The Last Warrior
Jim Hitt
Adventure Book Publishers
adventure@puzzlesbyshar.com, www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks/
ISBN:1553131185, E-Book, $4.66 Online, 225 pages
Michael Bogert
Reviewer
The Last Warrior is a story based on an actual event that took place in 1903 in the Philippines.
Luther Kelley (Known as Yellowstone) famous for his battles against the Sioux and Cheyenne,
together with a group of African American soldiers help defend the territory against Muslim
radicals and even escaped prisoners.
Mr. Hitt has done an excellent job in capturing the time period in his work. I enjoy books that can
give the reader a feeling of what the characters experienced, and how their way of life dictated
their actions. The pace that is set in the story doesn't slack at any point, which is a plus for
historical novels. The author's style of writing allows the reader to understand the time period
without taking away from the enjoyment of the book. It was a pleasure to read this story, and I
would be happy to see it become available in print.
I would recommend The Last Warrior to readers, historical or not, who wish to add a fine story
to their collection.
Gramma Knows the F Word
Ted Schredd
Discover Fun.
ISBN: 09731197-0-5, $19.95, www.discoverfun.com
David Leonhardt, Reviewer
http://www.TheHappyGuy.com
There's a fine line between happiness and fun, a line Ted Schredd leaps over, back and forth, with
almost too much glee. Gramma Knows the F Word is about fun. (What did you think the "F"
stands for?) Well, OK, some of the language Schredd uses is a bit coarse, so keep the book away
from those with the most tender ears, but generally the book is about feeling positive and enjoying
life.
If you are one of those people who reads only the beginning of a book, gets distracted, puts it
down, forgets about it and never picks it up to read about it again, this book is about happiness -
a topic I am very familiar with from my own book. In fact, many of the themes Schredd addresses
in the first few chapters are themes from my book (I would like to think he had read my book and
was so inspired by it that he went out and wrote his own, but that may just be the optimism of a
happy person thinking.)
If you are the type of person who actually reads past the first third of the book, you will find that
the book is not really about happiness, but about fun. Yes, the F word. Ted has chapters on
laughing, silliness, sex, chilling out, fun at home and other fun themes.
The cover sets the tone, featuring a granny in cheerleader regalia. Ted's no-nonsense writing style
definitely carries that mood through the book, which is further enhanced by his own illustrations -
oops, I mean his own silly illustrations. Peppered throughout the book are famous and
not-so-famous quotations, which tend to be much more serious than anything else in the
book.
Whenever I review a book, I look for some lasting legacy the author might leave behind, in the
event that the book becomes a top seller. Ted Schredd's legacy would be "mind poo", a term his
grandmother coined. Mind poo is a generic term for all the negative thinking that keeps us from
having fun.
There are many books that could be considered "fun", such as books about games, comic books
and humor books, but few about fun as a topic. In fact, this is the first book specifically on fun
that I have ever read, and it is unquestionably the best.
Pick up Gramma Knows the F Word and have some fun.
Talk Your Way Out Of Credit Card Debt
Scott Bilker
Press One Publishing
P.O. Box 563, Barnegat, NJ 08005-0563
ISBN 0-9648401-5-4, $19.95, 320 Pages, http://www.DebtSmart.com
Peter Hupalo
Reviewer
Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt: Phone Calls To Banks That Saved More Than $43,000
In Interest Charges and Fees! by consumer-advocate Scott Bilker shows people how to negotiate
with credit card companies to reduce or eliminate fees, lower interest rates, and deal with credit
card disputes and billing errors.
For himself, friends, and family, Bilker made hundreds of phone calls to credit card companies in
an attempt to achieve a better deal and evaluate what works and what doesn't when calling credit
card companies.
The full transcripts of fifty-two recorded phone calls are given and analyzed in Talk Your Way
Out of Credit Card Debt. The names of Bilker's friends were changed to protect their identities.
Probably to prevent lawsuits, the names of the banks were changed to the names of dog breeds.
And, the names of the account representatives and supervisors were changed to insect names.
(Bilker suggests keeping notes and writing down the name of each person you talk with regarding
your account. That way, if a representative claims he'll lower your interest rate, but doesn't, you
can call back and say, "Mr. Tumble Bug said he was going to lower my rate to....")
The savings Bilker achieved were significant. In one phone call, Bilker got the bank to lower the
interest rate from 13.72% to 8.75%, saving $4,320.00, based upon the existing credit card
balance. (An appendix shows us how to calculate the savings we achieve by reducing credit card
interest rates.)
In another case, Bilker absolutely couldn't get Mr. Mosquito or Ms. Glowworm at Shih Tzu bank
to lower it's rate, but the bank offered a low rate for transfers from other accounts. So, Bilker
promptly transferred the full balance out of Shih Tzu and then back again to get the lower transfer
rate. Bilker speculates banks believe people are too lazy to transfer money around like this, even
though the savings in interest paid by doing so are often in the thousands of dollars.
Bilker says it's crucial to keep your credit options open so you have bargaining power. He points
out that banks with which you have established relationships are most likely to give you a good
deal. So, Bilker argues, for people who carry credit card balances, there's little advantage in
closing a no-fee, zero-balance account. With a phone call, they might lower their rate or might
offer a great rate on transfers. Bilker writes: "Play all your credit card banks against each other.
Make them fight for your business."
Bilker says credit card offers received in the mail (that most of us throw away) can also be used
effectively when negotiating with your present bank. Be prepared to read the offers you have to
your current bank to show that you have options.
Bilker writes: "It's easy for someone to say 'just call the bank and get the fees waived,' but actually
calling is a different story. Without training you might risk not knowing exactly what to say in a
highly pressured moment.... The key to success is knowing who to talk to and exactly what to
say."
Bilker notes that Americans expect a rigid pricing structure and often don't know what to say or
feel intimidated when speaking with bank account representatives, who often give customers the
run-around. (There's something quite empowering about having your account representative
named Mr. Mud Wasp or Ms. Deer Tick.)
Bilker says consumers should be prepared when they call, including having a "deal breaker"
handy, which is the action the person will take if the credit card company fails to make a
reasonable compromise.
Chapters in Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt discuss:
* Getting The Annual Fee Waived
* Reducing Or Eliminating Late Payment Fees, Overlimit Fees, and Cash Advance Fees
* Lowering Your Interest Rates
* Shopping Around To Get The Lowest Credit Card Rate
* Negotiating Settlements
* Dealing With Disputes, Chargebacks, And Errors
For consumers carrying credit card balances, the chapters about lowering interest rates and
shopping around for the best interest rate are the most valuable. Bilker writes: "The key to
repaying your debt efficiently, and I mean cheaply, is to keep your finance charges as low as
possible."
In about 70% of the calls, Bilker got the bank to reduce its interest rate. Bilker tells us that at a
high 19.8% APR, making minimum payments on $5,000 worth of credit card debt might take 46
years and cost $24,000 to pay off. Even a small reduction in the interest rate can save thousands
of dollars.
Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt gives especially useful advice in dealing with
run-around. Through reading the phone call transcripts, you'll gain experience in negotiating with
a bank. Bilker points out that an account representative might tell you he/she can't change your
rate. He/she might tell you that the supervisor can't change it either. It's their best offer. Bilker
says you should ask to speak with the supervisor, anyway, who will often lower your rate as
requested.
Bilker gives some great tips for dealing with awkward moments. For example, if a representative
asks if you want to close the account (you don't want to) or leave the rate where it is, Bilker says
you could respond that you don't want to close the account, but that you plan to transfer the
balance to another card and not use their card unless the rate is later lowered. Under pressure,
unless you're familiar with what might be said or requested, you might say things that only sound
like whining, which won't get you what you want.
I highly recommend Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt to anyone who carries a balance on
his or her credit cards or anyone who wants to gain skill in negotiating with a credit card bank to
reduce interest rates or eliminate fees. Following Bilker's advice can save thousands of dollars in
credit card interest and fees. Scott Bilker is also the author of the best-selling book Credit Card
And Debt Management.
Memoirs of a Geisha
Arthur Golden
Vintage Books; Random House
ISBN: 0-09-977151-9n 434pp 1997 6.99UK ppbk
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk
Have you ever wanted to look beneath the white mask or glimpse beneath the rich finery of a
Geisha? Upon opening the cover of this book, you enter the heart of Nitta Sayuri, the renown
geisha of Gion, who confesses the events of her life to Jakob Haarhuis, Professor of Japanese
History of New York University. He writes,
"Though she was eager to have her biography recorded, Sayuri did insist upon several conditions.
She wanted the manuscript published only after her death and the deaths of several men who had
figured prominently in her life. As it turned out, the all predeceased her...Whenever possible I
have left the names unchanged, though Sayuri did hide the identities of certain men even from me
through the convention ... of referring to customers by means of an epithet." (p4)
Born with the eyes and temperament of her mother, Sayuri reflects upon the mystical influence of
water on her nature,
"My mother always said that she married my father because she had too much water in her
personality and he had too much wood in his. People who knew my father understood right away
what she was talking about. Water flows from place to place quickly and always finds a crack to
spill through. Wood, on the other hand holds fast to the earth." (p9)
More intriguing than a Dickens novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, follows the tangled fate of Chiyo, the
daughter of an impoverished fisherman of Yoroida, from her earliest childhood memories where
they lived in a tipsy house atop the sea cliffs, where the fierce winds and strong waves seemed to
wash away life from the beach forever. How much can be changed by a single incident? How can
the restless movement of water be blocked? What is the impact of a split lip? The world of Chiyo
changes as she is sold to an okiya in Gion by Mr. Tanaka, the owner of a fish packing plant.
"But the truth is that the afternoon when I met Mr. Tanaka Ichiro really was the best and the
worst of my life. He seemed so fascinating to me, even the fish smell on his hands was a kind of
perfume. If I had never known him, I'm sure I would not have become a geisha." (p7)
Drawn in meticuous detail, the profiles of Hatsumomo, Mameha, Pumpkin and Chiyo are cut in
sharp contrast like the silhouettes from the early twentieth century mounted against dark
backgrounds.
"This Pumpkin girl," Mameha said, "how do she and Hatsumomo get along?"
"Well, ma'am," I said, "I suppose Hatsumomo pays her no more attention than she would a leaf
that has fluttered into the courtyard."
"How poetic... a leaf that has fluttered into the courtyard. Is that the way Hatsumomo treats you
as well?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but the truth is, I wasn't sure what to say. I knew very little about
Mameha, and it would be improper to speak ill of Hatsumomo to someone outside the okiya.
Mameha seemed to sense what I was thinking, for she said to me:
"You needn't answer. I know perfectly well how Hatsumomo treats you: about like a serpent
treats its next meal, I should think." (p122)
Adroitly, the author exposes Hatsumomo's vicious disposition to destroy any rival that might
challenge her domination of geisha in Gion. With the capriciousness of a reigning diva, she
contrives to steal an elegant kimono from a rival to have Chiyo ruin it by splotting it with ink.
Who wants a girl that brings the okiya in debt? Who fails to complete an apprenticeship? Who
tries to run away? With such bad beginnings, Chiyo confronts a life of unmitigated misery of debt
and indentured drudgery as a permament maid.
Only the high bidding for the mizuage, the sexual initiation of the apprentice when the woman's
cave is explored by the man's eel, and the patronage of a danna can relieve Chiyo of debt and
assure some security from the destructive forces of the world. With the formality of being an
apprentice, the name is changed from Chiyo to Sayuri, and with the formal adoption of the okiya,
the name is changed once more, Nitta Sayuri, to designate her ownership.As the layers of
make-up are applied, the white mask donned, the thoughts of a geisha becomes hidden beneath
the layers clothes, rituals and social expectations until gradually the superficial mask becomes part
of daily reality. We follow the formation of a rough country girl through the harsh discipline of
learning the art of entertaining whether the movement of her arm in pouring tea or the intricate
steps of dancing. Sayuri explains the differences in dress between an apprentice and a full-fledged
geisha; the way they wear their obi, collars and hair. And reminiscing, she astutely comments,
"Since moving to New York I've learned what the word "geisha" really means to most
Westerners. From time to time at elegant parties, I've been introduced to some young woman or
other in a splendid dress and jewelry. When she learns I was once a geisha in Kyoto, she forms her
mouth into a sort of smile, although the corners don't turn up quite right as they should. She has
no idea what to say! And then the burden of the conversation falls to the man or woman who has
introduced us—because I've never learned much English, even all these years. Of course, there is
little point even in trying, because this woman is thinking, "My goodness... I'm talking with a
prostitute..." A moment later she is rescued by her escort, a wealthy man a good thirty or foty
years older than she is." (291)
Tightly written, the novel moves quickly like a brook flowing over a stony bed, ever seeking its
path forward. And with its many twists and tuns of a mountain spring, the writing is briskly
refreshing. Difficult to set aside, the yarn entangles the reader into a web of intrigue and
strategems of the leading players who move like chessmen against each other. With great skill,
Arthur Golden easily takes his place amongst the master craftsmen, the great tale-spinners of
Charles Dickens, Victor Hugo and Mark Twain in his ability to create a cinematic historical stage,
realistic dialogue and internal subterfuge that keeps the pages turning unto the end.
