Reviews (6)

brilliant
I guess I read this when I was twelve and it was first published. I don't remember much about it now, except that I just recently have paid off the late charges I incurred at the library because of this book. (Also the Young Detective's Handbook to be perfectly honest.) I intend to purchase it now, because 8 years later I still remember it as being something beautiful.

A Good Little Group of Stories
There's some weird and wonderful stuff in these short stories, and that's what makes them worth reading.This is classic Wynne-Jones, one of the best authors I know of.

An amalgam of childish, feel-good stories
This book was quite possibly the best book I have ever owned.In fact, I liked it soo much that I lent it to all of my friends so that they could ead it.Most of them disliked it, but then one of them liked it so muchthat they stole it.(We're not friends anymore) But, that is allirrelevant.The point is, I am now scouring the Earth for another copy ofthis book, because I need to own it.

The stories are all inane andpointless, but they remind you of what is was like when you were a child,back when the biggest worry was what kind of sandwich you had in yourlunch.This book strikes a nostalgic note in me, and I chuckle every timeI read the stories.Childhood was fun, and happy.

It ws awful
I'm ten years old and in grade five I picked this book out to read.What is so fun about reading very short story's with lots of despriotion?

Some of the Kinder Planets is the BEST book for 8 & up
This is really, really, really good.It is FUNNY, FUN, and just reall really good.READ IT! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (8)

The reader will be panting for breath.
Everyone in the tiny Canadian farming community knows that Ruth Rose, despite being the preacher's step-daughter, is a crazy-bad girl. So who is Jim Hawkins to say otherwise?

When Ruth Rose surprises Jim while he's taking down a beaver dam on his farm one day he thinks she's playing some sort of elaborate game on him. She has been spying on Jim and his mother for long enough to know both of their schedules. Freaky. Even freakier, Ruth-Rose insists that Jim's father, Hub, who's been missing for a year, is dead. And not just dead, murdered --- by Ruth Rose's step-father, Father Fisher, to be exact.

Jim doesn't want to believe Ruth Rose, but when the crazy-bad girl tells him about a fire that links Father and Hub, he begins to think that maybe Ruth Rose isn't completely insane in this case and that there may be a connection between the long-ago fire and his father's disappearance.

THE BOY IN THE BURNING HOUSE is a fast paced, thrilling ride that begins
quietly and builds intensity as the pages fly by. At its center, is Jim Hawkins, a completely average young guy who finds he can no longer place his faith in his knowledge of the world. And with only Ruth Rose to help him piece together all the mysteries, Jim feels as if he's gotten into something he can't control. He knows he must find the truth or he won't have a future.

Tim Wynne-Jones sets his tale in the most unlikely of places --- a quiet, isolated town in rural Ontario --- and plops the reader into boiling emotions and the swift moving currents of events both past and present. The result is a wild plot filled with suspense. The reader will be panting for breath as Jim gets caught up in a series of events he cannot fathom or control until the story ends!

--- Reviewed by Cassia Van Arsdale

Page Turner
The Boy in the Burning House is a compelling novel written by Tim Wynne-Jones. The setting is Ladybank, a small town where everybody knows everyone else's business. Young Jim Hawkins and his mother lived on a farm. Just 3 years ago Jims Father, Hub Hawkins disappeared. Jim and his mother try to forget the pain they went through losing him. They are reminded of him when the pastors daughter Ruth Rose shows up and tries to convince Jim that Father (Eldon) Fisher killed his father. Jim is caught between believing Ruth Rose who they say is crazy and has two personalities. Jim late decides to trust Ruth Rose and the two of them do a little detective work to see if they can solve Hubs disappearance.

Best Young Adult Mystery
The Boy in the Burning House is a compelling novel written by Tim Wynne-Jones. The setting is Ladybank, a small town where everybody knows everyone elses buissness. Young Jim Hawkins and his mother lived on a farm. Just 3 years ago Jims Father,Hub Hawkins disappered. Jim and his mother try to forget the pain they went through losing him. They are reminded of him when the pastors daughter Ruth Rose shows up and tries to convince Jim that Father (Eldon) Fisher killed his father. Jim is caught between believing Ruth Rose who they say is crazy and has two personalities. Jim trusts Ruth Rose and the two of them do a little detective work to see if they can solve Hubs disapperance.

