The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 13)

Amazon.com

Picking up from the final pages of the Pentultimate Peril, this farewell installment to the ridiculously (and deservedly!) popular A Series of Unfortunate Events places our protagonists right where we last left them: on a large, wooden boat in the middle of the ocean, trapped with their nemesis Count Olaf, who has armed himself with a helmet-full of deadly Medusoid Mycelium.

The situation quickly and--this being the Baudelaires--predictably deteriorates. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny find themselves tossed in a storm so terrible that our beloved narrator spends four pages describing how he cannot describe it. From this point on, fans of the series' smarty-pants wordplay and acrobatic narrative can rest assured that they're in for more of the same (and how) in this 368-page finale, and Daniel Handler's deadpan Snicket continues to tutor a generation in self-referential humor (including one particularly funny bit regarding three very short men carrying a large, flat piece of wood, painted to look like a living room). Snicket notes, of course, that if you read the entire series, "your only reward will be 170 chapters of misery in your library and countless tears in your eyes."

There's one big question, though, for anyone who's made it through "the thirteenth chapter of the thirteenth volume in this sad history": is the final book a fitting end? That question is probably best-answered by one of The End's most oft-repeated phrases: It depends on how you look at it. Those looking for conclusive resolution to the series' many, many mysteries may be disappointed, although some big questions do get explicit answers. Not surprisingly for a work so deliberately labyrinthine, though, even the absence of an answer can be sort of an answer--and reaction to The End can be something of a Rorschach test for readers. Or, as Lemony Snicket says, "Perhaps you don't know yet what the end really means." --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Like an off–key violin concert, the Roman Empire, or food poisoning, all things must come to an end. Thankfully, this includes A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. The thirteenth and final installment in the groundbreaking series will answer readers' most burning questions: Will Count Olaf prevail? Will the Baudelaires survive? Will the series end happily? If there's nothing out there, what was that noise?

Then again, why trouble yourself with unfortunate resolutions? Avoid the thirteenth and final book of Lemony Snicket's international bestselling series and you'll never have to know what happens.

Ages 10+

Customer Reviews:

Unsatisfying.......2007-09-24

I had such high hopes for at least a few answers to all the superbly intertwined questions developed in the previous 12 books. Unfortunately, after finishing "The End," very few were truly answered, and a long laundry list of questions remain dangling in the wind waiting for resolution. In fact I feel like this book created more questions than it answered. I can appreciate the author's style and desire to leave some of the resolution up to the reader, but in my opinion, it was too much, and I was left very unsatisfied. After 12 books of building suspense, "The End" is very anticlimactic.

Really fun book to read with children.......2007-08-26

I almost didn't read this book after watching the dreadful movies, but it was recommended, so I gave it a shot. I like to pick fun books and read them with my children. My 8 and 10 year old sons have really enjoyed these books, and it keeps them interested in reading. I have been hooked on Harry Potter, and these books do not captivate my interest anywhere near to the same degree, but they are a really fun series that I have had a great time reading with my kids.

A tacky ending to a great series.......2007-08-25

I've read most of the Series of unfortunate events books twice and after finishing the 12th one, I was very excited for the last to come out. The end of the 12th book sets up a great stage for the series end, were all our burning questions will be answered.

So, I get the 13th one the day it comes out. I read the book non-stop, waiting for the grand finale that will reveal everything.

So what did the ending reveal? nothing good. It really only reveals one thing, and its not even something I would have thought about if they hadn't brought it up. The only redeeming thing about the ending is that count olaf dies, which I'm sure everybody was eager for.

I would rather have Lemony Snicket release a FAQ answering all the mysteries in the series than having read this book

The World is Quiet Here.......2007-08-21

This book is so much more then i can put down. It is all so speachlessly true and powerful. I cried 4 times-and then went into shock! It's like Lemony says my thoughts. It is all so emotional-everything from Beatrice to the RING. V.F.D is expecialy important. I can not think of anything it needs. I promise that this book will be more then anything you have ever read. You won't be disapointed in the least. Please choose to purchase this book. If you don't you'll need help. That way you can learn the mystery of the ring and all of the other secrets that are dangerous to you- rather you know them or not. He warned you from the very bad beginning that it might be more then you can handle.

Highly disappointing.......2007-08-05

While I loved the first twelve books, and even reread them all carefully in final anticipation of the thirteenth, I really hated The End. Unbelievably disappointing. So disappointing that I gave away my entire series of first edition hardbacks.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Complete Adventures in 1 Volume, Vol. 2)

Average customer rating:

Little disappointing
San Theodoros, Britain, Syldavia
Immature Mother
A rich part of this bilingual Canadian's heritage
A trio of solid Tintin adventures from the late 1930s

The Adventures of Tintin: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Complete Adventures in 1 Volume, Vol. 2)
Herge
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316359424

Customer Reviews:

Little disappointing.......2007-02-07

The quality of the printing is far from perfect. It smooches on several pages.Also, I read the French version first and the English one is, in my opinion, rather lame. A lot of work would need to be done to improve it.

