Amazon.com
Ann Brashares has created a wonderful, heartfelt series for teens (and adults) around a pair of pants. In her breakout bestseller, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Brashares introduced readers to four girls, Lena, Bridget, Carmen, and Tibby, and to the magical pair of jeans that fit them all perfectly, and inspired them to live their young lives to the fullest. Forever in Blue, the fourth and final novel in the series, promises a dazzling finale--one "last glorious summer" for the four girls, and their fans. See a note from author Ann Brashares, below.--Daphne Durham
A Note from Ann Brashares
December 1, 2006
Dear Amazon Reader,
Well, here we are together again. If you are getting ready to read the fourth book, Forever in Blue, that means we've probably spent some time together. I hope you've enjoyed it. I know I have.
We don't know each other and we may never get to meet, but I feel like we are connected nonetheless. We've spent time with four fictional girls together. We've puzzled over their lives and their choices. We've rooted for them and sometimes felt annoyed by them. We've shared some hopes for them, I think, and in the process for ourselves.
So thank you for being part of the sisterhood with me. I have really appreciated your company along the way.
Happy reading,
Ann
Spend Time with the Sisterhood
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Boxed Set |
Girls in Pants |
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood |
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants |
Book Description
With unraveled embroidery and fraying hems, the Traveling Pants are back for one last, glorious summer.
Lena: Immerses herself in her painting and an intoxicating summer fling, fearing that the moment she forgets about Kostos will be the moment she sees him again.
Carmen: Falls under the spell of a sophisticated college friend for whom a theatrical role means everything and the heritage of the Pants means nothing.
Bridget: Joins a dig for an ancient city on the coast of Turkey and discovers that her archaeology professor is available in every way except one.
Tibby: Leaves behind someone she loves, wrongly believing he will stay where she has left him.
Join Ann Brashares's beloved sisterhood once again in a dazzling, fearless novel. It's a summer that will forever change the lives of Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby, here and now, past and future, together and apart.
Book Description
As their lives take them in different directions, Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget discover many more things about themselves and the importance of their relationship with each other.
Customer Reviews:
I liked the others better.......2007-08-10
This was the book made to tie up loose ends. Everyone came to a conclusion about their life and the pants. The whole thing was sort of boring. Yes I liked the book, but in a way everyone was the same as they started. I suppose the point of it was to show how they had grown up and still stayed the same. Maybe it was that there wasn't enough excitement or maybe it's that I'm tired now but i thought it wasn't as good as the other books.
-cdm
Sisterhood.......2007-08-04
I have enjoyed this entire series...takes me back to my Judy Blume days. The girl in all of us can identify with these characters as they grow, change, and try to not lose themselves or each other in the process. The earlier on you learn that nothing means more than your girl friends...the better off you are! I think the quotes between the chapters are insightful, and I enjoy finding their relation to the story as I read on. That brings a literary aspect not often found in young adult novels. I appreciate that this book and its prequels can be light and real at the same time. A book about pants sounds like fluff, but you feel with these girls as they deal with real issues both internal and external. Real doesn't have to be dark...bittersweet seems more fitting. These books capture the laughter through tears that is what sisterhood is about. I highly recommend reading them all.
So Long Sisterhood.......2007-07-26
Although this wasn't my fave Sisterhood book, it deserves kudos for not only reflecting the maturity of the characters at this point in their lives, but also the realities of growing up and growing apart. This is the fourth and supposedly final chapter of the Sisterhood tomes, and is likely to provide a conclusive feeling for the readers of the series.
To recap, the Travelling Pants series details the summers four best friends spend, sometimes apart, sometimes together. They are of course, as per the legend, bonded together by a pair of 'magical' pants that give them the strength of the love they feel as friends even when they aren't together.
In all fairness I read the third book quite some time ago so reading the new fourth one was a bit of a cognitive leap - I could barely remember a lot of what happened in the past! Anyway in this one the girls are bridging the gap between their first and second year of university. They've actually shared the pants year-round this time because they have spent the year at different colleges etc. That should be your first clue something is up - the girls are very very much so a lot more individual characters this time around, which was both refreshing and problematic. Of the latter, it was good because I was sick and tired of how cheesy and overemphasized their relationship was - although some sappy moments still exist towards the end, they are certainly toned down. But in the absence of their friendship it almost defeated the purpose of the book, and the pants of course.
This time around the girls spend most of their summer apart. Tibby is still in New York working and taking a summer class and wondering whether she has made the right choices when it comes to her relationship with Brian. Bee (my fave as always) is in Turkey getting back to basics on an archeological dig site and wondering whether the best alternative to missing her boyfriend is not missing a single thing her hot professor does. Flamboyent Carmen has surprisingly shrunk into her shell over the last year, and fallen under the wing of a supposedly protective, glorious friend, who turns out to be anything but as their summer continues. Lena is at art school and enraptured with a guy, shockingly this time, not the love of her life, Kostos.