The Boy in the Burning House
The Boy in the Burning House
By Tim Wynne-Jones

Summary:
Two years after his father mysteriously disappeared, Jim Hawkins' life is leading toward uncertainty and grief. He then meats this moody, punky stepdaughter of Father Fisher. She was known as Ruth Rose. She shocks him by telling him that his stepfather is a murderer. Jim of course was in denial, but Ruth Rose asks him this question, and that was all to arouse Jim's suspicion. In spite of his fear, he wants Rose to tell him the truth. As Jim gets closer to the truth everyday, danger is also closing in. Jim then must decide if this is worth it. Should he risk his life and find out what happened to his father or should he keep a sacred memory?

Why I liked this book:
I'm not very used to reading books about killing. I never would have thought it would be crime. It has been a long time for me when I have read a crime book, and it just sounded good to me. The books I'm used to are all science fiction, and it really has good suspense like "Don't you want to know who he murdered?" or when somebody sprayed these words "Father killed Hub" in anger red. It's just like an entire new taste to me when I was reading that crazy scaring book.

My favorite part of the book:
It was really at the end when Jim was captured, and had to escape out a mysterious, maze-like cave. I had predicted that Jim would get out of course, and would be like those good ending books. One thing that aroused my attention though was the action in the air. It had so many turns I was confused, but I really liked it even though I had to read it twice. This book took the breath out of me!

THIS IS AN AWESOME BOOK!
This awesome book is almost un-stoppable to put down. It has a bunch of details that make a perfect picture in your mind, as you are reading. ... Read more

Book Description

This wonderfully wise and witty new collection is full of surprises as ordinary kids in offbeat situations uncover the unexpected--about themselves and others. In the title story, Carrie and Sam discover that while the Lord of the Fries, a legendary short--very short!--order cook at the Burger Barn, talks tough, he is anything but. In "Ick" Garnet and Brody find a clever way to use ick, the strange disease that killed Brody's goldfish, to protect a friend from the advances of a teacher. In "The Bermuda Triangle," a story full of missing things--buried treasure, a father, and even a young boy's voice--Billy Bones, an odd old man, and Jim Hawkins, a grieving young boy, find the unexpected gift of friendship. These stories, seven in all, shine with unforgettable characters, wry humor, and, best of all, a sense of the possible. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Chuckles to laughter....good for you!
Tim Wynne-Jones has a delightful way of telling.From an adults point of view you can easily remember when you thought and felt all these experiences (some things never change) and for reluctant readers these stories just take hold and they have to finish them. Fun gift for the adultwho hasn't forgotten and also for any kid who needs to know others havestrange experiences too. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful text, magical illustrations!
I discovered this book a few years ago by accident on the bargain table of my local bookstore.What a delight!From the first page I was entranced by the concise and clever text, and the joyful, detailed illustrations.Zoom, the cat who loves water (but not to drink...to drink he likes cream) endears the reader to him with his sense of wonder and adventure, and his kindness (even his politeness!). I've given this book as a gift three times since I bought myself a copy, and it's always received rave reviews.I hear it's being reprinted in 2001.Now that I'll be able to find this book again, I'm planning on buying another copy just so I can have framed the illustration of Zoom, leaping for joy as his raft rides the ocean waves, calling back to his new friend Maria, "More fish!" ------- More Zoom! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wish there were more Zoom Stories
I bought the three Zoom (the cat)books when they were printed as a trilogy, intending to read it to my daughter. She's still a toddler, but LOVES these stories. The pictures are so detailed, and the stories intriguing enough for a young mind. I only wish there were more than these three. Buy them if you can find them! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wonderful Book
I have had this book since I was only a couple feet tall, and I still read it today.The illustrations are wondrous and awe-inspiring, and the story of the sweet, good intentioned little cat will melt your heart.Quitedefinitly the best children's book I will ever read.Almost equallyimpressive was Zoom at sea.