San Theodoros, Britain, Syldavia.......2006-11-17

"The Adventures of Tintin: Volume 2" contains three more adventure comics by Herge, in a handy sized hardcover book. Here, we get "The Broken Ear" (1937), an adventure in a civil-war torn part of South America, "The Black Island" (1938) a chase through Britain, and "King Ottokar's Sceptre" (1939), featuring a plot against a "Syldavian" king. A few well known Tintin characters first appear in these stories. General Alcazar first appears in "The Broken Ear", Dr Muller appears in "The Black Island" and Bianca Castifiore sings her first song to Tintin in "King Ottokar's Sceptere". They're all exciting, intriguing adventures, my favorite in this bunch being "The Black Island", mainly for the chase sequences and the island's "beast".

The text and pictures are a little smaller, but it's easy enough to read, and the detail of the pictures is maintained. It's really great value too. Here on amazon you could buy two or three of these for one normal sized hardcover Tintin. That's 5-8 more adventures for the same price!

Definitely worth picking up if you're interested.

Immature Mother.......2006-11-10

I've always enjoyed reading the Adventures of Tintin. The 3-in-1 hardcover books are good on the budget but the dimensions are smaller than the individual paperback books. Some of the storylines are a little dated and the jokes do get somewhat repetative. The later stories tend to get "silly" with characters falling down and running into things more often than the older stories but I think that's what made my 9 year old daughter enjoy them since she doesn't really follow the stories very well. If you like Tintin, you'll want to buy all of the books and you will reread them.

A rich part of this bilingual Canadian's heritage.......2006-09-09

Volume 2: The Broken Ear (1937), The Black Island (1938), King Ottokar's Sceptre (1942). This is the second instalment of my reviews of each of the seven volumes.

The famous slogan, "for young readers 7 to 77", already validated by the previous three adventures, is further endorsed by what follows.

The Broken Ear takes us to the Amazon, in South America of course, where we meet the Arumbaya Indians, General Alcazar, and, well, just read it. I don't want to give spoilers. This adventure is another outstanding one, and very well translated. In the English version, the Indians' talk, apparently in some mysterious language, is understandable if read out loud. Already five continents visited in four stories!

The Black Island, which takes place in England and especially Scotland, is not up to the usual Tintin standards (one central theme is revisited and far better handled in a later adventure), but a Tintinophile would certainly not want to miss it.

King Ottokar's Sceptre, however, is a magnificent creation. We meet the Castafiore (= "chaste flower") for the first time, a soprano with an ego that would make Callas suffocate, the only major female character in the entire series, and a truly amazing personage. But the real achievement is the creation of an entire fictional kingdom (Syldavia, and a rival neighbouring nation, Borduria, also fictional) with a `reproduction' of a tapestry giving its history, and an adventure that would be meaningless without it. This is a huge achievement for a 62-page children's comic book.

A trio of solid Tintin adventures from the late 1930s.......2005-09-09

Volume 2 of "The Adventures of Tintin" brings together a trio of stories by Hergé from the late 1930s, right before World War II. This is noteworthy because at this point Hergé is refining his attention to cultural detail in these stories, but also starting to get more fanciful and away from what is happening in the real world. You will still find allegorical elements in these stories, but none of the events ripped from the headlines that you saw in previous tales such as "The Blue Lotus."

"The Broken Ear" is from 1937 as our hero and his faithful companion Snowy go it alone through a series of perilous episodes, although there are brief appearances by the Thom(p)sons and Professor Calculus. The title defect belongs to an Arumbaya Fetish at the Museum of Ethnography which is stolen and then mysteriously returned. When Tintin notices the sacred tribal object now has two perfect ears and our hero is quickly in full Sherlock Holmes mode. However, Tintin is not the only one in search of the real fetish as his path starts crossing that of a pair of mysterious figures. After a series of incidents involving the search for a talking parrot, everyone finds themselves on a ship bound South American way for the Republic of San Theodoros, which happens to be where the Arumbaya tribe lives along the banks of the River Coliflor. There Tintin becomes involved in the political turmoil of San Theodoros and eventually gets around to traveling up the jungle river to find the Arumbayas. Meanwhile, poor Snowy finds that his tail becomes a sore point time and time again. In "The Broken Ear" the mystery takes something of a back seat to the repeated perils faced by Tintin. I went back and counted them up and on average Tintin faces death or severe physical harm once every three pages in this 64-page story, which might be a record for our intrepid reporter.

For the most part I do not like the early Tintin adventures where there is a lot of slapstick and every other page our intrepid reporter hero is either holding a gun or having somebody hold a gun on him as much as the latter adventures. However, "The Black Island" is certainly the epitome of this type of Tintin adventure and Hergé really pours it on pretty much from start to finish. This might be slapstick but it is nonstop slapstick from Tintin trying to stop the Thom(p)sons from arresting him to Snowy getting the better of a gorilla (but not a spider). Tintin might end up unconscious more often in this story than all of his other adventures combined. The beginning is simple enough as Tintin sees a plane land with engine trouble. Noticing it is an unregistered plane he offers to help and is immediately shot (do not worry, the bullet only grazes his ribs). Of course Tintin wants to get to the bottom of this mystery but it is hard to collect clues when people are trying to kill you and you have no clue why. Besides, in this one Tintin gets to wear a kilt, not to mention a bonnie bonnet as the titular piece of property happens to be in Scotland. All things considered "The Black Island" has got to be the funniest of Hergé stories.

