnson and Eric Velasquez, offer a stirring yet jubilant glimpse of the youth involvement that played an invaluable role in the Civil Rights movement. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Unnoticed...
When mentioning the Civil Rights movement, we automatically think of Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, and other adults who spoke out against inequality.However, the role of children and young adults is not often discussed, and it should be.A SWEET SMELL OF ROSES by Angela Johnson takes a step in sharing their involvement.

The book opens early one morning as two girls sneak out of their house to join a civil rights march. They run through the streets and upon meeting the others, listen as Dr. King talks of peace, love, and nonviolence.They then join the march as protestors shout along the sidelines and police observe the group.Finally, they stop in the middle of town as King again takes center stage. Afterwards, they run back home late in the afternoon to find their mother waiting, with a worried face.

THE SWEET SMELL OF ROSES is written as a tribute to the many children and young adults who took part in the fight for justice during the Civil Rights era.Though I can't really imagine younger children leaving their houses without permission, racing through the streets alone, joining a march, and staying out all day, it could've happened, as the times were a bit safer for our children. Additionally, there are likely other areas they participated in as well and I would've loved to see that incorporated in the book.Better yet, to have them joining their parents in the march would've been more age-appropriate.

The illustrations are highly detailed, done in black and white, capturing the tone of the book. Additionally, the writing is easy to understand and children may enjoy it in a reading circle type of scenario, but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.It doesn't fit the projected age group. It is, however, a great look into the history of the Civil Rights Movement and a nice way to introduce children to it.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (28)

Taking Sides book review
This novel is about this boy named Lincoln who needs to change different schools. The school he has to change is Franklin Jr. High to Columbus Jr. High. The characters are: Lincoln, James, Monica, Mom, Roy, Coach Yesutis, Tony, Mr. Kimball, Mrs. Contras. The setting is: about Lincoln and his mother that are living in a barrio that are kind of junky neighborhood. Then, they move to San Francisco in the suburbs. Then they moved because they got robbed.

During one part of the book, Lincoln meets this girl Monica. Lincoln has a crush on her. Monica has told Lincoln that she used to play for the girls' team. I liked it when Monica and Lincoln had a connection, and they played basketball together.

It was difficult to understand why Roy liked Lincoln's mom. I didn't enjoy when Lincoln lied to Monica about going to a different church. Monica got mad. I also didn't like when someone broke in his house.

I recommend this book to others because you get to learn about Lincoln's life and how hard it is for his family. You can see how it is for his family and how easy it is for us. You probably don't get robbed every day like Lincoln and his mom.

Taking Sides Book Report
Taking side is about a boy named Lincoln who once lived in Barrio but moved to a nicer neighborhood called Sycamore becasue of a robbery in his house, which his stero and t.v. were stolen. He change schools from Franklin Jr. High to Columbus Jr. High. Lincoln was tall, not thin, black hair(like chunk of charcoal). In the story he has a nickname Linc. Lincoln was on the 1st string in basketball for his 8th grade team and good friends w/ James. His parents are split up and he is having a hard time finding friend because he just moved from a school that people don't really like. I would definately recommend this book to others who like to read a good book.

Audio Book Review for Ms. O
The story deals with moving, cultural differences and basketball. The main charactar is Lincoln Mendoza or as what his friends say, Linc. He moves from the bario to a white suburb because a burgler
took a tv. He used to play basketball for his oldschool(Columbus) and now plays for his new school(Franklin)and they have to play each other. He is becomes stressed out because he is playing against his old school and some of his old friends. As the game nears he gets into an arguement with one of his friends. On the night of the game he plays and loses. He doesn't mind because he made up with his friend that he argued with. I liked this book because the characters speak their native language, Spanish. It kept the feeling of a Hispanic-American community authentic.

Taking Sides
This novel is about Lincoln who goes to a new school. Lincoln likes to play basketball. He lives in a nice neighborhood called Sycamore. Lincoln and Tony are both friends.
I liked it when Lincoln and Tony were going to the barrio. I like that part when Lincoln's house got broken into. Lincoln was the basketball practice.
I did not like that part when Lincoln and Tony were arguing. I did not like that part when Tony left the Thrift shop. I also did not like that part when Lincoln hurt his knee.
YES! I would like other people to read a book because it's so much fun. There are Spanish words in the book. They like to read about the 2 boys playing basketball.