It is my favorite adventure book.
I love this book.I have done two book reports on this book for school. It is fun to read and has great pictures.Zoom is so cool and Maria is agreat friend.I love the spy glass he finds on his Uncle's ship and thefarther upstairs they go the colder it gets in the house.I am eight yearsold. ... Read more

Book Description

When Burl Crow runs away from home to escape his brutal father, he heads for the place he knows best - the wilderness. Craving solitude, he is stunned by the sight of a grand piano dangling from a helicopter, and even more startled to find himself drawn to the sounds that eventually come from it. Tracing the source of the music, Burl finds Nathaniel Orlando Gow, the Maestro, standing on the deck of a strange, pyramid-like cabin. The reclusive, eccentric Maestro (based on the brilliant Canadian pianist Glenn Gould) has chosen to escape, too, and only reluctantly offers the wet, starving Burl shelter. Slowly but surely, the two form a bond, and Burl's eyes are opened to a world he never dreamed of.Will his rapport with the Maestro give Burl the inner courage needed to face the difficult choices that suddenly confront him when his father reappears?The Maestro is a poignant coming-of-age drama that testifies to the redemptive powers of friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A moving story that both adults and youngsters can value
This book, written for "young adults", can be read and appreciated by people of any age.It is both unsentimental and uncompromising, yet positive in its outlook; and although it certainly has no "happy ending" it leaves the reader with a sense ofhope both for the book's young hero and humanity in general. It concerns ayoung boy who is forced rather suddenly to confront the problems of growing upand facing a rather impersonal and uncaring adult world that offers no concessions to his youth and inexperience.This fourteen-year-old boy, Burl Crow, lives innorthern Canada with his violent bully of a father and his defeated mother whohas retreated into a haze of comforting medication, and is no longer able tointervene to help her son in his struggle to survive his father's abuse. Eventuallythe boy flees his intolerable situation and runs away from home into the forestwilderness where, although he knows a fair deal about survival in the bush, herealises he is too young to survive alone and unaided. But here, in a cottage by alake, he encounters 'the Maestro', a strange and reclusive musician who is tryingto escape from the pressures of his woldwide fame and the conventions of city lifeby losing himself in the solitude of the North , where he can think, compose music, and breathe free of the unwanted intrusions of society.This strange andsomewhat eccentric man (the character is definitely based on the great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould; all the ideas, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies are his althoughthe author has admitted he changed the name to avoid any disputes or restrictions imposed by the lawyers of Gould's estate) is persuaded somewhat reluctantly to offer shelter to the young boy, and they strike up an odd and hesitant friendshipthat you feel will ultimately benefit both the inexperienced boy who has learnt thehard way to hide his feelings and trust nobody, and the lonely and admittedlyeccentric older man who obviously has problems relating to other human beings yet lives passionately for his art. Both have trouble understanding the other, yet acertain respect and acceptance grows between them, and the reader feels that theboy even begins to feel a kind of exasperated love for his awkward companion that he could never feel for his real father. What happens next has a feeling of inevitability. It is sad, even tragic, and by the end of the book the reader is leftwith a vast regret for the loss of something wonderful and irreplaceable; the boy is forced against his will into action to save the abusive father who returns into hislife, and thereby loses a great dream he had for the future.But his encounter withthe Maestro, although uncompromising and not perhaps helpful in a practical orprotective way, has changed him forever and given him the power to face thefuture with strength and confidence. This is a positive book, although disturbing in parts. The relationship it depicts makes the reader consider that there are ways of changing and evolving and helping each other that are subtle and perhaps noteasy to express in words; the author shows how this can come about simply by two people experiencing andrespecting each other without really intervening actively with each others lives. Burl Crow has to grow up depending on his ownthoughts and decisions, without relying on anyone in the outside world to help, yet he is enabled to do this largely by a chance encounter with a very strange and wonderful man...so we are leftwith a sense of hope after all. Read this book. You will be glad you did.