As I mentioned earlier, the book definitely took on a more mature tone than the others - most of it dealt with sex and relationships and very little of it focused on friendship and personal self-growth - although most of the storylines evolve to give the girls those girl power moments of epiphany. Although I enjoyed the storylines a lot more this time it almost felt like the characters were under-used and less developed because there was far less crossover opportunities given their summer was spent so far apart emotionally and physically.
Brashares does a good job wrapping up the series in a realistic way though - Upon finishing it, I realized why she decided to do a fourth (I completely assumed the third would be the last) as each book is kind of meant to represent each of the four girls.
All in all a fitting conclusion to the series that represented, quite honestly, the realities of growing up and moving away when it comes to those true blue friends you thought you'd never forget, and those true blue jeans you thought you'd never lose.
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).......2007-07-19
OMG!!! I loved every single one of the books preceding this book and this one hit the mark! It is so wonderful, and though it is so sad that it ends the series the finish is remarkable. Brashare's masterpiece is complete!!!
One too many.......2007-07-15
I thought the prime qualities of the first three books of this series were charm and innocence. For the fourth installment, one of our heroines poses nude for a male art student and another falls for a married man with children. Whatever other qualities the book may have, charming and innocent it is not.
Amazon.com
In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try.
The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.")
Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. --Gisele Toueg
Book Description
The timely and critically acclaimed debut novel that's becoming a word-of-mouth phenomenon...
Download Description
"Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable, beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan nonetheless grow up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan , the son of Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara, member of a shunned ethnic minority. Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When the Soviets invade and Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him. The Kite Runner is a novel about friendship, betrayal, and the price of loyalty. It is about the bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of their lies. Written against a history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being destroyed. But with the devastation, Khaled Hosseini also gives us hope: through the novel's faith in the power of reading and storytelling, and in the possibilities he shows for redemption."
Customer Reviews:
good book.......2007-10-09
i had to read this book back when i was in high school and i was really surprised to find this book to be good. I personally really like this book and finished reading it in no time. I don't know what it is, but this is one book you will always get mixed reviews. It all depends on what kind of books you like,There were some parts of the story that were overrated or unnecessary.
Plot device after plot device after plot device.. .......2007-10-08
The Kite Runner isn't "brilliant" nor it is a "work of genius" Rather, quite simply, The Kite Runner is good story about a boy named Amir and his "friend" Hassan. Oh, and Amir's father, Baba, too. Oh, and Afghanistan.
After hearing rave reviews about this book for years, I decided to pick up a copy to read while between classes. What I found was nothing more than a story that perhaps would have been better if it were told around a campfire or when your Afghani uncle comes over for a visit. The writing style I could let slide - hey we're all not Hemingway. What I could not let slide, however, were the ridiculous plot devices that the author employed (and the 5-star reviewers call "brilliant") to "move" the story along..
Soon after I began reading, it became painfully obvious to me that the author is well aware, I mean WELL AWARE of the plot device known as "Chekhov's Shotgun" (which basically states that if there is a shotgun hanging on the wall in one scene, it had better be used in a later scene).. It is an amateur move and the more I read, the more and more frustrated I became by this and the other unbelievable predictable "twists" that kept popping up. Eventually, I had to put the book down and walk away for a while because I knew what was going to happen - we all knew what was going to happen.
All in all, plot twist, prediit is a good story. But I don't believe it to be worthy of the critical acclaim that it received when first released. Perhaps there is a feeling of guilt because it is about a country we are not occupying that led to so many jumping on board the "brilliant" bandwagon.. The narrator is an unlikable wimp and it was completely ridiculous to think for a second that he would suddenly "man up" and face Assef (or even go to Kabul for that matter). I say this only because we as readers "knew" him from birth and all throughout his life nothing gave any indication that he would have it in him to do what he did. Ugh. I feel as though I need something to cleanse my reading palate.
It Involves Afghanistan .......2007-10-08
I read many books and write many Amazon reviews, but there's not much I can add that the previous 2,042 other reviewers have not already said. I picked up `The Kite Runner' a year ago at a used book sale for the local library, but put it on my stack of TBR's (to-be-read). Frankly, the gushing acclaim and high-powered publicity put me off the book (e.g. the back jacket has plugs from Diane Sawyer and People magazine, not sources I rely on for book suggestions). A debut novel getting that much praise put me on guard.
News of the movie adaptation's imminent release finally got me to give it a go. I finished less than 24 hours later. Few books grab this reader by the collar and demand absorption. `The Kite Runner' did and I simply can't recommend it highly enough.