Taking Sides
I read a book called Taking Sides, written by Gary Soto. It's about Lincoln and Tony being best friends and Lincoln had a girl friend named Vicky. At this new school he liked somebody named Monica. Lincoln likes playing basketball.

I liked the part when Franklin beat Columbus in basketball. I like the part when Roy told a story about Coach Yesutis getting beat up by Franky Penada. I liked the part when Monica and Lincoln played basketball. I liked the part when Lincoln called Monica on the phone, because it is obvious that Lincoln liked Monica.

I didn't like it when Tony was hurting Lincoln's feelings at the thrift shop. The parts I didn't like are Tony's attitude. The dislike I didn't like was Coach Yesutis was yelling at Lincoln. The other part I didn't like was when James insulted Monica saying she's full Mexican.

I would recommend this book to others because if you know Spanish it will be easier for you. I would recommend this book, Taking Sides, because you can learn some Spanish words. I would recommend this book because it tells about basketball. I would also recommend this book because it shows relationship to Monica and Lincoln. ... Read more

Book Description

Now Rainbow Fish's third exciting adventure is available in a mini book and audio cassette package to delight his legion of fans. It's a whale of a tale in which a terrible misunderstanding escalates, putting Rainbow Fish and his friends in great danger, and Rainbow Fish must try to make peace with a big blue whale to save them all from disaster.

Children will be enchanted by the glittering holographic foil-stamped illustrations as they listen to the spirited reading by Blair Brown, the multitalented star of stage, screen, and television. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale ~ Marcus Pfister
THis is a good book on not judging people by the first impression. PEople thses days have to learn not to judge epople by looks. Just becasue someone looks different doesn't mean they are different. IF someone is bigger than you, it doesn't make them a bully. A lot of people make stereotype's and think people are mean because of their size. Yet they have to that it whats on the inside that counts.

We all judge people at one time or another, its natural. We just have to learn to except people for who they are. I like this book because it shows how people treat others in modern life. This book shows how to except others. I also like it because judging is not a good think, it the good qualities we need to look for i a person, not the bad ones.

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale
This book, a continuation of the Rainbow Fish series, is about a group of fish with shiny scales. They live near a Coral reef and eat all the krill they want. One day, a big blue whale came. He started eating the krill, and staring at the fish. The fish are afraid that they will become whale food! How will Rainbow Fish and his friends deal with the whale? Read this book by Marcus Pfister to find out!

lots of lessons taught
I love this story. ... I think it teaches lots of lessons. For example, it teaches how it is wrong to make snap judgements about others. It also teaches how to work out differences, and meet with people that are different.

Another great Rainbow Fish story
I love reading Rainbow Fish to my son. The illustrations are beautiful and the stories carry wonderful social lessons. I especially like this "big board book" copy. No easily ripped pages for little hands.

Big and Little Need to Cooperate to Prosper!
Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is the third in the Rainbow Fish series. In the first book, Rainbow Fish has to learn to share his glittering scales in order to be accepted. In the second book, Rainbow Fish to the Rescue, Rainbow Fish learns to help those in need, even if they are different. Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale builds on the theme of Rainbow Fish to the Rescue . . . except by exploring differences on a larger scale. The book features the same beautiful illustrations and glittering highlights that made the first two books so much fun to look at.

Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale is based on a misunderstanding. The fish and the whale are both attracted by the krill (small shrimp-like creatures) that live near the reef. The whale also enjoys seeing the sparkling highlights on the fish. One of the fish develops a fear of the whale. When the whale comes close one day, the jagged fin fish says, "Look out! . . . The wicked whale is after us!"

The whale's feelings are hurt, and the whale becomes angry. The whale chases the fish into a cavern and waves its tail so violently that the krill are dispersed. Soon, whale and fish are hungry.

Rainbow fish overcomes his fear. "We must make peace with the whale." "Please let's talk." "This fight was all a big mistake. It drove off the krill and now we're all hungry."

The whale makes peace. "Come now! said the whale." "Let's find new hunting grounds." "And before long, none of them could remember what the terrible fight had been about."

The story is a good one to read to both older and younger siblings. For the older ones, it shows the importance of not being threatening. For the younger ones, the lesson is to assume that size does not mean menace . . . even when it feels intimidating. For both children, the book explores that words can hurt, and have unpleasant consequences. The benefits of being considerate and sharing are also displayed. For me, this book contained all of the best elements of the first two books while reminding the reader of them by the visual cues of shared sparkles on all but the striped fish.