Irrepressible Appetites
Tracey Broussard, editor
Rock Press, Inc.
4611 South University Drive, #450, Davie, FL 33328
ISBN 0-9676748-2-4, $19.95, April, 2003, 240 Pages
Rebekah Savage
Reviewer
Like the rule to never go shopping at the grocery store hungry, this anthology also carries the
same warning. To wander through its pages is to spark your hunger and send you reaching for
your favorite meal. Ms. Broussard has gathered together a wonderful array of writers. It is
delightful walk through the minds and stomachs of a diverse group, each share recipes, poems and
short stories that are a treat for both the mind and the taste buds. The reader is invited both into
the hearts and to the dinner table of these writers. To experience this anthology is to share in the
most natural exchange between two people: eating.
Over and over again, this anthology emphasizes how our appetites influence our cultural
traditions beginning with our families and our most intimate relationships and extending out
towards the greater society. We see that our family's stories often rotate around the axis of eating,
as we see in "Dean-O," by Nina Romano, "Ecole de Cuisine," by Michele Dunn Baker and "The
Inadvertent Muse," by Carol Koris.
Also, there is the forbidden aspect of eating and food as seen in "Kinetic Tableau," by Elisa Albo,
"Produce," by Jesse Millner and "The Tomato Omlete," by Barbara Bottner. Just as an artist
paints a scene rich with all the colors of daily life, stories like "Shopping at Publix, Late October,"
by Lydia Webster and poems like "Praise," by Norman Minnick, and "Everything," by Elisa Albo,
demonstrate how food enriches our memories of special occasions.
Poignant, yet simple and uncomplicated; humorous and heartbreaking. Each reader will find
something to savor and revisit repeatedly, like a comfort food or a warming cup of tea.
Maria Poniatowski is in her seventies. Sometimes she feels as if she is unseen - to the women she
cleans for, and to her grown-up son and his family, for instance. No-one wants to know about her
past, or much about her present. But she is tough and resilient. She has endured too much already
to let present disappointments undo her. So, when she lets herself into ninety-two year-old Mrs
Ellington's flat one Tuesday morning and sees a trail of blood streaked along the walls, she thinks
the worst and accepts it philosophically.
Claire Messud is a masterly story-teller. She catches your interest, raises your curiosity, then
keeps your attention as the tale unfolds. She is clever at painting in the colours so that "unseen"
people, like Maria, come into focus, and she draws their lives so well that you begin to see that in
many ways they are just like you.
Maria Poniatowski is a D.P. - a "Displaced Person", a post-war refugee from a small village in the
Ukraine who, with her husband and son, began a new life in Canada after World War II. Maria
has cleaned Mrs Ellington's home every week for forty-five years. She is happy with this routine;
enjoys the company; knows Mrs Ellington's daily living needs in detail and is immune to her
growing bad-temper, sympathetic about her near-blindness, and understanding of her need for
independence.
Messud tells us all this. And tells us, almost in passing, about Maria's past - "the long woven
filament of life that stretched back through the years and across continents" - and about the
strange, strained, limited friendship between the two women, which is about to end. The story is
as ordinary and yet as extraordinary as many peoples' lives and Messud tells it with subtly and
insight. Rightly, she calls it A Simple Tale.
The second story in this book gives the book its title. I'm still not sure why this story is called 'The
Hunters', unless it is meant to suggest that the story is about the lengths to which some people
will go to give meaning to their lives. I felt less empathy with the narrator of this tale, which was
probably due to Messud's subtle and deliberate manipulation of my feelings, and I was kept
reading partly by my curiosity as to this narrator's gender.
Messud's narrator is as American who is doing academic research in London and is living in a
rented flat in Kilburn, not, as planned, in Maida Vale. Concern for appearances - snobbishness, if
you like, about the address - means that the narrator spends several paragraphs telling us of this
mistake and complaining of the deviousness of the estate agent with whom he negotiated the deal.
As the tale unfolds (and it is quite an ordinary tale) the teller's capacity for the imaginative
re-creation of a world which clearly revolves around him or her becomes apparent. And the tale
unfolds in prose which is exotic, full of reported speech, and richly descriptive, as befits an
academic who is (as he/she makes sure we know) an expert on the French novelist Malreaux. But
his/her view of situations borders on fantasy and obsession, and there is enough plausibility in the
fantasy for it to be dangerous. Chief of his/her preoccupations is the woman who lives with her
mother (or does she?) in the downstairs flat.
Various scenarios for this mother/daughter relationship start to occupy the narrator's mind and,
eventually, much of his/her life. But in the end, despite the spying and the guessing, it is all a
game. The sabbatical ends, the narrator returns to America, and new obsessions displace the old,
until a return visit to Kilburn offers more food for thought and, briefly, some new fantasies. This
is a subtle character study, shaped by Messud with admirable skill.
So, The Hunters contains two very different stories, both beautifully told. Messud shows her
readers that the seemingly mundane can be very unusual if you look beneath the surface, and her
stories prompt us to look again at the ordinary people around us and to never again believe that
the way they appear to us tells all.
Two Bits
Clint Gaige
Quiet Storm Publishing
PO Box 1666, Martinsburg, WV 25402
0972881905, $22.95, hardcover, 204 pages, www.quietstormpublishing.com
Phillip Tomasso III
Reviewer
Clint Gaige, author of A Kerouac Christ, has written an unforgettable crime story in Two Bits.
The tightly plotted con-artist novel is complete with taut chapters, crisp dialogue and page
turning, roller coaster action packed into every scene. In Two Bits, Gaige left out all the fluff and
filler, clearly concentrating on putting together a no-nonsense thriller.
Archie Greene, is like a young Paul Newman. Caught after pulling off a petty scam, Greene might
have walked away from the deal with a slap on the wrist. His temper lands him behind bars after
taking a swing at the arresting officer. Two Bits starts with Greene's parole. He has a
telemarketing job lined up and an apartment ready and waiting.
Greene can't handle the day to day, hum-drum life that ordinary people lead. He itches to get back
into the game. A con artist is a con artist. Conning is in his blood, literally. Greene learned the
tricks of the trade from the best, his grandfather.
Greene's grandfather shows up on his doorstep a broken man. Pat Shannon, a hot-shot Mafia man
inadvertently killed Greene's grandmother. And the grandfather wants to bleed the man dry of his
wealth to teach him a lesson.
The easiest way to a self-absorbed person is to make the con all about that person. Greene poses
as a film producer interested in shooting a movie about Shannon's life. Teaming up with a host of
odd friends and dangerous new acquaintances, the plan to scam millions unfolds. Sounds easy,
right? Wrong. Murphy's law comes into play. Anything that can get screwed up, does. People you
thought could be trusted are first in line to twist the knife in your back. Greene finds himself
isolated and trapped in a quick-failing con, with nothing to do but keep up the con?The show
must go on.
In the vein of Leonard's Get Shorty, and Tevis' The Hustler, Two Bits is a fine work of cleverly
crafted fiction. Clint Gaige invokes anticipation in the reader with fingernail biting vigor. He
knows how to move the story at breakneck speed utilizing his host of unusual and savory
characters. Tension, it's in there. Action, it's in there. Satisfaction, it's in there.
The Twentieth-Century Lady: Donna Lou Seymour's Contribution to Save Our World
Donald Seymour
Talent Discovery Press
ISBN: 0964753235, $24.95, 304 pp., http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/00676.htm
Viveka Neveln
Reviewer
For someone who "disliked English, and seldom passed it in school," Donald Seymour borders on
prolific. Already the author of The Key to Your Unknown Talent, this time Seymour gets
personal with this tenderly written biography/memoir of his late wife, Donna. Seymour introduces
the reader to a plain farm girl from Wisconsin and details how she became a fitting representative
of the twentieth-century lady: beautiful, wise, and above all, compassionate. In addition, the book
recounts how this woman helped Seymour to research and develop an intriguing idea they
believed would provide a solution to a myriad of global challenges.
The author uses simple language and an earnest tone to effectively capture the special relationship
he had with Donna. The story is divided into three sections. Each one is comprised of a series of
vignettes which describe how the couple met, their married life, and how their unique ideas
developed through discussions and research. The impetus for the research resulted from
Seymour's frustrating attempts to support his family. After bouncing around from job to job until
he finally found something he could succeed at, he wondered if there wasn't a better method for
choosing one's career. Though he goes on to become an international businessman and successful
C.E.O. of a company he helped to build, he continued to look for answers.
Seymour studied the work of great thinkers from Albert Einstein to Maria Montessori, and
together with Donna, arrived at some surprising and original ideas. Not only would their ideas
help people to discover their natural talents and therefore avoid slogging through unfulfilling
careers, the Seymours proposed that their ideas could provide potential solutions to everything
from environmental degradation to terrorism. Although Seymour sometimes comes across as a
maverick visionary, complete with abstract and simplistic rhetoric, the book is mostly
down-to-earth and logical.
So find out just how this ambitious but compassionate research team hoped to fill the tall order of
saving the world. Through it all, their love and dedication drives their dream of making a
meaningful contribution to humanity. Overall, an inspiring and thought-provoking read.
Vicki's Bookshelf
The Shoemaker Extraordinaire
Steve Light
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0-8109-4236-4, $14.95, 32 pages, www.abramsbooks.com
Hans Crispin is no ordinary shoemaker. He's a shoemaker extraordinaire! In Steve Light's ("Puss
in Boots") first original picture book, there's something magical about the new shoemaker's wares
that make people taller, more confident, or more energetic. Everyone is heads over heels over
Hans's shoes…everyone except the town's local cobbler, that is, because now his ordinary shoes are
sit on the shelves without any buyers. So he hatches a plan to get rid of the new competition, by
sending Hans to a "new customer" who is in fact a hungry giant. Will Hans get stomped by the
giant, or will he think on his toes and save his mortal sole? Light's story is lively and fun, with
plenty of classic fairytale elements and a very fresh, very fluid collage style to knock readers'
socks off.
The Case of the Monkeys That Fell From the Trees
Susan E. Quinlan
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1-56397-902-0, $15.95, 172 pages, www.boydsmillspress
In her sequel to "The Case of the Mummified Pigs and Other Mysteries of Nature," biologist
Susan E. Quinlan is again on the case. This time she solves the case of the monkeys that suddenly
fell from their perches in trees, and other mysteries in tropical nature, such as how tiny frogs make
deadly poisons, and why certain plants harbor hordes of biting ants. Each of the eleven ecological
mysteries follow scientists as they track down clues, set up curious experiments and ultimately
discover some of the surprising and hidden connections that make tropical forests so fascinating
and so fragile. Quinlan is equally adept at writing for ages 9 to 12, as she is completing her
carefully-researched, black-and-white illustrations that help elementary school readers visualize
tropical forests, diverse plants and animals and the details of each page-turning mystery. A
recommended Junior Library Guild Selection.
George Washington, The Writer
Compiled & edited by Carolyn P. Yoder
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1-56397-772-9, $16.95, 144 pages, www.boydsmillspress
Besides being a great soldier, farmer, politician and president, George Washington liked to write.
Washington kept journal and diaries, wrote letters, and prepared speeches and official documents
throughout his life. His writings fill volumes and number in the thousands. "George Washington,
The Writer" is a selection of Washington's writings that follow his life, from an entry in his journal
written as a teenager to his last diary entry written the day before he died. Some of the writings
are personal, expressing love and concern for his family, friends, and home. Each selection is
accompanied by an introduction that provides historical background. By being introduced to
Washington's words, readers will get to know a man who was not superhuman only dedicated to
personal friends and family, and the country he helped shape. Like "Abraham Lincoln, The
Writer," this companion book is a valuable reference for first-hand records of Washington's life
and influence.
Mathmania
Highlights For Children Editorial Staff
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 0-87534-935-8
ISBN 0-87534-936-6
ISBN 0-87534-937-4
ISBN 0-87534-938-2
$5.95 each, 52 pages, www.mathmania.com
"Highlights for Children" have been creating parent-approved children's activity books for ages,
and they haven't lost the knack. Their "Mathmania" series of paperback activity books published
by Boyds Mills Press, clearly pleases kids while painlessly teaching math skills and honing
already-learned techniques. For this series, a staff of magazine editors, and freelance authors and
illustrators have come up with an endless variety of puzzles, mazes, word and number problems to
challenge young students age 8 to 12 and stir their imagination. The approach works so well, kids
often turn to these books as fun time-fillers, rarely viewing them as something that's "good for
them" the worst turn-off imaginable when it comes to educational materials. No wonder they're
attracted to the series, as it's filled with attractive, four-color art, and a lively array of solitary
activities from simple visual puzzles like connect-the-dots and scrambled pictures, to more
challenging number searches, logic puzzles, secret codes and head-spinning brainteasers. An
answer key in the back takes the guesswork out of the mix.