A moving story that both adults and youngsters can value
This book, written for "young adults", can be read and appreciated by people of any age.It is both unsentimental and uncompromising, yet positive in its outlook; and although it certainly has no "happy ending" it leaves the reader with a sense ofhope both for the book's young hero and humanity in general. It concerns ayoung boy who is forced rather suddenly to confront the problems of growing upand facing a rather impersonal and uncaring adult world that offers no concessions to his youth and inexperience.This fourteen-year-old boy, Burl Crow, lives innorthern Canada with his violent bully of a father and his defeated mother whohas retreated into a haze of comforting medication, and is no longer able tointervene to help her son in his struggle to survive his father's abuse. Eventuallythe boy flees his intolerable situation and runs away from home into the forestwilderness where, although he knows a fair deal about survival in the bush, herealises he is too young to survive alone and unaided. But here, in a cottage by alake, he encounters 'the Maestro', a strange and reclusive musician who is tryingto escape from the pressures of his woldwide fame and the conventions of city lifeby losing himself in the solitude of the North , where he can think, compose music, and breathe free of the unwanted intrusions of society.This strange andsomewhat eccentric man (the character is definitely based on the great Canadian pianist Glenn Gould; all the ideas, mannerisms and idiosyncrasies are his althoughthe author has admitted he changed the name to avoid any disputes or restrictions imposed by the lawyers of Gould's estate) is persuaded somewhat reluctantly to offer shelter to the young boy, and they strike up an odd and hesitant friendshipthat you feel will ultimately benefit both the inexperienced boy who has learnt thehard way to hide his feelings and trust nobody, and the lonely and admittedlyeccentric older man who obviously has problems relating to other human beings yet lives passionately for his art. Both have trouble understanding the other, yet acertain respect and acceptance grows between them, and the reader feels that theboy even begins to feel a kind of exasperated love for his awkward companion that he could never feel for his real father. What happens next has a feeling of inevitability. It is sad, even tragic, and by the end of the book the reader is leftwith a vast regret for the loss of something wonderful and irreplaceable; the boy is forced against his will into action to save the abusive father who returns into hislife, and thereby loses a great dream he had for the future.But his encounter withthe Maestro, although uncompromising and not perhaps helpful in a practical orprotective way, has changed him forever and given him the power to face thefuture with strength and confidence. This is a positive book, although disturbing in parts. The relationship it depicts makes the reader consider that there are ways of changing and evolving and helping each other that are subtle and perhaps noteasy to express in words; the author shows how this can come about simply by two people experiencing andrespecting each other without really intervening actively with each others lives. Burl Crow has to grow up depending on his ownthoughts and decisions, without relying on anyone in the outside world to help, yet he is enabled to do this largely by a chance encounter with a very strange and wonderful man...so we are leftwith a sense of hope after all. Read this book. You will be glad you did.

Wonderful book -- for both children and adults
Maybe I'm biased about this book because the character of "The Maestro" (Nathaniel Orlando Gow) is obviously based on Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. Nope. It would still be a good book, even if the character were based on, say, Mitch Miller.

Tim Wynne-Jones understands more about childhood and relationships than a lot of writers. Don't expectthe usual out of this book. There is action and drama, but it is also asubtle book in many ways.

The Maestro
Tim Wynne-Jones, Canadian author, wrote "The Maestro." The novel is about a young boy named Burl Crow, who runs away from his abusive father one day, and starts an unbelievible adventure.The setting in this novel is excellent. While you are reading the novel, you can see all of theimages that Tim Wynne-Jones is describing. You can see the beautiful lake,with a triangle shaped cabin sitting right along the shore, of the sandybeach.I feel that there is an important issue that needs to be looked at,Child Abuse. We need to try to bring Child Abuse to an end. I wouldrecommend this novel to teenagers and to adults.

The Meastro Book Reveiw
Tim Wynne-Jones the canadian author wrote the book the Meastro.This novel is about a boy who is tired of his life and runs away hoping it will be better.Some of the Main characters in this novel Burl Crow, Cal Crow, and the meastro. Burl Crow is a teenager who runs away from home becausehis father Cal Crow beats him and treats him bad, Cal Crow seems like a badfather that don't care, and the meastro is a guy that Burl meets when heruns away.I would recommand this book to teenagers and adults because ithink it gives a image of real life situation and it is a very interistingnovel. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A lot of fun
The book starts with 26 sentences that cover almost the entire 2-pages with just a few spaces for illustration which gradually grows as the text goes down to 1 sentence at the end.There are 26 colourful monsters tormenting this poor painter who is absolutely determined to paint despite their antics.The illustrations and story are both quite fun, and beautifully arranged.