Children who are afraid of anger will probably want to avoid this book, although most should be fine with it by the recommended ages of 5 and higher. I suspect that most 4 year olds would love it.

Where else do large and small have to cooperate? You might want to share those examples with your child in order to create a more complementary view of how the world can work.

Seek ways to build strengths from differences!

... Read more

Book Description

Illustrated in full color. The colorful characters from Sesame Street teach

young children about racial harmony. Muppets, monsters, and humans compare

noses, hair, and skin and realize how different we all are. But as they look

further, they also discover how much we are alike.




... Read more

Reviews (3)

Sesame Street helps us learn about diversity.
I have a dog-eared copy of this book that I have used for years in my preschool classroom. The format of the book is repetive - "We are all alike. We all have hair to keep us warm." Then on the next page, "We are all different, our hair looks different". The children are immediately attracted to the Sesame Street characters and the possibility of guessing each character by their distinguishing feature. Often the favorite page is the one about noses, each character's nose is shown as if in a page of photographs showing just the noses - ... to The Count to Snuffalupagus.

We're Different, We're the Same is great for classrooms
I teach kindergarten and use this book every year at the beginning of the year. It takes each part of a person and shows how they are both the same and different. Example "our hair is different" then they show a variety of hair types. On the next page it continues: "Our hair is the same. It grows on us in several places. It warms our heads and frames oour faces."

Especially good for adopted children
We really like this book for our 3-yr old chinese-born daughter. It not only teaches her racial harmony, but also shows her that her parents are more like her than different. We like to give this book as a gift to other children and it is appropriate for any child. The illustrations are cute and we have had many a giggle as we point each other out in the pictures ("Daddy's hair looks like Big Bird's!"). ... Read more

Book Description

Us and Them illuminates the dark corners of our nation's past and traces our ongoing efforts to live up to the American ideals of equality and justice. Fourteen case studies--enhanced through the use of original documents, historical photos, newly commissioned paintings, and dramatic narrative--bring readers a first-hand account of the history and psychology of intolerance. We read about Mary Dyer, executed for her Quaker faith in Boston in 1660. We learn how the Mormons were expelled from Missouri in 1838. The attack on Chinese miners in Wyoming in 1885, the battle of Wounded Knee in 1890, the Ku Klux Klan activities in Mobile, Alabama in 1981, and the Crown Heights riot in 1991 are among the memorable episodes presented in clear, evocative language that brings to life history that is often forgotten or slighted. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Face of Prejudice
In an age of sanitized history and calls for revisionism that make people feel comfortable, there is a great need for more books like Jim Carnes' history of intolerance in America. With 128 pages of text and 16 concise chapters this book corrects much of the white washing that is taking place in much longer history texts, even at the college level. Religious liberty, Native American exile, freedom from slavery, racial extermination, and ethnic tensions are highlighted with graphic images and easily accessible narratives. The trials of diverse groups such as Mormons, Catholics, Chinese, Native Americans, Jewish immigrants, Mexican Americans, Japanese citizens, and just playing Americans are dramatically highlighted in an unforgettable montage of images and words that give the lie to the "melting pot" that is the United States.

Paintings, etchings, drawings, and photographs illustrate in no uncertain terms would hate has done to this country. More than that the pictures combined with the simple prose personalizes each inequity that is introduced. For example, "A Rose for Charlie" presents photographs of the community disrupted by hate, as well as that community's response to the hate. From photographs of hate speech scrawled on walls to portraits of citizens mourning the victim of a deadly hate crime present a view of America that could not be farther from the Norman Rockwell ideal we all wish this country would be. For those interested, a fictionalized account of this particular crime can be found in "The Drowning of Stephan Jones" by Bette Greene, which chronicles the death of the young man simply because of who he loved.

It should be an essential book for all classrooms.

An important book for educators
I used this book in both my 6th and 8th grade classrooms with great success. I embarked on a diversity project using it and the video (which I strongly recommend); it's an excellent starting point because its scope is so wide and yet it gives very detailed accounts of intolerance in America, starting from the beginning (you see, we have a rather long history of intolerance). Middle school students find it interesting and easy to understand, and it's perfect for the teacher because it covers many ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.. Use this book! It's very important.