Wild Horses: Black Hills Sanctuary
Cris Peterson, illustrated by Alvis Upitis
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1-56397-745-1, $16.95, 32 pages, www.boydsmillspress
Exquisite color photos and evocative text are the thoroughbred hallmarks of this sophisticated
non-fiction picture book for ages 8 and up. Young girls in the throes of horse-love will be
particularly enthralled by this spirited tribute to the wild horses of the Black Hills of South
Dakota. There lie eleven thousand acres of breathtaking rangeland and rim-rock, canyons and
pastures home to more than three thousand wild mustangs. The Black Hills Sanctuary was the
vision of one man, Dayton Hyde, who conceived of a place where wild horses could live and die
in freedom and dignity. In the book, more than forty stunning photographs and a richly eloquent
text tell the story of Dayton's love of horses and of the American West and how he made this
wildlife sanctuary become a reality. Conservationists, wildlife advocates, and horse lovers of all
ages will rejoice in this inspirational story by the author of "Century Farm," "Harvest Year" and
"Horsepower."
Carlo Likes Colors
Jessica Spanyol
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0-7636-2023-8, $14.99, 28 pages, www.candlewick.com
In a field overcrowded with Pre-K color-concept books, this charming picture book manages to
stand out from the pack with its engaging simplicity, participatory elements, and the genuine
sweetness of its central character, Carlo a young giraffe. Operating under the belief that even
learning such basic concepts as color identification can be exciting for tots, British
author/illustrator Jessica Spanyol approaches the subject in an enjoyably simple and charming
manner. Like those in her previous books "Carlo Like Reading" and "Carlo Likes Counting,"
Spanyol's simple, one-dimensional line drawings employ primary colors and childlike depictions in
much the same innocent style as the popular Maisy the mouse series. The minimal narrative text
merely acts as a catalyst for young counters to search through the color-themed illustrations of
everyday environments a yellow farm, a blue pool, a brown forest, a green field, a white wedding
-- to identify labeled objects of the same color in each double-spread. Both Carlo and young tots
will eagerly approach the task, finding tremendous fun and satisfaction in the process.
First To Fly
Peter Busby, illustrated by David Crag
Crown Books for Young Readers / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0-375-81287-3, $19.95, 32 pages, www.randomhouse.com/kids/
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight, "First To Fly": How
Wilbur & Orville Wright Invented the Airplane" tells the triumphant story of the brothers whose
creation changed the world forever. "First To Fly" recreates the story of the Wright Brothers,
from their earliest challenges to their final triumph. As boys, Wilbur and Orville Wright loved
launching their toy helicopter into a make-believe flight. As adults, the brothers made their living
taking apart things like printing presses, bicycles and planes, then putting them together again.
The book shares their amazing story from their early days in Dayton, Ohio to their first flight in
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright Brothers are proof that hard work and determination can
lead to amazing accomplishments. And for Orville and Wilbur, opening the door to aviation was
an achievement not only for themselves, but also for generations of people across the globe.
Original paintings, period photographs and detailed diagrams accompany Busby's inspiring text,
giving "First To Fly" crossover appeal to both children and adults. The oversized hardback format
is large enough for sharing in the classroom where it will be heartily endorsed by teachers and
elementary school students alike.
Family Fun Vacation Guide: California & Hawaii
Editors of Family Fun magazine
Disney Editions
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0-78685-303-4, $17.95, 408 pages, www.disneyeditions.com
Each of the seven most recent Family Fun's "Vacation Guides" cover a lot of territory, including
book by book -- New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Southwest, Florida/the Southeast
and California/Hawaii. The paperback guidebook boasts listings for top kid-friendly destinations,
a four-star rating system for hotels and restaurants with price guide, deals and steals, age-by-age
advice, planning tips, day-trip itineraries, kid-friendly restaurants, and children's museums. In all,
the California and Hawaii guidebook presents 408 pages of family-tested ideas and adventures,
including car games, souvenir shopping lists, and a variety of travel activities to enjoy en route.
The piece de resistance, naturally enough, are the theme park how-tos from no less an authority
than Disney, of course. And the book is surprisingly restrained when discussing Disney properties,
even to the point of giving Disneyland's Blue Bayou restaurant a mere two-star rating.
The grouped areas of each "Family Fun Vacation Guide" seem to make the most sense for family
road trips, but clearly are not for everyone as every family has a different itinerary that may often
not be contained in one volume. In the case of the westernmost book, the initially incongruous
pairing of California and Hawaii is, upon deeper analysis, actually quite practical, as a significant
number of family vacationers travel to both Los Angeles/Disneyland and Hawaii in the same trip,
and residents of both states often travel back and forth regularly. The book has already become
indispensable in my Los Angeles home for entertaining the kids locally and for planning the
itineraries of out-of-town guests.
Walking With Cavemen
John Lynch and Louise Barrett
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0-7894-9775-1, $35.00, 224 pages, www.dk.com
Sure to be a crowd-pleaser, "Walking With Cavemen" is the companion book release to the BBC
and Discovery Channel series, the third installment of the Emmy award-winning Walking with
Dinosaurs" and "Walking with Prehistoric Beasts" programs. "Walking With Cavemen" takes
readers back in time to the emergence of the first upright walking Australopithecus afarensis in
Africa more than four million years ago, to the evolution of modern Homo sapiens. Hundreds of
full-color live action and computer generated images from the program vividly tell the tale, and
depict different species of hominids in scenarios of everyday life something that was before only
discussed or illustrated. Readers can see Paranthropus boisei caring for infants, Homo ergasters
tracking and hunting, Neanderthals surviving during the ice age, and Homo sapiens walking out of
the arid plains of Africa. The images and text is so engrossing that readers are likely to forget that
each of these scenes are based on a long-list of scientific assumptions, that are mostly staged by
costumed actors -- although close-ups are often render them less believable than the creators may
like. In all, it's a valiant effort to bring alive a long dead subject through active scientific
examination and creative show-and-tell playacting. Most intriguing is the way "Walking With
Cavemen" uncovers the development of unique human traits by using narrative descriptions of
how hominids brought up their young, survived attack, interacted with other species, and met
other challenges. Authors John Lynch (head of the BBC Science Unit) and anthropologist Louise
Barrett also feature the science behind the television series, the latest findings about our earliest
human ancestors, and important discoveries including Lucy, Boxgrove, DNA genetic evidence of
evolution, and the mysterious "black skull" that caused such a stir among anthropologists in 1985.
A must for any public or school library, "Walking With Cavemen" is the ultimate family history,
bringing readers eye-to-eye with our ancestors.
The Ultimate Guide to the Justice League of America
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0-7894-8893-0, $19.99, 96 pages, www.dk.com
Superman, Wonder Woman, Plastic Man, Green Lantern, Batman, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter
and The Flash join forces in DK's new hardback tribute to the all star cast of characters in the
Justice League of America. At once a fan book and reference guide, this new addition to the
"Ultimate" series goes a long way to fulfill the dreams of DC comic readers by assembling
everything you ever wanted to know about the world's greatest superheroes. For the first time
anywhere, this book reveals all the history, the lore, the heroes, the villains and the locations in
one full-color reference guidebook. Die-hard fans will salivate over the beautiful images and
reverential production as well as the must-have information. Included are in-depth profiles of all
the major superheroes and villains; an historical timeline; and eye-catching illustrations. Many
basics will seem mundane to true fanatics (such as the no-brainers like Flash's real name or
Superman's occupation), but the bare facts are necessary, ma'am, and are expanded upon in fun to
browse sidebars on each two-page spread. But the real delight here is in the original material
specially-commissioned expressly for the "Ultimate Guide," including full-color illustrations and
cross-sections of the League's Watchtower and Trophy Room, and Aquaman's undersea base,
Atlantic. Readers new and old will pore over the details and annotation for hours, secure in the
knowledge that this definitive chronicle was created with the full cooperation and guidance of DC
Comics, shapers of the JLA legend. Kapow! It's a super effort.
Dog Days Starring Otis
Amanda Harvey
Doubleday / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0-385-74621-0, $15.95, 32 pages, www.randomhouse.com/kids
Welcome back Otis. The lovable, floppy-eared dog from "Dog Eared" makes his encore
appearance in "Dog Days, Starring Otis", a sweet new picture book story about a new trouble
maker in the house: a darling little kitten that the family just won't stop fussing over. What's a dog
to do when his family adopts a meowing fluff ball who steals all the attention? Otis finds himself
forgotten. They miss his breakfast, neglect to shake out his bed, and forget to brush his hair. Not
liking this lack of attention, Otis storms out of the house and sets off on his own. He roams the
streets, doing things he's normally not allowed to do but without his family, it doesn't really mean
much. When he has finally had enough of being by himself, he decides to do the unthinkable… he
starts to look for a new family. Children will identify with the feeling of being neglected by busy
parents or new siblings, and enjoy the fantasy of making a change. But would it really be a change
for the better? The book's satisfying twist at the conclusion will put a smile on everyone's face.
Even Otis's.
Little Monkey Says Good Night
Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated by David Walker
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0-374-34609-7, $16.00, 32 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
Before he goes to bed, Little Monkey insists that he has to say good night to all the performers
under the Big Top tent; Ringmaster, elephant, Strong Man, the Clowns, and, of course, Mama.
Boing, swish, thump, bump wheee! Little Monkey has an awful lot of fun avoiding bed, and in the
process, he becomes part of the performance himself until finally even Little Monkey can't delay
bedtime any longer, and there is only one last extra-sweet good night to be said: "Good night,
Me!" The phrase is a natural, sure to be echoed by little listeners when enjoying the story at their
own bedtime. In his first picture book, David Walker's precious pictures are packed with
whimsical antics and affection to capture the charm of Little Monkey.
Moses Goes to the Circus
Isaac Millman
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0-374-35064-7, $16.00, 32 pages, www.fsgbooks.com
In his third unique picture book about a charming deaf boy named Moses, author and illustrator
Isaac Millman takes readers on a wonderful outing in pictures and both written English and
American Sign Language. As with "Moses Goes to a Concert" and "Moses Goes to School," the
boy's newest adventure is detailed with diagrams of the ASL signs so that readers can learn how
to sign. This time, Moses's hearing little sister, Renee, is learning how to sign as well, so she can
better converse with her proud big brother. The story's delightful setting is just as innovative as
the relationship and the book's story-telling techniques, because the action doesn't take place at
just any circus, but rather, it's at the exciting "Big Apple's Circus of the Senses." Step right up and
see, in a single ring, acts by trapeze artists, acrobats, elephants, horses and clowns all specially
designed for the blind, deaf and hard-of-hearing. Moses' sister Renee isn't deaf but her senses are
piqued in much the same way as the book'
s intrigued young readers age 4 to 8.
Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story
Lisa Westberg Peters, Illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Harcourt
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0-15-201772-0, $17, 48 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
This gentle family album of life on earth introduces the fundamental scientific concept of the
evolution of species to young children. Vetted by anthropologists and geologists, the book's
science is accurate and expressed in simple, easy-to-understand language. An illustrated time line
and glossary help expand the story for children and families. The book was released to coinside
with the one-hundred-and-twenty-first anniversary of the death of British scientist Charles
Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory. His "On The Origin of the Species" detailed the theory
of natural selection. Modern children can now grasp the basics of Darwin's once revolutionary
theory through "Our Family Tree." More than ever, intriguing science books like this are of vital
importance to introduce basic scientific principles and to help children increase their scientific
knowledge. In addition, author Lisa Westberg Peters worked with credentialed elementary and
secondary school educators to create specific lesson plans based on "Our Family Tree", to
increase the book's value as a teaching tool. Lush illustrations by Lauren Stringer (who previously
illustrated the award-winning "Castles, Caves and Honeycombs" by Linda Ashman) sparkle,
making this a fascinating visual feast for eager young learners.
Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson
Amy Ehrlich, Illustrated by Wendell Minor
Silver Whistle / Harcourt
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0-15-216227-5, $16, 32 pages, www.HarcourtBooks.com
Released to coincide with Earth Day, this picture book biography of pioneer environmentalist
Rachel Carson is tremendously inspiring. Carson's beginnings as a writer and environmentalist are
poetically detailed, with luminous paintings that capture the essence of Carson's life passion
understanding the interconnection of all living things. As the author of "Silent Spring" a book
widely recognized as the catalyst for the environmental movement that began in the 1960s she
held her views in the face of enormous criticism. Published in 1962, the best-selling "Silent
Spring" criticized the widespread use of pesticides and faced legal challenges from a number of
chemical companies. Tragically, Carson dies of breast cancer in 1964, more than six years before
the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency, which traces its roots to Ms. Carson's
seminal work. Clearly, "Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson" is a labor of love for the author and
illustrator. Admirably, they manage successfully to explain the complex subject matter and its
ramifications without over-simplification.
Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!
Mo Willems
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0-78681-988-X, $12.99, 36 pages, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
At once nostalgic and thoroughly modern, "Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus" is a joyous,
cartoonish picture book with a fabulous sense of humor appealing to the kid in all of us. It's no
wonder: author Mo Willems is a four-time Emmy winning writer and animator for Sesame Street"
and the creator of Cartoon Network's "Sheep in the Big City." Here he immediately puts the
reader into the action on the title page by having a bus driver address readers directly, asking
"Can you watch things for me until I get back?" There's just one weird warning, however:
"Remember, don't let the pigeon drive the bus." The funny premise bear comedic fruit when, sure
enough, a pigeon shows up and tries everything he can think off to talk us into letting him drive.
Defeated, he gives up…or does he? It's a pure and simple joke told through cheerfully crude line
drawings of the clever talking bird, set against a blank canvas of pastel hued pages. It's so simple,
in fact, I was tempted to replay the story as a flip book. It's one of the most fun picture books in
years for pre-readers and their sure-to-be-amused caregivers.
Touch Stuff: Tough Truck Rescue
Kate Hayler and Red Giraffe
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0-7868-1981-2, $8.99, 12 pages, www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
Coming to the rescue of restless toddler boys everywhere is the interactive "Tough Stuff" line of
board books filled with brightly illustrated scenarios of rescue vehicles in action, including police
cars, fire engines, wailing sirens, helicopters, trucks and tractors. As the rubber tire-tracks on the
covers suggest, each title is a rough and tumble ride with the heroes of Tough Town with various
hands-on elements employed for the different books which themselves are different sizes, shapes
and formats. Featuring a lift-the-flap control panel inside a cover fold out page, "Tough Truck
Rescue" introduces the Tough Team rescuers: Dorothy, Tony, Charlie, Doug, Jose, Finn and
Flora, and their dogs Tracker and Barley. Each spread also offers a different checklist for toddlers
to play along with, as if they're in the driver's seat. "Helicopter Rescue" features the same format.
The half-size "Tractor Power" and "Digger Power" ($5.99, 10 pages each) are two easy-to-hold,
die-cut wheel shaped books, also featuring rubber tire-tracks on the cover and simple scenes of
various trucks in action. The largest "Tough Stuff" books are in the "Sound the Alarm! Press The
Siren" sub-series, which includes "Fire, Fire! Emergency" and "Police Chase! Emergency"
($12.99, 10 pages each), and thankfully comes with a quieter-than-most siren element. All books
are also published in Spanish editions.
Look Around: Simply Science
Nora Gaydos, Illustrated by BB Sams
Innovative Kids
18 Ann Street, Norwalk, CT 06854-2258
ISBN 1-58476-167-9 (Look Around)
ISBN 1-58476-169-5 (Simply Science)
$14.99, 12 pages each book, 10 book packages
Innovative Kids "Now I'm Reading" series is one of the best and most-popular step-by-step
emergent reader series on the market. It's a developmentally appropriate booklet series written by
an elementary school teacher as a fun method of teaching pre-reading and reading skills, and
encouraging children to become independent, self-motivated readers. Square paperback booklets
are packaged in groups of 10, then housed inside plastic slipcases and bound in a hardback with a
magnetic closure. Six reading levels are offered to encourage reading progress: pre-reader, level
one, two, three, four and independent, with each providing progressively more difficult vowel
songs, consonant sounds and blends, and more complicated words and sentences. A variety of
book sets have been added to the series some are story based, while others are non-fiction,
providing extra learning opportunities. Such is the case for the new "Simply Science" release
containing 10 science books for independent readers about space, the earth, human bones,
animals, plants, the life cycle of frogs and butterflies, weather, water and rocks. For pre-readers,
"Look Around" features simple, silly stories told with humorous, full color illustrations, basic
concepts and alliteration. As with previous titles, "Look Around" and "Simply Science" teach
using a successful balance of phonics and literature-based reading, with plenty of developmentally
appropriate concepts, language and subjects. The parent/teacher guide gives excellent guidance,
and the sheet of 40 incentive stickers provides simple motivation and reward for kids. Bravo to
Innovative Kids for a reliable beginning reader program that caregivers can count on, and children
enjoy.
The Alphabet Keeper
Mary Murphy
Knopf / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0-375-82347-6, $14.95, 32 pages, www.randomhouse.com/teens
The stern Alphabet Keeper. In her drab overcoat, heeled shoes and flowered hat, keeps all her
letters caged in the dark. The 26 unruly letters of the alphabet have had quite enough. When she
goes to clean the cage one day, all the letters escape through a window beginning the wild
chase-scene that is Mary Murphy's hilarious alphabet adventure, "The Alphabet Keeper." In
Murphy's lively word fantasy, the clever letters use their talents to elude the Alphabet Keeper by
rearranging themselves at every turn. With a few quick moves, the Alphabet Keeper's hat becomes
a cat (and covers her head so she can't see, leading, naturally, to funny antics). A bus turns into a
bush, a crow turns into a cow, a moo turns into the moon, and so on. How will the frustrated
Alphabet Keeper ever get her letters back? The picture book's irreverent wordplay, wacky
artwork and soothing color palette of wild aqua, periwinkle and sage are sure to delight readers
and alphabet lovers everywhere. Good word fun and games.
Thirsty Baby Catherine
Ann Cullen, Illustrated by David McPhail
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0-316-16357-0 $14.95, 28 pages, www.twbookmark.com/children
"'I'm thirsty,' said the baby, 'and I need a drink.' So we gave him a bottle, and what do you think?
He started with a sip, and he finished with a sup. And the pink plastic bottle, he drank it all up." In
this picture book for toddlers, Catherine Ann Cullen ("The Magical, Mystical, Marvelous Coat")
pays tribute to her extremely thirsty nephew in cute, sing-song rhyme,. The resulting poem is
rhythmically pure, with consistent cadences that absolutely hit their mark, every time. Cullen's
writing skill makes rhyming picture books look easy, which is certainly not the case. Veteran
illustrator David McPhail also executes his task with confidence, but not with particularly
attractive results. How unfortunate that the illustrator of more than 100 children's books such as
the appealing "Drawing Lessons From a Bear" and "Edward in the Jungle" has here created such
unattractive facial features and distorted human anatomy. What should have been cutsey-pie has
ended up mildly creepy.
Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis & Clark
Gail Langer Karwoski
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1-56145-190-8
$8.95, 198 pages, www.peachtree-online.com
In anticipation of the Lewis & Clark bicentennial (2002-2004), this popular historical fiction novel
for middle readers 8-12, has been reissued as an anniversary hardcover edition with new cover art,
and a new introduction by Jay Rasmussen, President of the Oregon Chapter of the Lewis and
Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. Originally published in 1999, the award-winning "Seaman" tells
the tale of Meriwether Lewis's 150-pound Newfoundland dog who went along on Lewis &
Clark's legendary exploration of the uncharted Louisiana Purchase territories. In fact, Seaman was
an integral part the Corps of Discovery, serving a key role in the expedition's success: catching
and retrieving game, and protecting the team from wild animals and hostile Indians. The exciting
journey takes them from St. Louis, Missouri on the first American trek to the western sea. Along
the way, readers will meet Sacagawea, the sole woman on the trip, who joins the expedition as a
guide as they establish relationships with several Indian tribes on behalf of President Thomas
Jefferson, and discover strange new flora and fauna. Dangerous encounters with grizzly bears and
buffalos add excitement to the adventure. Extremely well researched and engagingly told,
"Seaman" is a blue ribbon winner.
Aliens from Earth
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1-56145-236-X
$15.95, 32 pages, www.peachtree-online.com
"When animals or plants invade a new habitat, they can upset the delicate balance of the
ecosystem. "Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems" introduces
young readers to the new and ongoing environmental problems caused by invasive plant and
animal species. Batten, a children's nature writer of award-winning books, describes various
examples of these "aliens" to show how the intruders have arrived -- by land, air, or sea and how
they have disrupted their new environments. Some aliens, like fire ants, were introduced to the
U.S. accidentally when they stowed aboard a cargo ship from South America in the 1930s.
Without any natural predators, the destructive ants spread quickly and have caused billions of
dollars of damage. Some species, however, were purposefully introduced with good intentions,
but bad consequences. In 1956, for example, scientists imported the African bee queen to Brazil
to improve the breeding stock of honeybees for Brazilian beekeepers. The offspring, called
Africanized honeybees or "killer bees," were more fierce than the original insect, and their sting
has resulted in serious injury and even death to some farm animals and people. Pointing out that
the problem of invasive species is escalating with increased travel, the author helps children better
understand the subject by including ways they can keep new aliens from invading their own
backyard. "Aliens from Earth" does an excellent job of encouraging renewed respect for
biodiversity and the delicate balance of life in our ecosystem.
Kit's Railway Adventure
Pleasant Company
8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
ISBN 1-58485-575-4
$15.95, 56 pages, www.americangirl.com
Fans of the "American Girls Collection" character Kit Kittredge, can embark on a railway
adventure with her via this inventive, interactive novelty book. Designed to mimic a personal
travel journal complete with eight pull-out souvenirs the book is written in first-person,
describing events and people met along the way from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Montana's Glacier
National Park in 1934. "Kit's Railway Adventure" features an interactive format that encourages
girls' imaginations and gives fans a new way to further explore the world of one of the most
popular American Girls characters. The story begins after Kit wins an essay contest and an
all-expense paid train trip for two to anywhere in the country. Kit and her Aunt Millie choose to
head west to see Montana's beautiful new Glacier Park and Kit's brother Charlie, who's working
for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Along the way, Kit and Aunt Millie stop at the "Century of
Progress" World's Fair in Chicago to ride the Sky Ride and see the world' s largest fountain; stay
overnight at a cattle ranch; and meet the President and First Lady, Franklin and Eleanor
Roosevelt. To bring Kit's adventure to life, the hardcover book includes historical photographs
and removable vacation mementos, such as a map, a Worlds Fair bookmark, a train whistle, a
Native American bracelet, and a secret decoder that readers can use to figure out clues hidden
throughout the book. It's a delightful vacation voyage back in time for girls eight and up.
Rhino Records
10635 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. CA 90025-4900
ISBN $TBA, VHS cassettes, www.rhino.com
Beep Beep
Kay Widdowson
Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0-439-45284-8
$5.99, 10 pages, www.scholastic.com
Move over, lightweight toddler books. Here comes the heavy-duty, super-sturdy board book
"Beep Beep," and it's (almost literally) a ton of fun. With it, little ones can experience a fun car
ride to a farm, driving along a winding road pass fields of friendly piglets, goats, chickens and
other busy barnyard animals. While an adult reads the simple story, tots can play their part by
pressing a soft round button that honks along with the "Beep Beep" of the story's red convertible.
It's a nice lap-time option for sharing interactive reading, and an especially good value considering
the not-inexpensive production materials and extras.
Big and Little
Samantha Berger and Pamela Chanko
Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0-439-44237-0, $4.99, 14 pages, www.scholastic.com
This simple learning book for toddlers is designed to simply illustrate the concept of size
opposites. Samantha Berger and Pamela Chanko use crisp color photos to show "big" and "little"
in side-by-side comparisons, including a polar bear mother and cub, Great Dane and Chihuahua,
and the hands of a father and young son. The examples are charming and wisely varied to hold the
interest of young minds, and the simple phrases are easy to grasp. The final spread is cute as well
as educational, as it depicts a same-sized pair of twin boys accompanied by the surprise ending:
"Both the same size!"