Incredibly Clever!
I loved this book.The whole concept is amazing and the pictures were dynamite.Tim is a genius writer!

The book starts with a 26 word sentence, then a 25, then a 24 and so on.Hard to write, especially in such great rhyme! ... Read more

Book Description

Before a huge crowd that packed the cathedral square, Esmeralda stood between two executioners. Suddenly Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, rushed at the executioners and felled them with his enormous fists. He snatched the gypsy girl in one arm and ran into the church. A moment later he appeared at the top of the bell tower. Holding the girl above his head, he showed her triumphantly to all of Paris while his thunderous voice roared savagely to the sky: "Sanctuary! Sanctuary! Sanctuary!"

Set amid the riot, intrigue and pageantry of medieval Paris, Victor Hugo's masterful tale of heroism and adventure has been a perennial favorite since its first publication in 1831 and remains to this day one of the most thrilling stories of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (72)

One of the best 19th Century novels
Yes, the many misconceptions about the book have been highlighted by other reviews so I'll only mention them briefly. The original title was Notre Dame de Paris. As such, the book does not focus on Quasimodo but on the cathedral and medieval Paris and the stories that have intertwined there. The book is not about not judging people by their looks.

Having said that, let me add that this is one of the richest and best novels I've read. The book is everything that the movie versions seem not to be (I say seem as I only know of them from reviews). It focuses on obsession, passion and revenge. The main plotlines are Frollo in his obsessive quest for both the arcane knowledge and Esmerelda, Frollo's brother in his tomfoolery, Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire - an unlikely addition to the events.

The book has a lot of philosophical viewpoints. There's the mysticism and theology of the passages of Frollo, with his reading of the cathedral as a grail of arcane wealth to be uncovered. As such, his views reflect many bizarre philosophies of the middle ages.

One of the greates aspects of the book is its descriptions of medieval Parision life in all of its unsplendour. There's the public performances, executions, thieves, raids, brawls and the like. And out of all of that, Hugo still manages to pull images of beauty like Esmerelda with her pet goat.

Hugo's digressions are something that nerages many readers but I liked them. Firstly, what he's saying is of interest - his view on the aesthetics and ethics of the Gothic movement and the development of civilisation are certainly impassioned. As to those who think they don't belong in a novel, that seems to be a very constricting and removed-from-art view of what a novel is. Yes, it slows down the story but so do words. The only one I skimmed was the detailed description of the streets of Paris but again that's because I've only been once briefly and if I'd known more it would have spoken more to me.

Read this book! You'll learn so much about medieval life, the Gothic movement, the nature of obsession and evil and the quest for knowledge that the cathedral of Notre Dame will gain a whole new significance.

Not like the Disney movie
Written by Victor Hugo in the 1800's, this masterpiece is set in medieval Paris. The story jumps around, yet when you finish the book, it all makes sense. One minute it is in the middle of celebrations, and then it jumps to fifteen years before. It tells multiple stories at once: the story of the hunchback, Quasimodo, his keeper, Dom Frollo, The gypsy, La Esmeralda and other random people whose stories all tie into the whole story. Even though I don't speak French very well, and I've never been to Paris, I can imagine it vividly. The dialogue between the characters is very engaging. There are multiple twists and the plot is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Hugo wrote it beautifully, and the language is understandable. It is just so wonderful that when you get to the exciting parts, you can't put it down! He wrote it and it tugs at all of the human emotions. This book makes you laugh with triumph, cry, filled with anger towards evil, and sympathetic to the characters who don't know any better or have no options. One minute you love a character and the next you despise them with a passion. If you remember the Disney interpretation, and try to incorporate it into your reading, it won't work. The book is much more tragic than the light-hearted movie. It is beautifully written and would recommend it to everyone that thinks it is on his or her level.