This book effectively tells the story and links oppressions.
This terrific book effectively tells the story of oppression inthe United States and subtly connects the interrelatedness ofoppressions by putting the chapters side by side. The information and sidebars are magnificent in their detail and it is nice to have many sides of history that are so rarely shown. I learned more about history from this book than any history textbook I can remember. The stories of racial, religious, ethnic, and gay oppressions become human stories in this book--hopefully stories that we can learn from and choose not to repeat. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On Ellie and Carrie's first day of second grade there's a brand new kidin the class. But when the teacher asks her students to welcome the ultrablond,blue-eyed, pink-lipped, loud-voiced, accent-sporting Lazlo S. Gasky toBrookhaven School, they all mock him instead: "Too different and strange to fitin they all feared." Lazlo grows unhappier by the minute, as he is ostracizedand taunted by his classmates. One day, however, when Ellie sees his sad-lookingmother walking forlornly toward her car ("Her son's having trouble, she mightpull him out, / this school may be wrong for him, she's full of doubt"), thingsbegin to look up for Lazlo. At that moment Ellie begins to wonder what it mustbe like to be a new kid, feeling so "different and strange," and she decides totake steps to get to know him, even at the risk of facing her friends' ridicule.("At school the next day the kids stopped her and said, / 'You were walking withLazlo, are you sick in the head?' / Ellie paused and replied, 'Now I know him,you see, / Lazlo isn't that different from you and from me.'"

NBC News' Today coanchor Katie Couric's rhyming book provides a healthyapproach to treating people who may be perceived as different, and works well asa springboard to discussion. Though the suddenness of Ellie's turnaround inattitude seems a bit unnatural and the rhymes are often forced ("They arrived athis door greeted by his French poodle / and Mrs. Gasky was there with a plate ofwarm strudel!"), the message of The Brand New Kid will certainly not belost on children. As Couric writes in her introduction, "It sometimes takescourage, but I hope this story will inspire all of us to reach out and makesomeone feel a little less scared and a little less lonely." Hear, hear.Caldecott Honor artist Marjorie Priceman's watercolor spreads are positivelydelightful, washing warmly over the pages in a free, buoyant style. (Ages 4 to8) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Well Intentioned But Not Well Written
I was greatly disappointed in this book. The rhymes are forced and awkward - I had to read one page to my son several times and it still didn't have any flow. One review suggests that we shoud give Katie a break because her heart was in the right place. Well I disagree. A book should stand or fall on its own merits, not because of whose name is on the cover. If she is truly concerned about putting the message of tolerance out, why doesn't she become a patron to a young author with some real talent. I'm afraid this is just another example of a celebrity who thinks they can write. 2 stars for the illustrations.

A Winner!
Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole find lots of fun and surprises in second grade, the first of which is a brand new kid. He's different, very blond and blue-eyed with a funny accent and funnier name, Lazlo S Gasky. Instead of welcoming him to his new school and class, the kids in second grade tease and taunt Lazlo, isolating and ostracizing him. That is, until Ellie sees Lazlo's mother walking out of school one day, looking very worried and sad. At that moment she begins to understand what it's been like for Lazlo, to be "the strange, new kid" and decides to reach out to him. They play together and as she tells her friends the next day, Lazlo's not so different, we just didn't get to know him. He's really just like us..... Katie Couric has written a delightful, thoughtful story of tolerance that should open lots of discussions at home and in school about not belonging and feeling scared and lonely. Though her writing at times is awkward and her rhymes forced, the heartwarming and important message of this book far outweighs its flaws. Margorie Priceman's charming, expressive illustrations really capture the essence of the story and together, these two let youngsters know in a gentle, yet powerful way that our differences are what make us interesting and we all have a lot more in common than we might think at first glance. The trick is to get to know each other.

badly rhymed+badly written+famous author=published!
This is an example of what happens when good people write bad books. I have nothing against Katie Couric herself, and I realize that she had good intentions, but this book is so badly written, the rhymes are so forced, and the moral so obvious that it just overrides any intent she may have had. Books should be published based on the merit of the writing, not on the celebrity of the author. At best, it is a sophomoric effort (and I'm being kind). There are better books for kids about acceptance/tolerance out there. Save your money - it is a waste of paper.