In contrast "King Ottokar's Sceptre" is an adventure in which our intrepid hero gets to do a lot of deductive reasoning. Certainly there are more actual clues than Hergé usually includes in his mysteries, which means you really have to pay attention as you play along this time. Tintin encounters Professor Alembik, who studies seals (no, silly, not the friendly little animals but the things you stamp into wax on official papers). This seems a harmless career choice but Tintin finds that both he and the good professor are embroiled with secret agents and a plot against the King of Syldavia. It turns out there is a major loophole in the laws of the monarchy, for if H.M. King Muskar XII, the present ruler of Syldavia, were to lose possession of King Ottokar's sceptre, he would lose the right to rule and have to abdicate. This would work to the advantage of the bad guys across the border in Borduria, where everybody seems decided Eastern European and probably pro-Communist or at least very much into Socialism, so it is up to Tintin and Snowy to save the day. They are aided in this endeavor by Thomson and Thompson of the C.I.D.; to be precise, they endeavor to aid. There is also Tintin's first meeting with Bianca Castafiore in this very solid offering from Hergé. This is an actual mystery, where clues need to be solved and mysterious developments need to be explained.

Some of these early adventures of Tintin have engendered criticism because of the way Hergé draws a Negro in caricature and I certainly do not want to suggest that a white male European was not representative of the inherent racism of his culture, but I would point out that Hergé, like Edgar Rice Burroughs writing at roughly the same time, relied heavily on stereotypes for many of his characters and that you will find "good" and "bad" types for every race and ethnicity Tintin encounters. Certainly the South Americans Tintin encounters in San Theodoros, with their heavy accents, fiery tempers and tendency towards extreme violence, are central to any such critique. But Herge also displays some sensitivity towards the native tribes of the area that is rather enlightened. If Tintin engaged in slurs or derogatory comments towards anyone, that would be something different, but our hero only thinks in terms of "good" and "bad," not "white" and "black". Anyhow, you can read these stories and decide for yourself where you stand on this issue.

Average customer rating:

Island of the Blue Dolphins Audio Book on CD
great for 4th grader!
Review of a book
Review of a Great Book.

Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell
Manufacturer: Listening Library (Audio)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0307243168
Release Date: 2005-05-10

Book Description

In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound. Once, Indians also lived on the island. And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind.

This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away. But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs. It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Island of the Blue Dolphins Audio Book on CD.......2007-08-09

The book was well read on this CD. The sound effects were good. It made the story come alive as we listened. I would recommed this CD especially for children needing to read this story for school.

great for 4th grader!.......2007-01-10

My son has learning challenges when it comes to reading and comprehension, so I ordered this book on cd for him. It worked wonderfully! Although he followed along in his book, it helped him a lot.

Review of a book.......2006-12-02

In the book indians lived on an the island.Tt was a very nice and happy life for the indians until the Russians came.When the Russians came they looked like they were honest.They that come to hunt otter.When the Russians left they killed a lot of people.The Russians killed Karana's father.Then all the villagers left the island and went to the east.Karana's little brother was left behind and she was on the ship.She knew her brother wouldn't be able to live by himself.So she jumped of the boat and went to save him.Then they both lived on the island alone.Then a ship comes for her.

Review of a Great Book........2006-12-02

On an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself on the sea, there were indaians living on that island many years ago. The villagers are taken by a ship to the east,but a girl was left behind. Her name is Karana and she waits for the ship to come back to her to take her. While waiting, she battles the nature that is on the island. It is not just a book of survival, it is also a book of beauty and battling lonelyness on the island.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Simply the best books a young person could have!
Excellent Child Adventure Series
The adventure that started it all
Must Read

Five on a Treasure Island (Famous Five)
Enid Blyton
Manufacturer: Hodder Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340796146

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Must catch these rotters and finish the adventure in time for tea, chaps.

Five on a Treasure Island is the first in a long running series of adventure stories about a group of kids and the odd pet. They stick their noses in, get into trouble, and generally have a good time in a considerably younger Scooby Doo sort of way, even if it is nowhere near as much fun as that.

Simply the best books a young person could have!.......2007-04-27

One wet Saturday afternoon, bored, no TV, I was searching through my mothers old books & came across a plain red hardback copy of this book. I started reading it & was hooked. It has so many great qualities to it. Each of the five have distinctly different personalities so you can identify with someone (in my case George!). Wonderfully written & very engaging. Not only do you explore in the traditional adventure sense but you also explore relationships between friends, interactions with adults, choices, principles & conflicts. In hindsight, as an adult, much more than just a story. Needless to say it became a monthly highlight to go to our local bookstore & purchase the next in the series after exhausting my mothers supply!

Excellent Child Adventure Series.......2006-09-27

Enid Blyton's books are a fantastic way to reach young readers. I read every book I could find by Enid Blyton when I was a child, thankfully, having lived in England to find the copies. As an adult, I have scoured the websites looking for these books as mine are so worn out my kids can't read them. I am very pleased to see now that they are being sold on Amazon. The books are very entertaining as the children face adventure after adventure and solve mysteries. It is a timeless series very equal to Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins. Although this series featuring Phillip, Dinah, Jack, Lucy and Kiki is my favorite, I strongly recommend reading her MANY other books that are equally entertaining (i.e. The Famous Five series, the Malory Towers series, and for beginning readers, The Secret Seven series).