I will skimp on a summary of the book - to paraphrase Woody Allen after speed-reading War and Peace, it involves Afghanistan. While Hosseini does wonderfully create a sense of place (or rather two Afghanistans separated by 25 years and a millennial view), this tale involves much more. `The Kite Runner' is a powerful roller-coaster of human drama: love, joy, hate, cruelty, fear, betrayal, abandonment, commitment, loyalty, pride, shame, happiness, pain. Hosseini delivers several powerful gut punches (perhaps not all of them entirely fair or necessary) along the way.
Tom Wolfe has commented that many good young writers only ever write one really good book because that first effort is largely autobiographical and they can only tell that's story once. Reviews of Hosseini's second book A Thousand Splendid Suns suggest he is the real deal.
Read with Caution.......2007-10-07
I agree with the vast majority of reviewers that this is an excellent novel - unique, well-written, and haunting. There is no reason for me to reiterate the praises. I am writing this review simply to warn people with delicate sensibilities like mine to be forewarned before buying this book: the "terrible incident" everyone refers to is the brutal rape of a young boy by a pack of sociopathic, privileged teens. Perhaps because I am the mother of a young boy, I found the scene totally gut-wrenching and utterly horrible. I couldn't finish the book. So, my point is simple: don't read the book if you might be upset by a graphic description of the rape of a young, sweet boy.
Khaled's Kite Winner.......2007-10-07
"Regardless of the plot the sheer competence of the writing is, simply put, "OUTSTANDING!" The emotions and deeply-thought-out "mind" of the protagonist are a study in novel-writing." Well said Charles. I concur with your review.
Book Description
Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul-are at stake.
Download Description
Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul-are at stake.
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorite Dresden novels.......2007-09-11
I don't know what it is about this one, but it's among my favorite of the Dresden novels. Maybe because I'm a Murph fan and she kicks demonic hiney in this one. It's also the first book where the happenings in the Nevernever are really shown to influence the real world.
Besides, come on!!! Climactic battle with faeries, a demon, and a ghoul assassin inside a Super-Walmart? What's not to love?
Also, the decisive final battle really shows Harry leaning on others for a change, far more team-work than he's been comfortable displaying in some of the previous novels.
I'll just conclude the review with this thought from Harry "I know something you don't... the phone number to the Pizza 'Spress!"
The Queens of Faery.......2007-08-31
Summer Knight (2000) is the fourth urban fantasy novel in the Dresden Files series, following Grave Peril. In the previous volume, Harry called upon the spirits buried below the Red Court mansion and they took down Bianca. Susan escaped from Bianca as the spirits attacked. Harry finally told Susan that he loves her.
The hospital was so crowded that Harry had to share a room with Charity Carpenter. Despite her ordeal, Charity had plenty of energy to chew out Harry for endangering her husband and her child. However, Michael decided to name the boy child after Harry. Susan sent flowers and called every day, but she stayed away from Harry; her Hunger was too intense to approach him.
In this novel, the White Council comes to Chicago and toads rain down in Lake Meadows Park. When Harry goes over to check the unusual weather, Billy the Werewolf is waiting for him. Billy chastises him for becoming a hermit and then saves his life from a ghoul.
Billy has checked the office before coming to the park. Harry has an eviction notice from the landlord of his office building and an appointment with a Ms. Sommerset at three o'clock. Harry drops Billy off at his apartment and leaves him in Georgia's capable hands. She is bandaging the wounds as Harry drives away.
Harry doesn't have time to go home and freshen up (although he really needs to do so). Instead, he drives to the office. As he enters the doorway, Harry readies his shield bracelet for action, but only finds his prospective client inside.
Ms. Sommerset is both stunningly beautiful and intimidating. Dresden pulls a .44-caliber revolver out of his desk drawer and commands Ms. Sommerset to put her hands flat on the desktop. Then he flicks an iron nail across the desktop toward her hands.
At the last minute, the Fairy jerks back her hand and hastily steps away from the desk. These actions impress her more than anything else Harry has said or done. Now she wants Harry to become her agent and soon informs him that she has acquired his debts from his godmother. Then she states her real name and title: Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness.
The Winter Queen wants Harry to discover who was behind the death of the Summer Knight and also to recover his missing powers. At that moment, the Summer Queen is assuming that Ronald Reuel was killed by Mab's catpaws. The Summer forces are gathering to start the war prior to the Summer Solstice while their strengths are maximized.
The Winter Queen would prefer that this war never occurs. Harry is charged with preventing the war by finding the true perpetrator. The Summer Queen will provide her own emissary to work with him.
In this story, Dresden goes to the White Council conference in an old plaid bathrobe. He claims that Mister -- his cat -- had used his good robe as a litter box (which was probably true) but no one inquired why he hadn't stored the robe in a more secure place. Maybe his attitude toward the Council had a little to do with his careless storage.