Shouldn't a writer know how to write?
I stopped reading on page three. This poorly rewritten story contained numerous incomplete sentences, going against everything I am trying to teach my kids (9 and 5). Children deserve to have proper modeling of sentence structure, and this book doesn't cut it.

Yes, this book by Tim Wynne-Jones might have a great story, but it's overshadowed by the author's sloppy attempts in the retelling. Don't your children deserve more?

I would instead recommend Jimmy Symonds' version of this story by Eyewitness Classics. Mr. Symonds excellently condensed this marvelous story, and we enjoyed the sidebars giving additional information into the time the story was written. The quality of the book was carried through to ALL aspects of the book--including grammar.

Don't underestimate your kids.

The Genius of Victor Hugo
Quasimodo, Esmerelda, Claude Frollo, the "Sack Woman", Gringoire, Captain Phoebus, Djali. What signifies these characters to linger in the reader's concscience long after they have read Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris (or Hunchback of Notre Dame)are their humanitarian qualities that reflects so much raw passion, life, and such exquisite Gothic images within their characteristic interior. Quasimodo, Esmerelda, and Claude Frollo are the most familiar names in this book, as well as in literary culture. And Djali is in fact one of the most famous animal characters in literature. The Notre Dame catherdral, the streets, the people, and the sounds of Medieval Paris also signifies Victor Hugo's genius and utmost respect for describing the Paris of the past to compliment the Paris of today (or at least at his time). How Victor Hugo has carefully and so perfectly arranged so many plots filled with humor, depth, emotion, darkness, redemption, obsession, lost, hate, regret, and love in each character, as well as so magnificently described Paris so fluently with as much detail as possible, is just undeniably spectacular. Like Les Miserables (which to me personally is one of the most definitive epics of human life that i have ever read), Victor Hugo brings out these common, lost, neglected, misunderstood, and strange characters from the dark and expresses their human qualities of love, hate, fate, revenge, and devotion in the light. When i think of the Disney movie version of this classic novel, the more i feel that Disney obviously didn't read or follow the concept of this novel. For kids, sure it makes sense that a theme out of this is that evil falls, and that people will love you no matter how deformed your face looks. But i believe if they really read this book, they would realize that a story like this isn't for children. The story is not nice at the end (it's the most haunting and tragic part of the whole novel). The story isn't about the love of Quasimodo and Esmerelda. The story isn't even about Quasimodo. It's about a mixture of important and random characters that creates a chain of plots and emotions that intertwines with one another to create a whole story where everybody in the novel has had some influence or some importance to the whole story. And that's the problem with a majority of movies based on classic novels like Hunchback, Jane Eyre, etc. Movies take away the poetry and aesthetic quality of the story, while taking away so many minor characters, and plots. And through my observation, it seems to always soften up the original tale instead of bearing the true dark images that the original novels portray (such as A Farewell To Arms,where there was actually more dialogue in the movie than the book itself, and so much more emotion at the end which didn't even happen in the book. If you want to check that out, read the book first, i recommend that as well). To me it's a waste of such a wonderful classic that deserves to be read rather than seen through celluloid. If you saw the laughable and extremely make believe and rewritten version of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame, or saw any other movie version, then you definitely must read the book. I believe it will be more worthwhile and more understanding, it will definitely make you laugh, cry, smile, and think, very much.

Victor Hugo Lane is a very bad person
I read many of his books, all of them reflect hate to arabic religion. This man is not afraid of the god and shadinda allah mashta ehonte. No good, he will pay to mikahi dyumi in full. Don't buy his books, don't support this man. ... Read more

Book Description

A masterful new novel about memory, family secrets, and the transforming power of truth.