Desiderata: Words for Life
Max Ehrmann, photos by Marc Tauss
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0-439-37293-3
$15.95, 44 pages, www.scholastic.com
The inspiring words of Max Ehrmann's prose poem "Desiderata" ring as true today as when they
were first written 76 years ago. Millions of readers have since been moved by Ehrmann's sage
words, which begin famously with "Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what
peace there may be in silence." That serene mood permeates each taut phrase, which together
create a spiritual To Do list for keeping grounded in our often helter-skelter daily lives. All are
simple, profane truths. And a great many ring especially true in these combative ("As far as
possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons"), financially unstable ("Keep
interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of
time" and "Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this
not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals…"), tumultuous (With all
its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.") and surprising ("…and
everywhere life is full of heroism.") times that we live in. Readers will be tempted to read
Ehrmann's proclamations as prophetic, but they are simply timeless words-to-the-wise that
continue to instruct willing ears. Interestingly, the poem was first written as a Christmas greeting
for friends and family, but not published until three years after Ehrmann's death. In a journal he
once wrote "I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift a bit of chaste prose that had caught
up some noble moods…" Clearly, "Desiderata" continues to secure for Ehrmann a place among
other visionary American poets who have bestowed a lasting gift of simple enduring truth. For
this beautiful art book edition, photographer Marc Tauss ("Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems")
accompanies each phrase or semi-phrase with a beautiful illustrative photo, lending subtle
credence to each thought by depicting an example of ways people prove their worthiness in
everyday life. Overall, the images manage to avoid the "greeting card" sentimentality one may
expect, though the cumulative effect falls a tad short of artistic inspiration.
Land of the Buffalo Bones by Marion Dane Bauer
Love Thy Neighbor: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson by Ann Turner
The Journal of Finn Reardon: A Newsie by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0-0-439-22027-0 (Land), $12.95, 222 pages
ISBN 0-439-22027-0 (Love), $12.95, 190 pages
ISBN 0439-18894-6 (Journal), $10.95, 158 pages, www.scholastic.com
Scholastic's popular "Dear America" series of historical fiction novels for ages 9 through 14 has
more than 16 million books in print, and often charts on The New York Times bestseller lists. The
latest books in the series keep to the theme of presenting fictional diaries written by characters
from various periods of American history. "Land of the Buffalo Bones: The Diary of Mary
Elizabeth Rodgers" is about a young English girl in New Yeovil, Minnesota, circa 1973. Told
from her point of view, the book reveals her heartrending story of how her immigrant family
struggles to succeed in the New World's wild landscape. When Polly's father, the Reverend Dr.
George Rodgers, hears of the promise of religious freedom and easily obtainable land in the
United States, he decides to take his congregation to the New World in the hopes of establishing a
new community there. Minnesota has come greatly recommended by Northern Pacific Railroad
brochures as a land "begemmed with innumerable lakes," and "supplied with forests." Soon, the
Rodgers, along with other English families, set sail aboard the City of Bristol toward America.
However, they find life in Minnesota to be rife with desolation, peril, disease and even hunger.
The harsh landscape pits the settlers in a fierce battle against nature, and against the land's original
settlers, for survival. Through Polly's moving entries, Marion Dane Bauer brings this episode of
American history to life.
"Love They Neighbor: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson," written by Ann Turner, is a
powerful personal look at a dangerous and pivotal historic moment. Set in Green Marsh,
Massachusetts, in 1774, "Love Thy Neighbor" introduces Prudence Emerson, a lively, smart and
inquisitive daughter of a merchant. She spends most her time with her sisters and best friend
Abigail, but when her aunt gives her a lovely accounts book that used to belong to her late uncle,
Prudence starts to keep a journal of her daily adventures, and the turbulent times she is living in.
Many colonials, calling themselves Patriots, are clamoring for independence from the king, and
soon there are rumors of war. Prudence is torn between her family's sworn allegiance to the
British crown, and her loneliness for the friends who have abandoned her for the Patriot cause.
With poignant sensitivity, the novel succeeds in capturing the other side of American's fight for
freedom.
"The Journal of Finn Reardon: A Newsie" is the newest addition to the "My Name is America"
sub-series of fictional adventure journals written primarily for boys age 9 through 14. In this case,
it's a riveting account of a David-and-Goliath-like struggle between newsies (i.e. newspaper boys)
and newspaper publishers. When young Finn's father dies, the boy is forced to become the man of
the family and support his mother and eight siblings. Soon, he joins the ranks of newsies peddling
newspapers in the corners of New York City after school. But when the two major publishers in
the city, Hearst and Pulitzer, decide to increase the money the newsies must pay to sell the
newspapers, the boys band together and go on strike. The book remains faithful to the facts, while
weaving a tale of true-to-life fictional characters that readers will deeply care about.
The Yawn Heard 'Round the World
Scott Thomas, illustrations by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
ISBN 1-58246-051-5, $14.95, 30 pages, www.tenspeed.com
Round and round and round it goes, where this yawn stops, nobody knows. What happens to a
yawn after it escapes from your mouth? That's the "what if" posed by first-time author Scott
Thomas in his funny tale of a silent phenomenon familiar to wide-awake sleepyheads all 'round the
world. One yawn, we all know, leads to another and another and another due to their
mysteriously contagious nature. And so it goes in the picture book "The Yawn Heard 'Round The
World" when a young girl, Sara, yawns against her will while arguing about going to bed. It
causes her mother to yawn, then her father, her aunt, and even a passing chickadee. The bird flies
to France and soon pink Parisian poodles are yawning too. "Then al those yawns from far and
wide began a long and breezy ride all the way to Sara's street and to her house on windy feet,"
continues Thomas's sweet rhyming verse as it follows the yawn as it returns home. At the end of
the long journey, readers get to lift a flap to peek inside Sara's house for a sweet update on little
Sara's activities. "The Yawn Heard 'Round the World" is just the ticket for bedtime reading to put
young ones in the mood to snooze.
Treasure Planet Read-Along
Walt Disney Records
350 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, CA 90512-6230
ISBN 0-7634-2012-3, $14.98, www.disney.com/DisneyRecords
Disney isn't known for subtlety in marketing, but in the case of the "Treasure Planet Read-Along"
interactive DVD book from Walt Disney Records, the product offers much, much more than its
simple title suggests. This is the ninth title in the popular series of DVD Read-Alongs, and it's
packed with special features that add up to at least 90 minutes of story, music and interactive fun.
It features a narrated read-along story, vocabulary lessons, sing-along songs and a challenging
game featuring characters from the "Treasure Planet" animated film. Worlds are highlighted
onscreen to encourage children to read-along as the story is read aloud. The simple concept is
supplemented with all sorts of bells and whistles, including special effects, and five different
language tracks, enabling users to hear and read the story, songs and vocabulary in English,
Spanish, French, Italian or German. There are less educational extras as well, including a music
video for the hit single "I'm Still Here" by Goo Goo Doll's singer John Rezeznik, a cartoonish
game using the DVD remote control, and, unfortunately, commercials for upcoming Disney
releases. A single-disc DVD and paperback picture book are housed in a compact plastic case the
size of an average paperback novel, this is a convenient entertainment and pseudo learning tool
that's playable on multiple platforms, including television, personal computers, Playstation 2 and
X-Box. The film was a disappointment, but maybe, just maybe this DVD version will inspire at
least one kid to seek out the original edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic.
Slaves Who Dared: The Stories of Ten African-American Heroes
Mary Garrison
Whilte Mane Kids
P.O. Box 708, 63 West Burd Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257
ISBN 1-57249-272-4, $19.95, pages 142 pages
It is difficult to imagine a time in our country's history when people owned people. Yet nearly 4
million enslaved people lived in the United States at the end of the Civil War. These
African-Americans overcame enormous obstacles to make significant contributions to our
country. Fortunately, many escaped slaves recorded their life experiences in books known as slave
narratives. Journalist Mary Garrison bases her academic reference book on these 100 year-old
narratives, bringing to life the historic adventures of ten slaves: Josiah Henson, Harriet Jacobs,
Henry Bibb, Sojourner Truth and six others. Their courage and determination in the face of
horrible injustice is tremendously inspiring a fact that won't be missed on the young readers for
which this was written. As such, it teaches much more than the facts of early American life,
African-American history and the stories of ten African-American heroes and heroines who lived
through it; it teaches tolerance, humility, moral fortitude, a deep respect for those who endured
such hardships, and a deeper appreciation for the freedoms and rights we enjoy today. The
powerful stories of "Slaves Who Dared" are an excellent classroom supplement or library source
for elementary school book reports and research projects.
Reviewed by Vicki Arkoff
varkoff@yahoo.com
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Where We Stand: 30 Reasons for Loving Our Country
Roger Rosenblatt
Harcourt, Inc.
ISBN # 0151007225, $l6.95, 200l, l94 pages,
Rosenblatt, essayist for the LEHRER TV NEWSHOUR on PBS, tells the reader in an informal,
almost stream-of-consciousness way, what's so great about living in the United States of America
and why being a citizen of this country is so grand. Obviously a written response to the
devastation wrought on 9/11, his comments, which do buck up feelings of despair, are right out of
the popular culture from Mark Twain to Joe DiMaggio. This author's writing is humorous,
thoughtful, enlightning, and, well, patriotic without being saccharin.
This easy read is recommended. It's great for bathroom perusing. The book consists of 30 essays,
some as short as half a page, none longer than eight pages.
The author says in opening his preface, "This book is about love of country--not unnalloyed love,
or unwary, unquestioning love, or infatuated, one-night, wink-in-the-bar love. But love, pure,
steady, and complicated. [...]"
Rosenblatt and his wife have homes on Long Island, NY and in Manhattan. He teaches college
level writing and has authored other volumes, including RULES FOR AGING.
Confessions of a Street Addict
James J. Cramer
Simon & Schuster
ISBN # 0743224876, $26.00, 2002, 339 pages/indexed
Wall Street's the avenue this author is addicted to. If you've ever seen him on TV's KUDLOW &
CRAMER, a Wall Street, economics and political review and interview show on Cable, you'll
know of Cramer's addiction and his manic, hyper, frantic, and sometimes all three type of
personality. To say that he speaks his mind and is unpredictable is, at best, an
understatement.
Cramer is a self-made multimillionaire. Along the way, he's made many others rich, too. He's done
this mostly through his Wall Street Hedge Fund, CramerBerkoowitz, and his co-founding of the
online pubication TheStreet.com, a website containing the latest news about money and
investments.
Rarely is a nonfiction volume, particularly one concerning the ups and downs of the stock market
and the dot.com bubble, a page turner, but this book is just that and hard to put down. The mainly
financial story he tells is gripping. And he spares no one, not even himself, in relaying the facts,
negative and positive, to the reader. Moreover, he tells his tales well. That shouldn't be surprising
because he's as good a writer as he is a stock picker.
Not above expressing how his legendary temper and shooting off his mouth have landed him in
trouble, he doesn't spare himself criticism about being a frequently absent husband and father,
either. Too often, he's chosen to follow the stock market ticker instead.
Highly educated, he holds an undergraduate and law degree from Harvard. But he finds law work
boring, so he doesn't practice nor has he any desire to. Originally, he trained and worked as a
journalist. And he became quite good at that, though it paid poorly. He, therefore, drifted to the
stock market because of a lifelong interest in it.
A longtime friend, Marty Peretz, publisher of THE NEW REPUBLIC magazine, gave Cramer a
huge pile of money to invest and reinvest Cramer did that riding the market making a lot of money
for his friend, for himself, and for many others. Soon, the hedge fund was highly reputed for big
gains, year after year.
But then problems arose. The fund began to lose big in l998. Peretz and others pulled their
considerable money out. Now Cramer's hedge fund morphed into small potatoes. But he diid't
give up.
He read the book ENDURANCE, about Shackleton's escape from Anntactica wihout losing any
of his men. Cramer inspired his staff at the hedge fund with this story. Karen, Cramer's wife,
whom he dubbed "the Trading Goddess," and who had taught Cramer initially how to make
money through stock market trades whether the market was going up or down, came back to
work at the office briefly to help buck up Cramer and to get the firm out of the financial
doldrums. Her short return helped immensely. And, soon, they were out of hot water.
In more recent years, before his and Kudlow's TV program, originally called AMERICA NOW,
was on the air, Cramer was on numerous other TV shows touting, in his high pitched, nervous,
often irritating sounding voice, stocks and his webside TheStreet.com. He also did, and still does,
radio talk shows.
Long after he came to his millions, he finally came to his senses, too. He turned over the hedge
fund to his junior partner, Jeff Berkowitz, who, unasked, kept Cramer's name in the firm's title. In
any case, Cramer retired from that business. TheStreet.com, though Cramer owns a large chunk
of its valuable stock, is operationally out of his control for legal reasons. So, he was now able to
spend more time at home with his spouse and kids. He seems happier now than he's ever
been.
"The manic misery of nonstop performance," the author writes in his book, "day in and day out,
can't be sustained without believing in the fiction that poverty still lurks just around the corner,
that I'm back in the Ford Fairmont sleeping off of Interstate 5 an instant after a couple of bad
Brocade [a favored stock] trades. But trying to stay hungry when you are making $l0 million a
year is difficult stuff."
Cramer, his wife and two children, reside in Summit, New Jersey.
Already 2002 is becoming a dim memory, but this book is the best this reviewer has read during
that year, maybe in several years.
Highly recommended!
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Paul's Bookshelf
With Sleep Disturbed
Michael Ford Xlibris Corp.