Anyway, the Merlin is rather irritated with Harry for starting the war with the Red Court vampires. Others realize that Harry had been lured into a trap and did the only reasonable thing by rescuing the other guests. His old mentor -- Ebenezar McCoy -- advises him on the political maneuvering and Harry survives the Council plots against him. However, Dresden begins to recognize some of the stratagems of the Winter Queen.
Harry enlists Murphy's assistance in retrieving the police reports on the Ronald Reuel case. Yet he is very concerned by the condition of the tough detective. She is having trouble sleeping, suffering from night terrors concerning Kravos and what he did to her. He finally realizes that she needs to face her fears to overcome them and that his protectiveness is not helping.
This story introduces Elaine, whom Harry had thought dead. She is the Summer Queen's emissary, but is closer to Lady Summer, the daughter of the Summer Queen. Harry is happy to know that she survived the fire resulting from his faceoff with his foster father. After she explains her enthrallment by Justin, he feels an unexpected relief that she had not intentionally betrayed him.
This tale has moments of introspection, but is the most action filled story to date. From the first chapter to the last, it involves Harry in situations where his powers are definitely inferior to his opposition. No more blasting away at his enemies; he has to use some subtlety and finesse to accomplish his mission. Somehow, I don't think that this approach will carry over to the next volume.
Highly recommended for Butcher fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of supernatural creatures, Council intrigues, and wizardly manipulations.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Silly Faeries.......2007-08-24
I just finished reading this book and while I do admit to liking the previous one, Grave Peril, a bit more...this one is by no means a stinker. In fact, overall its the best in the series from book 1-4. Harry, the hero and wizard extrodinaire of the story is evolving into a much more realistic character (ok, realistic for a fantasy novel). His naive ways are much less a frustrating factor in this book, and the plots become much more involved. One of the series' main sidekicks, Murphy, is MUCH more real and likeable in this book. There are twists and turns and it keeps you on your toes as the metaphorical stuff hits the fan. The author, Jim Butcher is definitely getting the hang of what he wants from this series and it shows. I'd highly recommend all of these books, and most especially this one, for any fan of the fantasy genre.
Definition of a page turner.......2007-07-25
If you like fantasy, sci fi, mystery, or all of the above, you will get sucked into the Dresden books. Summer Knight is one of the best.
Not my favorite but..........2007-07-17
This book sets in motion events that will change the magical as well as Harry's life for ever
this is not my favorite of the series but it is a necessary link in the chain
esp when you get to the 2 most recent books
as always butcher as a nack for writing what feels like a pulp detective story from the 1940's but set in the modern world (more or less.
Book Description
A NEW BEGINNING: Hollywood actor Dayne Matthews and Katy Hart are married and living in Bloomington, Ind., where Dayne has found a solution to his on-camera love scenes--he wants Katy to star in his next film. Katy wins the part and is cast opposite her super-star husband. The story of a small town girl’s dream come true is too much for the press to resist, and in an effort to appease them, the couple agrees to a 12-episode reality show. It seems like the perfect compromise but by the time they finish filming the movie, they feel cracks around the edges of their marriage. Now they face an uncertain future, and possibly the end of everything that truly matters to them.
AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER: The Baxter family learns that Ashley and Kari are both pregnant, but an ultrasound reveals that something is wrong with one of the babies. As the summer progresses, the sisters pray for a miracle while trying to face the unthinkable. It’s in this trying season that they must all learn the lesson God has been trying to teach them--He is still in control, and He will be with them regardless of the outcome.
AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL: The Flanigans continue to draw closer to their only daughter, yet Bailey struggles to find her way amidst the turmoil of adolescence. She has always made good decisions, but she wants to experience more of life. Her friendship with Cody Coleman--the young border staying with the Flanigans--continues to blossom in this summer after his graduation. But when Cody decides to enlist in the Army, he’ll have to say goodbye to the family he’s come to love and the girl he’ll never forget.
Customer Reviews:
Receives Sandra Burr's seasoned, warm reading voice.......2007-10-06
Karen Kingsbury's SUMMER receives Sandra Burr's seasoned, warm reading voice as it tells of a summer of new beginnings, which come from marriage, pregnancy, and a reality show which threatens a solid marriage. It's another 'Baxter Family' drama, #2 in the 'Sunrise Series', and is especially recommended for prior fans.
Wonderful!.......2007-10-04
This book, like the rest of this series, leaves you wanting more. Such a wonderful story, and a great writing style, make this an touching book. I am and will probably always be a fan of Karen Kingsbury!