Lack of Research
Couric does not mention one word about Hungarian music, Hungarian language, Hungarian geography, Hungarian cooking, or Hungarian history. However, Lazlo is clearly a Hungarian name.
As a Hunarian-American, I am very disappointed.
A Hungarian played a major role in inventing the computer. A Hungarian invented Holography. A Hungarian, Andy Groves, invented the pentium chip and founded Intel. The list goes on and on!
Hungarian is the most beautiful language in the world. Hungarian sausage is second to none.
Last but not least, Hungarian anti-semitism played a role in the death of a half million Hungarian Jews!

TRUE
A story about a boy, Lazlo, who is new in school. The kids in his class make fun of him. I think we can all relate to Lazlo in all different ways. People have made fun of you, and you have also made fun of other people. But in Lazlo's case, the students in his class mocked him constantly, and that can really hurt. But there is always one person at least who has a good heart, and in this case, it is Ellie. Ellie is the only one who gives Lazlo a chance, and finds out that he really is a great guy. This story teaches you that looks can be decieving. Don't judge someone by what they look like, they could be a really great person deep down. Kids can be really mean to a person, and people are afraid to say anything. Don't be. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on the true story of an Armenian boy who survives the near-extermination of his race.

It is 1915 and Vahan Kendarian, the pampered youngest son of one of the most influential Armenian families in Turkey, is confident that his privileged world will always include the house he loves, the laughter of his brothers and sisters, a sense of belonging. But when his uncle disappears and his father is taken away, when two brothers are shot before his eyes in the family garden, Vahan's world shatters. "Be steel," his father had always said when something tested his son's character. "Steel is made strong by fire." What is about to occur is Vahan's fire. In the next three weeks he will lose his home and know hunger and thirst for the first time. In the next three years he will become an orphan, a prisoner, a beggar, a servant, a stowaway in order to survive. He will meet and be befriended by the Horseshoer of Baskale, a Turkish governor famous for his practice of nailing horseshoes to the feet of his Armenian victims. He will live in a Turkish village, posing as a deaf mute and falling in love with the daughter of the only man in the village who guesses he is Armenian- and who is determined to kill him because of it. He will witness the murder and deportation of his neighbors and friends. And he will discover inside himself reserves of strength and courage he did not know existed.Based on the experiences of the author's great-uncle during the Armenian Holocaust, Forgotten Fire is the story of one boy's search for the survivor inside himself. It is the story of a lost nation-a powerful celebration of the resilience of the human spirit during the darkest of times. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Excellent
This was a very touching book about the Armenian Genocide. It is a story told through the eyes of a little boy; son of a wealthy prominent Armenian Lawyer that loses everything. It's a very easy to read book that was very fascinating to me (I couldn't put the book down); I was able to read cover to cover in about a week. The author does an excellent job of portraying the horrors of the Genocide, the cruelty of man, the courage of a young boy as he struggles to survive...this book should be made to a movie. I would not recommend this book to younger readers as there are strong references to rape, molestation and cruelty. However, I would strongly recommend and encourage reading this book to high school students.

The Best Novel on the Armenian Genocide
I read this book two years ago and its impact is still fresh in my mind. The point of view of this story ... from the eyes of a child ... is creative and strong. I could not put this book down. I have recommended this novel to all of my friends and was thrilled to see that it was on the summer reading list of required books at the local high school. Finally, through the words of an Armenian author, the youth of our nation will be educated in the Armenian Genocide. Pass the word on to your local schools. A word of caution... there are portions of the novel that deal with sensitive issues, apart from violence. Teachers and parents should be made aware of this fact, yet use it in educating the students as to the ultimate brutality of the genocide. Thank you Adam Bagdasarian, your ancestors are smiling down at you and thanking you for such a moving novel. "Abrees!"

A story of survival
I was asked to read this for school and I was quite intrested in the book. I finished the book within the 2nd day I rented it. It was a real page turner for me. Things happen so fast in this book. It's a book containing all emotions

Vahan Kenderian goes from a rich man's son to a beggar and goes through a journey to survive and not get killed by the Turks. In this story, Vahan loses several loved ones but he continues until he finally reaches freedom.

I highly recommmend this book

Easy to read, hard to comprehend
A quick read but boy was it gut-wrenching. I think this is good to help us understand what young people go through anywhere there is genocide going on. I suspect Vahan has a lot in common with those in Bosnia, Cambodia, Poland and Rwanda.

It has been a long time since a book has brought me to tears. This one did it at the end.

Incomplete
Definitely not for younger readers, this memorable