The adventure that started it all.......2006-09-09

The Famous Five novels by Enid Blyton are a British institution in the United Kingdom and occupy a place in the bookshelves of nearly every self-respecting pre-teen. When I was growing up in the UK I devoured all the Blyton books I could get a hold of and then went onto her Secret Seven and (my all-time favorite) Adventure series.
The format for the books is essentially the same - a band of children get into a series of adventures thwarting criminals and solving mysteries. It's like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but imbued with that classic British idiom and that fast-paced, expertly crafted Blyton style that give it an edge over her American counterparts.
The success of the formula is perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that the majority of the Blyton books I read were handed down to me from my mother who had received them as a child herself in the 1940s and 1950s. It's an unusual feeling opening a book and seeing it inscribed to a parent when they were your age. There are 21 stories in the series and 40 years later in the 1980s the series was even continued by French author Claude Voilier (who wrote several continuation novels).
Anyhow, this is the novel that started it all and in it we are introduced to the Famous Five - Julian, Dick, Anne, George, and her dog Tim.
As the novel opens Julian, Dick and Anne arrive at their uncle's for the summer where they are introduced to their cousin - the tomboyish Georgina (or George for short).
Together they set out to investigate the nearby island that belongs to George's mother and run straight into danger and adventure. There is a wreck submerged on the island that suppossibly has a fortune in gold inside, but several dives to the ship have yielded nothing. Then one night a fierce storm whips up and the wreck is brought to the surface.
It's compulsive reading and even as an adult I sometimes have that nostalgic desire to return to a more innocent time and read a Blyton novel.
These books are rather difficult to find in the United States though I was able to track down one online retailer that sells them as a complete set. However, if you want to sample the Famous Five series before putting down your hard earned cash for the entire series, this novel, (or my personal favorite of the series "Five Get into a Fix"), is well worth the expense.
Your children will thank you for it
Incidentally there is a DVD production available in Region 2 of this adventure. In the 1970s a British television series was also produced of the Famous Five adventures, and a second one in the 1990s and a 1981 movie adaptation of the first of the Adventure series (Island of Adventure).

Must Read.......2006-08-25

The first book in the "Famous Five" series by Enid Blyton. I loved this and every single other book in this series. I find all of Blyton's books extremely enjoyable and I owe my love of reading to her. She creates events and places you want to be part of. If you like to read and are between 7 and 12, you will want to try one of her books. You can then look forward to hundreds of other books by her.

Surprise Endings/Island Dreamer/A Heart Full of Hope (The Christy Miller Series 4-6) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 2)

Average customer rating:

Don't you want a Todd?
Christy is a delightful character
Hey Juliet, Rick isn't your Romeo

Surprise Endings/Island Dreamer/A Heart Full of Hope (The Christy Miller Series 4-6) (Christy Miller Collection, Volume 2)
Robin Jones Gunn
Manufacturer: Multnomah Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 159052585X
Release Date: 2006-03-01

Book Description

The first nine books in the popular Christy Miller series are now available in three treasured volumes!

Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn packs each one with enough action, romance, and drama to keep you reading and wanting more. It all starts the summer Christy vacations on a California beach and meets two friends who change her life forever. But after moving across the country with her family, Christy must begin her sophomore year of high school uncertain where she’ll fit in. A red-headed new best friend, a try at cheerleading, a job at a pet store, and expectations for the prom fill Christy’s high school years with a string of laughter-and-tears moments. Fireball Katie keeps everyone guessing what she’ll do next, and surfer Todd keeps showing up while popular Rick has determined to get her full attention! As these memorable years unfold, Christy and her God-loving friends find out what it means to be a âpeculiar treasure.â Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments.

Whether you’re meeting her for the first time or have known her for yearsâ

Christy Is a Forever Friend

Surprise Endings

Cheerleading tryouts are coming up, and Christy Miller is giving it all she’s got. The competition is tough and some of the girls are just rude, but Christy thinks she has a good chance to make the squad. Meanwhile prom is just around the corner, and Christy hopes her parents will make an exception to their âno dating until sixteenâ rule. She’d love to go with Todd to his prom! But nothing turns out as Christy had planned. As the surprises keep coming, can Christy respond with grace...and maybe even spring a surprise of her own?

Island Dreamer

Christy Miller is spending her sixteenth birthday on Maui with her family, Todd, and Paula, her best friend from Wisconsin! What could be better? But Christy soon finds that she and Paula don’t have as much in common anymore. Paula’s obsessed with having a boyfriend...even if it means stealing Todd from Christy! Will he choose Paula over her? Or will the islands send Christy dreaming in new directions?

A Heart Full of Hope

Christy Miller is sixteen, and that means she can finally date! Rick has waited months for this, and he has a whole list of dates planned. He’s not happy about her early curfews and weekend job, but Christy knows her parents aren’t about to negotiate on those points. Really, she’s dazzled to be pursued by such a thoughtful guy. So why does she feel overwhelmed? Where does Todd fit into her life now? And can any guy really fulfill all her hopes?

Story Behind the Book

âThe Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I’d been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, âWhy don’t you write a book for us?’ I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: âHow hard could it be? We’ll even tell you what to write! We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.’ And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise. I love that!â

âRobin Jones Gunn

Customer Reviews:

Don't you want a Todd?.......2007-03-28

I love when Todd kissed Christy! It's so sweet! You want them together so so so much! I've read this one twice, and I love the Island Dreamer. Her relationship with the Lord grows. Sometimes I just want to scream at Paula from trying to steal Todd, though.