Another wonderful book from Karen Kingsbury.......2007-10-01
This latest book in the Sunrise Series about the lives of the Baxters from Karen Kingsbury did not disappoint me .It was one of the most thought provoking story lines yet .Ashley was told that she would have a baby with a profound fatal birh defect .Her sister , Brook, is a doctor and looks at things from a medical standpoint and this puts her at odds with her faith and Ashley's beliefs when she tries to influence Ashley to take the easier ( as she sees it) way out.It is a beautiful story with issues that we all deal with at one time or another in our lives .Karen's books teach us how to look at life biblically and prayerfuly.I can't tell you what a huge impact her writings have had on my life.
Summer.......2007-10-01
A continued best of Karen Kingsbury. This series is another winner! Don't know how I am going to last till next spring for the next one.
Moving & touching book, but so sad.......2007-09-29
This book by Karen Kingsbury is probably one of the hardest that I've read. I will admit that I bawled my eyes out while reading it, so be prepared. It's a must read for Karen Kingsbury fans though!
Book Description
* Since 1913, the single source blockbuster for all essential information on designing, installing, operating, and maintaining electrical systems and equipment
* Includes advancements in fiber optic cables, grounding, arc-fault circuit interrupter devices, and transient voltage surge suppressors
* Complete with the latest updates on National Electrical Code, National Safety Code, and NEMA motor and generator standards
* Features new information on high efficiency motors and electronic control of motors
* Provides the latest developments in circuits and circuit calculations, transformers, wiring tables, lamp applications tables, and more
Customer Reviews:
A Gem, with caveats.......2007-09-23
This is an excellent, if dense read that bridges the gap between the science of electricity, and the practical matter of an Electrician's work. It will not fully explain the science of the topic, and it will certainly not teach you how to wire a house. It is a very good book if your question runs along the lines of "Why does it work that way?" Its treatment of Ohm's law and other fundamentals is particularly useful. That said, the index is a nightmare, the book is not organized by page number, and it contains some apocrypha.
I have been an electrician for just over two years now (and I wrote this using my wife's login, because I'm too lazy to relog)
Worst hand book ever! by a Union Inside Wireman.......2007-03-05
I went through the union apprenticeship in San Francisco. I completed my apprenticeship in 2003, and decided to purchase this book to study for the CA state certification. HUGE MISTAKE!!! If all you are looking for is a study tool for the state certification test all you need is a code book. In school we never used this book, and I went through a 5 year apprenticeship, and after looking through this book I can see why. I found it almost impossible to use the index, and the table of contents wasn't much help either. I do however reccomend the National Electrical Code 2005 Handbook. It cost $25 more but it is well worth it. Neither of these books will teach you how to be an electrician so don't even bark up that tree! DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!! My 8 and a half years of being a wireman (including 5 years as an apprentice)and I can't make sence of this book. Don't waste your time or money again DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Not a handbook.......2001-12-02
I would NOT recommend this book to any electrician, engineer, or architect. It is extremely difficult to comprehend. Gaining any practical information from this book is futile. I have had the twelfth edition over ten years. I used it to study for the electricians exam. I hated it then. Since that time, I have found it to be a very poor reference book. The thirteenth edition is no better. I understand why some electrician training schools might use this book - it is very comprehensive. It would make a good reference for a classroom lesson plan, but not a direct teaching tool. If you want to learn the material in this book, get the National Electric Code Handbook (and related materials published by the NFPA) and appropriate textbooks. FYI - I am a licensed electrician and a registered professional engineer.
A patchwork monster.......2001-11-11
Another motley McGraw-Hill product. First copyrighted in 1913. The author appears to have died prior to 1976, and the book has been maintained by hired help. Don't try to use this as a textbook; treat it as a reference only. You never really know whether some item is up to date or 50 or 80 years old. Examples: There is a lot of treatment of two-phase (yup, 90 degrees) power, including at 25 hertz, and of multi-kilovolt series incandescent streetlighting, plus knob and tube wiring. Also, it is stated that the highest radio frequency in use is 30 megahertz, whereas in reality we're up to 1,000 or 2,000 times that just now. This book is a curiousity; charming if you have the cash, but if you don't, maybe you should be getting something more coherent.
A Must For Every Serious or Professional Electrician.......2000-09-28
W A R N I N G: This book is not for the weekend repairman!!!
This is a very intense book for the professionals or for someone who would like to further their knowledge. This truely might be the last book an electrican will ever buy. A must for your library!
Book Description
Become an effective case manager with FUNDAMENTALS OF CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE! This practical, “how-to” workbook gives you the practice and information you need to be able to function competently in a social service setting. A step-by-step case management procedure takes you from intake to termination, providing clear directions for each step in the process, practical tips, and practice scenarios taken from real case management situations. The workbook includes actual agency forms that provide with the opportunity to practice using forms similar to those you will use on the job.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2005-09-11
I really liked this book as it is very easy to read and understand. I found it to be very informative, educational, and a must read for anyone working within the human services field.