It happened to his older brother, and now it's happening to Stephen. Night after night, he has the same nightmare--a baby crying in a treetop, a remarkable tree house threatened by fire from below. His distraught mother calls in Hesketh Martin. A witch, Stephen calls her. A practitioner of "applied kinesiology," his mother insists. But weird potions can't cure Stephen. Nor could psychiatrists heal his brother, Marcus, who left the family four years before, shortly after their father left. Now fifteen himself, the same age Marcus was when he ran away, Stephen is determined to unlock the meaning of his bad dreams and uncover the story of his own childhood. With characteristic wit and perception, Tim Wynne-Jones has crafted a masterful novel that has much to say about memory, family secrets, and the transforming power of truth. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Stephen Fair
Stephen is a 15 year old teenager who battles with the loss of a brother and the nightmares that caused his brother to leave. He now makes new friends, pieces together the meanings of his dreams, and digs up old family secrets. On this exciting journey through the mind and surrounding events/actions of Stephen's life you are taken on a journey through twisted tails of facts and lies that will keep you reading till the end.

stephen fair review
This book, of a teenager having strange dreams was, how should i put this... confusing. This is because they dont say who "brenda" is until the centre of the book, there is nothing telling apart the dreams from real life and doesn't keep you interested. Once you get to part 2, everything comes together and you realize, "wow, this IS a great book."

wonderful
I read this book many times through elementary school and high school. It was absolutely wonderful. It influenced many of my reading choices afterwards... like the maestro another excellent read by tim wynne jones.This is one of my all time favorite adolescent novels

Tim Wynne Jones (the best)
I feel That this book is very well writen.I ahvr read all of his books and feel that this one compleats the list so far.I feel everyone should read this book because it is a very good introductoin to young adult readers.

This was a very good book and it was surprizing.
This was a great book. It had a surprizing ending that i wouldn't have guessed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

That's One Scary Frog
Every night the little girl can't sleep.The parents sleep -- even the fish sleeps -- but she stays awake for The Hour of the Frog.He comes from the swamp and into the house, on the prowl for food.The girl hears him atthe refrigerator, opening the pickle jar, stuffing his frog face withstrange assortments of edibles.She hears him climb the stairs towards herroom, for what nefarious purpose is unclear, but the frog's voraciousappetite is hint enough to make a young child nervous.The illustration ofthe frog's ascent, mouth filled to capacity and leaking pickle juicesuggests an unsated hunger.On the frog moves; he's in her bedroom; themoment has come...and then the girl stands up and scares him away back tohis swamp.She lies back in her bed and indulges in dreams of her ownappetite:breakfast is on her mind, a big breakfast, with maybe some fliesin it.

I was enchanted by the text and illustrations of this ghost-storyspoof, and it's almost impossible to convey how witty and amusing this bookis.*The Hour of the Frog*, however, is more than merely a spoof:theillustrations indicate that this little girl does not live in a normalworld.Everything's a bit off-kilter, a bit strange.The appetites offrog and girl are intimidating (who is going to eat whom?).And we knowthat the frog will be back again and again, and she will be awake again andagain.For me, reading the book was a lovely and fun experience.I wantedto read it to my children a lot and make it creepy and funny at the sametime.Alas, I can only give it four stars here because, frankly, mychildren didn't want me to read it to them - more than once.I'm going totry it on my four year old when he's older, and *your* four year old may beas entranced as I was.Try it on your children; the fit may be just right;you'll get to keep the book if they don't care for it, and *The Hour of theFrog* belongs in any serious collection of children's literature.

That's One Scary Frog
Every night the little girl can't sleep.The parents sleep -- even the fish sleep -- but she stays awake for The Hour of the Frog.He comes from the swamp and into the house, on the prowl for food.The girl hears him atthe refrigerator, opening the pickle jar, stuffing his frog face withstrange assortments of edibles.She hears him climb the stairs towards herroom, for what nefarious purpose is unclear, but the frog's voraciousappetite is hint enough, and the illustration of his ascent, mouth filledto capacity and leaking pickle juice, suggests an unsated hunger.On thefrog moves; he's in her bedroom; the moment has come...and then the girlstands up and scares him away back to his swamp.She lies back in her bedand indulges in dreams of her own appetite:breakfast is on her mind, abig breakfast, with maybe some flies in it.I was enchanted by thetext and illustrations of this ghost-story spoof, and it's almostimpossible to convey how witty and funny this book is.*The Hour of theFrog*, however,is more than merely a spoof; the illustrations indicatethat this little girl does not live in a normal world; everything's alittle off-kilter -- a bit strange.The appetites of frog and girl areintimidating (who is going to eat whom?).And we know that the frog willbe back again and again, and she will be awake again and again. For me,this was perfect; I wanted to read it to my children a lot and make itcreepy and funny at the same time.Alas, I canonly give it four starshere because, frankly, my children didn't want me to read it to them --more than once. I'm going to try it on my four year old when he's older,and *your* 4 year old may be as entranced as I was.Try it on yourchildren; the fit may be just right, you'll get to keep the book if theydon't care for it, and *The Hour of the Frog* belongs in any seriouscollection of children's literature. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A good collection of stories.
I decided to read this book after I read Stephen Fair.Although The Book of Changes has many good stories, the stories weren't as well written asStephen Fair.