Christy is a delightful character.......2007-01-03

Although I am an adult, I've enjoyed all the Christy Miller stories. Christy is the sort of person I would have loved to have had for a friend durin high school, and I think many girls can relate to her. The pacing of the stories is sometimes a little slow, and the supporting characters, especially Christy's parents, should have been much better developed. Still, the stories are so enjoyable they are well worth reading.

Hey Juliet, Rick isn't your Romeo.......2006-12-30

Christy Miller is amazing. I adore every book in the series and even in the Sierra Jensen series. "Awesome" young women on fire for God are inspirational. In Volume 2, Christy is different though. Issues occur and the world isn't completely sugarcoated. It is a nice change from the picture perfect world of Newport and Todd. Life isn't always easy, but Christy's struggles reflect that God is always. The moral of this collection is God is there, patience pays, and guys like Rick aren't worthy of "peculiar treasures". Don't hate the Rick's of the world. Pray for them because love and God are the only two things that can change a heart.

The Swiss Family Robinson (Unabridged Classics)

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
UNabridged??
The Swiss Family Robinson
The adventure of Swiss Family report

The Swiss Family Robinson (Unabridged Classics)
Johann David Wyss
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1402726023

Book Description

Shipwrecked passengers on a deserted island: how will they survive? After their ship founders at sea, the Robinsons—father, mother, and four sons—find themselves stranded in an uninhabited, idyllic land. Young readers will enjoy watching them handle every crisis with cleverness and skill.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2007-10-03

I'm 52 yo. I read this book for the first time when I was 9, in the Portuguese version. Now I bought this pearl of literature to my young daughter. She is 14 and speaks English very well. She already read the entire Harry Potter saga and other books, like The Man and The Sea, etc. The classic story The Swiss Family Robinson and other books I received by the same order will be entertaining and important to learn more and more English. I'll expect to buy many other titles as soon as possible.

UNabridged??.......2007-04-04

I read this classic long ago and it left enough of an impression on me, through multiple childhood readings, that I still remember some of the lines word for word. The only problem is... they're not in here.

Now, I understand are that there are multiple translations and recensions of this work, so this COULD be an "unabridged" version of something closer to the original than what I first read - but if it is, then the original is nowhere near as charming and riveting as the version I recall. Everything here moves too quickly and simply, without suspense or detail; entire conversations are missing... and, most telling, "jumps" occur in which you think, "How did we get HERE?" This last is what makes me suspect that the "un-" was either an editor's mistake or a blatant bit of false advertising... but again, I'm no expert and don't have an "original" version to consult, nor could I read it except in an English translation anyway. Another point that makes the "unabridged" tag suspect is that some of the "lessons" are missing (i.e. Fritz getting scolded for "lying" that he brought nothing home with him, when his hands were obviously hiding something behind his back), and my understanding is that the author originally wrote this thing as one big lesson. (I may not agree with all the lessons, but why remove any part of a classic text?) The language, at least, hasn't been "dumbed down" for children (what an insult to children when we do that!), but it still reads like a simplified version of the story.

So I now own a book which I have little interest in reading, and have had to order another one... THIS time I used the "search inside this book" feature to find the exact lines I recalled from my childhood reading - and yes, I DID remember them exactly, they ARE in there. If you're curious, I looked at the scenes with Ernest classifying the agouti - "... listen to the great professor lecturing! He is going to prove that a pig is not a pig!" - and Franz objecting that "I should not much like to taste glue soup" - both in chapter 1, easy to find, and in this version completely missing. If, like me, you recall a richer version of the tale, try ISBN 0440415942.

That said, it's a nice solid hardcover edition with a ribbon bookmark. 1 star for a nice physical presentation. Now maybe I can find someone to pawn it off on.

The Swiss Family Robinson.......2007-03-19

This book, full of adventure, danger, and most of all, exciting discoveries and dangerous endeavors, will capture your imagination immediately.

Taken from their father's journal, this exciting book will engage you. A family of four boys, a mother & a father were shipwrecked on a desolate island w/absolutely no other people except themselves. Trying to survive in this dangerous wilderness is quite a job. Setting up several plantations, discovering giant skeletons, having an encounter w/a lion and lioness... these are only a few of the many exciting adventures they have.

This book I recommend for boys ages 8 and up. Girls may not be as interested as there are few female characters. I like reading this long book because of all the adventures in it. (Be sure to read the unabridged edition.) Like to read? Then you will like this book.
-G.H.P. 10 years

The adventure of Swiss Family report.......2007-02-26

I am Nicole Curtis a 6th grade student at Stanley British Primary. For my book report I
chose to read The Swiss Family Robinson. It was a captivating book about a family
stranded on an island. I enjoyed reading it very much.

The book Swiss Family Robinson had a lot of adventure it was about a family who got shipwrecked and used little bouts to get to land with all there animals and treasures. The family faced many problems at this island. They built two houses and the father, and his three sons named Fritz, Ernest Jack would go of on trips to find food and kill animals. There had been many hectic times in the forest on the island for example jack was in the woods with his brothers and a wild boar came after jack the dogs came after the boar to stop it from attacking jack his father and brothers were trying to shot at the boar but they were afraid they would hit one of the dogs but soon one of them hit and the boar was died and jack was pretty hurt. The dogs had been in many fits one had died from fitting a lion her name was Flora. After the family had been there for ten years Fritz the oldest son went on a trip and found a women Emily who's dad was sir Ewared Montrose and she had been shipwrecked also. Emily was a sister of the family now and soon after they found her a ship had came to their island and it had the Europe flag they were saved turns out Emily farther was looking for her. Some of the family decided it stay on the island cause that had everything there that they needed and they loved it but some of the family left to go back to Europe they new they wouldn't ever see each other again it was a though time for everyone. This is the summary of the Swiss family Robinson.