Great Sourcebook for Teachers.......2001-07-15
This particular item is an excellent overview of case management practice for beginning and experienced case managers alike. Every aspect of case management practice from definitions to professional boundary issues and ethics to listening skills is covered. While this volume handles each topic in depth, the writing is straight-forward and no-nonsense. This combination makes the information necessary for a thourough discussion on the topic very accessible even to the novice. Chapter 1 entitled "Ethics and Other Professional Responsibilitities for Human Services Workers" provides a strong base for the subsequent discussions which follow. Chapters 6 and &7, "Seeing Yourself as a Separate Person" and "Clarifying Who Owns the Problem", flush out issues which need to be addressed in today's expanding market of paraprofessional services.
This book is a good resource for the shelves of those already working as case managers and a great text for students preparing themselves for work in the field of human services.
Average customer rating:
- The Mysterious Benedict Society
- A sure winner for middle grade readers, boys and girls
- A fine leisure library pick.
- Great Book!
- page turner alert!
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The Mysterious Benedict Society
Trenton Lee Stewart
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
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The Alchemyst (Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel)
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Rules (Newbery Honor Book)
ASIN: 0316057770 |
Book Description
Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them.Only four children-two boys and two girls-succeed.Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete.To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies.So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.
Customer Reviews:
The Mysterious Benedict Society.......2007-10-04
The adventure begins when orphan Reynard Muldoon (Reynie) answers an advertisement in the paper - "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?"
Answering the ad leads Reynie to a strange building that opens at odd times and is filled with classrooms of children taking bizarre tests. I found myself taking the tests along with him, and although I was utterly confused by the questions, I was extremely relieved when Reynie was able to ace every test.
At the end of the testing, only four children are picked to take the final exam. Reynie, Sticky (George Washington), Kate Wetherall (who would really like to be called The Great Kate Weather Machine) and Constance Contraire master a maze, well let's say they all almost master a maze, and after some soul searching, they each decide to be part of a team that will embark on a dangerous adventure.
This story was wonderful to read. It gave me the same feeling as when I was reading the Harry Potter series. A little bit of science fiction, with a lot of mystery and a very warm and happy ending is my best "short" synopsis. I loved the description of the places and people throughout the story and it was complete with big spooky houses, bridges over troubled waters and creepy laboratories.
I also recommend this book as a gift. Middle school, high school and adults will enjoy this story. I'm sure it will be added to their collection of "read more than once" or "listen to many times" category.
A sure winner for middle grade readers, boys and girls.......2007-09-27
The Mysterious Benedict Society begins when eleven-year-old orphan Reynie Muldoon responds to a newspaper ad that asks: "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?" The ad leads Reynie to a series of examinations, to which he applies intelligence, ingenuity, and ethics.
Following the exams, Reynie finds himself part of an elite team of children. Children whose mission is nothing less than to save the world. With only a smattering of adult guidance, the children go undercover at a mysterious school, where they find horrors almost beyond comprehension. But they also learn to be resourceful, and to be loyal to one another. They become a sort of surrogate family, and learn that the unique strengths that they each bring to the problem are all necessary for its solution.
The Mysterious Benedict Society is an adventure novel with an old-fashioned feel (clear from the very picture of a mysterious house on the cover). There are Morse code messages, creepy laboratories, and secret tunnels. The school is even set on an island. But it's also a highly entertaining book, aimed squarely at the middle grade set, too, with humor at various levels (from irony to slapstick). Trenton Lee Stewart is very very funny. I flagged some dozen passages, and had a difficult time pruning it down to my favorite two.
Team member Kate, challenging the cliche "know it like the back of your hand":
Kate again, poking fun at her team in witty fashion:
"Aren't we a depressing bunch?" said Kate. "If we continue like this, we'll have to start calling it remorse code." (Codes and Histories)
A leader at the school, informing the children about the somewhat irrational rules:
"You can wear whatever you want, just as long as you have on trousers, shoes, and a shirt. You can bathe as often as you like or not at all, provided you're clean every day in class. You can eat whatever and whenever you want, so long as it's during meal hours in the cafeteria. You're allowed to keep the lights on in your rooms as late as you wish until ten o'clock each night." (Traps and Nonsense)
The four children are clearly drawn, and each arouses the reader's sympathy in a different way. The character of Constance, the smallest and crankiest of the children, is a delight, even as she's clearly annoying to the others. I also loved the brilliant but shy and insecure Sticky (he has a sticky memory). Kate is the epitome of bravery and resourcefulness. And Reynie is everyone's conscience, doing the right thing, and thinking clearly, until the end.
The Mysterious Benedict Society includes small illustrations at the start of each chapter. Carson Ellis's pen-and-ink drawings support, in tone, the old-fashioned feel of the book. But they also add to the book's humor, and capture the distinct personalities of the children.