436 Walnut Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3703
2000, ISBN 0-7388-2498-4, 319 pages, $16.00, http://www.xlibris.com
This novel takes place in 1890s Boston. Brice Stockton travels from Texas to pick up the body of
Peter, his older brother, who has died in a suicide pact with Diane Cabel, of the wealthy Suffolk
Cabels. It seems like a straightforward, but gruesome, task. When he gets there, not only is he
denied entrance to the estate, but Brice is told that Peter has already been buried, contrary to the
wishes of the Stockton family. He is also told of the Cabel curse. A curse can be something other
than perpetual bad luck.
Once Brice practically forces himself onto the estate, he finds an eccentric family who have seen
better days. Moorefield is the family patriarch, Wolf is his son and heir (along with being an
arrogant you-know-what) and Maida is his daughter. Ainsley, another son, is a congenital
imbecile. There are also a number of servants.
The police are not very helpful, because of the Cabel's influence, but the coffins are dug up, only
to find that they're both empty. Brice begins to get the idea that Diane and Peter didn't kill
themselves. Suspicion falls on one of the servants, who is killed by Wolf just before he was going
to confess. During a hunting trip, Wolf and several of his men attempt to kill Brice and make it
look like an accident. He barely escapes by jumping into a nearby lake, where he finds the bodies
of Peter and Diane. Suspicion then falls on Maida, who is being treated by a local doctor, who
also happens to be a hypnotist. Not only is she being sexually assaulted while under hypnosis, but
just enough of a post-hypnotic suggestion is planted in her mind to make Maida think that maybe
she is actually guilty of murder. For a time, suspicion also falls on Ainsley. Brice also learns that
Maida is holding a major secret over Wolf's head concerning Ainsley. If Moorefield got even an
inkling of this secret, Wolf would be disinherited so fast it would make his head spin. Just to make
things more interesting, on more than one occasion, Brice sees Peter and Diane actually walking
through the house. They aren't some ghostly see-through apparition, but solid enough to reach
out and touch. Through it all, Brice is drawn deeper and deeper into the depths of his own
soul.
This book has it all. It's got a mansion with secret passages and wings that have been closed for
years, it's got dark family secrets, several dead bodies, a bit of sex, strange goings-on and a really
well done story. This fine piece of Victorian horror writing is very much worth reading.
The Empty Cafe
Michael Hoffman
1st Books Library
2595 Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404
ISBN 0-75961-986-7, 260 pages, $10.95, http://www.1stbooks.com
This group of stories take place somewhere between fantasy and reality.
A man goes away to school and eventually becomes a history professor, losing touch with his
younger brother. One day, he opens the newspaper and sees a picture of little brother, fronting a
popular rock music band. Overnight, the older brother's life is turned upside down, as he goes
from being an average college professor to brother of a famous rock star. A westerner living in
Japan, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl, watches as his innocence slowly
disappears.
A woman and her fiance are eating in an expensive restaurant. Suddenly, she notices an older
gentleman a few tables away and screams. The fiance takes her home immediately, and after a
good night's sleep, it's as if the incident in the restaurant never happened. A couple of times, the
woman says "I won't hurt you," for seemingly no reason at all. The object of her emotional
reaction, an actor, appeared in a film a few years previously. It's about a man who befriends a little
girl, takes her shopping for a doll, then drugs her, undresses her and photographs her, but
otherwise doesn't harm her.
A police officer in present-day Bangkok, Thailand, after reuniting a lost boy with his frantic
parents, tells of how his own son, a schizophrenic, committed suicide. Perhaps those who hear
voices in their heads are the sane ones, and the rest of us, who can't hear them, are insane.
These stories are really good. Hoffman has done a fine job throughout. They are easy to read,
with real people as characters and are highly recommended.
The Freelance Success Book
David Taylor
Peak Writing Press
37 W. Fairmont Avenue, Suite 202, P.O. Box 14196, Savannah, GA 31416
ISBN 0-9717330-4-X, 368 pages, $19.95, http://www.peakwriting.com
Periodical editors are engaged in a never-ending search for writing that people want to read,
which means that there is a large demand for freelance writers. This book, written by a former
magazine editor, tells how to get your name and phone number into an editor's Rolodex.
The first thing a budding freelance writer should do is get hold of a copy of a book like the yearly
Writer's Market and read the submission guidelines for the intended target publication (novels,
short stories, magazine non-fiction, etc). If your target is a specific magazine, read, and analyze,
several issues of that magazine. Know it better than its editors, and find a niche that no one has
filled.
To call yourself a writer, it's necessary to actually do some writing. The act of putting pen to
paper (or fingers to keyboard) is covered, along with what to do when the words just won't come
out.
After your masterpiece comes into existence on paper, then comes dealing with the editor. How
do you write a query letter (or should you)? Make sure you deal with the right editor, not just any
editor. Some editors do business by phone, others by fax or email; adjust your approach
accordingly. Don't gush about how much you love the magazine; editors don't want fan clubs. Get
right to the point. The biggest mistake a freelance writer makes in dealing with an editor is
laziness; not knowing the magazine inside and out.
Writing for the internet is totally different than writing for print. Your average web surfer is not
going to sit and read the equivalent of a magazine article on a screen. It's best to break up the text
as much as possible, with bullets, numbers, colored backgrounds, etc. Also provide lots of
hyperlinks, so the web surfer can do more research on their own. The book also covers the legal
end of things, including contracts, libel and ethics in general.
I learned a lot from this book. A copy belongs right next to the dictionary on the bookshelf of
every freelance writer, and every would-be freelance writer. It is packed full of useful information,
and is money very well spent. I hope this also works for book reviewers...
The Spiritual Guide for the Really Busy Person
Sherri Carden-McDonald
PageFree Publishing
733 Howard Street, Otsego, MI 49078
ISBN 1-930252-90-0, $15.95, 116 pages, http://www.pagefreepublishing.com
In this fast-paced, 24/7 type world, many things can get left behind; spirituality is usually among
them. This book aims to change that.
The first step for any person is to decide just what they want out of life. What is their heart's
desire? Is it better to be happy, or to have a closer relationship with the Creator? The come a
series of things that anyone can do during the day to incorporate spirituality into their lives.
When you get up in the morning, take several deep breaths and some stretching exercises to get
yourself ready for the day. Try singing, or yoga or color visualization. During the day, think
before you speak. Pay attention to where you put your energy. At noontime, take a moment of
silence or say noontime prayers. It sounds like a cliche, but, on the way home from work, stop
and smell the roses. Bless and appreciate your evening meal. Express your gratitude for the day
just finished. At bedtime, send healing prayers to anyone who may need them. Write down things
from the day for which you are grateful.
Included is a list of things that can be done at any time during the day. Take time to visualize your
future. Replace meat products with natural alternatives. Stay Clean. Try not to take on too much.
Take the time to unclutter and reorganize. Remember where people are coming from emotionally.
Stop worrying. In short, make the most of everyday.
Perhaps one of the reasons for all the strife and discord today is the decreasing importance of
spirituality in people's lives. This book doesn't push any particular religion or conception of
"God." The suggestions included can be done by people of any religion. For anyone who wants to
keep a spiritual connection in today's world, or anyone wanting to fix a "broken" connection, this
book is an excellent place to start. It's a very quick read, and it says a lot.
Joe Sails: A Story in Progress
Dick Olenych
Lone Tree Publishing Inc
5572 War Admiral Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462-4044
ISBN 0-9724117-0-4, $18.95, 148 pages
Joe Sails is a salesman at the Acme Office Products Company. He has been with the company for
a number of years, and, in the past, was the top salesman. Not any more. Joe has become
increasingly dissatisfied, but without being able to put his finger on the reason. He is getting less
diligent in his duties. If a customer calls with a problem, he either sends the call to another
department or leaves the fixing of the problem until the end of the day. At the office, Joe is
supposed to log all his client visits and sales phone calls along with the status of the customer,
another area in which he has been less than conscientious. His numbers have also started to drop;
he has missed his monthly sales quota more ofetn than he has reached it.
Bobbi, Joe's immediate boss, has also noticed. Without making Joe resentful, she wonders how to
bring him back to his core competency, treating the customer as most important. They go over
Joe's activity log every day. She pairs Joe with Bill, another salesman. It's not intended to treat
Joe as a child (but that's how he initially interprets it), but to show what putting the customer first
is all about. Between sales calls, Bill's ear is glued to his cell phone, checking his voicemail or
calling potential clients. Depending on the customer, it may take a couple of visits before the
subject of what product (in this case, office products like copiers) the client should buy is
mentioned. Selling any old box is easy, selling the right kind of box that will expand with the
business is hard. Joe slowly begins to get the idea. His diligence returns, and his productivity
starts to go up. He's not back to where he was, but he's getting there.
For most people, this book can be skipped. Those who are in business, any business, could really
use this book. Improvement in business, however it's measured, is a never-ending quest. Putting it
in novel form can be more helpful than in the form of some book full of business buzzwords. It's
worth reading.
Life After Terrorism: What You Need to Know To Survive In Today's World
Bruce D. Clayton
Paladin Press
Gunbarrel Tech Center, 7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
ISBN 1-58160-326-6, 176 pages, $24.95, http://www.paladin-press.com
After terrorism came to America in 2001, there has been much talk about future attacks. What
kind of person or group would do such a thing? What is a likely target? What form will it take?
How can I protect myself? This book, written by a county assistant Emergency Services Director
(the person who is supposed to know about such things) attempts to answer some of these
questions.
The culprit could be nearly anyone. It could be a person with a grudge against a federal agency. It
could be a fundamentalist religious group (of any religion). It could be a home-grown politically
radical group (on either side of the political spectrum). For some, the object is to hit a target of
symbolic value (like the World rade Center), while, for others, the goal is to inflict the maximum
number of casualties.
The author also looks at the various substances that might be used in an attack. Nerve agents like
VX and sarin make it impossible for nerve cells to transmit nerve impulses. Vesicants like mustard
gas burn the eyes and skin and produce horrible blisters. Corrosive gases like chlorine inflame the
lungs and airways. Also considered are possible bioweapons like anthrax, plague, smallpox and
ebola.
There is no such thing as 100% total protection in case of an attack. Gas masks do not provide
their own air supply, they only filter outside air. Even the best air filters will not remove all toxic
spores from the air; for some toxins, all it takes is one spore. Don't forget the toxins absorbed
through the skin.
There are many things to do to reduce the possible risk during an attack. If you work in a big-city
skyscraper, consider looking for a job in the suburbs, preferably west of the city (winds generally
blow west to east). If you live near a potential target, and moving is not an option, plan and
rehearse what to do when the evacuation order comes. At minimum, have a bag of things (canned
food, battery powered radio, prescription medicine, etc.) packed and ready to go at a moment's
notice. At maximum, have a second house, fully stocked and livable, out in the country. Use
secondary roads for your escape route; count on highway gridlock.
Those who want even a chance to survive a future attack of any kind would be very well advised
to read this book. The writing is sober, clear-headed and free from hysterics.
It's Only Money! A Primer for Women
Allison Acken
Womentalkmoney.com
P.O. Box 49327, Los Angeles, CA 90049
ISBN 0-9711715-1-3, $18.95, 158 pages, http://www.womentalkmoney.com
For one reason or another, there are many women today who know little, or nothing, about how
to handle money. Perhaps their parents never taught them the value of it, or their husband wanted
to shield them from the financial world by saying that women shouldn't get their hands dirty with
money. This book aims to change that.
It's natural to feel anxious and ashamed about your lack of money knowledge when everyone
around you is financially on top of the world. Start with something simple like balancing the
checkbook. Remember that hubby won't be around forever, either through death or divorce, so
becoming familiar with the family finances is a very good idea.
Tell a neighbor or best friend, someone you can confide in, your fears and fantasies about money.
She may be in the same position as you, but afriad to admit it. Don't be afriad to ask the "dumb"
questions about money; perhaps together, you can find the answer. Listen to stories from other
women about money; not how much they saved, but how they saved, through investing,
budgeting, etc.
The author leaves the more specific money-saving tips until the end, but her biggest
recommendation is to get rid of your credit card debt. With interest rates at anywhere up to 20
percent and with the average credit card debt at several thousand dollars per person, paying off
that debt as fast as possible is the single best thing anyone can do to save money.
Acken knows something about women's fears concerning money. Growing up in a Baltimore
record store, she could make change from an early age, but never learned what money was all
about. years later, a divorced mother of two, she found herself with a PhD in psychology and a
$50,000 student debt. She learned about money real fast.
For those who get nervous and panicky in the personal finance section of the local chain
bookstore, this book is for you. It's written in a very down-to-earth style and is very easy to read.
It's recommended for women of any socio-economic status. This isn't rocket science; like the title
says It's Only Money!