The author of this book had some hard words or words I haven't even heard of. It was pretty difficult to know what you were reading. But the author was very dscriprive she gave much information and painted a picture in my mind. I liked her writing I could understand what was going on in the book I could feel and picture what the family was feeling and facing and how hard it would to live on a stranded island. I would probably like to read an easer book my father thought it was a pretty hard book to read when he read little of it also. But I like it very much the author would kind of skip around like talk about on thing then move on to a different subject pretty fast. This is my opinion about the authors writing.

Heroes Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War

Average customer rating:

A Great Book
Well Done
Great ending to a good series!
Heroes Don't Run
Heros Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War

Heroes Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War
Harry Mazer
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416933948

Book Description

"I WANTED TO SERVE, TO BE PART OF THIS THING

MY FATHER HAD GIVEN HIS LIFE FOR. I DIDN'T WANT THE WAR TO END, AND ALL I'D BE ABLE TO SAY WAS, NO I DIDN'T SERVE, I WAS RIGHT HERE THE WHOLE WAR, SAFE IN BAKERSFIELD."

Adam Pelko witnessed the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that killed his father, a lieutenant on the USS Arizona. Even though Adam is underage, he defies his mother's wishes and enlists in the Marines. Sent first to boot camp, then to Okinawa, he experiences the stark reality of war firsthand -- the camaraderie and the glory as well as the grueling regimen, the paralyzing fear, and death. And at every turn, Adam must confront memories of his father.

In the concluding volume of his World War II trilogy, Harry Mazer masterfully illustrates Adam's journey as he navigates brutal circumstances that no boy should know.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Book .......2006-11-04

If you like books about war or boot camp then Heroes Don't Runs by Harry Mazer is the book for you.
This book takes place in Bakers Field, California, 1944, Okinawa, Japan, 1945, and Pearl Harbor. Adam is going to Pearl Harbor to avenge his father's death, but his mom won't let him go because the family has made too many sacrifices in the war. Grandpa lost his arm, and his dad was killed. Will Adam go to war? Does he sacrifice his life? Will he be in trouble for not telling his mom he's going to war?
We recommend this book to all our friends because its lets you see the kids point of view. We give the book four stars.
By: Samuel and Miguel

Well Done.......2006-07-05

Adam Pelko is seventeen and unable to enlist in the Marines without his mother's consent. He persuades his grandfather to endorse the necessary papers without his mother's knowledge and quickly finds himslef in the reality of a gueling boot-camp and grisly combat when he is shipped to Okinawa.

Mazer writes in a smooth, flowing, aga-appropriate narrative without losing the grit and spirit of a young man in war but an entire country as well. The author allows Adam and his readers to experience the discipline and taunting of boot-camp, the loneliness and brotherhood of war-time and the almost automatic preservation instinct that jerks into gear in the intensity of ferocious battles.

My sons, (9&12) relished the intensity of Heroes Don't Run enough to head off to the library for the first two books in Mazer's trilogy.

Great ending to a good series!.......2006-06-14

The first two books of this series "A Boy at War" and "A Boy No More" were decent but didn't grab my intrest that well! "Heroes Don't Run" is a spectacular ending or "trilogy" to this series of books! This was one of those books were I had a very hard time putting it down!
The main character "Adam Pelko" goes behind his mother's back and joins the marines! While he is at boot camp he sometimes questions his decision of joining the military. The battle scenes are graphic but not too bloody so I think this book would be good for younger people once again!
The ending is also very good because you can feel the happiness and pride Adam has when he returns home!
The very back of the book also has a summary of the Pacific War with Japan.
I hope my review was helpful to you.

Heroes Don't Run .......2006-02-14

I think the author did a really good job describing the battle scene, by using details like blood and the pale faces of dead people. I could really imagine a war scene. I would recommend this book to people who like war and action books and would like to know more about World War 2

Heros Don't Run: A Novel of the Pacific War.......2006-02-08

This World War II experience is told through the eyes of a 17 year old boy who wishes to enlist in the Marines because both his grandfather and father fought in a war. Because his father died at Pearl Harbor, his mother will not sign for him join, so he goes to his grandfather and talks him into it. He then tells his story of a young boy going through bootcamp and war. Along the way he learns about friendship, fear, respect, and life, all while almost instantly chaning from a boy to man.

This story has the pace of a war, going from one incident to the next without dwelling on anything for too long. I usually do not like war stories, but I think this is a great war novel for older children to read and experience what war is like for children. It will open your eyes to the harsh reality of children fighting wars and what they have to go through. My copy of the book also has a brief historical note of the last major battle of WWII along with literature circle questions for teachers that follow Bloom's Taxonomy.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic book for Middle Schoolers
Worthwhile book based on true events
WOWEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Night of the Twisters
A Reivew From Myra From Creston
This was an okay book. Too scary for me.