I would have adored this book when I was 10 or 11. The Mysterious Benedict Society is a sure winner for middle grade readers, boy and girls, especially if they like puzzles, or reading about mystery and adventure. I think it could also be a fun read for their parents, too. Recommended for anyone, ages nine and up.
A slightly longer version of this book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on September 26, 2007.
A fine leisure library pick........2007-09-07
An ad for 'gifted children seeking special opportunities' invites dozens of children to take a series of mind-bending tests - but the winners, four special children, are to go on a secret mission which proves dangerous and compelling, introducing them to new worlds in THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY. Advanced teen readers will quickly become absorbed in the challenging adventure which holds plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing, making it a fine leisure library pick.
Great Book!.......2007-08-22
I bought this on a whim at a book fair. Captivating. Great characters, nice plotting, really good. Beware, tho, my book was missing ~30 pages in the middle.
Also try "The Penderwicks" by Birdsall, also a really well written kids' book.
page turner alert!.......2007-08-18
an 11 year old orphan answers an ad for "gifted children looking for special opportunities". the book is a worlwind of activity and mystery. when reynald ends up investigating a school of children run by a criminal mastermind he might just be up to his ears in trouble. his fellow benedictians are also all orphans and are just as loveable as he is. the ending has a surprise twist that is really fun. you won't be able to put this down!
Book Description
This summer the Penderwick sisters have a wonderful surprise: a holiday on the grounds of a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon they are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel’s sprawling gardens, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the best discovery of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures.
The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffrey is, though, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble. Which, of course, they will—won’t they? One thing’s for sure: it will be a summer the Penderwicks will never forget.
Deliciously nostalgic and quaintly witty, this is a story as breezy and carefree as a summer day.
Customer Reviews:
this is a fun book........2007-08-15
This book is about a family of four sisters who stay at a cottage in Massachusetts for a few weeks during the summer. The sisters make a new friend and have to find a way to save him from being sent to a military boarding school that he doesn't want to go to.
My favorite part of the book was when Batty got rescued by her sister and Jeffrey from the bull because I didn't know what was going to happen. When Sky met Jeffery they argued but then they became friends and that was kind of funny. And I liked that Jane was writing an adventure book and I was happy for her when she finished writing it. I also liked the end of the book because everyone was happy in the end.
The worst part was when the oldest sister Rosalind fell and bumped her head on a rock when she saw the boy she liked kissing another girl. I felt bad for her and I thought she was going to end up with amnesia or something but she didn't though.
I would recommend this book to other kids because it was a fun summer book. It is about adventures, friendship, secrets and a little romance (but not much). This book is great for older and younger kids.
I would rate this book with 5 stars because I really liked it.
Delightful summer read.......2007-08-08
As a writer who wrote this story with the best intentions of providing a wonderful new voice for children's literature, Jeanne Birdsall has succeeded! The Penderwicks Summer Tale is a most delightful summer read. Take the time to become friends with this terrific family. This summer tale provides many escapades for the family of three girls on vacation and the boy they meet who lives upstairs in the mansion . Fantasy and real life adventures are shared and valuable lessons are learned for these summer comrades.
The Penderwicks.......2007-07-28
My daughter is the one who picked up this book, and for two summers now it has sat unread. Very unusual as my older kids are avid readers, and complete most books in a day or two. This made me extremely curious about what was wrong, as my daughter is the ideal reader of this book: a girl age 8 - 14.
Knowing The Penderwicks is a story of four sisters, and mostly a book meant for young girls, I picked up the book and read it myself. What I found was a nicely written book, though Jeanne Birdsall as a first time writer does quite a few things more experienced writers could never get away with.
Older readers I suspect wouldn't have a problem with this, and that's part of the problem with this book. It seems to be a book intended for young readers, but written to earn points with much, much older readers. I'd suspect that's why it won the National Book award. How could a book with character names like Rosalind and Cagney, that reminesces about places like Gettysburg, cottage vacations of yester year, and is intended for young reades not win an award -- it has all the right ingredients.
The problem is the recipe -- older readers who praise this book never seem to notice the recipe is a tad off. The dialog is clearly that of an adult trying to talk like a child. As a father with children of all ages at home, I know of no children that talk as these children do.
Overall, this is a fairly good book, but it's not a perfect book. It's a simple book with a simple storyline. The message is good, even if the pacing and plotting are off at times.
You won't want to put down this relaxing summer tale!.......2007-07-20
At first glance you probably will not see the plain cover of this book.
But with a good reader's further investigation, you will stumble across this refreshing tale. The Penderwicks is the kind of book that goes best with fresh air, and a glass of Iced Tea. A warm summer breeze, is this books best friend.