This collection is pretty good though becuase it covers awide area of subjects, and there is something for everyone.Some storiesare better than others as is the case of every short story collection, butthe better stories in The Book of Changes are a bit hard to grasp.

Ifyou've never read Tim Wynne-Jones before, you should start with The Maestroor Stephen Fair.This short story collectionwould be more suitable forkids than young adults. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Horn Book Magazine, published by Horn Book, Inc. on May 1, 1999. The length of the article is 3280 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Short Tempered.(value of short story reading to help children discover the joy of children's literature)
Author: Tim Wynne-jones
Publication: The Horn Book Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 1999
Publisher: Horn Book, Inc.
Volume: 75Issue: 3Page: 293

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Book Description

Ned Mouse has been sent to jail. His crime was writing "The government is unfair to mice!" in his spinach. But Ned can't stand the tiny cell, terrible food, and unstylish striped jumpsuits. So he begins to try to escape. He tries digging a tunnel, building a getaway plane, and finally taking a leap down the bathtub drain hole. Each time he's thwarted. The years pass, and Ned is near despair when he gets a letter from his long-lost friend Mort, who tempts him with visions of the sunrise by the sea. Filled with determination, he thinks of a new way to leave his old life behind. But can it work? Ned Mouse Breaks Away beautifully captures one mouse's cleverness and endurance in this charming tale written by a master of children's literature and featuring beautiful pen-and-wash illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Love It
I read Ned Mouse with a boy I tutor who normally hates to read.We both loved it.The writing is clear and easy to read with out being simplistic.My student loved the constant jokes and puns.It's refreshing to find a book with enough plot for an older child at an easier reading level.This is definately an author I'll look for again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

lovely imaginative story with beautiful illustrations
This lovely book contains three stories about Zoom the cat and his adventures in the house of Maria as he searches for his seafaring Uncle Roy. Maria's house is a wondrous place. The ocean is inside, as are the Arctic and a passage to Egypt. These are the kind of stories that fire kids' imaginations, and the drawings are spectacular -- reminiscent of Gustav Dore's wonderful line drawings. As with all Common Reader books, this is a fine volume -- good quality, nice paper, etc.

Highly recommended.

A whimsical tale of a cat
This edition combines three Zoom fantasy stories under one cover: Zoom Away, Zoom At Sea, Zoom Upstream. The seagoing cat enjoys black and white drawings by Eric Beddows and a story line which requires some reading skills or parental assistance, but which provides a whimsical tale of a cat in search of a mysterious vagabond uncle, inviting all to enjoy. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Horn Book Magazine, published by Horn Book, Inc. on January 1, 1996. The length of the article is 4033 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: The short story anthology 'Some of the Kinder Planets,' which won the 1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book award in the fiction category, was written to express the concerns and behaviors of ordinary young people. The author of the award-winning anthology describes the main themes of the book.

Citation Details
Title: Some of the Kinder Planets. (children's book)(October 1995 Boston Globe-Horn Book award acceptance speech)(Transcript)
Author: Tim Wynne-Jones
Publication: The Horn Book Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 1996
Publisher: Horn Book, Inc.
Volume: v72Issue: n1Page: p35(3)

Article Type: Transcript

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Horn Book Magazine, published by Horn Book, Inc. on May 1, 2000. The length of the article is 2863 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Stormy Night: Picture Book for Children, Ontological Inquiry.
Author: Tim Wynne-jones
Publication: The Horn Book Magazine (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2000
Publisher: Horn Book, Inc.
Volume: 76Issue: 3Page: 272

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more