Night of the Twisters
Ivy Ruckman
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064401766

Book Description

When a tornado watch is issued one Tuesday evening in June, twelve-year-old Dan Hatch and his best friend, Arthur, don't think much of it. After all, tornado warnings are a way of life during the summer in Grand Island, Nebraska. But soon enough, the wind begins to howl, and the lights and telephone stop working. Then the emergency siren starts to wail. Dan, his baby brother, and Arthur have only seconds to get to the basement before the monstrous twister is on top of them. Little do they know that even if they do survive the storm, their ordeal will have only just begun. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic book for Middle Schoolers.......2007-07-17

This novel is about a boy and his friends and family that survive seven tornados in their town of Grand Island, Nebraska. Dan, his friend Arthur and his little brother Ryan wait out the tornados in the shower stall in Dan's basement. When the storm is over, they desperately seek to find their families and shelter. In the end, the novel explains how they survived after the storm. The themes are of family, community and survival.

This novel explains storms in great detail. The use of sensory details is tremendous. I have been through a tornado, heard the sirens, and felt what the character felt. It was dead on. The characterization and the changes in Dan from beginning to end are/can be a focus in the classroom. The novel can provide the students with a book rich in details and character development. It moves at a fast pace and is a page-turner. The vocabulary is not very challenging, I believe, but the words that are unfamiliar will be easy to find among context clues due to strong interest of the story. This book could also help emphasize character education as far as perseverance and selflessness.

The novel is completely accurate. I felt like I was in the tornado. I have been through a tornado and lived in an area where the sirens came on. Reading this book, put me right back there. It is obvious the author has been through a tornado or did their research. It is believable for most people; some find the devastation hard to believe if they have never seen what Mother Nature can do. I believe, in light of Hurricane Katrina, that students will believe the author's details in this novel. It is easy to see everything through Dan's eyes whether you are male, female, or any race. It is about him and the storm.

I did not find anything controversial in this novel. It is appropriate for 7th grade, maybe even 6th grade. The book is a fairly easy read with some vocabulary that can be pointed out as unfamiliar. The thing about this novel is that it is completely entertaining. They can actually get into this book and can focus on the sensory details and characterization of Dan and Arthur. They will not agonize over the details but embrace them. GREAT literary merit and a fantastic, interesting read. I LOVED it!

Worthwhile book based on true events.......2007-07-14

As a fellow Nebraskan who remembers that night, I wanted the book from the moment I heard it had been written. And it was well worth it, as it made many of the events of that night become alive and realistic for the reader. That night certainly changed the face of parts of GI.
It's a good book, though not for much younger than 8 as some parts are a little scary. Ruckman wrote in first person, telling it from the viewpoint of Danny. It makes it very comprehendable as well as interesting for young readers.

WOWEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Night of the Twisters.......2007-03-28

My classmates and I are reading this book.It is about a boy named Danny and his best friend Arthur and Danny's little brother, Ryan.The boys and Danny's mom are wathing the weather channel and there is a tornado watch,then a warning, then the siren!!!Well,the mom is out of the house checking on their neighbor,Mrs.Smiley.Danny's mom doesn't hear the siren!While the 3 boys are downstaires,the tornado is in the center of the house!!! The house was ruined.But wait....where's Danny's mom? Suprisingly ,the boys look up and they hear windows from a CAR crashing!Then a scream!!!The scream was his mom...ooo, I would HATE to be her.Read this book to find out what happens next!

A Reivew From Myra From Creston.......2007-01-30

If I had to describe this book in 2 words they would be...panic-stricken. I enjoyed reading it because it's one of those "can't put down" books and the suspense built up more and more every page! Although I normally don't enjoy action books/movies/video games etc. this kept my interests and held on tight. I think everyone who has ever doubted action should read Night of the Twisters.
The characters are as close as they can be to real. Dan Hatch is normally a fun loving kid; when the tornado struck he is a "cry-baby". Ivy Ruckman could actually make you feel as though you were Dan. The fear, the sadness, and the terrifying experience flowed into your blood turning you into one of the characters. As a conclusion the characters are defiantly real!
On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this book an 8. If I were the author I would have changed a few scenes in the book, cut it shorter, and token out a couple of unnecessary characters. I really don't enjoy long books. I call it a L.T.I.N.T.B (Longer then it needs to be) book. Those are the only changes I would have made.
I learned a couple lessons from Night of the Twisters.
Reason #1) you always have to expect the worst of thing to happen and hope for the best.
Reason #2) a disaster can never be too far behind you.

They may not be what we call life's little lessons but they sure can make a difference.

This was an okay book. Too scary for me........2006-10-02

It was about a 12 year old boy and his best friend and baby brother.They pretend that the tornado is just not goning to happen but the weather channel says a tornado is going to hit ground. Dan and his best friend think thats it not going to happen but then the winds start to howl and it starts to rain and hail. Then the boys know they should have listened! Read it to see what happens to them.

The Mystery on Cobbett's Island (Trixie Belden #13)

Average customer rating:

TRIXIE BELDEN
Sailing and Treasure Hunts

The Mystery on Cobbett's Island (Trixie Belden #13)
Kathryn Kenny
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375830537
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Book Description

When the Bob-Whites arrive on Cobbett’s Island for vacation, Trixie finds a mysterious letter. Many years ago, a fortune was hidden. But the clues in the letter are hard for Trixie to understand. What does “start sailing” mean? Is this a treasure hunt on land . . . or on sea?

Customer Reviews:

TRIXIE BELDEN.......2005-11-24

I've read them all - I own them all. Trixie Belden has been one of my favorites since I was very young.