The book is about 4 sisters who find themselves on the beautiful estate of Arundel for their summer. While exploring the great gardens, of this lush getaway, the girls meet Jeffrey. Jeffrey is a wonderful boy, who's mother, (the grouchy owner, Mrs. Tifton)is far far, from wonderful! The girls, quickly find themselves and Jeffrey are inseperable, the only problem is that Mrs. Tifton isn't as fond of the Penderwicks as him.
The book has everything. Comedy, action, and a slight tweek of romance.
You would really be missing out, if you ignored this superb story.
Enjoyable Summer Read.......2007-07-10
Although it started out slowly for me, I found myself engaged in the story after a chapter or two. This was well-written and brought back vivid memories of my childhood adventures and also of books I loved reading as a child. Sweet relationships written in a way that I could just picture the sisters and the scenes. Great plot. As a teacher, I'd recommend this to any reader or as a delightful read-aloud story to share.
Book Description
4 girls, 3 summers, and 1 pair of pants!
For the first time ever, all three novels in the #1 New York Times bestselling series are available in this terrific boxed set, which includes an exclusive magnet frame and magnets of the Pants.
Customer Reviews:
Very close to perfect........2007-10-03
What a great young adult series. Even though I wasn't really a young adult when I began reading these they sucked me in and I could barely put them down until I had finished. Tells a universal story of friendship, love, lost and everything in between!
Living the Summer.......2007-07-17
I bought this 3 book pakage in spring and it was like I was living the summer already. Each book is a new journey of the four friends and it makes me return to those teenage years I loved so much. Actually, I'm 20 years old but reading these books makes me think that I'm back with my firends in High School.
Really enjoyed the escape/ Too mature for teens.......2007-06-28
I am 31 years old and a mother of three. I love to read and while my favorite genre is historical fiction, I occasionally like to read a YA novel for some "light reading" and an escape from reality. It is a very easy read and I really enjoyed escaping to the worlds these girls live in. No, it is not realistic, but isn't that why we sometimes read fiction? And, contrary to what some reviewers have written, it is very possible for four girls with different personalities to be best friends. I lived that exact situation in high school with my friends. We were so different, and yet those girls are the few that I keep in touch with to this day.
I really enjoyed the first three books and am awaiting the arrival of the fourth. That said, I have a daughter and will not allow her to read this book until she is mature enough to deal with the situations in the book. Probably not until after high school. And even then I would discuss with her the repercussions that come from some of the decisions made in the book.
Nevertheless, this book brings to light the fact that every person has a story. A reason for why they are the way they are. The sequels present this even more.
I very much enjoyed this book.
Great 3-in-1 Reading!.......2007-05-14
The product is in fair condition. I am impressed with the promptness of which they were sent to me. Like to do business with these people again!
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.......2007-03-09
A wonderful series! I loved every minute! Great read for women of any age!
Book Description
Jack and Annie are off on another mythical mission at the request of Merlin the magician. Luckily, they have a young sorcerer, Teddy, to help them. From underwater caves to a Spider Queen, from mystical selkies to a magical sword, this is a Magic Tree House adventure kids won’t want to miss!
Customer Reviews:
Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Tree House #31).......2007-08-29
I am trying to get my son to want to read and this book was very successful at getting him to want to continue reading to see what's going to happen next.
Action-packed but creepy.......2007-06-13
I love the Magic Tree House books, and Summer of the Sea Serpent is a very cool Merlin Mission, but it is very mysterious and creepy. In one part, they went into a cave where the Spider Queen who lives inside it, the drawing looks creepy because the spider has about 13 eyes! And some other parts are mysterious, too. I really appreciate Mary Pope Osborne's great fantasy books, but this not exactly the best nor the worst. If you are a fan of the Magic Tree House series, check it out in the library, but don't buy it. Still, I love Magic Tree House.
Summer of the Sea Serpent.......2007-01-06
You just got to keep up with the kids . If you have the collection the book is great as always. My kids really enjoy them.
Summer of the Sea Serpent.......2006-11-03
Summer of the Sea Serpent
By Mary Pope Osborne
The book I'm reading is called Summer of the Sea Serpent. In the book, Jack and Annie go to Camelot. They meet an old friend, Teddy. He is a boy sorcerer who turned himself into a dog by accident, and Jack and Annie free him. He enjoys going on adventures with Jack and Annie. Teddy respects his magic, but needs some work on his rhyming. He turned Jack and Annie into ravens during last mission by accident, and had the idea to turn them into seals this mission. Do you think Teddy is a good sorcerer?
Brian, 9
Cunniff School
Watertown, MA
At it again.......2006-08-30
Jack and Annie continue in this wonderful series. We read these books, and listen to them on audio tape and cd - acceptable for the whole family without being boring for the grownups
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