Boomers Really Can Put Old On Hold
Barbara Morris
Image F/X Publications
P.O. Box 937, Escondido, CA 92033-0937
ISBN 0966784219, $16.95, 160 pages, http://www.putoldonhold.com
Many books have been written on health and exercise and slowing the effects of aging. The
problem is, they are all written by doctors or forty-something fitness gurus. This is written by a
"real" person, a pharmacist in her seventies.
Her biggest recommendation is to take control of your own health and well-being. No matter how
wonderful your doctor or pharmacist is, they won't do it for you. Educate yourself about, for
instance, supplements and alternative medicine. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Is drug B really
necessary, or is it simply counteracting side effects from drug A? Drink lots of water, and, if
applicable, change your status from smoker to ex-smoker.
A big reason for America's health problems is the American diet. It's full of all sorts of artificial,
pre-processed, fat and chemical-filled stuff that bears little resemblance to real food. Reduce the
amount of such things that you put in your mouth. Eliminating it entirely would be even
better.
Part of the secret is attitude, which starts with the word "retirement." If you're physically and
mentally able to keep working, don't retire just because you have reached "retirement age." If
you're retiring to do something you have always wanted to do, go for it. On the other hand, if
you're retiring to move into some retirement community and wait for the Grim Reaper, you need
more help than this book can provide.
Morris also recommends living in an environment that includes young people; they can be a pain
in the neck, but their energy can be contagious. Avoid people and organizations that say "the end
is near." Develop a positive sense of humor and outlook on life. Stand apart from the masses.
Don't abandon long-term plans just because you think you have X years left.
To those who aren't ready to leave the workforce, or leave this Earth, just because their body has
reached a certain chronological age, this book is for you. It's very easy to read, it's from a regular
person intended for regular people, and anyone can learn a lot from it. This is very highly
recommended.
Bonneville Stories
Mark Doyon
Pocol Press
6023 Pocol Drive, Clifton, VA 20124
ISBN 1929763093, $12.95, 142 pages, http://www.markdoyon.com
This is a connected group of stories about the fictional town of Bonneville, somewhere in
Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
The Mayor, broke and running from creditors, secretly returns to town. He is not the most
popular person in town. A few years previously, he helped bring a secret fireworks factory to
Bonneville. Everyone in town worked there. Customers came from miles around. The money was
rolling in like an Indian casino, until the authorities started asking questions. The factory closed,
the newfound riches disappeared, and the Mayor was run out of town. So the Mayor has returned
to open a speakeasy, under an unused barn about half a mile from the nearest road.
Roy Sullivan is in the Guinness Book of World Records, having been struck by lightning seven
times in his life. Being struck once makes a person a celebrity, but being struck seven times leads
to rumors that God is punishing him for something.
The local Laundromat has a slot machine. While she is playing it over and over, Sarah Ann
Muskie thinks about karma. For every Vanna White who rockets to stardom, a ravishing beauty is
hit by a bus. She remembers the day her father died, in front of her on the playground, in a freak
accident. She buys a Powerball ticket and watches, incredulous, as the winning numbers equal the
numbers on her ticket--minus one. She returns to the Laundromat and introduces the slot machine
to her pistol, one bullet at a time.
Randy works for a local gardening company. Just out of high school, he makes pretty good
money spreading mulch and running a lawn mower. He is told to go back to a customer's house to
replace some suddenly-dead azaleas. The only problem is that the customer, Mrs. Anders, is a
very attractive woman and lets Randy know, in no uncertain terms, that she is interested in
romance.
I really enjoyed these stories. They are the sort of tales that could take place in any town in
America, with just a touch of "different." The author's writing has been compared to Roald Dahl
and Ray Bradbury. May I humbly add the name of Garrison Keillor to that list. These stories are
very much worth the reader's time.
Paul Lappen
Reviewer
Meredith's Bookshelf
Modoc Sundance
Sean Belanger
USA Books
ISBN 159209001X, $13.00, words: 201, www.amazon.com
Second in series about the Indian struggles in 1873 Northern California, Belanger has once again
penned a riveting tale. The review from Time iRead says it "...Captures the Sam Peckinpah
school..." Sure enough! In fact, this rendition of the Lava Beds War, loaded with gore, outdoes
Peckipah! At times, the writing becomes the poetry of horror, and Belanger weaves the words of
era songs in and out of his prose. Too bad this book didn't come with a sound tract.
A senseless cavalry charge into a sleeping Modoc camp filled with squaws and children, touches
off a revenge fight from Hell. Modoc Indian, Hooker Jim rampages against the pioneers--
disemboweling, bashing out brains, severing heads and ears-- leaving mutilated bodies to
ever-circling crows. Sharp pictures of the $13.00 a month trooper, mostly German and Irish
immigrants, present expectations regarding duty, honor and country in the United States First
cavalry. Other depicted characters come alive heightening readers historical interest: ambitious
Shaman Sho Oks, and the scheming rancher, Krueger, troubled, General Edward Canby, veteran
of the Mexican and Civil Wars, President Ulysses Grant, and Chief of Staff, General William
Sherman. Impeccably researched, for fans of genre Westerns this one is a must read.
Candle in the Darkness
Lynn Austin
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
ISBN: 1556614365, $12.99, 1-800-328-6109, www.amazon.com
What's a girl to do when she desperately loves a man fighting for the wrong cause? Why, keep on
loving him, but follow her conscience, of course. Such is the story of timid, devout Caroline
Fletcher, wealthy belle in Civil War Richmond.
Written in first person, the novel opens, 1853, with twelve-year-old Caroline witnessing slave
traders dragging away her childhood playmate to sell him at Richmond's infamous slave market.
This act sets the tone and reason for the story, for Caroline develops an intense hostility to
slavery. This attitude intensifies as she and Cousin Jonathan stroll the grounds of the family's
plantation near Richmond and she experiences the deaths of slave babies because of disease and
filth. When she is 16 her mother dies, and Caroline's father sends her to Philadelphia to live with
an aunt. Philadelphia is an abolition hotbed that feeds Caroline's anti-slavery predilections. Home
two years later, she brings back abolitionist tracts in a fruitless attempt to change southern hearts
and minds. She meets and becomes engaged to Charles St. John, psychologically chained to the
slave economy. Regardless of political differences, the couple passionately loves one another. This
relationship tests to the utmost her commitment to end slavery. By novel's end June 1865,
Caroline has sacrificed all, bowing to God's will. Although all ends are not completely unraveled,
the conclusion leaves one with a lump in the throat and a smile on the face.
Although the novel is of Christian genre, Austin doesn't overly evangelize. The Christian voice
comes from slave preacher Eli, the family's hostler and Caroline's mentor. Gilbert, her father's
valet, mammy Tessie--about whom surrounds a mystery not unraveled until the end--cook Esther,
Josiah, son of Eli and Esther, and servants Luella and Ruby round out the slave cast. Austin brings
the reader into their lives and feelings as they loyally confront the war's hardships and dangers
with "Missy Caroline" while rejoicing at their coming freedom.
Accurate down to the buttonhole, the era and Richmond itself come alive.
Meredith Campbell
Reviewer
Marya's Bookshelf
Hazel Green
Odo Hirsch
Bloomsbury USA
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
1-58234-820-0, 212-982-2837, www.bloomsbury.com/usa
In a very ordinary town, once a year, they have a very ordinary sort of celebration complete with
lots of food and a big parade. All is well with this years preparations for the parade until Hazel
Green discovers something. Hazel realizes that she has never seen a child participate in the
parade. Most people are happy with this state of affairs. Not Hazel. This plucky girl decides to
take on the challenge of persuading the powers-that-be and her fellow children that they should be
a part of the parade. Odo Hirsch has managed to turn a very simple plot into a delightful tale
about people in a small neighborhood, their rivalries and petty jealousies. He also shows us,
through Hazel, how wrong our first impressions can be. Not thinking Hazel gave a quiet retiring
boy called Yakov the nickname "the Yak." Her unkind act comes back to haunt her and she has to
put things right. Throughout this book the reader will find wonderful sections of description
which help us see, hear, smell and even taste, Hazel's little world. We can almost bite into the
custard pies, smell the flowers in the flower shop, and hear the quiet in the street in the early
morning. A gentle tale with soft moods and rhythms, we can only hope that we will get to share
other events in Hazel's life in the not too distant future.
Elisabeth: The Princess Bride
Barry Denenberg
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999
0-439-26644-0, 1-800-246-2986, www.scholastic.com
For Elisabeth life was something to be enjoyed. She loved to ride, to take care of her pets, to read
and to write poetry. Becoming an empress or queen was not something she ever expected to have
to do. That was her sister's future role; Nene was going to marry the Emperor of Austria, she was
the one who was going to have to learn all about etiquette and court customs. Then the fateful
day arrived. Nene, Elisabeth and their mother went to the Emperor's court to be 'viewed'. Much to
everyone's surprise, Elisabeth was the one the Emperor chose to be his future Empress and not
Nene. Suddenly Elisabeth found herself at the center of everyone's attention. An enormous
number of clothes had to be made for her and she had to memorize list after list of rules of
etiquette and conduct; Elisabeth also had to meet countless dignitaries and accept the fact that her
time was no longer her own. In fact her life was no longer her own. Elisabeth's existence was
going to change drastically, and as she faced the prospect of her upcoming marriage, she
wondered if she had made the right choice in accepting the Emperor's proposal. Would she be
able to adjust to her new life? We learn in the epilogue of this book that Elisabeth did not, in fact,
adjust well at all. The restraints on her life frustrated her and made her quite miserable at times.
The Emperor wanted an obedient and pliant wife, not one who had her own opinions and wants.
Sadly the marriage was not a success. In addition to the epilogue there is a very interesting and
informative section about the history of the times and a wonderful selection of black and white
photographs of Elisabeth, her family and the places she visited or lived in. With an excellent
portrayal of a lesser-known European royal, this book shows us how the life of a noble-born
woman was not her own, that she was very much the 'property' of her family or her husband's
family. This is one of several books in "The Royal Diaries" series.
Land of the Buffalo Bones
Marion Dane Bauer
Scholastic Inc.
557 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10012-3999
0-439-22027, 1-800-246-2986, www.scholastic.com
For Mary Ann this trip to America, to Minnesota, is a wonderful, exciting thing. At least it begins
that way. Her father, the Revered Dr. George Rodgers, is their leader. He went to Minnesota and
set everything up with the Northern Pacific Railroad. The company promised to build the
immigrants a town, complete with streets, shops, school and church. They are also paying passage
for Mary Ann and her family to their new life. It is not long before Mary Ann discovers that this
adventure is not going to be an easy one. Many of the travelers get terribly sick on the journey
across the Atlantic. Mary Ann's best friend Jane losses her dear brother and Mary Ann wrestles
with the misery of Timmy's burial at sea. Jane's mother is grief stricken and seems to lose her grip
on life. Jane straightens her back and takes on the job of caring for her father and her mother.
In the middle of a violent spring storm, the weary travelers arrive at their destination. They
discover that there is no town, just an open prairie. The immigrants turn on Dr. Rodgers
demanding an explanation. He is unable to give one but talks about how easy it will be to build
their town themselves. The question is, what are they to build their town with? There are no trees.
Why didn't Dr. Rodgers tell them that there were no trees. The scholarly, overly optimistic man of
cloth forgot to mention many things. It never occurred to the highly impractical man to think of
these matters when he visited Minnesota the first time.
So, painfully, with much suffering, and much grumbling the English settlers begin the monumental
task of creating a life for themselves in this foreign land. They are stricken with drought, fire,
locusts and winter storms. It truly seems that they are cursed. Mary Ann wonders why her father
took them from their comfortable life in England to suffer so much in this strange and inhospitable
country. She begins to see him as he really is, a good by unwise man, a man who speaks big
words but has no real idea of how life is to be lead. It is she and her stepmother who hold the
family together. In fact, the two become closer as they share the burden of caring for the
family.
Mary Ann's relationship with her dear and much loved Jane also changes. Jane's mother gives up
on life, committing suicide. Her father turns to drink and becomes a violent and angry man,
blaming the reverend for all his woes. He takes his anger out on his daughter and she retreats
from Mary Ann, seeking solace in the most unexpected place of all. Mary Ann can no longer turn
to Jane for comfort and companionship. She must move on alone, helping her mother with the
children and doing her best to support her father.
This remarkable story is haunting. The author shares her discoveries about her great-grandfather
and his family with great understanding and sympathy. She offers no excuses for the often
thoughtless things the Revered Rodgers says and does. That is the kind of man he is, learned and
impractical. Despite the suffering his family is put through, they endure and make a life for
themselves in America. We are reminded of how harsh pioneer life often was, even in the late
1870's. Dr. Rodgers' community was ill-prepared. The people were unused to the farming life and
to living at the mercy of wind, sun, rain and snow. This special edition "Dear America" book is
truly unique and offers an extraordinary personal insight into a story very few people have
heard.