Sailing and Treasure Hunts.......2005-08-08

When Honey and Jim invited the Bob-Whites to vacation on Cobbett's Island, Trixie announces she just wants to relax. None of her friends believe her, and it turns out they are right. On the night they arrive, a fierce storm hits the island, and the Bob-Whites find a letter in the library of the house they are staying in. It sounds like some money was hidden years ago. But who hid it? Is it still there? And where might they find the map? Meanwhile, they've befriended their neighbor Peter who introduces them to the wonderful sport of sailing. Might his knowledge help them find the money?

I knew this was a favorite in the series, but I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed it until I reread it. Yes, the plot gets a little slow at times, but all in all, it's a lot of fun and comes together in the end for a very satisfying solution. The characters are the best versions of themselves without some of their flaws being over exaggerated like in other books in the series. Even Diana is able to contribute and doesn't come across as a fraidy cat. The only thing that could make it better is if Dan had been able to go.

This adventure in the series is certainly not to be missed.

Average customer rating:

A high school librarian reacts:
A poignant, moving, and intricately structured story
Great book for ages middle school through adult

The Braid
Helen Frost
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0374309620
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Two sisters, Jeannie and Sarah, tell their separate yet tightly interwoven stories in alternating narrative poems. Each sister – Jeannie, who leaves Scotland during the Highland Clearances with her father, mother, and the younger children, and Sarah, who hides so she can stay behind with her grandmother – carries a length of the other’s hair braided with her own. The braid binds them together when they are worlds apart and reminds them of who they used to be before they were evicted from the Western Isles, where their family had lived for many generations.

The award-winning poet Helen Frost eloquently twists strand over strand of language, braiding the words at the edges of the poems to bring new poetic forms to life while intertwining the destinies of two young girls and the people who cross their paths in this unforgettable novel. An author’s note describes the inventive poetic form in detail.

Customer Reviews:

A high school librarian reacts:.......2007-02-01

This is one of the most "literary" books I've recently read that has the potential of attracting reluctant young adult readers. The slim volume will not intimidate, and the quick-paced, drama-filled narrative will keep them turning pages. Author Helen Frost examines pertinent issues of homelessness, poverty and teen pregnancy in her fictional account of two teenaged sisters torn apart during the Scottish Highland Clearances in 1850. Her interwoven poems between chapters help make this title a unique standout.

A poignant, moving, and intricately structured story.......2007-01-04

Jeannie and Sarah are teenage sisters living on the Isle of Barra in Scotland in 1850. It is a time that has come to be known as the Highland Clearances when landlords, choosing to raise sheep on the lands instead of renting them out, forced thousands of people to leave their homes. The family plans to sail to Canada. The night before they leave, Jeannie and Sarah braid their hair together, sleeping with their heads touching. But in the morning, Sarah is gone. She has cut the sisters' braid and left half in Jeannie's hand.

Jeannie, her parents and three small siblings sail off, as Jeannie holds the braid and cries for her sister. Sarah has decided to travel with her grandmother back to her grandmother's home on the tiny rugged island of Mingulay. When Murdo Campbell, a young fisherman, sails them to their new home, Sarah feels an emotional attraction to the calm, kind man.

Meanwhile, on the crowded ship traveling to Canada, Jeannie finds her fellow passengers irritable, hungry, thirsty and sick. The sleeping area below deck stinks. Jeannie is heartsick missing Sarah, but she is distracted when her little sister develops a fever. A passenger has died, and the family knows how serious an illness can be.

On Mingulay, Sarah dreams of and worries about Jeannie and her family, but she also enjoys getting to know her extended family. She loves collecting seabird eggs from the cliffs and snaring the birds she and her grandmother eat. She also finds herself waking up at night thinking of Murdo Campbell. Little does she know what lies in their combined future: passion, shame and sorrow --- but also hope.

Jeannie and her family endure a horrendous crossing. As so many of the passengers do, they suffer unbearable losses. When they land, they decide to travel to Cape Breton, hoping to find other travelers from home. Along the way, Jeannie is hungry, filthy and sad, but she uncovers a prevailing strength deep inside to sustain her.

Jeannie and Sarah's stories are powerful and moving, filled with universal emotions anyone can relate to. At the end of the book, author Helen Frost explains how she structured it. The sisters relay their tales in narrative poems, which are connected with shorter poems. The short poems each honor one ingredient in the longer poems. Astonishingly, the poems are braided together in an intricate way. The short poems share first and last lines. In the sisters' poems, the last word of each line is the first word of each line in the next poem. In addition, the syllable counts have significance: the number of syllables in the lines of the sisters' poems equal their age.

These revelations were so astounding to me that I did something I've never done before: I immediately reread the entire book, both to admire the structure and to re-savor the poignant and riveting story. (Since rereading, I have been raving about it to everyone I know.) THE BRAID is now high on my "best books I have ever read" list.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

Great book for ages middle school through adult.......2006-11-19

Once again, Helen Frost has crafted a beautiful novel in verse. This story of two sisters is one that anyone descended from immigrants can appreciate.

Although the poetic form is very intricate and literary, young readers (even reluctant readers) will find the book an approachable, quick read. And even those who don't normally like historical fiction may enjoy it, since the themes in the book are timeless: sisterhood, family love, the struggle for survival, and romance versus reality.

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