Hairy Maclary's Bone
Lynley Dodd
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
1-58246-060-4, 1800-841-BOOK, www.tenspeed.com
Hairy Maclary is a rather odd looking dog. He is also a very lucky dog because he has a friend at
the local butcher's shop. Mr. Samuel Stone gives our hero a bone, a delicious bone. In no time
Hairy Maclary has a collection of dogs following him down the street. They all want that bone,
that wonderful smelling bone, that delicious looking bone. Hairy Maclary may be funny looking
but he is also very smart. As he heads home to the dairy where he lives, Hairy Maclary takes a
very circuitous path. The end result is that before long, his train of hungry dogs has been left
behind. One is stuck in a fence, another is trapped in a hedge and so on. With amusing names,
delightful illustrations and a simple story, Lynley Dodd has created a charming book for
youngsters. A perfect read-aloud book, "Hairy Maclary's Bone"is one of several books about this
intelligent and comical dog.
Sparrow Jack
Mordicai Gerstein
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003
0-374-37139-3, 888-330-8477, www.fsgbooks.com
John Bardsley went out one night to gather some sparrows. It was 1838, and believe it or not,
people in England used to eat roasted sparrows in those days. It was considered a delicacy in fact.
John found a baby sparrow that night and ended up raising it instead of eating it. After that John
became very fond of the sparrows in his village and they became fond of him. When he was grown
up John decided to go to America to seek his fortune. He ended up in Philadelphia and became a
house painter. He soon discovered that Philadelphia had a problem. It was overrun with
inchworms. The local birds wouldn't touch the pests and John came up with a brilliant plan. John
decided he would bring sparrows over from England to eat the inchworms. All you have to do is
look outside to see what happened next. The author has told this true story with humor and
sensitivity and his illustrations with their charming borders are full of activity and life.
What the Sea Left Behind
Mimi Gregoire Carpenter
Down East Books
P.O.Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
0-89272-123-5, 800-766-1670, www.downeastbooks.com
When the weather is fine Tessa and her artist mother go down to the beach to explore and collect
treasures. As Tessa tells us, at first you may not realize that there are treasures to be found. You
have to stop looking at the big picture and start looking at the small things, the shells and stones,
the little crabs and seaweeds. Tessa take us with her as she explores the boundaries of the land
and ocean. There are the shells of razor clams and sea urchins. Tessa tells us little details about
the small animals that get washed up on the shore, how they got there and how they connect with
the larger world of the ocean and the beach. One of the joys of finding these small treasures is
being able to draw and paint them on the days when she doesn't go exploring. With musical prose
and beautiful illustrations, the author has created an extraordinary book. For a parent or a teacher
this book is a wonderful tool to show children how there are big worlds and little ones; how the
smaller creatures and plants have their own sort of beauty, and how you often need to change the
way you look at things to appreciate them fully.
Mel's Diner
Marissa Moss
Troll Books
4600 Pleasant Hill Road, Memphis, TN 38118
0-8167-3461-5, 1800-929-TROLL, www.troll.com
Mabel has a special place in her life. Every morning she goes and works in the diner that her
family owns. Mabel helps her mother and father get everything ready and soon the first customers
arrive. In ones and twos they come in and sit down, and we get to meet Mabel's friends. There is
Mrs. Krupnik who always has coffee and a sticky bun and who has wonderful stories to tell about
her life. Jorge and Lila read the paper as they drink cup after cup of coffee. Cole and Craig like to
tell jokes and make Mabel laugh. After school Mabel and her best friend Rhonda come to the
diner to have a snack and do their homework. They also have fun, playing music on the jukebox
that they dance to. With each page turned the reader gets to share this wonderful place with
Mabel and her family. We see people of all shapes, colors and sizes come into the diner, we smell
the food and hear the voices. At the end of the day we leave the diner with Mabel and her mother
and see "the light in our front window, welcoming us home." The author has created a very
unique book with lovely soft illustrations and simple prose.
Youth
JM Coetzee
Vintage Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0099433621, $22.95, 169 pages, 1-800-726-0600, www.amazon.com
Youth is a short and tortuous novel which follows John, a young man with lofty literary
aspirations through a mathematics degree, a move from a politically unstable South Africa to
London where he works towards a Masters degree in literature and begins work as a computer
programmer. Many critics have argued that this sparse Beckettian novel is really a memoir, to be
read as a prelude to Coetzee's own great writing career. Whatever parallels there may be to
Coetzee's young life, this book is clearly a novel, and it deserves to be judged as a complete work.
The story is tortuous because it reminds its readers of something that seems to go hand and hand
with youth - the desire for glory, for greatness, for artistic achievement and admiration without
the tedious work of application. John is a hard character to stomach because we have been
there.
While waiting fruitlessly for the muse to strike, John becomes involved in a number of
unsatisfactory relationships, attends arty films, writes a few bad poems and takes on two
programming jobs. Throughout the novel, John is generally lonely, unkind, bored, frightened and
unappealing. While this may not be an original theme as such, the novel is written in the third
person, present tense which gives it a kind of Kafkaesque starkness. It reads as a cold
confessional, as the narrator stumbles along in the dark trying to discover what has gone wrong in
his life and why both Love and Art, two things he associates with one another, have forsaken
him:
What will cure him, if it were to arrive, will be love. He may not believe in God but he does
believe in love and the powers of love. The beloved, the destined one, will see at once through the
odd and even dull exterior he presents to the fire that burns within him. Meanwhile, being dull and
odd-looking are part of a purgatory he must pass through in order to emerge, one day, into the
light: the light of love, the light of art. for he will be an artist, that has long been settled. If for the
time being he must be obscure and ridiculous, that is because it is the lot of the artist to suffer
obscurity and ridicule until the day when he is revealed in his true powers and the scoffers and
mockers fall silent. (3)
In the background the world is in turmoil. There is the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa,
protest marches, the Cold War, and the prelude to the Vietnam war. At one point, John even
writes to the Chinese Embassy in London offering to teach English in China in an attempt to
engage himself in something - the do something positive. John has to deal with his complicated
feelings towards South Africa, "a wound which bleeds within him," his feelings about the west
with its money oriented industry represented by IBM, and with his feelings of guilt for his lack of
purpose. He is a 1960s character and although the background is subtle and the story mainly
focuses on John's ennui, we also get a fairly clear picture of the life of an immigrant during this
period.
The other characters in the story, John's friend Paul, his lover Jacqueline, his IBM colleagues and
bosses, his Indian neighbours, his later lovers Sarah, Caroline, Marianne, Astrid or his friend and
colleague at International Computers Ganapathy, are sketched only lightly. We know that he
senses what the "right" thing to do is, and also that he senses that "the right thing" is the antithesis
to "Art." We also know that often John does the "wrong" thing. He is cold and disconnected with
his "friends" and associates. He is awkward with his neighbours and unable to reciprocate their
dinner invitation. He is cruel and detached with Sarah and Marianne. He also makes juvenile and
appalling judgements in his mind about Art, artists and women:
..artists have to live with their fever, whatever its nature, good or bad. The fever is what makes
them artists; the fever mustbe kept alive. That is why artists can never be wholly present to the
world: one eye has always to be turned inward. As for women who flock after artists, they cannot
wholly be trusted. For just as the spirit of the artist is both flame and fever, so the woman who
yearns to be licked by tongues of flame will at the same time do her best to quench the fever and
bring down the artist to common ground. therefore women have to be resisted even when they are
loved.(31)
These mental illuminations are so full of cliched and trite sentiments - so adolescent in fact that
one suspects that they are meant to be taken as tongue in cheek. This is confirmed by other
elements of humour throughout the book. At one point, John is reading Ford Madox Ford on
Provence and decides to buy fish fingers instead of sausages "in deference to Ford," frying them in
olive oil and sprinkling them with garlic salt. Another point in the novel John reveals that his
highest aspirations were for a French girlfriend: "If he had a passionate affair with a French girl he
would be touched and improved, he is sure, by the grace of the French language, the subtlety of
French thought. " (74)
Despite his ridiculous generalisations and revelations of immaturity, John is not without
sensitivity. At one point he stands before Robert Motherwell's Elegy for the Spanish Republic and
is "transfixed. Menacing and mysterious, the black shape takes him over. A sound like the stroke
of a gong goes out from it, leaving him shaken and week-kneed." (92) He is moved by beautiful
lines of poetry such as Brodsky's "As dark as the inside of a needle," and at another point, lying
on his jacket in a Hamstead Heath park, he suddenly feels a moment of joy listening to the cries of
children, birdsong and insects. He also recognises the empty nature of his work at IBM - the
dullness and repetition of his work and the lack of camaraderie, and even though he doesn't
express it well, one senses he has touched upon something important there. His pleasure at
working at International Computers later - his sense of accomplishment and of wanting to work
for the right side is one which elicits sympathy in the reader.
John may be unpleasant. He is also immature and even boring, but what makes Youth an
interesting book, taking it beyond merely a failed bildungsroman into the realm of a serious novel,
is that John is a character which readers will be able to recognise. We may not want to identify
with him. After all, he never makes it. He admits that his one talent is for misery, and he ends up
unhappy, lonely, feeling a failure and ready to give up his delusions of grandeur for what he
perceives will be a dull life:
The upshot is that he is sitting alone on a Sunday afternoon in an upstairs room in a house in the
depths of the Berkshire countryside, with crows cawing in the fields and a grey mist hanging
overhead, playing chess with himself, growing old, waiting for evening to fall so that he can with a
good conscience fry his sausages and bread for supper. At eighteen he might have been a poet.
Now he is not a poet, not a writer, not an artist." (168}
John's constant rhetorical questions are tedious, and the first person present tense narration is
unsettling, but the story moves quickly, and perhaps there is a moment of revelation in the end.
John sees himself "locked into an attenuating endgame" but at twenty four, he is still a youth after
all.
Linda Radke's Promote Like A Pro: Small Budget, Big Show
Linda F Radke and contributors
Five Star Publications, Inc
PO Box 6698, Chandler, AZ, 85246-6698 USA
ISBN 1877749362, $19.95, www.fivestarpublications.com
You've written a book. Terrific. You aren't alone. According to Linda Radke, (xv) "Statistics
show that every year more than 50,000 books are published and more than 7,000 new presses
come into existence. WIth this kind of competition, you just can't expect your book to make it by
word of mouth." If you think that the hard work is done once the book has been accepted for
publication, you're wrong. Regardless of whether you've been published by a large house, small
press, or are self-publishing, the key to achieving good sales is promotion.
With a heavily saturated market, and publicity space which is becoming more limited by the day,
authors have to understand how to promote themselves and their work if they want their books to
sell. There are quite a few books on the market which cover promotional skills, and how to handle
the media, but Linda Radke's "Promote Like a Pro" was specifically written for authors. It is a
complete guide to obtaining serious and very low cost publicity for your book, including
distribution, advance publicity, media attention, signings, reviews, using the media, the Internet
and more. Even if you do decide to hire a publicist or have one assigned to you from a large
publishing house, this book is a useful guide to the necessary work involved at each step.
However good the publicist, it is the author who has to sell his or her books in any case.
Radke is more of an editor than an author, although she does contribute the first section of the
book. The rest of the book consists of a series of chapters and essays written by experts in their
respective fields. Super publicist Suzi Prokell tells you how to pull together an effective publicity
campaign.
Marketing guru Kerry LePage provides a sample marketing plan and advertising guidelines, and
media hound Joan Stewart tells you how to schmooze your way to free publicity. There are
chapters on getting into the newspapers, getting book reviews, pulling together a press kit, getting
on television, doing talkback radio, and how to use the Internet for publicity. Each topic is written
by a different expert which makes for a nice blend of different voices, styles, and
perspectives.
There are a few sections which are too general, such as LePage's marketing plan - it would have
been better if each essay were specifically geared towards the promotion of books, since this is
what differentials "Promote Like a Pro". This is made up for though in other sections that really
stand out, such as Jess Todtfeld's entertaining "How to Get Free Publicity on Television." Joe
Sabah's "How to Promote Yourself on Radio Talk Shows" is also useful with its sample scripts
and humorous summaries, as is Joan Stewart's "The Top Three Ways to Snag Valuable Free
Publicity: Write, Speak, and Schmooze with the Media." Radke's own essay "Promote Like a
Pro" which forms Part I of the book, is valuable too, particularly around the area of finding a
suitable angle for your book's promotion and publicity tie-ins.
Since all of the contributors to this small but informative book are experienced in their areas, the
essays are full of real life examples, personal insights and an insiders perspective. If you need to
promote a book or other small project and don't have a lot of money to hire experts,
Promote Like A Pro
